Cynthia Leitich Smith's Blog, page 34
March 23, 2022
Writing Chapter Books: Debbi Michiko Florence Talks About Her Approach to Writing the Jasmine Toguchi Series
Today we continue our conversation about chapter books with Debbi Michiko Florence. She is the author of the Jasmine Toguchi series, illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic (Farrar, Straus and Giroux).
Welcome, Debbi!
Character is crucial to all storytelling. How do you approach creating characters for chapter books, and how does this process compare to creating characters for other forms?
I don’t do anything vastly different when developing characters for my chapter books v...
March 22, 2022
Writing Chapter Books: Jarrett Lerner on What He Wants For His Readers
When I first met Jarrett Lerner, Book 1 of his series EngiNerds (Aladdin, 2017) was just coming out. Since then he’s completed the series and has been busy writing/illustrating early chapter books, graphic novel chapter books, activity books, and has a novel in verse and early readers coming down the pike. Phew! When does he sleep?
Jarrett, I really enjoyed your humorous middle grade series Enginerds (who doesn’t like a farting robot?) and your chapter book series, Geeger the R...
March 21, 2022
Writing Chapter Books: Susan Muaddi Darraj Talks About the “Joy” of Writing Chapter Books
Today we kick off a series of posts about writing chapter books. In his article “How Reading Volume Affects both Reading Fluency and Reading Achievement,” Richard L. Allington states, “The evidence we have is consistent and clear: Children who elect to read voluntarily develop all sorts of reading proficiencies, not just the ability to read fluently” (14). Chapter books are often those first books that children elect to read voluntarily. Built for em...
March 18, 2022
Cynsational News
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Stephani Eaton, Suma Subramaniam, Bree Bender, AJ Eversole and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: Dear Reader: A Love Letter to Libraries by Tiffany Rose (little bee books, 2022).
Author/Illustrator InsightsI Am Able to Shine by Korey Watari and Mike Wu with John Schu from MrSchuReads. Peek: “Picture books are a gateway to a child’s dreams and stories….We are privileged to speak to children at such an early age and help educate and form th...
March 17, 2022
In Memory: Steve Jenkins
Photo courtesy of Melissa Stewart
Steve Jenkins, award-winning author and illustrator of books featuring torn-paper collages about the natural world, died on Dec. 26 of a splenic artery aneurysm. He was 69.
Steve Jenkins, 69, Dies; His Children’s Books Brought Science to Life by Penelope Greener from the New York Times. Peek: “Steve Jenkins, an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator whose passion for science, as well as his meticulous and vibrant cut-paper collage...
March 16, 2022
Linda Joy Singleton & Richard Smythe Discuss Their Inspiration & Collaboration on Sun & Son
As a reporter for Cynsations, I love sharing articles and interviews. This is the first time I’m turning the tables and sharing an interview between myself and my illustrator, Richard Smythe, as we celebrate the March 2022 release of our second book together, Sun & Son (Amicus Ink).
Publishers are brilliant in the art of matching picture book text with the perfect artist. I was delighted when Amicus Books matched my first nonfiction book, Crane & Crane (Amicus 2019), with...
March 15, 2022
In Memory: Ashley Bryan
Photo credit: Bill McGuinness
The children’s literature world lost a giant when celebrated illustrator and author Ashley Bryan died on Feb. 2, 2022 in Sugar Land, Texas, at the home of his niece Vanessa Robinson. He was 98.
Ashley Bryan, Who Brought Diversity to Children’s Books, Dies at 98 by Clay Risen from The New York Times. Peek: “Mr. Bryan had already built a 20-year career as an artist when, in 1965, he read an article . . . bemoaning the lack of diversity in child...
March 14, 2022
Native Voice: Natasha Donovan Talks About Her Artistic Journey
By: AJ Eversole
I am happy to welcome Natasha Donovan to the blog today! Natasha is the illustrator of children’s books such as Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer by Traci Sorell (Lerner, 2021) and the forthcoming A River’s Gifts: The Might Elwha River Reborn by Patricia Newman (Lerner, 2022) as well as the graphic novel Borders by Thomas King (HarperCollins/Little Brown, 2021). Natasha reflects on the reality of being an artist with the lessons and jo...
March 11, 2022
Cynsational News
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Stephani Eaton, Suma Subramaniam, Bree Bender, AJ Eversole and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: Where Butterflies Fill the Sky: A Story of Immigration, Family, and Finding Home by Zahra Marwan (Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2022).
Author/Illustrator InsightsChristina Soontornvat: Genre Master by Pooja Makhijani from Publishers Weekly. Peek: “Writing is such a cool job…[I]t’s not like playing a sport, where you’re going to reach your peak ...
March 10, 2022
Author Interview: Traci Sorell Reflects on Powwow Day
By: AJ Eversole
Traci Sorell is an award-winning author of children’s books, notably We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga, illustrated by Frane Lessac (Charlesbridge, 2018), We Are Still Here! Native American Truths Everyone Should Know, illustrated bv Frane Lessac (Charlesbridge, 2021), At The Mountains Base, illustrated by Weshoyot Alvitre (Kokila, 2019) and Classified, illustrated by Natasha Donovan (Millbrook Press, 2021).
Today we are celebrating her newest picture book release, Powwow Day, illu...
