Today we continue our conversation about chapter books with Debbi Michiko Florence. She is the author of the Jasmine Toguchi series, illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic (Farrar, Straus and Giroux).
Welcome, Debbi!
Character is crucial to all storytelling. How do you approach creating characters for chapter books,
When I first met Jarrett Lerner, Book 1 of his series EngiNerds (Aladdin, 2017) was just coming out. Since then he’s completed the series and has been busy writing/illustrating early chapter books, graphic novel chapter books, activity books, and has a novel in verse and early readers coming down the pike.
Continue Reading Writing Chapter Books: Jarrett Lerner on What He Wants For His Readers »
Today we kick off a series of posts about writing chapter books. In his article “How Reading Volume Affects both Reading Fluency and Reading Achievement,” Richard L. Allington states, “The evidence we have is consistent and clear: Children who elect to read voluntarily develop all sorts of reading proficiencies,
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Stephani Eaton, Suma Subramaniam, Bree Bender, AJ Eversole and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: Dear Reader: A Love Letter to Libraries by Tiffany Rose (little bee books,
Photo courtesy of Melissa Stewart
Steve Jenkins, award-winning author and illustrator of books featuring torn-paper collages about the natural world, died on Dec. 26 of a splenic artery aneurysm. He was 69.
Steve Jenkins, 69, Dies; His Children’s Books Brought Science to Life by Penelope Greener from the New York Times.
As a reporter for Cynsations, I love sharing articles and interviews. This is the first time I’m turning the tables and sharing an interview between myself and my illustrator, Richard Smythe, as we celebrate the March 2022 release of our second book together, Sun & Son (Amicus Ink).
Photo credit: Bill McGuinness
The children’s literature world lost a giant when celebrated illustrator and author Ashley Bryan died on Feb. 2, 2022 in Sugar Land, Texas, at the home of his niece Vanessa Robinson. He was 98.
By: AJ Eversole
I am happy to welcome Natasha Donovan to the blog today! Natasha is the illustrator of children’s books such as Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer by Traci Sorell (Lerner, 2021) and the forthcoming A River’s Gifts: The Might Elwha River Reborn by Patricia Newman (Lerner,
Continue Reading Native Voice: Natasha Donovan Talks About Her Artistic Journey »
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Stephani Eaton, Suma Subramaniam, Bree Rae, AJ Eversole and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: Where Butterflies Fill the Sky: A Story of Immigration, Family, and Finding Home by Zahra Marwan (Bloomsbury Children’s Books,
By: AJ Eversole
Traci Sorell is an award-winning author of children’s books, notably We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga, illustrated by Frane Lessac (Charlesbridge, 2018), We Are Still Here! Native American Truths Everyone Should Know, illustrated bv Frane Lessac (Charlesbridge, 2021), At The Mountains Base,
Continue Reading Author Interview: Traci Sorell Reflects on Powwow Day »