I first met Rajani LaRocca on a crisp fall day in November 2022 at the Vermont College of Fine Arts in Montpelier. Her amazing energy stayed with me long after that weekend when she shared her writing journey and the art of juggling two full careers. Today we welcome Rajani,
Continue Reading Author Interview: Rajani LaRocca on Poetry, Verse Novels & Beating Writer’s Block »
I am thrilled to welcome Shirin Shamsi to Cynsations today!
Congratulations on winning the South Asia Book Award! How has winning the award changed or affected your creative life? What hasn’t changed?
Thank you Suma. It truly is an honor that means so much to me.
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Suma Subramaniam, A.J. Eversole, Mitu Malhotra and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: When the Stars Came Home by Brittany Luby , illustrated by Natasha Donovan (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers,
Cynsations welcomes Kidlit Caravan members, Kimberly Wilson, Robyn McGrath , and Suma Subramaniam today!
Why did you write this picture book?
Kimberly: A Dollar’s Grand Dream, illustrated by Mark Hoffmann and published by Page Street Kids,
The Mildred L. Batchelder Award is given to the most outstanding children’s book originating in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States.
Today we interview the 2023 recipient of the Batchelder award,
Continue Reading Guest Interview: Sylvia Notini Translates Books to Bring People Together »
Check out the cover for a new picture book by Cynsations own Suma Subramaniam, My Name Is Long As A River, illustrated by Tara Anand, due out from Penguin Workshop on May 28, 2024. From the publisher’s description:
In this sweeping picture book, an Indian girl discovers the power of her name as she travels along the river she was named after.
Continue Reading Cover Reveal & Author Snapshot Suma Subramaniam on My Name Is Long As A River »
Thank you for being a Cynsations reader!
Effective immediately, the Cynsations digital magazine is on hiatus. We’ll return the week of Nov. 27 with more inspiration, insights and information on children’s-YA writing, illustration, literature and publishing.
In the meantime, keep up on all those topics with Cynthia Leitich Smith on Facebook,
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Suma Subramaniam, A.J. Eversole, Mitu Malhotra and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: Once, a Bird by Rina Singh, illustrated by Nathalie Dion (Orca Book Publishers, 2023).
Congratulations to Janet Fox on the publication of Wintergarden, illustrated by Jasu Hu (Neal Porter Books, Nov. 7, 2023). From the promotional copy:
Winter outside the window,
Garden on the sill.
With a little bit of love and care, a few seeds nestled in pots,
Continue Reading Throwback Thursday: Author Interview: Janet Fox: Get Organized Without Losing It »
Today we welcome author Tamara Ellis Smith and illustrator Nancy Whitesides to Cynsations to discuss the joys and challenges of creating a book that’s close to the heart. Their new book, Grief is an Elephant (Chronicle, 2023) is available now. It’s Nancy’s debut book, so Tamara kicks off the interview with questions about Nancy’s path to publication.