Kid Lit Love: PLANES USA!

Hello Readers, welcome to Kid Lit Love where I share new release children’s books on Mondays with author and/or illustrator features. This week is special because I have the pleasure of featuring one of my amazing critique partners, Tara J. Hannon, illustrator of PLANES USA! This board book is written by Jo Parker and is also available in ebook form.

Synopsis:

Explore America in this cloud-shaped board book! Buckle up and grab a seat on this plane full of pups, pooches, and other fun animals!
Welcome aboard! Flying from New York to L.A., and making stops along the way… See 12 exciting cities across the USA!

Tara, it is such a pleasure to have you as a guest on the blog! Thanks for sharing your time with our readers.

Please tell us why you write and illustrate books for children. 

I can get so wrapped up in a book, movie, or song that my husband often has to remind me that they aren’t real. But the thing about that is, I love dipping into the emotion well of different worlds, characters, and events. I love standing in moments with fictional characters and looking through their eyes. I just love feeling stories. And I want to be a part of creating  moments like that for others.

Yes! Stories are an important part of our lives.

Can you share a piece of advice for children’s writers and/or illustrators?
Do what feels good when it feels good. If it doesn’t feel good, shelf it until it does.

Tara, I do this too. There are many times I’ve put a project away for awhile and when I return to it, I have fresh eyes and a fresh mind.

Tell us how you build yourself up in the face of rejection.
There is no shield from rejection in this industry. Oh how I wish there were. Perhaps the best advice I could give regarding rejection is to accept that it is a part of the game. You’ve gotta play to win and that means getting knocked down a few (hundred) times before getting the call or celebrating the contracts. Knowing that rejections happen to every writer, is comforting to me. Also, it is important that we remind ourselves of our constantly moving goal posts. There was a time not long ago when I was querying agents and getting rejected. Then I got my agent – wahoo! – and I moved my goal post. Now I receive rejections from editors. Acknowledging and celebrating our progress is a great way to be kind to ourselves.  

Tara, you are so wise! Rejection is tough so thanks for your advice. Thanks also for sharing your book with us; I think young readers will enjoy taking flight across the country with some of the adorable animals you’ve created.

Website link – www.tarajhannon.comTwitter link: https://twitter.com/tarajhannon

And now for some fun…a giveaway! Share or comment on this post here or on twitter and be entered to win a copy of PLANES USA! and…. my latest book, THE LULLABY MONSTERS. Open to adults 19 years of age and over in the United States only. Giveaway closes on November 16th! Good luck! Two winners will be chosen.

In this night time adventure, big Kelsey is always her brother’s hero. She bravely helps with lost teddy bears, scraped knees, and favourite picnic foods. When Thomas can’t sleep because of the lullaby monsters, Kelsey isn’t sure she can help. Then Thomas’ precious lullaby box is stolen, Kelsey must face her monstrous fear, and in doing so, she discovers the lullaby monsters are a lot like Thomas.

This book is an awesome gift for a beginning reader to read aloud to a younger sibling.

Readers, I hope you’ll stop by on Mondays to discover more great children’s books, get inspired by my Wednesday quotes, or read about my nature preschool program. Have a great day!