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!
By AJ Eversole
Author Andrea L. Rogers (Cherokee) joins us today to discuss her new picture book, When We Gather (Ostadahlisiha): A Cherokee Tribal Feast,
Continue Reading Author Interview: Andrea Rogers Celebrates Tradition with When We Gather »
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.
Spotlight image: Suma Subramaniam and Kamala Nair
Check out the cover of A Bindi Can Be … written by Cynsations very own Suma Subramaniam and illustrated by Kamala Nair (Kids Can Press May 7, 2024).
From: the Kids Can Press’ website.
A young girl discovers that a bindi is more than just a dot that goes between her brows.
Continue Reading Cover Reveal & Author Snapshot: A Bindi Can Be… by Suma Subramaniam »
Congratulations to Bethany Hegedus on the upcoming publication of You, Me, We: A Celebration of Peace and Community, co-written with Arun Gandhi, illustrated by Andrés Landazábal (Candlewick Press, June 2023). From the promotional copy:
Peace is you. Peace is me.
Peace is the great big We of community.
By Lindsay H. Metcalf, Keila V. Dawson, and Jeanette Bradley
Lindsay: Thanks to Cynsations for inviting us to discuss the collaboration process for our latest picture-book poetry anthology, No World Too Big: Young People Fighting Global Climate Change, co-edited by Keila V. Dawson, Jeanette Bradley,
Today I talk with Jenn Bailey, the Schneider Award-winning writer of one of my very favorite picture books A Friend for Henry (Chronicle, 2019), illustrated by the wonderful Mika Song.
I’m so excited to see that Henry’s journey continues in Henry,
Continue Reading Author Interview: Jenn Bailey on Writing Early Readers & Henry, Like Always »
Spotlight image: Cate Berry writing in her 1967 Shasta camper.
Austin author and fellow VCFA alumnx Cate Berry has a new picture book, Thank You, Teacher, illustrated by Sara Varon (Balzer+Bray, 2023). I was eager to catch up with her and get her take on rhyming picture books,
Continue Reading Author Interview: Cate Berry on Finding A Creative Rhythm & Thank You, Teacher! »
Congratulations to Jane Sutton on Gracie Brings Back Bubbe’s Smile, illustrated by Debby Rahmalia (Albert Whitman, 2022). Kirkus Reviews called the book “A tender reminder that family and culture can buoy us after loss.”
Take a look back at Jane’s first Cynsations guest post from 2010.
Guest Post: Jane Sutton on Revisiting a Theme
By Jane Sutton
My friend Fay called after reading my latest picture book.
Continue Reading Throwback Thursday: Jane Sutton on Revisiting a Theme »
I’ve written a few of books over the years, but My Brother Is Away [illustrated by Luisa Uribe (Random House Studio, 2022)] is my first attempt to write from my own life story. When I was in first grade, my brother was arrested. He was released from prison when I was in eighth.
Continue Reading Guest Post: Sara Greenwood on Writing from Real Life & My Brother Is Away »
The Cynsational Books of 2022 were selected by Cynthia Leitich Smith from nominations by Cynsations Team members.
The selections:
Berry Song by Michaela Goade (Tlingit/Haida) (Little, Brown, 2022) From the promotional copy:
On an island at the edge of a wide, wild sea, a girl and her grandmother gather gifts from the earth.