When I was a little girl, most of the characters in children’s books looked enough like me so that I felt seen even though nobody wore glasses or was as height-challenged as I was…but they were white…and so was I. These days we know now how critical it is for young kids to see themselves…not only as the child characters in stories, but also as adults in positive leadership roles. And that’s why I’m so excited to share the COVER of a new picture book, written by Steena Hernandez and illustrated by Melissa Castillo that launches October 15th from Beaming Books.
Huge props to Melissa Castillo for this GORGEOUS cover!!!! And don’t you love how the little girl’s pose is directing us to open the book?
Here’s a little bitt about the book from the Amazon sales page: Everyone deserves to shine.
Lupita’s big ballet recital is approaching. The music is perfect. Her ballet moves are strong. But her peachy pink ballet slippers don’t match her skin tone. Lupita searches for the right pair only to discover it will take hard work–and messy measures–in order for her shoes to dance with her.
Inspired by the author’s own experiences as a Latina dancer, Lupita’s Brown Ballet Slippers is a charming story filled with determination. The final few spreads teach readers about the history of ballet slippers as well as the crucial changes the industry has seen for dancers of all races and ethnicities.
This is definitely a book that needs to be in classroom and public libraries, as well as home bookshelves. And guess what? We can help!!! Please share the post widely on your social media. You can put it on your Goodreads WANT TO READ shelf. You can review it. You can ask your local library to order copies for their collection. And of course, you can pre-order a copy.
Here’s a bit about author Steena: Steena Hernandez holds a BFA in theatre, music, and dance from Texas Tech University, and has performed with the Rent Broadway tour, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra as a vocalist, and the United Service Organization (USO) tour, and more. She now resides in San Antonio, Texas, with her family. She’s a storyteller at heart, and when she’s not writing or cooking, you can find her curled up in a cozy spot reading with her two children.
And here’s a little about illustrator Melissa: Melissa Castillo’s work is heavily inspired by her Peruvian culture and heritage. With the lack of diverse representation of Latinx culture in illustration, she hopes to properly represent people of color and create relatable art for all cultures
We love these beautiful new picture books that are popping up in the pipeline. And we are grateful to the writers, artists, and publishers who are creating them!
FOR WRITERS, ILLUSTRATORS, PARENTS, TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS, AND BOOK LOVERS EVERYWHERE
TODAY’S GUESTS
CHRISTY MIHALYDIANA MURRAY
Double the pleasure and double the fun – that’s what happens when TWO kid-lit friends have brand new GOLDEN BOOKS launching! I’ve know Christy Mihaly and Diana Murray for a LONG time…and when I heard they both had GOLDEN BOOKS coming out, I knew I’d want ask them to visit Picture Books Help Kds Soar.
Remember those Golden Books, dear friends? I still have a few of the originals that sat on the little bookshelf my sister and I had in our room. And I can’t wait to chat with Christy and Diana about how their books came to be. Plus, because I’m such a fan of both of these authors PLUS Golden Books PLUS the people they showcased, there will be TWO lucky giveaway winners…just let us know in the comments which Golden Book you would prefer and, if you are the lucky winner, I’ll send it right out to you. But first, here’s a little bit about our guests:
Christy Mihaly is an award-winning children’s author, former lawyer, environmentalist, and poet who has published more than 35 titles on topics from hayfields to free speech to food. Recently, she enjoyed a little change of pace, writing a Little Golden Book Biography of comedian/actor/producer/director Mel Brooks (Jan. 2, 2024).
Christy has written many books about civics and government, including the picture books Free for You and Me: What Our First Amendment Means and The Supreme Court and Us (Albert Whitman 2020, 2022). She has a picture book about Congress coming out later in 2024. Her 2021 Barefoot Books WATER: A Deep Dive of Discovery, received a Kirkus star and Nautilus Book Awards Gold Medal. Her other picture books include Hey, Hey, Hay!, a mother-daughter farming book(Holiday House, 2018) and Patience, Patches!, in which a dog learns to deal with the addition of a new baby to the family(Dial, 2022).
She enjoys school visits and running poetry workshops and lives in Vermont, where she enjoys walking in the woods and playing cello (though not simultaneously). Christy (like Diana) is represented by Erzsi Deak of Hen&ink Literary Studio.
DIANA MURRAY is the author of over twenty five children’s books, including Firehouse Rainbow, Pizza Pig, Love Stinks!, the bestselling Unicorn Day series, and Jr. Library Guild Selections like Goodnight, Veggies and City Shapes.
Diana is a first-generation immigrant who grew up in New York City. She still lives nearby with her husband, two daughters, and a dog who loves trips to the beach. http://www.dianamurray.com FB: https://www.facebook.com/diana.murray.718 Instagram: @dianaMurrayAuthor Twitter/X: @dianaMWrites
ME: Welcome, dear friends! I’m so excited you both stopped by to visit and chat with us. I’ve featured some of your earlier books years ago – it’s wonderful to have you back! So, let’s get started because everyone’s here. Who were your favorite authors/illustrators when you were a child?
CHRISTY: As a kid, I fell in love with specific books and didn’t pay much attention to the creators behind them. Before I could actually read, I had a favorite picture book: Do Baby Bears Sit in Chairs? by Ethel and Leonard Kessler. I had that thing memorized – and insisted on “reading” it to whoever was around.
That’s little Christy ‘reading to her Grammy
Later in life, I loved and re-read Charlotte’s Web, Harriet the Spy, A Wrinkle in Time and The Secret Garden. I think one reason I read a lot of middle grade and YA today (besides that it’s “my job”) is I crave that feeling of possibility that comes with being a young reader and just sinking into a good book.
DIANA: I didn’t read many picture books as a child, but I do distinctly remember reading some Little Golden Books. I think one of them was The Tawny Scrawny Lion. The first author I remember loving is Lucy Maud Montgomery, after I read Anne of Green Gables.
ME: What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started writing?
CHRISTY: I wish I’d known two things: First, writing is a journey rather than a destination. There are so many stepping stones and milestones along the way, and I wish someone had told me to celebrate each one (while surviving all the rejections and disappointments); and second, it’s so important to find others in the amazing writing community to celebrate these things with – and to lift one another up.
DIANA: I wish I hadn’t spent so much time on the very first story I ever wrote. I should have just put it aside, accepted that it wasn’t ready to be published, and kept on writing other stories. But I guess trying to get that story right was just part of the learning process.
ME: Where do you like to write – inside, outside, special room, laptop, pen and paper?
CHRISTY: Laptop. My handwriting is atrocious and I hate it when I cannot read something that I scribbled. I move around, depending on the weather, the light, and my mood. In winter, I keep the woodstove burning so I set up in the dining room near the stove. In the summer I move out to the barn. I can’t write outside – too many distractions.
DIANA: I always use my laptop and I often sit on the couch or outside on the patio. But it’s difficult to get comfortable and I have chronic pain in my neck and elbows. So I try to prop up various pillows and beanbags to get myself at the right angle or use plastic boxes and other items to get my computer at the right height. It’s a little comical. My family is used to my quirky ways.
ME: When do you write – early morning, late in the day, middle of the night, on schedule, as the muse strikes?
CHRISTY: I’m trying to make a living at this writing gig, so I write as often for as long as I can. When I have a looming assignment or deadline, I tend to spend most of my waking hours writing. I’ve learned that long days cause back injuries – so, now I set a timer to remind me to take breaks to get up and move around. When I’m “between jobs,” it’s a little harder to keep the B in the C. Those times, I schedule “brainstorming time” or “revising time” in my calendar, to make sure I sit down and get at least some words on the page.
DIANA: All day long, basically. Sometimes I jot things down when I’m in line at the grocery store or I scribble things in the middle of the night. This is my full-time job and my kids are older so I’m able to devote a lot of time to it. Writing is my favorite thing to do. I rarely take breaks, even when I’m on vacation. Why would I? I love it! It’s important to remember, though, that writing doesn’t always look like writing. Sometimes it involves just staring into space and thinking.
ME: Why do you write for children?
CHRISTY: I love doing it, and I keep having new ideas! I’m drawn to nonfiction, and I’ve got a particular passion for writing about civics and government for young people. I believe our best hope for the future is raising a generation of people who love to read. My wish is that by giving kids books that are engaging and fun, we can spark their love of learning, foster the critical thinking skills that this generation is going to need, and encourage kids to stand up for what’s right.
Christy at a school visit in New Hampshire
DIANA: When my first daughter was born (she’s 18 now), we were constantly reading together. I quickly fell in love with the genre of picture books. They combine so many of my favorite things: art, wordplay, philosophy, humor. And the fact that they’re so short, makes them particularly impactful. But more than that, I fell in love with the experience of reading together. Reading together, with your child on your lap, is just so special and wonderful. It makes me happy that I still get to be part of that in a way.
Celebrating Unicorn Day at the Story Shop Bookstore in Georgia
ME: Also, if you have any thoughts or advice for aspiring writers, please share. As well as anything else you want to talk about that parents, educators, writers, librarians might want to hear.
CHRISTY: Here’s something to try if you’re stuck: write a poem. As Diana knows, I like to experiment with different poetic structures. It’s like working a word puzzle, but instead of earning a Queen Bee crown, you end up with a completed poem – tada! Lately I’ve had fun with Fibonacci poems. Other forms I’ve enjoyed are reversos, double dactyls, roundels, cinquains, and golden shovels. I’d say sonnets, but I’ve only completed one of those …
DIANA: My advice to writers is to keep writing and don’t get discouraged by rejections. Every time you revise or write something new, you learn. And even if you don’t publish a particular story, aspects of that story might creep into something else. So nothing is ever wasted. Just keep writing.
ME: Wow! I loved getting to know more about both of you. But we aren’t done yet! You’ve brought a great recipe that combines a bit of both of the main characters in your upcoming Golden Books…Mel Brooks loves healthy eating and is a huge fan of Raisin Bran…and the raisins? They are from Arnold Schwarzenegger’s home state, California.
Hahaha…I’m also a fan of raisin bran and peanut butter…these look amazing!! Thank you to both of our guests…their books are available at all indie book stores and at major retailers like Barnes & Noble and Amazon. Plus, their NEW Golden Books JUST launched, so please help them be successful by: Buying them Reviewing them Put them on your Goodreads WANT TO READ shelf Tell friends about them (sharing the post on social media really helps) Ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection.
Local independent bookstores are wonderful to partner with – that way you can offer signed copies of your books. Here’s a list of Christy’s that are available through her favorite bookstore:
Please remember to leave a comment and let us know which Golden Book you’d like to get if you are one of the lucky winners. And come back on MONDAY when we have a very special COVER REVEAL of a book written by one of my #PBChat Mentees – it was the manuscript I feel in love with that made me choose Kerry Aradhya.
Hip hip hooray! This is the FIRST Perfect Picture Book Friday post of the New Year! And it’s fitting that it’s a brand-new book that just launched AND that it’s about a strong woman who made a difference…my favorite topic for nonfiction picture books! I’m also excited because the author, Bonni Goldberg, stopped by to share her inspiration for the story and also to offer a GIVEAWAY – a 30-minute Ask-Me-Anything Zoom chat that can also be used as a virtual author visit…so, make sure you let us know in the comments if you’d like to be the lucky winner and if you’d like to use it as an author Zoom chat or as a virtual school visit.
DONA GRACIA SAVED WORLDS
Written by Bonni Goldberg
Illustrated by Alida Massari
Published by Kar Ben (December 5, 2023)
Ages: 5-9
Themes: Courage, Activism, Jewish history
Synopsis: From Amazon: In 16th-century Portugal, even Doña Gracia’s Jewish name was a secret. But she and her merchant husband helped other secret Jews, by persuading the king to protect them during the Inquisition. When her husband died, many said no woman would be able to run their international business, but Doña Gracia did. Escaping Portugal, she helped other Jews do the same, smuggling them out of the country on her spice ships in the night. Only in Turkey was she finally able to live freely as a Jew, and to use her resources to build synagogues, hospitals, and schools. Doña Gracia saved worlds.
Why I Love This Book: 1. I love learning about people who made a difference – activists who most of us have probably never heard of – and who children need to learn about to be inspired to be activists, too.If Dona Gracia were alive today, I’m sure her name would be in the news as someone fighting for the right for Jews and all people to be able to practice their religions and customs without fearing for their lives. 2. I love the beautifully well-written text that addresses very difficult topics in an honest, yet gentle way. 3. I love the glorious illustrations…the artist captured the time period perfectly…and put us right in the moment with the characters.
Mini-interview with author Bonni Goldberg: ME: Hello Bonni! Thank you for stopping by. We all love hearing about the story behind the story. Can you share how the idea to write this book came about?
BONNI: Thank you for having me, Vivian. I’m excited to share this story with the world. The inspiration for writing this book was my own introduction to Gracia during a mother-daughter Bat Mitzvah program I was attending with my daughter, Isabel. Even though a number of the other mothers were very learned about Judaism and Jewish history, none of them had heard of Gracia either. But I did know three things. Jewish educators were always looking for strong Jewish women to include in their curriculum. There isn’t nearly enough representation of Sephardic Jews in most of the history American Jewish children learn. I couldn’t stand by and do nothing while Gracia was being left out of our story. And even beyond the Jewish community, Gracia was one of the most powerful women alive during the Renaissance. She broke norms for the women of her time and took on kings and courts to protect others.
Also, everyone is welcome to download free activities and teacher’s packet (set to curriculum standards) on my website:www.bonnigoldberg.com
WOW! Thank you so much, Bonni! That just goes to show we need to be ready to find new story ideas EVERYWHERE. And a quick aside…if anyone is looking for a great resource for ideas, Tara Lazar is hosting her world-famous STORYSTORM Challenge. You must sign up by January 7 for 30+ days of fabulous blog posts filled with brainstorming gold: https://taralazar.com/2023/12/27/storystorm-2024-registration/
Rice is a staple in the Middle East, and this recipe is especially favored by the the Greek Jews of Rhodes.
1 cup long grained white rice, washed 1 onion, chopped 1 tablespoon oil 2 cups water 1 tablespoon ketchup 2 teaspoons salt
INSTRUCTIONS: 1. In a medium pot with a tight fitting lid, heat oil, rice and onion over medium high heat. Stir to coat rice with oil and cook about 5 minutes, stirring often until rice and onion are translucent. 2. Add water, ketchup and salt. Stir once, lower heat and cover. Cook without peeking for 20 minutes. Uncover, fluff rice with a fork and let sit 5 minutes with the lid on slightly ajar to allow steam to escape. ~makes 3 cups cooked rice
PJ Library has a great website filled with activities, lesson plans, and of course, book suggestions. Here’s a link that explains how to prepare BIMUELOS, little round doughnut treats your kids will love to help prepare…and eat!
Please don’t forget, my friends, new books need our help. We can: Buy them Review them Put them on our Goodreads WANT TO READ shelf Tell everyone about them (please share this post on your social media) Ask our local library to purchase copies for their collection
And don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a 30-minute Ask-Me-Anything Zoom chat for yourself or a 30-minute virtual school visit for your class.
VIVIAN KIRKFIELD - Writer for Children 