Author Interview: Doreen Cronin

On December 14, 2020December 13, 2020 By Only Picture BooksIn Author Interviews

Talk about ending the year strong! This month’s author interview is with bestselling, award-winning author Doreen Cronin, who’s known for (among other things) her Click, Clack series. If you don’t know these books, please remedy that immediately because they are truly first-rate. Here are just a few of my faves from that series:

Doreen’s also the author of Rescue Bunnies, Bloom, Smick!, and many other books. She currently resides in New York City with her husband, two daughters, and a dog named Buster.

Let’s get on with the interview!

RVC: You were lucky enough to receive some very early encouragement from a teacher. What was it, and what did it mean to you?

DC: I was a very quiet, very studious six year old–with a deep fear of speaking up in class. My first-grade teacher, Mrs. Cooper, couldn’t really get me to open up in class, so she started to give me writing assignments. Funny thing is, I didn’t consider them work since they were chances to “speak” in poem, in song, and in stories. She was just brilliant.

After quite a few of these “assignments,” which were really just opportunities to be heard, she said, “Ah, I see now. You’re a writer.”

I didn’t know “writer” could be a job. I’m not even sure I connected it with books, per se, but I knew she was right. “I am a writer.” On the hard days now, I still have to remind myself.

RVC: You took a sidetrack from Mrs. Cooper’s plan for you becoming a writer. You went to St. John’s Law School in the late 1990s and practiced law in downtown Manhattan for a few years. What appealed about that type of career?

DC: The research–and the writing! A career where I get to bury myself in these giant, gorgeously bound law books and analyze cases and then write pages and pages of a position or an argument? That was, at its core, a writing job, and I absolutely loved it.

RVC: How long were you juggling the two careers? Were you writing the entire time you were practicing law?

DC: I wrote so much when I was practicing law. When time is scarce, you make the most of it. And when your brain is going all day, it just doesn’t shut off at night (as we all know.).

Luckily for me, my brain could review documents and read cases and write briefs all day–and many nights and weekends–and then when I got home, she wanted to talk about cows. I let her talk.

RVC: Your dual-career story reminds me a good bit of John Grisham, who also moved from a successful legal career to a successful writing one. How did you know when it was time to stop juggling and take the literary plunge?

DC: I don’t know how many readers are familiar with the “interoffice envelope,” but it is (was?) a large, manila-type envelope with printed lines of “To” and “From” on front and back, to be re-used over and over again. At the top of the envelope was a deep maroon “paper button” and a string that looped around it (to secure the contents, ha!). The mailroom would drop off piles of these and inside were memos, of course, and briefs you worked on that have now been red-inked to within an inch of their original arguments (and not nearly as kindly as your editor’s remarks. Think “CRONIN, THIS IS NONSENSICAL GARBAGE” as opposed to “I’m not sure what you’re saying here.”).

Something happened a few months after Click Clack Moo was published and I would unloop the paper button on the interoffice envelope and letters addressed Doreen Cronin, Author, would spill out. Readers were asking me what Duck was going to do next. And did I visit schools? And what was my favorite color?

That’s when I started to think about writing full time. I had lunch with two of my publishing colleagues and asked them if I should quit my day job. They both said “absolutely not.” So, of course, I did, because I don’t like being told what to do.

RVC: Let’s talk about Betsy Lewin. When did you first see the illustrations for Click, Clack, Moo?

DC: Oh, boy, very late in the game. I had never spoken to the art director or to Betsy. I was sent a copy of the sketches (by REAL MAIL, with STAMPS) and I was speechless. I had no idea what any of the characters looked like when I wrote the story. I didn’t even think about what they might look like.

Then I opened my envelope (another big manila one), and there they were.

It felt like they had been born. I actually cried. It was an extraordinary feeling to see them and meet them for the first time. Even if it meant crying alone through a fog of cigarette smoke. (Yes, I quit a long time ago.)

RVC: Why do you think her art works so well with the Click Clack books?

DC: Because she’s brilliant and funny and generous and so is her art. Betsy speaks in pictures and I speak in words and they just work together. Our written story and our illustrated story just understand each other and complement each other. I don’t know how else to explain it.

RVC: How collaborative is the storymaking process between the two of you?

DC: It isn’t! I like to write and then get out of the way.

There have been a few occasions over the years where Betsy will call me and say, “Can we talk about this page? I’m having some difficulty.” On every single one of those occasions, the problem was the text.

RVC: My kids really got a kick out of the Bug Diary series. The first one, Diary of a Worm, came out in 2003. What’s the story of how that book came about?

DC: I was trying to write a book about a girl with a really annoying kid brother (hello, autobiography). So when he bothered her, she would call him a pest and then…name the pest. So, “You’re so annoying, you’re like…a worm!” Then kid brother, being full of grit and resilience, would look up the pest and find out what makes the pest “good.”

Yes, pretty boring.

After about six months of writing that, I wrote a page where the kid brother writes in his journal as a worm, having been hurled that insult by his rude sister (hello, autobiography). After revising and revising that manuscript, that single page was the only page I liked, thus, Diary of a Worm was born.

RVC: I’m glad you stuck with the idea long enough to find the story you intended. Sometimes those things hide forever!

You’ve been fortunate to have earned a lot of honors, awards, and successes for your writing. Which meant the most to you?

DC: The first one, the Caldecott Honor for Betsy and the book for Click Clack Moo. Why? Because I didn’t even know what it was–I was blissfully unaware in the most innocent and ignorant way. Wasn’t aware of the ALA awards, wasn’t aware what was happening on that Monday in January. I had the day off from lawyering and I slept in. When the phone rang, I had absolutely no assumptions about who would be calling.

Ignorance really is bliss sometimes. Once you become aware of it–YOU WANT IT.

RVC: One last question for this part of the interview. You seem to be drawn to animal characters. Which of them do you feel is most like you?

DC: Ha! Duck and Worm. Duck is the side of my personality that has a problem with authority, and Worm is the side of my personality that needs to write to be heard.

RVC: Okey dokey, it’s time to get serious with a capital S—that’s because it’s the Speed Round. Zoomy questions and lickety-split answers, please. Are you ready, Doreen?

DC: Always ready…

RVC: The best place in NYC for bagels? Pizza? Smoothies?

DC: My kitchen! It’s the most boring of answers ever given to the NYC’s best question, but due to an autoimmune condition, I live a dairy-free, gluten-free life. So I make my own GF bagels, GF pizza, and dairy-free smoothies. ALL DAY LONG.

I would like to take this opportunity to plug the enormous, counter-hogging air fryer–because it has transformed my soggy, gluten-free life into a crispy extravaganza!

RVC: On a scale of 1 to 84, how much did you intend Click, Clack, Moo to be a sneaky lesson in collective bargaining?

DC: Ha! ZERO. I thought it was about the power of the written word–and how language changes everything. My then-husband called me a socialist after he read it.

RVC: If Duck ran for President in 2020, what would’ve been his campaign promise?

DC: 2020–Back the Quack!

RVC: Five words that describe your writing process.

DC: Chaotic, sporadic, hilarious, inspired, tiring.

RVC: What was your favorite picture book of 2019?

DC: I couldn’t possibly!

RVC: Best compliment a child ever gave your books?

DC: Compliments from children make me cry. The best one is probably “I want to be a writer now, too!” Mrs. Cooper strikes again!

The funniest inquiry I ever got was, “Are you okay?”

RVC: Thanks so much, Doreen! We really enjoyed having you swing by to wrap up 2020 in style!

Picture Book Review: Joey: The Story of Joe Biden, by Jill Biden

On December 7, 2020December 24, 2020 By Only Picture BooksIn Picture Book Reviews

Joey: The Story of Joe Biden

Author: Jill Biden (with Kathleen Krull)
Illustrator: Amy June Bates

Paula Wiseman Books
22 September 2020
48 pages

This month’s PB review is by Ryan G. Van Cleave (Chief Political Analyst at Only Picture Books) and OPB superfriend (and Ringling College of Art and Design Illustration Professor) John Herzog.

–Ryan’s Review of the Writing–

Joey: The Story of Joe Biden is a picture book biography about the 46th President of the United States, written by his wife, bestselling author Jill Biden (with the help of award-winning writer Kathleen Krull). The book begins with Joe’s early years in the quaint world of the 1950s, with terrific Norman Rockwell-esque illustrations that effectively create a pleasurable nostalgic mood. I could wax on about the art alone, but I’ll let John handle that below.

Though Joe knew the challenge of poverty early on, he enjoyed a rich, supportive family life. Mrs. Biden–little Joey’s mom–even told him, “Bravery resides in ever heart, and yours is fierce and clear.” Through a series of anecdotes like that, the book reveals an admirable sense of responsibility and honor the entire Biden clan seems to hold dear.

Many reviewers seem untroubled by the potentially problematic role model that Joe presents in those early years, though, such as how Joe was “unable to refuse a dare, even when it was dangerous,” and how he dealt with school bullies by fighting. The accompanying image for that latter situation even shows him with a clenched jaw and clenched fists. These facts might undercut the role-model purity some readers hope a book like this will bring. Certainly, having young people fight their way out of problems or undertake unnecessary risk behaviors aren’t things many adults condone.

Yet the book gets back on track fairly quickly, with Joe’s competitiveness, sense of justice, and ability to overcome a pervasive stutter preparing readers for the metamorphosis Joe undergoes in high school. He grows a foot taller, develops boundless charisma, and works hard to be a peacemaker. The fact that he spent summers in a work-study program so he could afford to attend the expensive “Catholic high school overlooking the Delaware River” helps present him as a sympathetic, hard-working figure. Here’s the role model parents are looking for in this book.

While the book acknowledges that Joe became “one of the youngest people ever elected to the United State Senate,” and that Obama found him to be “the best vice president America’s ever had,” Joe’s political career isn’t really a large part of the book. This is more the nostalgic story of how a leader is made through the crucible of life’s challenges told through unadorned, plain English–as opposed to the poetic depiction Nikki Grimes used to present the life of Kamala Harris in her recent biography.

Author Jill Biden understandably tries hard to present Joe in a very positive manner that mostly rings true. But there’s this moment early on: “maybe he was just a regular guy, not rich, not privileged, but he dreamed big and saw himself a leader.” Will some readers be bothered by the “not privileged” note? Perhaps.

The book went to press prior to Biden winning the election, so it simply ends with his 2019 announcement that he’s running for President of the United States, which he considers “a battle for the soul of America.” The book ends with “Give me the ball!” which connects to a throughline regarding his past as a successful athlete.

The backmatter is sizable but the highlights are a quirky list of Bidenisms and a comprehensive timeline that fills in many of the blanks of Joe’s life and career. Whether you’re a Biden fan or not, this book offers insight into our 46th President and will be a welcome addition to the shelves of school and public libraries.

4.25 out of 5 pencils

–John’s Review of the Illustrations–

With his successful campaign for President of the United States, interest in all things Joe Biden was bound to be inevitable. So it’s no surprise that we now have Joey: The Joe Biden Story for children (and their parents) to learn a little more about Biden’s upbringing and why he got into politics in the first place.

Written by Jill Biden with Kathleen Krull, and illustrated by Amy June Bates, Joey spends a lot of its time with Biden as a young man playing football, interacting with his siblings, going to school, etc. We have a chance to see the values instilled in him when he was a kid, how he exemplified them as a young boy, and how he continues to exemplify them today. While the book does seem overly idyllic at times, it understands its audience and does a good job of showing the relevant parts of Biden’s life.

I know that, in the past, I have been very effusive about the work of Amy June Bates (see my review for Gittel’s Journey). With her work in Joey, that effusion has not diminished in any way. The reality is this: Amy June Bates is one of the best picture book illustrators working today, and is probably one of the best picture book illustrators of all time. Her sense of design and color, the natural flow of her illustrations coupled with the story, her impeccable sense of detail balanced out with blocks of color–what can I say? It’s all fantastic and perfect and wonderful. Her use of traditional media–in this case watercolor, gouache, and pencil–elevates the storytelling, giving us rich, nuanced images that help us connect to Biden–first as a kid, and now as President-elect.

The nitpicks I have with the illustrations in this book–and they’re very minor–are as follows. Sometimes it’s hard to pick out Biden from the crowd. Overall, Bates does a fine job of separating him from the pack, but there were a few times where I just wasn’t sure which character was supposed to be Biden. In many of the illustrations, Bates gives Biden’s clothes a slight teal color, but I think it would’ve been helpful to make that more consistent throughout the book. I also wish that Biden’s character design had a consistent trademark attribute that followed him from childhood to adulthood. His design felt slightly erratic, and adding a staple of his look would’ve also been helpful.

These are minor criticisms, of course. And while I thoroughly enjoyed Joey: The Story of Joe Biden, it often felt like the picture book equivalent of rose-colored glasses. But perhaps that’s the point. It brims with nostalgia, of course, but thankfully it’s infused with elements of reality that help keep it grounded. That’s probably the best compliment I could give the book, really. Biden himself feels like a dreamer, a go-getter who also understands the plight of the average person. That attitude comes across loud and clear in the book and, after dealing with the last four years, it’s a very welcome change.

4.5 out of 5 crayons

J ohn Herzog is an award-winning illustrator and educator.

His clients include Hasbro, Dreamworks TV, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Scholastic, and Highlights for Children. He also teaches illustration classes at Ringling College of Art and Design.

John is a member of the National Cartoonists Society and Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, where he received the 2018 SCBWI Magazine Merit Award for his Highlights High Five cover illustration. He lives in Florida with his wife, two kids, a pair of geckos, a South American horned frog, a bearded dragon, and a fish.

Picture Book List: 15 Yummy Books About Thanksgiving

On November 30, 2020November 29, 2020 By Only Picture BooksIn Picture Book Lists

Even in 2020, Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to share stories with family and friends. So, gather up the children in your life (virtually, if you have to!) and feast on these Thanksgiving-themed picture books that celebrate the magic of family, food, and fun.

10 Fat Turkeys by Tony Johnston, illustrated by Rich Deas (Oct 2004)

From Goodreads: “This silly rhyming story about ten turkeys teaches children how to count backwards.

“Looky!” says a silly turkey swinging from a vine.
Gobble gobble wibble wobble.
Whoops! Now there are nine.

Girls and boys will gobble up this hilarious story about ten goofy turkeys and their silly antics: swinging from a vine, strutting on a boar, doing a noodle dance, and more. Veteran author Tony Johnston has written a joyful text, which first-time illustrator Richard Deas brings to life as wild and wacky fun!”

AGES 3–5

Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman (Sept 2014)

From Goodreads: “What better way for Bear to say thanks, than to have a big dinner with all his friends!

Bear has come up with the perfect way to say thanks—a nice big dinner! When Bear decides to throw a feast, his friends show up one by one with different platters of delicious food to share. There’s just one problem: Bear’s cupboards are bare! What is he to do?

Karma Wilson’s playful text and Jane Chapman’s charming illustrations bring to life this celebration of family and friendship. Young readers will delight in discovering the special gift Bear has to share.”

AGES 3–8

The Great Thanksgiving Escape by Mark Fearing (Sept 2017)

From Goodreads: “A hilarious, kid-friendly take on Thanksgiving — full of family, food, and lots of fun!

It’s another Thanksgiving at Grandma’s. Gavin expects a long day of boredom and being pestered by distantly related toddlers, but his cousin Rhonda has a different idea: make a break for it — out of the kids’ room to the swing set in the backyard! Gavin isn’t so sure, especially when they encounter vicious guard dogs (in homemade sweaters), a hallway full of overly affectionate aunts, and worse yet, the great wall of butts! Will they manage to avoid the obstacles and find some fun before turkey time? Or will they be captured before they’ve had a taste of freedom?”

AGES 5–8

How to Catch a Turkey by Adam Wallace (Sept 2018)

From Goodreads: “From the bestselling How to Catch series comes a festive turkey tale!

A turkey is running loose in a school right before a Thanksgiving play. Can YOU help catch it? Follow along as students turn their school upside down trying to catch the turkey, ending with a twist that ensures no turkeys are harmed (or eaten!).

Thanksgiving time is here again,
but there’s a turkey on the run!
Can you catch this tricky bird
before the school play has begun?”

AGES 4–10

…If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620 by Ann McGovern, illustrated by Anna Divito (Dec 1991)

From Goodreads: “What if you sailed on the Mayflower?
A different time…a different place…What if you were there?

If you sailed on the Mayflower
–What could you take with you?
–How would you keep clean?
–What would you do when you first got to shore?

Get ready to go back in time to 1620 to discover what it was like to sail the Mayflower!”

AGES 7–10

Sarah Gives Thanks: How Thanksgiving Became a National Holiday by Mike Allegra, illustrated by David Gardner (Sept 2012)

From Goodreads: “During the nineteenth century, Sarah Josepha Hale dedicated her life to making Thanksgiving a national holiday, all while raising a family and becoming a groundbreaking writer and women’s magazine editor. Sarah Hale’s inspiring story, accompanied by luscious watercolor illustrations, tells the tale of one woman who wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

AGES 6–10

Sharing the Bread: An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Story by Pat Zitlow Miller and Jill McElmurry (Sept 2015)

From Goodreads: “Celebrate food and family with this heartwarming Thanksgiving picture book. We will share the risen bread. / Our made-with-love Thanksgiving spread. / Grateful to be warm and fed. / We will share the bread. In this spirited ode to the holiday, set at the turn of the twentieth century, a large family works together to make their special meal. Mama prepares the turkey, Daddy tends the fire, Sister kneads, and Brother bastes. Everyone—from Grandma and Grandpa to the littlest baby—has a special job to do. Told in spare, rhythmic verse and lively illustrations, Sharing the Bread is a perfect read-aloud to celebrate the Thanksgiving tradition.”

AGES 4–8

Thankful by Eileen Spinelli, illustrated by Archie Preston (Sept 2015)

From Goodreads: “Celebrate everyday blessings, practice thankfulness, and observe the wonderful acts of service that keep us going each and every day. Eileen Spinelli, bestselling and award-winning children’s author, charms with rhymes and whimsy in Thankful, perfect for any young reader and their family.

Thankful is a heartwarming picture book that teaches children ages 4–8 to:
Focus on the blessings that we tend to take for granted
Appreciate essential workers and what people in our everyday lives provide: “Like the gardener thankful for every green sprout, and the fireman, for putting the fire out.”

Meant to be read aloud, Thankful features:
Endearing storytelling with engaging rhyming text, making reading fun for readers young and old
Whimsical illustrations with soft colors and bold lines, perfect for any season.”

AGES 4–8

Thanksgiving for Emily Ann by Teresa Johnston, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton (Aug 2014)

From Goodreads: “Celebrate Thanksgiving in this sweet, rhyming story all about family and togetherness!

Emily Ann doesn’t like Thanksgiving, not one bit. With all the hustle and bustle of the holiday, she feels a little ignored…and just a little bit sad. But just as Emily Ann prepares to do her worst, her family comes together to show her what matters most about Thanksgiving: family.

With charming illustrations by Vanessa Brantley-Newton (One Love and Every Little Thing, both by Cedella Marley), this is a heartwarming holiday treat to share and treasure for many seasons to come. A celebration of family, friends, and the special day that brings them all together.”

AGES 3–5

Thanksgiving in the Woods by Phyllis Alsdurf, illustrated by Jenny Lovlie (Oct 2017)

From Goodreads: “Thanksgiving in the Woods is based on the true story of a family in Upstate New York who has hosted an outdoor Thanksgiving feast in the woods on their farm for over twenty years.”

AGES 4–8

Thanksgiving Rules by Laurie Friedman, illustrated by Teresa Murfin (Aug 2009)

From Goodreads: “Percy Isaac Gifford’s Official Thanksgiving Decree: I officially command you to eat EVERYTHING you see! Percy knows just what to do to get the most out of this delicious holiday. And so will you if you follow his ten simple rules. From “the early bird gets the turkey” to “life is sweeter when you eat sweets,” his rules will help you eat your way through the big meal. But is there more to Thanksgiving than stuffed turkey and sweet potatoes with marshmallows? See how Percy discovers the true recipe for a perfect Thanksgiving holiday.”

AGES 5–9

This Is the Turkey by Abby Levine, illustrated by Paige Billin-Frye (Sept 2000)

From Goodreads: “Max is excited about the big turkey he has picked out for his family’s Thanksgiving dinner. He and his sister help prepare the fixings, and soon his friends and relatives bring their own dishes and merriment. At last, it’s time to bring in Max’s turkey. But watch out! Mom steps on a toy car and the turkey goes flying — landing in the fish tank! How can there be Thanksgiving without a turkey?

Abby Levine’s humorous, rhyming story gets to the heart of the Thanksgiving celebration. Max and his family were first introduced in This Is the Pumpkin.”

AGES 4–8

This Little Turkey by Aly Fronis, illustrated by Migy Blanco (Sept 2016)

From Goodreads: “A fun, Thanksgiving-themed twist on the classic nursery rhyme “This Little Piggy”!

This little turkey knitted a sweater.
This little turkey grabbed a treat.
This little turkey set the table.
And this little turkey said, “Let’s eat!”

These little turkeys have a lot of work to do to prepare for Thanksgiving! One goes to the market, one sweeps the floor, one draws pictures, one knits a sweater, and sets the table. Now they’re all ready to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.”

AGES 3–5

‘Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey (Sept 2020)

From Goodreads: “From Dav Pilkey, creator of the New York Times bestselling Dog Man and Captain Underpants series, comes a tall tale of tall-tailed toms!

On the night before Thanksgiving, a group of children visit a turkey farm and meet Farmer Mack Nuggett and his coop of cockerels: Ollie, Stanley, Larry, Moe, Wally, Beaver, Shemp, and Groucho. The children and turkeys giggle and gobble, and everything is gravy. As the trip comes to an end, the children leave the farm with full hearts–and bulging bellies–reminding people and poultry alike that there is much to be thankful for.”

AGES 4–8

What Is Thanksgiving? by Michelle Medlock Adams, illustrated by Amy Wummer (Sept 2014)

From Goodreads: “Suitable for children of ages 2 to 5 years, this board book helps us to understand that Thanksgiving is really about showing gratitude for all the blessings in our lives.”

AGES 2–5

Agent Interview: Clelia Gore (Martin Literary & Media Management)

On November 23, 2020November 22, 2020 By Only Picture BooksIn Agent Interviews

Let’s give a big OPB welcome to Clelia Gore, the VP of Martin Literary & Media Management, where she serves as Literary Manager of the Children’s and Young Adult Division. Normally, I create a fabulously researched and often-amusing made-to-order biographical introduction at this point, but when someone takes the time to create such an fine Twitter bio as Clelia did, what can I do but share it here?

Optimist
Lover of things lovely
Crooked smiler
French-Peruvian-American living in Singapore for a bit
Mama

And if you’re wondering how to pronounce her name, I asked, and I have the answer. From Clelia herself: “For those wondering, it’s pronounced Clel (rhymes with bell)-eeee-uh. Named after an Italian duchess from a Stendahl novel.”

Perhaps most important, she recently tweeted that “PBs are my jam.” Same here.

With that, let’s get to the interview!

RVC: Rumor has it that you had a great book experience in first grade that got you on the literary path. Care to share your special magic book moment?

CG: Yes! Charlotte’s Web by EB White sparked something within me that has stayed with me through adulthood. I was the kind of reader that devoured everything on my bookshelf, pretty much as soon as I got the hang of reading. I had read only one other chapter book on my own prior to Charlotte’s Web (a book about a dogcatcher called The Terrible Mr. Twitmeyer). My older brother had acquired it through a Scholastic Book Fair order. He didn’t like me touching his things, so I went into his room secretly, swiped it, and read it behind closed doors while sitting in a bathtub!

I remember being completely affected by the story—how much I loved the characters, the farm and county fair settings, enchanted by the storytelling and feeling ALL the emotions when Charlotte met her fate. I remember crying in the bathtub by myself, completely moved by this terrific pig. From then on, I understood the magic of books in a big way and I’ve spent the rest of my life chasing that same feeling in the books I read.

RVC: Some pig, indeed!

CG: I still have that same copy of the book today! I used to read it right before school started every year, as a comforting ritual. Now I bring it with me wherever we move, carrying a bit of my childhood with me.

RVC: I keep my first copy of The Saggy Baggy Elephant for the same reason.

But back to you–how do you go from an amazing reader experience like that into the world of lawyering? What happened?

CG: I continued to be an avid reader through high school and college. At that time in my life, I was a bit of a book snob and only read classics—I was determined to read all of them. I think I was the only 17-year-old who had read all of John Steinbeck, Mark Twain, and Edith Wharton’s entire catalogs. I took a lot of pride in having read their deep cuts. In college, naturally, I became an English major. My parents put it in my head that, with that major, I could become a lawyer and I just decided to go with it. I wish I could say I put more thought into it than that, but I didn’t. Looking back, it wasn’t an illogical choice, just not the most thoughtful one. I ended up going straight to law school after college.

RVC: What got you out of the legal world and into the literary agent arena?

CG: I knew early on that being a lawyer was not for me. It was 2009 and I was working at a big corporate law firm in Manhattan litigating securities disputes—not quite the scene for a whimsical gal like me. I will say this—I gained so much from my experience in law school and practicing as an attorney for about four years. It, of course, helps me as a literary agent who negotiated contracts. I’m a better analytical thinker as a result of it, better equipped for the adult world and most importantly, it helped me develop a sense of professional confidence. For me, being a lawyer was a really hard job during a really hard time (the recession). I was challenged every day and was able to rise to the occasion, and I succeeded at it even though I didn’t like it. I brought the confidence I developed from that experience with me to publishing. I also met many lifelong friends and my husband along the way! Plus, I like knowing and learning about the law—I just didn’t like practicing it.

RVC: You’re not the first ex-lawyer to say something like this here at OPB. Maybe one of these days, I’ll get you all together for a special Picture Book panel discussion.

CG: When I was first contemplating a career switch, I immediately thought of children’s book publishing. Kids books, especially picture books, were always an important part of my life. Even as an adult. As a lawyer, I worked in the Chrysler Building, across from Grand Central Station, and when I was feeling really stressed or sad, I’d go to the Posman Books that used to be there and just browse the picture book section and it would always bring me a sense of calm.

RVC: What happened next?

CG: I reached out to Rotem Moscovich for coffee, who is now editorial director at Knopf. She and I went to high school together and I asked her about children’s book publishing. She was the first person to put the idea in my head that I could be a literary agent—a career I didn’t really know anything about. It took me a few years to figure out how to transition, and I wanted to make sure I made the right step. I decided to go back to grad school, where I received a scholarship at Emerson College’s M.A. in Publishing & Writing. This program helped me try out a few avenues I was interested in: I interned at Houghton Mifflin for half a year in their children’s book division and then I tried out academic publishing at Oxford University Press. I also tried out teaching writing to college freshmen. Funnily enough, I never did an internship with an agency, but when I graduated, I was convinced that that was the path for me. As it happened, my then-fiancé (now husband) had moved to Seattle from NYC for a job, so I joined him out there.

I was lucky enough to connect with Sharlene Martin right away—she agreed to meet me after I sent her a cold-call email. I was going to ask her questions about starting my own agency such as: What is Step 1? We ended up sitting in a coffee shop talking for two hours, and at the end of it, she said: “Don’t start your own agency—come work for me! I’ll teach you everything you need to know.” Here I am seven years later, still calling her my mentor!

RVC: I’ve got a lot of creative writing majors here at Ringling College contemplating a path similar to yours. Some of them are thinking about going after internships like the one you had at Houghton Mifflin. How valuable was that for you?

CG: That was truly my first experience in children’s publishing, something I had always dreamed about. I was so grateful for the opportunity. It was definitely an odd experience going from being an attorney in NYC to an intern making $11/hr. But I was determined to make the best of it, learn as much as possible, and I tried to make the weird situation as comfortable as possible—and the wonderful women I worked with were game, too. It was a great education in how kids’ books are made—having that foundational knowledge absolutely helped me in my career as an agent. I also made some great relationships—I still pitch to editors at HMH whom I knew as an intern. I made several book deals based on a referral from their former managing editor. And I crossed paths with Scott Magoon there, who was working there at the time and he ended up being the illustrator for Rescue and Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship by Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes, which was an award-winning and bestselling book that I represented.

RVC: You’ve been at Martin Lit for a good while now. In all your experience at that agency, what has surprised you the most?

CG: I started in September 2013, so it’s been seven years now, and in that time I’ve learned so, so much. I mean I was really starting off with very little knowledge and had to learn on the fly from Sharlene and from any resources I could access. I was very determined to right my career path and be successful at this.

One thing that surprised me is how thick-skinned I would become. Publishing can be a roller coaster ride, especially at the submissions/acquisitions stage and, having ridden that roller coaster over and over again, I can weather even deep disappointments well—and happily celebrate the highs. I also didn’t realize how my business relationships with clients could form into strong bonds of friendships.

RVC: A lot of early-career picture book writers ask me if a platform is necessary. What do you think?

CG: I truly think the most important thing is that a book be great (and the timing is right!). Platform is a bonus and plus, of course, but if the work has that special sauce, it doesn’t matter if the author is unknown and has no platform to speak of. If you want to sell a book that plays off of your platform, then, absolutely, you should have an established platform. In certain genres like adult nonfiction, platform is everything. In kidlit, it’s less important, especially at the acquisitions phase. I do think it’s important to signal to publishers that you understand the author’s role in promoting and publicizing the book, that you are willing to play the game.

For authors trying to figure out what kind of platform they have to offer, I would think about what access you have to the target readers and book buyers for your book. Social media is one thing, sure. But…

Do you have or can you seek out media contacts that you can take advantage of when the book comes out?
Do you belong to certain groups or industries or speak at conferences or events that are made up of your target buyer?
What are ways that you can use those groups or gatherings to promote your book?
Can you reach out to your school alumni networks to promote the book in some way?
Can you write articles, start a podcast, create a blog related to your book or topics you cover in your book?
Can you start a newsletter that accesses your entire personal network?
Do you have connections to others who have a large platform who would be willing to promote your book?
Have you scoured Instagram for influencer accounts that reach your book-buying audience and are ready to reach out to them?

Think about all the ways you can take advantage of your personal and professional networks so that people can find out about your book.

RVC: Love those examples–thanks!

You’re a self-confessed sucker for picture books that are a “heart squeezer.” What are some PB examples that really made you get out the Kleenex (in the good way)?

CG: As a mother who struggled with infertility, I cry 100% of the time I read Matthew Cordell’s Wish. Seriously, I have not gotten through even to the third page turn without misty eyes.

Other recent heart-squeezing favorites include Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love, The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld, Hair Love by Matthew Cherry, Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackhall, and Home in the Woods by Eliza Wheeler.

RVC: You dig nonfiction—so says your Manuscript Wishlist as of May 2020—but biographies aren’t really a big hit with you. Is that a marketplace thing, personal preference, or something else?

CG: I already have several picture book biographers amongst my clientele so I’m looking to diversify. I have said in the past that the market was thinning a bit to picture book biographies, but I do see evidence of the market opening back up. I sold two this summer. Publishing is dynamic! I will always love picture book biographies, but to me, there are a lot of cool things happening in kid’s nonfiction outside of biographies. I want to see more of those kinds of books!

RVC: How do you describe your agenting style? Is it different with your clients than with prospective editors?

CG: Collaborative. Respectful. Transparent. Hard-working. Analytical. Confident. Kind!

One thing I learned from my job as a lawyer, another client-services industry, is the importance of maintaining professionalism. You can count on me to always be professional.

RVC: Unlike some agents, you’re open to developing MG and YA nonfiction projects with talented writers. Do you ever do such a thing with picture books?

CG: I think there is a lot of room for growth in the middle grade and YA nonfiction space. There aren’t enough writers of these genres yet! So, at this point, I’d be willing to work with authors who are experts in a field, or journalists or researchers interested in specific topics to help pull good, marketable book ideas.

Picture books have a lot more nonfiction contributors so I’m not looking to develop ideas from scratch beyond my own clientele. I do LOVE coming up with ideas for market-ready books. It’s one of my favorite parts of my job. Typically, when I think up a good idea, I think about which client would make a good fit and reach out to them and see if they are game to write it. Often, they are. At this point, I think there around about 6–7 books out or coming out that started as one of my brain children. It’s my way of bringing some of my own creativity into this job which is about supporting amazing creative talent.

RVC: Your clients are so lucky! Here’s hoping they send you a jumbo box of gourmet muffins when those book ideas you launched actually happen.

MMMmmmMMMMM…gourmet boysenberry muffins with cream cheese frosting.…

Sorry–I got distracted there. Now here’s a question I wish I didn’t have to ask. How has COVID-19 changed your day-to-day agenting work?

CG: COVID-19 came at a weird time for me. Since July 2019, I’ve been living in Singapore with my husband and daughter on an ex-pat stint for my husband’s job (we’ll be back next year). So I was already operating a bit differently than I typically do in that there was less in-person stuff. Because of COVID-19, everyone else is doing less in-person stuff, too. So I would say my day-to-day is very similar, but more editors are open to having video meetups as it’s now the norm. I do find that all of this has made me cherish life more and I’m motivated to only work on projects that I’m really passionate about and believe in.

RVC: I quite agree with that!

One last question before we move to the final part of the interview. Did you ever get that longed-for picture book manuscript about the mathematical golden ratio?

CG: Ha ha, nice memory! No, I didn’t. I did a project on the golden ratio in the sixth grade and I remember it fascinated me, a math-hating girl. I feel like if that topic could reel in the likes of me, it could reel in lots of other kids!

Feel free to send me one, dear reader!

RVC: There you have it, OPB friends and family. An exclusive manuscript request. When you send it to her and she sells that book, do remember me for helping facilitate this (hint: muffins, muffins, muffins).

Alright, it’s time for The Speed Round! Ferrari-fast questions and Corvette-quick answers please. Clelia, are you ready?

CG: Let’s do this.

RVC: Best place for food in Singapore?

CG: Hawker markets. There’s a stand in the Zion Food Centre in a neighborhood called River Valley that has the most perfect pan-fried dumpling you can possibly imagine. I salivate every time I think about them. I’m salivating right now….

RVC: “If I wasn’t a literary agent or a lawyer, I’d be…”

CG: Government lawyer at the Federal Communications Commission (an alternate history in my lawyering career); speech writer; something in TV/Film production; book-related shop owner; First Lady of anything.

RVC: If you put together a golf foursome with PB characters, it’d be you plus which three others?

CG: Okay, I’m going to go pragmatic on this one—maybe that says something about the way my brain works. I own a gorgeous Anne of Green Gables-inspired picture book from Tundra Books called Goodnight, Anne so I’d pick her so I can hang out with Anne-With-An‑E, one of my first major heroes. Ruth Bader Ginsburg from I, Dissent (rest in peace, legend), a major real-life hero. And Jessica from Rescue and Jessica because that Jessica is really author Jessica Kensky, my longtime friend who is hilarious and probably as bad at golf as me and we could all have a good laugh together.

RVC: Describe your Dream Client in five words or less.

CG: Talented, perseverant, kind, charismatic, self-starter.

RVC: A forthcoming client’s book that has BIG commercial potential?

CG: Oh man, I am seriously SO excited about my upcoming titles. But in terms of which might have major sales potential–I would guess two picture books: Daddy Speaks Love by Leah Henderson and illustrated by EB Lewis (Nancy Paulsen), a beautiful tribute to fathers and The Very True Legend of Mongolian Death Worms by Sandra Fay (Godwin Books), a truly hilarious and very uniquely illustrated picture book that I think will appeal to Jon Klassen and Mac Barnett fans. She’s from New Zealand and brings that trademark dry Kiwi wit to her stories. She’s brilliant!

RVC: What’s the One That Got Away?

CG: In terms of picture books, I remember deciding not to offer representation on The Crayon Man by Natascha Biebow and that always bugs me–I would have made a different decision today. One book I offered on but the author ended up going with a different agent is an upcoming middle grade novel called La Loteria by Karla Valenti. I was dying to rep lovely Karla and her book, but she went with Ammi-Joan Paquette, whom I like and respect very much, so I can’t be too mad!!

I just realized these responses were not “Corvette-fast.” Sorry!

RVC: No worries, Clelia. The real bar for anything at OPB is quality, and you delivered, no doubt about it. Thanks so much!

Educational Activities: Lions & Cheetahs & Rhinos OH MY! by John Platt and Moira Rose Donohue

On November 16, 2020November 15, 2020 By Only Picture BooksIn Educational Activities

Lions & Cheetahs & Rhinos OH MY!
Authors: John Platt and Moira Rose Donohue
15 August 2020
Sleeping Bear Press
32 pages

I was intrigued by the idea of using kid artists for a picture book. What a fun idea, right?

Book description from Sir Read a Lot: “Ten African animals, including lions, zebras, giraffes, and elephants, are brought to life in colorful artwork, accompanied by fun nature facts. With text written by John Platt and Moira Rose Donohue, each animal portrait in Lions & Cheetahs & Rhinos OH MY! is painted by a student from the How to Draw a Lion program. Established in 2018 by New York artist Platt, How to Draw a Lion is a nonprofit art education program that provides art classes for children in sub-Saharan Africa.”

Educational Activities inspired by Platt and Donohue’s Lions & Cheetahs & Rhinos OH MY!:

Before Reading–From looking at the front and back cover:
- Why does the title include “OH MY!”?
- Where and when do you think this story takes place?
- What do you already know about lions? About cheetahs? About rhinos?
- What other animals do you imagine might be in this book?
- Are the kid artists on the back cover younger, older, or the same age that you imagined?
After Reading–Now that you’ve read the story:
- What is the main message of this book?
- Which animal fact surprised you most?
- Which of the kid-created images did you like the most? Why?
- What other picture books does this book remind you of?
- What feedback would you give to the authors?
Drawing–This project is based on the work of John Platt’s How to Draw a Lion program. While the book’s back matter has a step-by-step method for drawing a lion, here are videos that demonstrate how to draw some of the other African animals you saw in this book:
Crafting–Try your hand at one or more of the following crafts. Get an animal- or art-loving adult to help:
- Easy Elephant–I’m always a fan of 3D animals that can stand on their own.
- Handprint Zebra–It requires using a computer printer and scissors, so be sure to have an adult help!
- Lion Painting–This one uses footprints and forks. How much fun (and how messy) is that?
- Paper Bag Hippo–Googly eyes makes this one really stand out.
- Rolling Pin Print Leopard–Yep, it really uses a rolling pin (which won’t be ruined) to make the spots. Fun!
Further Reading–Which of these other picture books about African wildlife have you read? (Click on the book cover for more information on any of these titles!)

Author Interview: Lisa Katzenberger

On November 9, 2020November 8, 2020 By Only Picture BooksIn Author Interviews

This month’s Author Interview is with Illinois author Lisa Katzenberger. I learned about her via the Perfect 2020 Picture Book Group—a “group of picture book authors and illustrators debuting throughout 2020” (which includes July’s Author Interviewee, Kristen Schroeder, and last month’s Author Interviewee, Anita Amin—who, like Lisa, also has twins!).

Let’s prepare for the real interview with a mini-interview! How’s that for ten bio-focused questions of fun?

Hometown: Midlothian, Illinois
Age you knew you were a writer: 3^rd grade
First magical experience with a picture book: I don’t remember reading picture books as a child, so my memory is reading to my kids and I will never forget the first time I read Jane Yolen’s Owl Moon—that wordless spread always gets me!
First non-book-related job you’ve had: Shampoo girl at Fantastic Sam’s
Best late-night reading beverage: Water (or I’ll fall asleep)
Story plotting style: Story spine
Query # that landed your first agent: 103
Secret place you like to read: Not very secret, but the left-hand corner of my couch is best.
Current writing-adjacent volunteer position: Social Media Coördinator for SCBWI Illinois
The picture book you’re recommending to everyone right now: I Am Every Good Thing, written by Derrick Barnes and illustrated by Gordon C. James

Alright, I think we’re ready. On to the main attraction!

Website: http://www.lisakatzenberger.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisakatz17/?hl=en

Twitter: https://twitter.com/fictioncity

RVC: You’ve got a brilliant story about your start as a writer. Wanna share it?

LK: In third grade, we had a writing assignment and I got to work on a story about a haunted house. I remember covering front and back of pages of notebook paper in that very smeary blue erasable pen!

RVC: Oh, I LOVED those smeary pens. I made such a mess.

LK: When the writing session was finished, my story wasn’t. So I told my wonderful, very 80s teacher with big blonde permed hair and stonewashed jeans, Mrs. Nagratski, that I wasn’t finished, and she replied, “Well, keep writing then.” So I did, right through the very next lesson.

I haven’t stopped since!

RVC: Love that story. I tell a similar one about how I got a Ph.D. No one told me to stop attending classes after I got a B.A., so I just kept going.

Back to you–you earned a degree in Journalism and did work as a technical writer. How did those experiences help prepare you for success in writing kidlit?

LK: My degree in Journalism taught me how to interview people, listen, and learn that everyone has a story to tell. It also taught me how to write tightly and lose the fluff, something that is critical for writing picture books. As a technical writer, I had to learn to take complex subjects like telecommunications or insurance regulations and boil it down to its simplest meaning. I learned how to express big ideas in simple, clear language.

RVC: I’m a fan of the Adventures tab on your website, not just because you’ve seen/done cool things, but—and it’s going to get spooky-weird here—because you have Northern Illinois University’s Northern Star newspaper listed there. That school’s where I did my undergrad (eons ago), and I also had an early publication with the paper there, too! (An irate letter to the editor, if memory serves.)

LK: Thanks! My husband and I love to travel and we really miss it during the pandemic. I’ve had more than a few stories inspired by my trips. And my time at The Northern Star was critical to my development as a writer and editor. I learned to write on deadline and take feedback from others.

RVC: Your picture book, National Regular Average Ordinary Day, came out this June, right during all the COVID-19 quarantining. What did you do to promote the book (versus the live interactions and events you originally planned)?

LK: Oh, the Zooms! I did a virtual book launch at The Writing Barn, and storytimes for my local library and Chicago area independent bookstores. I wish I could have done more, but crossing my fingers that I will be able to with my next book, It Will Be OK, coming out in February 2021.

RVC: National Regular Average Ordinary Day landed on the Today Show’s list of great summer reads. Congrats on that! Any idea how that happened?

LK: I shared early review copies with lots of people in my network, and my publicist reached out to media outlets as well.

RVC: How did it feel to be listed among so many kidlit greats?

LK: Oh my gosh, amazing. I was flabbergasted to be on the same list at authors whose work I admire so much like Christian Robinson, Jessie Sima, and Miranda Paul.

RVC: The book seems to mesh text plus image especially well. Did you use art notes when you submitted the manuscript?

LK: I did actually. It was submitted with art notes about the rating system. Then once it was acquired, my editor put in more art notes before it went out for illustration.

RVC: What holidays did Peter–the book’s main character–make up that didn’t quite make the cut and appear in the pages?

LK: I looked back on previous revisions and the holidays Peter made up were always there—I didn’t cut any! What I did change were the real holidays that Peter celebrated.

Sorry, National Button Day, but you didn’t make the cut!

RVC: If I asked Peter what you got most right about him, what’d he say?

LK: He’s honest. Like any kid he gets bored, and he’s not afraid to admit it. Even pout a little. But he’s open to letting inspiration strike and running with it!

RVC: What picture-book-writing lesson did this book teach you?

LK: I think it taught me the importance of a cast of characters. Once my editor paginated the book, she asked for two more spreads of content. So I added Devin, a friend for Peter to interact with. I think having someone to share his frustration with then later apologize to helped make Peter a more rounded character.

RVC: Not only are you in Perfect 2020 Picture Book Group, but you’re also in the 2021 Picture Book Scribblers promo group. How has being in those groups helped?

LK: It’s so nice to have a support system of people who are going through the same thing as you are at exactly the same time. I love having a private place where I can ask silly newbie questions! It has also introduced me to great books and wonderful friends.

RVC: You’ve done something I’ve seen more and more—you had an agent for years, then you changed to another one. What advice do you have for those thinking of making a similar move?

LK: It was a really, really hard decision to leave my first agent and search for a new one. I agonized over it for months. My advice is to really evaluate the relationship—both what’s not working and what is—and determine if you will be happy if the relationship is in the same place in two months, six months, a year. Do you see it growing and changing? Are you getting what you need? Are the lines of communication open? Have you had a talk with your current agent about all this? Really be introspective, questioning, and honest. I talked to other friends in the industry who had also moved on from an agent, and while I hoped they would give me the golden answer, it was really something I had to figure out for myself.

RVC: Your new agent is OPB friend Wendi Gu (her interview with us happened here not so long ago). How did you know she was the right fit? What kind of evidence helped make the case?

LK: I felt very comfortable with Wendi, and I was really impressed with how serious she took the agent-author relationship and my work. She asked me a lot of questions, and had ideas on how some of my stories could be sharpened. She came across as thoughtful, smart, professional, and kind. Having been her client for a year and a half now, I can confirm she is all those things, a joy to work with, and my constant cheerleader. She will tell me, kindly, when my stories aren’t quite there yet, push me to dig deeper, and then celebrate with me once I get it right.

RVC: In 2021, we’ll see the publication of It Will Be OK. Care to give us a hint of what that picture book will be about?

LK: It Will Be OK is story of an anxious, overwhelmed giraffe and his loyal zebra friend whose patience and presence help him face his greatest fear head-on.

RVC: Sounds both terrific and timely.

Now, one final question for this part of the interview. If you had to “do it all over again” in terms of launching a picture book career, what’s one thing you’d do differently?

LK: I wouldn’t have sent out queries on those early cringe-worthy manuscripts. We all kind of go through this, and it’s part of the learning process, but yikes those early stories were bonkers!

RVC: Lisa, it’s time! “For what?” you ask. “For velocity, haste, and alacrity!” is our answer. And that’s because it’s indeed the moment for the much-awaited, never-equaled, always-surprising SPEED ROUND.

Blasty-fasty questions and zippy-skippy answers, please. Lisa, are you ready?

LK: Yeppity-yep-yep!

RVC: Best place in Chicago for deep dish?

LK: Giordano’s.

RVC: Favorite exhibit at the Field Museum of Natural History?

LK: SUE the T. rex.

RVC: Best IPA you’ve ever had?

LK: Lagunitas IPA.

RVC: Three of your fave Chicago writers?

LK: Sarah Aronson, Kate Hannigan, and Patty Toht.

RVC: Best picture book of 2019?

LK: When Sadness Is at Your Door, written & illustrated by Eva Eland.

RVC: Three words that get to the heart of what a great picture book is.

LK: Heartfelt, honest, re-readable.

RVC: Thanks so much, Lisa! It’s always a hoot to hang out with a fellow Chicagoan, NIU alum, and kidlit writer.