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.
By Sara Truuvert Sweaty palms, shaking limbs, and the distinct possibility of puking. Am I describing riding a rollercoaster or having a crush in middle school? These two thrill rides collide in Jake Maia Arlow’s MG debut Almost Flying. The novel follows thirteen-year-old Dalia, who has planned the perfect summer: finally ride a rollercoaster . . .
By Sara Truuvert From Graci Kim, you should expect the unexpected. A Korean-Kiwi diplomat turned cooking show host turned author, who ran away with the circus in pursuit of a Colombian tightrope walker, Graci is bringing us a novel about Korean witch clans in LA, who conduct ancient rituals and shop at . . .
By Sara Truuvert M.O. Yuksel never imagined she would be an author, but that changed when she was asked to read to her son’s preschool class a picture book about a Muslim holiday. Unable to find such a book suited to her son’s age group, she decided to write one herself, launching . . .
By Sara Truuvert One morning, when she was walking her young children to school, Charlotte Offsay picked up a piece of trash and threw it in a nearby garbage can. She had no idea that this simple action would spark a conversation with her children about doing their part to keep the environment . . .
I am *very* excited to reveal the cover of I’M SORRY, which launches from Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers on September 6, 2021! This is the newest in the I’M…. picture book series written by Michael Ian Black and illustrated by me (Debbie Ridpath Ohi). Don’t you love Laurent . . .
By Sara Truuvert When I reached out to Chrystal D. Giles back in November 2020, the excitement around Take Back the Block was already palpable. A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection and Kids’ IndieNext Pick, the novel has garnered praise from numerous authors and a starred review from School Library Journal. Take Back the Block follows Wes, a funny, stylish sixth-grader whose main . . .
I am thrilled to be interviewing Basil Sylvester and Kevin Sylvester about their new middle grade book, THE FABULOUS ZED WATSON!, which launches *today* from HarperCollins. You can attend the virtual launch party tomorrow (Jan.27) courtesy Glad Day Bookshop and HarperCollinsCanada: see the Facebook Event Page and Glad Day Lit TV page. Excerpt from the Quill and . . .
By Sara Truuvert How do you teach children about intolerance? How do you teach them about death? How do you introduce to them a culture with which they may not be familiar? You turn to books like Root Magic, the MG debut of author Eden Royce. Hailed as “spellbinding”, “necessary”, and a “must-read”, Root . . .
By Sara Truuvert “My daughter said she wasn’t going to science camp because ‘science was for boys.’” Shelli R. Johannes had never written a picture book when she heard her daughter’s stance on science, but it sparked the idea that she, with co-author and friend Kimberly Derting, would turn into the Loves Science series. Libby . . .
By Sara Truuvert Christina Li likes to keep herself busy. At just 14, she began querying literary agents and at 15 pitched live to her current agent. Now, Christina is making her literary debut with Clues to the Universe, an MG novel she wrote and sold all before beginning her junior year at . . .