Category: Book Launch Parties

Book Launch Day for MAMA'S CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS Coming Next Week!

7/27/2024

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Book Launch Celebration Day!

If you're in my neck of the woods, please come by and celebrate with me!

Saturday, August 3, 2024, 2-4 pm
Jefferson Madison Regional Library, Central Branch
201 E. Market St.
Charlottesville, VA, 22902

In honor of historical fiction, wear vintage from any decade before the 1990s for an extra chance to win a gift basket of goodies worth $200!

Free swag & stuff
Snacks
Fun activities
Munch on chicken & dumplings
Learn more about the setting, Vinegar Hill
Listen to local youths play a flute duet
And more!

Young ones, enter my coloring contest by bringing a drawing of yourself cooking together with a family member.
The winner will be chosen by kidlit professionals.

Order your copy from your favorite indie or from mine, Buebird & Co. HERE.

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Hooray! Happy Book-Launch Day for THE WILD GARDEN! Meet the Author-Illustrator

5/3/2022

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Welcome! Cynthia Cliff,
Author & Illustrator
of

Cynthia, welcome! I am super excited about having a share in launching your beautiful new picture book THE WILD GARDEN that came out today! As you know, I've been a fan of your work ever since I discovered it on the Mid-Atlantic SCBWI's Illustrator Gallery. And I must tell you that when I read THE WILD GARDEN, I fell in love not only with your illustrations, but also with the sweet ode your words sing in honor of all that is beautiful and bountiful growing and living in wild, open spaces. Thanks so much for stopping by!

No, thank you, Dionna! I'm delighted to be here!

The honor is all mine! So, why did you decide to create a story that celebrates that which grows and lives in wild open spaces?

I think that I actually “wrote” this story when I was a child. I loved the wild places that surrounded my rural childhood home. I spent hours and hours outside exploring those places—the woodlands, meadows, and waterways. It was a magical place and time that made a big impression on me. The elders in my family would take us out to forage for edible plants and fruits like sassafras for tea. There were wild asparagus in the early spring, all kinds of wild berries for pies in the summer, and nuts in the fall that my mother would bake into a cake for Christmas. Being out in nature was always like a treasure hunt for the delightful, the delicious, and the curious. So, when tasked by Prestel to develop a garden themed story, The Wild Garden narrative developed organically as I mined my childhood memories.

Did you name the village of your story Mirren after the Village of Mürren in Switzerland?

Is there a Mürren in Switzerland? I had no idea. My Mirren is a totally made-up place. The name just popped into my head. I liked the sound of it. It is a lyrical word. I liked that it almost sounded like mirror. I thought that was useful in the story as the two settings in the book—the wild place and the community garden—share many similarities. In the book I bounce between the two places and compare them to each other. I tried out other names for the village but kept coming back to Mirren.

Your color palette in THE WILD GARDEN reminds me of redbuds dressed up for Spring! Why did you choose it for this story?

I first started by developing a color palette for my main characters to make sure they would stand out against all the greenery in the story. I do have a palette that I tend to use, which felt right—colors that are bright but a bit earthly as well, so I leaned into those inclinations. Nature is colorful and I wanted the book to be colorful too.

Do you, like your main character Jilly, have your own wild place to explore? If so, what do you love about it and how does it inspire or inform your kidlit work?

These days I do have a favorite local place to hike and go there as often as I can. It is a very large public space that has both grand vistas and small, intimate woody spaces. I enjoy that mix. In my life I’ve been lucky enough to spend time in many amazing wild places, but my very favorite place to hike is in northern Maine along the coast. In that place, the earthy, mossy, and dreamy woodlands run alongside a granite strewn shoreline, which makes these trails full of magic and wonder--a perfect mix of restfulness and energy. When you look closely, you can find tiny flowers, lichens, and all kinds of little creatures every step of the way. This is the kind of place where I like to recharge, explore, and draw. It’s a place that feeds the soul and inspires, which is important for everyone, and especially for creative people.

As you worked with your Prestel Junior editor Doris Kutschbach going from original submitted manuscript to the finished proof, what about the process surprised you, and/or did you enjoy the most?

I guess what surprised me the most was how incredibly hard it is to write a picture book story for children! The general public has no idea. It’s like catching lightening in a bottle, at least that's how it was for me. There were many, many drafts. Doris was so helpful, she offered encouragement and wise advice. For me the most enjoyable part of the process was making the artwork, of course.

Why do you hope kids will enjoy reading your book? Is there a theme or lesson you'd like for them to carry away?

I think the main lesson is about understanding why the wild landscape is important. Those wildflowers, nuts, berries, and mushrooms are food for wild creatures. It is their garden, in a sense. And those little saplings, rocky hillsides, and mossy ponds are their homes. Often, when children are outside, they might not take the time to look around and think about that connection. On another level, a second lesson might be about speaking up to protect what you value and to not be afraid to do so. But it's my hope that the biggest lesson learned will come through kids enjoying and discovering wild places just like Jilly, my main character, does. I hope my book will encourage children everywhere to experience the richness and excitement found in nature, if they take the time to look.

Wonderful lessons, indeed! Well, thanks so much, Cynthia, for allowing me to shine a spotlight on THE WILD GARDEN and on you today--your Book Launch Day! (WOOT!) Can't wait to read about Jilly's next adventure.

Thanks for having me!

Cynthia Cliff grew up in a tiny historic village in rural Virginia, surrounded by animals, gardens, and a large extended family. This provided her with a love of history, family, nature, and folklore—themes that find their way into much of her work. Cynthia began her professional illustration career in 2019 after living many other lives. Her first authored and illustrated book PIE FOR BREAKFAST, a baking book for children, came out in 2021. She is represented by Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Today, you'll find Cynthia residing in Virginia just outside of Washington, D.C., and online at cynthiacliff.com.

Filled with charmingly rustic illustrations of people, plants and animals, THE WILD GARDEN, written and illustrated by Cynthia Cliff and published on May 3, 2022, by Prestel Junior, is about community and biodiversity introduces children to the variety of ways things can grow and flourish in nature. Purchase your copy today, HERE!

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Hooray! Happy Book-Launch Day for THE WILD GARDEN! Meet the Editor

5/3/2022

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©Cynthia Cliff, cynthiacliff.com

Welcome! Doris Kutschbach,
Kidlit Editor
of

Thanks so much for stopping by, Doris! All the way from Munich, Germany! Hope your trip went well. HAHA!

The smoothest trip ever! I'm delighted, of course, to talk about The Wild Garden, Cynthia's latest picture book with Prestel Junior.

The delight is all mine! So, when you received Cynthia's submission for THE WILD GARDEN , why did you want to acquire it?

I had worked with Cynthia on her first book Pie for Breakfast, which has been published by Prestel Junior in both English and German. For me, it was such a pleasure to work with Cynthia, and I really loved the result of our collaboration, so I knew that I wanted to work with her again. I guess that the idea to make a book about gardening and nature came from me! I believe that a mindful, respectful handling of nature is extremely important for the future of our planet and our children. Saving our planet is such a strong message of our time. Cynthia was excited about the idea. She came up with a range of proposals based around that topic and we developed the book from there.

What do you love about Cynthia's illustrations found in THE WILD GARDEN?

Above everything else I love her fine sense of color and color combinations. How she uses tones, shades, accents and contrasts. Her images are not just colorful. There is a beautiful underlying harmony that ties the illustrations throughout the book together. I also love the attention to detail in her pictures. Each detail tells a little story and children can discover so much. Cynthia seems to understand really well how children view the world.

I adore Cynthia's color palette too! What do you love about the story's characters--Jilly, Bleu and Grandpa--and their love for wild, open spaces?

Jilly and her grandfather know their beloved wilderness very well. The story really shows the joy they feel when they're there. It's very nice that they find a clever way to share this joy and love of nature with the other townspeople and bring about a positive change in the way other people think. Their protest is peaceful, friendly and full of empathy--important things in our aggressive times!

So true! Do you have your own wild open space you enjoy? If so, describe what you love about it and what kinds of things you like to 'gather' there.

I am fortunate enough to have my own garden! It has old fruit trees and it is a bit overgrown, which means many animals feel comfortable there: insects, hedgehogs, squirrels, toads, newts and birds. My family and I enjoy the garden very much and look forward to fresh organic apples, plums, pears, berries, tomatoes and vegetables. The garden was a great gift, especially during the lockdown. Nature can really ground us and give us a sense of calm in stressful times.

I agree! Why do you hope children everywhere will read this book?

I hope that the book will encourage children all over the world to have fun discovering nature, learn mindfulness and understand the importance of protecting our planet. Every child, no matter how small, can make a difference. The book can also help children learn about peaceful communication--which can be applied in so many aspects of life!

I couldn't agree more, Doris. WOW! I have really enjoyed your visit. Thanks so much for allowing me to share in launching THE WILD GARDEN. Or should I say Danke! May it have many more printings!

Doris Kutschbach wears many kidlit hats. Besides being a program manager and editorial director at Prestel Junior, she's an art historian who has written several children's books about art, including Art Detective: Spot the Difference. Doris is a passionate amateur gardener who lives with her family in Munich, Germany. You can find Doris's books HERE.

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Book Launch Party for THE WILD GARDEN!

5/2/2022

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©Cynthia Cliff, cynthiacliff.com

I am super excited to announce that tomorrow I'll be hosting a BOOK LAUNCH PARTY for THE WILD GARDEN, written and illustrated by Cynthia Cliff, and published by Prestel Junior.
WOOT!
I hope you'll join in the celebration! You won't regret getting to know Cynthia and her editor Doris Kutschbach a little better. And please, give a little shout-out by leaving a message in the comments.
On May 4th at 11 AM, the Book-Launch fun for THE WILD GARDEN will continue as Schuler Books hosts a Facebook Live event with Cynthia engaging young audiences with a virtual storytime. Tune in HERE.

Filled with charmingly rustic illustrations of people, plants and animals, THE WILD GARDEN, written and illustrated by Cynthia Cliff and published on May 3, 2022, by Prestel Junior, is about community and biodiversity. Sure to delight, it introduces young readers to the variety of ways things can grow and flourish in nature. Purchase your copy today, HERE!

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Lions & Cheetahs & Rhinos! OH MY! Launch Party Day Seven!

8/21/2020

3 Comments

Animal artwork by Lerato from Malawi

OH MY! Kid Interviewer:
Madeline

Hi, Madeline! So nice of you to join us.

Thank you, Mrs. Mann, for having me!

The pleasure is all mine! Do tell about the interview you had with Moira Donohue, coauthor of LIONS & CHEETAHS & RHINOS! OH MY!

I did a Zoom interview with Ms. Moira Donohue. I liked being on Zoom with her because she is so friendly and paid attention to me when I talked. It makes me know she’s listening to my question and not taking it lightly. I learned a lot from her about animals, good sources, and about her work. I found out we put some of the same information in both our books!

That's cool! So I heard that Moira's publisher mailed you a review copy of LION, CHEETAHS & RHINOS! OH MY!, and that Moira sent you a signed bookplate. Did you enjoy reading the book?

LION, CHEETAHS & RHINOS! OH MY!, her newest book, was AWESOME!!! The writing was well said and I wouldn't change anything. But what really caught my eye was the illustrations. Were those really made by kids!?! Those pictures look professionally done. The artwork is so realistic and the illustrations capture the actions and behaviors of the animals.

So would you recommend the book to your classmates?

I would recommend the book to my classmates because It tells interesting facts about the animals and the pictures are impressive because they are made by kids, just like us.

Pages from Madeline's book, her third-grade school project

I heard you wrote a book for a school project that is similar in scope to John and Moira's book. Do tell a little about it, why you chose African animals as your research area, and what you enjoyed about the process.

This past year at school, I got to make a digital book on any topic as an individual project. I chose to write about African animals because I really like animals and almost all of my favorite animals live in Africa. The research I did about the 11 animals I chose was the hardest part of making my book. It took a long time, but it was neat to find out some facts I didn’t know. As part of my project, I was supposed to illustrate the book because I love art. Since we missed so much school in the spring [because of COVID-19], I ran out of time to do all the artwork for so many animals. I used digital photographs instead. It was still really fun to choose the photos, design the layout of the book and pick lots of different colors. So it was still a big art project and that was my favorite part.

Do you think you might like to be a writer or illustrator of books for younger readers when you grow up? If so, why?

I might like to become a writer and illustrator of books for young readers when I grow up because I enjoy listening to stories and making up new stories and I love to draw and paint. I also like to research and learn about things that happened in history. That would be fun to write about.

You're on your way, Madeline! Thanks again for stopping by. It was great having you!

It was fun!

Madeline is 9 years old and will be in the fourth grade when school starts in the fall. She enjoys learning about many subjects in school. Madeline loves reading, drawing, painting, making crafts, playing soccer, dancing, making I-Movies, and playing with her friends!

Win a chance to receive a signed copy of this book by leaving a comment anytime during the party's duration!

Ten African animals, including lions, zebras, giraffes, and elephants, are brought to life in colorful artwork, accompanied by fun nature facts. Written by John Platt and Moira Rose Donohue, each animal portrait is painted by a student from the How to Draw a Lion program. Established in 2018 by New York artist John Platt, How to Draw a Lion is a nonprofit art education program that provides art classes for children in sub-Saharan Africa (Sleeping Bear Press, August 15, 2020).

"A successful combination of factual prose and appealing artwork."
School Library Journal
Purchase your copy today!

All images used with permission from Madeline's mom and Sleeping Bear Press.

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Lions & Cheetahs & Rhinos! OH MY! Launch Party Day Six!

8/20/2020

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Animal artwork by Vincenti from Tanzania

OH MY! Kids:
Sub-Saharan Artists

Ally
from Tanzania

"My favorite animal is the lion (Simba in Swahili) because its the king of beasts and it has an awesome mane. In art class, I learned how to paint pictures more realistically by blending colors. I used to draw all the time when I was younger but its knowing how to paint that can make a picture look real. It feels amazing that our work will be in the book and I hope they feel amazed by our talents and that its interesting for them!"

Christopher
from Malawi

"My favorite African animal to paint is a lion because it’s so beautiful and easy for me to draw (I love tigers for the same reason!). In art class, I have learned carefulness and neatness and to take your time. I feel really good and proud to know that our talent will be known across the world and I hope kids who read the book will get more drawing skills and believe in themselves--they can also do it!"

Lerato
from Malawi

"My favorite animal to paint is the horse because of the way it moves. I love to paint the hair moving as it runs, but for African animals my favorite is the elephant. I have learned a lot in art class like how to mix different colors but also how to make sure that the animal is in the same position in the painting as it is in the photo you work from. Maybe its running, or walking or just standing, but you have to make sure you are showing those movements and positions. I feel good about my art being featured in a children’s book so that our art can be known to so many children and they can see and learn from us. I hope American kids will get some knowledge about different animals, what they look like, the way they run and eat and do so many things and also learn to believe in themselves that they can do it and do better!"

Paulo
from Tanzania

"My favorite animal is the black panther because they have good hunting skills and I love the movie Black Panther. In art class, I leaned that art is part of my talents, its something I hadn’t really tried before. It feels really great that my work is included in the book and I hope kids everywhere will enjoy it. I hope they will be good artists and learn that art is a good talent to have."

Rahim
from Tanzania

"My favorite animal to paint is the cheetah because it is so fast. In art class, I learned how to paint and blend the colors, but I love the idea of being in the book because I could be a famous artist! I hope that kids in America will be proud of our talent and want to paint just like us"

Samuel
from Kenya

"My favorite animal is the cheetah. This is because from my childhood I used to hear about its speed, where it is the fastest animal in the world. In art class, I have learned how to sketch and make the drawing proportional without using the grid method. I learned painting and also putting very important details. I also learned how to use different kind of brushes, mixing colors and coming up with different colors. It makes me feel very good to know that my art is being featured in a children's book. I am really proud of that! I really hope American kids will get inspired by the book, feeling enjoyment when reading about African wild animals. And for those who are talented in art, I hope they will get inspired."

Vicenti
from Tanzania

"My favorite animal to paint is the cheetah because I love the shape of the body and carefully painting the spots. In art class, I have learned to never give up if the picture looks bad--keep going and it will eventually be all right. I have also learned not to get too excited before you finish your picture because you can mess up the picture. I feel really great that I am in the book and I hope American kids will be excited about it. I hope they will notice that art is a great skill that you can learn."

Yohani
from Tanzania

"I love to paint elephants on sunsets, impalas and cheetahs. These animals are fun for me to draw and paint. In art class, we worked on doing reflections in the water of animals as they walk along and that was really hard. It feels wonderful to be included in the book and I hope all other kids will like it!"

The ten young people interviewed here contributed artwork published in LIONS & CHEETAHS & RHINOS! OH MY!, written by Moira Donohue and John Platt, and published by Sleeping Bear Press. When painting the animal portraits found in the book, they were from 10 to 23 years old and lived in Tanzania, Kenya, and Malawi. They learned how to draw, paint and depict African wildlife from professional artists volunteering with How To Draw A Lion, an art-based education program founded by John Platt, an award-winning New York based artist. How to Draw a Lion is a nonprofit with low overhead that raises funds by hosting art shows with the children's art. Some of the young artists in the program, like Samuel, have gone on to become professional art instructors themselves. Find out more at drawalion.com.

"A successful combination of factual prose and appealing artwork."
School Library Journal
Purchase your copy today

Win a chance to receive a signed copy of this book by leaving a comment anytime during the party's duration!

All images used with permission of Sleeping Bear Press

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Lions & Cheetahs & Rhinos! OH MY! Launch Party Day Five!

8/19/2020

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Animal artwork by Yahani from Tanzania

OH MY! Kidlit Book Designer:
Felicia Macheske

When you first read John and Moira’s manuscript for LIONS & CHEETAHS & RHINOS OH MY!, why did you fall in love with it?

I have always loved animals, so it was very easy for me to enjoy this book. The text is fun and has both a sense of humor and a sense of adventure while sharing factual valuable information about the animals.

Why did you also fall in love with the idea that the book would be illustrated by children living in the sub-Saharan parts of Africa?

I thought this book was a wonderful opportunity to be able to give these children some way to be recognized for their accomplishments. The book is also a great way for children in the United States to relate to children in other parts of the world.

Were there any particular challenges during this book’s creation?

This book was a very different process from most books I work on, so that was an interesting change for me. John gathered all the art, the permissions, and handled getting the art scanned. My biggest challenge was taking paintings by many children and creating a cohesive looking book. A book needs to feel like a single thing. I took hints from where the children live and from the wildlife they depicted. That lead me to choose patterns that echo the animals depicted and the environment of the African countries the children reside in. I also took hints from the children’s paintings and from some of John’s paintings to determine the color palette I worked with.

How did you feel when the kids' artwork started coming in?

I was pleased. The paintings by these children are quite accomplished. I thought they were beautiful and deserved a very special presentation in the book. Once I started putting things together, I had a lot of fun with the design of the book.

What do you love about the final product and why do you hope kids here in the U.S. will read it?

I am pleased with the cheerfulness of the book. And I love the photographs of the children on the back of the book. I think children in the U.S. will be fascinated that these are paintings done by children like them and will want to try drawing a lion, or they can try drawing the wildlife they see near their homes, or even their own pet.

Felicia Macheske is a book designer, art director and fine artist. She has been designing and art directing books at Sleeping Bear Press for twenty years. She also works on series book design for several other imprints for Cherry Lake Publishing. Felicia received her Master of Fine Arts degree from Arizona State University specializing in drawing. She continues to paint, draw, and experiment with mosaics in her free time.

Win a chance to receive a signed copy of this book by leaving a comment anytime during the party's duration!

Ten African animals, including lions, zebras, giraffes, and elephants, are brought to life in colorful artwork, accompanied by fun nature facts. Written by John Platt and Moira Rose Donohue, each animal portrait is painted by a student from the How to Draw a Lion program. Established in 2018 by New York artist John Platt, How to Draw a Lion is a nonprofit art education program that provides art classes for children in sub-Saharan Africa (Sleeping Bear Press, August 15, 2020).

A successful combination of factual prose and appealing artwork."
School Library Journal
Purchase your copy today

All art used by permission from Sleeping Bear Press.

1 Comment

Lions & Cheetahs & Rhinos! OH MY! Launch Party Day Four!

8/18/2020

1 Comment

Animal artwork by Pamphy from Kenya

OH MY! Kidlit Editor:
Barb McNally

When you first read John and Moira’s manuscript for LIONS & CHEETAHS & RHINOS OH MY!, why did you fall in love with it?

What intrigued me about the project was how the book could be “assembled.” Normally you have a manuscript and then you select an artist and go on from there. In this case, we would be working backward. We knew what the art would be like--paintings done by African children working with John Platt's nonprofit, Draw a Lion--but needed to design the book around it. I also was taken with the organization’s mission of educating and supporting young artists in Africa.

How did you pitch the project during your acquisition meeting, and why were you excite to do so?

It wasn’t the easiest of pitches, as everyone immediately saw the challenges of the project. But I kept my focus on the importance of John’s mission and how wonderful it would be to bring it to young readers in the U.S. I was confident we could handle the design challenges because we have fantastic designers.

What were your thoughts about the manuscript being illustrated by children living in the sub-Saharan parts of Africa?

I loved the idea of having children illustrate the book. They are, after all, the intended audience for a picture book and to show their visual interpretation of the subject was a real flip-flop of the process. At this point, we had seen only a small selection of the images proposed, so it was exciting to think about how each young artist would tackle their animal topic.

Were there any particular challenges when revising the text? If so, how did you and the authors work together to work out the wrinkles?

Initially, text changes were minimal and more along the lines of verifying the science content. It was later when we needed to change the title of the book that it became apparent that we needed to make sure the text supported the message of the new title. We had some good back-and-forth discussions of how to get the text there and I think we were pleased with the end result.

How do you feel about the final product and why do you hope kids here in the U.S. will read it?

I absolutely love how the book has turned out! The artwork from the children is just gorgeous and their skill level is extraordinary—a real testament to John and his program. I would love for all young readers to enjoy the book, absorb the science facts/think about the animal conservation message, and then look at the artwork and say, “This is something I can do.” How wonderful to inspire young artists!

Artwork by Penuel from Kenya

Barb McNally has been in the book industry for more than 30 years. She is a senior children’s editor at Sleeping Bear Press and has been with the company for 18 years.

Win a chance to receive a signed copy of this book by leaving a comment anytime during the party's duration!

Ten African animals, including lions, zebras, giraffes, and elephants, are brought to life in colorful artwork, accompanied by fun nature facts. Written by John Platt and Moira Rose Donohue, each animal portrait is painted by a student from the How to Draw a Lion program. Established in 2018 by New York artist John Platt, How to Draw a Lion is a nonprofit art education program that provides art classes for children in sub-Saharan Africa (Sleeping Bear Press, August 15, 2020).

A successful combination of factual prose and appealing artwork."
School Library Journal
Purchase your copy today

All art used buy permission of Sleeping Bear Press

1 Comment

Lions & Cheetahs & Rhinos! OH MY! Launch Party Day Three!

8/17/2020

0 Comments

Animal artwork by Rahim from Tanzania

OH MY! Kidlit Agent:
Jennifer Unter

When Moira and John first spoke to you about their idea of writing LIONS & CHEETAHS & RHINOS OH MY!, why were you excited about it?

I loved the idea of a picture book with art by children, and when I saw the art, I was blown away. The art is so beautiful and life-like and I just fell in love with it. I also love the fact that we would be helping those very kids who drew the animals!

I was blown away, too! When deciding who to submit the project to, why did you send it to Barb McNally at Sleeping Bear Press?

I sent it to Barb since she does very interesting books that are usually a little serious and a little out-of-the-box.

That makes sense! What was Barb's initial response after reading the manuscript and was the acquisition process an exciting one?

Barb loved it immediately. It’s always an exciting process when an editor loves and buys the book!

How do you feel about the manuscript being illustrated by children, even though this is not the industry norm?

I love the idea. You would never know that children illustrated this book since the art is so sophisticated. It’s almost like the animals are glowing, there’s so much life in them.

I agree! How do you feel about the final product, and why do you hope kids here in the U.S. will read it?

It’s a gorgeous book. I think kids in the US will see this art and realize that these children get to see these magnificent animals all the time, which is such a different experience than what we live here in the States. Whenever you can see how someone else lives, you are hopefully expanding your horizons and learning more than what you knew before you read the book.

Jennifer Unter of The Unter Agency has worked in many aspects of the publishing industry from editorial at Henry Holt, to a copyright lawyer at an entertainment firm. In addition to placing projects at domestic and foreign publishers, she also sells to audio, film and television. She is a member of Women’s Media Group. You will find her tweeting @JenniferUnter.

Win a chance to receive a signed copy of this book by leaving a comment anytime during the party's duration!

Ten African animals, including lions, zebras, giraffes, and elephants, are brought to life in colorful artwork, accompanied by fun nature facts. Written by John Platt and Moira Rose Donohue, each animal portrait is painted by a student from the How to Draw a Lion program. Established in 2018 by New York artist John Platt, How to Draw a Lion is a nonprofit art education program that provides art classes for children in sub-Saharan Africa (Sleeping Bear Press, August 15, 2020).

A successful combination of factual prose and appealing artwork."
School Library Journal
Purchase your copy today

Art used by permission of Sleeping Bear Press

0 Comments

Lions & Cheetahs & Rhinos! OH MY! Launch Party Day Two!

8/16/2020

3 Comments

Animal artwork by Yohani from Tanzania

OH MY! Kidlit Author:
Moira Rose Donohue

When you first met John Platt while visiting Tanzania, Africa, at the Rift Valley Children’s Village where he teaches children art and where you daughter was working, why did you decide to join him in writing LIONS & CHEETAHS & RHINOS! OH MY!

When I first met John, I wanted to sit in on one of his art classes to see how he taught children to draw and paint. I was so impressed. As we began to talk about our work (I think I was working on a book about the rainforest for National Geographic at the time), we found we shared a creative vision and appreciated each other’s processes. And we shared some unusual overlapping interests as well. I discovered that John had a playlist with big band music that I could use to teach the children how to tap dance!

We didn’t know what we might create together, but before we said goodbye, we promised to give some thought to a joint project. As I reflected upon my time with John, I came to appreciate more fully this young, talented man who was donating his talent as an art teacher, as well as his time every summer, to teach painting and drawing to children in east Africa. I knew we had to do something to highlight their art.

When deciding on the format to tell this informational nonfiction picture book, why did you both decide on focusing on using the phrase “if you want to draw a lion…”?

My recollection is that, like most creative things, the idea to use that phrase just came to both of us from some creative force in the universe. When we started seriously bouncing ideas back and forth, it stuck. Even though I don’t usually write in second person, it seemed like the right approach for this book—I hope readers agree!

When you saw the artwork for the book created by children living in sub-Saharan Africa, how did it make you feel?

Not being an artist, I am in awe of anyone who can paint or draw something recognizable! But when I first saw this artwork, I was stunned by its beauty. It fills your eyes with vibrant color and depicts such gorgeous creatures. And it reminds us all that art has no boundaries, geographic, or otherwise--it is for everyone.

I agree! Why did you decide to donate your portion of the proceeds of this book to John’s nonprofit, How to Draw a Lion?

Actually, we are donating all of our proceeds to the nonprofit. We are both committed to continuing John’s teaching every summer in several African countries because it helps children who would not otherwise be exposed to his art lessons. Naturally, airfare and lodging for three months is expensive and John has been spending his own money to provide this creative outlet. But he can return year after year if some of his expenses are covered through the donations to drawalion.com. Further, the children can continue receiving their art education.

Why do you hope children here in the United States will read LIONS & CHEETAHS & RHINOS! OH MY!?

I hope they will see the incredible artwork that children who live far away from them have created--especially children from different cultures with different lifestyles. And I hope they will be inspired to make art of their own. In addition, as an animal lover who has written a number of books about animals and who has been lucky enough to go on several safaris, I want children here to get learn something about the amazing animals that live on the African continent.

Moira Rose Donohue is the award-winning author of over 30 books for children, mostly nonfiction. She began writing for children after her defection from the practice of banking law. She has published several books with National Geographic, including LITTLE KIDS FIRST BIG BOOK ABOUT THE RAIN FOREST. Her book GREAT WHITE SHARKS is a Junior Library Guild Selection, and her fictional books about punctuation marks, ALFIE AND THE PUNCTUATION BEE and PENNY AND THE PUNCTUATION BEE, are favorites in the classroom. Moira is a co-regional advisor of the Florida SCBWI. She lives in St. Petersburg, Florida with her dog, Petunia. moirarosedonohue.net

Win a chance to receive a signed copy of this book by leaving a comment anytime during the party's duration!

Ten African animals, including lions, zebras, giraffes, and elephants, are brought to life in colorful artwork, accompanied by fun nature facts. Written by John Platt and Moira Rose Donohue, each animal portrait is painted by a student from the How to Draw a Lion program. Established in 2018 by New York artist John Platt, How to Draw a Lion is a nonprofit art education program that provides art classes for children in sub-Saharan Africa (Sleeping Bear Press, August 15, 2020).

A successful combination of factual prose and appealing artwork."
School Library Journal
Purchase your copy today

All art used by permission of Sleeping Bear Press.

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Lions & Cheetahs & Rhinos! OH MY! Launch Party Day One!

8/15/2020

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Animal artwork by Samuel from Kenya

OH MY! Kidlit Author:
John Platt

How did the idea come to you of using the beautiful, expressive art of African animals painted by children living in sub-Sharan Africa whose talents are revealed while enrolled in your art-education program, How To Draw A Lion?

I first had the idea of doing a children’s book back in 2016 and started putting art aside for it then, choosing whichever pieces I thought were really strong that the kids had already done. I didn’t want to make the project about the kids doing something specific for the book, but rather shaping the book around the kids’ creativity.

Why were you excited about the idea of working together with Moira Donohue on the children's book that includes the children's art, LIONS & CHEETAHS & RHINOS! OH MY!, out today from Sleeping Bear Press?

Moira and I met in 2017 in Tanzania, which was total serendipity because she was already a well-known author and I really love her work, especially Penny and the Punctuation Bee, which is such a fun read but also so educational for kids. She attended one of the art classes and saw all the wonderful wildlife paintings the kids were doing. As it turned out, her forthcoming book was Little Kids First Big Book of the Rainforest with National Geographic and we bonded over our shared love of the hyacinth macaw. I mentioned to her my idea for a children’s book on African animals with the kids’ art and we ran with it.

What was your process as you and Moira worked together--going from idea to manuscript from manuscript to book?

I put together a rough outline and Moira and I carefully edited it together. Navigating children’s book writing is really something to do with a professional and Moira’s understanding of prose, structure and editing really shaped the book into what it is today. Moreover she gave the manuscript to her agent who found us a publisher so it really wouldn’t have happened without her, and I am so grateful!

Why did you decide to donate your share of the book's profits to How to Draw a Lion?

It was easy for us to make the decision that all proceeds should go back to the kids through How to Draw a Lion. The focus of the program is really about creative opportunities for youth and we weren’t interested in taking any of the potential revenue stream for ourselves.

That's wonderful, John! How did you feel when you saw the final book?

I was blown away by the book when I first saw it. Felicia, the book's designer, did such an amazing job and I cant wait for others to see it as well! I hope that kids feel inspired to create their own works of art, not just of animals, but to understand there is a whole world in visual art waiting to be discovered!

John Platt is a New York-based artist and founder of How to Draw A Lion, a program providing art classes for children, raising money for their education and creating awareness about child welfare and conservation. The program has taken shape around art classes in several sub-Saharan African nations and the U.S. With an extremely low overhead, no offices and no administrative costs, How to Draw A Lion is a sustainable model of art education and fundraising. Additionally, the How to Draw A Lion student-teacher program allows former students to become educators in their own communities year round. To learn more about this nonprofit, visit drawalion.com. To learn more about John, the artist, visit JohnPlattStudio.com.

Win a chance to receive a signed copy of this book by leaving a comment anytime during the party's duration!

Ten African animals, including lions, zebras, giraffes, and elephants, are brought to life in colorful artwork, accompanied by fun nature facts. Written by John Platt and Moira Rose Donohue, each animal portrait is painted by a student from the How to Draw a Lion program. Established in 2018 by New York artist John Platt, How to Draw a Lion is a nonprofit art education program that provides art classes for children in sub-Saharan Africa (Sleeping Bear Press, August 15, 2020).

A successful combination of factual prose and appealing artwork."
School Library Journal
Purchase your copy today

All art used by permission from Sleeping Bear Press.

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Lion & Cheetahs & Rhinos! OH MY! The Book Launch Party Begins!

8/14/2020

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Animal artwork by Christopher from Malawi

I was beyond delight when my friend of the pen, Moira Donohue, announced that she'd be having a book about African animals published by Sleeping Bear Press, and even more excited when I found out that the book's artwork would be painted by young people who live in sub-Saharan Africa. The children artists have learned to draw, paint and depict lions, cheetahs, elephants and more from professional artists who volunteer with How To Draw A Lion, an art-based education program held in Tanzania, Kenya, and Malawi. How To Draw A Lion was founded by John Platt, an award-winning New York based artist and coauthor of Lions & Cheetahs & Rhinos! OH MY!

I wanted to join in celebrating the release of this book, and so, beginning tomorrow, August 15, I'll be hosting a week-long Lions & Cheetahs & Rhinos! OH MY! Book Launch Party!

During the celebration, I'll be interviewing those involved in the book's creation. On day one of the party, John Platt, the book's coauthor, will be up. On day two, I will interview Moira. On day three, John and Moira's literary agent, Jennifer Unter will be spotlighted. On day four, I will interview Barb McNally, the book's editor. On day five, I will interview Felicia Macheske, the book's designer. And on day six, I am honored to have ten of the children-- artists extraordinaire--as guests. Lastly, on day seven, Madeline, a nine-year-old author of her own book about African animals, will share her thoughts about interviewing Moira, her own writing process, and her thoughts about Moira and John's book.

Will you join me in celebrating this book--a lovely work of art that celebrates both animals and humans living in sub-Saharan Africa? I hope so! Leave a comment for one of our guests and win a chance to receive a free, signed copy of Lions & Cheetahs & Rhinos! OH MY!!

Ten African animals, including lions, zebras, giraffes, and elephants, are brought to life in colorful artwork, accompanied by fun nature facts. Written by John Platt and Moira Rose Donohue, each animal portrait is painted by a student from the How to Draw a Lion program. Established in 2018 by New York artist John Platt, How to Draw a Lion is a nonprofit art education program that provides art classes for children in sub-Saharan Africa. (Sleeping Bear Press, August 15, 2020) Purchase your copy today!

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TAG YOUR DREAMS

4/3/2020

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A Review

Written by award-winning children's book author and poet, Jacqueline Jules, and illustrated by award-winning illustrator, Iris Deppe, each free-verse poem in Tag Your Dreams: Poems of Play and Persistence paints a picture of young people persevering while doing what children do best--playing.

One poem shows a girl and boy wanting to play tennis, but alas, they must wait beneath the lights of night for their turn on the courts. In another poem, a girl is called a name that makes fun of her size. Yet, she swims majestically proud despite it. In another poem, a girl joins her Nana and Pops on a slow pace hike along a trail lined with "sycamore trees wrapped in mottled bark."

No matter the mode of play, no matter the season, no matter the child's gender, every poem in Tag Your Dreams shows a young person learning persistence and patience while perspiring.

"Round and round. Faster and faster.
Sometimes I’m on. Sometimes I’m out.
Who cares as long as
the game keeps moving,
and I still have the chance
to jump back in."

One boy, while confidently riding his bike, swerves to keep hitting a squirrel: "Boom! Blood on my lip. Bent wheel. Broken finger. But no cast. No sling." Soon, he's pedaling again. A girl up to bat recalls how her past indecisiveness about whether or not to swing ended up poorly for her. This time, she decides to keep her eye on the ball and "send fear sailing over the fence."

Parents, physical education instructors, and teachers alike will enjoy having this collection of poems on hand, for each poem highlights the internal voice of a child learning persistence while engaging in play. Young readers will also enjoy Iris Deppe's simple illustrative style. Each image shows all kinds of children playing together--whether one participant is sitting in a wheelchair or leaning on crutches, or another is blond-haired or brown-skinned, or whether the player is female or male. That in itself is tagging a dream.

Released by Albert Whitman & Company April 1, 2020. Order your copy HERE.

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TAG YOUR DREAMS Blog Party! Day 2

4/2/2020

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Welcome, Iris Deppe,
illustrator of Tag Your Dreams!

So excited to have you here, Iris, and to be celebrating the release of Tag Your Dreams: Poems of Play and Persistence--written by Jacqueline Jules and illustrated by you!

The pleasure is all mine, Dionna.

Do tell. What was your process for inspiration once you read Jacqueline Jules's poems in Tag Your Dreams?

First, I tried to remember the feeling I used to get when I did something active as a kid--the fun I had and the friends I made while doing sports. Being active wasn’t just the thrill of learning a new skill, it was also a way of learning to be a team player, plus realizing what your own body is capable of! Besides reminiscing, I also re-watched (parts of) some sports-related movies from the 90s, which I loved as a kid. "The Mighty Ducks", "Sidekicks" and "The Sandlot’"are just a few that came to mind. I would say these movies inspired me visually during the process of this book.

Why did you choose such an airy, light color pallet when illustrating this book, and what medium did you use?

Jacqueline’s words seemed very light and sometimes dreamy to me, so I wanted the drawings to translate that atmosphere, almost like a breath of fresh air for the readers. So light, airy colours seemed appropriate, especially since many of the illustrations take place outside. I work with mixed media. I draw all the figures and elements by hand, scan them in and afterwards colour them in and place them in compositions with my computer.

Why did you decided to portray the children in Tag Your Dreams as coming from all walks of life?

I think it’s important that every kid can relate to the characters in these poems. Playing and being active is a trait all kids in the world possess. It’s a universal thing, so I wanted all these kids to be represented in this book.

Why did you enjoy illustrating this book?

I really enjoyed diving into my childhood for this project and getting acquainted with sports I’d never heard of before, like flag football, kickball or foursquare. Now I feel very up to date when it comes to sports and less of an old fart--haha.

Why do you hope children read and enjoy the illustrations in this book?

I hope they will feel inspired to pick up sports and just get active and ambitious and most of all, have a lot of fun doing it!

Iris Deppe was born and raised in the Caribbean, lived in the Netherlands for several years where she studied Illustration at HKU University of the Arts and is currently residing in Copenhagen, Denmark. Iris enjoys working on many different projects, from drawings, collages and album covers to children’s book illustrations and film. She finds inspiration in absurd situations, (human) nature, 60s & 70s music, the dark side of YouTube and has a big love for primary colours and the sea. irisdeppe.com

Order your copy HERE.

Images used with permission from Albert Whitman & Company

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TAG YOUR DREAMS Blog Party! Day 1

4/1/2020

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Welcome, Jacqueline Jules!
Happy Book-Launch Day!

I am honored and delighted to be hosting today's blog party to celebrate the release of Jacqueline Jules's latest book for children, Tag Your Dreams: Poems of Play and Persistence. Welcome, Jacqueline!

It's great to be here, Dionna!

Do tell. Why did you decide to write a collection of poems featuring outdoor play for young readers?

Sports and games are filled with metaphors for courage, mindfulness, and self-discovery. Volleyball is one example. The rules say double hits are against the rules. That means the game needs a team effort, rather than an individual star to win. An outfielder who is running fast to catch a ball must still pay attention to the fence behind the field. Isn’t that a perfect metaphor for why we need to slow down sometimes to reach a goal? I love to walk in my neighborhood. Sometimes I will go outside, even when rain clouds are near, because it is exhilarating to enjoy the moment, regardless of what the future may bring. Writing Tag Your Dreams gave me the opportunity to explore these and many other rich metaphors.

So true, Jacqueline! Some of your poems include themes like getting back up, accepting a loss, and dealing with frustration. Why do you feel themes like those are important to address with young ones?

Many of these poems are pep talks to myself. I wrote the title poem, “Tag Your Dreams,” when I was feeling discouraged about my writing career. Writing the poem bolstered my determination to keep writing and pursuing my own dreams. I have always been drawn to stories of perseverance. The poem “Pedaling to Piano” is about a boy who learns he can heal and feel stronger after a bad fall on his bike. “Knocking Down Ghosts” is about facing one’s fear of failure in a bowling alley. “Last Pick for Kickball” shares the emotions of a girl who surprises her peers by scoring. Each poem in Tag Your Dreams uses a sport or activity as a vehicle of self-discovery.

Life is filled with setback and loss. The ability to stand up after being knocked flat as the poem “Tae Kwon Do” describes is essential to a successful and meaningful life.

I noticed that all of your poems in Tag Your Dreams are free verse. As a poet, do you prefer writing free verse poetry as compared to writing in rhyme or following the structure of other forms of poetry?

While I occasionally write in rhyme, I prefer free verse. Free verse is all about economy of language. It is an exciting challenge to convey meaning compactly, with only a few words. In my writing, I strive to pack each word with power. I also love alliteration. Using the same syllable in close succession creates a lovely musical sound.

When I teach poetry workshops to young people, I encourage students to think about what they want to say first before they try to rhyme. Sometimes students choose words because they rhyme, not because it is what they want to say. Self-expression should always come first when you write a poem.

How long did it take for you to complete this collection of poems?

I began Tag Your Dreams over twenty years ago, when my sons were still living at home. Both of my boys loved sports. Our family life revolved around the attendance of youth baseball and basketball games. I also had partial season tickets to the Capitals to watch NHL hockey with my youngest son. As I attended game after game, I gained an appreciation for the courage athletes display in the face of challenges, particularly young athletes. It is not easy to go back to the plate after striking out, but that is what baseball players must do. Watching this inspired me to write the poem, “At Bat,” in the mid 1990’s.

Sometime later, I was watching the Winter Olympics and was blown away by a male skater who rose after a fall as if the question of getting up never existed at all. That inspiring moment became the poem, “Olympic Skater.” Working out at the gym one evening, I had a sudden memory of learning to ski as an adult, prompting me to write “Graceless Girl Skis Down Slope.” Little by little, my poems about sports and being active accumulated. I published several in different magazines for young people which reverted the rights to me after publication. Years later, I realized I had enough poems for a poetry collection. I submitted twenty-two to my wonderful editor, Andrea Hall at Albert Whitman. She asked me to write nine more poems to fill out the collection. These additional poems gave me the opportunity to consider the metaphors in games I played as a child and to talk about my current favorite sport—hiking.

What do you appreciate about Iris Deppe's illustrations, which accompany your poems?

I love the joy in the illustrations. The faces of the young people in Tag Your Dreams are very expressive. And I love how the young people shown on these pages represent the beautiful diversity in our vast world.

Jacqueline Jules became a writer because she loves to play with words. Her love of words began with her love of reading. As a child, she sat for hours--sometimes in the crook of an apple tree, sometimes in an easy chair--lost in absorbing mysteries, fantasies, biographies, and realistic or historical fiction. She doesn't have a preference for a particular genre. She's just an enthusiastic fan of a good story with compelling characters. In addition to being an award-winning author of numerous picture books and chapter books for children, she is also an award-winning poet, teacher and a librarian. Find her at www.jacquelinejules.com and on Twitter @jacquelinejules.

Order your copy HERE.

Images used with permission from Albert Whitman & Company

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TAG YOUR DREAMS Blog Party!

3/31/2020

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We are super excited to be hosting a Virtual Book Launch Party for Tag Your Dreams: Poems of Play and Persistence, a two-day blog event to be held April 1 & 2, 2020! On Day 1, we will be interviewing Jacqueline Jules, the book's award-winning author, and on Day 2, we'll be interviewing Iris Deppe, the book's award-winning illustrator.

Please stop by to hear what these lovely ladies have to say about the making of this wonderful collection of poems for children. During the event, join in the fun by leaving a comment or two for either Jacqueline or Iris. You may purchase a copy of Tag Your Dreams through Indie Bound to support them and your local indie bookstore during this time of crisis. Won't you join us tomorrow?

Images used with permission from Albert Whitman & Company

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Day 5: This Little Piggy Had A Blog Party

7/1/2017

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Day 5: Introducing Kidlit Book-Trailer Designer Cyndi Marko

Even though you'd never created a book trailer before, why did you decide to give it a whirl with THIS LITTLE PIGGY?

When my debut chapter book Kung Pow Chicken #1 came out, I was on a really tight schedule to get the next three books completed as all four were set for 2014. I never had the chance to do anything for their launch, so I thought this time, with Piggy, I would have some fun with its release!

What was your biggest challenge?

The biggest challenge was that I had no idea how to make a trailer! But I had seen two or three really fun fan-made trailers that some elementary school students had made for Kung Pow Chicken and I thought if kids can do it…I probably will fail miserably. :) But I was determined to try! I read some articles on making book trailers and found the two most important things are to make a script first, and to keep it simple. So that’s what I did.

What was your greatest triumph?

Doing the voice over. I originally hadn’t planned on it because the very idea gives me the screaming heebie-jeebies. But I thought if young kids are watching with a parent or teacher or caregiver, a voice over with the text might be necessary. It was really discomfiting as I had no idea I sounded like that! But I pushed through and even made piggy noises at the end. I’ve been really trying hard to go outside of my comfort zone lately so I’m proud I was able to get through it.

What program(s) did you use to create your book trailer?

When I was researching how to make a trailer, what program to use was of great concern. I couldn’t afford to purchase pro editing software, and some of the free programs seemed too complicated or too limited. I already had an Adobe subscription for Photoshop and Acrobat Pro, so I thought I’d see if Adobe had anything suitable. That’s when I discovered Adobe Spark. It’s free for everyone, even without an existing Adobe subscription. It’s not a movie editor, it’s an online social media tool for creating graphics and memes, web stories, and animated videos.

I also used Photoshop to create the slides I uploaded to Spark. I wanted more control over the fonts and their placement/size/color etc, so I added the text in PhotoShop and made it part of the images rather than use Spark’s text option.

Had you had experience using these programs? If not, what was the learning curve like?

I’ve had lots of experience with PhotoShop, but this was my first time using Spark. I really liked Spark because like most Adobe programs it’s pretty user-friendly. They have templates you can use or, like I did, you can start from scratch to create your project. It was super easy to learn, and even easier to edit. You can upload images and video, add text and voiceovers, and upload your own music. If you don't have your own, they have a nice little collection of free music. They also have a Creative Commons library with thousands of icons available to use.

Would you recommend the program for to someone who is making a book trailer for the first time?

I think Spark is a fantastic option for someone who wants to make their own book trailer but isn’t experienced with video editing. You don’t even really need PhotoShop. All you need is an idea.

Tell us about the trailer's adorable music, how did it come to be?

The adorable music was composed and recorded by one of my author besties, Larissa C. Hardesty. She has her debut YA come out this month as well, so I approached her about us helping each other with our book trailers. We traded skills. She provided music for my trailer in exchange for me putting together her trailer from a script she provided. It was really fun working together and I think both trailers turned out great considering neither one of us had ever made one before.

Do you think you'll be creating more book trailers in the future?

Absolutely! It was really fun and not nearly as hard as I thought it would be. I think a trailer is really great way to let people know what your book is about.

Cyndi Marko is the author & illustrator of the award-winning KUNG POW CHICKEN books, published by Scholastic Branches. LET'S GET CRACKING was a Kirkus Best Book of 2014 selection. Kung Pow Chicken has been translated into four languages! Her latest work for kids, THIS LITTLE PIGGY: AN OWNER'S MANUAL, was released June 27, 2017 from Aladdin Pix, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Read Cyndi's interview about the making of THIS LITTLE PIGGY, right here during DAY 1 of "This Little Piggy Has a Blog Party". You can find Cindy and her portfolio online at cyndimarko.com.

Click the cover to purchase your copy of THIS LITTLE PIGGY: AN OWNER"S MANUAL, an Aladdin PIX illustrated chapter book for kids 6-9 that tells the tale of a brother and sister who—more than anything—want a pet pig, written and illustrated by Cyndi Marko, available in paper over board and as an ebook!

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Day 4: This Little Piggy Had a Blog Party

6/30/2017

1 Comment

Day 4: Introducing Kidlit Art Director Laura Lyn DiSiena

When you first received the manuscript and illustrations for LITTLE PIGGY, what did you love?

I loved how these spunky siblings were on a mission, and no matter how determined they were, this pig would just not get with the program. But they loved him regardless: Snowflake was just being Snowflake!

I also loved how Cyndi captured that feeling of being a child and wanting so badly to have a pet as part of the family, and how our pets are subjected to our affections. Sometimes it’s way more fun for us than them.

What was your process when determining where to place the illustrations, texts and speech bubbles on the page so it would be visually pleasing and help move the story?
Cyndi submitted initial sketches with rough text in place and we refined the text, images, and layouts from there. She’s a pro, so had a nice balance of image and text. Basically, all we had to do was make sure the text clearly related to the imagery and was easy to follow. Particularly with the PIX format, which is created for the reluctant reader, we didn’t want to overwhelm the reader with too much text on each page. We wanted to let the images tell part of the story and also enhance the story, adding detail and humor so the reader can linger over all that the page has to offer, and hopefully pick the book up multiple times.

Speech bubbles are also used to break the text up and condense the number of words on the page. Karen, the book's editor, is a mad genius and does an amazing job editing with scissors and tape! After that, I get on the computer and layout the text and sketches and we just keep refining and refining.

Take for example, the spread for pages 8-9, that started out as thumbnail sketches:

You can see how we changed the spread from showing the sister twice to just once, and we eliminated the brother altogether. This is so we wouldn't exhaust the reader by being too repetitive. On the other hand, this is the reader's first time meeting Snowflake, and they get to see him from all angles! Overall, we went from five images to four for a nice balance between the pages, and we add variety by using spots when we show Snowflake and then a cell, or panel, when showing the sister, while maintaining a nice amount of white space. You can also see how some of what was running text initially became speech in bubbles in order shorten the sentences and provide text in small doses, so it is more easily digested.

When working on revisions, what about Cyndi’s execution made it an enjoyable process?

Cyndi is an absolute joy to work with! She is open to suggestions, quick to make changes, and with the smallest mark of her pencil can create characters with such genuine expressions that we fell in love with Brother, Sister and Snowflake over and over and over again!

When we wanted to take the "tricks" part of the story in a different direction from the initial manuscript, we asked Cyndi to take two spreads of much more complex images and text and pair it down. As soon as we opened the new sketches, Karen and I could not have been happier! Snowflake is equal parts hysterical and adorable. His expressions are perfect. Cyndi consistently “got it” whenever we needed changes. These are her characters and her story and she knew how to make it work!

What do you love about the final product, THIS LITTLE PIGGY: AN OWNER’S MANUAL?

Absolutely everything! I love the story, the characters, how funny and sweet the book is. I love how much it has to offer children of all reading levels. And I love the memories of working on the book with Cyndi and Karen--I was lucky to be a part of it!

Why do you hope THIS LITTLE PIGGY: AN OWNER’S MANUAL and its main character, Snowflake, will be a loved by kids everywhere?

I hope kids enjoy following these siblings as they work together to achieve their goal, and are charmed by Snowflake’s independent spirit!

Laura Lyn DiSiena is a Brooklyn based designer
& art director currently working in children's publishing. She has worked with Simon & Schuster for a combined total of ten years, first as a senior designer and now as an art director. When Laura is not in front of her Mac, she's probably doing something crafty, cooking, eating, or being silly. Laura's kidlit bio would not be complete without mentioning that she is the co-author of several children's books. You can find Laura blogging HERE , Tweeting @LauraLynD, and her portfolio HERE.

Click the cover to purchase your copy of THIS LITTLE PIGGY: AN OWNER"S MANUAL, an Aladdin PIX illustrated chapter book for kids 6-9 that tells the tale of a brother and sister who—more than anything—want a pet pig, written and illustrated by Cyndi Marko, available in paper over board and as an ebook!

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DAY 3: This Little Piggy Had a Blog Party

6/29/2017

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Day 3: Introducing Kidlit Editor Karen Nagel

When you first received the manuscript and illustrations for THIS LITTLE PIGGY, what did you love?

When I first received this submission, it was picture-book length (traditionally 32 pages). But, those kids! That pig! The humor and heart! All created by the inimitable Cyndi Marko! I wanted to know more about these irrepressible characters and their story. Would Cyndi be willing to develop the story so that it would fit into our Aladdin PIX line of a 64-page, illustrated chapter book? Indeed she would, and she did.

How did your editorial skills come to play so that THIS LITTLE PIGGY's text and illustrations worked harmoniously together?

It was key to maintain Cyndi's sly humor and wit, visually and narratively. What reader, emerging or seasoned, doesn't enjoy silly situations and characters? Even though we could see Snowflake on every page, multiple times, (he is one of the the most lovable porcines in the history of piggies, after all), it wouldn't have served him or furthered the story's plot and action.

Also, the text (running and speech balloons) does go through many, many revisions and edits. We literally make changes until the books goes to press. THIS LITTLE PIGGY
was a particularly satisfying collaboration and meeting of comic sensibilities.

When working on revisions, what about Cyndi’s execution made it an enjoyable process?

Whether it was an editorial text suggestion or an illustrative one, Cyndi's revisions were always spot-on hilarious, and better than anything that was suggested. The expression and/or behavior of Snowflake: a wink of his eye, the upward tilt of an eyebrow, the chewing of a piece of hay, it's so evident that Cyndi loves and understands her character's motivations. and clearly knew how to convey their very essence. She is a master at revision, taking story and character to the next level.

What do you love about the final product, THIS LITTLE PIGGY: AN OWNER’S MANUAL?

I love that Cyndi's heart is on every page of this book; I love the family dynamic, that the brother and sister are so realistically realized and portrayed and that their mission is true; I love that Brother and Sister unconditionally adore their piggy and that he is their devoted friend and pet; I love the narrator's voice; I love laughing every time I read this book; I love working with Cyndi and Laura and can't wait to do it again.

Why do you hope THIS LITTLE PIGGY: AN OWNER’S MANUAL and its main character, Snowflake, will be a loved by kids everywhere?

A story of love, perseverance, devotion, friendship, with a nod to Charlotte's Web, this is a book for readers-and pet lovers--of all ages (a beautiful 'package' to boot).

Karen Nagel joined the Aladdin team in 2011 and is the Simon & Schuster imprint's executive editor. She has been fortunate enough to work on children's books of every sort and genre throughout her professional career. Karen has a particular soft spot for picture books, and illustrated, humorous chapter books. She is especially fond of stories that capture a child's imagination. Karen is also the author of a few silly children's books of her own. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, the legendary Jimmy Nagel.

Click the cover to purchase your copy of THIS LITTLE PIGGY: AN OWNER"S MANUAL, an Aladdin PIX illustrated chapter book for kids 6-9 that tells the tale of a brother and sister who—more than anything—want a pet pig, written and illustrated by Cyndi Marko, available in paper over board and as an ebook!

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DAY 2: This Little Piggy Had a Blog Party

6/28/2017

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Day 2: Introducing Kidlit Agent Adriann Ranta Zurhellen

When you first read Cyndi’s THIS LITTLE PIGGY manuscript featuring Snowflake, what did you love?

I have a cat named Piggy, so I was predisposed to love a book originally called “The Ultimate Pig Care Handbook.” Cyndi’s sense of humor, which comes across in her text and art and also in the little details, totally won my heart: the little muddy pig footprints, the extremely skeptical pig expressions, the increasingly dirty children…all so fun!

Did you work together to improve the manuscript before submitting it to editors?

This project started out as a picture book, and most of my original notes were regarding structure and pacing. In the first version, my note to her was that half of the text is about giving the pig a bath. I asked her is the book about pig care, or about bathing a pig? Cyndi then decided to make the whole book about finding a pig and keeping it clean, but then the joke seemed to sag about halfway through. Cyndi played around with it again. She reverted back to the general pig care theme and we had a great dummy that went on submission!

When thinking about who to submit LITTLE PIGGY to, why did you think of Karen Nagel, and what was Karen’s reaction when she received the draft?

I thought Karen would appreciate Cyndi’s fun sense of humor, and I admired the scope of her work at Aladdin. What a delightful surprise when Karen called to say she loved it… and asked if Cyndi would be interested in expanding it into an early-reader graphic novel for Pix? It’s rare to have an editor buy a project when such a large edit is on the horizon, but Cyndi had proven herself with KUNG POW CHICKEN and Karen had the vision for it! Once Cyndi said she was excited to move forward, we were thrilled to accept Karen’s offer!

What do you love about the end product of Cyndi's book, THIS LITTLE PIGGY: AN OWNER’S MANUAL?

I love how Cyndi developed the kids as characters, made a fun, twisty narrative around convincing their mom to accept a pig as a pet, and how the expansion from a picture book gave us more time with Snowflake’s adorable footprints and skeptical expressions! It’s such a fun book, full of cute, hilarious illustrations and awesome situational humor, and I think readers will really love it!

On what future projects are you looking forward to working together with Cyndi?

I would love to see more chapters books featuring Snowflake, especially if readers love her as much as I do!

Credit: Hayden M. Greene

Adriann Ranta Zurhellen is a literary agent at Foundry Literary + Media. She represents New York Times bestselling, award-winning authors, journalists, illustrators and graphic novelists, as well as cultural commentators, stunt women, makeup artists, and many other pioneering creative thinkers and leaders in their fields. She is actively acquiring all genres for all age groups with a penchant for edgy, dark, unusual voices, unique settings, and every-man stories told with a new spin. She loves gritty, realistic, true-to-life stories with conflicts based in the real world; women’s fiction and nonfiction; accessible, pop nonfiction in science, history, and craft; and smart, fresh, genre-bending works for children. She can be found online HERE.

Click the cover to purchase your copy of THIS LITTLE PIGGY: AN OWNER"S MANUAL, an Aladdin PIX illustrated chapter book for kids 6-9 that tells the tale of a brother and sister who—more than anything—want a pet pig, written and illustrated by Cyndi Marko, available in paper over board and as an ebook!

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Book Launch Celebration Day!

If you're in my neck of the woods, please come by and celebrate with me!

Saturday, August 3, 2024, 2-4 pmJefferson Madison Regional Library, Central Branch201 E. Market St.Charlottesville, VA, 22902

I​n honor of historical fiction, wear vintage from any decade before the 1990s for an extra chance to win a gift basket of goodies worth $200!

Free swag & stuffSnacksFun activitiesMunch on chicken & dumplings Learn more about the setting, Vinegar HillListen to local youths play a flute duetAnd more!

​Young ones, enter my coloring contest by bringing a drawing of yourself cooking together with a family member.The winner will be chosen by kidlit professionals.

Welcome! Cynthia Cliff,​Author & Illustratorof

Welcome! Doris Kutschbach,Kidlit Editor​of

OH MY! Kid Interviewer:Madeline

Pages from Madeline's book, her third-grade school project

"A successful combination of factual prose and appealing artwork." School Library Journal Purchase your copy today!

OH MY! Kids:Sub-Saharan Artists

Allyfrom Tanzania

​​Christopher from Malawi

Lerato from Malawi

Paulo​ from Tanzania

​Rahim from Tanzania

Samuel from Kenya

​Vicentifrom Tanzania

Yohanifrom Tanzania

"A successful combination of factual prose and appealing artwork." School Library Journal Purchase your copy today

OH MY! Kidlit Book Designer:​Felicia Macheske

A successful combination of factual prose and appealing artwork." School Library Journal Purchase your copy today

OH MY! Kidlit Editor:​Barb McNally

A successful combination of factual prose and appealing artwork." School Library Journal Purchase your copy today

OH MY! Kidlit Agent:Jennifer Unter

A successful combination of factual prose and appealing artwork." School Library Journal Purchase your copy today

Animal artwork by Yohani from Tanzania

OH MY! Kidlit Author:​Moira Rose Donohue

​A successful combination of factual prose and appealing artwork." School Library Journal Purchase your copy today

OH MY! Kidlit Author:John Platt

A successful combination of factual prose and appealing artwork." School Library Journal Purchase your copy today

Animal artwork by Christopher from Malawi

A Review

"Round and round. Faster and faster.Sometimes I’m on. Sometimes I’m out.Who cares as long asthe game keeps moving,and I still have the chanceto jump back in."

Welcome, Iris Deppe,illustrator of Tag Your Dreams!

Order your copy HERE.

Welcome, Jacqueline Jules!Happy Book-Launch Day!

​Order your copy HERE.

Day 5: Introducing Kidlit Book-Trailer Designer Cyndi Marko

Day 4: Introducing Kidlit Art Director Laura Lyn DiSiena

Day 3: Introducing Kidlit Editor Karen Nagel

Day 2: Introducing Kidlit Agent Adriann Ranta Zurhellen

About Me

Archives

Categories

Saturday, August 3, 2024, 2-4 pm
Jefferson Madison Regional Library, Central Branch
201 E. Market St.
Charlottesville, VA, 22902

In honor of historical fiction, wear vintage from any decade before the 1990s for an extra chance to win a gift basket of goodies worth $200!

Free swag & stuff
Snacks
Fun activities
Munch on chicken & dumplings
Learn more about the setting, Vinegar Hill
Listen to local youths play a flute duet
And more!

Young ones, enter my coloring contest by bringing a drawing of yourself cooking together with a family member.
The winner will be chosen by kidlit professionals.

Welcome! Cynthia Cliff,
Author & Illustrator
of

Welcome! Doris Kutschbach,
Kidlit Editor
of

OH MY! Kid Interviewer:
Madeline

"A successful combination of factual prose and appealing artwork."
School Library Journal
Purchase your copy today!

OH MY! Kids:
Sub-Saharan Artists

Ally
from Tanzania

Christopher
from Malawi

Lerato
from Malawi

Paulo
from Tanzania

Rahim
from Tanzania

Samuel
from Kenya

Vicenti
from Tanzania

Yohani
from Tanzania

"A successful combination of factual prose and appealing artwork."
School Library Journal
Purchase your copy today

OH MY! Kidlit Book Designer:
Felicia Macheske

A successful combination of factual prose and appealing artwork."
School Library Journal
Purchase your copy today

OH MY! Kidlit Editor:
Barb McNally

A successful combination of factual prose and appealing artwork."
School Library Journal
Purchase your copy today

OH MY! Kidlit Agent:
Jennifer Unter

A successful combination of factual prose and appealing artwork."
School Library Journal
Purchase your copy today

OH MY! Kidlit Author:
Moira Rose Donohue

A successful combination of factual prose and appealing artwork."
School Library Journal
Purchase your copy today

OH MY! Kidlit Author:
John Platt

A successful combination of factual prose and appealing artwork."
School Library Journal
Purchase your copy today

"Round and round. Faster and faster.
Sometimes I’m on. Sometimes I’m out.
Who cares as long as
the game keeps moving,
and I still have the chance
to jump back in."

Welcome, Iris Deppe,
illustrator of Tag Your Dreams!

Welcome, Jacqueline Jules!
Happy Book-Launch Day!

Order your copy HERE.