By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Stephani Eaton, Suma Subramaniam, Bree Bender and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: Room for Everyone by Naaz Khan, illustrated by Mercè López (Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, 2021).
In Memory: Gary Paulsen
By Bree Rae
Newbery award-winning author and children’s literature icon, Gary Paulsen has passed away. He was 82 years old.
Beloved Author Gary Paulsen has Died Aged 82 via MacMillan. Peek: “It was Paulsen’s overwhelming belief in young people that drove him to write. His desire to tap deeply into the human spirit and encourage readers to observe and care about the world around them brought him both enormous popularity with young people and critical acclaim from the children’s book community.”
Obituary: Gary Paulsen by Shannon Maughan from Publishers Weekly.
New Voices: Casie Bazay & Ginny Myers Sain on Persistence
By AJ Eversole & Gayleen Rabakukk
We’re happy to welcome two debut Oklahoma YA authors to Cynsations today! Casie Bazay’s novel, Not Our Summer (Running Press Kids) released on May 11, 2021 and is a #1 Oklahoma Bestseller. Ginny Myers Sain‘s novel, Dark and Shallow Lies was published by Razorbill/Penguin on September 7,
Continue Reading New Voices: Casie Bazay & Ginny Myers Sain on Persistence »
Kristy Everington and AG Ford Talk About Writing, Art, and Isobel Adds It Up
We’re pleased to welcome the author-illustrator team of Isobel Adds It Up (Penguin Random House, 2021), Kristy Everington, and AG Ford to Cynsations.
In this lovely picture book, Isobel is a problem solver . . . addition, subtraction, multiplication, division! But trying to figure out who is causing all the noise next door is one problem she can’t quite work out.
Continue Reading Kristy Everington and AG Ford Talk About Writing, Art, and Isobel Adds It Up »
Cynsational News
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Stephani Eaton, Suma Subramaniam, Bree Bender and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: Where Three Oceans Meet by Rajani LaRocca, illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan (Harry N. Abrams,
Picture Book Biographies: Gloria Amescua & Carol Kim Discuss Mentors on the Path to Publication
We’re wrapping up our picture book biography series with two more Austin authors, Gloria Amescua, author of Child Of The Flower-Song People: Luz Jiménez, Daughter Of The Nahua, illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh (Abrams, 2021) and Carol Kim, author of King Sejong Invents an Alphabet,
Picture Book Biographies: Candy Wellins & Philip Hoelzel on the Importance of Critique Groups
Critique partners can play a huge role in taking a manuscript to the next level. Today we’re chatting with critique partners Candy Wellins and Philip Hoelzel about their picture book biographies.
Candy’s book is The Stars Beckoned: Edward White’s Amazing Walk in Space,
Picture Book Biographies: Azadeh Westergaard & Meghan P. Browne Reveal Their Writing Processes
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.
Picture Book Biographies: Bethany Hegedus Explores Social Emotional Learning in Nonfiction
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.
Cynsational News
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,