Educational Activities: Billy the Kid Makes It Big by Dolly Parton and Erica S. Perl

Billy the Kid Makes it Big
Author: Dolly Parton and Erica S. Perl
Illustrator: MacKenzie Haley
25 April 2023
Penguin Workshop
40 pages

Book description from Goodreads: “French bulldog Billy the Kid was born with an ear for music. And not just any music. He loves barking to the beat of country music! So Billy sets out to Nashville to sing his heart out.

But when he meets some big bullies at the Battle of the Bow-​wows, Billy worries he’s barking up the wrong tree. He’ll need his favorite songs (“Jowlene” and “I Will Pawlways Love You,” of course), a group of scrappy new friends, and his favorite country music star to regain self-​confidence and be the star he always knew he could be.

Written by Dolly Parton with Erica S. Perl and illustrated by MacKenzie Haley, this is a delightful picture book about standing up to people (and dogs) who put you down and finding the drive to achieve your dreams.”


Need some reviews on Billy the Kid Makes it Big?

Enjoy this interview with Dolly about her book at Good Morning America.

https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/video/dolly-parton-talks-new-childrens-book-billy-kid-98821887


Educational Activities inspired by Billy the Kid Makes it Big:

  • Before Reading–From looking at the front cover: 
    • What do you already know about Dolly Parton?
    • Can you predict what the story might be about based on the cover?
    • Who or what is Billy the Kid?
    • What does it mean for someone to “make it big”?
    • How much of a role will music play in this story?
    • How happy does the dog on the cover seem to be?
  • After Reading–Now that you’ve read the story: 
    • What was the main conflict in the story, and how was it resolved?
    • How much did you enjoy the puns (“ruff day” and “true muttropolitan” etc.)?
    • What did you enjoy most about the French bulldog, Billy the Kid?
    • What lesson do you think the author wanted readers to learn from the story?
    • Which part of the story was your favorite, and why?
    • How did the illustrations help to convey the story’s message and enhance the overall reading experience?
    • Were there any moments in the story that surprised you? If so, which ones?
    • Would you recommend this book to your friends? Why/​why not?
  • Billy’s Adventure Map–Can you remember all the places Billy went in his adventure? Let’s draw a big map of his journey. You can draw his home, Nashville, the “Battle of the Bow-​Wows” stage, and any other places you remember. Don’t forget to show how Billy faced the bullies and became a star!
  • Billy’s Music Magic–Do you like music just like Billy? Let’s write our very own songs! Think about what makes you happy, what dreams you have, or a time when you were really brave. Write down your ideas and turn them into a cool song. If you’re not sure about a whole song, that’s okay. Even a few lines or a catchy chorus will be awesome!
  • You’re Special, Just Like Billy–Billy was different, but that’s what made him special! Now, it’s your turn to show how special you are. Draw or write about something that makes you different and why you’re proud of it. Maybe you’re really good at jumping rope, or you can whistle super loud. Anything that makes you, YOU! When we’re done, we can share and celebrate how different and amazing we all are.
  • Further Reading–This book is about a lot of things, but dealing with bullies is an important part of this story. Let’s look at some other picture books about dealing with bullies. 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: Rajani LaRocca

This month’s author interview with Rajani Narasimhan LaRocca. I had a blast meeting Rajani at a Highlights event a few years ago, but when I saw her present at the 2022 FL SCBWI conference, I knew I absolutely had to have her join the OPB family and share her story in an interview. To put it in a word, she was terrific.

In addition to being a practicing physician (WOW!), she’s a talented author with a passion for creating stories that celebrate her Indian-​American heritage and introduce STEM concepts to young readers. In her brief career as a writer, LaRocca has authored several acclaimed picture books as well as books for older kid readers. It’s well worth noting that her middle-​grade novel in verse, Red, White, and Whole, was a Newbery Honoree.

In sum, she’s got a husband, a dog, two kiddos, two careers, and a lot of well-​received kidlit books. How does she do it all? Let’s find out!


RVC: Before we start, let’s clarify something important. What’s the correct way to pronounce your name? As someone with an easily mess-​up-​able name, I’m especially sensitive to such things, and I KNOW some people are saying yours incorrectly.

RL: My name is pronounced RUHJ-​née (rhymes with FUDGE-​née) La-​ROCK-​ah. Here’s a helpful audio link on Teaching Books.

RVC: Thanks for that! While I’m incredibly impressed that you attended Harvard and Harvard Medical School, I’m going to only ask you one question about your doctorness. Here goes! How did your background as a physician influence your decision to become a children’s book author?

RL: There are lots of things about that a career in medicine and a career in writing have in common, including years of practice and the need to work with a team. But the most important thing they have in common is that both, at their heart, require a fascination for and a love of people. As a doctor, it’s my honor and duty to listen to my patients and understand their stories. As an author, I do the same with my characters.

RVC: What inspired you to write your first picture book (Seven Golden Rings), and how was the journey from idea to publication?

RL: Seven Golden Rings was one of the first picture books I ever wrote! It was inspired by a logic puzzle that my uncle told me and my cousins in India when I was a kid. Decades later, I remembered that puzzle and wanted to write a story in which a character had to solve that puzzle for an important reason. It took me 70 revisions before the story was finally the way I wanted it to be! But ultimately, it found the perfect editor—Cheryl Klein, who was editorial director at Lee & Low Books at the time. Archana Sreenivasan did an incredible job of making the story and math come to life with her illustrations.

RVC: What was the most important lesson that book taught you?

RL: My son was particularly into math from a very young age, and he loved picture books that featured complex math. Seven Golden Rings continues to be a favorite when I do school visits, and it has taught me that stories that feel like folktales and deal with math can have a place in today’s picture book market.

RVC: Looking beyond Seven Golden Rings, I’m starting to notice a musical theme in your books—it’s in Midsummer’s Mayhem and Red, White, and Whole, for instance. How intentional is that?

RL: Music has been important to me since I was a child. I played classical piano since age 9, and I was and am obsessed with 80s pop music, so it’s not surprising that music plays a big role in almost all my stories: Midsummer’s Mayhem, Seven Golden Rings, Red, White, and Whole, my most recent novel, Mirror to Mirror, and my forthcoming 2024 MG fantasy, Sona and the Golden Beasts. To me, music is a powerful force that can connect us to other people across distance and time.

RVC: Even though this is a picture book blog and Red, White, and Whole is MG, I have to ask—in terms of writing craft, what’s something you’re proud about from that book?

RL: When the idea for Red, White, and Whole first came to me, I felt it should be written in verse, because it was an emotional, interior-​focused story. But although I’d written poetry and lyrical picture books, I’d never written a novel in verse before. I’m proud that I tried anyway.

RVC: Inquiring minds want to know…what was the Newbery experience like?

RL: It has been an absolutely amazing experience, from the surprise phone call the evening before the announcements, to the announcements themselves, getting to know the fellow Newbery authors—at first virtually and through reading their books, and then in person at the ALA annual conference. The 100th anniversary celebration and the Newbery-​Caldecott banquet are events that I will never forget.

RVC: I’ll bet!

RL: What a dream to be a part of American literary history! And the most mind-​blowing aspect of it all is that thanks to this award, so many readers will be reading Red, White, and Whole for years to come. As a kid who always looked for the books with the shiny stickers, I can’t believe that my book has one now.

RVC: Congrats on all that. Now, back to picture books. What has been your most rewarding experience as a picture book author so far?

RL: Seeing what talented illustrators do with my words has been incredibly joyous and humbling.

RVC: Which of your picture books do you feel most connected to and why?

RL: Oh, it’s so hard to choose just one! But I have to say that I’ll Go and Come Back, a story about a girl and her grandmother and love that stretches across the world, is very close to my heart. It was one of the first picture books I wrote, and the first one we sold, and the story is inspired by my relationship with my own grandmother.

RVC: How has your writing evolved since your first published picture book? What have you learned along the way?

RL: I think I’m a little faster at writing picture books now, but there are still picture books that take me months or years to figure out. I write from a place of joy and curiosity—that continues to drive everything I write.

RVC: Let’s go with a couple of bigger-​picture questions. Explain the type of research that goes into creating the diverse and culturally rich worlds in your books.

RL: I often write from my own lived experience, using details and descriptions that I am familiar with. I’ve been fortunate to work with illustrators who do their own meticulous research in bringing those worlds to life.

RVC: What role do you think picture books play in fostering empathy and understanding among young readers?

RL: Picture books, with their short texts and gorgeous illustrations, invite people to read them over and over. By seeing people who are both like and not like them in picture books, young readers develop respect for different people, are less likely to see them as “other,” and are more likely to see focus on the things all people have in common.

RVC: What advice would you give to aspiring picture book authors, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds?

RL: Write the story you want to write, the one that calls to you and won’t let you go.

RVC: Which picture book authors or illustrators have most inspired or influenced your own writing?

RL: During my childhood and even during my children’s childhoods, there was very little diversity in children’s picture books. I’m so grateful and proud to be publishing picture books now, with so many diverse authors and illustrators. It is very personally important to me that there are so many Indian American authors and illustrators that are publishing beautiful books today.

RVC: Let’s get practical. How do you negotiate the various demands on your time? What’s your secret? Did you figure out how Michael Keaton cloned himself in the movie Multiplicity? Did you borrow Hermione’s Time-​Turner?

RL: Haha! Almost everyone in kidlit has other things that compete for their time. My children are adults now, so I have more time than when they were little. But in general, I’ve always tried not to be too precious about when and where I write—I have worked in my (parked) car, on trains and planes, and in every room of my house. I have worked for 15 minutes at a time because that’s all the time I can spare. I try to get rid of excuses and just do what I can when I can.

RVC: I always like to ask a question about health and wellness, and here’s yours. What do you do to de-stress? 

RL: I love being outside when the weather is nice. I also find that time spent with family and friends allows me to de-stress.

RVC: Last question for this part of the interview. What’s an upcoming project or two that you’re especially excited about?

RL: Mirror to Mirror is my dual-​POV novel in verse that released in March. It’s a story about identical twin sisters, Maya and Chaya, who are very close and love each other very much. But Maya hides a terrible secret—serious anxiety that causes her a lot of pain, but she doesn’t want to tell anyone about, especially her parents. Chaya tries to help her twin, but soon realizes she’s out of her depth and tries to tell their parents. Maya stops her, and then shuts her out. Then Chaya wonders whether Maya’s anxiety is because of her, so she changes the way she looks, putting in a pink streak in her hair, and trades classical piano for show tunes and modern music so Maya doesn’t feel like she’s the competition. But instead of bringing them closer together, it pushes them further apart. In the last part of the story, the twins make a bet to switch places, pretending to be each other and playing each other’s music. Whoever lasts the longest without being discovered gets to decide what they do about high school, something they’ve been arguing about. Pretending to be each other teaches each sister about her twin … and about herself.

My next picture book, Summer Is for Cousins, is filled with sweet and stunning illustrations by Abhi Alwar, and releases May 16! It’s a story about a little boy named Ravi who is so excited to see his cousins during summer vacation. But his oldest cousin, Dhruv, is very different this year—much taller, with a deeper voice—and Ravi is worried Dhruv won’t remember all the things they used to share, including their favorite flavor of ice cream. This is a book about the sweetest joys of summer: sun, water, food, and family. You can see the book trailer here.

A Vaccine Is Like a Memory, beautifully illustrated by Kathleen Marcotte, releases June 20. It’s a picture book explaining the history of vaccines, how they work, and why they’re important. As a physician, I wanted to explain this important bit of science to young people.

Your One and Only Heart, gorgeously illustrated by Lauren Paige Conrad, releases August 15. This is a nonfiction picture book explaining the biological wonders of the human heart in paired poems.

Masal Chai, Fast and Slow, with lovely illustrations from Neha Rawat, releases September 5. It’s a picture book about Aarav, a boy who loves to go fast, and his thatha, or grandfather, who likes to take things slow. But every afternoon, they meet and make masala chai together. When Thatha sprains his ankle and can’t make chai, Aarav tries to make some for him, with hilarious results.

The Secret of the Dragon Gems, cowritten with my great friend Chris Baron, releases August 29. It’s an epistolary novel about Tripti and Sam, two kids who meet at summer camp when they find two interesting-​looking rocks and take them home to their homes in Massachusetts and California. Then they start corresponding via letter, email, text, and video chat, because strange things keep happening, and they start to wonder whether the rocks might be something other than rocks.

RVC: Whew, that’s a whole lot of goodness coming out, Rajani. Well done, but now it’s time for the thing you’ve been waiting for. It’s the very thing that make most people agree to be part of OPB, in fact. It’s…the end-​of-​interview LIGHTNING ROUND! Prepare yourself for six speedy questions that I trust will elicit six zippy answers. Are you ready?

RL: Yes!

RVC: What makes your eyes roll every time you hear it?

RL: “Irregardless.”

RVC: If someone overhears you singing in the shower, you’re probably belting out…

RL: an 80s tune!

RVC: Best 80s trend that should absolutely 100% be brought back immediately.

RL: Leggings (already back!)

RVC: What’s a STEM topic that isn’t yet covered well enough in picture books?

RL: More books about human biology! I’m trying to contribute more to this myself.

RVC: What’s a recent terrific STEM picture book that attention than it got?

RL: The Fire of Stars by Kirsten Larson and Katherine Roy, a PB bio of astrophysicist and astronomer Cecelia Payne which is combined with the story of the formation of a star, is an absolutely brilliant book.

RVC: If you could choose one key takeaway for a reader of your picture books, what would it be?

RL: There are all kinds of families and all kinds of joy. My picture books try to explore both.

RVC: Thanks so much, Rajani!

RL: Thanks so much for having me, Ryan!

Picture Book Review: The Night Tent by Landis Blair

Margaret Ferguson Books
18 April 2023
40 pages

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

–Ryan’s Review of the Writing–

From the first page of Landis Blair’s debut picture book, readers encounter a scenario we all know–a child in bed is uncomfortable when considering all the worrisome things that MIGHT be lurking in the dark. The more he tries not to think about it, the more he does.

Then the child (his name is Watson) notices an odd light coming from beneath the covers, so what else can he do but check it out? Once he ducks beneath the covers, he finds himself under a giant tent where the roof is covered with stars (thus the title, one assumes).

It’s more than a tent, though–there on the ground before Watson is a magical pathway weaving its way to a strange forest. Yes, there are unmistakable Where the Wild Things Are vibes here as Watson encounters creatures among the trees. We already know he’s scared of creatures in the night, so it’s no shocker that he hides at first, but after giving us the ongoing refrain (“and since Watson wasn’t sleepy”), which justifies his decision to proceed each time in the face of potential peril, he joins them as “he ran and played with them along the forest path.”

Despite Watson’s insistence that he’s not tired, he looks sleepier by the page as he gets on a trolley and “traveled through an ancient city, along treacherous cliffs, and over the sea to a tiny island with a very tall tower.” Up he climbs as his eyes droop and his shoulders slump, and then he crawls out from under the cover and is zonked–way too tired to worry about monsters or darkness or anything except sleep.

I’ll let Rebecca explain how the art steals the show here, but I can see where parents might be pleased how this story demonstrates how a child can find their way to sleep on their own. Yeah, it’s Maurice Sendak with kid gloves, but the dreamlike art, gentle mood, and quiet, comforting language will be welcome fare for many families.

4 out of 5 pencils

 

–Rebecca’s Review of the Illustrations–

I first became aware of Landis Blair’s work from his illustrations for From Here to Eternity by Caitlin Doughy. His pen and ink work interested me then as I am a fan of both his style and influences, and I was very excited for the opportunity to see and review his debut picture book.

In a layered style full of strong ink values and hatch marks, reminiscent of both Edward Gorey and Tove Jannson, Blair takes on a night-​time adventure with young boy Watson and how his imagination takes him from being afraid of the darkness in his room into a sprawling Where the Wild Things Are type of adventure through a magical landscape.

Watson tries and fails to sleep while being afraid of his dark bedroom. After discovering a light coming from under his covers we and Watson go on a starlit journey through deep forests, meeting friendly monsters, and traveling down a winding path to a high tower. These are all depicted in cool blues, greens and purples, with pops of muted yellow and black crosshatching applied to add depth and texture. This helps with both the nighttime feeling and both the idea of being outside and inside a dream.

We and Watson discover just how far our imaginations can take us and how the power of creativity and thinking of positive things can help us overcome our fears and find peace and rest.

Blair balances his many armed and mix and match animal/​monsters and darker color palette with whimsy, and inviting smiles, managing to side-​step being scary and creating a world that feels very dream-​like. The story itself is simple and straightforward but is warm and gentle which helps balance the surreal world he creates. Watson also being one of the warmest elements in the books helps draw our eye to him and the many long paths create fun eye movement as you move through the story.

I hope this book lulls many children to sleep while following Watson’s journey, just as it did for him. I also hope anyone enjoying the book is able to twinkle with their own stars when faced with worries and fears, remembering that our thoughts and dreams can be there for us when things are dark.

4.75 out of 5 crayons


Rebecca Zomchek is a children’s book illustrator who has worked as a concept artist and cartoonist. She earned her BFA from Syracuse University and her MFA from The School of Visual Arts; she is now the Associate Dean of Entertainment Design at the Columbus College of Art and Design. Rebecca loves watching the stars and going on adventures through the woods.

Visit her at www.rzillustration.com.

Agent Interview: Joyce Sweeney (The Seymour Agency)

This month’s Insider Interview is with Joyce Sweeney! Here in Florida, Joyce is a legendary figure who ran one of the most successful kidlit writing coach businesses—dozens of Joyce’s clients found publication thanks to their help and guidance. Joyce is a well-​published author on their own, too, having written more than a dozen novels for young adults.

A few years ago, Joyce became a literary agent for The Seymour Agency, and that’s where they’re dealing with picture books on a more regular basis.

Let’s hear from Joyce directly about this new career!


RVC: You’re clearly an animal lover–I saw your recent FB post where you talk about your dear friend at Flamingo Gardens…who happens to be a rescue crow.

JS: My husband and I are both dedicated animal lovers and rescuers. Most of our pets have been rescues and when we get free time, like last Saturday, we head to the wildlife areas immediately. I think I have done so well in nonfiction picture books because I have a great eye for nature and wildlife stories.

RVC: We’ll circle back on animals in a moment. In the meantime, tell me about your relationship with books as a kid.

JS: My mother was a book lover, who was actually shamed by her parents for “reading too much” and not going outside. So, I grew up showered in Little Golden Books and being read to all the time. Picture books transported me because story and art are possibly my two favorite things. One of my favorite “picture books” as a preschooler was a book of Chinese poetry for adults with beautiful watercolors. I pored over that book.

RVC: What specifically appealed to Young You about the art?

JS: It was unlike anything else I had seen. Watercolor art and scenes of Asian life. It was so beautiful!

RVC: Let’s jump ahead a bit. What future did you imagine for yourself when you attended Wright State University?

JS: I was planning to be the next JD Salinger. I got closer than I thought I would!

RVC: I assume you’re saying that because you had your own books published and not because of other Salingeresque things (being a hermit, refusing to be edited, suing your biographer, offering a residency for a cartoonist at your house, etc.).

JSYes, I was talking about his impact on teens through his writing.

RVC: Roger that! Please share how your five-​week classes at the Florida Center for the Book turned into the robust writing coach business that you did for so many years.

JS: I was in a rhythm of teaching regular classes at the library and there would be repeat students. I’d say, “How has your writing been going?” And they’d say, “It was great during the class, but then I stopped.” So, I realized writers needed a “never-​ending class” and I started one. People started getting published and the rest is Magic Bean history.

RVC: For those who don’t know, what’s the Magic Bean reference?

JS: When I started teaching ongoing workshops, and people started getting published, we decided there should be some kind of prize given out. I had a friend who had just gone to Costa Rica and she discovered the beautiful seeds of the Guanacaste tree. They seemed perfect. So, anyone I have helped, when they are traditionally published, they get one.

I think it was Sherri Winston who coined “magic beans.”

RVC: What’s one of your favorite success stories from your coaching days?

JS: Can’t choose! During the first two years of that class, I saw the launch of Alexandra Flinn, Dorian Cirrone, Noreen Wald (Nora Charles), Gloria Rothstein, Sherri Winston, and a slew of others. It was thrilling.

RVC: It sure sounds like it! Now, one of the things you’re famous for is being a true coach—caring and supporting your clients well beyond anything story related. What’s your secret?

JS: I care. I mean I really do. I know how they feel. I’ve lived everything, good and bad, that they go through. A writer starts talking to me, I want to put everything down and listen. And I can usually find a hopeful direction for them to take.

RVC: From my perspective, it looked like business was booming. Why make the switch to agenting?

JS: I really love change and I really love a challenge. This was a big one and it came out of left field because it was offered to me rather than something I went after. Nicole Resciniti [President of The Seymour Agency] surprised the heck out of me during a lunch meeting by just springing it on me. But she pointed out, “You’ve been doing this job for years. This just takes it to the next level.”

And she was right.

RVC: Why is The Seymour Agency a great fit for you?

JS: I think because of the tone Nicole sets. We have that same urge to mentor, nurture, make dreams come true. All the agents at Seymour support and help each other to an unbelievable extent. It’s a loving, supportive atmosphere. I’ve never been at another agency, but I think our vibe is quite rare.

RVC: Describe a typical workday as an agent.

JS: That’s the beauty of it–there’s no such thing. This morning, I have to sign off on a contract for a client, execute a contract with a new client, read several new picture books some clients want me to see, send out a middle grade on submission, and have a phone meeting with one of my favorite clients. There will be about twenty surprises that come in on top of that. The days literally fly by.

RVC: What is the most common misconception about agenting?

JS: That agents don’t care or take clients’ hopes and fears lightly. We think about all of them all the time.

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

JS: My lovely friend and client Mindy Weiss runs a little showcase on Twitter called Picture Book Party. My first year as an agent, I found several manuscripts I loved, including a lyrical PB called Peaches by Gabriele Davis. I remember telling my husband about it and saying I wished I could have Peaches but that writer is too good for a beginning agent. But we had a phone interview and Gabriele and I really clicked and she picked me!

RVC: Congrats on that!

JS: She is a dream client. She works hard and participates in the process well. A few months after we went out, we had two R&R’s [revise and resubmits] and from that came her sale to Abrams.

RVC: When might we see Peaches?

JS: It comes out next spring, and this book will always be special to me.

RVC: How do you collaborate with your clients to develop their picture book projects before submitting them to publishers?

JS: It’s an ongoing process. It’s not just how to edit or tweak what they have, but as they submit and start to get industry feedback, we have to collaborate on how to brand them, how to develop their uniqueness into something editors will clamor for. It takes a lot of time and thought to position a client to make a sale.

RVC: How do you balance the commercial appeal of a picture book with its artistic and literary merits?

JS: I think in kidlit, artistic and literary merit is PART of commercial appeal, because a lot of sales are awards driven or based on educational value, etc. The best projects always have both: literary and artistic merit and commercial hooks.

For example, there’s City Feet by Aixa Perez-​Prado, which is my first client book to come out just this past January. It’s so fun and kid friendly because of the rhythm and fun of the text and the kooky, funky shoes, but it also has Aixa’s beautiful, mixed-​media art, the multilingual text, and most fun for me, maps of cities around the world embedded in the collages.

RVC: Share an example of a picture book project that presented unique challenges or learning experiences.

JS: I had an author illustrator who kept getting the note that they loved her story but not her illustrations. That’s hard for an artist to hear. But she did the bravest thing I ever saw. She took a year off to raise her game, studying every technique she could find. She was already a trained artist, but she pushed it further. I admire that kind of dedication so much. I believe she is on the brink of her first sale right now.

RVC: I sure hope so–it sounds as if she earned it. Let’s talk about the business side of things. How do you stay updated on the latest industry news, trends, and best practices to best serve your clients?

JS: We have regular agency meetings, trainings, and updates. I get a slew of industry newsletters every day and I learn a lot just from interactions with editors and listening closely to what they’re saying. I hold regular meetings with clients and big group meetings about twice a year and try to brief them on the “state of the industry.” Plus, we have a Facebook page where they all share info they are finding out.

RVC: What challenges do you see facing the picture book industry today, and how can authors and illustrators adapt to these changes?

JS: It’s a robust industry and I’m thankful for that. The challenges seem to come and go. COVID was a challenge, paper costs was a big problem, then general supply chain issues. What I am seeing now is some editor burnout, I think from surviving all the things I mentioned above.

RVC: I’m seeing some of that, too.

JS: The good thing is, kids want and need books and that never changes.

RVC: In addition to your novels, you’ve published a number of poetry chapbooks. How does your work as a poet inform how you work with picture book texts?

JS: Sometimes I can make a really good editorial suggestions, like “end the line on THAT word.” That knowledge comes from poetry. And I definitely know good lyricism when I read it.

RVC: Talk to me about those magical power lunches. How often do they happen? What goes on? Do you split dessert or does everyone get their own? 

JS: The first rule at The Seymour Agency…the agent pays for everything. We are hosting and treating our clients and it’s a great, relaxed way to really talk in depth. I knew so many great local writers from Florida SCBWI and a lot of them became clients, so I can see them anytime. But some of my clients also travel and make regular pilgrimages, which I love.

It’s good to be Florida based. Everyone wants to come here.

RVC: Complete the sentence. Joyce Sweeney is an agent who…

JS: cares about your career and is responsive to your needs.

RVC: One last question for this part of the interview. What are some upcoming projects that you’re especially excited about?

JS: Barefoot Books is launching a series called OUR WORLD that takes a creative approach to showing different countries and cultures. I have two clients participating in that: Aixa Perez-​Prado for Argentina and Ana Siqueira for Brazil.

RVC: Okay, Joyce…it’s time for the LIGHTNING ROUND! Zippy questions and zappy answers, please. Are you ready?

JS: I was born ready!

RVC: Magic beans, magic wands, or magic hats?

JS: I actually have all three. Doesn’t every agent?

RVC: Most underappreciated astrological sign?

JS: Scorpio (yes, I am one). But we always get the “murderer” meme. And we are really very loving, protective people.

RVC: Favorite cat joke/​pun?

JS: An old woman was walking along the beach with her cat. She found a magic lamp and a genie appeared. He gave her three wishes. First, she wished to be young and beautiful. Granted. Then she wished to be rich. Granted. Third wish. She looked at her cat and said, “Turn him into a handsome young man.” Granted and the genie disappeared. The cat, now a handsome young man, stood before the now young beautiful, rich girl. And he said, “Aren’t you sorry you had me neutered?”

RVC: Favorite picture book that features an animal protagonist?

JS: Olivia!

RVC: What’s the last picture book that made you LOL?

JS: I read Mr. Tiger Goes Wild over and over.

RVC: Your picture book philosophy in five words or fewer. 

JS: Think like a child!

RVC: Thanks so much, Joyce! 

JS: Thank you! These were great questions!!!

Educational Activities: My Dog is NOT a Scientist by Betsy Ellor

My Dog Is NOT a Scientist
Author: Betsy Ellor
Illustrator: Luisa Vera
18 April 2023
Yeehoo Press
40 pages

Book description from Goodreads: “A humorous, endearing story about a passionate, young scientist who is determined to achieve her goal–no matter what! Yara is out to prove that she’s the greatest scientist in town! Her annoying neighbor Eddie always wins the Science Fair, but this year is going to be HER year. Like every good scientist, Yara starts with a question, makes observations, and comes up with a hypothesis … but each time she starts an experiment, her dog, Renzo, ruins it! Could Renzo be up to something more than making trouble? From Betsy Ellor and Luisa Vera comes a humorous, endearing story about a passionate, young scientist who is determined to achieve her goal–no matter what!”



Educational Activities inspired by My Dog Is Not a Scientist:

  • Before Reading–From looking at the front cover: 
    • What do you think the title A Dog is NOT a Scientist means?
    • Can you predict what the story might be about based on the cover?
    • What qualities do you think a scientist should have?
    • Why do you think the dog is wearing safety goggles on the cover?
    • What are some ways animals can help humans learn and discover new things?
    • What do you think the dog might try to do in this story?
  • After Reading–Now that you’ve read the story: 
    • What was the main conflict in the story, and how was it resolved?
    • How did the Renzo the dog’s actions lead to humorous situations in the story?
    • In what ways did Renzo help the other characters learn or discover something new?
    • What lesson do you think the author wanted readers to learn from the story?
    • Which part of the story was your favorite, and why?
    • How did the illustrations help to convey the story’s message and enhance the overall reading experience?
    • Were there any moments in the story that surprised you? If so, which ones?
  • Writing–Pretend you are Renzo the dog in the story and write a journal entry about your experience trying to be a scientist. How did it feel when things didn’t go as planned, and what did you learn? Use colored pencils, crayons, or markers to illustrate that story, if you choose. Consider sharing your work with a friend or family member.
  • Experimenting–Yara’s a young scientist, and you can be too! With an adult–and maybe a “helper” dog like Renzo–test out any of the following kid-​friendly experiments. 
  • Further ReadingMy Dog Is NOT a Scientist is indeed about science in general and science fairs in specific. Let’s look at some other picture books about those same topics. 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: Darshana Khiani

This month’s interview is with Darshana Khiani, a San Francisco Bay area author, engineer, and advocate for South Asian children’s literature. In her own words, she’s “infinitely curious about the world and enjoys sharing my findings with young readers. If I can make a child laugh, even better.”

Darshana has authored a picture book, How to Wear a Sari, and she has two more coming out in 2023. She’s also a South Asian kidlit advocate, helping to spread the word of wonderful new South Asian kidlit books.

In addition to being a wife and a mom to two girls and one dog, she’s also created a wonderful list of Favorite Firsts.

  1. Favorite first friend: Sigrid
  2. Favorite first color: lavender
  3. Favorite first food: pizza and pav bhaji (kind of like a vegetarian sloppy joe)
  4. Favorite first book: Richard Scarry. I still love What Do People Do All Day.
  5. Favorite first subject in school: Math (ironically English was my worst…but I loved creative writing!)
  6. Favorite first song: The Tide is High by Blondie
  7. Favorite first trip: Kenya

What a list, right? Let’s find out even more about Darshana with this interview!


RVC: Fewer than half of the authors I interview are full-​time writers. Where does writing fit into your typical workday?

DK: I am a full-​time engineer working in high-​tech with a family and a dog. So, writing takes places early in the mornings or late at night or anywhere in-​between I can find time.

RVC: How has that relationship changed over the years?

DK: I adjust my writing times around my other responsibilities. When I first started, I would take my writing bag to my kids’ practices or write late at night. Now, I tend to write first thing in the morning and on weekends, sometimes during lunch.

RVC: At what point in your life did you first consider yourself to be a writer? 

DK: Probably a few years in.

RVC: You ran a blog about children’s books for a long time before you got your own debut picture book published. How did that work inform or help your own writing?

DK: The blog, Flowering Minds, was a great way for me to talk about and recommend books which I love to do. I knew that writers had to read voraciously, so why not be a resource and give recommendations along the way? By reading a lot, it helped me focus on writing stories that hadn’t been done before.

RVC: You’re a champion of South Asian kidlit. What’s the latest report on the state of that as of today?

DK: Thank you for asking. I am floored by the number of books coming out every season by South Asian creators. When I started compiling the lists back in 2016, there were less than 5 South Asian picture books those first two years. Now there are at least 5 picture books a season!

In novels, there is such a variety of books from contemporary, historical fiction, fantasy, mystery, and rom-​com. Now all we need is some suspense and horror 😉 and older non-fiction.

RVC: Your debut picture book is a wonderful addition to the world of South Asian kidlit. What’s the story behind How to Wear a Sari?

DK: When I started writing picture books, I wanted to write books for second-​generation South Asians like my two daughters. Books that centered their lives in this country. Books that had universal themes about growing up with a South Asian backdrop and a touch of humor.

In the summer of 2016, I was studying 2nd-​person POV picture books for a different writing project. I love the elegance and sophistication of saris. However, I’m not the best at wearing them. It can take me upwards of 45 minutes to drape one. I started wondering if it’s this hard for me to wear a sari then what would it be like for a young Indian girl. That was the seed for How to Wear a Sari. A sari can be stylish, sophisticated, a symbol of womanhood in South Asian culture much like wearing high-​heels or a long fancy gown is in Western culture.

RVC: Why is the sari so important to South Asian culture?

DK: There are so many varieties of materials, designs, and draping styles. Much of it is unique to the region where the sari was made. It is an expression of identity. Saris span the range from simple cotton ones worn every day while tending house to fancy, elaborate ones for special occasions.

RVC: Back to your book! How to Wear a Sari has an especially resonant ending. At what stage in the drafting process did that emerge?

DK: I knew from the beginning that she was going to run and fall, and that was the original ending. Over the revision process, the fall scene became the climax, and the ending became the spread about getting in trouble with mom. But that left the story on an emotional down note, so I brainstormed possible endings. I came up with the photo album of flops to honor the challenges and spills kids and even adults have when trying new things. I loved it since it felt fresh and brought in another layer to the story.

RVC: As a writer, what was the most valuable lesson you took from this book?

DK: I love the story voice by using a direct narration approach, however, it is a challenge to get character emotion across. Joanne’s artwork is so expressive and was a perfect match for the text.

RVC: You’ve got another picture book coming out in a few weeks. What’s the elevator pitch?

DK: A classroom full of diverse students discusses what it means to be American. They show that in spite of our varied backgrounds and experiences it is our shared American values that bring us together.

RVC: What are you most proud about regarding I’m an American?

DK: That I was able to capture the vision I had on paper. It’s a book for all ages 8 and up. For younger readers, it might be the first time they hear a particular group’s immigration story, while for older readers they might see an event through a new lens. What I hope above all is that readers will look beyond the differences on the surface and realize our shared humanity.

I love Laura’s stunning artwork with layered images.

RVC: Which of Laura Freeman’s illustrations most knocked your socks off?

 

DK: Probably the Somali and Russian Jew spreads. There is no way NOT to be moved by them. I do like the joyous spread of the Pride parade, too.

RVC: Now, you’ve got yet another book coming out later in 2023—Building a Dream: How the Boys of Koh Panyee Became Champions. What’s the most important thing people should know or understand about that?

DK: I loved how the boys faced their environmental and societal challenges with perseverance, hope, and ingenuity.

RVC: In what ways does that book showcase your growth as a writer?

DK: Actually, of my three books, this one was written before the other two. The story I’m an American is my most “recent” story. It’s the first story I ever did with layered text, substantial backmatter, lots and lots of research, and an eye on sensitivity the entire time.

RVC: Let’s move to talking about bigger things. Stylistically speaking, how do you describe your writing?

DK: I have no idea. Maybe my readers know. 😉

RVC: Talk a bit about your writing and revision process.

DK: I hate writing first drafts. I have a really strong left-​brain editor, probably because I’m an engineer, so those first drafts feel near impossible. However, I do love revising except when I have to take a polished story and break it into pieces and start all over–that may actually be harder than writing a first draft. One of my favorite parts of revising is collecting peer feedback and then copying down the notes with different colored pens into various categories and then methodically making the revisions that resonate.

RVC: Tell me about a time where your writing career didn’t go the way you wanted.

DK: I don’t know if there is a specific thing that didn’t work out. The writing journey is a windy one with ups & downs and twists & turns. But I believe everything happens the way it’s supposed to. I did think my writing career would be progressing a little faster. When I started back in 2011, I had no idea it would take seven years before I got my first book deal.

RVC: Since COVID-​19, I try to ask a health and wellness question during each interview. Here’s yours. What do you do to de-stress? 

DK: Eat dark chocolate, go for a walk, talk to my sister, or watch a pick-​me-​up TV show (nothing too serious).

RVC: One final question for this part of the interview. What’s something upcoming that you’re really excited about or really want to promote?

DK: I run a South Asian kidlit quarterly newsletter. I feature the upcoming season’s South Asian kidlit books, picture books through young adult. I have been doing this for nearly eight years. It is wonderful to see the quantity and diversity of stories coming out. Folks can check-​out my South Asian kidlit page to see past lists.

RVC: Alrighty, Darshana. Let’s leap into the LIGHTNING ROUND. The point values are quintupled but we’ve only got sixty seconds. Are you ready?

DK: Fire away!

RVC: What’s the funniest word in the English language?

DK: ugh (no, that’s not the word, my mind is a blank)… hmmm… hullabaloo

RVC: If you could travel back in time, what year would you choose to go to?

DK: Victorian Era.

RVC: Would you rather have a personal chef, a maid, or a masseuse?

DK: You mean I can’t have all there?!?! Okay, a chef since I enjoy eating but not cooking.

RVC: Which author sets the standard for South Asian kidlit?

DK: There are so many talented authors and illustrators that are pushing the boundaries and carving new paths in different ways. The South Asian community is a diaspora spread around the world with varying degrees of commonality and nuanced experiences amongst the sub-groups.

Here are some of the creators I enjoy.

Hari & Deepti’s light box art. Intricate and ethereal! They have done a picture book as well as book covers.

Mitali Perkins, Sabaa Tahir, Samira Ahmed, Rina Singh, Padma Venkatraman, and Rajani LaRocca.

RVC: What’s the best picture book you’ve read in 2022 that deserves a lot more love than it’s gotten?

DK: I recently read The Box by Isabella Paglia and Paolo Proietti and translated by Laura Watkinson. This book was first published Italy and released in English in the U.S. in Jan 2020. I only heard about it recently. It’s sweet and heart-​warming and is all about helping a newcomer and meeting that person where they are and patience.

RVC: What’s your picture book philosophy in five words or fewer?

DK: Follow your curiosity!

RVC: Love it. Thanks so much, Darshana!