By Stephani Martinell Eaton and Gayleen Rabakukk
Azadeh Westergaard
We are delighted to welcome author and illustrator Azadeh Westergaard to Cynsations today. Azadeh’s debut picture book, A Life Electric, illustrated by Júlia Sardà (Viking, 2021), focuses on the life of Nikola Tesla.
At Cynsations this week we’re taking a deep dive into picture book biographies by interviewing eight debut biography authors. But first, today we’re kicking things off by featuring Bethany Hegedus, author of five published picture book biographies and more on the way.
Earlier this year I attended an SCBWI workshop where you discussed Social Emotional Learning.
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Stephani Eaton, Suma Subramaniam, Bree Bender and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: The Cot in the Living Room by Hilda Eunice Burgos, illustrated by Gaby D’Alessandro (Kokila,
Today we’re talking with two authors who created educator guides for their own books, but have also made teacher’s guides for other authors.
Adrianna Cuevas
As a former teacher, did you use teaching guides in the classroom?
I was a Spanish and ESOL teacher,
Today we’re chatting with Katie Potter, Senior Literacy Specialist at Lee & Low Books, to get a publisher’s point of view on teacher guides.
Does Lee & Low create an educator guide for every book you publish?
Yes! Lee & Low Books offers free,
Continue Reading Teacher Guides: Lee & Low’s Katie Potter Offers a Publisher’s Perspective »
Photo Credit: Laura Billingham
Before my first middle-grade novel with Cordelia Jensen, Every Shiny Thing (Amulet, 2018), was published, I taught middle school for ten years, and those two identities—author and teacher—still feel intertwined. I’d never tried to write fiction until I became a teacher and got inspired by my students and the books I read alongside them.
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Stephani Eaton, Suma Subramaniam, Bree Bender and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: Time for Bed, Old House by Janet Costa Bates, illustrated by A.G. Ford (Candlewick Press,
Dr. Teri Lesesne, educational trailblazer and literacy advocate, died Aug. 31 surrounded by family at her home after a long battle with cancer.
Lone Star Remembers: Dr. Teri Lesesne from Lone Star Literary Life. Peek: “She touched the lives of many young authors, current and future librarians,
We are pleased to welcome the author-illustrator team of Dancing in Thatha’s Footsteps (Yali Books, June 2021) to Cynsations!
Written by Srividhya Venkat and illustrated by Kavita Ramchandran, Dancing in Thatha’s Footsteps (Yali Books, June 2021) is a story about staying true to yourself and following your heart.
By Holly Green and Emma Kress
Cynsational Note: Today we are honored to welcome two YA debut authors, Holly Green and Emma Kress, who talk about their debut year and the importance of writing strong, fierce female characters.
Emma: Hi, Holly! I’m so excited we get to chat about our books together for Cynsations!