Interview with Traci Sorell
I first met Traci two years ago at the Kweli conference in NYC. And boy, am I glad I did. She has become a dear friend and a real inspiration. Her picture book, WE ARE GRATEFUL: OTSALIHELIGA, illustrated by … Continue reading Interview with Traci Sorell
Interview with Evelyn Coleman
WE RISE, WE RESIST, WE RAISE OUR VOICES, (Crown Books for Young Readers, published in partnership with Just Us Books, September 4, 2018), an anthology edited by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson, features diverse authors and illustrators answering the question, … Continue reading Interview with Evelyn Coleman
Sean Qualls: Inspired to go for feeling
Sean Qualls is an award-winning, Brooklyn-based, children’s book illustrator, author and artist. In addition to his fine art painting, he has illustrated number of highly acclaimed books for children. His most recent titles include Grandad Mandela, Emmanuel’s Dream:The True Story of … Continue reading Sean Qualls: Inspired to go for feeling
Jamia Wilson: “Young, Gifted, and Black”
KATE SCHATZ: Let’s start with the title of the book—Young, Gifted, and Black. How did you land on it? Did you have the idea for the book and then the title, or vice versa? For older generations (and some especially woke kiddos!) it … Continue reading Jamia Wilson: “Young, Gifted, and Black”
Interview with Cynthia Leitich Smith
Cynthia, or Cyn, as most of us know her, has been a dear friend and mentor of mine for several years. She is an amazing New York Times best-selling author of fiction for young readers. Her published books, short stories, … Continue reading Interview with Cynthia Leitich Smith
On Book Drives
Lately I’ve been thinking of a challenge that has come along with the many wonderful things that surrounded the publication of Martí’s Song for Freedom. It’s the day-in and day-out confrontation with the inequalities that surround children’s lives. These inequalities … Continue reading On Book Drives
Duncan Tonatiuh: Creative process, migration, pre-Columbian & modern art
Ten years ago I was a young dad going back to school when I met artist Duncan Tonatiuh in class. We were both students at Parsons in New York. Duncan was then working on his thesis project and showing me some of what would … Continue reading Duncan Tonatiuh: Creative process, migration, pre-Columbian & modern art
John Seven & Jana Christy: “We Say No! A Child’s Guide to Resistance”
Interview with John Seven and Jana Christy, author and illustrator of several picture books including We Say No! A Child’s Guide to Resistance, A Rule Is to Break: A Child’s Guide to Anarchy, Gorilla Gardener: How to Help Nature Take … Continue reading John Seven & Jana Christy: “We Say No! A Child’s Guide to Resistance”
Monica Clark-Robinson: “Let the Children March”
AFD: What teacher helped you find your writing voice? MCR: I couldn’t begin to name just one teacher! My ninth grade English teacher, several workshop leaders and speakers at conferences, the women of my critique group, my oldest daughter, my … Continue reading Monica Clark-Robinson: “Let the Children March”
Lyn Miller-Lachmann: “Three Balls of Wool”
Interview with Lyn Miller-Lachmann, translator of Three Balls of Wool (Can Change the World), by Henriqueta Cristina; illustrated by Yara Kono (Enchanted Lion Books, 2017) AG: What’s the story behind the translated edition of Three Balls of Wool (Can Change … Continue reading Lyn Miller-Lachmann: “Three Balls of Wool”