The sense of hope in Gregory Maguire’s I Feel Like the Morning Star radiates despite the dire circumstances the characters have been thrust into. At
Author: Joyce Audy Zarins
A member of SCBWI, the Writer’s Rumpus, and NEST, Joyce is the author of five books for young readers and illustrator of twenty. She is currently working on new YA, MG and a non-fiction PB. Sculpture is her other passion. Life is a creative experience.
A Warbler’s Journey: A Picture Book by Noted Naturalist Scott Weidensaul
“No one who reads this can remain unmoved by this tiny bird’s tenacity; this is sure to create avid new bird-watchers.” – Kirkus Imagine a
Helping Writers and Readers Cope
The themes in picture books are intended to assist children in dealing with the world around them, and authors benefit in the same way. These
World of Books 13: Spain
Here are two picture books by different author-illustrators from Spain that encourage individuality and whose characters are insects and other arthropods. Coincidentally, among the protagonists
Gregory Maguire on Defeating Writers Block
Like many of you, I follow certain authors on Facebook where insights into their personalities, current works, and nuggets of wisdom are available. Gregory Maguire,
Jory John’s Cool Series
Jory John’s Food Group series of books is fun-tastic. With animated, edible protagonists and scads of legume puns (has-bean, A Tale of Two Chickpeas, Ray
Manfish and the Sea by Jennifer Berne
Picture book author Jennifer Berne adventured on a sailboat for two years while deepening her understanding of the ever-evolving sea. Two of her eloquent, award-winning
Editing Tips 2: When to edit and how
To preserve the art of your story, don’t edit until you have a full draft. Or a second, or even a third. Then, you are
Editing tip: Ditch most filter words!
Crafting a memorable narrative requires keeping the reader engaged; limiting the use of filter words can help. Why is that? Because filter words tell rather
Kate DiCamillo’s Way of Seeing Character
The heart of Kate DiCamillo’s newest book, The Puppets of Spelhorst, could be the wondrous, looping trajectory of the plot or the rich color of
Wild Blue: Taming A Big-kid Bike. A Review
The word “taming” in the title Wild Blue: Taming A Big-kid Bike, written by Dashka Slater, is a clue to the metaphor that energizes this heartfelt story. When
Two Reviews and the Role of a Designer
Birds Everywhere, written by Camilla de la Bedoyere and illustrated by Britta Teckentrup, is a marvelous overview of what it means to be a bird. Filled with fascinating information about the similarities and differences between some of the 10,000 species of birds worldwide, this introduction will make appreciators of young readers.
Interview: Accomplished Author Melissa Stewart
JAZ: Melissa, I am honored that you agreed to this interview. Whale Fall: Exploring an Ocean-floor Ecosystem is fascinating! Our readers are eager to learn
Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Authors and Illustrators!
Contributors who post on WritersRumpus.com have been honoring Asian American and Pacific Islander authors, illustrators, and cultures since way back in 2014! This openness certainly includes the other categories of diverse books, but the focus this month is on AAPI books.
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