Picture Book List: 16 Sweet Picture Books About Mothers

On April 29, 2024April 29, 2024 By Only Picture BooksIn Picture Book Lists2 Comments

**Now that my older kid is done with college for a few months, I was able to get her to handle this bonus blog post. Thanks, Valerie!**

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, it seems like the right time to offer a list of sweet picture books featuring moms.

Did I miss your favorite? Tell me in the comments if so!

A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams (January 2007)

From Goodreads: “After their home is destroyed by a fire, Rosa, her mother and grandmother save their coins to buy a really comfortable chair for all to enjoy.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 3–12

Are You My Mommy? by Joyce Wan (December 2014)

From Goodreads: “The creator of YOU ARE MY CUPCAKE returns with a cuddly story all about baby animals and their mommies! Join an adorable little bunny on the search for Mommy all around the farm yard. Each spread includes cleverly imagined die-cuts to help readers guess what animal the bunny might encounter next! With Joyce’s iconic and adorable illustrations, this is an irresistible story for mommies and babies to read again and again!”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 3–8

Bedtime for Mommy by Amy Krouse Rosenthal (April 2010)

From Goodreads: “Bestselling and beloved author Amy Krouse Rosenthal teams up with bestselling illustrator LeUyen Pham to put a funny and charming spin on bedtime.

When it’s Mommy’s bedtime, she begs her little girl –

“Five more minutes?”

“Ok, but then brush your teeth!”

But then Mommy wants another glass of water … another story … luckily this little girl is very patient!

A hilarious reversal of the classic bedtime routine in which a little girl puts Mommy (and then Daddy) to bed.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 2–5

Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey (September 1948)

From Goodreads: “What happens when Sal and her mother meet a mother bear and her cub? A beloved classic is born!

Kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk! Sal and her mother are picking blueberries to can for the winter. But when Sal wanders to the other side of Blueberry Hill, she discovers a mama bear preparing for her own long winter. Meanwhile Sal’s mother is being followed by a small bear with a big appetite for berries! Will each mother go home with the right little one?

With its expressive line drawings and charming story, Blueberries for Sal has won readers’ hearts since its first publication in 1948.”

Pages: 55
Reading Age: 2–5

Hero Mom by Melinda Hardin, illustrated by Bryan Langdo (April 2013)

From Goodreads: “The moms in the book are superheroes. They may not leap over tall buildings, and they may not have super-human speed. But these moms construct buildings, fly planes, and make tanks roll. They do all kinds of things to help create a safer world. These superheroes are moms. Military moms. Hero moms.”

Pages: 24
Reading Age: 4–6

I Love You Because You’re You by Liza Baker, illustrated David McPhail (October 2001)

From Goodreads: “Describes, in rhyming text and illustrations, a mother fox’s love for her child no matter how he feels or what he does. By the illustrator of If You Were My Bunny.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 1–3

In Your Dreams by Pamela Green, illustrated by Cheryl Crouthamel (May 2023)

From Goodreads: “As a mother holds her sleeping baby, she ponders the dreams dancing through his head.

Has he traveled back in time to play with the dinosaurs? Is he climbing tall mountains among the clouds? Is he watching dolphins frolic in the sea, or visiting new friends in faraway places?

Told in gentle rhymes with whimsical illustrations to spark the imaginations of children of all ages, this sweet and timeless book is a story of curiosity, possibility, and, above all, the wonder of love.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 1–5

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn, illustrated by Ruth E. Harper and Nancy M. Leak (October 1993)

From Goodreads: “Chester Raccoon doesn’t want to go to school–he wants to stay home with his mother. She assures him that he’ll love school–with its promise of new friends, new toys, and new books. Even better, she has a special secret that’s been in the family for years–the Kissing Hand. This secret, she tells him, will make school seem as cozy as home. She takes her son’s hand, spreads his tiny fingers into a fan and kisses his palm–smack dab in the middle: “Chester felt his mother’s kiss rush from his hand, up his arm, and into his heart.” Whenever he feels lonely at school, all he has to do is press his hand to his cheek to feel the warmth of his mother’s kiss. Chester is so pleased with his Kissing Hand that he–in a genuinely touching moment–gives his mom a Kissing Hand, too, to comfort her when he is away. Audrey Penn’s The Kissing Hand, published by the Child Welfare League of America, is just the right book for any child taking that fledgling plunge into preschool–or for any youngster who is temporarily separated from home or loved ones. The rough but endearing raccoon illustrations are as satisfying and soothing for anxious children as the simple story.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 2–6

Little Mouse’s Sweet Treat by Shana Hollowell (September 2016)

From Goodreads: “A little mouse that goes on an adventure in search of something sweet. He meets lots of friends along the way that share treats with him, but none are quite right. He is disappointed until he arrives home and realizes his Mommy baked the sweetest treat just for him – cookies!”

Pages: 28
Reading Age: 1–4

Love, Mama by Jeanette Bradley (January 2018)

From Goodreads: “With a heartwarming story and tender illustrations, Jeanette Bradley’s debut picture book Love, Mama is perfect for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and any day when a child needs a reminder of the strength of a mother’s love.

When Mama leaves her young penguin Kipling, he knows she’ll return home soon–yet he still can’t help but miss her. After all, Pillow Mama won’t read, Picture Mama won’t laugh, and Snow Mama is too cold to cuddle.

But then Kipling receives a special delivery from Mama, including a note that reads:

My love for you stretches across the wide ocean,
through day and night,
from earth to sky
and back again.

And Kipling knows that no matter where Mama is, he is loved. Soon, Mama comes home, and Kipling ends the day where he belongs–right in her arms.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 2–6

Mama, Do You Love Me? by Barbara M. Joosse, illustrated by Barbara Lavallee (March 2014)

From Goodreads: “Mama, do you love me? Yes I do, Dear One. How much?
In this universal story, a child tests the limits of independence and comfortingly learns that a parent’s love is unconditional and everlasting. The lyrical text introduces young readers to a distinctively different culture, while at the same time showing that the special love that exists between parent and child transcends all boundaries of time and place. The story is beautifully complemented by graphically stunning illustrations that are filled with such exciting animals as whales, wolves, puffins, and sled dogs. This tender and reassuring book is one that both parents and children will turn to again and again.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 3–8

Mama Loves You So by Terry Pierce, illustrated by Simone Shin (March 2017)

From Goodreads: “With lilting lullaby text and lovely illustrations, the New Books for Newborns stories are the perfect first books for new parents to share with their little ones right from the start!

Start here. If only raising a child was that easy. It can be difficult in the first year to figure out what’s just right for your baby. But with this new line of books—New Books for Newborns— story time is really that simple. Designed as the first books to start reading with your baby, these just-right stories hit all the right notes with soothing texts, lovely art, and, most importantly, stories meant for sharing any time of the day. Start here. Snuggle up. It’s story time!

This book celebrates a mother’s love trumping even majestic mother nature…a mama’s love is higher than a mountain and deeper than any stream.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 3–8

Mommies Are for Counting Stars by Harriet Ziefert, illustrated by Cynthia Jabar (May 1999)

From Goodreads: “A mommy is a special person. She knows just how to kiss a boo-boo to make it feel better and how to do hair-dos. When you need an audience for your puppet show, a mommy will always watch. Lift the flaps and see all the ways a mommy is wonderful. This celebration of mothers is ideal for Mother’s Day and for sharing throughout the year.”

Pages: 16
Reading Age: 3–5

The Mommy Book by Todd Parr (September 2006)

From Goodreads: “Some mommies sing you songs.

Some mommies read you stories.

All mommies want you to be who you are!”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 2–3

My Mom Is Magical by Sabrina Moyle, illustrated by Eunice Moyle (March 2018)

From Goodreads: “A joyful tribute to moms from the bestselling creators of Hello!Lucky!

Is your mom more amazing than a billion butterflies?
More sparkly than a universe of stars?
Sweeter than a cloud of cotton candy?

Celebrate all the things that make Mom magical with this joyful board book!”

Pages: 24
Reading Age: 1–3

My New Mom & Me by Renata Galindo (March 2016)

From Goodreads: “Here is a heartwarming and completely accessible story about adoption, diversity, and acceptance. Told from the point of view of a puppy who is adopted by a cat, this gentle and reassuring tale is perfect for very young readers and listeners.

When the puppy comes to live with his new mom, he is nervous. After all, his mom has stripes and he doesn’t. But his mom says she likes that they look different, and soon the puppy likes it, too. (And who cares what anyone else thinks!)

The puppy’s new mom does all the things other parents do. She plays with him, takes care of him, and sometimes even makes him mad! But that’s okay, because when he’s feeling sad, she knows just what to say.”

Pages: 32
Reading Age: 3–7

Freelance Editor Interview: Emma D. Dryden

On April 22, 2024April 22, 2024 By Only Picture BooksIn Editor Interviews

**Thanks to picture book author Dianne Ochiltree for stepping in to be the guest interviewer this month!**

Meet Emma D. Dryden, founder and principal of drydenbks, a premier provider of editorial and coaching services for the children’s publishing industry. Prior to her role as guiding light at drydenbks, Emma was a children’s book editor–first at Random House Children’s Books, and next at McElderry Books, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Books, where she worked with the legendary Margaret K. McElderry. After Ms. McElderry’s retirement, Emma was made Vice President, Editorial Director of the imprint; in 2005 she became Vice President, Publisher of Atheneum Books for Young Readers and Margaret K. McElderry Books, imprints of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, a position she held until 2009 when she launched drydenbks.

Over the course of her career Emma has edited more than 1,000 books for children and young readers. As publisher, she oversaw a staff of editors and the annual publication of over one-hundred hardcover and paperback titles. The books she’s edited have received numerous awards and honors, starred reviews, were named to year-end “best of” lists, received regional and national publicity and acclaim, and hit the bestseller lists in USA Today, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, and other national publications.

So, who better to ask questions about picture books, children’s publishing, and everything bookish? Let’s go!

DO: What first attracted you to children’s publishing?

EM: Long before I majored in English Language and Literature in college, I was an avid reader and book-lover. I thought about becoming a writer, but decided I’d rather be immersed in lots of different kinds of stories and lots of different kinds of writing, which made me think I could enjoy being an editor working with all kinds of writers. I was particularly drawn to children’s publishing because I never outgrew my love for illustrated books. To be honest, I have never really outgrown that aspect of my childhood in which I found great solace and comfort in books, which is why I still adore reading children’s books—especially picture books and middle grade.

DO: What about the children’s publishing industry has kept you engaged in it for all these years?

ED: I was lucky to be hired by fantastic editors who became mentors and friends; and I quickly felt—and continue to feel—a kinship and shared spirit with people in all aspects of the children’s publishing industry. I love the range of topics, categories, genres, voices, styles, and shapes of children’s books and thrive on the marvelous variety of books and projects on which I’ve been able to work throughout my career—working on a picture book, a MG novel, and a poetry collection one day; working on a YA novel, a board book, and a graphic novel the next.

DO: What was it like working with legendary Margaret K. McElderry?

ED: Margaret was a tremendous editor from whom I learned so much, from how to reject a manuscript with sensitivity and how to get the best out of an author by posing thoughtful questions during the editing process, to how to conduct oneself professionally and never forgetting to take time to laugh. Margaret was tough—she had to be; it was her name on the spines of those books! She also had such a lovely and sharp sense of humor. She was an inspiration to me in so many ways and I am ever grateful our paths crossed in the ways they did.

DO: How has the picture book form, and the industry itself, evolved in the years of your career?

ED: This is an interesting question insofar as my first thought is that the picture book form hasn’t really changed all that much—not when it comes to the basic “mechanics” of a picture book being 32 or 40 pages with or without endpapers, relying on page turns to create tension and an impetus for a reader to find out what happens next, being illustrated in a way that expands and deepens the text, and so forth. The picture book industry itself is always evolving and growing and picture books can afford terrific opportunities for authors and illustrators to really play with language, perspective, boundaries, voice, and more. It’s these elements that I see ever evolving as picture book creators experiment and apply new ways of storytelling and new ways of engaging young readers.

DO: What services do you offer to authors, publishers, and agents?

ED: drydenbks LLC provides editorial and creative services to children’s book authors, illustrators, publishers, and agents. Over fourteen years this has included engaging in consultancy and coaching services with authors about their manuscripts, evaluating a small press’ publishing goals and brainstorming how to expand or focus their program, assisting authors sent to me by their agents to ready their manuscripts for submission, helping illustrators update and energize their websites as they prepare to query agents, explaining the ins and outs of children’s publishing to potential publishers, and leading workshops or retreats about different aspects of the writing and revision process.

DO: Can you describe your ideal picture book client?

ED: The ideal picture book client is the author or author/illustrator who has not only worked on writing and revising (and revising and revising) their manuscript or dummy, but who has spent time studying how picture books work so they fully appreciate the importance and purpose of the page turn, the importance of leaving a lot unsaid in the text that can be expressed through illustrations, and who is fully open to new ideas and perspectives about their work for the sake of making their project truly sing.

DO: How can potential clients best prepare for their work with you, so they—and you—can get the most from the critique and coaching experience?

ED: Ideally, I prefer to work with clients who have completed manuscripts—and not simply first drafts, but multiple drafts; clients who have revised their work as much as they can on their own. I don’t hold back in my critiques—so the ideal client is someone who has spent time before they contact me learning about children’s publishing, learning about the category and genre in which they’re writing, and understanding what to expect from a professional critique. Those who have been through some sort of critiquing and workshopping before they work with me are usually more open to entertaining new perspectives and ideas about their work and exploring the kind of provocative “what if?” suggestions and questions I like to pose—and that makes our work together richer and more productive.

DO: What do you think is a key element to crafting an excellent picture book manuscript?

ED: Picture books are a wondrous collaborative art form. Words and illustrations must harmonize—each bringing their own personality, emotion, and mood to create a memorable harmony. It’s important for picture book authors to understand and be excited by the fact that illustrators will not be putting their exact words into pictures in a literal interpretation, but will be adding a whole other level of story to their words. I encourage picture book authors to think of their texts as the musical score that accompanies a drama we see upon a stage. And so saying, the musical score of the picture book needs to be poetry, subtle, emotional, and not overblown–not so loud that it drowns out the drama that will be enfolding on the pages through the artwork.

DO: How do you think picture book authors and illustrators can meet challenges they might experience during the writing/submission/ agenting/publishing process?

ED: So, first off, I will say authors and illustrators WILL without a doubt experience challenges all along the way from story concept inception through publication and even into the aftermath of publication. The breadth and depth of these challenges will vary depending upon so many factors that are without or within a person’s control, including an individual’s personality, experience, background, artistic process, support system, goals, expectations, life changes, definition of success, someone else’s rules, and more. It’s not easy to generalize, of course, but one thing I will say I’ve learned over the course of my long career in this business—a business which has always had ups, downs, highs, and lows—is that the best way to get through challenges is for an author or illustrator to figure out ways to keep going with their creative work and to truly honor their creative work—in whatever form that takes. That could mean grabbing just ten minutes a day for some sort of creativity, finding a new form of support system, getting out of your comfort zone to try something new, taking a class, scripting a tough conversation you know you need to have, asking for help, and above all, giving yourself grace.

In crafting a story—nearly any story, really—a main character can’t evolve or grow without facing challenges. Conflict is what propels a story, a main character, a reader forward to find out what happens. So too in our own lives, right? The more we can figure out how best to face, manage, and learn from challenges, the more we will be able to grow and evolve. It’s not easy and sometimes completely new paths will have to be forged, but I urge authors and illustrators to remember that what they always have is their creativity and their ideas—and these are worth nurturing even through the hardest challenges.

DO: In addition to your work as editorial consultant, you’ve written poetry, essays, and articles for industry publications. How does your experience as a writer influence the work you do with authors?

ED: Writing and revising my own work—on a deadline—has made me appreciate how hard writing and revision—on or off a deadline!—can be. Spending time, energy, and emotional grit on my own writing reminds me how important it is as an editor and coach to respect and empathize with what authors and artists do—and never to take any aspect of the creative process for granted.

DO: Editing, consulting, coaching, writing—whew! You are a busy entrepreneur. What do you like to do in your downtime?

ED: I don’t have the healthiest work-life balance (show me any self-employed person who does!), but when I can, I love spending time with friends, being outside in nature, and traveling—particularly to places with loads of animals and fascinating land- or seascapes.

DO: Speaking of entrepreneurs, you have co-written a wonderful picture book titled What Does It Mean to Be an Entrepreneur?, published by Sourcebooks/Little Pickle Press in 2016. Can you tell us how that project came about?

ED: I’d worked with author and entrepreneur Rana DiOrio for quite a while before we co-wrote our book. I’d been editing some of the books Rana was publishing at Little Pickle Press and we were talking about adding a title to her What Does It Mean to Be…? series about entrepreneurship. Not an easy or accessible subject for picture book age readers, to be sure—and after seeing some writing/outline samples that we didn’t think were working, I jokingly said “We could write this book ourselves!”—and Rana took me seriously. So we gave it a try.

Our collaboration was tremendous fun, both of us bringing years of experience as entrepreneurs and picture book experts to the process. We created a spare text which at first glance seems to be a string of disparate general ideas, but which we wove together by coming up with a strong visual narrative storyline for the book. It’s in the illustrations where a main character and plot could come alive to pull our ideas all together. We shared our vision with the oh-so-talented illustrator, Ken Min, who completely got it and the book was born. I’m very proud of that book!

DO: What is your one best piece of advice for all our author friends out there?

ED: Can I give two pieces of advice?

DO: Sure!

ED: Take plenty of time between drafts of your work. Don’t underestimate the writing and revising of your story that goes on in your subconscious mind between drafts. It’s necessary and important!

Whether or not publication is your goal, keep writing for the sake of writing and then ask yourself how you define “success” when it comes to your writing. If you attend workshops, retreats, and webinars and are members of groups like Highlights Foundation, SCBWI, or WNDB, you will be hearing a lot about other authors’ processes, goals, dreams, and projects. That can be inspiring, but it’s important for you to recognize and nurture your specific processes, goals, dreams, and projects. I ask workshop attendees to fill in the blank: “I have to write this story because I ________.” I urge your readers to complete this exercise and keep the responses somewhere you can see them. Never lose sight of why you’re writing what you’re writing.

DO: You are also an accomplished speaker, teacher, and workshop presenter on all aspects of the business and craft of writing for children. What do you most enjoy about this aspect of your work?

ED: Sharing my knowledge, expertise, and ideas about writing and revising with authors comes easily to me and I love the conversations and creativity that result. It’s also fun to share my “insider” knowledge about the children’s publishing business. I particularly enjoy the give-and-take with authors in a workshop or retreat setting, the exchange of ideas, the asking and answering of questions, and the “ah ha!” moments that always come for authors/illustrators who are engaging deeply with their work in a nurturing, supportive environment. It’s gratifying to feel helpful and be allowed a gentle glimpse into people who are tapping deeply emotional places as they create their manuscripts and projects.

DO: And how can readers find out about where you are appearing in the future?

ED: I don’t announce appearances on my website or have a calendar that people can follow. I do post about workshops, retreats, or webinars on Facebook and sometimes on my sometime-blog, so I hope people will follow me on those platforms.

I am happy to share with your Only Picture Books audience that I will be co-leading a Revision Retreat at the Highlights Foundation on November 14–17.

DO: You generously share information about children’s literature, the craft of writing for children, and the business side of children’s publishing on social media. Where can readers find and follow you?

Website: https://drydenbks.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emmaddryden and https://www.facebook.com/drydenbks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmaddryden/

My sometime-blog, “Our Stories, Ourselves”: https://drydenbks.com/blog/

DO: One final question. What are three things that OPB readers would be surprised to learn about you?

ED: That’s a fun one! Let’s see… readers might be surprised to learn:

To unwind or relax, I get really caught up in watching True Crime stories and contemplating what makes people do the things they do. (Admittedly, sometimes the crimes are so grisly and the criminals so fascinating and repugnant, it defeats the “unwind or relax” aspect of the viewing!)

I got my start in the children’s publishing business assisting Olé Risom, the Random House editor who edited Richard Scarry and Laurent de Brunhoff, so I had the pleasure of working with both. I grew up reading Scarry’s Busytown series and de Brunhoff’s Babar series, so to work and get to know these masters was an utterly delightful and serendipitous experience for which I’m so grateful.

I’m not afraid to speak in public, I’m not afraid to try new foods, I’m not afraid to travel by myself. I am, however, afraid of steep hills (going down or going up!)—much to the frustration of family and friends with whom I am supposed to be having fun skiing or hiking!

DO: Thanks so much, Emma!

Educational Activities: Hey, Bruce!: An Interactive Book by Ryan T. Higgins

On April 15, 2024July 14, 2024 By Only Picture BooksIn Educational Activities, Reading Activities1 Comment

Hey, Bruce!: An Interactive Book
Author: Ryan T. Higgins
Illustrator: Ryan T. Higgins
20 September 2022
Disney Hyperion
48 pages

Book description from Goodreads: “In Hey, Bruce!, Bruce the bear experiences … well, whatever readers want him to.

Rupert, Thistle, and Nibbs, the fun-loving mice in Bruce’s begrudgingly expansive family, guide readers on a quest for a fun reading experience, with Bruce the ever-reluctant star. As readers turn the page, flip the book, and follow the mice’s increasingly silly instructions, Bruce is sent flying and tumbling—all as he looks right up the reader’s nose! How will you interact with Bruce?

Bruce’s life is what YOU, the reader, make it in this special interactive addition to the award-winning Mother Bruce series.”

Need some reviews for Hey, Bruce!?

Educational Activities inspired by Hey, Bruce!:

Before Reading–From looking at the front cover:
- Take a good look at the cover. What clues can you find about what might happen in the story? What does Bruce’s expression tell you?
- Knowing it’s an interactive book, what sorts of silly things do you think the mice might ask you to do?
- What questions would you like to ask the author–or the Bruce himself!–before reading the book?
- Have you read any of the other Mother Bruce books by Ryan T. Higgins? If so, what’s one thing you remember about them?
After Reading–Now that you’ve read the story:
- One mouse says he can see up the reader’s nose. How did you react to that?
- What was the funniest or most surprising thing that the mice asked you to do?
- What did you want to do beyond what the mice asked you to do?
- Did you feel sorry for Bruce at any point?
- What was your favorite part of the book and why?
- Which illustration surprised you the most? Which did you like best?
- Would you recommend this book to a friend? What part would you tell them about first?
Bruce Says! Play a round of “Bruce Says” – have one person be “Bruce” and give silly commands from the book (“Pat Bruce’s head!” or maybe “Tickle Bruce’s toes!”).
The Giggles Report: Draw a picture of the funniest part of the book. Write a silly caption to go with it!
Build a Bruce Fort: Build your own cozy naptime fort with blankets and pillows – just like Bruce would love!
Rhyme Masters: Pick a word from the book (shake, wiggle, nose) and write as many rhymes for it as you can!
Your Interactive Story: What silly things would YOU put in an interactive book? Write or draw your ideas!
Further Reading: Hey Bruce! An Interactive Book isn’t your typical picture book. It breaks the fourth wall, meaning the characters in the story know they’re in a book and directly talk to the reader!
Here are some other picture books that use this playful technique. Which of these have you read before? Which would you want to read first?

Author Interview: Rob Sanders

On April 8, 2024April 8, 2024 By Only Picture BooksIn Author Interviews

Welcome back to Rob Sanders, the first person we’ve asked to come back for a second interview. He was the first-ever Author Interview when we launched OPB exactly six years ago, and his career has taken off in a way that makes asking him for a follow-up interview a no-brainer.

Now, if you want to know about Rob’s past, hit up that other interview. This one’s going to dig into all Rob’s been up to lately, what’s he doing now, and what’s coming up later. Plus, we’ll tackle some bigger aspects of the industry because Rob’s the right person to offer real insight.

Let’s get right to it, then!

RVC: Since our last interview (April 2018), how has your approach to storytelling evolved? What do you know/do now that you didn’t know/do then?

RS: Probably the only way I can answer that question is to say I’ve stayed open to possibilities. Since 2018, I’ve written books (or had books acquired) that are fiction and nonfiction picture books, worked in collaboration with another author on two nonfiction biographies, published my first historical fiction middle grade novel in verse, and have a book of poetry releasing this year. Many authors have a “writing lane” in which they are marvelously successful. That model just doesn’t work for me. I guess I’m a drive-all-over-the-road kind of writer. I like variety. I like finding unique approaches to stories. I like finding the one best way for me to tell a story.

The more I write and the more I’m published, the more I know how much I don’t know. Authors I teach and critique often want me to tell them which of their manuscripts will be the most successful, which will be the right one to submit, which will get published. Golly-gee-willikers, I don’t know. No one does. The industry is far too subjective for that kind of prediction. (And if I did have that kind of crystal ball, I wouldn’t experience rejections myself, would I?)

Every story is one “yes” away from being published. Writing takes perseverance, tenacity, and a pretty thick skin. But to answer the question … since 2018, I think I’ve become braver. Braver in my selection of topics. Brave enough to stand up for and represent my work to others. Brave enough to take risks.

RVC: I get your drive-all-over-the-road kind of writer approach because it’s what I do, too. But one of the challenges I’ve faced as a result of that is that branding becomes more of a challenge.

RS: Honestly, Ryan, I spend very little time thinking about platform, brand, and the like. Maybe I should be thinking about that, but I don’t. What do I do? I think of my published work as my brand. In query letters, my agency always includes something like “Rob Sanders, a pioneer in LGBTQIA+ nonfiction and the author of …” which firmly establishes or reestablishes me in the mind of an editor. I keep a list of reviews, honors, and awards for all my titles and have them available for publishers who request that.

Years ago, I had a wonderful website built and over time, my designer helped make it everything I envisioned and more. I send updates to my designer once or twice a year and/or when there’s new information (a review, award, new book, etc.) to share. I have a presence on Facebook and Instagram (I recently gave up Twitter/X) and I grow my reputation further by judging writing contests; teaching classes; serving as a mentor for various organizations; writing for blogs, newspapers, etc.; critiquing; and more. I feel that my time is best spent when I’m creating and focusing on my writing and when I’m helping others on their creative journeys.

RVC: How do you specifically navigate the challenge of writing for a dual audience—engaging both children and the adults who read to them (and who most often buy the books)?

RS: Can I say golly-gee-willikers again or is this a family show?

RVC: We’re a hearty bunch. We can take it!

RS: How do I write for two audiences? Well, I don’t.

RVC: Interesting. What do you do then?

RS: I find the best way into a story, the best way to “package” it or tell it and I write the best story I can. I stay open to input from others and revise my pants off and then I work with my agent to find the best editorial/publishing fit for each manuscript. Truthfully, that match takes a bit of serendipity or a bit of luck. But when an editor makes an emotional connection to a story, they will become that story’s champion to others on the acquisition team. When that acquisition team begins to feel the same passion for a story, they will represent it positively to their sales staff who will represent it positively to book buyers who represent it to customers. Ultimately, a well-written children’s book will attract adults—the purchasers—precisely because they know or feel that kid readers will make a connection with the book—just like that acquiring editor did.

RVC: You brought up three intriguing ideas there, and I want to talk about each in greater depth. The first one is the idea of revising your pants off. What does the revision process look like for you?

RS: Each project presents its own revision demands. Of course, we all begin by looking at word choice, story arc, character development, and the like. But there are other things that may be even more important. To me entry point, structure, and presentation are huge. By entry point I mean that “thing” that helps pull a kid into a story, gets them to keep reading, and what they relate to in the story. Structure refers to how the story is told, built, sequenced, and so on. And presentation—probably a sibling of structure—is how the manuscript actually appears on the page. I can give you an example …

RVC: Please do!

RS: When I was writing about the first legal gay marriage in the US, the story of Michael McConnel and Jack Baker was compelling to me. There were twists and turns, legal battles, court cases, intrigue, and a wedding. I wrote the first few drafts recounting those events. But each draft seemed to lack kid appeal. I kept asking myself, “Why would a kid care about this?”

So, I started to think about what I enjoyed most about the many weddings I attended as a kid. And the obvious answer was—cake. I decided that the wedding cake (prominently featured in the photos from Michael and Jack’s wedding) had to be included in the story. The cake became the entry point. But how would I tell the story, how would it be structured? I decided that parallel narratives—one that told the story of how a cake is made and the other telling the story of how a relationship is formed—would be my structure. To present that on the page I literally wrote the cake’s story flush left and indented three or four times over whenever I was telling the relationship story. Throughout the manuscript the typed page presented that back-and-forth story telling which gave a visual clue to my agent and potential editors about how the story could be shown in a book.

This is a nonfiction example, but the same three things—entry point, structure, and presentation—apply to my revision of fiction, too.

RVC: What do you think is the most common misconception writers have about revision?

RS: I think most of us writers fall into one of two revision camps—the this-is-too-hard camp and the that’s‑good-enough camp. Most writers stop revision too soon because of the difficult nature of what they’re facing or because they’re content with the progress they’ve made. We have to fight our way through those two roadblocks to really dig into revision successfully. Beyond that, I think many writers feel revision is completed once a manuscript is acquired. Oh, no, my friend, it’s just begun. Even the “simplest” of picture books, a concept book, or a wordless picture book may have multiple revision notes from an editor. And there may be multiple rounds of revisions. The two ways to be successful at this level of revision are to be professional and to meet deadlines.

Being professional includes taking the comments to heart, revising the best that you can, and noting for the editor any revision comment with which you don’t agree and explaining why. At this stage, revision really becomes a conversation (usually on paper) between the editor and the writer. My goal with revision deadlines is to return my work well before a stated deadline. That’s the kind of thing editors appreciate and remember.

RVC: You also said you “work with my agent to find the best editorial/publishing fit for each manuscript.” What’s your role in that? I think some people assume that they only need to hand a manuscript to an agent, and then they can/should wipe their hands clean of it. It’s all on the agent now. “Go make the publishing magic happen, Agent! Make the royalty checks rain!”

Are you regularly discussing publishing houses and editors with your agent? Are you checking the Rob Sanders submission database and strategizing?

RS: Regularly, no. As needed, yes. Because I attend live and virtual writing events and am often on faculty for events, I meet lots of editors and hear them speak. Sometimes I’ll hear an editor say something that prompts me to think that one of my manuscripts might be a fit for them. I let my agent know that right away. When I’m at a convention wandering through the booths of various publishing companies, I pay attention to the books on display. I introduce myself and chat up the folks in the booth and hear them talk about their books. If I feel that my work might fit with that publisher’s goals or aesthetic, I remember to let my agent know. Or I might text my agent right then and there asking, “What do you know about Publisher B and Publisher T? They have some great work on display.” When my agent is ready to send something out on submission, we look at the proposed submission list together. I might suggest an editor or two to add to the list, or editors that we might send to if we have a round two of submissions, and I might even suggest someone on the list be removed. I don’t demand anything from my agent. We discuss things and come to an agreement. Sometimes my suggestions pay off. (Of course, sometimes they don’t! LOL!)

RVC: Another topic you mentioned above is about readers (including editors) and making an emotional connection with them. Clearly, an obvious way to do that is to have a topic that’s inherently emotional, such as your fine book, Stonewall, A Building, an Uprising, a Revolution. But I get the sense that you do more than simply choose a topic that’s inherently emotional. What kind of specific things do you do in terms of creativity and craft to create or heighten the emotional impact of a picture book story?

RS: We all wonder what makes an editor or an acquisition team say, “Yes!” to a manuscript. Undoubtedly, there are many answers to that question, but I don’t think an emotional topic alone is the answer. To me, the main reason an editor and/or acquisition team says, “Yes!” is because they feel something when they read a manuscript. An emotional connection is made. Wiley Blevins from Reycraft once said that every editor on the Reycraft team had to emotionally connect with a manuscript for the company to make an offer to acquire. In other companies, you may just need to make that connection with the acquiring editor who will then champion the book to others in the company.

Many people at Random House have told me a story about Michael Joosten, who was my editor for Pride and Stonewall. When Michael pitched Pride to the folks at his company he welled up and began to cry. Michael was so convinced of the need for that book and so related to its content that his emotional connection came pouring out. His connection helped others connect and be enthusiastic about the book, too.

Of course, the emotional connection doesn’t have to be tears. It might be belly laughs; a warm, fuzzy feeling; a stirring of memories; or a million other things. Robert Frost is credited with saying, “No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader.” Your own emotional connection to the story is a hint that others may connect with it, too. If you don’t feel that emotional connection, then others may not feel it either.

RVC: Let’s circle back to you and how you operate. Some writers fuel their creative efforts with constant reading, but others insist that they must put aside books when the muse strikes. Where’s the intersection of creativity and reading for you?

RS: They say the first step to healing is admitting you have a problem, so here goes: I’m a picture book-aholic. I’m constantly reading new books, dipping back into favorite books, ordering books that I hear others talk about, etc. And I always have writing projects going on. So, creativity and reading are smashed together for me. I have to feed my creative muse and I do that by reading, going to museums, spending time at the beach, seeing plays and musicals, and more. For me creativity and reading go hand in hand. I’ll be quick to add that one size does not fit all. Each of us has to find what works for us and then work it!

RVC: What books are on your nightstand right now?

RS: I don’t have a nightstand, but I have books to read piled up in my office, on my dresser, in a chair in the living room, and in the bathroom. (And that doesn’t include books that are in research stacks.) I pulled one book from each of the four stacks mentioned above and here’s what I found:

Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village by Maureen Johnson and Jay Cooper

Reimaging Your Nonfiction Picture Book: A Step-by-Step Revision Guide by Kirsten W. Larson

Desert Queen by Jyoti Rajan Gopal

Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall

RVC: What question are you asked most frequently about your writing career?

RS: I’m frequently asked about my nonfiction: “Why do you write controversial books?”

RVC: What’s the answer?

RS: I don’t write controversial books. I write about history. History is not controversial. But not teaching history is controversial.

RVC: Here’s the last question for this part of the interview, Rob. What’s on tap for you next? What upcoming things are you most excited about?

RS: I have three books slated for release this year and three more next year. Coming this year are:

Queer and Fearless: Poems Celebrating the Lives of LGBTQ+ Heroes
April 2024
Illustrator: Harry Woodgate
Publisher: Penguin Workshop

We Are a Class!
July 2024
Illustrator: Hannah Abbo
Publisher: Beaming Books

Between You and Me
December 2024
Illustrator: Raissa Figueroa
Publisher: HarperCollins

RVC: Alrighty now…it’s time to sound the alarm, buckle your literary seatbelts, and batten the hatches because we’re going to plunge straight into the high-stress depths of THE LIGHTNING ROUND!!! Six questions followed by six answers in zippy-skippy fashion, please.

Rob…are you prepared for the electrifying challenge?

RS: Bring it on!

RVC: What outdated slang do you use on a regular basis?

RS: Coolio.

RVC: What’s the most interesting or unusual talent you have?

RS: I don’t know if I can still do it, but I used to be able to twirl a baton.

RVC: If you could sip lemonade on the porch all afternoon with three kidlit creators, who would it be?

RS: Jane Yolen, Tomie dePaola, and Maurice Sendak. (I’m pretty sure they all knew one another so it would be a lively time.)

RVC: Who’s a nonfiction picture book writer you want everyone to read?

RS: Barb Rosenstock.

RVC: Who sets the standard for funny picture book rhymes?

RS: I have to name two people—I love the humor of Tammi Sauer and the rhyming of Lisa Wheeler.

RVC: Complete the sentence in six words or fewer. Rob Sanders is a writer who…

RS: … teaches and a teacher who writes.

RVC: Thanks, Rob. It was great having you back here with us at OPB.

Picture Book Review: A Party for Florine by Yevgenia Nayberg

On April 1, 2024April 1, 2024 By Only Picture BooksIn Picture Book Reviews

A Party for Florine: Florine Stettheimer and Me
Author: Yevgenia Nayberg
Illustrator: Yevgenia Nayberg
Neal Porter Books
16 July 2024
40 pages

This month’s PB review is by Ryan G. Van Cleave (Owner/Operator of Only Picture Books) and author-illustrator Bonnie Kelso, a good friend of the OPB family.

Ryan’s Review of the Writing

I’ve been a fan of Yevgenia Nayberg’s books since the publication of Martin & Me, which eschewed the typical picture book biography format and instead offered parallel stories of Martin Luther King Jr. and Anne Frank. Similarly, her new book, A Party for Florine is an unusual take on the life and work of a famous person–Modernist painter Florine Stettheimer.

The story begins with a girl entering a museum and coming across a painting of a girl that looked a lot like herself. The girl in the painting “was holding a palette and brushes.” The narrator says she’s an artist, too, so she decided: “I must learn all about her!”

Here, we get some of the typical picture book biographical material, such as the artist’s full name, her date of birth, and where she lived. But it’s filtered through the narrator’s mind, which works to contextualize the information through her own life. Perhaps the artist’s Jewish family “was just like my Jewish family” she wonders. It’s an effective technique.

The narrator is charmed to learn about the famous people who visited Florine and attended her parties. And the narrator has an artist’s eye for colors and images throughout all she shares with the reader. Even in her regular life (sitting in her room during a rainstorm or walking outside the next day, etc.), she’s clearly affected by the effect of Florine–she sees more brightly and brilliantly similar to how Florine painted (and lived).

I’m especially taken by how often the narrator reframes things in her own world, such as her striped T‑shirts, comparing Florine’s art teacher to her own, or noting how the Alwyn Court building “looked like a slice of giant cake”. When she imagines a party she’d like to hold for Florine, she does even more of this: “I would decorate the table with giant flowers as big as bicycle wheels.” Lovely. I think young readers will respond quite well to this kind of evocative language here and elsewhere in the text.

The story ends with the narrator seeing the world anew, which demonstrates the positive effect of Florine’s influence on her. Would it be more pronounced if we had a stronger sense of how the narrator saw the world prior to this seminal museum experience? Perhaps.

The book includes a lengthy Author’s Note which explains how the author first learned about the painter. It also offers many of the details I yearned for earlier in the story, such as:

Was the narrator researching the girl in the painting or the author of the painting? (It was a self portrait, so both)
How big was Florine’s family? (She was the fourth of five siblings, one of four girls)
Did Florine’s famous friends become characters in her paintings? (Frequently they did!)
How famous/successful was Florine in her own time? (It seems as if she enjoyed modest success in her lifetime but after her death, her reputation grew a good deal)
Did success matter to Florine? (Apparently, she was independently wealthy–though I had to Google for this)
How did Florine feel about sharing her art? (“Letting people have your paintings is like letting them wear your clothes,” is SUCH a good line that I wanted it in the main text vs the two pages of Author’s Notes)
Did Florine write poetry as the main character (perhaps) did? (Yes)

The Author’s Note gave me pause by mentioning how Florine studied art in Germany (Stuttgart) with “Fräulein Sophie von Prieser,” but in the main text, it was in Vienna (Austria). I might be missing an implied transition somewhere, though I always worry that young readers will miss as much (or more) than I do, so this is the type of thing I focus on as a picture book creator and editor. (It’s important to note that young readers also see more than some adults via their own creative observations and connections–they’re not less capable, just different!)

There’s a noticeable emotional undercurrent here that I’m unsure what to do with. It starts at first glance of the painting, where the narrator is talking about herself as “someone I knew too well.” And lines later, the girl she’s identifying with in the painting is described as someone with fiery eyes who could “start crying at any moment.” There’s also the self-doubt revealed by her being unable to believe her art teacher who says “Good job.” There’s more here beyond this, but as I said, it’s not a clear throughline that informs the story despite catching my attention.

In sum, this is a story that goes beyond the typical picture book biography in an imaginative, interesting way. In one sense, it’s also the story of how one creative finds inspiration in the life and work of another, but it’s also about helping readers of today learn about neglected figures from the past. Clearly, Florine is someone whose life and work is well worth considering.

4 out of 5 pencils

Bonnie’s Review of the Illustrations

Yevgenia Nayberg’s illustrations perfectly complement her story about New York painter, poet, and salonnière Florine Stettheimer. Colorful figures bend and float expressively in ever-shifting planes of existence as Nayberg evokes the spirit of the celebrated Modernist’s style. It’s no wonder she has created this book, for when you see the first spread, a self-portrait of Florine stares back at you, and it could very well be the face of the author-illustrator as well.

As you move through the story the present is juxtaposed with the past as the young narrator leans into her imagination. Clever details piqued my interest, like the large still life with our narrator miniaturized and perched on a peach. Next to her a bouquet of flowers—mixed with artist tools—is tagged with a mysterious love note from Marcel Duchamp to Florine’s sister.

Visible brush strokes, collage elements, subtle textures, and charming speech bubbles add to the delightful Jazz Age renderings. Spot on portraits of historical figures pepper the scenes and give you a sense of the high society world Florine was a part of.

A particularly beautiful spread near the end of the book resonates like poetry as the text and imagery bring to mind the Greek goddess Persephone. Florine leaves the scene as a trail of flowers bloom behind her. Like demigods, artists find a version of immortality through the sharing of their work past their natural life. I encourage any lover of art, young or old, to add this book to their collection.

5 out of 5 paintbrushes

Bonnie Kelso loves diving into the details of art history, especially when it’s about an artist who rubbed elbows with Gertrude Stein and Georgia O’Keeffe.

Bonnie is the author and illustrator of three picture books with more on the way. Her debut, Nudi Gill: Poison Powerhouse of the Sea, was selected to represent Nevada at the 2023 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. Her most recent release, Sea Smiles, is the first book in a series that blends childhood milestones with fascinating facts about sea animals.

A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Bonnie’s past experience in art spans a spectrum, from abstract painting on canvas to museum-quality exhibit design. She has worked with clients such as the Smithsonian, National Geographic, and NASA.

She lives in Las Vegas with her partner, two sons, a Boston Terrier, and an unruly cat. To learn more about Bonnie’s work, please visit www.BonnieKelso.com.