When my family met in Costa Rica in November, I bought a charming picture book there by a well-known local author. It is inspiring to
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.
Plotting Great Escapes: Two New Books from Candlewick
While seeming to have little in common, the urge to escape can unite those who otherwise live separate lives. That unity benefits all. How might
A Book About Generosity? A challenge.
Allow me to propose a writing challenge. That thought was inspired by two books that have missed their mark. See if you agree that the
About the Hook
What lures a teen to read a multi-hundred-page book? The author has carefully written and revised a terrific narrative, but where is the hook, the
The Power of No Words at All: Henry Cole’s “One Little Bag”
In April of 2020 a remarkable picture book was released into the world. Inspired by the author’s childhood experience, the story follows the life cycle
¡Oye, niños! Lucky Diaz’s Paletero Man
Latin Grammy award winner Lucky Diaz’s Paletero Man has boogied from a finger-snapping song into a delectable picture book with a dramatic twist. Just as in the
Five Page Layout Tips
All picture book author-illustrators need to consider how your story and images fit together. Even when the narrative is not told in actual words, it
Picture Book Toolbox
There is a surprising range of tools available for you when constructing a memorable, even classic, picture book. Some are obvious: You will want the
How to Tell a Story in 87 Words: My Red Hat by Rachel Stubbs
Note: Candlewick Press sent me a review copy of this book. There is an art to writing a picture book. Rachel Stubbs paints and writes.
Reviews: Two Books that Inspire Hope
One book shows the edge habitat between a brown author growing up and the natural world that inspires her. The other is about four friends,
2020 Codas: Gifts and a Review
As 2020 ended, three picture books were given to me and I also read Gary Paulsen’s unusual memoir of his early years, written for 8
Reimagining a classic: The Great Gatsby as a graphic novel
To transform a preeminent and beloved literary work into a graphic novel for young adults is a challenge for the brave. K. Woodman-Maynard’s adaptation of
WRITERS' RUMPUS 