Jayden's Impossible Garden by Mélina Mangal, illustrated by Ken Daley, is out now. Order it here! By Mélina Mangal Research says that being out in nature is beneficial for both the mind and body, for adults and kids. But what if you don’t have much nature nearby? What if you live in the city? … [Read more...] about Finding Nature in the City by Mélina Mangal
Personal Essay
At a Time of Vast Human Healing, Writer Vita Murrow Looks to Our Animal Neighbors for Support
The True Stories of Animal Heroes series by Vita Murrow is available from Frances Lincoln Children's Books. By Vita Murrow After years of writing about people. Reimaging the best potential in humanity, through some of our most iconic storytelling traditions, it was time for a change. In my … [Read more...] about At a Time of Vast Human Healing, Writer Vita Murrow Looks to Our Animal Neighbors for Support
Life in Spanglish
Once Upon a Quinceañera by Monica Gomez-Hira is out now. Order it here! By Monica Gomez-Hira The first language I ever learned to speak was Spanish—the language that my family brought with them when they moved to the United States from Colombia. It was the tie to everything that they still … [Read more...] about Life in Spanglish
Teaching Your Kids Body Positivity? Learn to Practice It Yourself
Laxmi's Mooch by Shelly Anand, illustrated by Nabi H. Ali comes out on March 2, 2021. Pre-order it! By Shelly Anand My mooch and I have had an on-again-off-again relationship my whole life. “What’s a mooch, you ask? These little hairs above my lip,” says Laxmi, the main character of my debut … [Read more...] about Teaching Your Kids Body Positivity? Learn to Practice It Yourself
What Naruto Taught Me About History, Community, and a Toronto Suburb
Like Home by Louisa Onomé is out now. Order it here! I never intentionally set out to write a story about change. When I started drafting my contemporary debut Like Home, I thought I was writing a story about friendship, love, and above all, community. I haven’t always been interested in the … [Read more...] about What Naruto Taught Me About History, Community, and a Toronto Suburb
How We Can Face the Pandemic Together
Vy's Special Gift by Ha-Giang Trinh, illustrated by Evi Shelvia is on sale now. By Ha-Giang Trinh When I joined the workshop Children During the time of COVID-19 organized by Room to Read in June 2020, I thought long and hard about what kind of stories I should write. There were many angles I … [Read more...] about How We Can Face the Pandemic Together
What Is Love, and How a Porcupine Is the Way to Show It
Porcupine Cupid by Jason June is on sale now. Order it here! By Jason June What is love? No, I’m not talking about Haddaway hits (although that is an absolute bop), but my favorite emotion. Love fuels the best movie genre (rom-coms), my favorite holiday (I could go on and on about why … [Read more...] about What Is Love, and How a Porcupine Is the Way to Show It
What It’s Like to Illustrate a Biography for Kids
Standing on Her Shoulders by Monica Clark-Robinson, illustrated by Laura Freeman is on sale now. Order it here! By Laura Freeman I work on a lot of biographies and I love it. I learn so much about the subject during the process, but illustrating Monica Clark-Robinson’s Standing on Her … [Read more...] about What It’s Like to Illustrate a Biography for Kids
How to Make a Comeback (in Middle School and in Life)
E. L. Shen was a 2017 recipient of the WNDB Internship Grant. Content note: Descriptions of racism against Asian Americans, including racist slurs and language By E. L. Shen On the first day of seventh grade, I flat-ironed my thick black hair, smoothed down my Aeropostale T-shirt, and tried … [Read more...] about How to Make a Comeback (in Middle School and in Life)
