Interviews (scroll down) with book creators and others in the children’s book community. I’m still gradually moving these over from the old site; thanks for your patience.
Many of these book creators were kind enough to offer useful Advice For Young Writers and Illustrators.
Wat Takes His Shot is the stirring biography of Japanese American basketball star Wataru Misaka–the first person of color to play in the NBA. The book has already garnered praise, including being a Junior Library Guild Selection and garnering a starred review in School Library Journal. Title: WAT TAKES HIS . . .
I first heard about Hanh Bui and Ánh’s New Word during the SCBWI Summer Conference last year, when I covered the Debut Author Panel for Team Blog; you can read my post on the SCBWI Conference Blog. Beautifully illustrated by Bao Luu, Ánh’s New Word is about a child living . . .
We’re delighted to interview the creators behind Mamie Tape Fights To Go To School, based on the true story of an eight-year-old Chinese American changemaker who fought for the right to go to school in San Francisco in the 1880s. Title: MAMIE TAPE FIGHTS TO GO TO SCHOOLAuthor: Traci Huahn . . .
Thanks to author Sylvia Chen and illustrator Fanny Liem for answering some questions about their new picture book, TRICKY CHOPSTICKS, now out from Atheneum/Simon & Schuster. This is Sylvia’s debut as a picture book author! Upcoming launch event: Mar. 19, 2024 at Brick & Mortar Books (Redmond, WA). Title: TRICKY . . .
I loved The Fabulous Zed Watson by Basil Sylvester and Kevin Sylvester, so couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy of their newest book, Night Of The Living Zed. You can win a copy of their book; I’m giving away a copy, plus you can also solve a . . .
Interview by Julie Damerell Stephanie Wildman, author of TREASURE HUNT (2022) (ill. Estefania Razo) and BRAVE IN THE WATER (2021) (illo. Jenni Feidler-Aguilar) became a Professor Emerita after serving as John and Elizabeth Sutro Chair at Santa Clara Law. She is a grandmother, mother, spouse, friend, and good listener who . . .
Happy New Year! To celebrate the start of 2024, I’m giving away a copy of A GIFT FOR NAI NAI, written and illustrated by debut picture book creator Kim-Hoa Ung. Scroll to the end of the interview for details on how to enter. Psst: if you have helped boost this . . .
By Julie Damerell Jody Jensen Shaffer is an award-winning poet and the author of more than 80 books for children, including PRUDENCE THE PART-TIME COW, IT’S YOUR FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, BUSY BUS!, A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK, EMERGENCY KITTENS! and more. You can learn more about Jody at . . .
Author photo credit: Randi Childs. Interview by Julie Damerell Ronni Diamondstein spent her life surrounded by books and immersed in the world of children’s literature. As a school library media specialist and teacher of gifted and talented students in the United States and abroad, Ronni nurtured her students’ creativity by . . .
Daphne Benedis-Grab is the author of the middle grade novels I KNOW YOUR SECRET, I KNOW YOU’RE LYING, and CLEMENTINE FOR CHRISTMAS as well as the young adult book THE GIRL IN THE WALL. Her middle grade book THE ANGEL TREE was made into a Hallmark Original movie. She earned . . .