Cynthia Leitich Smith's Blog, page 46
April 19, 2021
Author Interview: Valerie Bolling on the Creative Life & Writing That Moves
By Bree Bender
Cynsations is excited to welcome Valerie Bolling, author of the picture book Let’s Dance!, illustrated by Maine Diaz (Boyds Mills & Kane, 2020) as well as the forthcoming Together We Ride (Chronicle, 2022) and its sequel Together We Swim (Chronicle, 2023). Let’s Dance! depicts various dances from around the world featuring an inclusive cast of illustrated characters. It was praised by the School Library Journal as, “A fun and lively title.” Welcome, Valerie!
What was the inspira...
April 16, 2021
Cynsational News
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Stephani Eaton, Suma Subramaniam, Bree Bender and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: Shaped By Her Hands: Potter Maria Martinez by Anna Harber Freeman and Barbara Gonzales, illustrated by Aphelandra (Albert Whitman & Company, 2021).
Author/Illustrator Insights
“Ambitious Girl” Reminds Kids: Your Dreams Are Not a Drawback by Michel Martin from NPR. Peek: [Meena Harris:] “‘Don’t let anyone tell you who you are. You tell them who you are.’ Tha...
April 15, 2021
Guest Interview: Kate Hosford & Sandra Nickel Discuss The Stuff Between the Stars: How Vera Rubin Discovered Most of the Universe
By Kate Hosford
A little over four years ago, my husband Chris and I were reading the Sunday New York Times, when he noticed a tribute to the astronomer Vera Rubin, who had died the day before. He suggested that I write a picture book about her. Although I was fascinated by Vera, I had a feeling that the perfect author for this project was my friend, Sandra Nickel, a fellow graduate from my MFA program at Vermont College of Fine Arts.
I have never been more right! The Stuff Between the Stars: H...
April 14, 2021
Awesome Authors: Patricia Newman on Inspiring & Empowering Young Readers to Protect the Environment
I was sitting next to Patricia Newman in the airport when she got the call notifying her that her book, Sea Otter Heroes: The Predators That Saved an Ecosystem (Millbrook Press, 2017), had been awarded a Sibert Honor. So exciting! And I’m excited and honored to introduce Cynsations readers to Patricia and her latest book, Planet Ocean: Why We All Need a Healthy Ocean, illustrated by Annie Crawley (Millbrook Press, 2021), which will inspire and empower readers to act to pr...
April 13, 2021
Native Voices: Author & Illustrator Interview: Monique Gray Smith & Nicole Neidhardt
By Kim Rogers
Today, we’re chatting with Monique Gray Smith (of Cree, Lakota, and Scottish decent), author of When We are Kind (Orca Book Publishers, 2020) and Nicole Neidhardt (Navajo) who is the book’s illustrator.
From promotional copy:
When We Are Kind celebrates simple acts of everyday kindness and encourages children to explore how they feel when they initiate and receive acts of kindness in their lives. Celebrated author Monique Gray Smith has written many books on the topics of resilien...
April 12, 2021
In Memory: Irving Toddy
By Bree Bender
Award-winning artist and children’s book illustrator Irving James Toddy died Nov. 25, 2020. He was 69 years old.
Obituary: Irving James Toddy from The Navajo Times. Peek: “Irving was born Feb. 4, 1951, in Ganado, Arizona, into the Bit’ahnii (Folded Arms People Clan), born for Red Streak Across Forehead (Zuni). He passed away Nov. 25, 2020, in Farmington. Irving received a master’s degree from Utah State University and was a self-employed artist.”
Irving James Toddy was the oldest...
April 3, 2021
Cynsational Spring Break
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Stephani Eaton, Suma Subramaniam, Bree Bender and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Happy spring, Cynsational readers!
We’re taking a short break, and we hope that you can, too!
Wow, it’s hard to say no to more work these days. Though hope is on the horizon, most of us are still spending the majority of our time at home. Sometimes that translates into folks thinking that our unwinding time is up for grabs.
Our decision to embrace a winter hiatus, spring br...
In Memory: Marianne Carus
By Bree Bender
Cricket Media editor-in-chief and founder, Marianne Carus died March 3 at age 92.
Obituary: Marianne Carus by Shannon Maughan from Publishers Weekly. Peek: “The Caruses began to field requests from teachers for additional high-caliber literature, but in an even shorter format. Marianne’s research for such content sparked the idea for launching a children’s literary magazine to publish the work of contemporary writers, poets, and artists.”
April 2, 2021
Cynsational News
By Cynthia Leitich Smith, Gayleen Rabakukk, Stephani Eaton, Suma Subramaniam, Bree Bender and Gail Vannelli for Cynsations
Spotlight Image: Coquí in the City by Nomar Perez (Dial Books, 2021).
Author/Illustrator Insights
#FactsMatter Primer: The What, Who, and Why of Middle Grade and Teen Nonfiction by Karen Jensen from School Library Journal. Peek: “[T]here is something to be said about authority and authenticity when it comes to nonfiction as well as fiction….[A]s a woman, I appreciate readin...
April 1, 2021
Guest Post: Janet Wong & Sylvia Vardell Take Us Behind the Scenes of their New Poetry Anthology
By Janet Wong and Sylvia Vardell
Janet: More than a year ago, back in February 2020 (although it seems like 2010…) we had an open call for poems for HOP TO IT: Poems to Get You Moving (Pomelo Books, 2020). Our plan was to curate an anthology of 75 poems that encourage movement—short poems to help “get the wiggles out.”
We first thought about doing a movement-themed book at the end of 2015, after an energizing session on that topic for NCTE in Minneapolis. But then we decided to focus on the rea...
