WELCOME EVERYONE!!! The Contest is Officially Closed. We are leaving comments open so you can tell these amazing 672 writers how much you love their stories. And we hope to have prize winners and Honorable Mentions announced around the 1st day of Spring.
Some of you have been participating since the beginning. But others are here for the first time. So, I’d like to share a bit about the back story of this contest.
In 2012 I had a dream. I wanted to write picture books. One of the most important things I did was to participate in writing challenges like Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 and all of Susanna Hill’s contests. Why was that important? Because it got me writing. It got me revising. It got me submitting. Hmmm….writing/revising/submitting. I believe that if we do those three things enough times, our writing improves and agents and editors get a chance to see our work. And as much as I am thrilled with my own success, nothing makes me happier than to hear about the success of others in our kid-lit community.
When I first got the idea for this contest back in 2016, I thought a few of my friends might take pity on me and submit a story – to my surprise, there were 128 entries.
Hold onto your hats, my friends! Today is T minus 1 day until #50PreciousWords! And what could be better while we wait to post our contest entries than to celebrate another beautiful book in the pipeline and reveal the cover of ABUELITA’S GIFT – EL REGALO DE ABUELITA, written by Mariana Ríos Ramírez and illustrated by Sara Palacios.
Author Mariana was kind enough to stop by and provide us with everything we need to know as we get ready to celebrate this upcoming book.
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers Author: Mariana Ríos Ramírez Illustrator: Sara Palacios Release Date: September 10, 2024 Spanish edition available: El regalo de abuelita: Un cuento de Día de Muertos
A bit about the book: Julieta is excited for Abuelita’s spirit to visit on Día de Muertos. She is determined to find the perfect gift to honor Abuelita and to show how much she misses her. However, her ideas fail one by one and Julieta grows worried. It is only when Julieta embraces the memories she once shared with her abuelita, that she realizes the perfect gift comes from the heart. An uplifting story about both life and death, family, and the threads that connect us, long after we are gone. Illustrated by award-winning Sara Palacios, this is a touching story that celebrates ancestors and teaches that the most meaningful tributes come from the heart.
Mariana says: From the moment I met Julieta and Abuelita for the first time in the sketches, I’ve been blown away by Sara’s talent. Since then, getting to see how her beautiful art brought the words of my story to life has been a true gift. Regarding the cover, I’m amazed by how the essence and heart of Julieta and Abuelita’s story is perfectly captured in a single image. I love how colorful, sweet, and joyful the cover is, and the way Sara managed to include some of the most characteristic elements of the Día de Muertos celebration, without making those the center of attention. Abuelita’s Gift is a story that happens on that particular holiday; but it’s mostly a tale about a girl who misses her abuelita and how she ultimately finds a way to feel close to her after she has passed away. Julieta and Abuelita’s warm, loving, and strong connection really shines through this cover; and their special relationship is highlighted in such a clear and beautiful way, that I hope readers will be able to feel that love too.
What fascinates me most about Día de Muertos in Mexico is that instead of being a time to mourn our dead loved ones, it’s an opportunity to honor their lives and remember them with joy. For me, it’s a pleasure to share with you glimpses of the culture and folklore that surround this wonderful tradition, which is essentially about love, family, and how we’re all connected to our ancestors.
I’m so grateful to Sara and the amazing team at Knopf that made this book possible. Special thanks to my agent Natascha Morris, my editor Gianna Lakenauth, designer Taline Boghosian, and copy editor Artie Bennett. Thank you all for your invaluable work on this book, and thank you Vivian for hosting our cover reveal on your wonderful blog.
Oh WOW! Thank you so much, Mariana, for sharing the story behind the story – I’m thrilled that the path to publication was made smooth by the amazing team at Knopf.
And now, dear readers, here’s the information you need to pre-order your own copy and spread the word about this wonderful book, through reviews and social media.
And here’s a little bit about these fabulous creatives:
Mariana Ríos Ramírez is a Mexican children’s book author who loves sharing elements of her culture, language, and traditions through her stories. She received a degree in international business from Tecnológico de Monterrey (México) and an MBA degree in Tecnológico de Monterrey and Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona, USA. Before becoming a children’s book author with her debut Santiago’s Dinosaurios, she worked as a high school teacher and co-owned an online business of customized party decorations. Mariana is a member of SCBWI, Storyteller Academy, Las Musas, and Rate your Story. Besides writing, Mariana enjoys photography, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. She also loves flowers, dogs, and Chai Lattes. Mariana currently resides in Anderson, South Carolina. To connect with Mariana: Website: marianariosramirez.com Twitter: @marianariosrmz1 Instagram/Threads: @marianariosr Facebook: @marianarioswrites Bluesky: marianarios.bsky.social
Sara Palacios is the recipient of the Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Award for her work on Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match and has illustrated many picture books for children. Sara earned her B.F.A. and M.F.A. degrees in illustration from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco where she lives with her husband. Sara works with a variety of media such as collage, ink, and digital artwork. To find out more about Sara: https://www.sarapalaciosillustrations.com
We always love to welcome new books…because each one comes from the heart of an author and illustrator who is trying to connect with the heart of the child who reads the story. Do you have a story you want a child to connect with? Will you be entering #50PreciousWords tomorrow? The official contest post goes live at 12:01am on March 2nd and closes 11:59pm on March 3rd. Amazing prizes. Encouraging camaraderie. And loads of fun! Hope to see you back here tomorrow!
When we look around the world, we see lots of sadness and pain. But when we look around the world of picture books, we see… HOPE!!!
Yesterday we celebrated the book birthday for A FLICKER OF HOPE, written by Cynthia Harmony. And today, we are revealing the beautiful cover of GRACE LEE BOGGS: GARDENS OF HOPE, written by Songju Ma Daemicke and illustrated by Lin.
What do I see in this vibrant cover? Child agency! Diversity! Intergenerational interaction! Healthy plants growing! The hope and promise of the future!
Here’s a little bit about the book from the Amazon sales page: Grace Lee Boggs brought gardens to inner cities and planted seeds of hope and activism in the minds of young people.
When Grace Lee Boggs was eight years old, her teacher gave her a copy of The Secret Garden. As a Chinese-American who had experienced prejudice, Grace wanted to grow a garden of her own that would help people heal from the injustice in society. Grace dedicated her life to fighting for civil, environmental, labor, and women’s rights. In 1992, she and her husband founded Detroit Summer, a multicultural and intergenerational youth program that inspired kids to become leaders in their community. Together with these “solutionaries,” Grace finally created the garden she dreamed about, one that continues to inspire people to make the world a better place for everyone.
I’m so happy that Songju stopped by to chat with us and share why she wrote this story::
SONGJU: In the summer of 2020, I first read the name Grace Lee Boggs from the author’s notes of a children’s book, Leave It to Abigail!: The Revolutionary Life of Abigail Adams, by Barb Rosenstock. Grace Lee Boggs was the only Chinese American mentioned. I looked her up on the internet and was immediately drawn to her. Grace, a thinker, philosopher, and a tireless social activist, went beyond class and racial boundaries, devoting her life to fight for equality. She planted many seeds for change throughout her life. These seeds continue to sprout today, growing the world into a more just place. It’s my honor to tell her story and hopefully inspire young people to continue Grace’s legacy and her fight for a better world.
Here’s a little bit about Songju: SONGJU MA DAEMICKE, a former software engineer with Motorola, is an award-winning Chinese-American children’s book author. Her book, Tu Youyou’s Discovery – Finding a Cure for Malaria, is a finalist for the 2023 SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books; Cao Chong Weighs an Elephant was a Best STEM book, among many other honors. Her first board book, Our World: China received a starred review from the School Library Journal. When she is not writing, she loves attending to her garden, hiking, and shooting her next special photograph. You can find out more about Songju here: www.songjumadaemicke.com Twitter: @SongjuDaemicke Instagram: @SongjuDaemicke Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/songju.daemicke
And here’s a little bit about the Illustrator: Lin graduated from Hengyang Normal University with a degree in Environmental Art Design. She is an illustrator and painter working on children’s books, magazines, and other publications. She lives and works in Pingxiang City, China.
Dear friends, we can help important books like this one become a success. How will you help GRACE LEE BOGGS: GARDENS OF HOPE become a success?
Please make sure you leave a comment and share the post widely to be entered in the Giveaway: One winner will receive a copy of Grace Lee Boggs: Gardens of Hope. U.S. address required for book mailing.
I hope you all have a wonderful rest of the week…we are counting down the days till #50PreciousWords!!! Are you ready???
VIVIAN KIRKFIELD - Writer for Children 