Cynthia Leitich Smith's Blog, page 11
May 6, 2024
Author Interview: From Inspiration to Representation, Diana Ma Reflects on Her Journey in Children’s Literature
Cynsations is celebrating its 20th anniversary by switching to a quarterly publishing schedule, featuring in-depth interviews and articles. Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm!
I’m thrilled to welcome Author Diana Ma to Cynsations today! I first met Diana at a local SCBWI summer party and we struck up a wonderful conversation about her middle-grade novel and her passion for getting Asian American stories out to the community. Without further ado, here’s my inte...
May 3, 2024
Author Interview: Srividhya Venkat Discusses Writing Cultural Stories & Nonfiction
Cynsations is celebrating its 20th anniversary by switching to a quarterly publishing schedule, featuring in-depth interviews and articles. Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm!
Today we welcome author Srividhya Venkat back to Cynsations to discuss her first picture book biography.
Tell us about your newest nonfiction picture book biography, Seeker of Truth. What inspired you to write Kailash Satyarthi’s story?
First of all, thank you for having me on Cynsations...
May 2, 2024
Throwback Thursday: Richard Michelson on Making History Appeal to Young Readers
Cynsations is celebrating its 20th anniversary by switching to a quarterly publishing schedule, featuring in-depth interviews and articles. Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm!
Congratulations to Richard Michelson on the publication of One of a Kind: The Life of Sydney Taylor, illustrated by Sarah Green (Calkins Creek, Feb. 13. 2024). From information provided by the publisher:
For fans of All-of-a-Kind Family, here is the true story of how Sarah Brenner, a poor girl from New York...
May 1, 2024
Author Interview: Veera Hiranandani on Companion Books & Embracing “Kid Brain”
Cynsations is celebrating its 20th anniversary by switching to a quarterly publishing schedule, featuring in-depth interviews and articles. Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm!
Today we welcome Veera Hiranandani to Cynsations as she discusses her new historical middle grade book Amil and the After (Penguin Random House, 2024) which is a companion to her Newbery honor winning The Night Diary (Penguin Random House, 2018).
I first met Veera Hiranandani at the Maplew...
April 30, 2024
Cover Reveal & Author Interview: Suma Subramaniam on Working with Editors & Finding Fuel for Your Creative Journey
Cynsations is celebrating its 20th anniversary by switching to a quarterly publishing schedule, featuring in-depth interviews and articles. Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm!
We’re thrilled to host a cover reveal and interview with Cynsations Intern Suma Subramaniam‘s debut chapter book/early middle grade series, V. Malar: Greatest Host of All Time, illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan due out from Candlewick Press in November. From publisher-provided informati...
March 8, 2024
Cynsational News
Cynsations is celebrating its 20th anniversary by switching to a quarterly publishing schedule, featuring in-depth interviews and articles. Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm!
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Suma Subramaniam, A.J. Eversole, Mitu Malhotra and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: A Flicker of Hope: A Story of Migration by Cynthia Harmony, illustrated by Devon Holzwarth (Viking Books for Young Readers, 2024).
Author/Illustrator InsightsMarch 7, 2024
Writers Alex Sanchez, Anica Mrose Rissi & Sheela Chari Reflect on Teaching Writing
Cynsations is celebrating its 20th anniversary by switching to a quarterly publishing schedule, featuring in-depth interviews and articles. Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm!
The world of children’s literature is a rich landscape of teaching and learning. Many acclaimed writers seek to share their knowledge, building up the next wave of writers for young people. Featured in this article are perspectives from esteemed teacher-writers Alex Sanchez, Anica Mrose Ris...
March 6, 2024
In Memory: Robie Harris; Petra Mathers & Dinah Stevenson
Cynsations is celebrating its 20th anniversary by switching to a quarterly publishing schedule, featuring in-depth interviews and articles. Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm!
Author Robie Harris died in New York City on January 6. She was 83. From Publishers Weekly, Harris is “best known for her stories about young children’s powerful emotions and her frequently challenged and banned books on human sexuality, including It’s Perfectly Norma...
March 5, 2024
Curator Interview: Leslie Stall Widener on the Choctaw Culture Keepers Series
Cynsations is celebrating its 20th anniversary by switching to a quarterly publishing schedule, featuring in-depth interviews and articles. Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm!
By AJ Eversole
Leslie Stall Widener is an enrolled citizen of the Choctaw Nation and registered Choctaw artist who has illustrated six Choctaw related picture books. Her non-fiction debut, Kindred Spirits: Shilombish Ittibachʋffa, illustrated by Johnson Yazzie (Navajo) (Charlesbridge, 2024) will be released...
March 4, 2024
Author Interview: Kate Hosford Discusses Poetry in Picture Books, Teaching Poetry & You’ll Always Be My Chickadee
Today I’m thrilled to share an interview with one of my fellow Vermont College of Fine Arts classmates, author Kate Hosford. We discuss her latest picture book, along with writing and teaching poetry and how our writing interests shift over time.
Welcome back to Cynsations, Kate. I interviewed you in 2019 about A Songbird Dreams of Singing: Poems About Sleeping Animals, illustrated by Jennifer M. Potter (Running Press, 2019) and your new book is You’ll Always Be My Chickadee...
