Today we are excited to welcome award winning author-illustrator Nidhi Chanani to Cynsations. I thoroughly enjoyed Nidhi’s debut Pashmina (First Second, 2017) for it was the first time that I encountered an Indian-American teen protagonist centered in a graphic novel for children.
Nidhi’s
Continue Reading Author-Illustrator Nidhi Chanani Shares Her Process for Creating Graphic Novels »
Today I am excited to welcome Mika Song to Cynsations to talk about her upcoming graphic novel Night Chef (Penguin Random House, 2025), which releases on Oct. 28, 2025. The star of this book is an orphan raccoon who is also a spunky self-taught chef.
I first saw Mika’s illustrations in A Friend for Henry by Jenn Bailey (Chronicle Books,
Continue Reading Author-Illustrator Mika Song Shares Her Graphic Novel Journey & Night Chef »
Congratulations to our own Cynthia Leitich Smith on the publication of Firefly Season, illustrated by Kate Gardiner (Heartdrum, May 13, 2025)! From the publisher’s website:
Written by the award-winning, bestselling author of Jingle Dancer, Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee), and filled with tender illustrations by Kate Gardiner (Nipmuck),
Continue Reading Throwback Thursday: Cynthia Leitich Smith Reflects on Craft, Career & Creativity »
By AJ Eversole
I’m excited to welcome Cameron Mukwa to Cynsations! I’ve always thought ribbon skirts would make a perfect graphic novel topic and was thrilled when this one hit my radar. The Ribbon Skirt (Scholastic, 2024) is about a Two Spirit kid who wants to create a ribbon skirt of their own for an upcoming powwow.
Cynsations is celebrating its 20th anniversary by switching to a quarterly publishing schedule, featuring in-depth interviews and articles. Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm!
Dilys Evans
“Dilys Evans, a trailblazing representative of children’s book illustrators, and a fierce champion for recognition of their contributions to the fine arts world,
Continue Reading In Memory: Author-Agent Dilys Evans & Author- Illustrator James Proimos »
Cynsations is celebrating its 20th anniversary by switching to a quarterly publishing schedule, featuring in-depth interviews and articles. Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm!
Spotlight image: Elisabeth Norton and Publisher Prashant Pathak in Wonder House Books’s booth at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, photo by Melanie Rook Welfing.
The 61st edition of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair took place April 8 – 11 in Bologna,
Cynsations is celebrating its 20th anniversary by switching to a quarterly publishing schedule, featuring in-depth interviews and articles. Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm!
We’re thrilled to have Author-Illustrator Ellie Peterson on Cynsations today.
Congratulations on winning the Washington State Book Award! How has winning the award changed or affected your creative life?
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.
In the foothills of the Himalayas, when the fireflies danced and the moon rose over the sharp silhouettes of the world’s tallest peaks, I listened to my grandfather and father recite Urdu poetry: ghazals, nazms and shers—songs, poems and couplets reminiscing about life. Those are indeed my favorite childhood memories. Those were the long summer holidays before electronic media invaded our lives.
Continue Reading Cynsations Intern: Mitu Malhotra Reflects on “Where I’m From” »
By AJ Eversole
I’m excited to share an interview with picture book author-illustrator, S.D. Nelson. He is the author of many picture books featuring his Native heritage, his newest release, Grandma’s Tipi (Abrams, 2023) released in early May.
What is at the heart of your new non-fiction picture book Grandma’s Tipi: A Present-Day Lakota Story?