Picturebooking - interviews with authors and illustrators

Children's book illustrator Cátia Chien shows us that something beautiful can come from creative struggle. Today's featured book, THE BEAR AND THE MOON is a picture book that follows what happens when the gift of a balloon floats into a bear's life. Books featured on the show this winter: https://bookshop.org/lists/winter-2021-picturebooking-list Become an email subscriber to enter the monthly boo...

Children's book author Jon-Erik Lappano tells us why nurturing a sense of wonder in kids is essential. Today's featured book, MAGGIE'S TREASURE, is about a child who turns her passion for collecting into a pleasure for her community. Books featured on the show this month: https://picturebooking.com/december-2020-books/

Children's book author-illustrator Alex Willan discusses the power of humor in storytelling, and his picture book UNICORNS ARE THE WORST. Alex Willan  is an author-illustrator who has exhibited in art galleries and has painted murals, theater sets, and squirmy kids' faces, but his true love has always been children's books.  UNICORNS ARE THE WORST  is about a goblin who can't stand his new neighbo...

New York Times -bestselling author Mac Barnett talks about making things (like books) with his friends (like Greg Pizzoli and Shawn Harris) for kids. Today's featured books are JACK AND SANTA by Mac Barnett and Greg Pizzoli and A POLAR BEAR IN SNOW by Mac Barnett and Shawn Harris. Discover more at https://picturebooking.com/mac-barnett-jack-santa-polar-bear .

Children's book author-illustrator Jane Smith discusses embracing change and her picture book HELLO, NEW HOUSE. Jane Smith  is an author-illustrator and designer with over 18 years of experience writing, illustrating, and designing children's books and creating artwork for various art licensing products.  Hello, New House  is about a young girl who has to adjust to a new home. I find this book to...

Children's book author-illustrator Don Tate shows us how stories save lives with his book, WILLIAM STILL AND HIS FREEDOM STORIES: THE FATHER OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. Don Tate  is the author and illustrator of numerous critically acclaimed books for children. In 2016, he earned an Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award for his first picture book Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton.  WIL...

Children's book author-illustrator Nicola Killen reminds us of picture books' power and shares her book THE LITTLE KITTEN. Nicola Killen received an MA in children's book illustration at Cambridge School of Art, and since then, she has been working on her books, including THE LITTLE REINDEER.    THE LOST KITTEN is a charming autumnal story about a little girl who must return a lost kitten to its h...

New York Times best-selling author-illustrator Aaron Becker discusses colors that inspire and his board book MY FAVORITE COLOR. Aaron Becker  is the Caldecott Honor-winning author-illustrator of the Journey trilogy and A STONE FOR SASCHA, as well as YOU ARE LIGHT, the acclaimed companion book to MY FAVORITE COLOR.    MY FAVORITE COLOR  celebrates color and nature with a joyously simple die-cut boo...

Children's book author-illustrator Jaime Zollars discusses writing for your illustrations and her picture book THE TRUTH ABOUT DRAGONS. Jaime Zollars  is an author-illustrator who is inspired by fairy tales, Flemish painters, and flea-market photographs. She sees herself as an illustrator first and has built her career around illustrating children's books and book covers, among other things.    TH...

Children's book author Kate Messner discusses THE NEXT PRESIDENT: THE UNEXPECTED BEGINNINGS AND UNWRITTEN FUTURE OF AMERICA'S PRESIDENTS. *affiliate link Kate Messner  is an author who turns her curiosity into books that encourage kids to wonder, too. She writes award-winning work in fiction and nonfiction.   THE NEXT PRESIDENT  is an inspiring and informative book for kids about America's preside...

Two-time Caldecott winner author-illustrator Sophie Blackall discusses IF YOU COME TO EARTH. Sophie Blackall  has illustrated many books, including the Ivy + Bean series. She has twice won the Caldecott Medal. Originally from Australia, she now lives in Brooklyn, New York.   IF YOU COME TO EARTH  is a glorious guide to our home planet and a call for us to take care of both Earth and each other. Le...

Picture book author-illustrator Gaia Cornwall discusses JABARI TRIES. Gaia Cornwall  is an author-illustrator whose debut picture book, JABARI JUMPS, won several awards, including a Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book and an American Library Association Notable Children's Book.   JABARI TRIES  is a book about the struggles of making and inventing. Jabari transforms his frustration into perseverance with...

Picture book author Simran Jeet Singh discusses FAUJA SINGH KEEPS GOING: THE TRUE STORY OF THE OLDEST PERSON TO EVER RUN A MARATHON. Simran Jeet Singh  is an educator, writer, activist, and scholar who regularly speaks on issues of diversity, inclusion and equity.   FAUJA SINGH KEEPS GOING  is the true story about the man who broke world records to become the first one-hundred-year-old to run a ma...

Josh Funk  is the children's book author behind several successful book series, including Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast, How to Code, It's NOT a Fairy Tale and Patience & Fortitude.   S HORT & SWEET is the fourth book in the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series. Pancake and Toast fear they're going stale, and undergo a treatment that accidentally transforms them into toddlers! Discover more at...

Illustrator, Jess X. Snow and I chat about the picture book, The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story. This beautiful book is about intergenerational bonds, finding courage in the face of fear, and connecting with our natural world. And stick around for the end of this episode when we share picture books from Miranda Paul, Zack Shada, D.C. Cody, and Jennifer Black Reinhardt. Jess X. Snow is a Chin...

Valerie Bolling  is an author and educator who wants children of all backgrounds to see themselves in stories. LET'S DANCE  is a rhythmic celebration of dance and diversity. Discover more at  https://picturebooking.com/valerie-bolling .

Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow  is an educator, anti-racism activist, and children's book author. Her stories feature young Black Muslim protagonists. YOUR NAME IS A SONG is a story that reminds us of the beauty, history, and magic behind names. Discover more at https://picturebooking.com/jamilah-thompkins-bigelow .

Claire Annette Noland is an author, children's librarian, and reading specialist. She is has written easy readers, board books, and picture books for young children. EVIE'S FIELD DAY is a story about winning and losing, and a decision between a chance at a trophy or an opportunity to be a good friend. Discover more at picturebooking.com/claire-annette-noland .

Ian Lendler is a journalist and award-winning author of picture books, non-fiction, and graphic novels. THE FABLED LIFE OF AESOP is the story of a slave using his gift to speak truth to power and liberate himself. It will give you a new perspective on the fables you've heard your whole life. THE FABLED LIFE OF AESOP has received several starred reviews and was hailed by School Library Journal as "...

Christian Robinson is a picture book author and illustrator. He won a Caldecott Honor and a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor for his art in LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET by Matt de la Peña. LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET also won the Newbery Medal. YOU MATTER is a picture book that blends self-love with different viewpoints of space and time, inviting the reader to engage with our world in new ways a...

Danielle Dufayet is a picture book author who teaches English and public speaking/self-empowerment classes. She is also an artist who works in stained glass and oil, along with acrylic paint. YOU ARE YOUR STRONG is a picture book that reassures kids that they can handle big emotions and the benefits of developing inner strength and self-confidence. YOU ARE YOUR STRONG is also a 2020 Teacher's Choi...

Christopher Eliopoulos is an author-illustrator who began his career as a letterer for Marvel. He is also the illustrator of the New York Times bestselling  Ordinary People Change the World series of picture book biographies. Eliopoulos has worked on thousands of stories in comics, picture books and now television. The Yawns are Coming is about two best friends with big plans for their sleepover....

Helena Ku Rhee is an author based in Los Angeles. She draws story ideas from her travels as well as her childhood. THE PAPER KINGDOM  by Helena Ku Rhee, illustrated by Pascal Campion, is a story based off of a difficult time made magical by her parents. Discover more at picturebooking.com/helena-ku-rhee .

Tapping into a kid's world. Annie Barrows is the author of the Ivy and Bean Series, but in our family, we love all her work including her latest books featured on the podcast: What John Marco Saw and The Best of Iggy .

How to think about the tension between fitting in and being different? Vanessa Roeder is a self-made artist turned author-illustrator, who finds inspiration and so much more in her Girllustrators , a close group of fellow children's book creators. Featured book:  The Box Turtle by Vanessa Roeder A story about self-acceptance filled with heart and humor as a little turtle searches for his perfect s...