The Picture Book Buzz- Interview with Deborah Underwood
If you're looking for a great way to freak out your parents, tell them you're going to be a street musician when you grow up. ~Deborah Underwood Born in Walla Walla, Washington, Deborah Underwood dreamed of being an astronomer. (even named her stuffed bear Ursa Major), a singer, or a writer. Today, she writes and sings, so she’s done pretty well. She also wanted to work in a piano factory and paste the labels on new pianos. And on tough days, she occasionally dreams of changi
The Picture Book Buzz - Interview with Lisa Robinson
What is the creative process and how does it work? This is a question that intrigues me. ~ Lisa Robinson Lisa Robinson was born in Kampala, Uganda. Her parents were Peace Corps volunteers who later became world-traveling diplomats, "so books became my best friends." Now, Lisa is a psychiatrist who works with children, teens, and adults and a children's book author. She has an MFA in Creative Writing for Young People from Lesley University where she now teaches an elective cou
The Picture Book Buzz - Interview with Susanna Leonard Hill
Hooray! Are you all in for a treat! Today, I get the privilege of interviewing amazing Susanna Leonard Hill. Susanna Leonard Hill is and award-winning author of twenty books for children, including Punxsutawney Phyllis (A Book List Children's Pick and Amelia Bloomer Project choice), No Sword Fighting In The House (a Junior Library Guild selection), Can't Sleep Without Sheep (a Children's Book of The Month), Not Yet, Rose (a Gold Mom's Choice Award Winner and an Itabashi Trans
The Picture Book Buzz - Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing
Today is the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. Slice of moon cake, anyone? © Javier Jaén Before we get into this post, let me recommend that you check out the Google doodle and the narrated story by Mike Collins, the perhaps often overlooked astronaut, who remained in orbit so Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin could land on the moon. It is worth watching a couple of times, for the story and then the illustrations. This year has seen a number of books - biographies,
The Picture Book Buzz - Interview with John Hare
John Hare spent his youth in Kansas drawing comic strips about snakes, making spoof yearbooks to entertain his friends, and writing stories about a crime-fighting crocodile. After working as an art director and graphic designer, he picked up a brush and painted a scene for his son's nursery. That's when he realized he still wanted nothing more than to bring stories to life. A dad, illustrator, writer, armchair philosopher, self-proclaimed chef, latent runner, wannabee musicia
Four Otter Toboggan: An Animal Counting Book - Perfect Picture Book Friday #PPBF
Living in the Pacific Northwest, I enjoy hiking and camping. On these trips, I am regularly treated to glimpses of animals going about their routines. Or, as some of you know, I just stay home and photograph the numerous birds, bobcats, coyotes, raccoons, opossums, deer, and black bears as they amble through my yard. Sometimes, I even get the honor of seeing the young tagging along. Last summer, four woodpecker species brought their young to my feeders. It is so important to
The Picture Book Buzz - Interview with Vivian Kirkfield
Nothing is impossible if you can imagine it! Although her "official" bio follows, I think we can all agree that Vivian Kirkfield is an extra-ordinary friend, mentor, and enthusiastic kidlit community participant. Writer for children – reader forever...that’s Vivian Kirkfield in five words. She’s got a bucket list that contains many more than five words – but she’s already checked off skydiving, parasailing and banana-boat riding (plus visiting Australia and New Zealand). When
The Picture Book Buzz - Interview with Patricia Toht
I am honored today to talk with a very special author and person. She lived in London during Will and Kate's wedding, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, and the Olympics, owned a children's bookstore/toy store for seven years, and married a "Happy Meal Toy" designer. It's the amazing writer and poet - Patricia Toht. Her newest book, Dress Like A Girl, releases tomorrow! Patricia, thank-you so much for stopping by to talk about your newest book and writing. I’m so happy to be here,
The Picture Book Buzz - Interview with Chana Stiefel
You probably know this author from her recent picture book Daddy Depot (Feiwel & Friends, 2017). But did you know Chana has written 23 non-fiction books for kids and over 95 magazine articles? She’s also been an editor for Scholastic’s Science World magazine and taught a year-long Writing Workshop to classes of energetic and creative kids at a local high school. Hope you enjoy this interview with my amazing critique partner, Chana Stiefel whose newest book, Animal Zombies, re
The Picture Book Buzz - Interview with Henry Herz
Henry Herz has taken a moment out of his busy fall schedule to pop back in and talk with me. If you missed our first interview on July 30, 2017, check out Henry Hertz's basic bio facts and discussion of his earlier book Cap'n Rex & His Clever Crew, here. So the big news is that Henry has three books releasing in short succession this fall - Alice’s Magic Garden (Familius 9/1, an imaginative prequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland), How Squid Got Two Long Arms (Pelican Pub
