I very rarely re-blog…but today I’m sharing a blogpost from a dear friend and CP, Alayne Kay Christian. As we close out the year and look towards 2024, her post is informational and inspirational for all writers. AND, she’s offering a Giveaway…hurray!
Hop over to Alayne’s blog and leave a comment for a chance to win the Giveaway!!!
#50PreciousWords has been a blessing for me! It’s helped to connect me with so many amazing kid lit folks, including the author of today’s featured book, FREE TO BE FABULOUS! Actually, David McMullin was an early follower of my blog and was a top winner of the contest in 2017. So, having him on Picture Books Help Kids Soar is like welcoming an old friend – and it’s an honor for me to share the cover of his upcoming book, illustrated by Robbie Cathro, that launches from Clarion Books on April 30, 2024.
What a glorious cover!!! Definitely a quicker-picker-upper – kids will naturally gravitate to the joyful action and beautiful color palette.
Here’s a little bit about the book:
Free to be Fabulous is the story of Daniel who dances like his favorite pop star, Fabulina, at his school’s talent show. That’s when the bullying begins, but he soon finds that the very thing they tease him for is what helps him find his strength.
And here’s a note from David:
This book has been a long rewarding journey. It will be six years from idea to publication with three R&Rs (revise and resubmit) with the editor before an offer. Much like my main character, I knew that following the path I loved would get me to my destination despite the obstacles. Most of the stories I write lean towards the silly side of life, so to have my debut be such a personal book is quite special. Then to be matched with Robbie’s magical art—I couldn’t be happier.
And here’s a little bit about David McMullin:
David is a picture book writer, illustrator, and children’s poet. His debut book, Free to be Fabulous comes out April 30, 2024 with Clarion. His poems are featured in several magazines and anthologies. Honors include an SCBWI Ann Whitford Paul Award, an Astra International Picture Book Writing Contest award, and a Madness Poetry championship. David and his husband are currently full time world travelers, bird nerds, and YouTubers. In past careers he was a Broadway actor, an educator, and a children’s librarian.
Website: https://www.davidmcmullinbooks.com/welcome/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidmcmullinpb/
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/davidmcmullinpb
And here’s a little bit about illustrator Robbie Cathro from his website:
I am an Illustrator & Storyteller living in Bristol, UK, working from my studio in The Island. I love to make fun, colourful and charismatic work whether that’s for a lively children’s magazine, an editorial piece or even for stories of my own invention. With my work I hope to create a playful composition that translates the mood and atmosphere of the work I’m illustrating! I graduated in 2016 from The University of the West of England with a 1st-Class Honours in (BA Hons) Illustration.
Website: http://www.robbiecathro.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robbiecathro/
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/RobbieCathro
And here are several links for preorders because we all know that one of the best ways we can help a book become successful is to buy copies:
HarperCollins Book Sales
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
And last but not least, here are a couple of other ways we can help:
Review the book on Amazon and other sites
Put the book on your Goodreads WANT TO READ shelf
Tell friends about the book (you can do that by sharing this post on your social media)
Ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection
As always, I’m grateful for all of you who spend your precious time with us here.
May this be a season of light and love for you and the world.
Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends. I love how picture books often help us reconnect with our childhood. When I was a little girl, my grandmother taught me how to crochet using my finger. Eventually I learned to use the crochet hook – and in later years, created many sweet baby sweater sets and blankets for my own children AND grandchildren. A GIFT FOR NAI NAI definitely touched a happy chord in my heart and I’m excited to share this beautiful book with you. And please stick around for the entire post (it’s not too long) because you’ll need to leave a comment if you want a chance to win the fabulous giveaway: Winner’s choice of a copy of the book OR a Picture Book Critique (nonrhyming).
A GIFT FOR NAI NAI
Written and illustrated by Kim-Hoa Ung
Published by Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan (December 5, 2023)
Ages: 4-8
Themes: Intergenerational relationships, mastering skills, self-esteem
Synopsis: From Amazon:
Lyn Lyn’s beloved Nai Nai has a birthday party approaching! All Lyn Lyn wants to do is make a lucky hat for her very special grandma, but her crochet skills are not nearly as refined as Nai Nai’s.
So Lyn Lyn hatches a plan for the best crocheter she knows to help her make the perfect lucky hat for Nai Nai!
Through perseverance and their special bond, Lyn Lyn comes to realize that the perfect gift for Nai Nai comes from within.
Why I Love This Book:
1. I love the connection that Lyn Lyn has with her grandmother. It reminds me of the connection I had with my grandmother – and I know that many children will relate to Lyn Lyn.
2. I love the beautiful text that captures our hearts.
3. I love the glorious illustrations that Kim-Hoa created. And just wait until you read the little interview and find out about her challenging moment on the path to publication for this book.
I often ask authors and illustrators if they had a challenging moment on the path to publication. Sometimes they share that the launch date was pushed back. Or perhaps that the editor asked for a different beginning or ending. Kim-Hoa stopped by to answer that question – and this is what she said:
KIM-HOA: A challenging moment on my path to publication was when I had to redraw all the characters in human form. The characters in A GIFT FOR NAI NAI were originally pandas. I felt more comfortable illustrating animals than humans so that was a challenge for me. I had completed my dummy and colored a few spreads already, so it was time-consuming to redo almost everything. But, I’m proud of how Lyn Lyn and Nai Nai turned out.
ME: Oh my gosh…that was definitely a challenging moment, Kim-Hoa. Congratulations on being open to the editor’s vision for the book – and for succeeding so excellently! Even though books with animal characters are lovely, I believe that having real people portrayed in this story adds another important layer – and it becomes a book that will help so many children feel seen and heard.
RELATED ACTIVITIES:
Hand-crocheting with Kids
I love that this website shows how you can teach a young child to crochet WITHOUT crochet hooks: https://www.topcrochetpatterns.com/blog/8-easy-crochet-projects-to-do-with-kids
Here’s a little bit about Kim-Hoa:
Kim-Hoa Ung is a Chinese American author-illustrator and amigurumi artist. Just like Lyn Lyn, she crocheted hats for her grandma. When Kim-Hoa is not creating stories, you can find her crocheting pieces for art shows, sending snail mail, and making arts and crafts with her kids. She lives with her family in Southern California. A Gift for Nai Nai is her debut picture book.
You can connect with her and find out more about her books here
And now, dear friends, it’s time to sign off until the next post (which will be a COVER REVEAL on Monday for David McMullin’s debut picture book). Please remember to leave a comment for a chance to WIN either a copy of A GIFT FOR NAI NAI or a PICTURE BOOK CRITIQUE from our generous author/illustrator, Kim-Hoa. And also, please do at least of one the following:
Buy a copy of the book
Review the book
Put it on your Goodreads WANT TO READ shelf
Tell friends about it (share on social media)
Ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection
VIVIAN KIRKFIELD - Writer for Children 