Kid Lit Village: HE LEADS: MOUNTAIN GORILLA, GENTLE GIANT

Hello Readers! Thanks for stopping by Kid Lit Village this week. I’m thrilled to feature HE LEADS: MOUNTAIN GORILLA, GENTLE GIANT by June Smalls, illustrated by Yumi Shimokawara. Last year, I featured another of June’s books, SHE LEADS: THE ELELPHANT MATRIARCH. It’s a pleasure to have June back on the blog as a guest for a second time.

HE LEADS: Mountain Gorilla, the Gentle Giant

Synopsis: He is the king. He leads his family, his troop.
His silver back shows his age and experience.
He guides them through thick forests and steep mountains.

The majestic mountain gorillas live in family groups, led by a powerful silverback. Juxtaposing the apes’ awesome strength and surprising gentleness, He Leads tells the story of family loyalty and love. With stunning, lifelike illustrations and facts on each page, this beautiful picture book is a monument to these endangered gentle giants.

June Smalls

June, it is such a pleasure to have you on the blog! I’m excited about this latest book in your series. Children will love learning more about these endangered animals.

Tell us about the inspiration for your book.
After writing SHE LEADS: THE ELEPHANT MATRIARCH I started thinking about he, she, they type themes. Once I decided to go that direction, I started thinking more on what is surprising about different male-led animal groups. With the elephants in SHE LEADS, the focus was empowering strong, intelligent, and caring females. HE LEADS needed to be similar. I chose the mountain gorilla for both their power and their gentleness. When I started researching I watched a film where a curious young male gorilla, who could have flipped over heavy logs with ease, gently poke and nudge a young owl that had come close. He didn’t harm it at all. The male is aggressive when he needs to be, but will play with the babies, showing them how to do chest beats the way we might play pat-a-cake with our own babies. He’ll fight to the death to protect his troop, but avoiding danger always seems to be their first choice. Once I learned all this, I knew they were the stars of the next book.
Up next is THEY LEAD: THE WOLF PACK in 2023 which shows the teamwork used to keep a wolf pack safe, healthy, and happy.

I love the two sides to the gorilla: the power and the gentleness. Great qualities in a leader, for certain. And the wolf pack story sounds amazing too!

What part of being a writer do you love most?
I love discovery! Sometimes that discovery is a topic I want to learn about. Other times, it is the way I can present the story or information I want to share, like the dual narrative in the LEADS series. Or it might be the direction a story or character takes me that I never expected. It is magical and often unexpected and keeps writing always feeling new.

That sense of discovery is so wonderful, isn’t it? You never know what’s around the next corner.

Tell us how you build yourself up in the face of rejection.
Rejections sucks, but I try to be logical rather than emotional in regards to it. Rejection happens to us all the time. It is easy to forget that it isn’t personal. For an agent or editor to take on our work they have to love it, be capable of selling it, be confident that they can bring it to the next level, and convince others of the same. Many times an agent knows they wouldn’t be a great advocate, or an editor loves a manuscript but can’t convince their sales team to get on board. And sometimes still, it may just not be their cup of tea. The same way we don’t like every dish we are served or purchase every novel we skim through at the store. When we focus on the next step, it lessens the angst and stress. Still sucks to be rejected, and it is okay for it to feel sad too. We have emotions and it is ok to own those feelings as long as it doesn’t hold us back from the next steps toward our goals.

Great advice, June. Thank you!

What do you hope readers will gain from your book?
For HE LEADS, and the first book in the series, SHE LEADS, I hope it opens conversations about what makes a good leader. I hope it makes readers curious about amazing endangered animals. Mostly, I hope it reminds young readers that every big or powerful or impressive person or creature started off small. We all are born with potential, the ability to learn, and the ability to grow.

Leadership is a topic that can connect with children and adults, alike. I see such potential in the young children I teach as leaders, now and in the future. I love giving them opportunities to lead and they love it too.

June, we wish you the best with your book series! Thank you for sharing your insights here on Kid Lit Village!
Connect with June!
Twitter: @June_SmallsWebsite: www.junesmalls.com

Thank you for stopping by Kid Lit Village blog today! Please support all our Kid Lit Village authors in whatever way you can. Leave a comment here, request their books from the library, or post a review!

If you’re curious about books by Cynthia Mackey and Paula Nasmith, please subscribe to my newsletter.

Cynthia Mackey


Kid Lit Village Review: Doe’s Dandelions

Hello Lovely Readers! It’s Friday and that means time for a short but sweet picture book review. I’m happy to share my review of Doe’s Dandelions by Laura Renauld. The book is illustrated by Jennie Poh and published by Beaming Books! I’ve also got a great interview with Laura Renauld on the blog all about this book.

Doe’s Dandelions acknowledges the invasive nature of the weedy dandelion and celebrates the joy of the dandelion in the most kid friendly way. Doe and her friends are charming. The book is filled with beautiful moments from the ‘tiny suns’ spotted by squirrel to the snacking delights shared by porcupine. It is a joyful celebration of friendship and finding ways to appreciate something that might otherwise be unappreciated. The textures and patterns in Jennie Poh’s illustrations are gorgeous. The final petal parade celebration makes for a delightful ending to this spring time story.

5 stars

I must add that when I asked my preschool class their favourite part of the book, it was the petal parade! We might just have to have our own petal parade so that they can experience the same joy as Doe, Bear, Porcupine, and Squirrel.

KID LIT VILLAGE: DOE’S DANDELIONS

Hello Lovely blog readers! Welcome back to Kid Lit Village blog. I’m excited to share DOE’S DANDELIONS with you, illustrated by Jennie Poh, published by Beaming Books. I’m interviewing the author, Laura Renauld, who is a repeat guest on the blog. She was here for another book in the same series, which I absolutely loved, SQUIRREL’S SWEATER. Laura’s latest book, DOE’S DANDELIONS released on March 7, 2023! In a few days, I’ll be posting my review of DOE’S DANDELIONS so look for that on Friday. Scroll down for the interview with Laura!

Cynthia Mackey, author and Kid Lit Village interviewer

Who am I? My name is Cynthia (Cindy) Mackey; I’m a nature preschool teacher by day and a picture book writer by night. Early mornings are great for writing too! I started this blog in 2020, hoping to help picture book authors who couldn’t get out in person during the pandemic and have just kept going, in an effort to give back to the writing community that has given so much to me since I started a regular writing practice in 2017. It has been my pleasure to interview and share new book releases for children and I’m honoured that so many authors and illustrators have been guests here on the blog – Kid Lit Village.

Laura Renauld, children’s book author

Welcome to the blog, Laura! Thanks for taking a little time to answer some questions.

     What appeals to you about writing books for children?

As a picture book writer, I love seeing my text, black and white on the page, transform into a full color, illustrated book through the talents of another creative. The illustrator brings another layer (or layers) of story to the project. Kids and their teachers are amazed when I tell them that authors and illustrators usually don’t communicate. As a writer, I’m happy to “give up control” and only take on 50% of the storytelling. The surprises waiting in the illustrations and the depth they bring to my text are worth it! 

      List 5 favourite picture books. Explain what you like about them.

CAVEBOY CRUSH by Beth Ferry and Joseph Kuefler – Join the fun for this hilarious and unexpected take on boy meets girl. Grand gestures, occasional pitch-perfect rhyme (when employed), and laugh-out-loud CRUSH illustrations create a read-aloud I return to again and again.

IN MY MOSQUE by M. O. Yuksel and Hatem Aly – This book is WELCOME in picture book form. Gorgeous illustrations, lyrical language filled with sensory details, and snapshots of worship offer a window into the community of a mosque.

THE POMEGRANATE WITCH by Denise Doyen and Eliza Wheeler – This child-centered story in verse reads like the best kind of classic. Exquisite rhyme, engaging action, and a twist you don’t see coming makes this picture book one of my very favorites.

TRUMAN by Jean Reidy and Lucy Ruth Cummins – This picture book is a masterclass in perspective and a charming friendship story. By the end, you will love Truman as much as his Sarah does!

COME ON, RAIN! by Karen Hesse and Jon J. Muth – Lyrical language and hazy watercolors capture a sweltering summer moment right before the relief of rain. Each word is precise and perfect.

3.      Can you recommend any resources for developing your talents as a writer?

First, SCBWI regional conferences. That’s where I learned about the business of children’s books when I was first starting out. They are also great places to network with other creatives. It’s how I found my very first critique group.

Second, Kidlit411.com. It is the best resource online. If you have a question about kidlit, you will find an answer (or 3!) here.

Third, online writing challenges. I love starting the new year with Tara Lazar’s Storystorm challenge. It fills my notebook with ideas! Susanna Leonard Hill hosts fun holiday-related writing events and November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), just to name a few.

Fourth, workshops and webinars. Some of my favorite offerings have been presented by Highlights Foundation, The Writing Barn, Whale Rock Workshops, and SCBWI.

Last, READ and WRITE! There’s nothing that can replace the joy and education of immersing yourself in the genre you want to write. Then give it a go!

Laura, thanks for sharing your expertise with us.

Here’s a peek at one of the interior spreads from DOE’S DANDELIONS!

     Did writing a series of books pose any challenges for you? Was there anything you particularly enjoyed about doing a series?

After writing my first book, PORCUPINE’S PIE, which is a fall story featuring four woodland animal friends, it made sense to try writing a book set in a different season. Since I have four characters, I thought it would be fun to keep the same friends, but give each of them their own story. The challenge with this was developing the personality and voice of each character, while being consistent to the series. I also had to stay within the confines of my own story structure: alliterative title, seasonal festival with alliterative name, and a plot where the main character has to journey through the woods and interact with each of the friends. Overall, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed having those parameters in place. It helped to narrow down potential plots and moved the story along in a familiar way.

Thank you for having me!

Laura, thanks for being here. We loved learning more from you!

Connect with Laura Renauld

Website: www.laurarenauld.com

Twitter: @laura_renauld

Facebook: @kidlitlaura

https://www.facebook.com/kidlitlaura/

Instagram: @laurarenauld

https://www.instagram.com/laurarenauld/

Goodreads: Laura Renauld

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17509141.Laura_Renauld

And now a little more about me, the face behind the blog!

I am a children’s author too… with two self-published books and my debut picture book in traditional publishing, IF A BUMBLEBEE LANDS ON YOUR TOE, coming in 2024 with Yeehoo Press!

If you’re curious about books by Cynthia Mackey (me), please subscribe to my newsletter.

I hope you’ll stop by next week for the another interview! You’re welcome any time.

Kid Lit Village Review: JUST A WORM

Hello Readers! It’s Friday and time for a short and sweet book review. I’m pleased to feature JUST A WORM by Marie Boyd, published by Greenwillow, an imprint of Harper Collins. Earlier this week I did a blog review with Marie so be sure to take a moment and read the interview to learn more about the making of the book!

JUST A WORM is a picture book that is both delightful and educational, I love the way Marie incorporated many garden insects into the story. The three dimensional quilled illustrations are something special. What a great way to introduce little people to the creatures you might find in your garden!

5 stars

“JUST A WORM by Marie Boyd is just delightful!”

Kid Lit Village: JUST A WORM

Welcome to the Kid Lit Village blog! I’m super excited to have a freshly pressed interview with Marie Boyd, author of JUST A WORM, published by Greenwillow, an imprint of Harper Collins. Marie is an author/illustrator and she has a unique process called quilling that she uses to create her illustrations. This book is a great fit for Kid Lit Village with its nature focus and I’m honoured to interview Marie and share more about her book with all of you.

JUST A WORM by Marie Boyd

After being called “just a worm” by two children, Worm embarks on a journey around the garden to prove them wrong. Debut author-illustrator Marie Boyd seamlessly incorporates concepts of nature, natural selection, habitats, and interdependence in this picture book beautifully illustrated with a cut-paper technique called quilling.

Kid Lit Village Interviewer and Children’s Author, Cynthia Mackey

Who am I? My name is Cynthia (Cindy) Mackey; I’m a nature preschool teacher by day and a picture book writer by night. Early mornings are great for writing too! I started this blog in 2020, hoping to help picture book authors who couldn’t get out in person during the pandemic and have just kept going. I want to give back to the writing community that has given so much to me since I started a regular writing practice in 2017. It has been my pleasure to interview and share new book releases for children and I’m honoured that so many authors and illustrators have been guests here on the blog – Kid Lit Village.

Author/Illustrator, Marie Boyd

Marie Boyd studied chemistry in college and is a law professor. An expert in cosmetics and food regulation, she loves spending time outside, whipping up new creations in the kitchen, and quilling! Just a Worm is her first book for children. Marie lives in Columbia, South Carolina, with her family. Connect with her at marieboyd.com and on Instagram 

Welcome to the blog, Marie! Tell us about the inspiration for your books. 

When my son was little, I frequently told him “It’s just a worm” when he saw worms on the sidewalk after the rain. I imagined how a worm might respond if it could understand my words. This led to my debut picture book, JUST A WORM. In the book, after being called “just a worm” by two children, Worm embarks on a journey through the garden to prove them wrong. Along the way, Worm encounters several insects and other creatures, each of which has important qualities. But what can Worm do?

I used a cut paper technique called quilling to make the illustrations for JUST A WORM. The garden in JUST A WORM was inspired by plants I’ve seen on walks, plants from my and my parent’s garden, and flowers from local farms.  

I encourage readers to check out Marie’s paper quilling video for inspiration to make your own art at home. http://www.marieboyd.com/tutorials

Cynthia

What appeals to you about writing books for children?

I have always loved reading picture books. Some of my favorite childhood memories involve books. Now that I’m a parent one of my favorite things to do is to curl up on the couch with my kids and read aloud to them. My oldest likes to challenge me to make up stories for him and I love it when I make something up that he enjoys. I hope kids will find joy in my stories and that my stories will help them as they learn to navigate the world. 

Tell us about your path to publication.

When I was in first grade, my teacher gave each kid in our class a beautiful blank book in which to write and illustrate a story. I spent so much time working on drafts that I never finished mine, but I knew then that one day I wanted to publish a book. 

Can you recommend any resources for developing your talents as a writer?

I’m so grateful for my writing and illustration critique groups, and for friends and family members who are willing to discuss ideas, read drafts, and give feedback. I have learned so much from other writers, illustrators, and readers, many of whom I have connected with through SCBWI, libraries, bookstores, and my agent. Participating in regular critique groups has also helped provide me with the push I need to get my ideas down on paper. 

I also participate in three picture book groups, which have given me a deeper sense of community on this journey. It has been so much fun to celebrate other authors’ books. I very much appreciate having people I can ask questions about planning for a book release. 

As Marie says, writing is best done in connection with others. Sharing ideas, incorporating feedback and celebrating one another’s work is all part of the process.

Cynthia

Take a moment and connect with Marie through her website, instagram or facebook! Share her book with others who might enjoy reading it. That’s what Kid Lit Village is all about.

website: www.marieboyd.com

Instagram: @artistscholar

FB: @MarieBoydAuthor

And now a little more about me, the face behind the blog!

I am a children’s author too… with two self-published books and my debut picture book in traditional publishing, IF A BUMBLEBEE LANDS ON YOUR TOE, coming in 2024 with Yeehoo Press!

If you’re curious about books by Cynthia Mackey (me), please subscribe to my newsletter.

I hope you’ll stop by again soon for more interviews and book reviews!

Kid Lit Village Book Review: SMALL MATTERS

Hello lovely readers, and welcome to the blog! Today Kid Lit Village features a review of SMALL MATTERS: The Power of the Unseen by Heather Ferranti Kinser.

This book provides a wonderful opportunity to look closely at the small things and shows us how they really do matter! Real photographs show that the wonder of small things is beautiful.

5 Stars

Do you have a favourite book about something small? Please share in the comments!

Happy Friday, and I hope you’ll stop by Kid Lit Village blog again some time.

Kid Lit Village: Miss Meow

Hello Readers, and welcome to Kid Lit Village! I’m so happy you’re here. Each Monday I feature an author or illustrator interview and a new release children’s book. This week, we welcome MISS MEOW by Jane Smith, publication date: September 28, 2021 by West Margin Press.

About the book:

An imaginative story about childhood play and one welcoming family to a furry creature who wanders in!

MISS MEOW

Costumed with kitty ears and a tail, a young girl prowls proudly around her domain until she discovers her favorite toy mouse destroyed. Who else could it be but her little brother? But as the girl and her family investigates, they realize that there may be more than one cat in the house! Miss Meow is a dynamic tale celebrating the surprises that our feline friends can bring to a family.

Jane Smith, author

I’m thrilled to welcome Jane Smith to the Kid Lit Village blog! Thank you so much for being here and spending a little time with our readers, Jane.

Q: Tell us about the inspiration for your book

A: First, I want to say “thank you” for having me on Kid Lit Village today! I’m so excited to be sharing Miss Meow with you and your readers! The heart of the story is very much inspired by the nearly universal experience of kids everywhere dressing up as cats and requiring their loved ones to treat them as such! I know I certainly did as a child, even going so far as to eat actual dry cat food from my pet’s food dish! Oy!

And from there, Miss Meow’s heart was further shaped by a variety of additional unique influences. Miss Meow is very much a modern Goldilocks and the Three Bears story. And it is also a bit of an homage to my beloved childhood pet cats, Tiger and Socks, who were always full of surprises. I also have a soft spot for salty characters, and I enjoyed giving Miss Meow a big personality that at times rubs a little rough before softening up.

Altogether these influences fused into the joyful story of imaginative play and feline friends that is Miss Meow!

That’s so relatable for me, Jane. Even though we didn’t have pets, many of my children’s friends did and that’s exactly the kind of play that happened whenever they came over for play dates. They would constantly meow and crawl around. In fact, my son’s best friend in preschool spent about 3 weeks saying nothing but ‘meow’ to everyone.

Q: Share a piece of advice for children’s writers.

A: My best advice to fellow children’s book writers (and illustrators!), whether aspiring or established, it to just BEGIN on that project that lives in your heart—anyway, anyhow, at any pace, at any time. There’s always a million reasons to hold back or hold off—ignore them all. Whether your progress is measured in inches or miles, nonetheless, it will be meaningful, and it will carry you forward.

“That project that lives in your heart” is so rewarding to pursue, isn’t it? That’s such helpful advice. Especially when it can be difficult to know where to put your energies and measuring progress can be intangible.

Q: Tell us how you build yourself up in the face of rejection.

A: For me, I focus on my own agency—that is what I have the power to do for myself. It goes without saying that we can’t make anyone connect with our work or buy our stories, but creatively, I can focus on developing new work, embrace revisions and learn more about my craft. From a business perspective, I can continue to submit book proposals and artwork again (and again!), I can dive into self-promotion and I can create opportunities to get face time with potential clients and build relationships within the publishing industry.

I also started interviewing fellow artists nearly 10 years ago on my blog, Bird Meets Worm, as a way to lift up fellow creatives and celebrate their successes. Initially, when I first started the blog, I interviewed all my friends who were also working as hard as I was toward our publishing goals as a way to boost morale. These days, I sometimes talk to creators who have newly published books that get highlighted, but just as often I talk to creators whose work I just love, am inspired by and who I want to give a boost to, even if they have no recent publishing news. I’ve found that thru lifting others up, I lift my own spirits, too.

I’m so curious about your blog now, Jane. I know I’ll be following along and hopefully many Kid Lit Village readers will as well. For myself, I’d say I’ve learned a lot from interviewing writers and illustrators and I love helping shine a light on all the lovely books out there!

Q: What do you hope readers will gain from your book?

A: More than anything, I hope Miss Meow’s readers have FUN! I hope they laugh in surprise, giggle and are inspired to dress-up as their favorite animals and characters and PLAY! I hope they include their parents and siblings and loved ones in their play, too. I hope that every time they read Miss Meow they see another little clue or fun new detail, and that they enjoy being detectives and solving the mystery of what happened to Miss Meow’s toy mouse. I hope this a story that finds its way into their hearts and makes them HAPPY!

I love, love, love how books can inspire children’s play and it sounds like yours will do exactly that! Congratulations!

Read the Kirkus Review here!

You can connect with Jane on her website or Twitter

www.superjane.com

Twitter: @SuperJaneArtist

Did you know, I’ve written a couple of books too?

If you’re curious about books by Cynthia Mackey and Paula Nasmith, please subscribe to my newsletter.

I hope you’ll stop by next week for the another interview! You’re welcome any time.

Kid Lit Village Review: TWO DOGS ON A TRIKE

Dear Kid Lit Village blog readers,

I’m glad you’re here! I hope Friday is treating you well. Time for my next picture book review. Today, I’m featuring TWO DOGS ON A TRIKE by Gabi Snyder and Robin Rosenthal.

Plenty of action in this story, which will have mass appeal for pet lovers. Counting, transportation and adorable pets all rolled into one big adventure for little ones.