Rocket Ship, Solo Trip Interview: Chiara Colombi

 

Rocket Ship, Solo Trip illustrated by Scott Magoon

Chiara Colombi has written an enticing rhyming picture book, Rocket Ship, Solo Trip which was published by Viking and imprint of Penguin Random House. Parents will want to read it again and again. Scott Magoon’s beautiful and whimsical illustrations which were rendered digitally draw the reader into the story. Ms. Colombi’s layer text describes both the physical, scientific process of launching a satellite in easy to understand language and the emotional trepidation that accompanies first times. The rhymes and illustrations beg repeat readings.

Three Question Interview with Chiara Colombi

ETC: Welcome Chiara.

You speak both Italian and English fluently. Your rhymes are exquisite. Did you take rhyming classes or webinars in English? If yes, would you like to recommend one or two?

CC: The first sentence of ROCKET SHIP, SOLO TRIP popped into my head in rhyme, but as soon as I tried to write a second sentence, I realized I had no idea what I was doing. I hurried myself to Google for help—I wasn't yet aware of organizations like the 12x12 Picture Book Challenge and all the webinars available focused on the craft of writing picture books. By way of Google search results, I landed on Dori Chaconas's website, specifically an article from 2006 called "Icing the Cake: Writing Stories in Rhythm and Rhyme". You can find it here: http://www.dorichaconas.com/Icing%20the%20Cake%20page.htm That article was my textbook and my guiding light. It inspired me to take my favorite rhyming picture books and type them up in a doc, finding the couplets that are often broken up over the page in the book design process, and marking the stresses in bold, to teach myself how it all worked. After deep diving a number of picture books this way, I learned the techniques I needed to draft ROCKET SHIP start to finish, with a consistent meter and rhyme scheme. I still think Dori's article is among the best articles on rhyming out there!

ETC: What advice would you give students in K – 12 who would like to write?

CC: Read, write, repeat. Read whatever writing appeals to you the most. And write anything: journal entries, poetry, news articles about your family's boring weekend, fan fiction (fan fiction, in particular!), stories that go no where, stories that go where you hadn't planned them to go, stories that go exactly where you planned them to go. The more you read, the more you understand what you like in writing. And the more you write, the more you figure out how to create what you like on your own. It's honestly as simple as that. Once you've figured out how to write something that you like, the next step is to share it with someone you trust. Sharing your work, and learning how to receive feedback and work with that feedback to improve your writing is an essential skill if you want to write something that others beyond yourself will also like. Of course, you can also just write for yourself, in which case, there's never a need to share. But if you're hoping to write stories for others, feedback from a trusted source will be invaluable in helping you to make your stories as strong as they can be.

ETC: Thank you for your generous answers.

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A special thanks to Dori Chaconas for sharing Dori Chaconas Icing the Cake  

Scott Magoon has an interesting article On Publishing  

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Matt Phelan's A Snow Day for Plum!

 

Matt Phelan’s second book in the Plum series, A Snow Day for Plum! was published by Greenwillow Books an imprint of HarperCollins in 2023. Mr. Phelan has written and illustrated a fun adventure for Plum a peacock, Kevin a giant elephant shrew, and Itch a ningbing. Set in an empty school during a blizzard, Plum, Kevin, Itch and fellow zoo animals meet three school mice and embark on an exploration of the school. Along the way themes of fear of a new school, friendship and practice are depicted. Mr. Phelan’s engaging black and white illustrations draw the reader into the adventure and for artists he added a how to draw Plum section at the end.

Plum and friends are an amusing romp for those with March snowstorms and snow days and those wishing for snow days. This short book with many illustrations may be called a chapter book or a young middle grade novel. Pages:128.

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Learn about Giant Elephant Shrews Brookfield Zoo Chicago 

Learn about Ningbings  and here  and here

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Review: Tara Lazar's Absurd Words

Absurd Words illustrated by Michelle Mayhall

With Absurd Words: A kid’s fun and hilarious vocabulary builder for future word nerds Tara Lazar has written an entertaining word book with words grouped by topic. My favorites are space and weather. However, there are a variety of categories such as style or fashion and music. Michelle Mayhall’s colorful, engaging illustrations and book design guide the reader through the text. Ms. Lazar defines over 750 words in kid friendly language. This is a witty read and will benefit both elementary and middle grade students. Sourcebooks Explore published Absurd Words, a nonfiction text, on January 2, 2022 and it is recommended for grades 4-8. Ms. Lazar likes to make lists; her website has a list of 500 interesting words.

For writers and future writers, Ms. Lazar hosts Storystorm every January which is a romp through picture book craft and generating ideas. While it is February, past posts are easily accessed.

Greg Pattridge provides book recommendations and reviews on Marvelous Middle Grade Monday.

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Interview with Jamie Siebrase: Tonight!: A bedtime book plus giveaway

 

 

Tonight! illustrated by Eric Parrish

    With Tonight! A bedtime book Jamie Siebrase has written a delightful bedtime story which features animals of the Rocky Mountains. Eric Parrish who is affiliated with the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research illustrated the text. Muddy Boots an imprint of Globe Pequot, the trade division of Rowman & Littlefield published Tonight! Each evening a boy visits a different wild animal ranging from a large carnivore to birds to herbivores.

Jamie has donated a copy of Tonight: A bedtime book as a giveaway. Please comment after the post to enter the drawing.

Interview with Jamie Siebrase

ETC: Welcome Jamie. What advice would you give K-12 students who would like to be writers?

Note: Jamie’s response has been edited for clarity and space.

JS: Hmmm, that's a really good question. I've wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember.

My sixth grade Language Arts teacher, Mr. Winston, had students keep a dream journal for a month. I was so nervous to present mine in class! On the cover of the journal, in big, bubbly pre-teen girl handwriting I’d written: I dream of being a writter. Writter with two Ts. Right before class, when it was too late to change anything, my dad looked at the journal and said, “If you’re going to be a writer, maybe you should learn how to spell it. Then, immediately after class ended, my best friend, Lindy, came up to me and said in this really snobbish voice, “You know, Jamie, nobody ever does what they say they’re going to do.”

I think these important people were helping prepare me for a lifetime of rejection. 

The first thing to do is write. Preferably every day if you can.

The next thing to do is read as much as humanly possible. If you stopped scrolling through Instagram, stopped watching TikToks and YouTube shorts, just think of all the actual reading you could accomplish!

I'd also recommend taking some writing courses. . . . But could you take a few writing classes while pursuing a degree that might someday pay the bills? Here in Colorado we're so lucky to have lots of continuing education options. The Lighthouse Writers Workshop in Denver, for example, offers adult classes as well as many youth workshops and classes. 

Last but not least, let criticism and rejection roll off your back. Even Stephen King was rejected with his first novel, Carrie.

     ETC: Thank you, Jamie.

    Jamie has generously donated a copy of her book to give away. My first give away! Thank you, Jamie. Please comment below to be eligible for the drawing. Please send an email if the comments do not work. U.S. addresses only, please. Drawing will take place January 16, 2024. 

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The Phone Book: Interview with Jessica Speer

 

 Jessica Speer has written The Phone Book, published by Familius, a social emotional learning guide to cell phones with additional fun facts and puzzle games. Lesley Imgart illustrated the text. I wish that I read this years ago. However, it is here now and others may learn from it. This is a nonfiction book that could be passed through families as each child turns of phone age or likewise through neighborhoods again slightly before a child receives their first phone. One can skip to the case studies for faster learning. The intent of the book is twofold: a less vulnerable child/person and a kinder, better world.

One Question Interview with Jessica Speer

ETC: Welcome, Jessica.

What advice would you give students in K – 12 who would like to write books?

JS: Years ago, I attended a writing conference, and author Matt de la Pena shared the following during his keynote session.

 “It’s not about writing what you know; it’s about writing what you want to know.”

 Wow! That was a shift for me. I thought I had to be an expert in the subject before I started writing. I thought I needed to know all the facts or how the story might end.

Matt’s wisdom encouraged me just to begin, to start the book, to explore an idea. Through writing, we become experts. Like anything, it requires practice and persistence.

But as you practice the craft, you improve. As you research, you learn. As you revise, you grow. And as you write, you expand your expertise on the topic. You become the expert on your story and how it ends.

Start with what you want to know, then begin.

ETC: Thank you for the excellent advice, Jessica.

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Cloaked in Courage: Interview with Beth Anderson

 

Cloaked in Courage illustrated by Anne Lambelet

Beth Anderson has written Cloaked in Courage: Uncovering Deborah Sampson Patriot Soldier, published by Calkins Creek. Forward thinking, Deborah Sampson disguised herself as a man and fought in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. In telling this story Ms. Anderson also depicts the life of poor children in New England and the life of an enlisted soldier; stories that are seldom told. By its absence, the story becomes an endorsement for free public K-12 education and free lunch. Anne Lambelet drew and painted with traditional pencils and paint and then combined these in a digital program, Adobe Photoshop. As always Ms. Anderson includes primary sources and secondary sources in the back matter.

One Question Interview with Beth Anderson

Hello Beth. Welcome.

ETC: What do you find most helpful to your writing?

BA: Most helpful to me in my writing is….other people! We often think of writing as a solitary pursuit, but I couldn’t do this without so many people in my life that help carry me along this journey. My critique partners are vital to pushing my thinking and helping me solve problems within a manuscript. And that works both ways as critiquing their work allows me to grow, too. More kid lit peers create opportunities for learning, whether it’s in online groups, at a conference, webinars, or sharing experiences. My agent provides honest feedback, suggestions, and takes care of the side of the business that’s not my favorite. Editors are a constant source of knowledge and see the boulders and holes in a story path. In addition to all those essential people in the writing world, encouragers like family and friends keep me going when the mojo fades, and share the joy when everything comes together. And of course there are the kids who read the stories. That’s a lot of people! Truly a village!

ETC: What an inclusive and joyous response. Thank you so much for visiting.

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Beth Anderson's Educator guide to Cloaked in Courage 

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