By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Suma Subramaniam, A.J. Eversole and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: The ABCs of Asian American History by Renee Macalino Rutledge, illustrated by Lauren Akazawa Mendez (Bloom Books for Young Readers,
Congratulations to Bethany Hegedus on the upcoming publication of You, Me, We: A Celebration of Peace and Community, co-written with Arun Gandhi, illustrated by Andrés Landazábal (Candlewick Press, June 2023). From the promotional copy:
Peace is you. Peace is me.
Peace is the great big We of community.
At the recent Texas Library Association Conference, authors Angeline Boulley, interviewed by Cynthia Leitich Smith, headlined the closing keynote. The authors appeared in conversation, discussing books, writing, and their shared love of libraries. I’m thrilled to share highlights from their conversation with our Cynsations readers.
Continue Reading Author Conversation: Angeline Boulley talks with Cynthia Leitich Smith »
By Gail Vannelli and Gayleen Rabakukk
Spotlight image: Doan Phuong Nguyen celebrates the release of her new book.
Today Cynsations is excited to share the publishing journeys of two children’s authors, Doan Phuong Nguyen and Patricia Tanumihardja. Doan Phuong is the author of Mèo and Bé (Tu Books,
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Suma Subramaniam, A.J. Eversole and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: Rani’s Remarkable Day by Saadia Faruqi, illustrated by Anoosha Syed (Clarion Books, 2023).
Author/Illustrator Insights
Magical Realism As a Genre for Youth: Author Karla Valenti Invites Exploration of Big Questions by Nawal Qarooni from We Need Diverse Books.
Congratulations to Christine Day on the upcoming publication of We Still Belong, cover art by Madelyn Goodnight (Chickasaw)(Heartdrum, August 1, 2023). It’s Christine’s third middle grade novel with Heartdrum. In a recent starred review, Kirkus Reviews called it “A rich, captivating story that will resonate with readers.” From the promotional copy:
Wesley is proud of the poem she wrote for Indigenous Peoples’ Day—but the reaction from a teacher makes her wonder if expressing herself is important enough.
Continue Reading Throwback Thursday: Christine Day’s Path to Publication & I Can Make This Promise »
Spotlight image: Sarah Baker and Jess Racklyeft at the SCBWI booth at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair.
This year Bologna Children’s Book Fair celebrated its 60th fair. I asked three visitors to this year’s fair to share more about their experiences with the readers of Cynsations.
Continue Reading Bologna 2023: Visiting the Bologna Children’s Book Fair as it Celebrates 60 »
Spotlight image: Jess Racklyeft and Anden Wilder at Bologna Children’s Book Fair, photo courtesy Anden Wilder.
This year, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) was thrilled to be back at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair!
Continue Reading Bologna 2023: SCBWI Scholarship Winners Anden Wilder & Jess Racklyeft »
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Suma Subramaniam, A.J. Eversole and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: Real to Me by Minh Lê, illustrated by Raissa Figueroa (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2023).
Author/Illustrator Insights
Congratulations to Martine Leavitt on the publication of her newest novel, Buffalo Flats (Margaret Ferguson Books, 2023). From the promotional copy:
Seventeen-year-old Rebecca Leavitt has traveled by covered wagon from Utah to the Northwest Territories of Canada, where her father and brothers are now homesteading and establishing a new community with other Latter-Day Saints.
Continue Reading Throwback Thursday: Martine Leavitt on Writing & My Book of Life by Angel »