Deborah Freedman's Blog, page 10

Hello, 2017

Wishing all a peaceful and healthy New Year.

Let's Talk SHY

I chatted this week with the lovely Mel Schuit about my latest book, Shy, on her blog Let's Talk Picture Books. 

I've made no secret about how much I love Deborah Freedman's latest picture book Shy. In fact, I might be a little TOO excited about it: I've talked about it here on Let's Talk Picture Books, as well as on Instagram, Twitter, and everywhere else people will let me stand on a soap box and rave about it. 

And now I get to share her process with you!!

You can read the rest of the interview here. Thanks, Mel!

Reading, Shyly

"Shy was happiest between the pages of a book... "

Shy's favorites were books about birds. But what else might the title character of my newest book, SHY, like to read? Do you have any suggestions? Here are a of few my top-pick books about shyness:

Jeremy Draws a Monster by Peter McCarty. “Jeremy lived on the top floor of a three-story apartment building… He never left. He never went outside.” Until one day, when he decides to draw a monster — which, humorously, threatens to take over Jeremy’s life. This is a deceptively simple book, in which the text and gently witty illustrations leave plenty of space for readers to discover an unspoken connection between shyness and imagination.

Amandina by Sergio Ruzzier. “Amandina was a wonderful little dog… But nobody knew that, because nobody knew Amandina.” Then one evening, this quiet actress, singer, and acrobat “promised herself that she would stop being so shy.” And that is when Amandina bravely attempts to connect through her art, and along the way, she helps us to understand how touching even one, small creature can open up a whole world. 

 

Shy Charles by Rosemary Wells. Pity the poor child whose parents are as unsympathetic as Charles’s.  Or admire Charles, who resolutely refuses to change in spite of them, and by the end of the book has taught the adults around him something that young readers have probably already intuited: he was strong all along.

The Boys by Jeff Newman. In this wordless book, a boy is too shy to approach kids playing ball in his new neighborhood. So instead, he sits down on a park bench with a bunch of old timers. He goes back day after day, humorously turning into one of them — trading his cap for slicked back hair and a derby hat, his shorts for plaid pants and bowtie, his baseball bat for a walking stick — until one day, when they aren’t there. Then, in a neat and sweet bit of role-reversal, the oldsters wisely teach one youngster how to be a proper whippersnapper. Simple, expressive, and subtly affecting.

Raymie Nightingale by Kate DiCamillo. One reading friend has suggested that the character Raymie Clarke might like my new book, SHY. Naturally, I'm ridiculously flattered by this suggestion, although I don't know how Raymie would feel about it. But I do know this: if given the chance, Shy would love her — and Kate DiCamillo — right back. 

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A Shy Celebration

It has become my favorite way to launch a book: on September 27th, to celebrate the publication of my latest book, Shy, I skyped with several hundred children, from Connecticut to Alberta to Hawaii and states in between. Many, many thanks to the wonderful teachers and school librarians who participated and made these visits possible! I could not have asked for a better Book Birthday.

Shyly Recorded, on All the Wonders

All The Wonders is a home for readers to discover new books and to experience the stories they love in wondrous ways...

In today's post on All the Wonders' Children's Book Podcast, school librarian Matthew Winner interviews me about my new book, SHY. Thanks as always to Matthew, for a wonder-ful conversation!

You can listen to the podcast here.

Her Mind Was in the Gutter...

Hello, book nerds. Today I have a post up at the blog, Nerdy Book Club!

Who is shy?

Is anyone here shy?   For several years, that is what I’ve asked children at the start of my school and library visits. A few hands might go up, nervously. A few other children look unsure...

Read more, in my September newsletter.

Revisiting the Debut

Karlin Grey, the debut author of Nadia: The Girl Who Couldn't Sit Still, writes a weekly blog about picturebook writers and their first books. Today, she interviews me about my first book, Scribble. You can read the whole interview here.

To go along with Karlin's interview, here are a few images — along with many thanks to Karlin for allowing me to revisit Scribble!

My daughters loved to draw, and almost every picture had a story behind it. Which gave me an idea...

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I did a bazillion drafts, "writing with words and pictures" in storyboard form, trying to tell a story of two sisters who liked to draw, and the story behind their drawings.

I started over and over again...

And came to understand that getting rejections is part of the process.

After two years of rejections and revisions, I send this tiny dummy to an editor at Knopf.

August 26, 2005.

And Scribble lived happily ever after.

The end.

Best wishes to all who write picturebooks for children!

—Deborah

You are Invited...

To a Book Birthday Party!

My favorite Book Birthdays have been spent with readers, and the more, the better! That is why I am hoping that your classroom, library or homeschool group (of 10 or more) would like to help me celebrate the release of my next book,  SHY, on Tuesday, September 27th, via Skype.

If you are interested in scheduling a 15-20 minute Skype — in which I’ll chat, read Shy, and answer questions — please fill out the form below. I'll do my best to accommodate everyone, and will be in touch by the end of Friday, September 16 with more information. If there are more requests than one day will hold, I'll draw names from a hat.

For Our Visit:

Classrooms must be familiar with at least one of my in-print books. Well-prepared and enthusiastic children enjoy and benefit from Skype visits the most!Students' questions for me should be prepared in advance.Fill out the form below before midnight, September 13th:













































Name *
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School *
Name of School & Address












































Grade(s) & Group Size *

















































Email *









































Skype Name *





























































Have your students Skyped with me before? *


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9/27: Preferred Time, 1st choice *
Eastern time, please!


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9/27: Preferred Time, 2nd choice
Eastern time, please!


9:00 am

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9/27: Preferred Time, 3rd choice
Eastern time, please!


9:00 am

9:30 am

10:00 am

10:30 am

11:00 am

11:30 am

12:00 pm

12:30 pm

1:00 pm

1:30 pm

2:00 pm

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Anything else you would like me to know?



























































eNews


Please subscribe

Thanks! I'll be in touch by the end of Friday, September 16. 

Where Ideas Come From, and Other News

Kids always ask me, “where do get your ideas from?”

My answer, plus the first few pages of SHY, is in my latest e-Newsletter. Have a look here!