children’s authors

hotTEAs of Children’s Literature: Duncan Tonatiuh

~ jama ~ 4 Comments
Duncan Tonatiuh is an award-winning author-illustrator. His work is inspired by the ancient art of Mexico, particularly that of the Mixtec codex. His aim is to create images and stories that honor the past, but that are relevant to children nowadays. (Pictured here with his 9-month-old daughter Vida.)

 

☕ CUPPA OF CHOICE:  Green Tea

☕ HOT OFF THE PRESS: Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras (Abrams, 2015) and Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation (Abrams, 2014). Forthcoming: The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes (Abrams, October 2016) and Esquivel!: Space-Age Sound Artist, written by Susan Wood (Charlesbridge, September 2016).

 

☕ FAVE FOODIE CHILDREN’S BOOK: Salsa: Un poema para cocinar/A Cooking Poem, written by Jorge Argueta (Groundwood Books, 2015).

☕ Visit Duncan Tonatiuh’s Official Website

☕☕ JUST ONE MORE SIP: Check out this video where Duncan expresses thanks for the Sibert Medal and Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor he was awarded earlier this year for Funny Bones.

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☕☕☕ CAN’T GET ENOUGH: Duncan chats with Viviana Hurtado from last summer’s Lunchtime Author Google Hangout. He talks about Funny Bones, how he got his first book contract with Abrams, and shares thoughts about creating diverse books for young readers in today’s publishing climate.

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☕☕☕☕ STILL THIRSTY: More Vida cuteness!

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Copyright © 2016 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.

hotTEAS of Children’s Literature: Linda Ashman

~ jama ~ 10 Comments
Linda Ashman is the author of more than thirty children’s books, as well as The Nuts & Bolts Guide to Writing Picture Books. Her books have been included in the “best of the year” lists of The New York Times, Parenting and Child magazines, the New York Public Library and more. She lives with her husband, son and two dogs in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

 

☕ CUPPA OF CHOICE: I have straight up black coffee first thing in the morning. Then, around 11:30, I have a soy latte with some sort of treat (for the record, a pecan scone today). My sister Liz gave me this mug as a reminder of growing up in New Jersey, and my very first job—waitressing at Dunkin’ Donuts.

☕ HOT OFF THE PRESSES: Rock-a-Bye Romp, illustrated by Simona Mulazzani (Nancy Paulsen Books/Penguin Random House, January 2016); Henry Wants More!, illustrated by Brooke Boynton Hughes (Penguin Random House, January 2016); All We Know, illustrated by Jane Dyer (HarperCollins, March 2016). Forthcoming: Hey, Coach!, illustrated by Kim Smith (Sterling, August 2016).

☕ FAVE FOODIE CHILDREN’S BOOKS: We must have read Seven Silly Eaters a zillion times when my son was small. We also loved Susan Meddaugh’s hilarious Martha books (the magical power of alphabet soup!). Oh, and Cooking with Henry and Elliebelly is really funny too.

☕ Visit Linda Ashman’s Official Website. She also blogs monthly at PictureBookBuilders.com. Learn more about Henry Wants More! in Linda’s Chat with illustrator Brooke Boynton Hughes, and about Rock-a-Bye Romp in Linda’s Chat with illustrator Simona Mulazzani.

☕☕ JUST ONE MORE SIP: Check out this great Welcome to My Studio feature at All the Wonders — you can see the different places where Linda likes to work in her lovely home.

☕☕☕ CAN’T GET ENOUGH: If you’re an aspiring or even a seasoned picture book writer, Linda’s Nuts and Bolts Guide to Writing Picture Books is a must read:

The Nuts and Bolts Guide is designed to work like a 9-week class. Each chapter includes detailed instruction on essential topics—things like building a story, experimenting with voice, creating memorable characters, writing rollicking read-alouds and pitch-perfect verse, playing with humor, and submitting your work—plus a reading list, interviews, tips, resources, and exercises to stimulate new ideas and apply to works-in-progress.

Click here for a free preview and to order your copy (available as a PDF or eBook for Kindle).

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Copyright © 2016 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.

hotTEAs of Children’s Literature: Will Hillenbrand

~ jama ~ 20 Comments
Will Hillenbrand is a celebrated author and illustrator whose published works include nearly sixty books for young readers. In addition to his own self-illustrated titles, he has illustrated the works of writers and retellers including Verna Aardema, Judy Sierra, Margery Cuyler, Judith St. George, Phyllis Root, Jane Yolen, Karma Wilson, Maureen Wright, Daniel Pinkwater and Jane Hillenbrand. Will has lived almost all of his life in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he grew up as the youngest of four boys. He now lives in Terrace Park. (Pictured here taking his first pull of the day of strong black coffee.)

 

☕ CUPPA OF CHOICE: Coffee black, so strong it makes the day brighter. Like Dunkin’ Donuts coffee best!

☕ HOT OFF THE PRESSES: Bear and Bunny, written by Daniel Pinkwater (Candlewick Press, December 2015); All for a Dime: A Bear and Mole Story (Holiday House, July 2015). Forthcoming: Me and Annie McPhee, written by Olivier Dunrea (Philomel, June 2016).

☕ FAVE FOODIE CHILDREN’S BOOK: Please Say Please!: Penguin’s Guide to Manners, written by Margery Cuyler (Scholastic, 2004). 

☕ Visit Will Hillenbrand’s Official Website

☕☕ JUST ONE MORE SIP: Book Trailer for Bear and Bunny

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☕☕☕ CAN’T GET ENOUGH: Visit Will in his studio:

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Copyright © 2016 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.

hotTEAs of Children’s Literature: Aaron Reynolds

~ jama ~ 12 Comments
Aaron Reynolds is the New York Times bestselling author of loads of kids books like NERDY BIRDY, CARNIVORES, and the Caldecott-Honor winner CREEPY CARROTS. He regularly makes time for school visits, where his silly, hilarious, and hands-on presentations mesmerize kids and teachers alike. Aaron lives in Chicago.

 

☕ CUPPA OF CHOICE: Butterbeer. Have you had the official stuff at Harry Potter World in Florida? It’s insanely good. It should require a prescription.

☕ HOT OFF THE PRESS: Nerdy Birdy, illustrated by Matt Davies (Roaring Brook Press, September 2015). Forthcoming: President Squid, illustrated by Sara Varon (Chronicle Books, March 1, 2016).

 

☕ FAVE FOODIE CHILDREN’S BOOK: I’m a big fan right now of Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast by Josh Funk and Brendan Kearney (Sterling, 2015). 

☕ Visit Aaron Reynolds’s Official Website 

☕☕ JUST ONE MORE SIP: Check out my tasty interview with Aaron about CARNIVORES!

☕ ☕ ☕ CAN’T GET ENOUGH: Cool and interesting interview about Nerdy Birdy. Is it just me, or does the interviewer, Becky Anderson, resemble Vicki Lawrence from the Carol Burnett Show? Same lovely smile 🙂

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Copyright © 2015 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.

 

HotTEAs of Children’s Poetry: Richard Michelson

~ jama ~ 21 Comments
Richard Michelson is a poet, children’s book author, art dealer and former Poet Laureate of Northampton.

 

☕ Cuppa of Choice: “I am no tea snob and try everything—green, black, white, oolong. No sugar, no lemon. But most often I reach for the herbal mint teas in the afternoon. Chamomile in the evening. And Nighty Night or Sleepy Time before bed.”

☕ Hot Off the Press: S is for Sea Glass: A Beach Alphabet, illustrated by Doris Ettlinger (Sleeping Bear Press, 2014), More Money Than God (Pitt Poetry Series, 2015).

☕ HotTEA in the Flesh: Mr. Michelson will be reading from More Money Than God at The Emily Dickinson Museum/The Homestead this evening (April 2) as part of the Amherst Art Walk (5-8 p.m.)

☕ Visit his Official Website

 

☕ ☕ ☕ Bonus Poem with mention of tea from Animals Anonymous (Simon & Schuster, 2008):

 

The SNAIL Ideal

When I was just a baby snail, I chose all clothes of blue.
I giggled goo goo ga ga. Mama answered coochie coo.

But as I grew, I knew I looked nice in chartreuse and pink.
And Mama never cared a whit ‘bout what the neighbor’s think.

Be yourself, she said, for that’s the thing we all do well.
Let no one tell you what to wear when you’re in your own shell.

When I was just a baby snail, Dad bought me soldier rattles.
And just before my bedtime I would watch them wage their battles.

But as I grew, he and I brewed pots of rosemary tea,
And perfumed all my dollhouses with passion potpourri.

Be yourself, my Daddy said, don’t let other’s presume
To tell you how you should behave when you’re in your own room.

When it was time for dating, I went out to meet my fate.
I eyed the hunks and harlots till I spied the perfect mate.

We belched at all the ballgames, and we swooned at the ballets.
Together we attended the hermaphrodite soirées.

Be yourself my partner said. Someday you’ll be my spouse.
No one can tell us who to love when we’re in our own house.

Of all God’s creatures, mollusks might not be the most evolved,
Though prejudice, I’m proud to say, is one problem we’ve solved.

We never try to impede anybody’s natural growth,
Whether they are happy being female, male, or both.

~ Posted with permission of the author, copyright © 2008 Richard Michelson. All rights reserved.

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Hot enough for you? 🙂

*fans self*

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Copyright © 2015 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.