Tag Archives: KidLit

Honeybird Blue … Where Are You?

In 2020, during the pandemic, I found myself spending a lot of time outdoors to escape the confinement I was feeling inside my home. I spent time nurturing my front and back gardens, reading outside, and walking with my dogs in my neighborhood, and in the parks nearby when I wasn’t teaching my students online.  I have always loved being outside enjoying the beauty and calming elements of nature.  When I was a child, you could find me with a book, reading under the shade of a tree, or walking in the forest of our backyard singing to the chickadees, the Maine state bird.  I also loved to photograph nature, and that continues into adulthood as one of my favorite hobbies.

As I grew up, and moved away from home in Maine down to South Carolina, and then settled in Maryland with my husband. I have enjoyed experiencing all the different climates, weather patterns, and the unique natural personalities of these very different states.  My travel that includes exploring the national, state, regional, and local parks has been especially delightful. As I raised my four children, I instilled a sense of wonder in them as we explored the natural world around us.

Feeling the breeze on my face, breathing deeply the Earthy scents, and enjoying nature’s symphony all fill me with a sense of peace.  Listening to the birds joyfully sing to each other, and catching a glimpse of them swooping and soaring is a treat.  For the past three years, since my 3rd grade Green Team assembled bluebird boxes for our school campus, I have been “grandma bird” to several broods of bluebirds and house sparrows.  Documenting the bird nest building, the egg laying, the hatching, and the fledging stages has been so thrilling and satisfying to observe and share with my young naturalists.

Becoming involved in the Maryland Association of Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE), leading my school to becoming a Maryland Green School, and achieving Environmental Educator certification have added new levels of fulfillment in my life.  While at the MAEOE conference in February, where I was presenting The Power of Picture Books: Nurturing Environmental Literacy from an Early Age , I met debut children’s author Taunya English and quickly fell in love with her picture book, Honeybird Blue which is a tribute to adventuresome, bird-loving fathers and their daughters.

In Honeybird Blue, you use the term “EARbirding” -listening closely to bird calls. How does your own practice of birding by ear influence the rhythm and auditory “onomatopoeia” of your writing?  

I was a radio reporter for many years. In that job I was on alert for the sounds I could bring back from my field reporting to create sonic scenes for the listening audience. My training as an audio reporter is probably the biggest influence on the rhythm and sound words I use in my picture book writing today.

I wanted to portray earbirding in Honeybird Blue because spotting species can be frustrating for newbies, especially during the summer when the leafy tree canopy and thick underbrush give birds lots of places to hide. 

Birding by ear gives children — and adults! — who are new to binocular skills, another way to connect with nature and rack up successes. Tick!

Writing a children’s book typically involves extensive research. Did you need to conduct additional research, or did your personal experience as a birder guide you?  If you did extra research, can you talk about your research process?

I’m an enthusiastic birder but not particularly skilled or experienced.

Because I’m a novice, I sought out critiques, feedback and fact-checking advice from veteran birders. Several people graciously volunteered their expertise and time.

I was inspired by the marshy landscapes at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum in Philadelphia. Early on, I visited several times and interviewed a biologist with the refuge. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website, iNaturalist.org and several other sites list species that have been spotted at the refuge. I used those bird lists as a resource.  

Taunya English – Honeybird Blue – Earth Day – Photo: David F. Choy

And as I wrote the story – and revised and revised and revised — the information and educator guides on Cornell Lab’s All About Birds site were invaluable. 

What was your first thought when you found out that Coretta Scott King Honor-winning illustrator Raissa Figueroa was chosen to illustrate Honeybird Blue?  

One of my first thoughts was: “Lucky me!” I’d been living with my vision of Honeybird for years, I couldn’t wait to see who Raissa’s Honeybird might be. 

I’ve had a print of Raissa’s watercolor “Puffs” hanging in my home for years. It’s been surreal to see my words and her art play together on the page.

Of Raissa’s lush, luminous illustrations, which is your favorite page spread in the book? Why?

I don’t have a favorite. But at one point we see a wideshot of the wildlife refuge. That spread is spectacular. The shadowy greens and yellows evoke the feeling I get when I’m standing in a dense forest understory. I love that we get to see Honeybird leading the way in that scene.

Share a little about your presentations for classroom and library audiences?

Reading to a crowd of kids is nerveracking and exhilarating. I’ve had so much fun and sharpened my read-aloud skills in these weeks since the book was published. When a group of pre-K students rowdily sings “rat-a-tat-tat!” back at me, I’m all smiles.

I developed a guessing game about bird characteristics that reinforces Next Generation Science Standards and classroom lessons on animal survival needs and inherited traits. 

I also work with event hosts to try to incorporate a bird craft or community art project. A huge thank you to librarian Erika Walston at the Gaithersburg Library in Maryland. I’ve carried many of her wonderful ideas with me as I’ve developed my author-visit presentations. 

Taunya, I heartily agree – Erika has been a fantastic partner to me and my school community over the past 4 years!

This just in … there’s now a Honeybird companion song. I lead a short call-and-response singalong to close out my time with the students.

Now that your debut picture book is out in the world, are there other nature adventures you’re looking forward to? 

In August 2026, I’m headed to Sitka National Historical Park in Alaska through a program called STEAM in the Park. 

My next picture book is Pop-Up Pond with illustrator Jennifer Ball-Cordero. It will be published in 2027 by Charlesbridge. The story follows a naturalist as she leads families on a flashlight hike to a vernal pool full of wetland animals. 

In the lull before my next book, I hope readers will subscribe to my newsletter and follow my nature writing on Substack. My essays are often a first look at the subjects I’m exploring in my unpublished picture-book manuscripts. 

Thank you, Taunya, for sharing your thoughts here today. I am looking forward to reading Pop-Up Pond next year with my nature-loving granddaughter, Hazel!

When You Dream Big! Activated!

Originally posted on The Reynolds Center for Teaching, Learning, and Creativity on June 2, 2026

At Flower Hill Elementary, Melissa King, affectionately known as “The Creative Librarian,” loves expanding her students’ horizons through topics ranging from computer science and environmental science to social-emotional learning. Her students know that one of her favorite author-illustrators is Peter H. Reynolds, so they were especially excited when she added two of his newest books to the library collection: When We Dream Big! and Our Treasures Within (co-authored with his twin brother, Paul Reynolds, and Pope Francis).

Whenever Melissa shares a book during library media lessons, she begins by introducing the author and illustrator before inviting students to study the cover and “share what they notice.” When exploring the cover of When We Dream Big!, students immediately spotted the child “floating” or “sleepwalking” across a path of sparkling dots. They noticed the pink glasses, the white bird, and the stars. Some wondered if the dots were magical dream dust helping the child move forward. Melissa’s students have learned that every word in a story matters and that every artistic choice, including color, is intentional.

As she reads aloud, Melissa encourages students to think deeply about the story through thoughtful questions and discussion. When the characters in When We Dream Big! first raised their hands to share what they wanted to be when they grew up, and later reflected on who they wanted to be, Melissa’s students eagerly shared their own aspirations. The book’s message connected beautifully with the Creative Library’s motto: Where Falcons Imagine, Explore, Create, and Soar!

After the reading, students transformed their reflections into colorful feather designs inspired by the book. They added personal details, cut out their creations, and contributed them to a collaborative art installation. Melissa collected enough feathers to create two stunning Flower Hill Falcon wings. Each student then had the opportunity to pose for a photo in front of the wings, knowing their own feather was part of the artwork.

Sharing an uplifting and empowering book like When We Dream Big! was a wonderful way to close out the school year. As older students passed by the display, many stopped to admire it and asked if they could create and add feathers of their own. The project became more than an art activity. It became a celebration of dreams, identity, creativity, and the power of imagining who we can become.

Dream Big Template by Peter H. Reynolds: https://www.peterhreynolds.com/dreambigtemplate

What a Wonder-Filled World We Live In!

Over the past couple of years I have been co-facilitating a book club for the Maryland Association of Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE), and this spring, our book was aptly chosen – Silent Spring by Rachel Carson, a marine biologist and conservationist whose work was well ahead of her time.  This book was published in 1962 and eventually led her to become known as the mother of the modern environmental movement. 

Through this book study, I learned so much, not only about her research and the history of the environmental movement, but about the amazingly devoted person that Rachel Carson was to those whom she deeply loved – her family. Her lyrical writing, and her wonder about the natural world was earnest, transformative, and life affirming. The Silent Spring book club led me to not only meet the lovely Rebecca Henson, founder of the Springsong Museum, a community museum inspired by Rachel Carson, but to also discover Rachel Carson’s Wonder-Filled World, a nonfiction picture book by the joy-filled children’s author Kate Hannigan.  Kate was an enthusiastic guest during our final book club meeting, and I am thrilled to spotlight her on my blog.

Rachel Carson’s Wonder-Filled World: How the Scientist, Writer, and Nature Lover Changed the Environmental Movement written by Kate Hannigan and illustrated by Katie Hickey. Published by Calkins Creek, An imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers, ©2025

  • Rachel Carson’s Wonder-Filled World Book Cover
  • Rachel Carson’s Wonder-Filled World, Interior Page Spread

In Rachel Carson’s Wonder-Filled World, you pivot from the heavy scientific warnings of Silent Spring to focus on Rachel’s “sense of wonder” and the five senses. How do you feel this approach helps young readers connect more deeply with scientific figures compared to a standard chronological biography?

I always try to start a project thinking about the young reader’s experience. I want my stories to be accessible, so I go at them with that top of mind. With Rachel Carson’s story, I decided to look at her sense of wonder with the world and how she loved nature because she was immersed in it from an early age. DDT is an enormous thing to explain! So I knew I was not going to approach her story from the angle of pesticide overuse. But every child can understand that we use our senses to take in the world. That became my starting point: what our eyes see, our ears hear, our noses smell, our fingers touch, our tongues taste. Even kids who don’t spend a lot of time in nature understand the feeling of the wind on our face or listening to birdsong. That’s accessible.

Rachel Carson was both a scientist and a writer—a duality you share as an author who meticulously researches history. What was the most surprising “gem” you found during your research for this book that highlighted Rachel’s poetic side?

“Giant bluefin tuna, the speed of torpedoes and the strength of tigers . . .” I knew Rachel Caron could write, but when I read her work even before Silent Spring, I was bowled over by the rich language. She was simply describing fish! But her word choice and imagery were gorgeous. I hadn’t expected that. ” . . . shining green and silver caravans wound in and out, swerving, diverging, and merging again, or at a sudden fright darting away like a shower of silver meteors.”

Holy cow, this was poetry. From a marine biologist no less!

Kate, I’m looking forward to sharing your book with my elementary school’s Green Teams – specifically for this reason!  I want my young environmentalists to know you can be both a scientist and a creative at the same time!  Thank you, also, for creating the wonder-filled classroom guide, which is available on the Calkins Creek Astra Books for Young Readers website here. MAK

There’s lots of research out there about the importance of getting out in nature for both our mental and physical health, and children having a nature deficit. As a regular visitor to schools and libraries, what role do you think “nature-focused” biographies play in modern school libraries, especially for children who are increasingly spending more time in front of screens?

I think these types of books get kids thinking. And curiosity is a great motivator. They might see a butterfly  in a picture book and that sparks an interest. Or maybe a beautiful fish. Maybe they read about endangered birds or see an illustration of birds, then they start looking up at the sky and noticing flocks flying in a V formation overhead for the first time. Or maybe they’re going camping on the weekend and a nature book helps them prepare for this new adventure. Or perhaps it gets them asking their parents to take them on a camping trip or a hike into the woods. I like to think of these books as catalysts that can lead to engagement with the outdoors. Because we can’t protect what we don’t know. And if kids grow up without knowing nature and our outdoor spaces, they won’t be able to protect it.

Kate, this is the one of the many reasons that I have been working on my environmental educator certificate – so that I can better guide my students as we explore nature, experience nature, and love nature.  The more my students learn to love nature, the more they will find their place in the natural world, and their reason to save it. MAK

“I like to think of these [nature-based] books as catalysts that can lead to engagement with the outdoors. Because we can’t protect what we don’t know. And if kids grow up without knowing nature and our outdoor spaces, they won’t be able to protect it.“

-Kate Hannigan

The illustrations in this book by Katie Hickey beautifully capture the transition from Rachel’s childhood on a farm to her work as a marine biologist. When writing a picture book biography, how much of the “visual storytelling” do you envision while writing? Did you share a lot of illustration notes, or none at all ? Since authors and illustrators don’t usually meet, did Katie’s illustrations bring to life what you had envisioned?  When you first saw her illustrations, and now have had time to study them, what do you love the most about them?

Katie did an amazing job with this book! I love her use of color. The vibrant illustrations on every page are irresistible! Illustrating a writer at work has the potential to be static, but Katie makes the pages so dynamic and exciting. I’m grateful that we were paired up for this project. There’s always some back and forth about historical accuracy and the “vision” for a book’s overall look. But for the most part, the illustrator should be left alone to do what she does best, as the author is left alone to do her thing. There’s a mutual respect for each other’s art, while at the same time a desire to get all the details right and produce the best book possible. 

Many librarians manage their own blogs or other writing projects (including me). Given your experience writing about “Hidden Heroes” and historic figures, what is your top tip for finding those untold stories that are just waiting to be turned into a narrative?

Read. Listen. Poke around and be nosy. I stumble on stories everywhere. One of my favorite writing projects was about Kate Warne, the first lady detective in the U.S. She was a Pinkerton detective who helped save the life of Abraham Lincoln, but she wasn’t even a footnote in history. I stumbled onto a paragraph about her while researching an entirely different story. I was so fascinated by what I read, I began to dig a little deeper, and I ultimately abandoned the original project to write Kate Warne’s story. It’s a middle-grade novel called The Detective’s Assistant, where a fictional 10-year-old takes us through the adventures with Kate Warne, Lincoln, and Pinkerton himself. It was a joy to research and write, and it drew the interest of multiple movie producers!

Kate, you have written many wonderful fiction, historical fiction, and nonfiction books, many focused on females.  Thank you for sharing their stories and empowering your young readers! MAK

Children’s Author Kate Hannigan

To learn more about Kate Hannigan and her books, please visit her website https://www.katehannigan.com/ 

To learn more about Rachel Carson and her body of work, please visit the following resources:

Books by Rachel Carson:

  • The Sense of Wonder by Rachel Carson, 1965 & 1998
    • Text copyright, 1956
    • Introduction copyright, 1998 by Linda Lear
    • Photographs copyright, 1998 by Nick Kelsh
  • The Edge of the Sea by Rachel Carson, 1955
  • The Sea Around Us by Rachel Carson, 1952
  • Under the Sea-Wind by Rachel Carson, 1941

All-A-Flutter with Christine Van Zandt

Milkweed for Monarchs cover, written by Christine Van Zandt and illustrated by Alejandra Barajas (Beaming Books, ©2024)

As a burgeoning environmentalist, I have become increasingly interested in pollinators which are vital to our ecology.   Specifically focusing on my local ecology here in Gaithersburg, I was fortunate to have the help of Nature Forward’s GreenKids program in creating our first pollinator garden with our Green Team, and we have continued to expand our pollinator gardens throughout our school’s courtyard.  Always on the lookout for good environmental books to add to my library collection, and to use in my lesson plans, this spring I connected with Christine Van Zandt, who wrote, Milkweed for Monarchs (Beaming Books, ©2024).

Milkweed for Monarchs is a wonderful resource for young lepidopterists. The rhyming text follows the life of the female Monarch butterfly, while the additional facts add to the depth of learning.  Did you know, for example, that the process of emerging from the chrysalis is called eclosion?

The bright and beautiful illustrations, digitally rendered by Alejandra Baraja, significantly add to the level of the reader’s understanding.  The spreads where she illustrated how the chrysalis transforms in the pupa stage are fascinating.

In the backmatter, author Christine Van Zandt reminds us how important Monarch butterflies are to our ecosystem, that we humans are important to their survival, and that there are four simple ways that we can help them. A selected bibliography is included for those who would like to learn more as part of their environmental education and advocacy.

Interior spread from Milkweed for Monarchs written by Christine Van Zandt and illustrated by Alejandra Barajas, Beaming Books ©2024.

When creating lesson plans for my elementary students, I pull together a variety of resources, almost always with a picture book as the anchor text. I found some wonderful videos to accompany Milkweed for Monarchs and utilized the Beaming Books Discussion Guide for Parents and Educators as well.  Feel free to create a copy of my Monarch Butterfly lesson slides linked here to use with your students and young lepidopterists.

Please enjoy my interview with Christine Van Zandt that follows.

Who encouraged or inspired you to become an author?

Just as some people need to run or paint, I need to write. My dad encouraged me to change from majoring in business (a seemingly practical choice) to English literature because he knew writing was an integral part of me.

He believed that since we spend huge amounts of time at work, we should pursue careers doing things we love, choose something that makes us happy. (Thanks, Dad!) Because of his advice, my career path led me to becoming an editor and writer. Whether I’m helping someone with their book or writing my own, I enjoy what I do every day!

What is your writing space like? 

We live in a small place so my writing area is in the middle of it all. Fun fact: I have a disco ball hanging behind my monitor!

What was your inspiration for writing?

During the pandemic, we bought our first milkweed plant, vaguely aware that milkweed somehow helped butterflies. Soon we had eggs and caterpillars but none of them made it to butterflies—they were eaten by raccoons, birds, the small ones carried off by ants.

I wanted to know all I could about monarchs and was shocked to find our western monarch was near extinction. I grew up in Northern California; my family went to the coast to see the trees cloaked with monarchs overwintering here. That was magical! However, the monarchs’ population had dropped from millions to a couple of thousand! If I had realized this, I would have planted milkweed sooner. As much as I wanted to write a book kids would enjoy, I also wanted the adults to learn how critical it is for anyone who’s able to plant some milkweed and to not use pesticides in their yards.

What do you love most about the cover art and illustrations in your book?

The illustrator, Alejandra Barajas, did an amazing job—I love it all! The cover is gorgeous and all throughout her bright, upbeat, colorful art accurately depicts the various stages of a monarch’s life.

How (or in what ways) do you hope librarians will promote your books?

I hope that librarians, educators, and anyone looking for activities and lesson plans finds the wonderful Educator Guide that’s available for free at Milkweed for Monarchs | Beaming Books. This six-page illustrated guide provides fun and educational activities that kids will enjoy.

I also hope that more milkweed gets planted because the western monarch really needs our help.

Who is the reader you are writing for? Please describe them.

I’m hoping to reach that kid, who like me, enjoys learning about insects and digging in the dirt. There are countless things going on that we don’t notice until we stop and watch. It’s exciting watching all the interactions. In our yard, there’s often a dominant male monarch butterfly that protects his territory. He allows females into the area to lay eggs on his milkweed plants. Hunting around to find eggs is a thrill. Caterpillars go through so many changes and they’re very active. I’m still surprised where they turn up. We’ve had chrysalises in the strangest places. If you’re someone who appreciates bugs and plants, then I’m absolutely writing for you.

But also I hope to reach readers who may not realize that monarch caterpillars, like koalas or pandas, can only eat one type of food (milkweed). That’s why the title of the book is Milkweed for Monarchs. Without milkweed, the monarch cannot continue.

What is one (or more) thing(s) that you really want your readers to know about you?

Our yard is small (many plants are in pots), but the garden is my happy place, nurturing all kinds of life. I have a lot of milkweed for the monarch caterpillars and flowers for the butterflies. This year, I added heirloom tomatoes. The first to ripen were sweet and delicious yellow cherries. Nothing beats a freshly picked and sun-warm tomato.

Which book review or award has been most meaningful to you?

Every review matters to me because book reviews really help authors. I post as many reviews of books as I can because I know that a few minutes of my time makes a difference to that author and their book.

Milkweed for Monarchs has recently been shortlisted for two prestigious awards. Both nominations are exciting. There are many amazing books. Having my book recognized means so much to me.

What message do you have for your readers?

We can’t do everything but we can do something. Find your “something” and put your heart into it.

Christine, thanks so much for writing this beautiful book (and for Alejandra’s vibrant illustrations)!

You’re so kind! I appreciate it.

Want to learn more about Christine?  Explore the links below!

Christine Van Zandt’s website: Christine Van Zandt

Goodreads with Ronna blog interview: An Interview with Author Christine Van Zandt

SCBWI-LA  Kite Tales:  The Sue Alexander Grant is Open for Submissions! | Kite Tales

Follow Christine on the socials here: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter/X

Nicole Melleby is a Ray of Sunshine at GBF #15

As a longtime committee member of the Gaithersburg Book Festival, this time of year is such a special time for me – so many wonderful authors and illustrators descend on Bohrer Park and I get to meet them in person, listen to their presentations, and learn about their creative process.  Such fun for this book-loving librarian! 

I will be introducing both Nicole Melleby and John Schu, who will be featured authors presenting together at 10:15 am in the Ogden Nash Pavilion. After reading Melleby´s Winnie Nash is Not Your Sunshine, I reached out to her for an interview. Booklist describes this middle grade novel as “a tearjerker with heart—a triumphant exploration of lesbianism, extended family, and miscarriage from the eyes of a young, would-be sibling,” – and I would add, exploring depression and the basic need to feel safe and loved.

Can you share your journey to becoming a children’s author?
When I was eight, I saw the Nickelodeon movie Harriet the Spy. I was obsessed, I loved everything about it, but I especially loved the main character, Harriet, and the way she always carried around a notebook to write things in. I used to beg my parents to buy me marble composition notebooks just like the one Harriet had every time they went to a store that carried them, and I would fill those notebooks up with everything. I started off by taking notes about the people around me much like Harriet did while spying, and from there I started writing stories instead. I’ve been writing stories ever since.

The movie also gave me this quote, which I’ve kept in mind ever since, and speaks to why I keep writing: “You know what? You’re an individual, and that makes people nervous. And it’s going to keep making people nervous for the rest of your life.”

Many of your books deal with LGBTQ+ kids discovering their sexuality and understanding their identities. Winnie Nash is Not Your Sunshine has received many wonderful reviews. Kirkus Reviews described it as, “A powerful, emotional look at queerness, pride, and what it truly means to feel held.”  How does this make you feel?

It makes me feel good, of course it does, especially when we’re in an atmosphere right now where LGBTQ+ books like mine are being more and more challenged and banned by school boards all over the place. Getting good reviews is always nice, but now it almost feels like extra validation when someone tries to say that an LGBTQ+ middle grade book “has no literary merit” (a true quote from a school board challenging books of mine) or has no place on a child’s shelves. But I think Kirkus got it right, it got right to the point of what I wanted to do with this book: give a child reader the chance to feel held right alongside Winnie.

Were Winnie’s experiences and feelings reflective of your own growing up? 

Unlike Winnie, I didn’t know I was queer at a young age, but like Winnie, I grew up on the Jersey Shore, looking across the bay at New York City, wondering what it would be like to get there someday. And while I was a lot younger than Winnie and it didn’t affect my life as much as it affects hers, my mom also struggled with miscarriages before my younger brother was born. Winnie, overall, is a sad, confused, angry kid, and I think that I let her feel all of the things I felt at various times; I didn’t want to hold anything back with her. I read an essay in which Kate DiCamillo says, “Let kids be sad” and it’s something I took to heart. I was a sad kid sometimes—I think there are a lot of sad kids out there—I wanted to let Winnie be one, too.


What do you hear from your readers (kids, parents, educators)  after they have finished reading your books?
For all of the book bannings and challenges and, frankly, mean emails I get, I receive about a dozen more from kids and parents and teachers who have found something in my books that they needed. It’s definitely what keeps me positive throughout all of the contention when it comes to queer books for kids. The kids who email me and say how much Winnie or Pluto or Fig mean to them always means more to me than what I can even put into words.

Why do you think it is important to write for the middle grade audience?
Because kids deserve to get lost in the pages of a book just as much as anyone else does, they deserve to see themselves, or kids just like them or their friends or their family, thriving and surviving and going on adventures and being sad and growing and learning and exploring, and falling in love or falling in crush or finding friends or learning how to handle losing friends, too. They deserve to win against the monsters or to learn how to cope when you lose. I think writing for kids is special, because it was as a middle grade reader that I first fell in love with reading and being able to lose myself in a book has always been so important to me.

What message do you have for librarians (and all educators)?
I talk a lot about book challenges and bannings, and I am trying to do what I can from my end, but I know how hard it is for the librarians on the ground level right now doing their best to keep getting these books into their readers’ hands. I respect your work and I see how hard you are all doing what you do—and I really hope you keep pushing and keep fighting for these kids the best you can. It used to be easier to ask that of librarians, and now it’s getting harder, because I know there’s more and more risks these days for them, too. But at the end of the day, I think about the kids first, the ones who need to see us fighting for them to have books with characters they relate to on the shelves. So, basically, my message is: Thank you for all that you are doing. I’m here fighting with you.

What message do you have for your readers?
To the kids (and adults) who pick up my books: I see you, and you are not alone. 

Additional titles by Nicole Melleby:

Middle Grade:

  • Hurricane Season 
  • In the Role of Brie Hutchens 
  • How to Become a Planet
  • The Science of Being Angry
  • Winnie Nash is Not Your Sunshine| 
  • Dressing Up a Jersey Girl

The House on Sunrise Lagoon Series:

  • Sam Makes a Splashe
  • Marina in the Middle
  • Halfway to Harbor

Jonathan Roth Spashes Down at GBF #15

Jonathan Roth and I are colleagues in the same school district, but do not teach at the same school – we work in a very large district – 211 schools and counting!  He is a vibrant art teacher who encourages his students to authentically express themselves and create bravely.

In this busy spring season I was able to catch up with Jonathan to talk about his current book, Rover and Speck: Splash Down and his upcoming book, Almost Underwear: How a Piece of Cloth Traveled from Kitty Hawk to the Moon and Mars (August 2024).  Jonathan will be a featured author at the 15th Annual Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 18, 2024 at 4:15pm in the Jim Henson Pavilion.

Please tell us about your journey to become a children’s author.

Starting from early childhood, there hasn’t been a time when I haven’t been drawing,writing or cartooning. And not a day where I haven’t been reading! Out of art school Iwas revisiting some favorite picture books and discovering new ones, and it hit me that that’s what I really wanted to do. Of course, it took many years of learning and tryingand failing, but then I finally got an agent and…failed some more (not her fault, it’s just super competitive). Finally, with my current agent, I started making sales. And now books 7 and 8 are releasing this year! (though like almost all published authors, I still get rejections too).

How did you create your characters, Rover and Speck?

I’d been following the real Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity on and off since they landed in 2004. They were designed to last 90 days; Spirit lasted 5 years and Opportunity almost 15! When I read in the paper (yes, paper) in 2019 that Opportunity had finally ‘died’ (lost power for good) on Mars, I instantly knew I wanted to write about a fictional rover who ‘died’ but then was discovered and revived by another rover. Cue un planetary adventures!

How is your creative process different when writing/illustrating the Rover and Speck graphic novels versus writing your Beep and Bob chapter book series?

Rover and Speck has full-color comics illustrations taking up every page, and the Beep and Bob books each have only about 20-30 black and white spot illustrations, so the biggest difference is that R&S takes a lot more hours at my drawing board! I’m faster at the writing part.

I know you are coming to Gaithersburg Book Festival #15 to present Rover and Speck: Splash Down, but I am also curious about your upcoming nonfiction picture book, Almost Underwear (book birthday August 20, 2024).

I’ve been attending the GBF since year 1! And this will be my 4 th time speaking there (not including a video for the virtual year), so I’m super excited. Maybe you can expect a little peek at Almost Underwear at this year’s festival, hint hint, but in a nutshell it’s the story about how some ordinary cloth was bought by two brothers in a Dayton department store in 1903, and how various cuts of that cloth became part of the first powered airplane flight on Earth and then also the first moon landing and the first flight on Mars in 2021! It’s a book about innovation and commemoration – and underwear (well, almost underwear).

What is your research process, and when do you decide you have enough background knowledge to begin writing?

Don’t tell anyone, haha, but I start writing well before I know all the facts! With Almost Underwear, once I had the three main historical vantage points (first flight and thencloth from the wing of the Flyer taken to both the moon and Mars) I immediately begana draft from the point of view of the cloth as it was sitting in the store alongside muchfancier cloth, waiting to be purchased. Then as I began to research in earnest, I fleshed out the historic details as I went (with creative license of course – the cloth didn’t actually have a cute face:) I did go into it with a lot of prior knowledge about the Wright Flyer, Apollo 11, and Mars missions, but it was a great excuse to delve into lots of new and review reading.

What is the most fascinating fact that you discovered while researching for Almost Underwear: How a Piece of Cloth Traveled from Kitty Hawk to the Moon and Mars?

I don’t know if it’s the most fascinating fact, but early on, when I read that the type of muslin the Wright Brothers purchased from a Dayton department store was most commonly used at that time to make “ladies undergarments”, I knew I had my fun hook.

What do you love most about writing for children?

I love the KidLit community. Writing can be solitary, with only peeks at the tip of the iceburg ever showing (if you’re lucky!) While I do it for the kids of course, I really value that I’ve been able to build lasting relationships with other creators and book lovers.

What message do you have for librarians? For your readers?

Librarians, you rock! Even in these challenging times, librarians always strive to get the right books in the right hands. And readers: you rock too! With so many choices – and distractions – these days, I am heartened every time I see a young person reading (doubly heartened if it’s one of my books!) Books are little miracles, and we (authors, illustrators, editors, librarians, readers) co-create them together.

If you would like to learn more about Jonathan and his books, please read the following posts:

Rover and Speck: This GBF Rocks! (May 2, 2023)

Outta this World with Jonathan Roth (April 29, 2019)


A Visit with Nicole, Rina, and Victor

On April 26, 2024, my 5th grade students and I were thrilled to meet with middle grade authors Nicole D. Collier, Rina Heisel, and Victor Piñeiro during a virtual author visit that I had been so fortunate to win earlier this spring. My students ask wonderful questions, and were so enthusiastic when the authors asked if we had any writers in the audience. Many students stood up and proclaimed that they were writers and readers at the end of the visit. I, for one, annd looking forward to seeing where my students’ life journey takes them. Like the Middle Grade Authorcade logo states, WE LOVE BOOKS!

The Middle Grade Authorcade shares its origin story as, “Once upon a time, a group of first-time authors banded together to support one another in their debut year. Through this time of shared uncertainty, vulnerability, and celebration, friendships and great camaraderie emerged. So as our debut year ended, we didn’t want this supportive community to fade. With that, the Middle Grade Authorcade was born. It’s one of life’s happy endings. And you’ve got to take happy endings wherever you can get them.”

On April 26, 2024, my 5th grade students and I were thrilled to meet with middle grade authors Nicole D. Collier, Rina Heisel, and Victor Piñeiro during a virtual author visit that I had been so fortunate to win earlier this spring. My students ask wonderful questions, and were so enthusiastic when the authors asked if we had any writers in the audience. Many students stood up and proclaimed that they were writers and readers at the end of the visit. I, for one, annd looking forward to seeing where my students’ life journey takes them.

Educator Resource: Journey Beyond the Burrow Teacher Resource Guide

How did you get involved in MG Authorcade?

(NC) All the members of Authorcade were debut authors in 2021. Collectively we called ourselves #21ders. Officially, I was a Fall 2021 debut, but Just Right Jillian was released in February 2022. That wasn’t due to COVID as many assume; it was simply that “Fall” meant everything from August to February! I didn’t discover this until I had already bonded with the other #21ders! After I joined the #22debuts group, I kept in touch with my original debut buddies.

(VP) Though getting published for the first time was one of the highlights of my life, so was meeting a bunch of absolutely wonderful kidlit authors who were also getting published in 2021. A few of us really hit it off and formed Authorcade, hoping to spread a love of reading to middle grade readers everywhere!

Why do you think it is important to write for the middle grade audience?

(NC)  “Young people are trying to discern who they are vs. who they want to be, and how to bridge the gap between the two. My stories are right in that gap. It’s special to create art that edifies and delights the next generation, and as a former teacher (and the daughter of a school librarian) I can’t overstate the importance of literacy at this (and every) age.”

(RH) “For me, this was my “golden era” of reading—when I really began connecting to characters and getting lost in the stories, so to me there is just something magical about middle grade. This was the age I sort of pushed myself, I wanted to try reading something a little scary, or a little sad. Middle grade is an amazing place for discovery and optimism—it’s just my favorite place to be. To now put my books out there for this age is a mind-blowing honor.”

 (VP) “The most important, foundational, life-changing books I read were during my middle grade years, and as a teacher I noticed that it was true for many of my students too. Middle grade minds are open, curious and ravenous for story. And if I can help them turn into bookworms for life, that feels like the greatest job of all!”

What have you learned as you have met with your readers?

(NC)  “I love hearing the connections kids make to stories, sometimes in really unexpected ways. As a result, visits always remind me to be open to possibility.”

(RH) “Middle grade readers have the best questions for writers! So many readers I talk to are interested in writing their own stories, so they ask a lot about the writing process. They also like to talk about some of the critters in my book—mice, snakes, spiders, and how I researched all those things. I have found that our conversations are so great and we never seem to have enough time!”

 (VP) “I’ve learned that middle grade readers read deeply, truly understand your characters, and connect on a deeper level with a book than most other audiences. They also ask the most interesting questions. I’m constantly floored by the questions they ask me.”

What message do you have for librarians (and all educators)?

(NC) “At the core, your work is really about helping people of all ages become their best selves. Everything that counts can’t be counted, but everything you do truly matters. Thank you!”

(RH) “As authors, we are typically in awe of the work you do! We supply the material, but it takes educators to place the right books with the right students and encourage and support their reading journey. You are all superheroes and we appreciate you beyond measure.”

 (VP) “It’s both harder and more important than ever to give kids a chance to fall in love with reading before screens vie for all of their attention. Godspeed.”

What message do you have for your readers?

(NC) “Seeds of change are planted every time you read a book. Keep reading, and watch your life bloom.”

(RH) “My readers are usually with me because they love adventures and creatures of all kinds. I would say to them, “There is a story in every forest, every park, every backyard—if you use your imagination, you will find it!” 

(VP) “Thanks for reading, for reaching out, and for asking such inspiring questions! I’m so excited for you to read a very different book I have cooking, which should be out next year!”

I am looking forward to seeing where Nicole, Rina, and Victor’s writing journeys take them in the future!  Their readers are, too!

Thankfully, We’re All Works in Progress!

I caught up with Jarrett Lerner who is one of our many wonderful featured authors at the 14th Annual Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 20th.  He is a prolific children’s author, having published five books in the past eight months: The Hunger Heroes: Snack Cabinet Sabotage (October 2022),  Nat the Cat Takes a Nap (January 2023), Goes for Gold: Geeger the Robot (April 2023),  Nat the Cat Takes a Bath (May 2023), and A Work in Progress (May 2023).  His other middle grade series, EngiNerds and his unpublished eBook Knights of the Kids’ Table round out his book family.

 A Work in Progress is about a “boy who struggles with body image in this poignant middle grade journey to self-acceptance told through prose, verse, and illustration.”  I am so thankful that Jarrett wrote this book – there are too many kids who need to read it because they are struggling with their negative self-image and self-talk. Both the kids who say mean words to others, and the ones who are the recipient of those mean words – they need to read this book.  And discuss it. Together. He shared a powerful message in a very accessible way.

Jarrett will be presenting A Work in Progress in a panel discussion with Janae Marks (On Air with Zoe Washington), and John David Anderson (The Greatest Kid in the World)  in the Jim Henson Pavilion, beginning at 1:15 pm (yours truly will be moderating the conversation).

He will also present his graphic novel chapter book, The Hunger Heroes: Snack Cabinet Sabotage with Jonathan Roth (Rover & Speck: This Planet Rocks!) in the Graphic Novels and Workshops Pavilion beginning at 11:15 am.

I hope you enjoy my interview with the kind-hearted (and witty) Jarrett Lerner.

Who encouraged or inspired you to become an author/illustrator?

I was first inspired by becoming a reader, and finding books I loved and connected with. That’s still one of my greatest inspirations. And when I finally realized that I actually COULD attempt to become an author-illustrator — like, as a JOB — I had boatloads of encouragement from my family and friends. I couldn’t have done what I’ve done and continue to do without them.

What is your writing space like? Your art studio?  

I’ve got a space at home that I use. It’s full of natural look, great books, and my kids’ artwork. And while I love creating there, I also make sure not to get TOO attached to it or any of the conditions I can reliably create there. To have a job doing what I do, I need to be able to be productive and occasionally even creative on demand, and often that means when I’m AWAY from my studio space. That being said, I love it there.

What do you love most about the cover art and illustrations in your current books? 

The cover art for a book is the illustration that you usually spend the most time and energy and thought on — and that you usually discuss most extensively with your publishing team. I always tell kids that the advice “don’t judge a book by its cover” is great advice for everything BUT books. Because we put so, so, SO much time and energy into making those images just right, so you’ll get a very particular idea about what the book’s going to offer you. I’m pleased with all my covers, and think they do a good job letting readers know what’s in store for them if they actually pick up the book and give it a read.

Can you speak to your creative process?  Do you write the words first, or sketch out the panels or pages?

Regarding my process — no matter how the book looks in the end, it always begins in a notebook, and I both write and draw. My first drafts are a mess, a mix of words and pictures, usually only half-formed. It’s an “idea dump,” and once I’ve gotten everything out of my head related to the story, the characters, and the world they inhabit, I go back through the notebook and try to clean up the mess, tidy it into something that looks like a story — or even just scenes or moments. From there, I’ll try to put together a draft, and at that point I usually get a sense of how the story will best be told — mostly text and occasional illustrations, as a graphic novel, or as some kind of hybrid. For me, that’s how I make the decision: I choose the form that will tell the story in the best way for my intended readers.

Do you have a discussion guide for A Work in Progress, and if so, could you share with me?

The AWIP Educator Guide just became available, and was created by Carrie Friday, a library media specialist in Florida.

Your two books are very different – for each of them, who is the reader you are writing for?  Please describe them, and what you hope that the reader will learn.

They are different, but they have similarities for me, too. I try to make books that kids both want and need. My youngest readers, who are just learning how to read, are going to want and need something different than my older readers, who are in middle school or high school. But focusing on my readers, giving them what they want and also what I believe they need (even if they don’t realize it!), is what guides me and has yet to steer me wrong.

In the sketch of yourself on the author’s page and the dust jacket you look so serious or troubled – maybe even a little angry, but in every picture of you I see on social media, you have a big, happy smile.  Why did you sketch yourself that way? What message are you giving us?

A Work in Progress is largely autobiographical, and toward the end, Will talks about how he still has bad days, days when he isn’t doing all that great. I think that’s an important point to make (I explore it in my third Geeger the Robot book as well). There is a lot of intentionality behind my author portrait for the book, including that expression. I wanted my readers to know that while I’m usually happy and full of positive energy, I still have bad days, like everyone — days when, like Will, I just want to hide in a hoodie and stay in bed.

Do you think there will be a second book about Will?

I’m not sure! I’d like to revisit Will, a couple years down the road. Lately, I’ve actually been thinking about writing a story from one of the minor A Work in Progress character’s perspectives. We’ll see!

What is something that you really want your readers to know about you?

I have lots of hobbies and passions that have nothing to do with books or making them, and I think that’s hugely important if you want a career making books. I love skateboarding, I love cooking and going out to eat, and more recently, I’ve fallen in love with Formula 1 racing.

Which book review or award has been most meaningful to you?

The reading association of my home state, Massachusetts, once gave me an award for being a “champion of literacy” in our community and the country at large, and that was deeply meaningful and hugely rewarding to receive.

What are you most looking forward to at our book festival?

Meeting all the young readers!

Additional Resources

Donuts, Pizza, and Fortune Cookies (oh, yum!)

I love being a school librarian for many reasons, but the most important one is that I get the opportunity to introduce my readers to interesting and talented authors and illustrators – and Mika Song is one of them! Donut Feed the Squirrels and Pizza My Heart are a popular choices in my elementary school library, and rarely stay on my bookshelf for long as they are in the hands of another enthusiastic reader. Norma and Belly’s next adventure, One Smart Cookie (August 2023) is going to be equally as loved!

Mika Song is a featured presenter at the Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 20, 2023, and will be sharing Pizza My Heart (A Graphic Novel).  She and her friend, Isabel Roxas (The Adventures of Team Pom: The Last Pom (Team Pom Book 2))  will be presenting their books and leading a workshop together entitled, “Sticky Situations”, at 1:15 pm in the Graphic Novels and Workshops Pavilion.

I hope you enjoy my visit with Mika Song!

Who encouraged or inspired you to become an author/illustrator?

My father is a photographer and my mother is a magazine editor and they both encouraged me to draw and write. My grandmother was a writer and jewelry designer. As a kid I loved visiting her tiny bedroom where she worked with her many art supplies, typewriter and crafts books. I still remember her showing me how to put a watercolor wash around a figure to make a drawing look more cohesive. I realize I still use that trick all the time. I learned so many things that I am not even conscious of from her.

What is your writing space like?

My work space is a big desk in the corner of my bedroom next to the window with a good view of the street. I can hear the train and people walking by. I get many of my ideas this way. The plot of my early-reader graphic novel, DONUT FEED THE SQUIRRELS, came to me when I was working at home and I smelled something delicious outside my window. On the street below me was a donut truck, CARPE DONUTS. I imagined a hungry squirrel jumping into the chimney of the truck from a tree branch above.

What do you love most about the cover art and illustrations in your current book?   Describe your art style and your art process.

The thing I love most about my Norma and Belly covers is that each title mentions a specific snack. Patrick Crotty, the designer at RHG, came up with a really fun way to design the cover so it looks like a pizza box but also still fits in with the template of the previous books in the series. I like that the squirrels are eating while running with the pizza because it is such a New York thing to eat your pizza while walking.

I think my art style for these books is approachable to a young reader. The characters are composed of a few expressive handmade lines and shapes that are not always perfect or regular but fun and lively.

Who is your favorite character in your book and why?

My favorite character is Belly the squirrel because she doesn’t let things get her down. She keeps her eyes on the donut, not the hole. She’s a breeze to draw and always cute. Most of the time I am actually like Norma, always thinking about some plan or worrying about the future.

How (or in what ways) do you hope librarians will promote your book?  

Librarians have been helpful in getting my books to young readers. I remember during lockdown in 2020 watching a librarian do a read aloud of DONUT FEED THE SQUIRRELS which had come out very recently. Even though they are graphic novels for independent readers, I hope they get shared as read alouds too. One student told me it only takes 13 minutes to read all the chapters. 

I draw new Norma and Belly comic strips once a week on SundayHaha.com, a free comic newsletter by KidLit creators, that is another way to share the world with readers. I think it’s a good resource for librarians running comics clubs and makerspaces. I hope it shows the diversity of the comics format.

Who is the reader you are writing for?  Please describe them.

My reader is anyone who is having a long day or work at school and just wants to sit in the trees of Fort Greene park with Norma, Belly, Gramps and Little Bee and imagine a world where the only thing that matters is a donut guarded by a very uptight food truck seller.

What is something that you really want your readers to know about you?

One thing readers should know about me is that my next book in the Norma and Belly series is coming out on August 8, 2023. It is called ONE SMART COOKIE. It takes place partly in a fortune cookie factory and we learn something important about Little Bee. It was fun to make this book because I learned about the history of the fortune cookie and its significance in Asian American history. I also learned while working on the book that my grandmother’s first job as a young adult was typing up fortunes for fortune cookies.

Another thing readers should know about me is I enjoy getting letters from them.  Write to me at

Mika Song, PO Box 4594, Sunnyside, NY 11104.

Which book review or award has been most meaningful to you?

One of the first honors Donut Feed the Squirrels received was from the Texas Library Association’s Children’s Round Table. They put it on the 2021 Little Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List. I didn’t know about the list at the time because graphic novels for kids were not as popular. It made me happy to see that librarians love comics for kids and that my book was one of their favorites.

What are you most looking forward to at our book festival?

The thing about the Gaithersburg Book Festival that I am most looking forward to is drawing with my friend Isabel Roxas (THE ADVENTURES OF TEAM POM) and the kids. I just never know what will happen when we draw together. And making up comics with kids on the spot always makes me see new things in my work.

What message do you have for your readers?

My message to readers is life is beautiful – stay curious about the world around you so you don’t miss anything fun.

Credit: Jae H. Song

Want to learn more about Mika?

Elena Reads and Reviews: With the Stroke of Her Brush, Mika Song Brings Diversity to Books

Get to Know … Mika Song!

Mika Song Draws author website

Mika Song Printables – fun for kids (and adults!)

Sunday Haha

TeachingBooks

Jump into Line with Susan Stockdale

Susan Stockdale is one of the kindest, joyful, and encouraging people I have met in children’s literature. I discovered her books several years ago, and in 2019, invited her to lead a workshop at the 10th Annual Gaithersburg Book Festival. Her workshop, “Let’s Create Fabulous Fishes!”, based on her nonfiction picture book Fabulous Fishes, was a popular one, and the young participants left as happy as their bright and beautiful fishes. I had also featured her on my blog and asked her to discuss her research and creative process – Exploring the Amazing Natural World with Susan Stockdale.

At the 14th Annual Gaithersburg Book Festival, Susan will be presenting her most recent title, Line Up! Animals in Remarkable Rows along with Jennifer O’Connell (Elephants Remember) at 10:15 am in the Jim Henson Pavilion.  She will also lead a children’s workshop, Let’s Create Animals at 12:25 pm in the Graphic Novels and Workshops Pavilion.

I hope you enjoy my interview with the talented author-illustrator Susan Stockdale!

Who encouraged or inspired you to become an author/illustrator?

My mother, a published poet and master of rhyme, inspired my love of language. Her profound influence is reflected in how I write my picture books: entirely in rhyme!  My mom also encouraged my interest in drawing pictures.

What is your writing space like?

I both write and paint in my home studio. It’s a cozy, cheerful space that’s flooded with natural light.

What do you love most about the cover art and illustrations in your current book?  I’m happy with the quirky hermit crabs on the cover, which support the book’s theme in a fun and surprising way. It was a joy to express my passion for color, pattern and design in depicting the book’s different animals and habitats.

Describe your art style and your art process.

I consider myself a stylized realist. Using photos as visual references for my subjects, I create many sketches for each image and select the one I like best. I revise that sketch into a detailed drawing and transfer it onto paper. Then I apply three or more layers of acrylic paint to create my final illustration.

What information surprised you most during your research?

I knew that hermit crabs use abandoned sea shells as their home, but I wasn’t aware that when an empty shell washes up on shore, some crabs line up according to size and swap shells. This is the kind of unusual behavior I was excited to share with kids.

How (or in what ways) do you hope librarians will promote your book?  

I’d be thrilled to learn that librarians share Line Up! with children interested in learning about animals and nature. Teacher’s Guides are available on my website (www.susanstockdale.com) for all my books. The guides suggest dynamic activities that incorporate language arts, visual art, science, movement and more.

What do you hope your readers will learn from reading your book?

I hope the various line formations I depict in Line Up! spark children’s interest in animal behavior and science – and that my bold and graphic images fill them with a sense of wonder about our natural world.

Who is the reader you are writing for?  Please describe them. 

Because animals are so different from people, children are naturally curious about them and benefit from developing an understanding of them. I create my books to open their eyes to the marvels of nature.

What is one (or more) thing(s) that you really want your readers to know about you?

 I spend a lot of time consulting with scientists to make sure I convey factually accurate information in my books. I make many mistakes in both my writing and illustrations before they correct my work. I’d like kids to know that creating anything worthwhile in life takes diligence, humility, and patience.

Which book review or award has been most meaningful to you?

Though not a review or award, a mother wrote to me that her nine-year-old autistic daughter was so inspired by my picture book, Bird Show, that she created a fully illustrated, 32-page “humanized version” of it. She sent a copy of her daughter’s beautiful book to me. It was the most compelling affirmation of the positive influence of my picture books that I’ve ever received.

What are you most looking forward to at our book festival?

I’m very excited to attend other authors’ talks and run into author friends I haven’t seen in a long time.

What message do you have for your readers?

Play outdoors. Enjoy nature. Read a book and create one of your own! Kids often tell me that they want to become an author and illustrator when they grow up. I tell them they can be one now!

Additional resources:

Susan Stockdale’s Teacher Guides

TeachingBooks: Susan Stockdale

Articles:

Bird Show: An Extended Metaphor for Integrated Science and Literacy Learning

Design-A-Fish

Teaching Patterns to Infants and Toddlers

Understanding Difference