The Big Bed by Bunmi Laditan; illustrated by Tom Knight (Farrar, Straus and Giroux BYR, February 2018). All rights reserved. @macmillanchildrensbooks

Reading, Writing and Refugees

Reading, Writing and Refugees

The Changing Face of Family

Contributed by Natasha FriendEvery book has a conception story. Mine begins with the shameless binge-watching of an MTV reality series called “Generation Cryo.” Over the course of six episodes, the show follows 17-year-old Breeanna, daughter of a lesbian couple who was conceived via sperm donation, on a search for her genetic half-siblings. Thanks to the Donor...

Making a Difference

Contributed by Audrey PennThe most important thing I can do as an author of children’s books is offer stories that open communication between child and parent. In my Kissing Hand series, it is Mrs. Raccoon who helps Chester through his many issues and difficulties beginning with separation anxiety. Other books in the series deal with...

Not So Simple

Contributed by Susan Tan“It’s simple, Susan.  Just pick one. Which would you rather be?”It was my first day of first grade at a new school, and we were playing a getting-to-know-you game that doubled as a class-demographics survey. We had divided ourselves into groups based on favorite ice cream flavor, age, favorite animal, and zip...

In the air again! Photography in Toronto

Contributed by Mary BirdsellLast summer, I traveled to Tanzania to take photographs. In February, I followed my camera to Toronto. This was my first visit to Canada. It was a wonderful experience dotted with several visits to Tim Hortons.When I traveled to Tanzania, I took photographs for stories that had not been written. There was...

Industry Q & A with Alvina Ling

Alvina Ling is the Vice President, Editor-in-Chief at Hachette Book Group/Little Brown Books for Young Readers.When and where did you start working in publishing, and what was your entry-level position and title?I started here at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (when we were based in Boston) in August 1999 as an Editorial Assistant. I’ve...

Celebrating Girl’s Day, Then and Now

Contributed by Debbi Michiko Florence, AuthorFor generations, March 3 has been a special day in Japan, when families pray for good health and happiness for their daughters. It’s called Girl’s Day or Hinamatsuri (Doll Festival). The dolls, handed down from mother to eldest daughter, represent the imperial court and are thought to bring good luck.As a...

WHO IS THE MAGNIFICENT MYA TIBBS, AND WHY SHOULD I CARE?

Contributed by Crystal Allen, AuthorI remember the day my son tried out for his high school baseball team. I figured tryouts would last two hours, so imagine my surprise when he walked in the kitchen with his baseball gear an hour and forty-five minutes early.“What happened?” I ask.“They don’t want me to play on their...