Hello Lovely Readers! I am happy to tell you that there are three new and wonderful picture books coming up on the Kid Lit Love blog this August!
And for kid lit creators who have been enjoying SCBWI’s Summer Spectacular, August has been a fabulous month, indeed!
SATURDAYS ARE FOR STELLA by Candy Wellins, illustrated by Charlie Eve Ryan, blog feature August 17thDANCE LIKE A LEAVE by AJ Irving and Claudia Navarro; blog feature, August 24thA GIFT FOR AMMA by Meera Sriram and Mariona Cabassa; blog feature August 10th
Stop by on Mondays and learn more about these books and their creators!
Sign up for my newsletter and learn about release dates, pre-orders and free offers related to my picture book, THE LULLABY MONSTERS.
Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are welcome here any time!
THE LULLABY MONSTERS have arrived. Children will enjoy this hybrid between picture book and early reader with six short chapters. A close sibling relationship, rascally monsters and a stolen music box make for a fun-filled night time adventure. Great for children who are just learning to read.
Hello and Happy Monday! Welcome to Kid Lit Love where a new release children’s book is featured on Mondays with an author and/or illustrator interview. Today we feature SUPERHEROES DON’T BABYSIT by Amber Hendricks and Kyle Reed, published by Beaming Books, June 2, 2020.
SUPERHEROES DON’T BABYSIT by Amber Hendricks and Kyle Reed
Synopsis:
Superheroes leap buildings, chase bad guys, and save the city from the evil Emperor Zog. Superheroes DON’T babysit. Except when their dad asks them to. In an epic battle of sibling rivalry, will this superhero finally meet her match? Or will she find exactly what she’s been missing all along?
In Superheroes Don’t Babysit, author Amber Hendricks tells a story full of humour and heart, and illustrator Kyle Reed’s super-powered illustrations pack a punch with their bold colours and sharp lines. This book is fun to look at and to read with siblings who consider themselves rivals or friends, or maybe something in between.
Amber Hendricks, author
It is a pleasure to have Amber Hendricks join us on the blog today. Welcome and congratulations on the publication of SUPERHEROES DON’T BABYSIT!
Please tell us why you write books for children.
I believe there is a real magic in introducing a child to the love of reading!
When I first started to pursue publishing, I thought I’d write Young Adult novels. But I was running a preschool/daycare at the time and picture books were a huge part of our day. I began to see the complexity in those seemingly simple stories and challenged myself to give picture books a try. I fell head-over-heels in love!
What part of being a writer do you love most?
I love the discovery…. of taking the tendrils of an ideal and weaving them together with words to form a fully fleshed out story. I also love being a part of such an amazing community!
Tell us about your path to publication.
Oh, goodness! It’s been everything I hoped for and nothing like I thought! Long and winding, and yet at times, a rush of activity. I’ve been blessed to work with great agents, editors, and critique partners along the way! I don’t believe there is a one-size-fits-all path to publication and success can come in many different forms, so it’s important to find what works for you.
Check out ALL of Amber’s Books!
Sophie and Little Star Clear Fork Publishing
Extraordinary Ordinary Ella Amicus Ink 2020
Superheroes Don’t Babysit Beaming Books 2020
Little Nature Explorers Board Book Series Amicus Ink 2020 and 2021
In my story THE LULLABY MONSTERS, cookies are something the monsters absolutely love. So what kind of cookies do you bake to please a monster? Monster Cookies of course!
Here’s my recipe for Monster Cookies that’s sure to please any little monster running around your home.
Recipe for Monster Cookies *note: I have tested and tweaked this recipe and it is awesome!
1/2 cup margarine 1/2 cup butter 3/4 cup light brown sugar 3/4 cup white sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 cups flour 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 2 cups rolled oats 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 1/2 – 3/4 cup candy coated chocolate pieces
Step 1
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets. Step 2
In a very large bowl, cream together the margarine, butter, brown sugar and white sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and rolled oats; stir into the sugar mixture. Mix in chocolate chips and candy-coated chocolate pieces. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets. Step 3
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are golden. If you like chewy cookies, take them out before they look done.
I’m thrilled to feature Abi Cushman’s new book, SOAKED! here on Kid Lit Love! Thank you for sharing your book with us, Abi! Published by Viking Children’s Books, SOAKED was just released July 14, 2020. Congratulations, Abi!
SOAKED by Abi Cushman
Synopsis
A Hula-Hooping moose, a badger with a bumblebee umbrella, a bunny in a cashmere sweater, and a very wet bear star in this unpredictable and laugh-out-loud picture book in which having fun gets the best of a grumpy bear.
It looks like a wet and dreary day for Bear and his trio of friends. How could he possibly have fun when he is soaked? But Badger, Bunny, and Moose don’t seem to mind. In fact, Moose can still hula hoop! And it looks like so much fun. Might Bear like to try?
Here is a story that shows that fun is not dependent on sunshine and blue skies. In fact, it might be more fun to be soaked!
Pub Date: July 14, 2020 Pages: 40 pages Publisher: Viking Children’s Books | An imprint of Penguin Random House ISBN: 978-1984836625
Author, Abi Cushman
Abi took the time to share a little about her experience as a children’s writer and I’m so happy for the opportunity to give you the inside scoop on Abi’s experience as a children’s writer.
1. Tell us how you came to write books for children.
I’ve always been interested in illustrating picture books. In fact, I took a few illustration courses in college. But I never thought of myself as a particularly creative writer. That changed in 2015, when I was reminded how much I loved picture books after reading a ton of them with my new baby. And then, in a sleep-deprived New Mom moment, I had an idea of my own for a book. So I decided to make a go of it. I wrote the words and created a dummy and went to my very first SCBWI critique group meeting. Since then, it’s been so much fun writing stories I think my kids would love or ones that I would have loved when I was a kid.
2. Tell us about the inspiration for your book or how you came up with the idea.
It was a hot summer afternoon in 2017, and I was out for a walk with my husband and daughter. We were about a mile away from home when we felt the first few drops. The drops quickly escalated into a torrential rainstorm. Normally, we all would have just started booking it for the house, but I was eight months pregnant at the time, and my movement was down to a slow waddle. So I told my husband to run home with our daughter, and I’d meet them later. And what I realized on my soggy walk home was that once I was completely soaked, the rain was actually quite pleasant. Refreshing even! So I thought it would be interesting in a picture book to play around with the idea of your attitude changing despite the circumstances staying the same. And I thought it would be so much fun to show a character completely embracing the rain and splashing around in pure joy.
3. Please share a piece of advice for children’s writers.
The simplest thing you can do to figure out how to write books well is to go to the library and read a bunch of new books and analyze them. For picture books, look for the main problem (what does the character want), what sets off the story, what escalates the tension in the story, and how is the problem resolved. And finally, what makes the book special? What gives it heart? After doing this many times, you’ll have a great foundation for how to structure your own stories, and you’ll get a sense of the kinds of books being published today.
Thanks, Abi. I love your rain storm story from 2017. It’s funny because that same summer, our family got stuck in a rain storm while in Florida. We were NOT dressed for rain. While I wasn’t pregnant, I was wearing really slippery shoes so I was the only one moving slowly because I didn’t want to fall. I really was SOAKED but I never laughed so hard!
Hello and thanks for stopping by! My summer picture book giveaway opened on June 30th and will close tonight, July 15th at midnight Pacific time. So here’s your last chance to enter. What are the prizes, you ask?
Giveaway Prizes:
TULIP AND DOUG by Emma Wood and Carla Martel
THE LULLABY MONSTERS by Cynthia Mackey and Paula Nasmith
BENJAMIN’S BLUE FEET by Sue Macartney
LULLABY MONSTERS book swag (stickers, book plates, etc.)
Here’s how to enter:
Leave a comment here on this blog and you will be entered into a random draw. You can also retweet the Twitter post for a second entry. You must be 19 years or over to enter. Winner will be chosen by random draw. Contest closes July 15, 2020 at midnight Pacific time. Good luck!
Hello and thanks for stopping by my blog! I’m happy to share a couple of recent reviews of THE LULLABY MONSTERS for you here. If you are looking for a solid early chapter book for your child, who is a beginning reader, this is a great choice! It also works as a read aloud for younger children. In larger format, librarians and teachers will be able to read to a class.
Kelsey and Thomas must not let those mischief-making monsters get away with their lullaby box. Join them on their adventures!
FLON
Ashley D, Reviewer
Last updated on 13 Jul 2020
My Recommendation
A cute story about missing lullabies and monsters. A fun bed time story for kids! The artwork is simple and cute and the story is short and sweet.
BRIO
Carissa T, Reviewer
This is a fantastic story with clear easy-to-understand language that makes a great book for children to read on their own! The story is fun and interesting. The illustrations were wonderful and fun! I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
JAZZ
Alyssa B, Librarian
Oh those rascally little monsters…I want to see what happens next. Cute story, loved all the repetition between Thomas and the little monsters.
GUNTHER
Mayu P, Reviewer
Such a cute and beautiful story. And the illustrations are just so adorable and sweet, they are sure to charm young readers. If you’re a parent who wants to buy a book that has beautiful illustrations and very lucid language that is apt for a child. This is the one for you.
TRIXIE
Beckee C, Reviewer
Me and my son (6) read this together, and together we came up with the resting. For me, personally, the story was a bit flat. However, remembering its target audience, asked my son what he thought and he loved it. He found it easy to read, the sentences were nice, easy and not too complex and he loved the repition. Overall, easy 4* from us.
EDWIN
Colleen S, Reviewer
Monsters are always a good start to a children’s book. Especially when they are a cute and a little mischievous. These monsters were delightful. The story was cute and short and the illustrations were colorful and kept my child’s (3) attention.
THE LULLABY MONSTERS is an early chapter book, great for early readers ages 5-8!
Hello and Happy Monday! Today, we welcome author, June Small to the Kid Lit Love blog with her memorable picture book, SHE LEADS: The Elephant Matriarch, released May, 2020, published by Familius. Illustrations are by Yumi Shimokawara. This is a lyrical nonfiction book that follows the matriarch as she teaches, cares for, and protects her family.
She Leads: The Elephant Matriarch
She is the Queen. The matriarch.
She leads her daughters and their daughters.
Inspiring text and striking illustrations follow the empowering journey of an elephant matriarch as she leads her family through the wilds of Africa. With facts about African elephants on every spread and a message that will encourage young girls to be the trailblazers of their generation, She Leads offers an incredible story and an unforgettable tribute to the strength of a true leader.
Open your eyes, princess. One day you will lead.
*Kirkus starred review*
Interview:
I was able to connect with June through the Kid Lit 411 facebook group and it is a pleasure to have her as a guest on the blog!
1. Tell us why you write books for children.
I love reading! In kindergarten reading the Mr. Men and Little Miss books in the library bean bag chair, crushing all the Boxcar Children and Saddle Club books I could get my hands on in late elementary and middle school, mysteries though high school, I couldn’t get enough books.
When I got serious about writing, I wanted to build readers. I wanted children to fall in love with books. I wanted to create non-fiction that pulled a kid in and made them curious and hungry for more and fun fiction for them to escape into. I write for children to spread joy.
2. Tell us about the inspiration for your book.
I had done some elephant research for a chapter book series. On International Women’s Day my agent retweeted an elephant fact and said she’d love a book about elephants. I had an AHA moment. I had the research for a larger book, but maybe this could be perfect for a picture book!
The structure I chose was unlike anything I’d ever written. It has a short lyrical story and in addition to that the story goes deeper with non-fiction sidebars on each spread. I did this mainly because I couldn’t decide if I wanted a beautiful story or one with the cool elephant facts, so I did both, and I’m so pleased with how it turned out.
3. Share a piece of advice for children’s writers.
Study different books with different structures and styles. If a piece isn’t working for you, step out of your comfort zone and try it a different way. Approach your problem from a different perspective.
Yes, it can be time consuming and yes it may fail fabulously, but artists should always be learning and practicing their craft. Time consuming is not the same as time wasted. It will teach you something and expand your writing toolbox. You may not like the POV change or structure change for this book, but it may work perfectly for your next book. Be brave and don’t fear failure.
Thank you for the interview, June. Your comments about the inspiration for the book really spoke to me and I have revisited one of my works in progress after considering how I might incorporate non-fiction sidebars. It is a beautiful way to make a book that is both lyrical and educational at the same time.
You can connect with June Smalls via her website www.junesmalls.com or through Twitter @June_Smalls
Look for more Kid Lit Love posts on Mondays! Want to have your book featured? Send an email request to authorcynthiamackey@gmail.com
Sign up for my newsletter and learn about release dates, pre-orders and free offers related to my upcoming picture book.
Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are welcome here any time!
Hello and welcome! We’re celebrating so many lovely picture book releases this year and to help us do that we have a summer picture book giveaway for you!
Giveaway Prizes:
TULIP AND DOUG by Emma Wood and Carla Martel
THE LULLABY MONSTERS by Cynthia Mackey and Paula Nasmith
BENJAMIN’S BLUE FEET by Sue Macartney
LULLABY MONSTERS book swag (stickers, book plates, etc.)
I can’t wait to send out prizes to the lucky winner. Have you entered the giveaway yet?
Here’s how to enter:
Leave a comment here on this blog and you will be entered into a random draw. You can also retweet the Twitter post for a second entry. You must be 19 years or over to enter. Winner will be chosen by random draw. Contest closes July 15, 2020 at midnight Pacific time. Good luck!
Carissa T, Reviewer
Alyssa B, Librarian
