Best picture books, chapter books, young adult books, graphic novels and non fiction for kids.
It was a treat to see Tui T. Sutherland present at The Writers’ Loft. Her presentation was about writing so I thought the event was for adults. My son is a huge fan of her series Wings of Fire so I thought I would be sneaky and bring him along. He’s 13-years-old and has been…
This is my first time judging the Cybils Picture Book and Board Book First Round Long List, but my fourth time as a judge in the Graphic Novel and Easy Reader/Early Chapter Book categories. If you don’t know about the Cybils, it’s a children’s and young adult book award by book bloggers. The Cybils Awards…
The recent family separation of some 14,000 children is not a new policy for the United States. Involuntary assimilation was a policy during the late 19th century when the U.S. and Canadian governments forced nearly 150,000 Native American and Indigenous children into Residential Schools reminiscent of Oliver Twist’s orphanage. In fact, the Residential Schools’ conditions were…
Did you know that picture book authors and illustrators do not communicate until the project is completed? I think it’s to give the illustrator some creative space to bring the words to life. No one likes to be micromanaged by someone else’s vision. My debut picture book, SUMO JOE, with illustrator Nat Iwata is not…
My Book List of Lists by Category Each book list below is a list of lists. There are 300+ book lists for kids and teens that I’ve made, cross-categorized. Click on the blue text to see the list. Please let me know if you are having trouble finding a book or topic. I will either email…
I’m thrilled to have author and illustrator Jen Betton here today. We met at a children’s book writing class a few years back. It was a community education class at my local high school but was special. Illustrator Jannie Ho was also in the class, working on writing picture books. It’s probably unusual, but after that…
Please welcome my guest author today, Mary Lyn Ray with her list of gratitude picture books. I always like to highlight thankfulness as we turn the corner towards November. We are giving away 3 copies of her book, The Thank You Book. Please fill out the Rafflecopter at the bottom to enter. The Thank You…
Please welcome author Sandra Neil Wallace with her 10 True Kidlit Immigration Stories book list. She was my guest earlier for her book Between the Lines: How Ernie Barnes Went from the Football Field to the Art Gallery and her book list on 10 Diverse Picture Books on Fine Artists. I’m thrilled to have her back! Her…
I’m thrilled to be doing the cover reveal and giveaway for The Writers’ Loft newest anthology. This is a writing group that I joined a few years ago when I started writing picture books. I love the supportive atmosphere and the opportunity to join picture book critique groups, writing seminars, and lectures about a range…