Review: Polly Holyoke's Skyriders

 

Skyriders cover illustrated by Brandon Dorman

             Polly Holyoke has written a fantasy adventure, Skyriders which is published by Viking an imprint of Penguin Random House, with skysteeds, winged horses, and a young central protagonist named Kie who battles with winged monsters called chimerae. Ms. Holyoke draws the reader in with her first sentence and continues to entertain throughout the book. Brandon Dorman has beautifully illustrated the cover depicting Kie riding her skysteed, N’Rah. Many strong adolescent female and male characters populate this book which has won multiple awards.

Skyriders was designed by Lucia Baez and published in 2023 with 291 pages of story and marketed for readers who are 8 – 12 years old and in grades 3 – 7. This is the first book in the Skyriders series and is a well written fantasy for middle graders with themes of flying and caring for skysteeds and family.

 

Visit: Polly Holyoke

Visit cover illustrator: Brandon Dorman

Visit book designer: Lucia Baez 

Visit Greg Pattridge host of: Marvelous Middle Grade Monday 

Visit Your Local Book Store Second Star to the Right

Interview with Beth Anderson: Thomas Jefferson's Battle for Science

 

Thomas Jefferson's Battle for Science illustrated by Jeremy Holmes

 Beth Anderson’s eighth picture book Thomas Jefferson’s Battle for Science: Bias, Truth and a Mighty Moose! published by Calkins Creek, delights and has a hilarious ending. Award winning illustrator Jeremy Holmes illustrated this story with woodblock prints and digital pencil. The book includes beautifully illustrated end papers with paw prints of various North American mammals. As always Ms. Anderson include back matter which include a timeline, an essay and references.

 

 Two Question Interview with Beth Anderson

 Welcome Beth. Thanks so much for returning.

 ETC: How did you first learn of Thomas Jefferson’s “Mighty Moose” and its hilarious ending?

BA: My first attraction was to Jefferson’s obsession with mammoths. But when a book came out about that, I let my manuscript rest. Then I stumbled on an article about the moose incident. Soon another book was announced about his obsession with measuring, and that had the moose in it. But…my attraction to the incident was the idea of how to "measure truth." It strongly connected to our moment in time. It held so much relevance and had hugely important ideas about science, misinformation, and checking sources (so important to teachers!).  It took a lot of digging to understand the larger context, find the details, and decide how to handle the fact that Jefferson too was biased (with awful consequences).

 ETC: I would suggest that “Moose” in the title, the endpapers with paw prints and the line “Or So He Believed,” all constitute both hooks and heart. Is there a specific point in the book that you consider heart or an entry point for a child?

BA: Definitely! Moose in the title surprises and grabs interest. The footprints are a hook that illustrator Jeremy Holmes created in the end papers. And you nailed the beginning of the “heart” thread in the line “so he believed.” That’s really what it’s all about—what we believe, why, and being able to admit our errors. I think about hooks and heart from the very beginning. As I research, that’s what I’m after as I sift through the facts. If I can’t find any value for kids today and the event is an interesting anecdote rather than a story that matters, I let it go. I try to find my heart idea, what the story is about at a deeper level than the physical plot, before I start drafting because that heart becomes the frame and driving force for decisions about what goes in and how I shape the story. The heart of this manuscript shifted a few times as I revised and found that some pieces were too abstract or complicated. I experimented with the “path” through and different endings. There were just SO many possibilities and valuable ideas in this story that it was a real challenge to hone the through line to make it clear and focused.

ETC: Thank you for the detailed answers and a book about science with so much humor.

      Visit Beth Anderson

       Visit illustrator Jeremy Holmes

       Visit Greg Pattridge host of MMGM

            Visit book store Second Star to the Right

 

Previous interviews with Beth Anderson: 

Cloaked in Courage

Revolutionary Prudence Wright

Franz's Phantasmagorical Machine 

Tad Lincoln's Restless Wriggle 

Lizzie Demands a Seat 

Interview with Wendi Silvano: Turkey's Birthday Bash

 

Turkey's Birthday Bash illustrated by Lee Harper

Best selling author, Wendi Silvano has written Turkey’s Birthday Bash, which is published by Two Lions an imprint of Amazon Publishing. The eighth book in the very popular Turkey Trouble series is illustrated once again by Lee Harper who has rendered humorous, whimsical paintings in watercolor and pencil. Turkey worries that nobody will remember his birthday so wordplay and high jinks dance through the pages as Turkey attempts to discover what is happening. My favorite part of this book is that Turkey has a somewhat simple, backyard birthday party.

 

Two Questions Interview with Wendi Silvano

Hello Wendi. Welcome.

ETC: Have you ever owned turkeys or domestic poultry?

WS: No, I have never owned a turkey or other domestic poultry, but I did live with a family in the Andes Mountains of Peru for a little while long ago and they had a turkey. When we finished out meals, we would scrape leftovers into a trough for the dogs and the turkey would come running too (I think he thought he was a dog!). He had tons of personality (which surprised me)

ETC: That’s a charming story.

ETC: Is there any one person or workshop that was especially helpful when you first began writing professionally?

WS: It’s hard to pick just one workshop that was most helpful when I first began writing professionally, but I do still remember how helpful one session at an SCBWI Letters and Lines Conference was many years ago. The speaker was Andrea Spooner (an editor) and she talked about the most important elements in a successful picture book. I also was able to have a personal critique from her on one of my manuscripts and her feedback was super helpful. I still ponder the things I learned from her when I am writing my books today!

ETC: Wendi. Thank you so much for visiting.

 

Visit author Wendi Silvano

Visit illustrator Lee Harper

Learn about Lee Harper’s process for Illustrating Turkey's Birthday Bash

Visit book designer Tanya Ross-Hughes

Visit your local book store Second Star to the Right 

Read my previous interview with Wendi Silvano Turkey's Sandtastic Beach Day 

 

Review: Peter Brown's The Wild Robot and The Wild Robot Escapes

 

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

It is perhaps disingenuous to review a book that will soon be released as a movie. However, The Wild Robot which was published in 2016 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and written and delightfully illustrated by Peter Brown is an exception. It features a robot, endearing forest animals and an isolated and rugged island. I bought it in 2021 and read it three times and have since reread it. Mr. Browns’ themes include survival, friendship, cooperation, and problem solving all wrapped in the larger themes of love and adventure. The paperback edition published in 2020 includes back matter with illustration examples showing the evolution of a final illustration beginning with a first pencil sketch, to a first digital sketch, to a middle digital sketch, to a final digital rendering in chapter four. The sequel The Wild Robot Escapes which I also purchased was published in 2018 is equally interesting and has also been reread.

Books contain approximately 270 pages plus back matter on writing and illustrating in the paperback editions.

Please consider reading the books as they are a fun adventure.

 

Link to Author and Illustrator: Peter Brown Studio

Writing and illustrating process for: The Wild Robot

Writing and illustrating process for: The Wild Robot Escapes

Visit Greg Pattridge host of:  Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Visit your local bookstore:  Boulder Bookstore

 

Rocky Mountain SCBWI Members on Google Blogger

Columbine by ET Charles

 Many Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators maintain blogs and/or websites. While the overall theme is writing for children, there are many interesting topics included in the blog posts such as science, marine life, and marketing. Google blogger, blogspot, is an easy platform on which to set up and maintain a blog. Following are some links to helpful and fascinating blogs by Rocky Mountain Members of SCBWI.

Art by Dow 

Claudia Mills An Hour a Day

Lynn Becker Books 

Kim Tomsic Bookshelf Detective 

Elyse Greenhut 

SCBWI the official blog 

Fleur Bradley How to Write Short Stories 

Fleur Bradley Three Tips for Writing Mysteries 

Fleur Bradley Creating a Marketing Plan 

Fleur Bradley Social Media Tips 

Google blogger 

Daniel Nayeri's Everything Sad is Untrue

 

Jacket art by David Curtis

Daniel Nayeri has written a multiple award winning, middle grade novel, Everything Sad Is Untrue which was published by Levine Querido in 2020. In a conversational tone Mr. Nayeri engages the reader while depicting life in Iran, Italy and Oklahoma. Humor, love and so many obstacles abound throughout this immigrant story. Droll, interesting vignettes will keep the reader turning each of the 368 pages. Themes of divorce and abuse are introduced.

David Curtis’s brightly colored, jacket art foreshadows the tornadoes of Oklahoma and acts as a metaphor for time which is neither sequential nor linear and ranges from the mythological age of Persia to Oklahoma of the 1990s.

Visit Daniel Nayeri       

           Visit book cover illustrator David Curtis 

          The Society of Illustrators hosts a YouTube video with David Curtis Starting a Career in Illustration 

          Visit jacket designer Semadar Megged

           Learn about jacket designer Elizabeth Parisi SCBWI blog book dummy  

          and Elizabeth Parisi SCBWI book covers 

           Book covers, best of 2019 Kettle Fire Creative

           Visit Greg Pattridge host of Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

          Visit your local book store Tattered Cover         

Interview with Laura Roettiger: An Accidental Hero: a mostly true wombat story

 

An Accidental Hero illustrated by Debbie Palen

The cutest wombat gazes at the reader from the cover of Laura Roettiger’s An Accidental Hero: A mostly true wombat story which is published by Eifrig Publishing. Ms. Roettiger has written about hope, friendship and science in a picture book about a wombat, Australian fauna and wildfires. The story is told in the form of a newscast which adds a layer of humor. Ms. Roettiger includes facts about Australian animals, climate change and fire prevention in the back matter. Debbie Palen’s whimsical illustrations in a beautiful color palette entertain and inform the reader.

Two Question Interview with Laura Roettiger

ETC: Welcome Laura. Thanks for visiting.

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

LR: I think the most important advice to give any writer, at any age, is to write what you know is true, kind, and what you feel in your heart. I write fiction so not everything I write is factual, but there is a difference between being creative and writing in ways that are misleading or hurtful. And then, this is the most important part,  be ready to revise. Revision is where the magic happens. When I was a teacher, I worked with students who thought that every word on their paper was sacred and they wouldn't change a thing. When a peer or critique partner tells you something isn't working, LISTEN. This is difficult for so many writers and when I do school visits, the teachers always thank me for explaining how important the revision process is and how many people are involved in my books from first draft to final book. Find good critique partners, take classes, find community, and do what works for you. Writing books is wonderful but it isn't most people's 'day job.' What else are you planning to do? Can you combine the two?

ETC: Did you originally conceive of An Accidental Hero: being told through the point of view of a television news cast?

LR: Surprisingly, yes. I know I talked about revision being where the magic happens so I don't want to imply that this story didn't go through revision, but my first draft of AN ACCIDENTAL HERO, from January 2020 was written as a newscast. I did a lot of research and prewriting first because I knew I wanted to keep the story as close to the truth as possible. I wanted to only include the animals in the wombat burrows that were actually discovered by the rescuers. But North American audiences connect kangaroos, koalas, and emus to Australia so I knew they needed to be in the book. As a teacher, I wanted to be able to include them as a layer to extend learning, so the logical way to incorporate them was to have them be reporters. I also love that it added journalism to the story and because the story is written all in dialogue, it's perfect for Reader's Theater. It really transfers well to classroom use which also makes me happy as a former elementary teacher. I love that it meets science and social studies standards, language arts standards, and SEL standards with different lessons. 

ETC: Thank you so much Laura for your insight and for writing such a marvelous book.

 

Visit Laura Roettiger

Visit Illustrator: Debbie Palen

Learn more about Australian Mammals: Australian Museum

Learn more about wombats: Columbus Zoo

Learn more about wombats: San Diego Zoo

Visit your local book store: Second Star to the Right

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.

Visit Chiara Colombi

Visit illustrator Scott Magoon

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

Scott Magoon has an interesting article On Publishing  

Visit NASA What is an Orbit?

 Learn more about orbits NASA Earth Satellite Orbits

 Visit your local bookstore Second Star to the Right

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.

Visit Matt Phelan

Learn about book designer Sylvie Le Floc'h

Visit Greg Pattridge host of Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Learn about Elephant Shrews 

Learn about Giant Elephant Shrews Houston Zoo

Learn about Giant Elephant Shrews Brookfield Zoo Chicago 

Learn about Ningbings  and here  and here

Visit your local bookshop Second Star to the Right

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.

Visit Tara Lazar

Visit illustrator Michelle Mayhall 

Visit Greg Pattridge host of Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Visit your local bookstore Second Star to the Right 

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. 

Visit  Jamie Siebrase

Visit illustrator Eric Parrish 

Visit your local book store: Second Star to the Right

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.

Visit author Jessica Speer

Visit illustrator Lesley Imgart

Visit author Matt de la Pena

Visit your local bookstore Second Star to the Right Books

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.

Visit Beth Anderson

Visit Anne Lambelet

Visit National Women's History Museum

Visit Colorado History Center

Visit your local bookshop The Wandering Jellyfish Bookshop 

Beth Anderson's Educator guide to Cloaked in Courage 

Beth Anderson's Persuasive writing USPS stamp campaing