I am happy to welcome debut illustrator Qing Zhuang to Cynsations today to talk about her journey and what motivates her to create books for kids.
What first inspired you to write/illustrate for young readers?
Books were my best friends. Growing up, I had a lot of things I wanted to say but couldn’t do so directly,
Continue Reading New Visions: Qing Zhuang Shares Her Motivation to Illustrate Books for Kids »
Our deepest sympathies to the friends, family, colleagues and readers of fellow Texas author Karen Blumenthal.
From Karen’s website bio:
“As a long-time journalist, Karen writes nonfiction for young people with the belief that nonfiction brings context to a complicated world.
“She is particularly fascinated by social change,
Our deepest sympathies to the friends, family, colleagues and readers of Thomas Low, co-founder of Lee & Low Books.
Obituary: Thomas Low by Shannon Maughan from Publishers Weekly. Peek:
“Tom Low had been a successful businessman in New York heading his own temporary personnel agency when he changed course and teamed up with fellow Chinese-American businessman Philip Lee to co-found Lee &
Continue Reading In Memory: Thomas Low, Co-Founder of Lee & Low Books »
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabukukk, Stephani Eaton, and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Author/Illustrator Insights
Ashley Bryan Revisits His World War II Letters and Sketches to Create Infinite Hope by Mark Athitakis from Kirkus Reviews. Peek: “Drawing was a way of surviving because war was so dreadful….[O]ptimism is conveyed in the colorful paintings…Bryan produced using his sketchbooks as inspiration.
Today I am happy to welcome debut picture book authors Aya Khalil and Anna Crowley Redding to Cynsations. Both have journalism backgrounds and discuss how that career helped them as a writer for children.
Aya Khalil
What were the best and worst moments of your publishing journey?
I’m thrilled to welcome Jennifer Li Shotz to Cynsations today to talk about her new series of books featuring rescue dogs. Don’t we all love a good dog story?
Congratulations on your new rescue dog series American Dog (HMH Books). What can you tell us about the inspiration behind these stories?
Continue Reading Author Interview: Jennifer Li Shotz Talks About her New Rescue Dog Series »
By Kim Rogers
Today, we’re chatting with Carole Lindstrom (Anishinaabe/Métis) author of We are Water Protectors (Roaring Brook, 2020) and Michaela Goade (Tlingit), who is the book’s illustrator. I met Carole and Michaela at Kweli in New York City in 2018.
Carole is also the author of Girl’s Dance,
Continue Reading Native Voices: Author & Illustrator Interview: Carole Lindstrom & Michaela Goade »
It’s time for summer reading!
For over a decade, I had the pleasure of creating the award-winning Tantalize series and spin-off Feral trilogy for YA lit fans of horror, humor and romance.
This month, I’m pleased to host a book giveaway, sponsored by Candlewick Press,
Continue Reading YA Book Giveaways! Tantalize & Feral Series »
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabukukk, Stephani Eaton, and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Author/Illustrator Insights
Author Interview: Up Close and Personal with Tonya Bolden by Mrs. G from Here Wee Read. Peek: “[M]y first love is writing for children. History is my passion…[I]f we hook our young people on history—if we make history come alive for them—we really put them on the path of lifelong learning,
Illustrators. To me, very much a writer, they are magical. They take the visions in our heads and make them real.
Or, they take the visions in our heads and say, “Well, those visions are pretty cool, but check this out.”
And, Surprise! They bring a book’s words to life in a way you never would have imagined.
Continue Reading Guest Interview: Author Lindsay Leslie Interviews Illustrator Ellen Rooney »