An Interview with The Picturebooking Podcast

Talking picture books is pretty much my favorite thing, so it was an utter delight to sit down with one of my very favorite podcasters to talk about DANCING WITH DADDY, illustrated by Ziyue Chen, which comes out on Dec. 1 (Two Lions).

A huge thank you to Nick Patton for having me on The Picturebooking Podcast, which has interviewed all-time kidlit greats, such as Marla Frazee, Sophie Blackall, Grace Lin and Dan Santat, and many, many more.

Nick and I chatted about EVERYTHING, from my childhood young author’s club and journalism years, to Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome and writing craft. Here’s the link to the episode!

I hope you enjoy the interview - thank you for listening!

Be sure to check out Nick’s other amazing Picturebooking interviews HERE! And a little reminder that DANCING WITH DADDY is available for pre-order now! You can message independent bookstore Harvey’s Tales in Geneva, IL, and request a signed copy HERE. Or you can order one HERE, as well.

THANK YOU, as ever and always!

Kidlit Spotlight: EL CUCUY IS SCARED, TOO!

You can’t outgrow fear, no matter your age. As a mom, I get scared of all sorts of things every day - mostly activities involving my children. I worry about them getting hurt as they try something new. I also worry about my girls being embarrassed or crushed when I’m not there to help them navigate their emotions.

Yep, the worry is pretty much non stop, interwoven into all of life’s moments - from the scary and unpredictable, to the beautiful and epic.

My girls have fears, too, of course. They usually surface at bedtime, right as we’re winding down for the day. Their worries come rushing in like powerful waves. We brace for the crash, then I do my best to help them to see the shoreline. The dry, safe surface is almost always within reach, even though it can feel far away.

New picture book EL CUCUY IS SCARED, TOO! is a story about growing into, and working your way through, new kinds of fear. Not the fear of monsters in your room. But big-kid fears of unfamiliar experiences and the unknown world. Here’s the bright, endearing cover of this touching story by Donna Barba Higuera, illustrated by Juliana Perdomo (Abrams Books for Young Readers), which arrived on shelves a little earlier this month.

EL CUCUY IS SCARED, TOO! is a picture book about a boy named Ramón and the monster in his room, El Cucuy. As Ramón and El Cucuy chat and swap stories, it’s clear that - despite their fears - these friends have prepared each other for harrowing life moments ahead, including Ramón’s first day at a new school. Here are three things that I love about the new picture book EL CUCUY IS SCARED, TOO! …

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Balance of Bright & Dark

EL CUCUY IS SCARED, TOO! begins at night. White stars twinkle upon a black sky as the story’s characters wrestle with the same trouble: Sleeplessness. El Cucuy, a sweet little bedtime monster, attempts to startle Ramón with his best scare. But the creature fails to elicit a jump from Ramón, as it did when Ramón was younger. The little boy has something else on his mind. “Other things are scarier to me now,” Ramón says. “Yo también,” El Cucuy sighs.

From page to beautiful page, bright striped textiles and familiar objects surround Ramón and El Cucuy. The brilliant tones and patterns provide a lovely counter balance to the heavy emotions the characters discuss, evoking cheerful and buoyant feelings in the reader, even as they process big feelings and worrisome things.

Art by Juliana Perdomo

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Parallel Journeys

Thought bubbles whisk readers into memory, as Ramón and El Cucuy picture home. “I miss our old casita,” Ramón says, as El Cucuy imagines the desert wind and the coyotes singing. The characters mirror each other on either side of the book’s gutter (center binding), a composition that emphasizes their parallel journey, as well as physical similarities between Ramón and El Cucuy: round faces, sweet smiles, and cross-legged posture. El Cucuy seems in this moment to be a reflection Ramón’s childhood loves, joys and self.

Soon the characters begin talking about school, which starts the next morning. As Ramón shares worries, El Cucuy follows suit. Whenever El Cucuy expresses a fear, Ramón comfortingly reassures the monster, demonstrating that he’s learning to distinguish between fears that are imagined and those that are very real, yet harder to define.

Art by Juliana Perdomo

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Constant Companion

Just when it seems that Ramón has it all figured out, it turns out that he needs reassurance, too. Ramón worries that he won’t fit in at school. “What if my clothes are not like theirs? What if they make fun of the way I speak?” El Cucuy understands, although he worries that people in this new place won’t even know to fear him.

It’s when comforting El Cucuy that Ramón finds his courage: “Eres fuerte… and brave. You will make new friends.” As Ramón and El Cucuy continue sharing memories and fears aloud, it’s evident that Ramón has never been alone. El Cucuy has been beside him all throughout his childhood, helping him develop strategies for handling fear, such as singing favorite songs and shining a flashlight directly upon the source of a scare.

Art by Juliana Perdomo

Ramón and El Cucuy’s bond shows the tremendous power that imagined companions can have in childhood development. In many ways, EL CUCUY IS SCARED, TOO! is an ode to imaginary friends, with an incredibly positive underlying message to children who will be coming to a new town or country, or starting over this new school year…

You are brave. You are more equipped than you know. The tools you’ve used to confront your fears in the past are still available to you today. And - perhaps most poignant of all - shine light into dark places, so you can face your fears head on. They might not be so scary, after all.

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The Creators

Donna Barba Higuera's middle grade and picture books are about kids who find themselves in odd or scary situations, and characters who tackle more than just the bizarre things that happen to them in their lives. Donna likes to write about all things funny, but also sad, and creepy, and magical. If you like those things, read her books, found HERE! Donna lives in Washington State with her family, three dogs and two frogs. 

​Juliana Perdomo has a background as a psychologist and an art therapist, but her passion is in children’s literature. Her work is diverse, heartfelt and personal, folkish, a bit retro, and joyful, with a Latin touch. She has participated in many beautiful projects, including books (found HERE!), puzzles, animations, branding, family portraits, and magazines. She lives with her amazing son Luca, rocker partner Iván and crazy old dog Menta.

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One lucky reader will win EL CUCUY IS SCARED, TOO!,

signed by Donna Barba Higuera!

1. "Like" this post (click the heart below)

2. Follow me (@anitraschulte) on Twitter

3. Retweet my pinned contest tweet by 7/30/21 

GOOD LUCK!

Kids Day Story Time in Geneva, IL

A year ago, in-person story times seemed a distant dream.

This summer, that dream is coming true!

So far this year, I’ve had the chance to be a part of three live story time events - a lifelong wish and hope fulfilled. The first was at an inclusive playdate put on by Rising Lights Project at Happy Hooves Farm. (Read about that HERE!) And the second was at Kids Day, a Swedish Days event in Geneva, Ill.

Kids Day was canceled last year, due to Covid. But in early spring of 2021, it looked like the event would be a go. At brainstorming meetings with representatives from the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, Geneva Public Library and Rising Lights Project, my wheels started turning with ways to make this year’s Kids Day, planned for the brand new Geneva Public Library site, inclusive and exciting.

There are so many incredible authors within a few-hour’s drive of Geneva, so I reached out to some fellow creator friends to see if they might be willing to come to the library for a morning of story times. Joy of joys, eight said YES, making nine in our Kids Day Story Time group.

We planned to have our event outdoors, but rain moved us in. Nevertheless, the show must go on - and it did, with an incredible crowd!

Patricia Toht read her book DRESS LIKE A GIRL, illustrated by Lorian Tu-Dean.

Norene Paulson read her book WHAT’S SILLY HAIR DAY WITH NO HAIR?, illustrated by Camila Carrossine.

Sarah Aronson read her book JUST LIKE RUBE GOLDBERG, illustrated by Robert Neubecker.

I read my book DANCING WITH DADDY, illustrated by Ziyue Chen, which comes out Dec. 1 .

(Available for pre-order HERE!)

Jacob Grant read his book NO PANTS!

Sara Shacter read her book JUST SO WILLOW, illustrated by Stephanie Laberis.

Ruth Spiro read her book MAXINE AND THE GREATEST GARDEN EVER, illustrated by Holly Hatam.

Lori Degman read her book TRAVEL GUIDE FOR MONSTERS, illustrated by Dave Szalay.

And Kira Bigwood read her book SECRET, SECRET AGENT GUY, illustrated by Celia Krampien.

Being in front of readers, and being together, was the absolute best.

And the event gave me the chance to meet my PB Debut Troupe 21 buddy Kira, too!

We are so grateful to all who came out for Kids Day Story Time, including the volunteers who made it possible - my best friends and critique partners Kate Twohig, Heather Klaus and Chaz Baechler.

Many of the authors donated signed copies of their books for a raffle, and the funds raised went toward the donation of TRISTAN STRONG PUNCHES A HOLE IN THE SKY, a novel by Kwame Mbalia, for young readers served by Leading with Literacy, my partner for Holiday Book Drive Chi, a book giving event that’s about to enter its 5th year.

Thank you, Geneva Chamber, Geneva Public Library and Rising Lights Project, for supporting and hosting this event - it’s quite is clear from on our faces that the rain couldn’t dampen our book joy.

And thanks, too, to the organizers of Swedish Days Family Fest at Geneva Commons the following day, June 26, and for author friend Norene Paulson for joining me at that event, as well.

Please check out the books shared over the Swedish Days weekend that are noted in this post - at your local indie bookstore, or at your local library - all are excellent. Happy summer reading!

Kidlit Spotlight: HOW TO SPOT A BEST FRIEND

During more than a year of pandemic-related separation, lots of parents have worried (rightly so!) that their children might have trouble reconnecting with peers and forging new relationships. It’s hard to know how this extended isolation will impact our children’s social and emotional development, in the short or long term.

But so far, to my great relief, spending time in close relationship with others has come back pretty smoothly for our girls. That’s partially because our kids have each other as friends and an established neighborhood bubble. But the girls also have made close friends with brand new classmates - children they didn’t even know until very recently.

Maybe that’s because spotting a friend can be easy, if you know what to look for. As an author and writing consultant who works almost exclusively from home, I get a front-row seat for many of my girls’ special friendship moments. Through their words and actions, it’s clear to see what makes a friend a best friend.

A best friend watches you pick out your dream doll, without getting jealous.

A best friend keeps you company, when it seems dinner will never be ready.

A best friend finds you breeze, on a sweltering day at the park.

A best friend shares the load, when your arms are wary from a swim.

A best friend fires up an extra set of wheels, to double the fun.

New picture book HOW TO SPOT A BEST FRIEND is filled with beautiful moments such as these: Specific gestures of generosity and kindness that can be mistaken for nothing other than bold, true friendship. Here’s the sweet-as-can-be cover of this story by Bea Birdsong, illustrated by Lucy Fleming (Rodale Kids), which skips onto shelves this week on June 22.

HOW TO SPOT A BEST FRIEND is the recognition of the small-but-mighty gifts given to us by our friends, and an invitation to be a great friend to others, too. Here are three things that I love about the new picture book HOW TO SPOT A BEST FRIEND…

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Charming Premise

HOW TO SPOT A BEST FRIEND whisks readers right into a little girl’s quest. “Today, I will find a best friend!” she proclaims, and sets out to do just that. Mama tries to temper her expectations. “It’s only the first day of school,” she says. But the girl embarks on her journey with a wide stride and nothing but confidence.

Flowers pop with positivity as the girl walks to school, and it doesn’t take her long to spot a best friend, or two, or three. From the moment she arrives in her classroom, she sees markers of friendship and best friendship everywhere. Hues of bubblegum pink, sunny gold and vibrant violet, rendered in joyful, playful textures and patterns, create a happy setting where the promise of something worth smiling for is around every corner.

Art by Lucy Fleming

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Positivity & Specificity

As the main character moves from activity to classroom activity, she meets new friends, keeping her eyes peeled for kids with best-friend potential. With her positive attitude, she finds best friends everywhere. One friend works with her build a tower, then helps her rebuild it after a crash. Another friend performs a magic trick, and then goes a step further to share the secret behind it.

Each act of generosity shows how a best friend goes beyond what’s expected to add a special thoughtful touch. Birdsong gives these above-and-beyond moments such lovely, tender specificity. For instance, when the class listens to a spooky story, Birdsong writes: “A friend sits next to you when it’s time for a story. A best friend holds your hand during the scary parts.”

Art by Lucy Fleming

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Inclusive & Celebratory

HOW TO SPOT A BEST FRIEND continues in this pattern, showing readers first how to be a friend, then expanding the idea of friendship to demonstrate how an excellent friend often steps back in order to share the spotlight. While “friendship” is the meaningful umbrella, and a very age-appropriate one, it’s worth noting that these selfless acts are also early glimpses and models of leadership.

The darling cast of characters illustrated by Fleming allows many children to feel seen, and also demonstrates to young readers that kindness is something to be given to all. The stakes of these pre-school and early-grade encounters may seem low, but make no mistake, the actions that these students make and take are bold and, at times, downright brave.

Art by Lucy Fleming

Best friends can be anywhere. The sister in the bunk bed above you, or the buddy next door. The child passing by your house on a scooter, or swimming beside you in the shallow end of the pool. The ever-present possibility of friendship is something kids embrace fearlessly every day, in a myriad of circumstances. HOW TO SPOT A BEST FRIEND celebrates the beauty of this love, which steps outside of what’s expected to extend a hand to someone who needs it.

Children will identify with classmates in these pretty pages and also be affirmed that there is great value and power in their mighty moves of friendship. And, as a grown-up kid, it reminded me that a new neighbor a few blocks down needs a brownie delivery… STAT!

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The Creators

Bea Birdsong is the author of I Will Be Fierce, illustrated by Nidhi Chanani and published by Roaring Brook Press, Sam’s First Word, illustrated by Holly Hatam and published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, How to Spot a Best Friend, illustrated by Lucy Fleming and published by Rodale Kids/RHCB, Goat Is the Goat, illustrated by Kelly Murphy and published by Nancy Paulsen Books, and Boop!, illustrated by Linzie Hunter and published by HarperCollins Children's Books. Bea is also a writer for the education market and a former teacher, who believes in the awesome power of books to educate, entertain, and empower. She lives in North Carolina with her family. Bea is represented by Melissa Edwards of Stonesong Literary Agency.

Lucy Fleming studied illustration at the University of Lincoln, then started her career as a children's book illustrator with a love for story-telling, magic and creating art. She is represented by the Bright Agency and has illustrated books with publishers such as Bloomsbury, Simon & Schuster, Walker Books, Harper Collins and more. Her first author/illustrator picture book, Ella's Night Lights, was published by Walker Books in 2020 and has been published in several languages world-wide. Lucy has always been an avid doodler and day-dreamer and never quite grew out of having her head in the clouds. When not beavering away creating books, you'll find her spending time outdoors surrounded by plant-life, sipping a hot cup of tea with her little cat playing close by.

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One lucky reader will win HOW TO SPOT A BEST FRIEND,

signed by Bea Birdsong!

1. "Like" this post (click the heart below)

2. Follow me (@anitraschulte) on Twitter

3. Retweet my pinned contest tweet by 6/25/21 

GOOD LUCK!

Very First Story Time!

Last week brought a super exciting event! My dear friend Jaimie Valentini, founder of the Chicagoland non-profit Rising Lights Project, hosted an inclusive playdate at Happy Hooves Therapeutic Farm, and our crew got to be a part of the fun. Families gathered in the stables and all over the Happy Hooves grounds to meet goats, chickens, pigs, bunnies and horses…

… including this pretty one, Elsie.

Wait, Elsie?

Yes, ELSIE! The name of the main character in my debut picture book DANCING WITH DADDY, illustrated by Ziyue Chen (new pub date, Dec. 1, 2021). This day at Happy Hooves marked my very first story time, ever! To see an Elsie, right before I read about my Elsie, felt like more than a coincidence.

When Jaimie and Rising Lights Project invited me to read DANCING WITH DADDY at its inclusive playdate, I couldn’t say yes fast enough! DANCING WITH DADDY is inspired by my family. The main character, Elsie, has Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, just like my oldest daughter.

I’m always excited to be a part of events that support disability awareness and foster friendship (such as The Nora Project - read about it here!). This playdate was exactly these things. Jaimie introduced me, sharing a bit about my upcoming books (including WILLOW & BUNNY, illustrated by Christopher Denise), plus my favorite color, favorite animal and love of musicals.

A huge thanks to my sister Betsy and best friends Heather, Chaz and Kate for snapping pictures of the day! I chatted about the cover and revealed the special alternate cover UNDER the jacket - one of my favorite surprises in the book. Then I read DANCING WITH DADDY from this sweet rocking chair. I couldn’t believe that seat was for me! (Am I a real author now?)

The story time audience included disabled children, who use the very tools that Elsie uses in DANCING WITH DADDY, including a wheelchair, alternative and augmentative communication, feeding tubes and syringes. I hope with all my heart that these young readers and their parents were able to see themselves in the story and its characters.

One of the scenes in DANCING WITH DADDY includes a G-tube feed. So after I finished reading the story, I demonstrated how a G-tube extension and syringe connect and deliver food directly into the stomach. Whenever my daughter is eating in public, her G-tube feeds always catch the attention of children, who are curious to know what we are doing and how it works. It was SO nice to talk about this important part of our family life in such a positive, welcoming atmosphere, among new friends. (You’ll notice my girls aren’t watching - they’ve seen this about a million times, LOL!)

Speaking of my girls (who inspired the characters Elsie, Rosalie and Daphne in DANCING WITH DADDY), they were the VERY best audience and coaches as I prepared for the read aloud and toyed with a few interactive elements. As the Beach Boys say, God only knows what I’d be without you, girlies!

Also in the crowd were the Jarvises! Miss E and Miss L are classmates. But more than that, the Jarvises are family. We walk the Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome journey together in near-lockstep.

Hillary also happens to be my fitness instructor via her amazing online Hillary J HIIT workouts. Check her out here! Her Patreon platform got me through quarantine, without a doubt. And now she’s up for the cover of MUSCLE & FITNESS HERS. Yes, Hillary is amazing! Vote for her HERE - if Hillary wins Ms. Muscle & Fitness, she’s buying a new wheelchair accessible van for her family!

The event with Rising Lights Project is the first of three live-and-in-person read alouds I’ll be a part of this month - yay! So if you didn’t make this one at Happy Hooves, and would like a sneak peak at DANCING WITH DADDY (which publishes Dec. 1), please come to the one at Swedish Days Kids Day in Geneva, IL!

From 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., on Friday, June 25, right outside of the Geneva Public Library, nine regional authors will read their picture books and meet young readers. Don’t miss it! Creators attending include Jacob Grant, Norene Paulson, Sarah Aronson, Lori Degman, Sara Shacter, Ruth Spiro, Patricia Toht and Kira Bigwood… and me! (I hyperlinked everyone’s name to their website, so you can check out their work.) I’m so excited to see these incredible children’s book makers in real life again. If you live in the area, please come out and say hello!

If you haven’t had a chance to pre-order DANCING WITH DADDY, you can message independent bookstore Harvey’s Tales in Geneva, IL, and request a signed copy HERE. Or you can order one HERE, as well. Your support has completely blown me away. Thank you!

Happy summer - catch you back here soon!

Author Spotlight: Tammi Sauer

I hope all the mommas out there had a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend! My unintentional two-day celebration (a practice I’d be happy to make a tradition) included a date night with Dan, brunch the following day, church with my family, the sweetest homemade gifts, cousin + sister fun, porch swinging, and writing time. So, you could say my tank is full. Sending extra hugs to my mom, Cheryl Rowe! We clearly share a love of the loose fit trouser.

Speaking of mothers…

I don’t think a mom ever forgets the first book her child reads independently. That’s why I’m so emotionally linked to the picture book GO FISH! by Tammi Sauer, illustrated by Zoe Waring (HarperCollins). GO FISH! was the first book read alone by not ONE of my daughters, but TWO! I shared the magic of my youngest daughter’s first solo story mission in this ‘lil tweet…

All three of my girls are now avid readers - a dream come true! - and as an enthusiastic passenger on their reading-life journey, I can clearly see the link between their first cherished book and these enduring feelings of literary ownership and confidence.

If you wanna grab the attention of young readers and show them just how fun and engaging stories can be, look no further than the books of Tammi Sauer. Story after story delivers pure reading joy. Her character-driven narratives are brimming with witty delights, silly sentences and perfectly time punch lines, evoking smirks, smiles and allllll the LOLs.

So get ready to guffaw because Sauer’s latest picture book - NOT NOW, COW, illustrated by Troy Cummings (Abrams Appleseed, April 2021) - delivers precisely the color, charisma and comedy that fans of Sauer’s stories have come to enjoy. Here’s the season-defying cover… (PS: We ALL know cow, don’t we?)

NOT NOW, COW is a super funny story about a cow, who (despite many signs and signals from nature) cannot get on board with the weather. The book opens in the midst of cheery, bright, blossoming Spring. Spirited animals skitter across pink, yellow and green scenes, doing seasonally appropriate things. Duck happily waters budding plants. Sheep leaps and flies a kite.

Goat splashes through puddles, umbrella in hand, as a rainbow stretches across the sky. And Cow…

Well, Cow is… not on the same page.

NOT NOW, COW tickles funny bones with bouncy, playful rhyme, a cast of familiar-feeling friends, and humor that grows funnier and funnier with each page turn. Sauer tees up jokes just so, then WHACK! Anticipation soars up, up, up and… plop! The punch line lands in perfect position on the literary green. Often, for a hole in one.

Sauer is truly a master of the craft. I had the pleasure of attending an SCBWI conference a few years back, where Sauer presented and offered critiques. Her remarks - both in person and in the margins of my story - were dynamic, kind, exceedingly helpful and unforgettable. I’ve long hoped to have her on my blog, and… here she is! I hope you enjoy my Author Spotlight with Tammi Sauer:

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3 Questions with Tammi Sauer

Several of your books - such as NOT NOW, COW and GO FISH! - are perfect for new readers. How do you approach crafting stories for the very youngest among us?

For books like Now Now, Cow and Go Fish!, I had a specific audience in mind. I wanted to give young kids who are at the very beginning stages of reading opportunities to feel like accomplished, real deal readers. To do this, I kept the text in these books to a minimum and invited the art to tell most of the story. I also made the stories a bit silly because I think little kids are often big fans of silliness.

An added perk to Not Now, Cow is that it rhymes. Paired with the art, the simple, rhyming text invites young readers to make successful  predictions. When young readers find the confidence that comes from reading a book like Go Fish! or Not Now, Cow, they are more likely to reach for the next book.

Covid has made connecting with students in person super challenging. How have you adapted your author visits, since last spring, and what does 2021 hold? 

It turns out it took a PANDEMIC to get me to do virtual visits. Kate Messner's webinar series "Reinventing the Author Visit" helped me to see it was doable, and Janee Trasler, one of the members of my critique group, acted as my personal guide as I learned how to navigate my way through Zoom and Google Meet. In addition, it was comforting to know there were a lot of people who were in this very same boat. The Facebook group called "Create Engaging School Visits" has been around since before the pandemic, but, this past year, it's been especially helpful for us authors and illustrators to have a place to share strategies for developing and doing virtual visits.

Even though I can't feed off the audience like I would normally do in an in-person visit, I always go into a virtual visit with the idea that I am presenting to the most engaged kid in the world. I have also made parts of my presentations interactive, and that has worked out well despite the confines of a virtual visit.

I'm hopeful that the 2021-2022 school year will bring with it a return to in-person visits. I already have a lot of visits on my calendar! I will, however, continue to do virtual visits as they are an easy, affordable way for schools to connect kids with authors.

Look at that stack of books! What advice can you share for picture book writers, who dream of writing many (many!) stories for children?

My favorite bit of picture book advice comes from a Cynsations interview that I was lucky enough to discover early in my career. Cynthia Leitich Smith had asked author Lynne E. Hazen a question regarding her main considerations in writing a picture book.

And THIS was Lynne's response:

"My main considerations for any picture book are humor, emotion, just the right details, read-aloud-ability, pacing, page turns, and of course, plot. Something has to happen to your characters that young readers will care about and relate to. Oh, and you have to accomplish all that in as few words as possible, while creating plenty of illustration possibilities. No easy task."

So good, right?!

I think about this quote every time I write a picture book.

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Thank you for visiting the blog, Tammi! (That quote is going on the wall in my writing space!)

Tammi Sauer, a former teacher and library media specialist, is a full-time children's book author. She has 30 picture books with more on the way. In addition to winning awards and earning starred reviews, Tammi's books have gone on to do great things. Chicken Dance, Your Alien, and Nugget & Fang were made into musicals that toured the nation. Wordy Birdy was named a Kids’ Indie Next List book, the 2021 Book Choice for Read Across Oklahoma, and a Bank Street College Best Book of the Year. And Your Alien, an NPR Best Book of the Year, was released in Italian, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, and French which makes her feel extra fancy. Visit Tammi’s website at tammisauer.com, and be sure to follow her on Twitter at @SauerTammi.

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*** Win NOT NOW, COW ***

Simply...

1. "Like" this post (click the heart below)

2. Follow me (@anitraschulte) on Twitter

3. Tag a friend

4. Retweet my pinned contest tweet by 5/14/21 

(Submit a blog comment below and get a BONUS ENTRY!)

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Cover Reveal Day! DANCING WITH DADDY

What a day this day is… so much to celebrate!

First, today, April 16, is Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome Day (or 4p- Day). Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome impacts individuals who have a deletion on the short arm of the fourth chromosome. Why is April 16 WHS Day?

April is the 4th month of the year (fourth chromosome). And “p” (the letter representing the short arm of the chromosome) is the 16th letter of the alphabet.

So… 4/16!

Visit www.wolfhirschhorn.org and www.4p-supportgroup.org for more information. Sending hugs and hellos to all people and families touched by WHS. Our family wears jeans today in honor of rare genes. You can too!

As many of you know, I recently wrote a picture book about a girl who has WHS - a character inspired by my daughter, who has this same chromosomal deletion, which impacts 1 in 50,000 births. The book, DANCING WITH DADDY, publishes on Oct. 26, 2021. And today, I get to share the cover of it with you!

Here it is!

To my delight, librarian and writer John Schu revealed the cover of DANCING WITH DADDY this morning on his blog, Watch. Connect. Read. Mr. Schu, who also is Ambassador of School Libraries for Scholastic, interviewed myself and phenomenal illustrator of Ziyue Chen. Here is Mr. Schu’s fantastic feature - DANCING WITH DADDY BY ANITRA ROWE SCHULTE AND ZIYUE CHEN! Answering these questions was entirely too much fun…

As you will read in the interview, I wrote DANCING WITH DADDY because there was a book that I desperately wanted to see on the bookshelf at my local library and in my local book store - a fiction tale featuring a main character who, like my daughter, uses a PODD communication book, a wheelchair, and a G-tube for eating, and has a fun, loving family life and her own exciting dream-come-true adventure. The story came together in my mind and heart as we were preparing for the night that my husband, Dan, took our three girls to the local father-daughter dance. This was the night!

That dance was three years ago, and our girls are much bigger now! But the magic of that night has been captured in our memories and now, in a picture book, too! Ziyue Chen’s art is so very beautiful. I can’t wait for you to see it in full color! And it won’t be long…

DANCING WITH DADDY is now available for pre-order, woohoo! Click HERE to order, and your copy will arrive on the day that the book is released, in Fall 2021!

October 26 (the book birthday of DANCING WITH DADDY) will be here soon - on that day, my heart just may burst. I’ll be sure to share more fun as it comes along the way. What a dream come true this all has been. Many thanks to my editor at Two Lions, Kelsey Skea, literary agent, Stephanie Hansen, and amazing critique partners Rosie, Jen, Kristen, Barb, Alison, Hannah, Lauren, Clo, Tom, Heather, Chaz, Kate, and to the uber talented members of my debut group, PB Debut Troupe 21!

Happy Friday, and Happy WHS Day!

Kidlit Spotlight: SUNDAY RAIN

More often than not, I hear about upcoming picture books from authors, illustrators and editors on Twitter. But that’s not at all how I became acquainted with the beautiful new picture book SUNDAY RAIN. My longtime critique partner Rosie J. Pova sent SUNDAY RAIN to me, and to the rest of our writing group, as a promising manuscript. When I read it, I stopped in my tracks. This was one special story.

And I’m not the only one who thinks so! The New York Times featured SUNDAY RAIN in a March round-up of 8 Picture Books About Imagination and Identity. Wowza. Doesn’t get much bigger than that! I jumped out of my chair when I heard Rosie’s good news!

What makes SUNDAY RAIN so very special? So many things! How it plays in your ear when you read it aloud… how it sparsely-but-powerfully depicts the strain of displacement… how it dives into play as both a great escape and the truest path forward... all at once. Here’s the sweet cover, which brings to my mind the light, playful sketches found within the children’s book THE LITTLE PRINCE.

SUNDAY RAIN by Rosie J. Pova, illustrated by Amariah Rauscher (Lantana, March 2021) swooshes readers from rocky waters of worry into the joy and excitement of what could be - a message sure to connect with families starting over in a new place. Here are three things that I love about SUNDAY RAIN…

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Springing with Sound

SUNDAY RAIN takes place on a blustery day. Elliott is reading in his room when the “whoosh” of the wind and a “knock” from a branch cause him to stop reading his book and peak out the window. On the other side of the pane, leaves blow and thunder booms, but alas, it’s just a storm. Elliott returns to his book, where a girl fights a dragon upon the sea. Elliott much prefers adventure and make believe to the reality outside his room: a new, unfamiliar neighborhood. 

The storm continues. Raindrops “tap, tap” on the roof. Then Elliott hears something new – laughter. Though Elliott watches timidly, this bright, silvery sound provides a sliver of hope that cuts through the layered rainstorm soundtrack with an invitation to adventure.

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Moving Metaphor

With a little prodding from Mama, Elliott grabs his galoshes and heads out into the Sunday rain, where the laughing children are at play.  The air around him smells of “wet grass and flowers and the pages of a new book.”  Elliott comes alive, roaring to the rain and jumping into a puddle. 

Elliott’s imagination takes off – his words, a metaphor for feelings deep inside. “My boat is filling up with water,” Elliott says. “Row faster!” the children encourage. “The dragon is pushing me,” Elliott says. “We’ll fight it,” a child offers in support. In this make-believe world, Elliott is joined in battle with instant friends, ready and eager to help him navigate a new world.

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Finding Solid Ground

The brave crew confronts the dragon at sea. When will the danger stop? It’s Elliott who declares that solid ground’s been found. Sun cracks through the clouds, ray by ray, and Elliott finds his footing. No one can say when the stresses and strains of an obstacle have ceased to cause trouble, save the person experiencing them. It’s moving that Elliott makes the celebratory declaration on his own, with confidence and joy.  

For Elliott, imagination is a magnet for friends and a compass through rough waters. And inspiration for his journey forward, into his new community, begins with a book. SUNDAY RAIN is a reminder that stories read alone can spur bravery, and that stories shared can lead to grand adventures.

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Rosie J. Pova is the author of ​If I Weren't With You (SPORK, an imprint of Clear Fork Publishing, 2017), Hailey Queen Pranking Makes Perfect: The Alien Encounter (SPORK, 2017), and Sarah's Song (SPORK, Fall 2017). Rosie also works as a Writing Instructor in the Dallas Independent School District through the Writer's Garret. Rosie is originally from Bulgaria and now lives in Texas with her husband and three kids. She writes for children of all age groups, as well as poetry, with poems appearing in literary magazines such as Poetry Quarterly, Burningword Literary Journal, Haiku Journal, and more.

Amariah Rauscher is the illustrator of the Princess Truly book series (Scholastic), including titles I Am Truly!, and My Magical Sparkling Curls. Amariah has a Masters in Communication, but enjoys painting pictures most of all. Her work on the Princess Truly series is dedicated to her children, who have provided so much inspiration along the way. She lives in Illinois with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and three dogs.

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One lucky reader will win SUNDAY RAIN,

signed by Rosie J. Pova!

1. "Like" this post (click the heart below)

2. Follow me (@anitraschulte) on Twitter

3. Follow Rosie (@RosiePOV) on Twitter

4. Retweet my pinned contest tweet by 4/9/21 

5. Tag a friend!

(Extra entry if you request SUNDAY RAIN from your local library!)

GOOD LUCK!

Before and After: Family Kitchen Reno

I’ve been a little quiet on the blog in the new year. That’s because our lives were turned upside-down this winter… in the best way possible!

February and most of March were consumed with the realization of a long-dreamed-of kitchen renovation. Ever since we moved into our house seven years ago (when I was eight months pregnant with our second daughter), my husband and I have been pacing the floors, wondering what an updated kitchen space would even look like. It wasn’t a matter of if. It was when.

We made some cuts on our own - literal cuts - removing this peninsula (below) among other things, and we updated appliances slowly, as break downs occurred.

But something more had to be done. Our 44-year-old cabinets, part of the original 1976 construction, were falling off the hinges, and a year of quarantine life put an extra bright spotlight on the disfunction.

Not that there weren’t a million beautiful memories made in the old kitchen.

Yogurt baths…

First steps…

Sister playtime…

Cooking escapades…

And Christmas morning gymnastics…

But don’t be distracted by the cute children! Changes needed to be made!

There were years when we thought it would never happen at all - and that’s why it was so overwhelming when construction took only three weeks! Many, many thanks to our kitchen designer Nancy Muller of CR Cabinetry (and Monarch Cabinetry of Sullivan, IL) and our local contractor Robert Silvestri of Park West Design/Construction.

With warm mid-century wood tones, shiny surfaces, clean-yet-classic lines, and black accents on the brain, we created a plan and went for it. Here are the before-and-after pics!

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BEFORE: Looking into the kitchen

AFTER: Wall down, same view

(Soffits and cabinets out, lighter floors and walls, new lighting, cabinets and counters)

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BEFORE: Sink and primary prep space

AFTER: Same area, different angle

(Moved the oven, closed one window, installed a bigger window over the sink)

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BEFORE: Wall between kitchen and dining room

AFTER: Same view, wall removed

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BEFORE: Refrigerator wall

AFTER: Same wall

(Added a much needed pantry!)

And just like that, it’s done!

Wow, is it nice to have a more open floor plan. We are researching getting a new gait trainer for our 9 year old, Miss E - like the one she uses at school (below). She’ll have much more room to move in her equipment in this new set up. I recently wrote an update on Miss E on the www.wolfhirschhorn.org website (Elsa: 9 years old), in case you’d like to check that out!

Happy spring (and spring break) to all of you! And be sure to scroll down to the posts below, to see the books I’ve reviewed on the blog so far this year. They are all EXCELLENT and not to be missed.

Until next time!

Kidlit Spotlight: KAFKA AND THE DOLL

Meet Bear-Bear-Bear.

This sweet mint-tinted stuffy was given to one of my girls during a hospital stay. For the life of me, I cannot recall which girl or why we were at the hospital…

But alas. What’s most important is that Bear-Bear-Bear is my 6 year old’s husband.

In fact, they just returned from a weeklong getaway in New York. I’m trying not to be jealous, but NEW YORK? What I wouldn’t give to see a show and dine my way across the city with my hubby, Dan. We’re approaching our 15th anniversary, after all. Nevertheless, I’m happy for them.

As Miss L’s betrothed, Bear-Bear-Bear is an official member of our family and always with us. Unless, of course, he’s been left outside on accident, which brings about quite a lot of sadness, particularly at bedtime. When it’s very cold and very dark, we trust that the raccoons and skunks will be kind to him until the sun climbs into the sky once again.

The relationship between a child and his or her doll is sacred and absolute. It’s something that grown ups respect and honor because at the center of each human heart was once such a toy.

Indispensable. Irreplaceable. Inextricably yours.

New picture book KAFKA AND THE DOLL - by Larissa Theule, illustrated by Rebecca Green (Viking Books for Young Readers, March 2021) - delves into and lyrically lives within that imaginative, intimate, technicolor space. This is the divine cover that captivated me for months before the book’s publication, and called me to get to know this story through-and-through…

KAFKA AND THE DOLL is based upon the true story of a unique friendship that developed between writer Franz Kafka and a young girl. As the tale goes, while at the park one day, Kafka and his partner Dora Diamant met a girl, who had lost her doll. Kafka’s generous heart compelled him to create a narrative that continued the doll’s journey, to the anticipation and ongoing delight of the girl.

This warm, surprising, moving story captured my heart, and holds it still. So as you can imagine, it’s a joy for me to tell you about it! Here are three things that I love about KAFKA AND THE DOLL…

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Gorgeous Lines and Limited Palette

The sincerity and unique tone of KAFKA AND THE DOLL is first experienced in the glorious palette and certain marks of illustrator Rebecca Green. The story is set in a sepia past, where autumnal hues punctuates the page in falling leaves and pretty patterns. The natural setting, minimally rendered, bends and sways in sync with the story’s brilliant characters, whose postures, expressions and clothing are set in angular, fashionable lines, creating a compelling, sartorial cast. The entire look is novel and in complete accord with the spirit of the story, which is - as I’ll soon elaborate - positively enchanting.

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Heart-driven Narrative

Noticing a girl in distress, Kafka and Diamant approach and learn that the child, Irma, has lost her doll. Her doll Soupsy. (Let us linger on the perfection of the name for just a moment longer… ) To ease Irma’s worries, Kafka swiftly whips up a story: Irma needn’t fret because Soupsy is simply traveling, and Kafka - “a volunteer postman” - will deliver Soupsy’s hand-written letter to Irma the very next day.

From the backmatter of this story, we learn the Kafka was not in good health at the time that he assumed the role of "postman.” Yet, day-after-day, for weeks, he arrived at the park with a new letter from Soupsy, filling the moments of separation between Irma and and her doll with adventure and new experiences. Only a person with an unwavering belief in the power of story would dutifully undertake such a noble and worthy assignment.

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Tender and Imaginative Prose

While this story is based upon true events, the letters written by Soupsy, and the dialogue between Kafka and Irma, are Theule’s delightful creation. Kafka’s wise, observational generalities and open-ended queries create an ocean of possibility in which Irma can interpret the details of Soupsy’s journey and imagine what might happen next.

In chronicling Soupsy’s travels - to Paris and Barcelona, and Morocco and Egypt - Kafka introduces Irma to the world outside Berlin, filled with wondrous landscapes and marvels of cuisine and architecture. As Soupsy’s letters grow shorter, a sign of Kafka’s failing health, it’s clear that Kafka has given Irma a gift that extends beyond Soupsy’s enduring existence.

“You’re pale,” Irma says to Kafka. “You miss nothing,” Kafka replies. Such is the heartbeat of KAFKA AND THE DOLL. Children see it all, and know what is real. The light in their doll’s eyes. The magic that’s just beyond what they can touch. The hope of the next grand adventure. Bigger than big. Truer than true. KAFKA AND THE DOLL captures this intuitive spark and invites us to keep the light burning, for the children in our lives and for the child inside our very heart.

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Larissa Theule is the author of many books for children, including A Way With Wild Things, illustrated by Sara Palacios (Bloomsbury), Born to Ride: A Story About Bicycle Face, illustrated by Kelsey Garrity-Riley (Abrams), How Do You Do?, illustrated by Gianna Marino (Bloomsbury), and Fat and Bones: And Other Stories, illustrated by Adam S. Doyle (Carolrhoda). She holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and lives in Southern California with her family and dog.

Rebecca Green is an illustrator, painter, and author working in children’s publishing, editorial, and fine art. Her books include A Place Called Home by Kate Baker (Lonely Planet Kids), Becoming A Good Creature by Sy Montgomery (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), Madame Saqui, Revolutionary Rope Dancer by Lisa Robinson (Schwartz & Wade Books), and A Year with Mama Earth by Rebecca Grabill (Eerdman’s Books for Young Readers). She loves experimenting with traditional materials and use an array of media including gouache, colored pencil, ink, and cut paper.

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One lucky reader will win KAFKA AND THE DOLL, signed by Larissa Theule!

*** Win KAFKA AND THE DOLL ***

Simply...

1. "Like" this post (click the heart below)

2. Follow me (@anitraschulte) on Twitter

3. Retweet my pinned contest tweet by 3/19/21 

(Submit a blog comment below and get a BONUS ENTRY!)

GOOD LUCK!