New Books in Children's Literature

In this intriguing and fun interview Stephen Fraser talks about his love for children's books, his careers as editor at HarperCollins Children's Books and as executive agent at the Jennifer de Chiara Literary Agency, and his premise that "Joy should drive the publishing industry." Along the way, he shares great advice to aspiring picture book authors: Picture book manuscripts are a 'launch pad for the illustrations.' Write out of joy and passion (not towards a trend), make every word count, have your manuscripts read to you aloud, make room (lots of room) for the role of the illustrator, concentrate more on the manuscript (and less on the query letter), avoid art notes, be theatrical and love what you're doing. And, towards the end, there is even a musical surprise!!! Enjoy!Mel Rosenberg is a professor emeritus of microbiology (Tel Aviv University, emeritus) who fell in love with children's books as a small child and now writes his own. He is co-founder of Ourboox, a web platform with some 240,000 ebooks that allows anyone to create and share flipbooks comprising text, pictures and videos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In my conversation with author-illustrator Noa Nimrodi we celebrate the launch of her first Middle Grade book in English, Not So Shy which published just two weeks ago by Kar-Ben. As a young Mom, Noa fell in love with picture books and decided to try and write her own. It was definitely harder than it seemed. After many drafts and countless rejections, Noa finally got a publishing deal for her first two picture books (in Hebrew). In 2009 Noa’s husband was offered a job in San Diego, and with three kids and a dog they moved (Noa breaking a promise not to put her kids through the moves she experienced as a child). Her children’s challenges mirrored some of her own and brought back memories of when she moved to the US. And that was the seed for Not So Shy.Mel Rosenberg is a professor emeritus of microbiology (Tel Aviv University, emeritus) who fell in love with children's books as a small child and now writes his own. He is co-founder of Ourboox, a web platform with some 240,000 ebooks that allows anyone to create and share flipbooks comprising text, pictures and videos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since Chris Haughton begun writing and illustrating children's books about a dozen years ago, he has conquered the heart of millions with his engaging stories and unique, beautiful artwork. His first book, A Bit Lost has been translated into 35 languages and has won awards in 12 countries including the Dutch Picture Book of the Year. Oh No George! came out in 2012, SHH! We Have a Plan in 2014, Goodnight Everyone in 2016, Don't Worry, Little Crab in 2019, and Maybe in 2021. In this wonderfully frank conversation, we discuss his life, his publishing career (beginning in South Korea), his craft, advice to aspiring writers and illustrators, and celebrate his most recent book, Well Done, Mummy Penguin (Candlewick Press, 2022).Mel Rosenberg is a professor emeritus of microbiology (Tel Aviv University, emeritus) who fell in love with children's books as a small child and now writes his own. He is co-founder of Ourboox, a web platform with some 240,000 ebooks that allows anyone to create and share flipbooks comprising text, pictures and videos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

African-Americans and women are increasingly visible in professional mathematical institutions, organizations, and literature, expanding our mental models of the mathematics community. Yet early representation also matters: We begin building these models as soon as we begin seeing and doing mathematics, and they can be slow to adapt. In her wonderful activity book Women Who Count: Honoring African American Women Mathematicians (MAA Press, 2019), Dr. Shelly Jones invites children, and their parents and educators, to immerse themselves in the lives and deeds of Black women mathematicians.The 29 profiles trace back to "the Firsts" in their fields, such as early PhD awardee Evelyn Boyd Granville; the "Pioneers" of emerging fields and programs, including ethnomathematics co-founder Gloria Gilmer; through "Unhidden Figures" like Dorothy Johnson Vaughan of recent biopic fame; and to "Contemporary Firsts" who are living, working, and opening new doors today. Along with their mathematical contributions, Dr. Jones shares details of these mathematicians' early lives, their hobbies and interests, and how they have been shaped by and in turn shaped their communities. Each mini-biography introduces a whole person whom readers new to mathematics can relate to and be inspired by.Each profile is accompanied by a pencil-and-paper activity that brings to life the some part of their story. Some are classics, including word searches and I-Spy, while others introduce readers to mathematical and educational concepts explored by their subjects—coloring tessellations, for example, or solving equations to decode messages. The text and activities are targeted to grades 3–8, and are ideal for elementary and middle school classrooms.In our conversation, Dr. Jones described how she conceived the book, assembled the stories and activities, and connected with illustrator Veronica Martins. I came away with a richer perspective on the state of the field for aspiring mathematicians—in addition to a perfect gift for my second-grade nephew.Suggested companion works: Mathematicians of the African Diaspora Mathematically Gifted and Black Mathematician Project Lathisms We are Indigenous Mathematicians Black Girl MATHgic Talitha Washington Dr. Shelly M. Jones is a Professor of Mathematics Education at Central Connecticut State University. She has been an educator for 30 years and currently teaches undergraduate mathematics content and methods courses for pre-service teachers as well as graduate level mathematics content, curriculum and STEM courses for in-service teachers. Dr. Jones serves her community by working with various professional and community organizations. You can see her CCSU TEDx talk on YouTube where she talks about culturally relevant mathematics. She is also a contributing author to The Brilliance of Black Children in Mathematics: Beyond the Numbers and Toward a New Discourse and co-author of Engaging in Culturally Relevant Math Tasks: Fostering Hope. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lindsay Bonilla is the author of Polar Bear Island (Union Square, 2018) and I Love You With All of My Hearts (Creative Editions, 2021). In our lively and candid interview, we celebrate the launch of Lindsay's new book, The Note Who Faced the Music (Page Street Kids, 2023). Lindsay talks about her childhood challenges and her penchant for storytelling which turned into a passion for writing picture books. She recounts the path from hybrid to traditional publishing, lessons learned along the way, and gives sage advice for aspiring authors.Lindsay is a member of the National Storytelling Network (NSN) and the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Learn more at lindsaybonilla.com.Mel Rosenberg is a professor emeritus of microbiology (Tel Aviv University, emeritus) who fell in love with children's books as a small child and now writes his own. He is co-founder of Ourboox, a web platform with some 240,000 ebooks that allows anyone to create and share flipbooks comprising text, pictures and videos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Susan Johnston Taylor dreamed of writing since the age of nine, when she won a magazine contest. In our interview we celebrate the launch of her picture book, Animals in Surprising Shades: Poems about Earth’s Colorful Creatures (Gnome Road Publishing, 2023). Her book is composed of poems (each in a different style), each about a colorful animal. As a freelance writer for over a decade, Susan's written over a dozen titles for the educational market and published nonfiction articles in children’s magazines including FACES, Highlights for Children and Scout Life. In our conversation, we talk about her journey in publishing her debut book with a traditional publisher, and her tips for aspiring authors.Mel Rosenberg is a professor emeritus of microbiology (Tel Aviv University, emeritus) who fell in love with children's books as a small child and now writes his own. He is co-founder of Ourboox, a web platform with some 240,000 ebooks that allows anyone to create and share flipbooks comprising text, pictures and videos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our interview, Melissa Edwards provides an insightful look at children's publishing from the viewpoint of a successful agent who left her legal career in order to pursue her passion for children's books. Melissa Edwards joined Stonesong as a literary agent in August 2016. Previously, she was a literary agent at the Aaron Priest Literary Agency, where she managed the foreign rights for a forty-year backlist. After graduating from Washington University in St. Louis and Vanderbilt Law School, Melissa began her career as an attorney before transitioning into publishing. She is a tireless advocate for her clients and a constant partner during the publication process and beyond. Melissa also acts as a contract consultant for authors and agents under the business MLE Consulting. She can be found on Twitter @MelissaLaurenE. Melissa represents our past interviewee Bea Birdsong and our upcoming interviewee Noa Nimrodi.Mel Rosenberg is a professor emeritus of microbiology (Tel Aviv University, emeritus) who fell in love with children's books as a small child and now writes his own. He is co-founder of Ourboox, a web platform with some 240,000 ebooks that allows anyone to create and share flipbooks comprising text, pictures and videos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this interview with third time author Cathy Stefanec Ogren, we celebrate the launch of her new picture book, Pew! The Stinky and Legen-Dairy Gift from Colonel Thomas S. Meacham (Sleeping Bear Press, 2023). Cathy talks about how her love for writing plays as a child led her down the path of becoming an educator and teacher. PEW is the unlikely tale of publicity-hungry Colonel Meachem who, almost 200 years ago, wanted to impress the US president with a special 600 kg gift of ripe cheese. In our conversation, Cathy stresses the importance of entering contests, writing through passion, and never ever giving up.Mel Rosenberg is a professor emeritus of microbiology (Tel Aviv University, emeritus) who fell in love with children's books as a small child and now writes his own. He is co-founder of Ourboox, a web platform with some 240,000 ebooks that allows anyone to create and share flipbooks comprising text, pictures and videos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joni Sussman talks about her love for children's books and for everything Jewish and how she found her life's mission combining these passions as publisher of Kar-Ben, (part of Lerner Publishing Group), which is dedicated to creating great children's books related to Judaism for Jewish and non-Jewish children in North America and beyond. Now publishing over 20 titles a year, Joni shows us several of her upcoming books and gives excellent tips for writers who wish to submit picture book manuscripts. There is also a bonus for authors who want to submit manuscripts for publication to Kar-Ben, after listening to our interview!Mel Rosenberg is a professor emeritus of microbiology (Tel Aviv University, emeritus) who fell in love with children's books as a small child and now writes his own. He is co-founder of Ourboox, a web platform with some 240,000 ebooks that allows anyone to create and share flipbooks comprising text, pictures and videos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ned Bustard is the author of a new children’s book, Saint Patrick the Forgiver: The History and Legends of Ireland's Bishop (InterVarsity, 2023). We talked about the book, the life of St. Patrick, and the conversion of Ireland. The day after the interview, during his Ash Wednesday homily, Pope Francis said, “the Gospel is not an idea, the Gospel is not an ideology: the Gospel is a proclamation that touches your heart and makes you change your heart.” That’s exactly what St Patrick showed by returning to pagan Ireland where he’d been a slave for six years. When a slave, he had been a shepherd. Now free, he became the shepherd of a nation. IVP Kids imprint webpage. Square Halo Books webpage. World End Images webpage. St. Patrick’s writings, the Confessio and the Epistola, in English and Latin. EWTN Ireland documentary, Discovering St. Patrick Pope Francis’s homily on Ash Wednesday, February 22, 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices