In the past twenty-five plus years that I've been immersed in writing and publishing children's literature, I have heard many pieces of advice over and over and over. One that stands out is: get to know your local children’s librarian. Why? Because children's librarians know children's books -- they know what children like and are reading, what they want to read, AND, they know what is missing on the library shelves. Conversations with a librarian (whether a public library or

How do you engage readers? There are so many ways! High-interest content, gorgeous thought-provoking illustrations, impeccable rhymes and lyrical language, or my personal favorite, gift readers a giggle! I have always been drawn to books that make me laugh and I see my kids and readers everywhere light up with laughter and re-read humor to illicit that feel-good emotion. So, when I sat down to write my funny math picture book GOAT MAA-TH: AN ADDITION STORY  (illustrated by su

Picture Books About Cultural Name Awareness by Maria Wen Adcock What’s in a name? In a very practical sense, our names are our identities. When someone says our names, we know they’re talking to us. Culturally, a name can represent someone’s heritage or show respect for elders they may have been named after.   Everyone wants to be called by their correct names because that’s what we identify with. When someone calls you by an incorrect name, it can feel jarring.  The picture

How a Picture Book Can Grow Into Global Licensing by Helen H. Wu When we talk about mentor texts, we often focus on voice, structure, or page turns. But sometimes, a mentor text teaches us something larger, like: How to build a world strong enough to live beyond the page. For this post, I’m using my picture book A Cup of Happy: Capybara Bubble Tea  as a mentor text, not as a business case study, but as an example of how certain storytelling choices make global licensing possi

It happened the other day – a stroller child at the next table was chewing a copy of a board book I authored! When I told his mom, she said, “Oh, he loves to chew that one!” Take that, awards judges! (Obviously, this kid had good taste in literature.) Really, if a book is less than 300 words (the sweet spot is 150 words) and is primarily going to be chewed, why does one need mentor texts? Because not all board books are the same. 1 Concept The focus is on one specific concept

It’s All in the Details by Lisa Rogers Precision in writing can be hard-won. As writers, we can get carried away by our words, without making sure that each one communicates what we intend. Sometimes, as we slice a story to lower word count, we clip the very words that add specificity and meaning.  How can you add details without overburdening your story? By imbuing each sentence with specificity. Using figurative language, sensory detail, and the sounds of words can set up t

Buy Here: https://amzn.to/4lbiBHK Finding the Right Voice & Tone in Nonfiction Picture Books By Lydia Lukidis   Writing compelling nonfiction for children isn’t just about sharing facts, it’s about sparking curiosity and making learning fun. In picture books, where every word counts and illustrations carry part of the story, the way your text sounds   can make the difference between a forgettable read and a book kids (and adults) love to revisit.   Voice vs Tone Let’s start

https://amzn.to/47A3tOj Squirrels, Porcupines, and Bears--oh my! Mentor texts with animal characters and how the rules, as well as my upcoming book Squirrel Draws Big Feelings evolved…   No animals allowed! Twenty years ago, when I wrote Goldie Locks Has Chicken Pox (Atheneum/S&S –illus. Hanako Wakiyama), people said anthropomorphic animal characters were a no-no. As you may have guessed, I got around that issue initially by writing parodies of nursery rhymes. More recently