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By Chana Stiefel  This Monday, April 24, is “Yom HaShoa V’Hagevurah,” the “Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust and the Heroism,” celebrated throughout the world to commemorate the six million Jews and all who perished at the hands of the Nazis. With the addition of the expression of heroism, the Israeli Knesset enacted the full name in 1953 to focus on the bravery of those who stood up to tyranny, Jews and non-Jews alike. Each year (and perhaps this year especially), we are reminded that Holocaust education is essential. The question is: How do we explain the horrors of the Holocaust to young children? Picture books can be an excellent portal to open the door to discussion on this difficult topic. Last month, I taught a class called “Picture Book Portrayals of the Holocaust” to a group of students at Ma’ayanot, the high school where I work. The class was part of a Book Day commemorating the life and legacy of humanitarian, author, professor and Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel (1928-2016). Wiesel taught us: “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” Following are beautifully illustrated picture books that highlight this essential message—a message for all ages:  “The Terrible Things: An Allegory of the Holocaust,” by Eve Bunting, Illustrated by Stephen Gammell (Harper & Row, 1989) Summary: Animals of the forest are content until The Terrible Things arrive and blot out the sun. First they come for all feathered animals. Little Rabbit wonders what’s wrong with feathers, but the other animals silence him. “Just be glad it wasn’t us they wanted,” says Big Rabbit. Then the Terrible Things return for bushy tailed creatures, followed by every creature who swims, and so on. No one stands up to the Terrible Things until the forest is decimated. The Takeaway: Through the inaction of the forest creatures, children can start to understand this horrible period of history and begin discussions of what each of us can do to prevent it from happening again. Eve Bunting’s allegory of the forest creatures may be less terrifying for children and can be extended to lessons against tyranny in today’s world.  “The Whispering Town,” by Jennifer Elvgren, Illustrated by Fabio Santomauro (Lerner Publishing, 2014) Summary: Based on a true story, this beautiful book shows how one family in Denmark protected Jews from the Nazis by hiding them in their cellar. Worried about their safety, the Danish daughter, Anett, comes up with a clever plan to get the Jewish family safely to the harbor. The Takeaway: This book’s positive message shows how effective resistance can be. Even young children can accomplish amazing things. As we read in the author’s note, Danes bravely hid Jews in warehouses, barns, hotels, and churches. They hired boats to smuggle them safely to Sweden. About 1,700 Jews escaped from the small fishing village of Gilleleje during the war.  “The Cats in Krasinksi Square,” by Karen Hesse, Illustrated by Wendy Watson (Scholastic Press, 2004) Summary: Also based on a true story, this book shows how two sisters outfox the Nazis by using stray cats to distract their vicious dogs. The sisters then smuggle food to their starving friends in the Warsaw Ghetto. The Takeaway: In one word: Resist! Hesse’s beautiful storytelling reminds us that each person has unique gifts and ingenuity to help others.  “Benno and the Night of Broken Glass,” by Meg Wiviott, Illustrated by Jose Bisaillon (Kar-Ben Publishing, 2010)
Summary: With a cat’s-eye view, this book tells the fictional story of several families in one neighborhood in Berlin before, during, and after Kristallnacht (the Night of Broken Glass). An afterward shows photographs and tells about the real events of this horrific pogrom, which marked the beginning of the Holocaust on November 9, 1938. Wiviott’s gripping story and Bisaillon’s stunning illustrations show how normal life unraveled into horrific violence. Germans, who were once friends, lowered their eyes and turned their backs on their Jewish neighbors. The Takeaway: This book poignantly portrays the disastrous results of a community’s inaction. By using a cat as a neutral bystander, children can watch events unfold and gain perspective and compassion for the victims. Nazis are portrayed by their brown shirts and black boots. As Wiviott—and Elie Wiesel— remind us, we cannot afford to remain neutral when our neighbors are being oppressed. Other recommended picture books about the Holocaust: “The Butterfly,” by Patricia Polacco (Philomel, 2000) “Erika’s Story,” by Ruth Vander Zee and Roberto Innoncenti (Creative Editions, 2003) “The Harmonica,” by Tony Johnston, Illustrated by Ron Mazellan (Charlesbridge, 2004) What other picture books do you recommend with the message of not being silent and taking action? How can these lessons be extended for children? Please comment and share.
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Q & A with debut author Michelle Schaub, plus a giveaway!
By Chana Stiefel
Snowy outside? It's the perfect day to celebrate Michelle Schaub’s book birthday—her debut picture book Fresh-Picked Poetry: A Day at the Farmers’ Market (illustrator, Amy Huntington, Charlesbridge)! You'll find some wonderful Tuesday Takeaways in here, plus a giveaway! Details below. Welcome to Kidlittakeaways, Michelle! What inspired you to write your book? I’m a huge fan of farmers’ markets and local, seasonal eating. In fact, I often plan family vacations around places that I know have amazing markets. I knew I wanted to write a picture book that captured the wonder of market day, but I wasn’t sure how to go about it. Then one day I was at my favorite market, the Green City Market in Chicago, with my children. We were searching for paw paw, a rare fruit indigenous to North America which is only in season for a few weeks in late summer/early fall. While we scanned the venders, trying to catch a glimpse of this elusive fruit that looks like a bruised and lumpy pear, I thought about how much exploring a farmers’ market is like going on a treasure hunt. The idea of treasure hunts and new discovers is at the heart of all of the poems I wrote for this collection. How does the final draft compare with the first draft? My first draft included 25 poems and scanned an entire year at a market, starting with spring and continuing through winter. The collection focused more on how the market changes from season to season. My editor liked the poems and the topic, but she thought I was trying to “do too much.” She challenged me to set the entire market on one summer day. This meant cutting about half the poems and creating new ones. It felt like a daunting task at the time, but ultimately the collection is more focused and relatable as a result. Describe your writing journey. While I enjoyed writing, reading, and words all through grade school and high school, the idea that I might actually become a writer didn’t occur until the end of college. Up until that time I planned on becoming an architect. . .or a graphic designer. . . or a psychologist. (I was a little indecisive.) In my final semester, I took a creative writing class for fun. During one critique session, a classmate pointed out that my main characters were always kids. When she asked, “Have you ever thought about writing children’s books?” a big lightbulb went on in my brain. I have been teaching writing to children and writing for children ever since. Do you always write in rhyme? What are the challenges of writing a rhyming picture book? I don't always work in rhyme, but most of the poems in FRESH-PICKED do rhyme. When I set out to write a poem, I don't decide ahead of time if it is going to rhyme or not. I let the topic and tone "guide my pen." Rhyme works best for the poems in FRESH-PICKED because I am trying to cultivate a fun, rollicking adventure throughout the collection. One of the potential pitfalls of writing in rhyme is letting "rhyme rule over reason." This happens when you are so focused on finding a rhyme for a particular word that you end up diverging from your intended meaning. For example, let's say I am composing a poem about spring, and I write "I love the caress of a soft April breeze/ especially when I am nibble cheese." Clearly, I have let the rhyme dictate the content, and the result is a little, well... cheesy. Luckily, my poetry group does not let me get away with convenient rhymes that are not true to the content of the poem. Which leads to a lot of rewriting, and A LOT of consultation with my two best poetry tools: thesaurus.com and rhymezone.com. Great tips! Do you have a critique group? How does it work? I have an amazing poetry group, which includes Eileen Meyer, Heidi Roemer, and Patricia Toht, all successfully published poets. We meet once a month at a local coffee shop to critique work, celebrate victories, and commiserate over setbacks. How did you find your agent? I connected with my agent, Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literacy, at an Illinois Prairie Writers’ and Illustrators’ Day. I think Karen might be one of the hardest working and most efficient agents in the business. When it comes to answering emails, I often tell her that she is faster than Jimmy John’s. Did you have any part in choosing your illustrator? Did you include illustration notes in your manuscript? I did not have any say in choosing the illustrator nor did I include illustrator notes, but boy did I luck out. I am thrilled with Amy Huntington’s illustrations. She even created a clever sub-plot about two friends that meet at the market, one the child of a farmer and one the child of a shopper. The friends each have a dog, and these canine companions cause some unexpected adventure. Amy’s illustrations add a surprising layer to the book. What were your favorite picture books growing up? I loved the FRANCIS books by Russell and Lilian Hoban. Francis is such a spunky little badger and she taught me that it’s okay to have a mind of your own as long as your ideas don’t squash those around you. What is one takeaway you’d like to share with aspiring authors? If you are going to be a children’s writer, you have to be in it for the marathon, not the sprint. It took me twenty years of training to finally cross that finish line. And once I did, I realized it that really wasn’t a finish line, but more of a refueling station. So, grab your Gatorade and keep on going, because there are always more stories to tell. Thank you so much, Michelle! Michelle is generously giving away a free signed copy to one lucky reader (U.S. only). Enter the Rafflecopter below! 
Michelle Schaub's poetry also appears in And the Crowd Goes Wild, A Global Gathering of Sports Poems and The Poetry Friday Anthology for Celebrations. She is a middle school language arts teacher who nurtures a love of reading and writing with students. When not teaching and writing, Michelle loves hiking, biking, and exploring local farmers markets.
By Donna Cangelosi  I recently posted a question for published authors:
"If you had one takeaway or bit of advice for a new writer, what would it be? I immediately received over a dozen responses from some of the finest writers I know! And they kept coming!
By Chana Stiefel
Welcome Anna Forrester! Anna's beautiful picture book, BAT COUNT (illustrated by Susan Detweiler, Arbordale), debuted this month. Find out the backstory of Anna's bat story & walk away with some great Tuesday Takeaways. Plus, enter to win a free signed copy of the book below!
What inspired you to write your book? A colony of bats lives in the barn of my family’s place in central Pennsylvania, and when we heard that scientists were asking people to track summer bat colonies as part of an effort to understand White Nose Syndrome, we decided to get involved. Counting bats turned out to be strangely fun. As the sky changes, you lie there by the fire, watching. It can take an hour for them to come out, and it ends up being an incredibly relaxing way to end a day. Also, my kids – like many kids today – are very aware of the ecological challenges the planet and so many of its species are facing. BAT COUNT is the story of one particular, worried child getting involved in citizen science and trying to make a difference; I hope that it will plant a seed in the minds and hearts of some of its young readers. How does the final draft compare with the first draft? BAT COUNT is long by many of today’s standards – almost 1,000 words – but it is a lot shorter than it used to be! It was one of my first picture book projects, and I put it aside once I started to get a sense of the norms of today’s trade market and realized there probably wasn’t a place for it in there. When I read that Arbordale, an educational publisher, was looking for math- and science-themed picture books, 1,000 words or less, I edited it down and pitched it as a book about bats and citizen science. The structure actually never changed too much – which is SO not the case for anything else I write – but the ending took lots of work. Describe your writing journey. I’ve always loved picture books, and wrote my first one 20+ years ago as my Master's thesis at Bank Street College. I fiddled around with a few more kids writing projects back then, but stopped when I decided to study landscape architecture. Do you have an agent? No agent – yet! Do you have a critique group? How does it work? I have been in a real-time, 8-person, monthly critique group of picture book writers for a couple years here in Philly. Recently our waiting list got so long that we started a second group, and I go to that one once a month now too: it is mostly writer-illustrators, so is different from my first group in interesting ways. I have a few critique partners I met through the 12 x 12 Challenge, and a few other writer friends I’ve met along the way who I share work with, digitally – a couple, even, from our awesome 2017 Picture The Books’ cohort! (Check out Picture the Books, featuring this year's debut picture books, where Anna & I are members!) Did you have any part in choosing your illustrator? Did you include illustration notes in your manuscript? I had no part in choosing BAT COUNT’s illustrator, and the manuscript had no illustration notes (the narrative is pretty traditional). But Arbordale did ask for my thoughts at the beginning of the process: I said that I really wanted the pages to have a lot of sky, and that I didn’t see any reason Jojo’s family needed to be white. What were your favorite picture books growing up? Evaline Ness’s SAM BANGS AND MOONSHINE was a favorite, as was Marie Hall Ets’ PLAY WITH ME. There was a lot of Dr. Seuss and Robert McCloskey and Maurice Sendak floating around our house too. I was the youngest of four, and my (busy) mom read out loud to us a TON. She’d been an English major in college, and she took this course at The Great Books Foundation so she could go in to schools and do read-aloud programs. She is a great reader, and practiced a LOT on us, so I did a ton of listening to all sorts of stories too. What is one takeaway you’d like to share with aspiring authors? Try to understand why you write – your “writer’s purpose.” Whether you come from a marketing place or an artistic place or some other place entirely, try to know why you’re doing what you do. I’ve read a couple pieces about this – (here and here) and, honestly, I’m not sure I’ll ever be done figuring it out for myself. Plus aspects of my purpose will probably keep shifting over time. But the process of trying to sort it out (by writing, of course) is invaluable to me – I absolutely recommend it. Thank you Anna! Anna is generously offering a free signed copy of BAT COUNT to one lucky person (U.S. only). To enter, please check out the Rafflecopter below Anna's bio. 
Anna Forrester has taught kindergarten and second grade, and designs landscapes for play. She writes picture books, chapter books and middle grade novels. Anna’s debut picture book, Bat Count (Arbordale, February 2017), is a ‘ficinformational’ story of bats, citizen science and hope. Anna loves books and she loves exploring – in Philadelphia where she lives, in rural Pennsylvania on her family’s farm, and in all the places her adventures take her. Visit Anna at her website or on Twitter .
By Chana Stiefel
It’s Takeaway Tuesday—with a great Giveaway! BUNNY’S BOOK CLUB, an adorable picture book by Annie Silvestro (illus. by Tatjana Mai-Wyss), debuts TODAY! It features a book-loving bunny who sneaks into the town library to borrow books for his forest friends. Annie shared some Kidlittakeaways with us, plus she’s offering a giveaway: A free signed copy of BUNNY’S BOOK CLUB to one lucky winner (U.S. only)! See details below. How did you come up with idea for Bunny’s Book Club? It’s a really fun memory. I participated in the parent show for my son’s preschool and my character was a bunny. I had some time “backstage” in my bunny costume and that’s where the idea began brewing for BUNNY’S BOOK CLUB. What was the writing process like? How many drafts did you go through? How does the final version compare with the first? I went through quite a few drafts of this story. Believe it or not, the original version had a real western flair. Ultimately my wonderful editor, Frances Gilbert, asked me to take it in a different direction. More animals were also added and involved over the course of the revision process. Is the Bunny character based on a particular book lover? How much of your book is autobiographical? That is such a great question! Libraries are so vitally important and special to me and have been for as long as I can remember. I really wanted to share that passion. That said, I definitely think my oldest son would resort to something drastic if he couldn’t get his hands on books for some reason. He cannot live without them. The book is filled with lots of clever bunny references (Bunny wriggles his cottontail through the book slot; the library was “better than a field full of fresh, crunchy carrots!” Bunny’s whiskers twitch with excitement.). Did you spend a lot of time observing bunnies (and other animals)? Not so much time observing bunnies, but lots of time trying to think like one! My favorite picture books have new details that I notice each time I read and re-read. Tatjana Mai-Wyss’s illustrations accomplish that in a big way. Did your submission include illustrator notes? What was your reaction when you saw the illustrations? I had a few illustration notes, yes, and our editor added a few more during the revision process. Otherwise I was not involved with that aspect of the book. Tatjana posted some sneak-peeks on Instagram that were like special little presents each time they appeared. I was overjoyed when I saw the illustrations in full. I absolutely love them! Each animal has such a personality! I love the details of the endpapers and the library card in the front. I feel very lucky and grateful. What were some of your favorite picture books as a child? I was a big reader as a child and loved so many – ones that stand out are SYLVESTER AND THE MAGIC PEBBLE, the BABAR books, STREGA NONA, the GEORGE AND MARTHA books, MADELINE, any and all Golden Books, and anything by Richard Scarry. I could go on and on… Do you have a critique group? What’s your process for sharing stories? Yes! I’m in two, actually—one online and one face-to-face. The support and feedback from fellow writers has been invaluable to me. It’s impossible to see something with fresh eyes after a while. Critique partners can offer vital perspective on what works and doesn’t work in a manuscript. I try to wait until a story is as polished as I can make it before sharing it with others. What’s your takeaway for aspiring picture book authors? (Let me guess…spend a lot of time in the library?) Ha! Definitely lots of time in the library! Read as much as you can and as many different types of picture books as you can. Read them aloud. What makes you like one more than another? What books don’t you like and why? What books do you love so much you feel compelled to buy them? It’s helpful to think about the answers to those questions as you approach your own manuscript. 
About the author: Annie Silvestro is a lover of books who reads and writes as much as possible and can often be found shuffling piles of them around so she has a place to sit or someplace to put her teacup. Her debut picture book, BUNNY’S BOOK CLUB, illustrated by Tatjana Mai-Wyss (Doubleday), will be released on February 7, 2017, followed by MICE SKATING, illustrated by Teagan White (Sterling). Annie lives by the beach in NJ with her husband and two boys who also love to read, and a cat who does not. Visit Annie online at: www.anniesilvestro.com and on Twitter and Instagram: @anniesilvestro.
New for 2017: Takeaway Tuesdays! (And a Surprise Giveaway!)
By Chana Stiefel
Not long ago, my son pulled a book off the shelf at our local library and said, “You gotta read this, Mom.” The book, Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig, is a cherished classic that won a Caldecott Award in 1970. My son’s teacher had read the book in class. It's about a donkey who turns himself into a rock by wishing on a magic pebble. The story left my son—and countless others—with a sense of wonder. Interestingly, at the back of the book, I found something truly wonder-ful. It was William Steig’s Caldecott acceptance speech, in which he says: “Art, including juvenile literature, has the power to make any spot on earth the living center of the universe; . . . it helps us to know life in a way that still keeps before us the mystery of things. It enhances the sense of wonder. And wonder is respect for life. Art also stimulates the adventurousness and the playfulness that keep us moving in a lively way that lead to useful discovery.” Inspiring words from the man who also wrote Shrek!, on which the blockbuster movies are based, as well as Abel's Island and Doctor De Soto, which both won Newbery Honors, as well as dozens of other children's books. (My favorite is still Pete's a Pizza.) And did you know Steig started writing children's books when he was 61? His words reminded me that maintaining and sharing a sense of wonder are the reasons we write for children. The Takeaway: As we begin a new year of writing, let’s try to keep that magical spirit of wonder before us and see where it leads! Wishing everyone a wonder-filled 2017! SURPRISE! Happy 1st Birthday to Us! To celebrate our 1st Birthday, enter to win one of two picture book critiques, one each by Donna Cangelosi and Chana Stiefel (500 words max.)! To enter, click on the Rafflecopter below. Good luck and thanks for reading Kidlittakeaways.com. By Donna Cangelosi  'Tis the season of endings and new beginnings. As picture book writers, we know that there is nothing as elating as writing the opening sentence for a picture book. Except, of course, wrapping the book up with the perfect last line. Whenever I start a new story, I re-read my favorite picture books to get ideas for starting up and ending. Here's a few of my all time favorite opening and closing lines. If you haven't read them, treat yourself!
BEEKLE Written & Illustrated by Dan Santat Book jacket description: This magical story begins on an island far away where an imaginary friend is born. He patiently waits his turn to be chosen by a real child, but when he is overlooked time and again, he sets off on an increadible journey to the bustling city, where he finally meets his perfect match and- at long last- is given his special name: Beekle. Beginning: "He was born on an island far away where imaginary friends were created. Here, they lived and played, eagerly waiting to be imagined by a real child." Ending: "And together they did the unimaginable." The opening line establishes the setting, hints at the problem, and raises tension. Will Beekle be chosen? With the help of Santat's beautiful illustrations, the reader falls in love with Beekle. The lyrical language further promises a magial story. The ending provides a happily ever after feeling, uses lexicon to wrap up the story, and extends the theme to leave the reader wondering what Beekle and his friend will do. LEAVES Written & Illustrated by David Ezra Stein Book jacket description: The young bear has neer seen leaves fall off a tree before. Should he try to put them back? Or take a nap in them? He is getting sleepy... Beginning: "It was his first year. Everything was going well until the first leaf fell." Ending: "He felt the sun and saw the little buds on the bare arms of the trees and the tiny leaves that had begun to unfold. "Welcome!" he cried. And, he thought, the leaves welcomed him." The beginning sets the mood. A happy bear explores a new world. Then a leaf falls and the mood changes. The reader is eager to read what will happen. The ending re-establishes the happy go lucky spirit of the bear and brings the story full circle. The bear has grown and now understands the cycle of nature. BALLOONS OVER BROADWAY The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade Written & Illustrated by Melissa Sweet Book jacket description: Every Thanksgiving morning for more than eighty years, mammoth-size balloons have risen to the skies to wobble and sway, sally and shimmy, up and down the canyons of New York City. Just how did this beloved tradition come to Broadway? Who first invented those wondrous "upside-down marionettes? Meet Tony Sarg: the boy who loved to figure out how things moved- the boy who became the puppeteer of Macy's parade! Beginning: "From the time he was a little boy, Tony Sarg loved to figure out how to make things move. He once saide he became a marionette man when he was only six years old." Ending: "Tony Sarg- The puppeteer who loved to figure out how to make things move- had set the stage, with a little rigging, for a puppet to be anything anyone could imagine it to be." The beginning introduces Tony Sarg and informs the reader that the story is about his fascination with making things move. The ending uses repitition to show haw Sarg's fascination helped others to explore the art of puppetry. JIMI SOUNDS LIKE A RAINBOW A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix Written by Gary Golio Illustrated by Javaka Steptoe Book jacket description: Jimi Hendrix was many things: a superstar, a rebel, a hero, an innovator. But first, he wa a boy named Jimmy who loved to draw and paint and listen to records. A boy who played air guitar with a broomstick and longed for a real guitar of his own. A boy who asked himself a question: Could someone paint pictures with sound? Beginning: "Electricity ripped through the air. A flash lit up the room. Thunder rocked the house. Jimi's hand jumped and a rainbow of colored pencils went tumbling to the floor." Ending: "His playing became bold as lightning. Wild as waves. Free as the wind through the trees. Dressed in the colors of the rainbow, he played for audiences far and wide, joining sounds with tender feelings and painting the world with his songs." The beginning introduces Jimi Hendrix, shows that he's an artist, and lets the reader know that the story is about sensory experiences. The ending extends the initial theme and shows how Jimi's music was influenced by sensory experiences and how his music touched the world. The Takeaway: When writing picture books, ask youself: Does the opening introduce the character and setting, build tension and convey a promise to the reader? Does the ending bring the story full circle, extend the them, or launch the reader to explore further? Wishing everyone satisfying endings & new beginnings in 2017! By Donna Cangelosi and Chana Stiefel Thanksgiving is a great time to take stock of the things we are grateful for. Here are some of the things we, as picture book writers, are most thankful for.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE! 
By Chana Stiefel
November is National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. To help spread awareness, the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation commissioned me to write a book called WHY CAN’T GRANDMA REMEMBER MY NAME? For this post, I interviewed my co-author, Kent L. Karosen, President and CEO of the Fisher Center to explain how this meaningful project came about. Check out pics from our November 2nd book signing at Bloomingdale's in NYC below.
PLUS Enter our giveaway for a chance to win a free signed copy of the book, or go to Alzinfo.org to order your own copy today. (Guess which presidential candidate has one! See below!) All proceeds benefit the Foundation in the quest to find a cure.  Kent L. Karosen
CS: What is the mission of the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation?
KK: The Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation funds critical breakthrough research into the cause and cure of Alzheimer’s disease, an epidemic that is expected to affect 16 million people by 2050 if we don’t find a cure. With the Alzheimer’s epidemic at an all time high, it’s never been as important to increase the amount of research being conducted in an effort to find a cure. CS: How did this book idea come about? KK: I had an idea about using artwork created by children juxtaposed with art created by Alzheimer’s patients as a way to explain Alzheimer’s disease to a broader audience. I also wanted to demonstrate the power of art therapy for all ages and a way for parents and family to share with a younger audience what is happening to Grandma or other loved ones. It’s also important to make raising awareness of the disease a priority and to educate the public about it. CS: What was the process in choosing an author (and how did you find me)? KK: I wanted to write the book and work with a children’s book author who understands what children will comprehend in terms of the intricacies of the disease. The Fisher Center found you [Chana Stiefel] through your online website*. We are thrilled to have worked with you on this educational book. 
CS: It was an honor and a pleasure to work with you and your team. Describe the artwork in the book and how you got in touch with both the Alzheimer's art program and children's art program. I have personal connections to Little Kinder Artists as well as Opening Minds through Art, an intergenerational art program for people with Alzheimer’s disease. Through these relationships, we partnered with them to obtain the beautiful art contained in the book (above). What are your goals for the book? Through Why Can’t Grandma Remember My Name?, my hope is that a younger audience will have a better understanding of the disease that affects their loved ones. Which book publisher did you use and why? We chose to use BookBaby.com, an online self publisher. As a Foundation that directs 85% of its donations to program expenses (such as research) to find a cure for the disease, we chose a cost-efficient method for publishing our book. Through this approach, we have been successful in promoting Why Can’t Grandma Remember My Name?, which hopefully will help us sell our book and inform people about the disease. All royalties from the book go directly to the Foundation in the quest to find a cure. Visit ALZinfo.org to purchase a book, donate for the cure, and to find resources including current research studies, treatments, and disease management approaches. Enter to win a signed copy of WHY CAN’T GRANDMA REMEMBER MY NAME? (U.S. only) below the slideshow. *Note to authors: Here’s a great link about building an author website. http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/step-step-guide-build-author-website
By Chana Stiefel
KidLitTakeaways welcomes author Diana Murray, who has THREE new picture books out this year! Diana is generously offering a signed copy of her book GRIMELDA THE VERY MESSY WITCH, illustrated by Heather Ross (Harper Collins, 2016) to one lucky reader. See details below!
KLT: Congrats! GRIMELDA THE VERY MESSY WITCH is out in time for Halloween! How did you conjure this “charming” book? DM: Thank you! I got the idea during the very first PiBoIdMo (Picture Book Idea Month) on Tara Lazar’s blog. It was 2009, I think. Before that event, I typically started writing as soon as an idea popped in my head. But this time, I spent more time at the idea phase. When I came up with the idea of a messy witch, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. By controlling the urge to write immediately, the inspiration actually grew more concentrated. KLT: Rot sauce! A puff of ogre’s breath! Scream cheese (my favorite)! What was your inspiration for this hilarious witch’s brew? DM: Well, firstly, I love puns. Perhaps to a fault. :) Also, I have an affinity for witch culture. When I first had the idea of writing a mess-related story, I wondered who the main character should be, and I thought of several directions I could go in. But the idea of a witch resonated the best with me and gave me the opportunity to write about more interesting things lost in the clutter. I felt making her a witch pushed the idea to the extreme--with all those books, and little bottles of this and that, not to mention the critters. KLT: Are you neater, as messy, or messier than your adorable little witch, Grimelda? Have you ever lost anything in your hair? DM: I certainly hope I’m not messier! But I’m sorry to say, I’m nearly as messy. I try not to be, but it’s difficult to clean when I’d much rather be doing something creative. I do try my best. And in the end, of course I prefer a clean, organized house. That’s what I was trying to show with the story. I think it should be clear to the reader that Grimelda would be better off with a clean home and that she’s being very silly and stubborn by resisting. And she clearly pays for it in the end, too. But you see, the witch world is kind of like opposite land. I was hoping kids would get a kick out of that. And yes, several times, I’ve lost my glasses only to discover they were already on top of my head. What drives me the most crazy is when I can only find one shoe. Ack! And then I have to walk around the house frantically looking for the other one. That happens to my kids, too. I thought it would be funny to imagine, what if you just left the house like that and went about your business in one shoe? KLT: Did you and your illustrator Heather Ross stir up any ideas together? Did Grimelda appear as you imagined her? DM: No, we worked independently. Grimelda didn’t look anything like I had pictured. I had always pictured her as an adult and not nearly as adorable. I was blown away by Heather’s illustrations and thought they were absolutely perfect. Better than anything I could’ve imagined. And she added some wonderful touches. Seeing the illustrations is my favorite part of being a writer. Such a fun surprise. 
KLT: GRIMELDA is one of your three new books out this year—all in verse! The others are CITY SHAPES & NED THE KNITTING PIRATE. (Who says publishers don’t buy rhyming picture books? KERFLUMP to that!) What are three takeaways for writers who want to stick to rhyme?
DM: 1. Practice, practice, practice. 2. Exchange work with other rhymers and DON’T BE SENSITIVE ABOUT CRITICSM! 3. Take the time to learn about the basics of writing in meter. Test your scanning abilities. If you read something in rhyme, you can ask yourself what the meter and rhyme scheme is. Is it anapestic or iambic? Trimeter or tetrameter? AABB or ABCB? Start noticing. KLT: How are you managing the marketing of your books? What are your best tips for organizing author visits, signings, and other publicity? DM: I’m afraid I’m not very good in that area. But I definitely recommend applying for book festivals. They typically get a great turnout. KLT: Before you fly away, what’s coming next? DM: I’m happy to say the sequel of Grimelda is going to be released next summer. It’s called GRIMELDA AND THE SPOOKTACULAR PET SHOW (Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins). I’ve already seen Heather’s illustrations and they are simply awesome. And this January will be the launch of GROGGLE’S MONSTER VALENTINE, illustrated by the amazing Bats Langley (Sky Pony Press). Can’t wait for the world to see his talent. It’s his first picture book. Another title coming next summer is DORIS THE BOOKASAURUS (Imprint/Macmillan) illustrated by the wonderful Yuyi Chen. I am SO in love with the cover! There are some other things on the way, too. You can see more on my website: http://www.dianamurray.com. So much to look forward to! Thanks so much! Diana is offering a GIVEAWAY: One signed copy of GRIMELDA THE VERY MESSY WITCH! (U.S. residents only.) See details below! 
Diana Murray writes poetry and books for children. Her award-winning poems have appeared in magazines including Spider, Ladybug, Highlights, High Five, and Hello. Diana grew up in New York City and recently moved to a nearby suburb, where she lives with her husband, two very messy children, and a goldfish named Pickle. She is represented by Brianne Johnson at Writers House literary agency.
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AuthorsDonna Cangelosi and Chana Stiefel are picture book critique partners & friends who are passionate about kids' books & are eager to share tidbits from their writing journey with other aspiring writers. SubscribeArchives
March 2018
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