Kidlit Spotlight: SOMETIMES LOVE

August 22, 2022 Anitra Rowe Schulte

Love can manifest in an instant. It is powerful, mysterious and reflexive. It is easy to do, yet asks everything of you. It’s known the world over and expressed a million different ways, but one thing never changes…

You know love when you feel it.

Love can be so many things. Sometimes love - a new parent love - is softly spoken, in gentle coos and whispers. Sometimes love - a grandparent’s love - sings out adoringly, sending melody right into your memory. Sometimes love - a furry friend love - mews and scampers, right into your living room and into your life.

When I was a little girl, my dad had dozens of barn cats at our family farm. Anytime there was a golden kitten flitting about or sleeping in the rim of a combine or tractor, I would scoop it up, call it Pancake, and declare it mine.

Decades passed without a single pet. Then last year, my sister’s celestially speckled cat, Luna, had a litter all her own. Within the soft bundles delivered was a golden kitten, light and fluffy. Text messages about “Pancake Schulte” flooded my phone. Sometimes love is something your sister always knew you needed.

And when a pet enters your world, love is the only word that will do.

Something as universal and personal as love begs you to pen your own tale. And, when we share our own unique experiences, others no doubt see themselves and their truths within.

Such is the case with SOMETIMES LOVE, a new picture book that tells the story of a bond between a puppy and a family. This sweet, poignant, positively glowing book - inspired by events in the life of author Katrina Moore, and illustrated by Joy Hwang Ruiz - published on July 12, 2022 (Penguin Young Readers/Dial). And it’s currently illuminating bookshelves, home libraries and hearts everywhere.

With specificity, creativity and tenderness, SOMETIMES LOVE shows how selfless, boundless and unconditional love can be. How love can build, change and grow into something new, yet immediately known. Here are three utterly lovely things about the new picture book SOMETIMES LOVE…

Rich & Warm

Love casts an undeniable glow, and picture book SOMETIMES LOVE captures the aura. Pink and lilac sweetly wash over the cover and pages, softly blending with watercolor continuity into touches of turquoise, coral and juniper. The effect is oh-so tender, welcoming and warm.

When a woven basket holding a little puppy arrives on the page, a new color pops within the palette. Everywhere the doggy goes, so follows a golden glow, representing the source of the family’s joy and affection. The enchantment of the art is matched and extended by gentle, sensory-rich poetry, which includes very particular morsels of truths that pet owners, in particular, will immediately recognize: Wobbly ears, fuzz that’s thick, love is sometimes at first lick.

Two Tales in One

SOMETIMES LOVE is a story about the relationship between a pet and its family, but it also offers something more. Within the artwork, and subtly detailed within the story, is another narrative. A parent in the book is a member of the military, and through clothing, photographs and news flashes, readers will glean that deployment is imminent and change is in the air.

Love is constant, but it’s an emotion that has to evolve to survive. SOMETIMES LOVE provides a specific example of how shifts in geography can put incredible strains on the bonds of affection, but how love is exactly what makes these changes endurable and, ultimately, beautiful.

Bent, Not Broken

The child in SOMETIMES LOVE lives through challenging circumstances. The puppy that she trained and snuggled and scolded and played with must be left behind at a boarding facility for pets of serving soldiers. Now she has to pack up her life, leave her home, let go of her dog, and begin a new story in a new place. How do our children adapt to such big shifts in place and connection?

The heartbeat of the story holds the key: Love is firm. Love can bend. Love knows how to be a friend. Despite the family’s move, one thing in the story remains constant - the love that they have for one another. It allows them to weather the dramatic adjustment, and it enables the child to embrace friends in another country. Everything that she learned about being a good companion is now an irrevocable part of her, which accompanies her in her travels and paves the way for new friendships.

Sometimes life throws you curve balls, out of the blue. Sometimes the pass is telegraphed long ago. But change is never easy, no matter how much notice you get. SOMETIMES LOVE provides readers a pathway through hurt, showing that remembering, celebrating and sharing is essential and part of growing up.

New things can be great - wonderful, even - and the people and pets that shape who we are can never be taken from us. They will hold a place in our hearts, forever. Plus, you never know what the future holds. (Reunions are always worth the wait.)

The Creators

Katrina Moore writes and teaches in New Jersey. Her mission is to create books that children will hug for ages. She is the author of the picture books, SOMETIMES LOVE, ONE HUG, GRANDPA GRUMPS, and its companion, GRUMPY NEW YEAR (Dec. '22), and the chapter book series, TEENY HOUDINI (HarperCollins/Tegen, '22), with more books on the way. Connect with her on Twitter at @kmoorebooks or at www.katrinamoorebooks.com.

Joy Hwang Ruiz is an illustrator and the creator of the website Mom Is Drawing, which captures the magical moments of parenthood. Joy’s multilingual family in Southern California is a mix of three continents (Asia, North America, Latin America). A former studio artist from the contemporary art world, Joy’s recent clients include Dove Baby, Penguin Random House, Scholastic, Simon & Schuster, Macmillan, and Chronicle. Joy is represented by Molly O'Neil of Root Literary and Joy’s work can be viewed on Instagram at @momisdrawing.

One lucky reader will win

SOMETIMES LOVE,

signed by Katrina Moore!

1. "Like" this post (click the heart below)

2. Follow me (@anitraschulte) on Twitter

3. Retweet my contest tweet by 8/26/22

GOOD LUCK!

Readers who purchase SOMETIMES LOVE from Books of Wonder will receive a bookplate signed by author Katrina Moore. Details HERE!

Kidlit Spotlight: HOW TO BE A ROCK STAR

July 11, 2022 Anitra Rowe Schulte

In fulfillment of my youngest’s rock-and-roll dreams, Santa gifted Miss L this guitar six months ago. To our delight, she promptly named it “Jessica.”

Miss L has been taking weekly guitar lessons ever since, learning chords that will one day be the building blocks of her preeminent rock opera - a prediction I’m making with confidence based on her love of Édith Piaf and the vibrato with which she sings “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”

Yes, rock flows through Miss L’s veins, an impulse that no doubt comes from her dad, who played in three bands in his 20s and still rocks a mean campfire session. Like her papa, Miss L has plans, and I am here for any and every arena that she and Jessica intend to rock, and rock hard.

For all these reasons and more, new picture book HOW TO BE A ROCKSTAR is right up our backstage alley. This hilarious story by Lisa Tolin, illustrated by Daniel Duncan, (Putnam), delivers rock lifestyle 101 with wit, sparkle and spunk and is coming to a town near you on Aug. 2, 2022. Tickets are on sale now - IE: this jam-of-a-book is available for pre-order now.

HOW TO BE A ROCK STAR is a picture book about kid poised and ready to show the rock-and-roll ropes to young readers. This how-to guide covers all of the pivotal moments in the Behind the Music arc of band life. The ups, the downs, the roaring comeback… each gets a verse. And the chorus? Sheesh, what a hook. You’ll be humming it all summer: Whatever happens, keep playing. Here are three things that I love about the new picture book HOW TO BE A ROCK STAR…

Finding Your Voice

Fronting a band is a journey full of glory and compromise - truths that the main character of HOW TO BE A ROCK STAR has learned first hand. Lucky for readers, this seasoned pro is willing to share industry secrets that will help aspiring rockers manage their careers and expectations.

If you want to be a rock star… First, you need a band. Youngers brothers are not ideal, but yours will have to do. When forming a band, sometimes you have to work with what you’ve got, and that includes little sibs. You also need to pick an instrument, select a band name, and define your sound. So many choices, and many of them blocked by suits - in this case, parents trying to manage noise levels. The narrator of this book, a true artist, shows that the fun of being a rock star is using limitations as fuel for experimentation. Rocking is about finding your voice and singing a song the crowd can get behind.

Lil Rockers, Center Stage

Grown ups will find humor in every line of this book, which chronicles key incidents in the rock lifestyle narrative, from wardrobe malfunctions to flippant retorts from jaded naysayers… like Dad: I liked it better when you played Wheels on the Bus. As the narrator says, Everyone’s a critic.

But the most important audience of all remains center stage. Young readers will see themselves in the parental power struggles, chosen instrumentation (broom guitar and pot-and-pan drum kit), and residential performance spaces. For as all little rockers can attest, no cheers can compare to those from a hometown crowd. The venues that matter most - where you can let loose and release your rocker wail - are the places that made you who you are… where you found out what you’re really made of.

Rock Like No One’s Watching

Some moments in rock life are epic. The filled arenas, the flashing lights, the roar of the crowd. But sometimes, things fall out of tune. As this story documents, in your journey to rock stardom there will be face plants and downward spirals: The tour may take its toll on your brother. You’ll likely experience creative differences with people you love. And, at times, the only way forward might be to go solo.

Living your rock-and-roll dream won’t be easy. But the thing that will push you onward, and drive your fans to call for one more song, is the way you feel when you’re doing what you love. That passion is contagious.

HOW TO BE A ROCK STAR is pure picture book fun. There are no heavy handed morals to be found in this clever new read. But there is a hidden track: The abandon and heart that beats in the main character’s rock star center, boldly encouraging young readers to stay true to themselves, stay on stage, and play on.

That’s rock ‘n roll.

The Creators

Lisa Tolin is a journalist and editor. HOW TO BE A ROCK STAR is her debut picture book. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two young sons, who provided inspiration for the book. Learn about Lisa at www.lisatolin.com.

Daniel Duncan is a children’s book illustrator, who likes to create vibrant characters within detailed environments, using earth colours and textures. He studied illustration at Middlesex University and now works from his home in leafy Amersham on the outskirts of London. See Daniel’s work on Instagram at @daniel_duncan_illustration.

One lucky reader will win

HOW TO BE A ROCK STAR,

signed by Lisa Tolin!

1. "Like" this post (click the heart below)

2. Follow me (@anitraschulte) on Twitter

3. Retweet my pinned contest tweet by 7/15/22

GOOD LUCK!

You also can order a copy of HOW TO BE A ROCK STAR, signed by author Lisa Tolin, via Community Book Store, Park Slope, Brooklyn. Be sure to put your personalization request in the comments.

Author Spotlight: Valerie Bolling

May 9, 2022 Anitra Rowe Schulte

As the weather warms, families everywhere are opening their garages for big clean ups and new outdoor adventures. At our house, every mode of transport gets a spring-time evaluation and tune up, from the battery-powered Jeep to the bikes and trikes.

We hose off all the dust and mud. Squeeze the tires, and pump them up. Give the breaks a squeeze, and gears some grease. Then, off we ride!

We are rolling smoothly now, as a crew, but the journey from four wheels to two is one we’ll never forget. In our driveway, on our street, and in parking lots across our town - we practiced balance, grip and pedaling, and got a feel for wide open spaces.

Learning to ride is a formative and unforgettable experience for many kids and parents - the hope of flying, the fear of trying, and the freedom of goodbye-ing when you ride away… just you, your bike and the wind…

The brand new picture book TOGETHER WE RIDE, which zoomed onto shelves April 26, follows a family as it embarks on this thrilling adventure. Written by Valerie Bolling, and illustrated by Kaylani Juanita (Chronicle), this spirited, celebratory story captures the journey to two wheels in tight, inventive rhyme and joyful, precise pictures.

Bolling, the author, begins the story with a single word: Inside. Readers are welcomed into the family’s garage, where every detail brings us close to the main character and her life. Hanging bikes. A basket mid-weave. Chalk swirls on the concrete floor. Juanita, the illustrator, etches and places each item in delicate lines and soft-yet-bright colors, reflecting a family that’s abuzz with creativity and action.

Then outside they go, exiting the garage and entering a bright San Francisco day - the Golden Gate Bridge arching red in the distance, over waves of blue. Quick stride, Dad and daughter take off… but then, Slip, slide, tossed aside. The main character lands with a bang in the bushes, yellow angles emphasizing the pain and disappointment that comes with taming a tipping bike.

Bolling’s just-right words, which often physically underscore action on the page, emphasize emotion and propel the story forward. The concise style is a perfect match for the experience of learning to ride, where communication comes in quickly delivered redirections and exclamations, and what matters most is presence and proximity - where Run beside gives you the confidence to Coast, glide.

As summer and Father’s Day near, TOGETHER WE RIDE’s arrival is impeccably timed. So, with excitement to share this title with tons of families in my world, who are embarking on similar moments, I sat down for a chat with Valerie to learn more about how this special story came to be! I hope you enjoy my Author Spotlight with Valerie Bolling:

3 Questions with Valerie Bolling

TOGETHER WE RIDE is so creatively composed. I love the verbs that you constructed (hug-cried, goodbyed) - so succinct, yet packed with emotion. How did you find these perfect new words?

Thank you for that compliment, Anitra. For TOGETHER WE RIDE, I challenged myself to write a book with as few words as possible and to use the same end rhyme throughout the text. Therefore, I had to choose words carefully and make sure each one counted. Since I like playing with words, it was fun finding the right words and creating a couple of my own, like “hug-cried” and “goodbyed.”

Take us into your writing space. When are you there, and what things do you surround yourself with, when you are creating?

I used to write only in my office, often with a scented candle burning and a cup of herbal tea. Now I write in many places around my home – family room, kitchen, bedroom, and deck (weather permitting, of course). Some of my best writing ideas come to me when I’m not at home. During walks I’ve thought of new story ideas or how to increase the tension in a draft or revise an ending. Sometimes I dictate notes into my phone. I’ve even written or revised drafts during long car rides. I can write anywhere. I just need time ... and quiet.

What advice can you share with writers who want to make sure that every word counts and drives the story forward?

That’s a good question, Anitra. For a short text, like TOGETHER WE RIDE, think about the image or feeling that each word conveys, and ask yourself if fewer words can be used to convey that image or feeling. For longer texts, be willing to cut words that do not move the story along. This could be an entire scene, or it could be descriptive words that are unnecessary because the pictures will do the work. No matter what you’re writing, delete filler words, like “really,” “very,” “so,” etc.

Great tips! Thank you so much for visiting the blog, Valerie! You can order TOGETHER WE RIDE through your local indie, or purchase it today, here.

Valerie Bolling is the author of the 2021 SCBWI Crystal Kite award-winning and CT Book Award finalist LET’S DANCE! (March 2020). In 2022 Valerie is happy to welcome TOGETHER WE RIDE (April) and RIDE, ROLL, RUN: TIME FOR FUN! (October). Sequels to these books as well as a Scholastic early reader series, RAINBOW DAYS, are slated for 2023. A graduate of Tufts University and Columbia University, Teachers College, Valerie has been an educator for almost 30 years. She currently works as an Instructional Coach for Greenwich Public Schools and is on the faculty at Westport Writers’ Workshop. She is also a WNDB mentor and deeply immersed in the kidlit writing community, particularly involved with SCBWI, the 12X12 Picture Book Challenge, and Black Creators HeadQuarters. Valerie and her husband live in Connecticut and enjoy traveling, hiking, reading, going to the theater, and dancing. Learn more at linktr.ee/ValerieBolling.

Kaylani Juanita is an illustrator based in Fairfield, CA, who illustrates inclusive picture books, editorial art, and afros. Some of her clients include Chronicle Books, Cicada Magazine, and DEFY. Her work has been recognized by Society of Illustrators, The Huffington Post, as well as BBC. California grown and raised, she's studied at Cal Arts and CCA for a BFA in Illustration. Her mission as an artist is to support the stories of the under represented and create new ways for people to imagine themselves. You can find her lurking in public secretly drawing strangers or writing nonsensical stories about who knows what.

*** Win TOGETHER WE RIDE **

Simply...

1. "Like" this post (click the heart below)

2. Follow me (@anitraschulte) on Twitter

3. Retweet my contest tweet by 5/13/22

(Submit a blog comment below and get a BONUS ENTRY!)

GOOD LUCK!

Author Spotlight: Hope Lim

April 4, 2022 Anitra Rowe Schulte

Stories of formative childhood years are the most fun to recount and imagine and so lovingly passed, from generation to generation. These tales from a not-so-distant past let us know where we came from and form a steady surface upon which new adventures are stacked in unexpected but connected patterns.

The distance between my childhood and my children’s youth spans 30 years and 170 miles - not too great chasm, really. While advances in technology have made our childhoods dissimilar, in many ways my hometown is exactly as it was when I was a child. All of the same buildings and street signs. No Blockbuster, of course, but this thigh-scalding slide still stands, for better or worse!

Enlivening the scenes of my past is something I feel compelled to do - in park trips, parades, shopping outings, and the library, of course. Those places made me who I am and, in turn, made my children who they are.

Parents who have moved across the country or world have an even greater distance to traverse, when conveying these moments to their children. However, stories, momentos, photographs and, when possible, homecomings can intertwine to create an incredibly rich living history that begs for a new chapter that only the next generation can write.

The picture book MOMMY’S HOMETOWN, which arrives on shelves April 12, captures the challenges and immense rewards of deeply connecting young generations to their roots. Here’s the gorgeous glowing cover of this anticipated title…

MOMMY’S HOMETOWN by Hope Lim, illustrated by Jaime Kim (Candlewick), is a picture book about a child who has heard many nighttime stories about Mommy’s village, a place where “mountains nearby stood like giants” and an old river moves through the village “like a long thread.” In Mommy’s stories, the river is especially important - a place of adventure, treasure and carefree joy.

Mommy’s beautiful memories of playing in the river, so often recounted, become part of the child’s dreams. At last, the time has come to visit Mommy’s beloved place firsthand. With images of billowing clouds and the pebbled riverbank in their minds and hearts, they travel by train and finally arrive.

But, when they begin walking down the streets, the child finds not a small village, but a big city, where old stores and houses sit small and out of place next to new shiny tall buildings. “Is this really the same place where Mommy grew up?” the child wonders. “Everything is different from her stories.” The child’s longing to see things as Mommy did - the dirt roads, the pebbled paths - is affecting and powerful. So much has changed, making Mommy’s past feel out of reach.

Linking Mommy’s vibrant stories to the present seems an impossible task, especially when they finally arrive to the river - only to find it quiet and empty. No one splashes, as they did in Mommy’s tales. But Mommy and child wade into the water anyway. Soon they find themselves playing in the icy, swirling river, just as Mommy did as a girl.

As they walk home in the dusk, Mommy’s Hometown is aglow. Once sleepy old stores and homes now shine with activity and joy, a beautiful parallel to the light and life that the visit gives to Mommy’s stories, which now burn in the child’s imagination, even brighter than before.

Time will always separate parent and child, and stories will forever play a crucial role in invigorating the past. MOMMY’S HOMETOWN shows that even though the threads that connect these two worlds and experiences can feel delicate and tenuous, open and seeking hearts make the bonds alive and unbreakable.

I sat down for a chat with Hope to learn more about her story and the power of picture books! I hope you enjoy my Author Spotlight with Hope Lim:

3 Questions with Hope Lim

Thanks for stopping by the blog, Hope! Can you share what inspired this beautiful story?

My hometown in Korea and my memories of that place. Since moving to America, I have visited Korea to see my parents numerous times and always noticed the changes since my previous visit. One summer, I took my kids and husband to the old river where I used to play as a child. Watching them play and catch fish, I was overtaken by a sense of nostalgia because everything around the river was different from my childhood. At the same time, I was touched by the fact that my kids were reenacting exact scenes from my childhood decades later. At that moment, I wanted to write a story about the passage of time and the changes that took place. I also wanted to capture the new, special memories my kids created in my hometown, where my parents’ love and their steady presence remain the same as this old river.

The emotional tension between what the child expects to see, and the reality experienced, is so palpable. How did you hone in on the best way to express this longing?

I used to tell my kids about my childhood memories in my hometown and wished to take them back to the old days, knowing how much fun they would have. Then, when I took them to my hometown for the first time, I realized how different it was from my stories and wondered if they were able to draw the contrast between my stories and reality. As I wrote this story, I asked myself that question, and it prompted me to see things from the perspective of the child in me. With every visit, I was able to reintegrate into my parents’ daily routine and remember what it was like to walk through the different neighborhoods of my hometown. By the end of my visits, I always had a renewed appreciation of many things in my hometown and felt fortunate to have a place to visit and stay. I think experiencing all these different emotions helped me to express both disappointment and longing.

Your storytelling is so clear and true. How did life lead you to picture books, and how does this form suit your style?

When I became a mother, I read a lot with my kids and was really drawn to the power of picture books, where a single word or illustration can convey deep emotions. I also became fascinated by the way my kids viewed the world around them and kept a journal of their unique child-like perspectives and our everyday adventures. My kids were very close to each other and played wonderfully, always doing something fun together. I felt compelled to write something inspired by their play and imaginary friends, which eventually led me to the path of a picture book writer. In addition to the power of picture books, I love the combination of illustrations and text as art and words are two of my favorite things. When I write a picture book text, I enjoy the practice of leaving room for illustration. Trying to write in a way that conjures images is like leaving an invitation to a space that is open to many exciting possibilities. I truly look forward to seeing the visual worlds an illustrator creates, and how she or he brilliantly fills the space left by the text. When I receive the final art, I am always reminded of how happy I am to be part of the book making process.

Thank you so much for visiting the blog, Hope! You can pre-order MOMMY’S HOMETOWN now, here!

Hope Lim is the author of I AM A BIRD, illustrated by Hyewon Yum, and MY TREE, illustrated by Il Sung Na. Born and raised in South Korea, Hope Lim now lives with her family in San Francisco.

*** Win MOMMY’S HOMETOWN **

Simply...

1. "Like" this post (click the heart below)

2. Follow me (@anitraschulte) on Twitter

3. Retweet my contest tweet by 4/8/22

(Submit a blog comment below and get a BONUS ENTRY!)

GOOD LUCK!

Kidlit Spotlight: Perfect Pairing

March 21, 2022 Anitra Rowe Schulte

One of my favorite things about being a mom is getting to live in two worlds at once - my adult life, full of the people and experiences of my past and present, and all of childhood, through the inventive eyes of my three daughters.

My youngest, Miss L, has an especially wild imagination. She names and renames her sisters and our pet, on the regular. Such recent monikers include Magenta, Gus Gus, Onion and Swea-dwea. She often talks about a fictional world of her own creation, called Osimonio Beo, which has it’s own language, naturally. And why walk to your destination, when you can cartwheel or chassé?

Miss L isn’t alone in her adventures. She has a partner in crime, her best friend Nate. Together they recently invented a holiday (“Minias Month”) that exists for exactly 11 days, which happens to be the days between their birthdays. And for Halloween, this is who they chose to be: Edna and Philister Greenbean.

There is the what-meets-the-eye world. And then, there is the world in which Miss L lives, which seems like the best possible place to be, honestly. There, rules are few. But when there are rules, they are a glorious twist-and-take on the rules of the adult world, which she’s growing to understand each day. Miss L’s imagination entertains her, surprises us all, and has a way of revealing what her brain is up to, as it grows and grows and grows.

As children’s book authors, we get to tap into that world every time we write. It’s a bit like visiting Neverland, each time we jot down an idea or dive into a new story. Two brand new picture books live and play in this landscape of imagination with great success, and I am blessed to call the authors of these titles dear friends and critique partners. In fact, all of our debuts have released in the past four months! (Woohoo, WestPBCG!)

January 25, 2022, brought the release of SEEKING BEST FRIEND, by Alison Marcotte (pictured), illustrated by Diane Ewen (Beaming Books). Meet Alison and her book!

… and March 8, 2022, delivered STELLA KEEPS THE SUN UP, by Clothilde Ewing (pictured), illustrated by Lynn Gaines (Denene Millner Books / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers). Say hi to Clo and STELLA!

In writing critique groups, some stories arrive in raw iterations, as concepts explored. But both of these manuscripts entered our story swap quite fully conceived. As authors, we often talk about the importance of voice in writing. Alison and Clothilde both have a unique talent for telling stories rooted in the rhythm and sound of childhood joy and wonder, and you’ll find exactly that in these stellar debuts.

If you have a young reader with a wild imagination, who plays their way through an ever-new and evolving world, SEEKING BEST FRIEND and STELLA KEEPS THE SUN UP pair just perfectly. Here’s more about these creative books, both of which would be great additions to your bookshelf or next library haul:

SEEKING BEST FRIEND

SEEKING BEST FRIEND is a story about a girl on the hunt for a best buddy. To spread the word about the position, she posts a sign in her neighborhood. At first, the criteria seem simple: Must be kind. A passion for bugs would be neat. Who should apply, but an ant eater - not exactly who the girl had in mind. So a revision to the sign is required.

Each time the girl adjusts the posting, however, a new candidate appears, bringing a wild cast of characters onto the page - from a robot and pirate, to a giant soaring dragon. Children will delight in the chaos that ensues as the girl’s peaceful hideout is overrun by eager creatures. After fending off an increasingly unruly cadre of applicants, the girl revises her job description and at last attracts the perfect friend: Position filled.

SEEKING BEST FRIEND is a colorful and silly read aloud with a strong heart. In exploring the qualities and characteristics of favorite dress up and playtime roles, the story reveals what all children, young and old, seek: A friend who sees, accepts and loves who we are and wants to share our interests and time.

(An Edna to your Phillister!)

STELLA KEEPS THE SUN UP

STELLA KEEPS THE SUN UP is story about a girl who absolutely does not want to go to bed. Sleep? Boring! So she and her partner Roger, a stuffed hippo, decide to keep the sun up. That way, nighttime never arrives. The clever notion serves as a hypothesis that Stella and Roger test through a series of playtime experiments.

They make all sorts of noise, to keep the sun awake. They eat cereal in the afternoon, to trick the sun into thinking its morning. They even try to deliver coffee to the sun, via trampoline - an idea that proves hot, splashy and futile: This is a disaster. Stella says. The sun is tougher than I thought. But then Stella remembers her friend, who just moved to a country on the other side of the world. Kamrynn is waiting for us to go to sleep! If we keep the sun up here, she will be stuck in bed for a hundred years!

STELLA KEEPS THE SUN UP delivers the very best kid logic, exploring the enormous role that routine plays in children’s lives with insightful nuance and surprising humor. In the end, Stella realizes the importance of the sun in terms that do not bend to adult rationale, but instead align perfectly with what is central to her - allowing the sun to bring daytime fun to a beloved and distant friend.

Huge congrats to Alison and Clo, for creating such fun and imaginative stories, which embrace and reflect childhood in all its playful glory. These whimsical tales mark the beginning of two exciting careers for two extraordinarily talented women. Here’s more about these fabulous creators and humans!

The Creators

Alison Marcotte is a Chicago-based writer. She is a member of SCBWI, the Chicago Writers Association, the 12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Challenge, and the Off Campus Writers Workshop, and a freelance writer for American Library Association's American Libraries magazine. When she’s not writing, she’s often exploring Chicago, running (and trying to brainstorm new ideas), or spending time with family. Seeking Best Friend is her debut picture book.

Clothilde Ewing is a children’s book author with years of storytelling experience - for CBS News, The Oprah Winfrey Show, President Obama's re-election campaign, Chicago City Hall and The Chicago Community Trust. She was inspired to write a picture book after reading editor Denene Millner's New York Times opinion piece "Black Kids Don't Want to Read About Harriet Tubman All the Time." Today, Millner is the editor of Ewing’s debut.

One lucky reader will win BOTH books!

1. "Like" this post (click the heart below)

2. Follow me (@anitraschulte) on Twitter

3. Retweet my pinned contest tweet by 3/25/22

GOOD LUCK!

Illustrator Spotlight: Lauren Eldridge

February 21, 2022 Anitra Rowe Schulte

But, how though?

How does Lauren Eldridge do it?

How does she create 3D characters and scenes out of everyday things? How does she make static objects crawl and careen and captivate?

With raw materials, art tools, and crazy amounts of talent, Lauren Eldridge - the illustrator of new title HUSTLE BUSTLE BUGS - builds picture books that feature not only humans, creatures and critters, but entire ecosystems that reflect our world at its most alive, exciting and magical.

Jaw-dropping, mind-blowing stuff, Lauren makes.

Wanna see? Check out this video…

Lauren’s dimensional illustrations are stunningly detailed and expressive. They also have palpable presence and power — to stop you in your tracks and capture your imagination, to incite laughter and spark wonder, to hold your attention and stoke your curiosity.

I’ve been awestruck by Lauren’s work since first seeing CLAYMATES (depicted in the video above), a completely original story by Dev Petty, featuring clay characters imagined and enlivened by Lauren. I reviewed the ground-breaking story in a Kidlit Craft feature a few years back, which marked my introduction to Lauren and her unique process, perspective and storytelling.

Lauren’s talent is also front-and-center in the beautiful bedtime picture book SLEEP TRAIN, written by Jonathan London, and brand new book, HUSTLE BUSTLE BUGS, written by Catherine Bailey. Feast your peepers upon Lauren’s crazy cool creations on this soaring, skittering cover…

HUSTLE BUSTLE BUGS (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers), which publishes Feb. 22, 2022, is a playful non-fiction picture book about tuning into the world of bugs around you and recognizing the important role that bugs play in our environment. Set in a charming backyard, with skyscrapers seen in the not-too-distant beyond, readers follow two children - one in overalls, the other in a sunny tunic - as they set out to record and explore.

As author Catherine Bailey’s rhyming text gently bounces in introduction, illustrator Lauren brings us in close. Lean grass blades cluster and bend. Veined waxy leaves filter and reflect the sun. Fluffy soil below crumbles and compresses. The detailed cross-section lets readers know they’ve arrived — as special visitors to “secret cities” that buzz and crawl with activity and purpose, where lady bugs soar, butterflies perch and grasshoppers lurch…

The fun, fact-filled text draws clever parallels between bug work and human work, reminding readers that tiny critters aren’t pests, but busy and purposeful contributors to the planet. Spiders are architects. Termites are soldiers. Each bug has an important job to do that directly impacts the food chain, all the way up the ladder and back down again.

Each spread of HUSTLE BUSTLE BUGS brings a different bug into focus. But nothing about the presentation is predictable. Sometimes, the horizon line arches and slopes, showing that our planet isn’t a series of tidy horizontal layers, but a dynamic and varied place. Other times the setting takes us deep, such as into the golden, glowing center of a honeycomb — a gorgeous sweet-treat for the eyes. Adding an extra layer of storytelling, the out-of-view sun slowly sets over the course of the book, communicating that bugs don’t stop hustling when the stars appear. It’s just another time for the critters to shine.

Do you want to know a little bit more about how Lauren creates this singular style of magic? If you’re like me, and you’d love a ticket for a trip into her studio, here it is! Come along on my first-ever Illustrator Spotlight with one of my all-time-favorite creators (and people!), Lauren Eldridge:

3 Questions with Lauren Eldridge

The bugs you created in HUSTLE BUSTLE BUGS are incredibly vibrant and life-like! What was it like living with all these creatures for so long?

Thank you! They are pretty life-like but, thankfully, they don't really register as real bugs because they are so big. Most of the insects are between 8-12 inches long and (fun fact!) are bigger than the environments I created for them. It was actually pretty helpful to be creating them when I was because I shared my space with a pod of third graders a few days per week (thanks pandemic) that were learning all about insects at the time. They were able to hold up the bugs and discuss things like what/where a thorax or mandible might be with their teachers and classmates via zoom - which was really cool to see! However, the spider did kind of creep people out because that guy looks like it could possibly be a real bug.

What materials did you have at the ready (or were indispensable) while creating these fascinating bugs?

Welp, I absolutely needed wire, epoxy, foam footballs, Sculpey and paint for the majority of the bugs. The butterflies required cardstock and I used dried flower petals to give other insects (especially the bees!) more interest and texture.

Which was the most challenging bug to create, and how did you solve that dilemma and bring it to life?

I think the firefly was the most difficult because I wanted it to actually glow. Most of my process is trial and error (I learn a LOT through "failure") and this bug definitely made me learn a LOT. After trying many different methods of putting a light inside of the insect, I pivoted and decided to put on many, many coats of glow-in-the-dark neon yellow paint. Which also didn't work on its own. SO... I ended up really focusing on lighting during photography. I used gels to color the lights and had several very small, controlled beams pointing only on the insect's abdomen while the rest of the bug was lit differently. In the end, it worked through photography and I didn't have to mess with it in post production!.

Thank you so much for visiting the blog, Lauren! You can order HUSTLE BUSTLE BUG now, HERE!

PS: Are you following Lauren on Instagram? Whatcha waiting for?! At @eldridgestudio, you get to go behind the curtain to see how her creations come together, piece by piece. And that’s something you don’t want to miss!

Lauren Eldridge is a 3-dimensional photographic illustrator. She earned her BA of Environmental Design in Landscape Architecture from University of Minnesota, her MA in Early Childhood Exceptional Education with a focus on Culturally Responsive Literacy Instruction from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee and taught in special education settings for five years. Lauren employs materials like wire, clay, foam, cardboard, acrylic paint, paper, glass, plaster cloth, wood, fabric, and anything else a story calls for to achieve her visual creations. She lives with her husband and two mini-me studio assistants who keep her equal parts motivated and distracted in their home in Austin, TX.

*** Win HUSTLE BUSTLE BUGS **

Simply...

1. "Like" this post (click the heart below)

2. Follow me (@anitraschulte) on Twitter

3. Retweet my contest tweet by 2/25/22

(Submit a blog comment below and get a BONUS ENTRY!)

GOOD LUCK!

Scenes from a Busy Winter

February 16, 2022 Anitra Rowe Schulte

Winter is typically a time of hibernation for me. But this year, my inner bear and frog have gotten a little bit of a shake up. I’ve been one with the foxes and rabbits, skittering this way and that across Zoom and snow for writerly fun!

Since the Dec. 1 book birthday of DANCING WITH DADDY, my debut picture book, illustrated by Ziyue Chen (Two Lions), I’ve had the pleasure, blessing and honor of connecting with old friends and new readers to talk about my book, disability, inclusion, and writing. Things kicked off with the fifth annual Holiday Book Drive Chi Delivery Day where, thanks to an incredible donation from my publisher, I got to give a full-classroom donation of my book and talk to students about being an author.

Next, at a book reading, I visited with two of my elementary school teachers, who played a big role in my childhood. And in-person and virtual school visits have since taken me across the state and country. (Pancake, my kitty, has been quite the helper with book orders, lemme tell ya.) Here are some pics…

This winter brought an unexpected honor, as well, as DANCING WITH DADDY was named the 2022 Dolly Gray Award Winner in the Picture Book category, for depicting a disabled character with authenticity and joy. The award was announced at a ceremony in Florida, which I was able to attend live and accept virtually, with the girls. That was so, so special.

On the home front, Dan recently took Miss E, C and L to our local father-daughter dance. That was kind of a life-imitating-art-imitating-life moment! We snapped this pic before they took off for the evening. Miss E choose royal blue - loved her chic look!

The awaiting spring looks to bring more exciting events, as I travel to Omaha and the Kansas City area for book events, conferences and school visits.

(PS: I’d love to come to your school, too! See my School Visits page for all the details. Let’s chat!)

I can’t tell you how how incredible it is to be in schools with students, hearing their questions, exclamations, contributions and joyful reactions to DANCING WITH DADDY. At my most-recent school visit, a little girl came up to be after my presentation to show me her G-tube. Her teacher told me that she had giggled and beamed at the sight of Elsie getting a G-tube feed in the book! I tell ya, I’m not sure it gets any better than that. But moments like this, and fan art I’ve been receiving of Elsie, are proof to me that children are being seen and seeing each other, and celebrating. That’s everything.

2021 Picture Book Picks

December 22, 2021 Anitra Rowe Schulte

If you’re looking for great picture book recommendations as the year draws to a close, I gotta say, we have a fantastic roundup for you right here. What makes this list unique? It’s curated by creators, who consume books within the genre constantly - from well-known titles to gems a bit off the beaten path.

I love inviting kidlit authors and illustrators to contribute to this “best of the year” list each year. Below, you’ll find the 4th annual Picture Book Picks post. I have read many of these standout titles, but as is the case every year, the guest contributors always surprise me with something I haven’t seen and now MUST read immediately! It’s always great to get a book recommendation from someone you respect and trust.

Wanna hear what makes these 20 books sing? Let’s hear from the folks who chose them, out of mountain of incredible 2021 titles.

On to that list!

2021 Picture Book Picks

Stephen Briseño (@stephen_briseno), author of forthcoming 2022 titles THE NOTEBOOK KEEPER and QUEEN OF LEAVES, recommends TOASTY by Sarah Hwang (Margaret Ferguson Books): While I read many good ones this year, the one that made my family and I giggle uncontrollably was TOASTY by Sarah Hwang. It is silly, over the top, and laugh out loud hilarious. Hearing Sarah Hwang's backstory, though, of her longing to be accepted as a Korean immigrant child, it makes the story all the more charming and heart-felt. Highly recommend!

Justin Colón (@JustinRColon), creator of #PBChat and the #PBChat mentorship, recommends BEAR IS A BEAR by Jonathan Stutzman, illustrated by Dan Santat (Balzer + Bray): BEAR IS A BEAR is a tender tale chronicling the companionship that develops between a girl and her stuffie (personified as a live bear). With its poetic structure, repetitive text and stunning visuals, this story makes for a great read-aloud that no doubt will appeal to children and adults alike. Jonathan Stutzman, a chameleon of an author within the picture book format, delivers with text that is simple yet skillfully executed. Illustrator extraordinaire, Dan Santat is a master of visual storytelling and elevates that text with humorous, sweet, and even sad visuals that take the reader on an emotional journey. Perhaps my favorite part of the book is how three generations of women are woven into the story, each somehow interacting with the title character, making for an immensely satisfying and nostalgic reading experience. This book would pair wonderfully with two of my other favorites: The Scarecrow (Beth Ferry and the Fan Brothers) and The Adventures of Beekle: the Unimaginary Friend (Dan Santat).

Antwan Eady (@antwan_eady), author of forthcoming 2022 title NIGEL AND THE MOON, recommends SOUL FOOD SUNDAY by Winsome Bingham, illustrated by C. G. Esperanza (Abrams Books for Young Readers): SOUL FOOD SUNDAY delivers one of the most delicious, family reads of the year. And it couldn’t have come at a better time. With illustrations by C. G. Esperanza and words by Winsome Bingham, SOUL FOOD SUNDAY is a feast for the mind, body, and, you’ve guessed it, soul. This is more than a book. It’s food. It’s family. SOUL FOOD SUNDAY is home - the ones we long for and the ones we hope to create.

Reem Faruqi (@ReemFaruqi), author of 2021 titles AMIRA'S PICTURE DAY, UNSETTLED, and I CAN HELP, and upcoming 2022 release GOLDEN GIRL, recommends RISSY NO KISSIES by Katey Howes, illustrated by Jess Engle (Carolrhoda): RISSY NO KISSIES by Katey Howes is a heartwarming and empowering book about speaking up about what you feel comfortable or uncomfortable with. My daughters love this book, its message, and heartwarming illustrations by Jess Engle! I'm so grateful this book exists in the world today!

Kristen Mai Giang (@kmgiang), author of GINGER AND CHRYSANTHEMUM and forthcoming 2022 title THE RISE (AND FALLS) OF JACKIE CHAN, recommends SHY WILLOW by Cat Min (Levine Querido): You will fall in love with this sweet bunny living in an abandoned mailbox, afraid of the world but venturing forth in an act of hope and bravery. So often courage is portrayed in loud ways, but Willow’s bravery is quiet and kind - and will captivate your heart. Cat Min’s gorgeous art perfectly illuminates the emotion in this lovely character and world.

Jyoti Rajan Gopal (@JyotiGopal), author of two titles coming in 2022, AMERICAN DESI and MY PAATI’S SARIS, recommends HOW TO WEAR A SARI by Darshana Khiani, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff (Versify): HOW TO WEAR A SARI is a sparkling, fun read sure to invite all kinds of questions about saris – and what a fun way to learn about them! Told in a sassy, confident voice and paired with gorgeous illustrations that capture sweet humor, this story of a little girl determined to show that she is all grown up by demonstrating her sari-wearing expertise, is a clever and welcome addition to the pantheon of How-To picture books. It is a delightful read, one that I wish I had had for my daughters when they were little. I’m so glad we have it now!

Dr. Theanne Griffith, PhD (@doctheagrif), neuroscientist and author of THE MAGNIFICENT MAKERS chapter book series and co-author of ADA TWIST SCIENTIST THE WHY FILES: EXPLORING FLIGHT, recommends CHANGE SINGS by Amanda Gorman, illustrated by Loren Long (Viking): The poetry literally floats off the page in this beautifully illustrated picture book, by poet laureate, Amanda Gorman. This book is one of hope and agency, and fills the reader with a desire to inspire change.

Christy Jordan-Fenton (@CJordanFenton), author of numerous books for children, including FATTY LEGS, recently reprinted as a 10th anniversary edition, recommends SWIFT FOX ALL ALONG by Rebecca Thomas, illustrated by Maya McKibbin (Annick Press): For every child who has struggled to walk with a foot in both worlds and has been confused about their connection to their culture, or who has come from a split home, or who has endured the fear and anxiety of visiting relatives they don’t know, or just felt out of place, SWIFT FOX ALL ALONG unwinds a vibrant journey of discovery and belonging, laid against the backdrop of a Mi’kmaq community. Rebecca Thomas channels her own childhood experiences to show us that often the magic that unites us is the universality of how common it is to feel alien.

Jackie Azúa Kramer (@jackiekramer422), author of 2021 titles DOROTHY AND HERBERT-AN ORDINARY COUPLE AND THEIR EXTRAORDINARY COLLECTION OF ART and I WISH YOU KNEW, recommends YOUR MAMA by NoNieqa Ramos, illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara (Versify): I love everything about this story! The representation of a Latinx girl’s mother as young, hip, gorgeous, fun, sassy and strong, is fresh and new in picture books. The language in the story is delicious and lyrical with a cool vibe. “Your mama so sweet she could be a bakery all frosting, powdered sugar and pastries.” Or- “Your mama is so woke, she gonna stand by and watch injustice? Nope.” All children need to see their world reflected back to them in stories. Here’s a contemporary and fleshed out human, woman, and mama as this little, brown girl’s role model. And those black boots with the red roses...ay mami, caliente!

Jorge Lacera (@jlacera), co-founder of LatinxPitch, illustrator of 2021 title XO, EXOPLANET, illustrator of upcoming 2022 book PRUETT AND SOO, and co-author/illustrator of 2022 title THE WILD ONES, recommends THE ROCK FROM THE SKY by Jon Klassen (Candlewick): Things I love about it: 1. Reading this story aloud turns parents, grandparents, teachers, guardians into rock stars. It's perfectly set-up to be performed, almost like a mini-play--which, in my opinion, the best picture books allow readers to do. 2. The deceptively simple illustrations are evocative and beautiful, and somehow hilarious all at the same time. 3. Kids and adults will see and appreciate different things about the characters and their interactions. 4. The story is told in chapters. Yes, chapters in a picture book. And each of the 5 chapters is totally worth it. 5. It's strange, sweet, surreal and silly in the best ways. You can read it again and again and discover something new and different about it each time.

Hope Lim (@hope_lim), author of 2021 titles I AM A BIRD and MY TREE, recommends GRANDPA ACROSS THE OCEAN by Hyewon Yum (Abrams): GRANDPA ACROSS THE OCEAN is my favorite picture book of the year. This sweet, moving book about family and connections across generations is beautifully written and illustrated by Hyewon Yum. A child visits his grandfather for the first time. Initially, the child thinks everything about his Grandpa is strange, but after one small incident, he discovers the warm and gentle side of Grandpa, and they begin to bond like best friends. Everything strange about his Grandpa and his faraway home becomes familiar and wonderful to the child. As the story moves along, my heart warms from the growing affection between these two. The love and longing between these two characters in the last spread are so palpable, reminding me of my own parting moments with my parents when I visited them. This tender and beautiful story shows how the love between a child and a grandparent transcends generation, place, and language.

Tim Miller (@TM_Illustration), author and illustrator of many books for children, including the upcoming 2022 release IZZY PAINTS, recommends NICKY & VERA by Peter Sis (Norton Young Readers): A book that I fell in love with this year is NICKY & VERA by Peter Sís. It’s a powerful and moving story about the Holocaust that reminds you what a picture book can be. There are so many layers to it; it’s quiet and introspective; you sink into the poetry of the images as the story grows; you feel every part of it in your heart. It’s the kind of book you step out of transformed.

Robin Newman (@robinnewmanbook), author of 2021 titles DON’T CALL ME FUZZYBUTT! and SESAME STREET: BREATHE, THINK, DO WITH ELMO, recommends CHEZ BOB by Bob Shea (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers): How does an extremely lazy, yet hungry alligator find birds to eat? Naturally, he opens up a bird seed restaurant on his nose. CHEZ BOB is a heart-warming hoot of a story that this author wishes she wrote. Warning: Be prepared to giggle!

Charlotte Offsay (@coffsay), author of 2021 titles THE BIG BEACH CLEANUP and HOW TO RETURN A MONSTER and upcoming 2022 release A GRANDMA’S MAGIC, recommends BARTALI’S BICYCLE: The True Story of Gino Bartali, Italy’s Secret Hero by Megan Hoyt, illustrated by Iacopo Bruno (Quill Tree Books): This book is inspiring, moving, and important. It is the true story of Gino Bartali, a beloved cyclist and Italy's secret hero. Bartali worked as a secret champion in the fight for Jewish lives during World War II. His courage and heart brought me to tears.

Dow Phumiruk (@DowPhumiruk), illustrator of 2021 titles AN EQUAL SHOT and HELLO, TREE, and forthcoming 2022 title HER NAME WAS MARY KATHARINE, recommends WATERCRESS by Andrea Wang, illustrated by Jason Chin (Neal Porter Books): There are not enough words to describe the heartfelt beauty of WATERCRESS, written by Andrea Wang and illustrated by Jason Chin. A young girl is embarrassed to forage for watercress alongside a cornfield in her Ohio hometown. When her Chinese immigrant parents insists she eat the soup they've made with it, she stubbornly refuses. The story follows the girl's change of heart when her mother shares a photo and a memory that helps connect the past to her family's present life. Based on the author's own childhood memories, this tender story, already recognized with multiple awards from the publishing industry, will stay with you long after you've put it down.

Laura Renald (@laura_renauld), author of 2021 title SQUIRREL’S SWEATER and creator of the Debut Review Challenge, recommends FREAKY, FUNKY FISH by Debra Kempf Shumaker, illustrated by Claire Powell (Running Press Kids): This is the most fun I’ve had reading nonfiction all year! Upbeat rhyme introduces readers to a wide variety of amazing adaptations fish use to survive and thrive. The illustrations are bright and fun and include funky or freaky fish ratings in the style of a naturalist’s journal. This book might just spawn a new generation of marine biologists!

Alyssa Reynoso-Morris (@areynosomorris), author of three picture books set for 2023 - PLÁTANOS ARE LOVE, GLORIANA PRESENTE A First Day of School Book, and THE BRONX IS MY HOME - recommends ARELI IS A DREAMER: A True Story by Areli Morales, a DACA recipent, illustrated by Luisa Uribe (Random House Studio): This beautiful story about the immigrant and DACA experience is one of a kind but has a universal message of hope that anyone can relate to. As the daughter of an immigrant this story spoke to me. And as a mother I'm glad this books exists to teach my little one about the challenges immigrants face. The illustrations are beautiful and powerful; Luisa Uribe did an incredible job.

Nicholas Solis (@teachsolis), author of 2021 release THE COLOR COLLECTOR and forthcoming title MY TOWN, MI PUEBLO, recommends EYES THAT KISS IN THE CORNERS by Joanna Ho, illustrated by Dung Ho (HarperCollins): I love this book because of its beautiful lyrical language and its positive message of self love. From the very beginning of the book, the main character loves her eyes and their connection to her family. That bond to family and culture only grows stronger as the story unfolds. This book is beautiful not only in its illustrations but message as well. We should all love ourselves and respect the differences that make us unique.

Elizabeth Zunon (@ElizabethZunon), illustrator of 2021 titles OFF TO SEE THE SEA and STITCH BY STITCH, and forthcoming 2022 title BOTTLE TOPS, recommends NIKI NAKAYAMA: A Chef’s Tale in 13 Bites by Jamie Michalak and Debbi Michiko Florence, illustrated by Yuko Jones (Farrar, Straus and Giroux): An inspiring tale of a journey through food. Every page is more delectable than the last, the illustrations so lovely and heart-warming - a feast for the eyes and the soul.

And… this year, I decided to join the fun and recommend my favorite book, too!

Anitra Rowe Schulte (@anitraschulte), author of 2021 release DANCING WITH DADDY and forthcoming 2022 title WILLOW AND BUNNY recommends MAGIC CANDIES by Heena Baek, translated by Sophie Bowman (Crossing Kids): Hilarious, wildly original and heart-wrenching, all at once, MAGIC CANDIES is a singular delight that charms as it disarms. Unwilling to ruin the book’s super power - the element of surprise - I’ll simply state that this voice-filled story enlivens the most powerful relationships in a child’s world in a way that you could never imagine and will never forget. An absolute must-read and must-share.

I hope you enjoyed the 2021 roundup and discovered some new titles to explore! If you’d like to take a look at the past three years’ Picture Book Picks lists - and lots of goodies have been shared, let me tell you! - you’ll find those below:

2018 picture book Picks, here
2019 Picture Book Picks, here
2020 Picture Book Picks, here

Also! Please join the #PBChat Winter Holiday Party from 8 to 10 p.m. EASTERN (7 to 9 p.m. CENTRAL) on Wednesday, Dec. 22, (TONIGHT!) as members of PB Debut Troupe 21 join #PBChat host Justin Colón for a Twitter bash, which will include craft conversation, games, a giveaway, and more!

Hope to see you there!

Wishing you long, lazy hours of reading over winter break, and a Happy New Year, too!

All my best,

Anitra

A Very Happy Book Birthday!

December 17, 2021 Anitra Rowe Schulte

The December book birthday and launch of my debut picture book DANCING WITH DADDY, illustrated by the phenomenal Ziyue Chen, has been a whirlwind, a joy, and a dream come true!

To everyone who has supported me and my debut - with pre-orders and birthday-week orders and hugs and flowers and cards and texts and videos of your darling children reading the story - from the center of my heart…

THANK YOU!

I’d love to share some fun photos from the launch festivities! I kicked off the day with a blog post and giveaway on PB Debut Troupe 21’s Troupe Tales blog….

And of course with a stop at Geneva Public Library! Thanks for the coffee, Jaimie!

Then I made a few special deliveries, including to my local Little Free Library…

I also received some incredible gifts, including these flowers from my editor Kelsey Skea and the Two Lions publishing team, and a darling book cake from Dan and the girls…

Then, three days later, I had the honor and delight of officially launching DANCING WITH DADDY at my local indie Harvey’s Tales - a gem of a bookstore and my favorite place in downtown Geneva, IL….

So many dear friends stopped by for the outdoor story time…

… and to say hello and buy books! So wild and so wonderful.

Thank you Harvey’s Tales for making this lifelong writer’s dream come true! If you would like to order a signed copy, you can still request one by emailing Harvey’s Tales HERE!

There are still some DANCING WITH DADDY events coming up - I’ll be sure to share pics from these adventures, too! Now that the book is out, here are some awesome ways to extend its reach, if you are so inclined!

Ask your little’s teacher or librarian if they’d like a virtual author visit - details HERE!

Share DANCING WITH DADDY with your little’s classroom or school library - order HERE!
Ask your local library to order DANCING WITH DADDY - they usually honor patron requests!
If you enjoy the story, share about it on social media!

And one more thing to share: I wrote a column for the TODAY Show’s parenting blog, entitled “But can she talk?” about a question that I persistently field when Elsa and I hit the playground.

It’s a slice-of-life piece that gets to the heart of something that is always on my mind - the communication gap between my daughter and her typical peers - and what I think is needed to close that space and bring kids closer to each other. If you like the piece, you can “VOTE” for it, or share it on Facebook, which would be super sweet, if you feel comfortable doing so!

That’s all for now! I appreciate you all more than I can say and wish you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy Holidays!

Dancing with Daddy Book Launch Events!

November 12, 2021 Anitra Rowe Schulte

Hello friends! I cannot believe it, but in less than one month, my debut picture book DANCING WITH DADDY will be available everywhere…

December 1st!

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported my story. Pre-ordering a book is one of the most amazing things that you can do for an author. (It demonstrates interest in your title and impacts marketing efforts.) And I’m beyond grateful for your generosity and extraordinary kindness!

A few weeks ago, I received my author copies of DANCING WITH DADDY, which I got to open with my girls. That was so surreal! Somehow, illustrator Ziyue Chen’s art is even more beautiful and vibrant in the final format - simply stunning. I’m so grateful that she said YES to illustrating Elsie and her story!

The past few weeks have brought some super fun developments! I got the chance to share DANCING WITH DADDY at an event with the Rising Lights Project at Geneva Commons…

At the AISLE conference in Champaign, IL, I presented DANCING WITH DADDY to Illinois librarians and educators and got to spend time with fellow Illinois author friends! And - to my shock and complete delight - DANCING WITH DADDY was included in a TODAY Show gift round up of 40 presents that every 6-year-old wants to unwrap this year! (What?!)

WILD, right? I can hardly believe any of it is real and am so excited for the fun that’s in store!

Now, there are three in-person events on the books for this winter - and one of them might be happening at a bookstore or shop near you!

Side note: If DANCING WITH DADDY would have come out in 2020 (as originally planned), none of these events would have been possible. God’s timing is the BEST timing, always. Here are the book events that are, well, on the books!

December 4 — Geneva IL

December 23 — Sullivan IL

March 27 — Omaha NE

The details on this one are TBD, but save the date for a book reading and signing event at The Bookworm bookstore in Omaha, NE, on March 27. Omaha friends, if you have already purchased DANCING WITH DADDY, thank you SO much! If you haven’t, but plan to, it would be awesome if you waited (weird, I know!) and purchased at this March 27 event. I would love for The Bookworm to feel the love!

In the midst of planning book launch fun, we are also full steam ahead on Holiday Book Drive Chi, Year 5! On Dec. 14, Pastor Michael Neal of Leading with Literacy and I will be visiting schools on Chicago’s South Side to deliver book joy!

We have collected 500 books so far and would love to reach last year’s 700 book total. If you are able to give new books, or make a financial donation toward the purchase of new books, please reach out and let me know! To see all of the books donated so far - which would make for great gifts this holiday season! - visit the official 2021 Holiday Book Drive Chi page HERE!

Book friends on Twitter: You can follow along with the Drive via my account (@anitraschulte) and by following the Twitter hashtag #HolidayBookDriveChi!

Donations will be accepted through Dec. 1, 2021. On Delivery Day, we will bring books to schools all over Bronzeville and in other nearby Chicago neighborhoods to share the gift of literacy.

Thank you for your friendship and partnership. Let’s make this a holiday full of JOY again in 2021!