By Mark Karlins and Nicole Wong
Kiyoshi’s Walk, written by Mark Karlins and illustrated by Nicole Wong (Lee & Low, March 2021) is the story of a Japanese-American boy who wants to learn how to write poetry and of his relationship with his grandfather.
Both of us found great joy in creating this book.
Continue Reading Guest Post: Mark Karlins & Nicole Wong on the Creation of Kiyoshi’s Walk »
What an honor it’s been to revisit my first few books and to re-envision them for today’s young readers:
By Liz Garton Scanlon and Tricia Springstubb
Liz: I like to imagine we’re together in an actual garden – dirt underneath our fingernails and a bunch of seed packets newly emptied into the ground.
Tricia: Oh, yes! Is anything more hopeful than planting a seed? When I was seven or eight, I grew two straight lines of zinnias.
Continue Reading Guest Chat: Authors Liz Garton Scanlon & Tricia Springstubb on Seeds & Stories »
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 »
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 »
Nelly Buchet and Andrea Zuill are the author and illustrator, respectively, of Cat Dog Dog: The Story of a Blended Family (Schwartz & Wade, 2020). Both are represented by Hen&ink Literary Studio.
Nelly is an actor and a debut author. Bonnier will publish her Can’t Do board book series in 2021.
Continue Reading Author & Illustrator Interview: Nelly Buchet & Andrea Zuill on Cat Dog Dog »
Back in 2011, Cynsations shared Ellen Beier‘s research and illustration process working on a historical picture book manuscript. Since then, the book’s journey has taken a few interesting twists and turns.
Readers fascinated by Lindsey Lane‘s Cynsations series on Books Going Out of Print may be especially intrigued by this new stage of the book’s journey.
How to place things to ‘look right’ in your story illustrations…
Illustrators, let’s talk about a fundamental issue of draftsmanship that you’ve probably run up against in your pictures.
It falls under “linear perspective.”
The issue is eye level (or you might have heard it called “horizon line.”) Viewers are typically unaware of it.
Continue Reading Guest Post: Mark Mitchell on Linear Perspective in Illustration »
April Pulley Sayre is a successful children’s author-illustrator with a long, distinguished career.
In children’s writing, maintaining an active publishing career is arguably an even bigger challenge than breaking into the field.
Reflecting on your personal journey (creatively, career-wise, and your writer’s heart), what bumps did you encounter and how have you managed to defy the odds to achieve continued success?
By Kim Rogers
Today, I’m delighted to welcome Weshoyot Alvitre to Cynsations.
At the Mountain’s Base (Kokila, 2019) is illustrated by Weshoyot and written by Cherokee author Traci Sorell.
Weshoyot is Tongva (Los Angeles Basin) and is well established within the Indigenous art community.
Continue Reading Native Vision: Weshoyot Alvitre on Illustrating At The Mountain’s Base »