The Picture Book Buzz - Interview with Dana Smith

Danna Smith is a poet and award-winning author of numerous books for children. Her diverse body of work spans board books, novelty books, and Little Golden Books for the youngest audiences, as well as captivating fiction and insightful nonfiction for older readers.

Growing up on her family's rural Utah property, Danna shared her world with an extraordinary collection of animals. This untamed freedom allowed her imagination to flourish, creating stories, poems, and inventions. Her father, a falconer and dedicated animal expert, frequently brought bobcats, alligators, monkeys, hawks, and even vultures into their home, fostering Danna's deep connection with the natural world. This early immersion in wildlife and wonder profoundly shaped her literary voice.

Danna is the author of 30 books, including The Colors of Spring, illustrated by Jessica Gibson (2025), The Welcome Book, illustrated by Juliana Perdomo (2025), Bunny's Easter Basket, illustrated by Kathryn Selbert (2025), Born of Orange Blossoms: Poems for All Seasons (2025),  How Do You Haiku?: A Step-by-Step Guide with Templates (2023), The Colors of Fall, illustrated by Jessica Gibson (2024), Peek-A-Boo Haiku: A Lift-the-Flap Book, illustrated by Teagan White (2023), The Complete Book of Aspen (2022), The Thank You Book, illustrated by Juliana Perdomo (2022), Wake Up, Freight Train!, illustrated by Jon Andersen (2022), Rooftop Garden, illustrated by Pati Aguilera (2022), One Blue Gnu, illustrated by Ana Zurita (2022), The Colors of Winter, illustrated by Amber Ren (2019), Rocket-Bye Baby: A Spaceflight Lullaby, illustrated by Ziyue Chen (2019), The Colors of Summer, illustrated by Amber Ren (2019), and The Hawk of the Castle, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline (2017).

Danna’s newest picture book, Zenguin, releases January 6^th.

Welcome Danna,

Hi Maria! I’m so happy to be here—thanks a bunch for having me!

Tell us a little about yourself. (Where/when do you write? How long have you been writing?)

I’ve had a pen in my hand for as long as I can remember. Even as a kid, I was always scribbling down poems and short stories. I think it’s in my blood; my maternal grandmother was a poet, and I had an uncle who was famous in the family for making up the silliest rhymes. He’d dance and clap along to the rhythm just to get me giggling! I definitely give him the credit for my love of rhyme and that internal "beat" I use when I write.

The moment I tried my hand at picture books in my late teens, I was totally hooked. I knew right then and there that seeing my own stories on a bookshelf one day was the dream!

I spend my days writing from my home in Northern California, specifically from a formal living room that has been permanently repurposed into a word-factory. I’m lucky enough to have a big bay window for 'thoughtful gazing' (which is writer-speak for daydreaming), and the nature outside is the only thing keeping my sanity—and my word count—intact.

It is wonderful to "meet" you, Danna! What is one of the most fun or unusual places where you’ve written a manuscript?

The award for the most unusual place I’ve ever written a manuscript definitely goes to the dentist’s office! Back when my kids were in the 'braces years,' I wrote some of my first picture books to the sound of dental drills and soft elevator music.

These days, I’m a bit of an 'anywhere, anytime' writer. If an idea strikes, I’m scrambling for napkins, old envelopes, or my phone notes. I’ve even been known to bolt upright in bed at 3:00 AM to scribble down a line before it escapes my overloaded brain. The real challenge, of course, is waking up the next morning and trying to decipher what my sleepy handwriting was actually trying to say!"

Don't envy you the dentist time, but I certainly commiserate with the next morning puzzlement over a late note to yourself. What was your inspiration or spark of interest for Zenguin?

As a bit of an anxious penguin myself, the name Zenguin just waddled into my head while I was playing around with words. I realized I had to write this book for the little version of me—the girl who really could have used a friend like this when she was struggling with anxiety. In such a loud, busy world, I truly hope this story becomes a tool to help kids (and us grown-ups, too!) find a bit of inner peace.

I hope so, too! What is the hardest or most challenging thing about writing Zenguin? And what was the most fun?

Writing Zenguin was such a labor of love, but the biggest challenge was definitely keeping it short and sweet!

When you’re creating a Social Emotional Learning book—especially one focused on anxiety—the goal is to create space, not clutter. I really wanted to avoid "busy" words that might feel overwhelming. Even though I stepped away from my usual rhyming style for this one, I still wanted the prose to feel lyrical, like the words were just calmly flowing across the page.

It wasn't easy, though! The first draft was a bit too long, which meant I had to make the tough choice to cut some of my "babies"—those favorite lines that I adored, but ultimately realized with the help of my amazing editors weren’t necessary.

Creating a world in Antarctica for Zenguin was an absolute blast! Honestly, the best part was diving into research about all the cool (literally!) animals that live there and filling the pages with Zenguin’s wonderful crew of buddies.

Friends are such a huge, magical part of being a kid. They aren’t just for playing—children learn so much about the world just by watching and growing alongside their friends!

Trimming favorite lines is so tough, but it really paid off. How many revisions did the illustrations take from first draft to publication for Zenguin?

Working with Sydney Hanson was such a dream come true for Zenguin and me! We truly hit the jackpot when she signed on as our illustrator.

Sydney is a total pro, and seeing her initial sketches was already a "wow" moment for us—we just knew the finished art was going to be something special. The whole process was so smooth, too; we only had to make two or three tiny tweaks based on feedback from myself and the lovely team at Workman Kids.

Wow! That is so awesome. Did anything amaze or surprise you when you first saw Sydney Hanson’s illustrations? What is your favorite spread?

There is something so sweet about Zenguin and his sister that warms your heart right away. I especially loved the soothing atmosphere Sydney created; the soft palette of blues, greens , and purples is so subtle, yet it perfectly carries that feeling of tranquility and quiet reflection throughout the book.

Zenguin by ©Danna Smith, ©Illustrated by Sydney Hanson, Workman Kids 2026

I just love this spread where we're introduced to Zenguin’s group of penguin friends. Seeing them all piled together in a big, cozy huddle is so perfect! This is also the first time we notice Zenguin’s unique little heart on his chest, which is such a lovely way to tell him apart from the rest of the colony.

I loved the sweet pile of penguins and the gorgeous play of colors and light. Having written both picture books and board books, do you find one easier than the other? Or one much harder?

Writing for the tiniest readers is such a joy, though it’s surprisingly tricky! Even though board books are small, they actually take a lot of heart and precision to get just right.

While a typical picture book gives you 32 pages to play with, a board book usually has only about 14. This means every single word counts! It’s a unique process. There isn't room for complex backstories. The focus stays on just a few lovable characters and a story that leads to a happy or satisfying end. Since little ones are still learning how the world works, I avoid metaphors or trends. Instead, I use straightforward, gentle language they can easily follow. The goal is to find a fresh, new way to talk about things babies and toddlers already love and understand.

It’s definitely a tall order for such a small book! However, I truly love the challenge. It is such a privilege to be among the very first authors to introduce a child to the magic of storytelling. There is nothing more rewarding than helping to spark a lifelong love of reading in a young mind.

That's such a wonderful way to look at it. What's something you want your readers to know about Zenguin?

I really want readers to see a bit of themselves in Zenguin. Just like any of us, he loves to play and spend time with his friends—but he also knows that even the best days can feel a little overwhelming sometimes. And honestly? That’s perfectly okay! We all get those anxious feelings now and then. Zenguin has discovered some wonderful ways to find his “calm,” and he’s so excited to share them with you.

It was fun to watch you translate actions a child can take into Zenguin's discovery of self-calming. Are there any new projects you are working on now that you can share a tidbit with us?

Look, up in the sky! It’s a bird... it’s a plane... it’s a brand-new book! I am excited to share our upcoming Little Golden Book (arriving July 14th, 2026). With super fun art by Brian Biggs, it’s a celebration of high-flying drone friends and the cool jobs they do to lend a helping hand in the world every day. Pre-orders are officially open!

This looks like lots of fun! Last question,  what is your favorite National Park or Forest, regional park, or city park (anywhere in the world)? Or the one you’re longing to visit. Why?

Oh, good  question! As a total nature girl, I’m definitely in my happy place whenever I’m out on a trail.

Picking a favorite National Park is almost impossible because I fall in love with every single one I visit! But if I had to choose, the breathtaking views and waterfalls of Yosemite National Park (in the heart of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Central California) hold a special place in my heart. It’s pure heaven!

I visited the Grand Canyon when I was a kid, but I’m dying to go back. I just know I’d appreciate that massive, stunning landscape so much more with older (and slightly wiser!) eyes.

Thank you, Danna, for sharing with us a bit about yourself and your new picture book.

You’re very welcome. Thank you for having me! Have a peaceful, calm day.

To find out more about Danna Smith, or to contact her:

Website: https://dannasmithbooks.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dannasmithbooks/

Twitter: https://x.com/dannabananalove

Poetry Blog: https://poetrypop.com/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/danna209/