Month: August 2022

Picture Book List: 20 Terrific Books About School

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Since it’s Back to School time pretty much everywhere, it just made sense to have this special Monday post about some of the best picture books about school. If I missed YOUR favorite picture book about school, drop me a note in the comments and I’ll try to include your fave in a future list or Bonus Goody post.

Brand-​new Pencils, Brand-​new Books by Diane deGroat (June 2007)

From Goodreads: “Gilbert, the popular star of deGroat’s New York Times bestseller Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink, returns in this humorous and reassuring back-​to-​school story, in which Gilbert experiences his first day in first grade.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 4–8

 

Chu’s First Day of School by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Adam Rex (June 2015)

From Goodreads: “It is Chu’s first day of school. Chu is nervous. He hopes the other boys and girls will be nice. Will they like him? What will happen at school today? Will Chu do what Chu does best?”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 1–5

 

David Goes to School by David Shannon (May 2021)

From Goodreads: “David’s teacher has her hands full. From running in the halls to chewing gum in class, David’s high-​energy antics fill each school day with trouble—and are sure to bring a smile to even the best-​behaved reader.

In ‘David Goes to School’, young David shows up late to class, goes wacko at the blackboard, chews gum in class, yells answers out of turn, pulls pigtails, stares out the window, cuts in line, has a food fight (“I don’t care who started it!” says the teacher), lingers at recess, and more. Colorful, hilarious, childlike illustrations examine our strangely appealing demon-​boy at eye level.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 3–6

 

Don’t Eat the Teacher! by Nick Ward (January 1998)

From Goodreads: “Sammy has trouble controlling his enthusiasm on his first day of school.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 2–6

 

First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg, illustrated by Judy Love (February 2000)

From Goodreads: “Everyone knows that sinking feeling in the pit of the stomach just before diving into a new situation. Sarah Jane Hartwell is scared and doesn’t want to start over at a new school. She doesn’t know anybody, and nobody knows her. It will be awful. She just knows it. With much prodding from Mr. Hartwell, Sarah Jane reluctantly pulls herself together and goes to school. She is quickly befriended by Mrs. Burton, who helps smooth her jittery transition. This charming and familiar story will delight readers with its surprise ending.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 5–8

 

First Grade Jitters by Robert Quackenbush, illustrated by Yan Nascimbene (June 2010)

From Goodreads: “Perfect for nervous/​excited kids about to go to school (and their parents!), this engaging story convinces parents and children alike that there is no place cooler than a first-​grade classroom. Time to shake those jitters!

Here is the story of a young boy who is about to enter first grade and doesn’t know quite what to expect. Will his friends be there? Will he have to know how to read and spell? What if he can’t understand anything his teacher says?

Looks like a case of first grade jitters!”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 5–6

 

Froggy Goes to School by Jonathan London, illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz (September 1998)

From Goodreads: “Froggy’s mother knows that everyone’s nervous on the first day of school. “Not me!” says Froggy, and together they leapfrog to the bus stop — flop flop flop. Froggy’s exuberant antics, complete with sound effects, will delight his many fans and reassure them that school can be fun.“This is a great read-​aloud with sounds and words that encourage active participation.…A charming story to calm those pre-​school jitters.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 2–6

 

I Am Too Absolutely Small for School by Lauren Child (August 2005)

From Goodreads: “Lola is not so sure about school. After all, why would she need to count higher than ten when she never eats more than ten cookies at a time? Once again, it’s up to ever-​patient big brother Charlie to persuade Lola that school is worthwhile — and that her invisible friend, Soren Lorensen, will be welcome, too.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 3–7

 

I Got the School Spirit by Connie Schofield-​Morrison, illustrated by Frank Morrison (July 2020)

From Amazon: “This exuberant celebration of the first day of school illustrated by award-​winning illustrator Frank Morrison will have every kid cheering for school to begin!

Summer is over, and this little girl has got the school spirit! She hears the school spirit in the bus driving up the street–VROOM, VROOM!–and in the bell sounding in the halls–RING-​A-​DING! She sings the school spirit in class with her friends–ABC, 123!”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 3–6

 

If I Built a School by Chris Van Dusen (June 2015)

From Goodreads: “In this exuberant companion to If I Built a Car, a boy fantasizes about his dream school–from classroom to cafeteria to library to playground.

My school will amaze you. My school will astound.
By far the most fabulous school to be found!
Perfectly planned and impeccably clean.
On a scale, 1 to 10, it’s more like 15!
And learning is fun in a place that’s fun, too.

If Jack built a school, there would be hover desks and pop-​up textbooks, skydiving wind tunnels and a trampoline basketball court in the gym, a robo-​chef to serve lunch in the cafeteria, field trips to Mars, and a whole lot more. The inventive boy who described his ideal car and house in previous books is dreaming even bigger this time.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 4–8

 

Little Mole Goes to School by Glenys Nellist, illustrated by Sally Garland (July 2022)

From Goodreads: “It’s Little Mole’s first day of school, and he’s nervous. What if he is the last to know his alphabet? What if he’s not good at anything? With a good bit of anxiety, Little Mole heads to class and begins to compare himself to his peers. How will he ever measure up? But soon a crisis on the playground reveals that he has everything he needs in his own two paws to save the day. In this third installment of the Little Mole series, author Glenys Nellist and illustrator Sally Garland spin another endearing tale of the beloved Little Mole, his encouraging mama, and his forest friends. Children will relate to Little Mole’s feelings of self-​doubt, will cheer him on when he discovers his unique gifts and talents, and will be inspired to confront their own insecurities and celebrate what they have to offer, too.”

Pages: 36
Reading Age: 2–5

 

A Pirate’s Guide to First Grade by James Preller, illustrated by Greg Ruth (June 2013)

From Goodreads: “Arr! It’s the first day of first grade, and it’s all hands on deck for a young pirate and his crew. How much trouble can they get into? What will they do at recess? And, most important, what treasure awaits them at school?”

Pages: 48
Reading Age: 3–6

 

Pterodactyl Show and Tell by Thad Krasnesky, illustrated by Tanya Leonello (October 2018)

From Goodreads: “When a boy brings his pterodactyl to school for show-​and-​tell, hilarious havoc ensues. The creature’s delightfully demented antics, the kids’ expressions as they try to avoid the hungry pterodactyl, and the out-​of-​control imagination of the boy yield a wild and wacky romp. Kids who dig dinosaurs will devour this preposterous pterodactyl tale written in rhyming couplets and teeming with edgy school-​age humor and giggle-​inducing illustrations.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 5–7

 

School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex, illustrated by Christian Robinson (June 2016)

From Goodreads: “It’s the first day of school at Frederick Douglass Elementary and everyone’s just a little bit nervous, especially … the school.”

Pages: 40
Reading Age: 5–6

 

 

The Class from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler, illustrated by Jared Lee (June 2009)

From Goodreads: “Is it true that the new class REALLY is just a bunch of horrible ghouls? The new teacher has heard all sorts of weird stories about her students. What will she find when the students arrive?”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 4–8

 

The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-​Newton (July 2019)

From Goodreads: “Starting kindergarten is a big milestone–and the hero of this story is ready to make his mark! He’s dressed himself, eaten a pile of pancakes, and can’t wait to be part of a whole new kingdom of kids. The day will be jam-​packed, but he’s up to the challenge, taking new experiences in stride with his infectious enthusiasm! And afterward, he can’t wait to tell his proud parents all about his achievements–and then wake up to start another day.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 5–6

 

The Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha Wing, illustrated by Julie Durrell (July 2001)

From Goodreads: “It’s the first day of school! Join the kids as they prepare for kindergarten, packing school supplies, posing for pictures, and the hardest part of all—saying goodbye to Mom and Dad. But maybe it won’t be so hard once they discover just how much fun kindergarten really is! Colorful illustrations illuminate this uplifting takeoff on the classic Clement C. Moore Christmas poem.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 5–6 years

 

We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins (June 2018)

From Goodreads: “Penelope the dinosaur starts school, but it’s hard to make friends when her classmates are so delicious!

It’s the first day of school for Penelope Rex, and she can’t wait to meet her classmates. But it’s hard to make human friends when they’re so darn delicious! That is, until Penelope gets a taste of her own medicine and finds she may not be at the top of the food chain after all… Readers will gobble up this hilarious new story from award-​winning author-​illustrator Ryan T. Higgins.”

Pages: 48
Reading Age: 3–6

 

Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes (April 2010)

From Goodreads: “Wemberly worried about everything. Big things. Little things. And things in between. Then it was time for school to start. And Wemberly worried even more. If you ever worry (or know someone who does), this is the book for you.

Wemberly worried about spilling her juice, about shrinking in the bathtub, even about snakes in the radiator. She worried morning, noon, and night. “Worry, worry, worry,” her family said. “Too much worry.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 3–6

 

Wow! School! by Robert Neubecker (April 2011)

From Goodreads: “What could be more WOW! than the first day of school?
From science and storytime to music and math, Izzy’s classroom is full of new things to explore. Tag along with Izzy and experience the wonder and excitement of school from a child’s-​eye view.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 3–7

Agent Interview: Tricia Lawrence (Erin Murphy Literary Agency)

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This month’s Industry Insider interview is with Tricia Lawrence, an agent at the Erin Murphy Literary Agency (EMLA). She joined the agency as a social media strategist in 2011 after nearly two decades as a developmental and production-​based copyeditor. Born and raised in Oregon and now living in Seattle, Tricia’s often called the “Pacific Northwest branch” of EMLA.

Let’s get to know Tricia a bit more by playing Eight Truths and One Lie. Ready?

  1. She has watched 500+ hours of BBC America.
  2. After binge-​watching Project Runway, she spent a TON of time draping and fitting a half-​size mannequin.
  3. She has the innate ability to stack books as high as she is tall.
  4. She’s an avid runner.
  5. She likes to collect rocks.
  6. She’s a big Seattle sports fan.
  7. She’s a bonafide piano plunker.
  8. She once shared a blueberry bagel with Beyoncé.
  9. Books she’s authored have been sold off Target endcaps.

Can’t tell which is the lie? The answer will be revealed in the interview…somewhere. And since you likely really want to know that answer, let’s get right to the interview.

RVC: When did you first discover your love for books?

TL: I was about 8 and realized if I slapped down my family’s library card, the librarians had to let me borrow the books. I would clear off a shelf of books at a time, and then read them in about a day, my long legs slung over the arm of our wingback chair. And then I would pester my parents to drive me to the library to get more.

I began to get a reputation at that library …

RVC: How did school foster or get in the way of your future career in the book industry?

TL: I struggled in school, only because I was often daydreaming, but I was alternating between two schools for most of my grade school years. It was my parents’ dream for me to attend a Christian grade school, but they didn’t have the money every year, so I struggled to write a complete sentence in third-​grade PUBLIC school, only because in second-​grade PRIVATE school, our studies hadn’t gotten there yet. These were not the best years of my life. It created a lot of self-​doubt, but I knew I was going to be a writer. And I so in spite of all of this, I reveled in my love for books.

RVC: After college, you spent some time in the writing/​content-​creation side of the medical world. What lessons from those jobs do you use most in your work now as a literary agent?

TL: That no matter how much education you have, it doesn’t mean you can write a story that can keep someone engaged. I edited for a lot of doctors and just like so many have awful handwriting, a lot of them struggled with writing. They were great partners, however, because the best conversations I remember are discussing complex sentences as well as phlebotomy.

RVC: What convinced you to make the move to joining the Erin Murphy Literary Agency (EMLA)?

TL: I’ve LONG been an admirer of Erin Murphy and the kind of agency she has created. She actually turned me down the first time, but I came back a few months later, and voila! Sorta like querying sometimes. One “no” isn’t often the last word.

RVC: I love hearing success stories based in perseverance. Now, what’s the most important things authors should know or understand about effectively using social media to support their careers?

TL: That social media DOES NOT MATTER without the writing. It supports the book, but it doesn’t supersede the book. You only need a massive social media platform if you’re writing nonfiction for the mainstream adult trade market, say, if you’ve got a new approach to phlebotomy or something (ha!), but the story matters the most in children’s literature and teen literature. It’s ALL that matters.

That said, pick the social media tools you enjoy and leave off the rest. If you don’t like Twitter, it will be obvious. If you LOVE TikTok, go with god and have fun.

RVC: Let’s talk about you as an agent. What’s the first picture book you sold?

TL: It was There Was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight, a magnificent rhymer by the amazing Penny Parker Klostermann. I remember sitting out on the lawn checking my email and then staring up at the trees in our backyard in awe of the power of picture books. I had fallen so hard for Penny’s text and I had sent it to an editor who also loved it. It’s the magic beans of this business. If the author has passion for their work, it will spread and it’s a beautiful thing.

RVC: What are some other books that just grabbed you at the language level like that?

TL: There are so many! From Annie Bailey’s Mud! (2022) to Jill Esbaum’s How to Grow a Dinosaur (2018)–I would need to go on and on and on!

RVC: In terms of your identity as an agent, how would you describe yourself?

TL: Devoted, passionate advocate, and curious.

RVC: Describe your ideal client. 

TL: Self-​aware, honest, and hardworking

RVC: What’s a project or accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant in your career at EMLA?

TL: I think each time I read a manuscript from a client and think “I love this” and then I convince an editor to also love it is the most significant. I know I’m hedging and also being repetitive, but this…this is the magic.

RVC: I know what you mean. What is the most common misconception about a literary agent?

TL: That once you’ve got the agent, you’ve arrived (and for some that may be true). I believe every time we write something, even if it doesn’t garner agent attention or doesn’t win, we’ve arrived. It’s a big balancing act and each writer will arrive to it in their own way, i.e. has their own goals that make them feel they’ve arrived. Hopefully as an agent, I can help them fine-​tune those dreams and reach even farther.

RVC: How do you feel about Art Notes?

TL: I’m feeling pretty good about them. Sometimes they’re just necessary and yet can feel like their own set of rules.

A reminder: if you rely on the art notes to create your story rather than to enlarge and enhance your story, go back through them again and seek out how you might rework anything.

RVC: You seem fairly active with live and virtual events/​communities. What do you get out of participating with #DVpit or attending an SCBWI conference as faculty?

TL: A TON. It’s a place for like-​minded folks to gather. And now, with opportunities opening for more and more stories, I’m hoping we see even more change and openness. Just because I don’t know, doesn’t mean it’s not important. I think gathering together helps us to understand and to learn. Plus, it’s just nice to hang out with folks who are as addicted to stories as I am!

RVC: You also do a lot of work beyond being an agent. Care to talk about some of your own book writing?

TL: I wrote some books back in the late 1990s that were among the first to get picked up by Target. At the time, Target was not doing a lot of book sales, so I got to be the experiment.

RVC: Lucky you!

TL: I remember buying copies for friends and family and my sister announced to the person checking us out that I was the author. The checkout guy made me open each book and point to my name. It was surreal, but really fun. I love that my own clients get to have that experience now. It’s seriously thrilling. I’ve gotten back to my writing during COVID and I’ve learned so much from my clients as to how to be a writer. Courage, refusal to give up, and more courage!

RVC: I see that you’re doing a lot of painting these days and you’ve said that you regret not taking it more seriously earlier.

TL: I started an experiment making art (watercolor and Procreate on the iPad) just to see if I could. I’m not as diligent as I should be, but I still make art every day. I find that it soothes me and opens up a different part of my brain. I give advice to writers all the time about allowing the creativity to flow through other tactile activities: gardening, making art, knitting. I thought it was time to take my own advice and it has become a lovely hobby.

RVC: How has your work as an artist informed your work as a literary agent?

TL: In so many ways. Having a growth mindset means you work at it. So I go from feeling confident and wheeling and dealing for my clients to trying to make art, where I feel inadequate and like a failure. The tension there is so interesting. It’s a daily journey through that tension, but so worth it. From that tension comes amazing growth, centeredness, and courage!

RVC: Brag time. What upcoming projects are you most excited about? 

TL: I’m obsessed with Alice Faye Duncan and Chris Raschka’s Yellow Dog Blues (Eerdmans, 2022) coming in September. Chris took Alice Faye’s text and created a masterpiece of art. He painted on and embroidered burlap for each page.

RVC: WOW!

TL: And Kim Rogers’ debut Just Like Grandma (Heartdrum, January 2023) illustrated by Julie Flett. Absolutely beautiful work. I cannot wait. I also cannot wait for Jill Esbaum’s upcoming Stinkbird Has a Superpower (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2023) illustrated by Bob Shea. So excited!

RVC: Tricia, it’s time for the SPEED ROUND. Lightning-​fast questions and even faster answers, please. Are…YOU…READY?

TL: 100 percent!

RVC: What’s something that will always be in fashion, regardless of how much time passes?

TL: Books.

RVC: What movie quote do you use on a regular basis?

TL: “Run mad as often as you choose, but do not faint.”—wrongly used in the 1999 movie they made of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park, because the original quote is from Austen’s novel, Love and Friendship.

RVC: You’re hosting a literary ice cream social. What three writers—living or dead, real or imagined—would you invite?

TL: Octavia Butler, Mary Magdalene, Carl Sagan.

RVC: What books are on your nightstand?

TL: Oh god. Hundreds of books (but the nightstand doesn’t support them any longer, so they are on a currently reading bookshelf). HAHAHAHAHA.

I have so many. Right now I have 16 novels from the library (mostly murder/​thriller reads, but I’ve been going through this list of debut novels and love being blown away by them all!

RVC: What was the first picture book that gave you a WOW moment?

TL: I Want My Hat Back. I’m a dark soul. This book is brilliant.

RVC: Favorite line from a picture book you repped?

TL:

“Nestled on a garden path

and strewn along the shore.

Scattered on a city block

and on the forest floor …

 

Tucked in sidewalk crevices

and stuck in mucky ground.

Stretching high and scraping sky,

rocks are all around.”

This is from Lisa Varchol Perron and Taylor Perron’s unannounced co-​authored picture book coming in 2024 from Penguin Random House.

RVC: Thanks so much, Tricia! Oh, and by the way, care to reveal which of the biographical nuggets in the introduction is a big stinking whopper of a falsehood?

TL: While I have seen Beyoncé in concert and sang along with everything like the obsessed fan that I am, I unfortunately have never shared a bagel with her. Bey, you want bagels? Call me!

Educational Activities: The Path by Bob Staake

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The Path: A Picture Book About Finding Your Own True Way
Author: Bob Staake
Illustrator: Bob Staake
5 April 2022
minedition US
32 pages

Book description from Goodreads: “From New Yorker cover artist Bob Staake, this inspirational guide to finding your authentic self through life’s challenges is a hip new take on the graduation book.

Award-​winning author and New Yorker cover artist Bob Staake’s lyrical words and stunning illustrations will lead children and adults alike to discover the encouraging truth that our path through life is not only challenging and beautiful—it is all our own to discover and invent. With a bonus The Path poster from Bob Staake inside the jacket!

“You will walk. You will walk along a well-​worn path that many people have taken—and long before you.” So begins this inspirational journey over gentle, grassy hills, through fields of wildflowers, over raging rivers, up steep mountains, and even through a dark, chilly cave. When it splits in two, you will have to decide what to do next—and you’ll create a path that’s unique to you.”

Need some reviews on The Path?

As a bonus, here’s the book trailer for The Path.

Educational Activities inspired by The Path:

  • Before Reading–From looking at the front and back cover: 
    • What’s happening on the cover?
    • What do you think of when you think of paths?
    • Where and when do you think this story takes place?
    • What differences do you notice between the front and back cover?
    • What questions would you like to ask the author before you read the book?
  • After Reading–Now that you’ve read the story: 
    • Which part of the journey was most surprising?
    • Which picture did you like the most? Why?
    • What did you think of the book’s ending?
    • Did you like this book? Why/​why not?
  • Writing–When have you created your own path in life? If you have, write down the story of what happened. If you haven’t, imagine what you might have done differently in the past and write that story. Use colored pencils, crayons, or markers to create your own art, if you want. Consider sharing your work with a friend or family member.
  • Crafting–A lot of what happens in The Path happens in the woods, so here are some crafts related to that environment: 
  • Further Reading–Learn more about finding your own path and overcoming challenges by reading these related books. Which of these have you already read? Which of the others would you want to read first? (Click on any book cover for more information on these titles!)

Author Interview: Linda Elovitz Marshall

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This month’s Author Interview is with Linda Elovitz Marshall, who’s a “writer of books for young children and other cool stuff.” I know her from a previous critique group and from Jane Yolen’s Picture Book Boot Camp. With all the success Linda’s having lately, it seems the right time to find out why.

Let’s head right to the interview!

RVC: Let’s start with the Big News. You’ve got a new picture book coming out in a few days—Measuring a Year: A Rosh Hashanah Story. What’s the elevator pitch?

LM: No matter what you celebrate or how you count, every year has a beginning and an ending. Considering that the Jewish New Year–Rosh Hashanah–is a time of introspection, of looking inward, I wondered…How could anyone measure a year? Specifically, how could a CHILD measure a year?

RVC: How did that story come about?

LM: I was sitting in the synagogue with my son and his family during a High Holiday service. When it was time for the sermon, the sanctuary became solemn, hushed. Cantor Jodi Schectman–who had only recently taken her position at Congregation Beth Emeth in Albany, New York–came to the bimah (the pulpit). She hummed a melody. I recognized the tune but couldn’t quite place it. She stopped humming and talked about changes in her life–selling her house in New Jersey, sending her youngest off to college, taking a new job in Albany. She hummed a few more bars. Then asked, rhetorically, “So, how DO you measure a year?” She described more changes in her life. Then she shared with the congregation that she’d been diagnosed with a Stage IV cancer. Once more, she asked, “How DO you measure a year?”

RVC: Wow.

LM: How DO you? I wondered. How does anyone? How does a child? What are the good things? The not-​so-​good? I wanted to take the lessons of Cantor Schectman’s powerful sermon…and share them with the world. And so I did. Measuring a Year: A Rosh Hashanah Story is dedicated to the memory of Cantor Jodi Schectman.

RVC: Measuring a Year is illustrated by Zara González Hoang. What did she bring to this powerful story? 

LM: Zara’s beautiful illustrations brought much humor and warmth to the story. She also beautifully tied the text into the annual cycle of Jewish holidays.

RVC: Let’s circle back to the beginning. Rumor has it that you were speaking in full sentences before you were a year old. Reality or myth? 

LM: It must be true. Why would I ever dispel such a myth? Truth is, I didn’t walk until I was almost two years old. Meanwhile, I listened and absorbed a lot. When I started talking, I had a lot to say.

RVC: When did you first discover you had a gift for writing?

LM: In fifth grade, I wrote a story about my new baby sister. My teacher suggested I might become a writer. But it wasn’t until decades later that I actually began writing professionally. In the interim, I had numerous careers, from owning a bookstore to capturing oral histories to raising sheep.

RVC: What kind of formal training did you have as a writer?

LM: None. However, I always read a lot. I’m also fortunate to have a good ear for language. Most importantly (and probably most under-​rated), I had teachers who taught grammar. I highly recommend reading (and re-​reading) The Elements of Style by Strunk and White. It’s a great handbook for writers.

RVC: Since you’re a lover of words, it’s no surprise you ran your own bookshop. How did that happen?

LM: An opportunity came–and I grabbed it! That was shortly after I’d left my Ph.D. program in Anthropology. I still had children home and I was doing oral histories and writing articles for magazines (freelance). My bookstore began as a spinoff of my father’s bargain business (the late, great Building #19, Inc whose story is told in my self-​published biography of my father, Good Stuff Cheap: The Story of Jerry Ellis and Building #19.)

I soon transformed it into my own store–BOOKS FOR BEANS, INC. With a background in early childhood education, I specialized in books for teachers and children. And with my background in the bargain business, I made sure to sell good stuff, cheap!

RVC: What’s the story behind your first picture book sale?

LM: I was ringing the register in my bookstore when a customer said something that sparked an idea. That idea led to another idea…which led to another idea…and the idea of a story was born.

Eventually, I attended a conference for children’s book writers where I presented two manuscripts to an editor for critiques. She didn’t like either. I asked what she didn’t like about them. She told me. I listened. I revised, then sent the stories back to her with a note saying something like, “Thank you for helping me with these stories.” About a week later, that editor acquired both of my stories!

RVC: You’re well known for being a big-​time reviser. What does your process look like?

LM: I try to listen…and learn. I want my words to flow, to sound beautiful. But more importantly, the story has to work. Sometimes, I share my works-​in-​progress with my critique groups. Sometimes, I don’t. I often show my work to my husband. He’s usually my very first reader…and he’s a very good one!

RVC: What’s your relationship with critique groups?

LM: I LOVE my critique groups. Right now, I’m in three, each with a different focus and style. I also enjoy critiquing privately. I served as Picture Book Mentor for my SCBWI chapter. In addition, I’m one of the Rate Your Story judges. I’m always delighted to work with new writers!

RVC: What can you tell us about the importance of community in a writer’s life?

LM: Community is so important, especially for writers. We give each other strength and buoy each other up when things are down. There are many times when things don’t go smoothly–when there’s rejection after rejection after rejection. Having a community of writers is a great balm. Sometimes, it’s even better than ice cream!

RVC: Complete the following sentence. “Linda Marshall is a writer who…”

LM: Linda Marshall is a writer who cares. She cares about accuracy, about kindness, about children, and about making the world a better place…in whatever way she can.

RVC: You have some clear throughlines in your picture books. What are those, and how important are they to you?

LM: My throughlines focus on things that are important to me–for example, the earth (see Saving the Countryside: The Story of Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit), public health (see The Polio Pioneer: Dr. Jonas Salk and the Polio Vaccine), and nature (see Good Night, Wind).

I put my heart into my writing…and try to make the world better.

RVC: Who sets the standard for nonfiction picture book writing?

LM: I learned about writing non-​fiction picture books from the great editor Carolyn Yoder. She taught me to apply Ph.D.-quality research to my work for children. I love research–and I love her lesson! Thank you, again, Carolyn Yoder!

RVC: In all your experience as a picture book author, what has most surprised you?

LM: The children’s writing community is wonderfully kind and open. To my surprise, it’s made me kinder, too. I’m very grateful for that.

RVC: What’s your best tip for aspiring picture book writers?

LM: Read, read, read. Read GOOD stuff, stuff that makes you feel. Pay attention to the flow of words. Pay attention to your emotions. Pay attention to the world around. Feel. Be aware. And never lose your sense of wonder. Or your sense of possible. Or, of course, your sense of humor.

RVC: One last question for this part of the interview. It’s brag time! What cool new things should we expect from you in the future?

LM: In addition to Measuring a Year, I have several other books in the works. My forthcoming books include: Sisters in Science: Marie Curie, Bronia Dluska, and the Atomic Power of Sisterhood (Knopf, 2023), Bob Marshall: Defender of the Wilderness (South Dakota Historical Society, 2023), and Mexican Dreidel (KarBen/​Lerner, 2023).

There’s one more but (shhh….) as of today, it’s not yet been announced.

RVC: Alright, Linda. It’s time for the SPEED ROUND. Fast questions followed by fast answers. Are you ready?

LM: Yes!

RVC: What is your biggest time waster?

LM: I check my email far too often. Hey, you never know when something good might pop in!

RVC: What animal or plant should be renamed?

LM: Shrub. What a yucky name! Like someone who can’t keep his pants up. You know, what a shrub that guy is…

RVC: You’re having a literary brunch. Which three writers (dead or alive) would you invite?

LM: Mark Twain, Sappho, and (of course) Jane Yolen.

RVC: What’s your favorite Jane Yolen picture book?

LM: No fair! That’s like asking which of my children is my favorite. I love Mrs. Noah’s Doves. It’s beautiful the way Jane Yolen spins a story–kind and sensitive and a bit magical. And, oh, her language! Pure poetry!

RVC: Five things you can’t do your job without?

LM: I need my computer (or a pen and paper), empty space to stare into, quiet, enthusiasm for my topic, and a bit of dark chocolate.

RVC: Best compliment a kid ever gave you (or your books)?

LM: The best–the absolute best–was when my husband overheard our grandson talking to his friends. One friend said his grandmother is a doctor, the other said his grandfather is a doctor. Our grandson proudly announced that his grandmother is a “writer…and she’s coming to our school!”

RVC: Thanks so much, Linda!

Picture Book Review: Library Girl: How Nancy Pearl Became America’s Most Celebrated Librarian, by Karen Henry Clark

On By Only Picture BooksIn Picture Book Reviews

This month’s PB review is by Ryan G. Van Cleave (Owner/​Operator of Only Picture Books) and longtime OPB friend, Austin McKinley.

—Ryan’s Review of the Writing—

Karen Henry Clark’s new picture book, Library Girl, shares the story of how Detroit native Nancy Pearl transformed her childhood love for books into a lifelong mission. From the start, Nancy was able to ignore how her peers teased her because her best friends were in books (“all those characters tucked into pages”). Clark cleverly uses bookish language throughout the text, such as how when the school librarian told Pearl about a nearby public library that was open on Saturdays, “Hope fluttered like pages turning in Nancy’s heart.”

Two sweet librarians at the public library encouraged Nancy’s imagination and her love for horses (Nancy had toy horses in her bedroom and she even imagined her bicycle was a horse named Charger). Though she hid her new library books to avoid more teasing, Nancy “read through rows of fantasies, trilogies, diaries, anthologies, dictionaries, histories, biographies, and mysteries.” And as so often happens to voracious young readers, all those stories led to this powerful realization–“I can be anything when I grow up.”

Nancy didn’t remain a solitary bookworm. When her librarian friends asked her to give a talk about horse books to the other kids, she couldn’t say no. Their belief in her was that strong, though she was understandably nervous. Even a spill on her bike en route to the library to give the talk didn’t spoil things. The other kids were “spellbound,” and when she was done, they clapped and the librarians “glowed.” I’ll let Austin talk about the art but I’ll add that many of the spreads have a magical glow to them, even when Nancy’s imagination isn’t being depicted in action.

After Nancy’s successful talk, the book fast-​forwards to where she has found her future as an adult librarian who helps other kids discover their own magic in books. An Author’s Note explains some of Nancy’s successes as a champion for books, reading, and libraries, though one of the most memorable moments is Nancy’s response to being challenged to write a six-​word memoir: “Girl discovers books, then discovers life.” The back matter also briefly lists awards Nancy won, books she wrote, and recognition she received.

While Nancy Pearl isn’t a household name, her sweet, empowering story will resonate with many readers. Book lovers, teachers, and librarians in specific will surely see some part of themselves in Library Girl.

4.5 out of 5 pencils

 

—Austin’s Review of the Illustrations—

It may seem obvious to say the work of an illustrator is to supply the “show” in “show and tell;” to provide tone and context beyond the reach of words alone. That’s exactly what Sheryl Murray’s depictions of the world of librarian Nancy Pearl’s childhood in the early 1950s accomplish.

Of the five books Murray has illustrated to date, Library Girl is the only one with a non-​fiction, biographical subject, but Murray’s fanciful sensibilities serve her well here, infusing Nancy’s experience with constant companions in sparkling azure shades, especially horses. Each scene is suffused with a magical pastel glow, a consistent palette perfectly suited to the romanticism of Nancy’s imagination. We would be remiss, however, if we failed to appreciate the subtle clues that set the mise en scene firmly in its historical context–the rolled-​up jeans, the milkman, and who could fail to be inspired by the palatial renderings of Detroit’s Parkman Branch Library?

An author herself as well as an illustrator, Murray’s firm grasp of visual storytelling are on dramatic display here. Beyond the warmth and approachability of Murray’s style, her framing and inclusion of evocative elements of the narrative add a textural richness to the reading experience: the dotted line of the map to the library, the bird landing nearby when the text mentions fluttering pages. The pulled back pictures that underscore Nancy’s emotional state when she feels small and insecure, the shots over her shoulder that put us in her black and white saddle shoes, which is especially appropriate in the story of a librarian who famously encouraged everyone in Seattle to read the same book at the same time. Murray’s illustrations allow us to see through Nancy’s eyes without telling us exactly how to feel. They give us permission to ask ourselves–as Nancy’s librarian mentors do–what helps us feel brave?

Nancy Pearl’s accomplished career as a librarian focused on outreach has been about understanding through shared experiences in books, and Murray’s charming compositions help enrich just such an experience for us–the readers of Nancy’s story.

4.5 out of 5 crayons

 

Austin McKinley makes comic books, cartoons, movies, video games, screenplays, novels and novellas through his company, Flying Car. He shot and appeared in the award-​winning feature documentary The New 8‑Bit Heroes alongside director Joe Granato. His comic illustrations have also been published by Image Shadowline, Devil’s Due/​1st Comics, Alias/​Blue Water Press, Avatar, Boom!, Blue King Studios, and FC9. He wrote and illustrated Squareasota, a weekly cartoon in the Sarasota Herald-​Tribune for seven years.
Most recently, he illustrated Tales of Mr. Rhee vol. 5: Rockstar Paranoia, a graphic novel for Source Point Press.