Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, you’re invited to peruse my 2023 Writers’ Rumpus Year in Review! As another year draws to a close, I continue to marvel at the variety and quality of our posts, and thank all of our authors and readers for your commitment to our kidlit blog. Once again, I’ve been honored and challenged to highlight one post from each of our talented contributors with an image, date link, and brief summary. Enjoy!!
Tag: picture books
Orion and the Dark by Emma Yarlett
Orion and the Dark, first published in 2014, is written in a classic story structure. This picture book portrays a young boy, named Orion, who
FOOD AND FAMILY IN PICTURE BOOKS…PLUS A GIVEAWAY!
Guest Post by Patricia Tanumihardja Chances are you’ve read a picture book or two with food themes in the last year. While they’ve been around
Just One Pebble: Interview with Picture Book Author Dianna Wilson Sirkovski
Just One Pebble is the inspirational story of how nine-year-old Braeden Mannering started a non-profit organization called Brae’s Brown Bags in an effort to end hunger. Dianna Wilson Sirkovski came across Braedan’s story on (link to website) and says, “The story reached out and wrapped its fingers around my heart.”
ICE CREAM MAN: HOW AUGUSTUS JACKSON MADE A SWEET TREAT BETTER
Ice Cream! Ice Cream! Quite a treat. Come smile awhile and beat the heat! Ice Cream has been bringing smiles to people from all walks of life for years. But very few people knew who was responsible for making this sweet treat what it is today. Until now.
Celebrating Indigenous North American Life and Contributions…with Kidlit!
In my eyes, there’s nothing like an exquisitely written piece of children’s nonfiction in its ability to teach things and light a fire in a
Why Picture Book Authors Make the Best Marketers
Marketing is the part of being an author that most people dread. But did you know that many of the same skills you use to WRITE a great children’s book can also help you market it?
The Tiny Star: Storytelling Magic by Mem Fox
I knew I was in for a treat by beloved picture book author Mem Fox’s name and the softly rendered illustration on the book cover by Freya Blackwood. But despite my lofty expectations, this picture book exceeded them.
Interview with Debut Picture Book Author Ronni Diamondstein
I’m super excited today to be sharing with you not only a fun, interesting, and inspiring new story about an American icon, but also a
Meet the Very Talented #kidlit Creative, Amanda Davis.
Carol Gordon Ekster: I met a fellow NESCBWI member, Amanda Davis, on social media and when I read her debut book, 30,000 Stitches: The Inspiring
The Thing To Remember About Stargazing: A Lesson in Learning to Rewrite/Revise/Recycle
Guest Post by Matt Forrest Esenwine This is a story about four books and a poem, and how interconnected the publishing life can be. Folks
The Gift of Highlights
by Danna Zeiger Last year, PJ Library gave me the greatest gift I could never give myself: the gift of treating myself seriously and calling
TOP 5 STEPS FOR EVALUATING ONLINE WRITING CONFERENCES
You’ve just received another email for an online writers’ conference. How do you know if it’s right for you? Will it really advance your writing career? Is there such a thing as a free conference? I’m the host of Picture Book Summit, and I’ve worked in the online conference space since 2011.
Interview with Author, Illustrator, and Inventor Vicky Fang…and a Book Giveaway!
I consider myself super-duper lucky, as a Writers’ Rumpus blogger, to be able to meet and interview so many talented kidlit authors. I learn new