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…
Category: Best Books for Kids
Best picture books, chapter books, young adult books, graphic novels and non fiction for kids.
My List of Lists
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…
9 Picture Books about Kindness and Compassion
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…
10 Picture Books to be Thankful For
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…
10 True Kidlit Immigration Stories
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…
Cover Reveal of AN ASSORTMENT OF ANIMALS: A Children’s Poetry Anthology
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…
Meeting My Editor for SUMO JOE
Attending Kweli’s The Color of Children’s Literature Conference brought me to New York City, with just enough time to squeeze in a visit to meet Kandace Coston, my editor at Lee and Low Books for SUMO JOE, illustrated by Nat Iwata. The office building is secured, so I had to have the security guard call me…







