Hope, Mindy, and Nonieqa are all members of the Soaring ’20’s group of talented and prolific authors, and each one continues to bring us picture (and other) books full of heart.
Author: Laura Fineberg Cooper
Laura Cooper loves books! When she manages to tear herself away from reading, she writes about dragons, tree frogs, math-loving kids, and more. Laura is also a Copy Editor, licensed English Teacher, and experienced College Essay Coach who has often been referred to as a walking, talking dictionary. If you're interested in brushing up on grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary in short, sweet doses, check out her blog, A Spoonful of Grammar, at www.laurafcooper.com/grammar-blog. Feel free to contact her any time for copy editing or grammar questions!
Atinuke’s Wondrous Africa, Amazing Africa Country by Country
At nearly 10 inches by 12 inches, Africa, Amazing Africa Country by Country, written by Atinuke and beautifully illustrated by Mouni Feddag, is the perfect coffee table book. But this book is so much more than a visual treat: it’s a lyrical and engaging nonfiction homage to Africa’s diversity of people, traditions, animals, and landscapes that is sure to delight children and adults alike.
Past or Present? Learn Which Tense is Best for Your Narration
If you google VERB TENSE, you’ll find lists ranging from 12 to 16 confusing forms. Fortunately, writers of middle grade and young adult literature only
Imaginary, by Lee Bacon
IMAGINARY, written by Lee Bacon and illustrated by Katy Wu, is poignant, humorous, and sheer delight from start to finish. Released in October 2021, this early middle grade novel is centered around eleven-year-old Zack, who still hasn’t recovered from his father’s death five years earlier. Zack’s only solace is to retreat into his imagination with his imaginary best friend Shovel. If you think the narrator is Zach, guess again.
Interview with Nancy Tandon, debut author of THE WAY I SAY IT
“I can’t say my name. Not because it’s a secret or anything. Honestly I’d shout it into a microphone right now if I could. I’d give up anything to be able to do that. Even my guitar-playing fingertip calluses, which took like a million hours to get. The first half-million hours hurt. A lot.”
The 2021 Writers’ Rumpus Review
Before you turn the page on 2021, please join me in reviewing a sample of the wonderful posts that were offered this past year.
Interview with Middle Grade Author Karen Pokras
Happy Book Birthday to THE BACKYARD SECRETS OF DANNY WEXLER by talented author Karen Pokras. This middle grade novel takes readers back to 1978, to
Dare to Change Your Point of View
Ever since my eyes were opened to the importance of Point of View (POV), I’ve paid close attention to narrative voice whenever I write as well as read. I’m happy to share my observations, with a focus on books that dare to push POV boundaries.
MG Book Review and Interview: ATTACK OF THE KILLER KOMODOS by Summer Rachel Short
Groundbreaking science, rampaging nature, and colorful characters intertwine in this 2nd Maggie and Nate mystery by talented middle grade author Summer Rachel Short. As the
A tale of cats (not rats): The Pawed Piper by Michelle Robinson
I confess I expected dogs when I eagerly signed up to review THE PAWED PIPER, written by Michelle Robinson and illustrated by Chinlun Lee, but was utterly charmed by this cat-centric picture book.
VEXING VOCABULARY RETURNS!
As writers, any of us would be horrified to discover we submitted a query letter or manuscript baring/bearing an incorrect homophone. To help you avoid such mortification, TRICKY HOMOPHONES will reveal (and explain) ten of the trickiest pairs and trios.
Mary Seacole Bound for the Battlefield by Susan Goldman Rubin
As someone who wrote a high school term paper on the Crimean War, I was thrilled when Candlewick offered the opportunity to review Mary Seacole
WRITERS' RUMPUS 