Sue Bradford Edwards's Blog, page 30

Picture Book, Early Reader and Chapter Book

My book recommendation this week is an early chapter book, HENRY AND THE SOMETHING NEW by Jenn Bailey. If you have a young reader who is into dinosaurs, science museums or is on spectrum, check this one out! It would also be a great book to use when striking up a conversation about listening, patience, … Continue reading Picture Book, Early Reader and Chapter Book →

Characters: How Complex Should They Be?

When it comes to creating characters, I have to admit that I’m never sure how complex is too complex. I know that part of it depends on the age of the reader. A picture book character needs to have depth although very little, if any, of their history is going to appear in the story. … Continue reading Characters: How Complex Should They Be? →

Memoir in Picture Book Form?

When I read George Takei’s picture book, My Lost Freedom, I remember thinking why is no one discussing this as memoir. Is picture book memoir simply not a thing? But I’ve been watching recordings from the SCBWI summer conference and just watched Andrea Wang’s excellent session on picture book memoir. Not sure what a memoir … Continue reading Memoir in Picture Book Form? →

Paying Attention to Research Hunches

Yesterday I was drafting a chapter for a contract job. I am writing about fluids and have to include information on change in temperature. My source said that the change was 6 degrees C. How to change it to Fahrenheit? I did a quick Google search and the first answer I found was something like … Continue reading Paying Attention to Research Hunches →

You Can Learn from Books You Don’t Like

I’m going to admit it. I do not finish many of the books I don’t like. There are just so many books out there and I want to read so many of them. But when someone in my critique group complained month after month about a young adult novel she despised, I finally said something. … Continue reading You Can Learn from Books You Don’t Like →

The Quacken by Justin Colon: A Review

Want a multilayered picture book that can satisfy both the adult reader and the young listener? Check out The Quacken. There’s something lurking around camp. Things are disappearing. The lost and found board is full of “lost” notices. The word around camp is that there is something out there that can swallow kids, canoes, or … Continue reading The Quacken by Justin Colon: A Review →

Steampunk Basics

BE STILL MY CLOCKWORK HEART. I had to fiddle with the brightness a bit for any hope that you would able to see the display title. Loving this display at my local library but this case is almost impossible to photograph. There’s a florescent light in top of the case and it is located by … Continue reading Steampunk Basics →

Your Inspiration? Your Childhood

Want to write for children? Look to your childhood for inspiration! On a neighborhood walk, I spotted the “horse fence.” It made me think of all the horse games and activities my friends and I indulged in. My grandmother actually helped me with my sewing skills because we needed to make decorative horse blankets. Glue … Continue reading Your Inspiration? Your Childhood →

The Book Wheel and the Vagaries of Google

Yesterday, a friend tagged me on Facebook. She shared a picture of this book wheel or reading wheel. “We should look for a couple of these.” Not that I have room for something like this, but I immediately wondered if someone had built a more modern version. And what would it cost? So I Googled … Continue reading The Book Wheel and the Vagaries of Google →

How to Write a Book about a New-to-me Topic

Yesterday, someone asked me how I write about a topic that is new to me. It seemed like an odd question. I do it the same way that I find out how long it will take to drive to Austin, Texas, how to pick out a ripe mango, and when the can opener was invented. … Continue reading How to Write a Book about a New-to-me Topic →