Interview Alert: Joyce Uglow (+ 2 Giveaways!)

I’m so excited to welcome picture book author, poet, and educator Joyce Uglow to Frog on a Blog! Joyce’s beautiful nonfiction picture book Stuck! The Story of La Brea Tar Pits published in March by Bushel & Peck Books and features gorgeous illustrations by Valerya Milovanova.

Joyce writes lyrical children’s literature about nature, science, and our planet, and her writing motto is “Be curious. Stay unwaveringly committed to seeking answers.” No doubt it’s that curiosity that led her to write about the La Brea Tar Pits, a subject that I, too, find fascinating. Let’s get right to Joyce’s incredible and thoughtful interview! Read to the end to find out how you can win either a signed copy of Stuck! The Story of La Brea Tar Pits or a picture book manuscript critique! (All text and images in this interview are copyrighted by the author or illustrator)

Congratulations on the publication of your fascinating new nonfiction picture book Stuck! The Story of La Brea Tar Pits! Tell us a bit about the book and what inspired it.

JU: Lauri, thank you so much for inviting me to Frog on a Blog to share my debut nonfiction picture book.

Stuck! The Story of La Brea Tar Pits is a lyrical origin story of the most active urban excavation site in the world. To those who’ve never been to LA, it is a surprise to find La Brea Tar Pits located in Hancock Park on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, CA. This is where asphalt still seeps to the surface from underground. It is more than a simple origin story of the animals getting stuck or pulled out as fossils, however.

Stuck! is really about staying aware, being curious, and finding ways to search for ponds without bubbles. And climate change…mega change in fact!  

I was immediately sucked in and taken aback by the incredible stories that got stuck in what is called “the tar” in English (or “la brea” in Spanish). I began my research by standing and staring at the massive exhibits in the museum at La Brea. Smilodon fatalis (A.K.A. Saber-toothed cat) captivated me. I knew I wanted to tell Smilodon’s story. I read research and newspaper articles online and books about the Tar Pits. I traveled back to LA and attended a workshop for educators. Learning a great deal along the way, I introduced myself to La Brea paleoecologist. Dr. Emily Lindsey and paleobotanist, Dr. Regan Dunn. They agreed to chat with me online via Zoom. In those conversations, I shared the text and preliminary artwork to ensure the accuracy.

La Brea Tar Pits holds the best record of Ice Age ecosystems anywhere on earth. Millions of fossils, encompassing everything from mammoth tusks and tree trunks to snake jaws and beetle wings, have been found in the La Brea Tar Pits. Over the past century, these fossils have led to some of the biggest discoveries in paleontology, giving scientists insight into the biology, behavior, and ultimate demise of some of prehistory’s most charismatic players. This includes evidence about the largest extinction event since the dinosaurs disappeared.

Valerya Milovanova’s illustrations are so detailed and dynamic. What were your thoughts when you saw the completed art for the first time?

JU: Valerya Milovanova’ artwork brings soft greens and blues to the black of the asphalt seeps and browns of the unearthed fossils. The story begins by showing Harlan’s Ground Sloth meandering for a drink. The tension is noticed in the first spread as unsuspecting sloth gets stuck.

I was given the opportunity to take a look at Valerya’s art at an early stage and twice more before our book went on to its first printing. I could not stop smiling. We made a couple of changes in the art. The spread below shows the museum’s fossil lab. In early art, the two scientists were men. I asked for a change to depict Dr. Emily Lindsey and Dr. Regan Dunn. I love it!

Why are picture books, particularly nonfiction picture books about animals and nature, important for children? And do you think your background as an educator affects your writing?

JU: Science is often pulled from the news and made into picture books. I find it fun to take intriguing information and pare it down into kid-relatable narration using lyrical language. I especially love writing about bees, trees, families, cave art, parks, rocks—anything that makes me ask questions. Truthfully, I remember my own childhood questions. I must have driven my parents and teachers bonkers. 🙂

Picture books are the perfect way to enrich school curriculum, provide discussion talking points for family vacations, and enjoy the beauty of our world. As an elementary classroom teacher, I used picture books to teach writing, add to our social studies and science lessons, and to enjoy.

Yes. Almost four decades with students definitely gives me a leg up on thinking like a kid and reacting like a teacher who teaches the kids in front of me. I believe in teaching the child rather than teaching the book.

Spoiler alert… In the final spread of Stuck!, a dragonfly soars above the city of LA in search of a spot to lay her eggs. She flies on rather than getting stuck in today’s stickiness in the park. In my author visits, I like to draw attention to curiosity and the importance of asking questions. But I also talk with kids about avoiding “sticky situations”. School counselors can use picture books to get kids talking in much the same way. You know, finding a pond without bubbles.

The hooks in Stuck! include: paleontology, paleoecology, paleobotany, fossils, Ice Age animals, climate change, environment, and, in general, STEM (science, technology, engineering, math). One of the coolest things I found in my research is that fossils contain records that can provide information for the future.

For example, La Brea researchers connected human-caused fires to the largest extinction event (Ice Age) since the dinosaurs disappeared. Humans coexisted alongside Ice Age megafauna for 2,000 years. Charcoal remains were found in Tar Pits fossils in the last 300 of those years. Hmmm… the drying, the warming, the loss of plant life with subsequent loss of herbivores and then carnivores, the fires… Stuck! is a book that connects everyday with Earth Day, National Fossil Day, and the impact of humans on the environment. Whether I am speaking to kids and adults at book stores, library story times, or schools, I connect Stuck! The Story of La Brea Tar Pits to caring for our planet. I hope that someday humans will reduce the use of plastic, plant and plan for the future. We have the knowledge. By acting responsibly, we can stay clear of ponds with sticky bubbles.

You’re also a poet. Do you write poetry for children or for adults? And would you share an excerpt from one of your poems?

JU: I’ll start my answer with some literacy research cuz that’s who I am too. 🙂

Reading one to three picture books to children per day over a year’s time is proven to enhance children’s quantity and quality of emotion vocabulary exposure. Picture books provide the opportunities for emotional literacy development that is needed for children’s capacity to construct and categorize their own and others’ emotional experiences. It also facilitates learning from others, enabling children to affectively align in peer interactions. “Picture books contain vocabulary that is more emotionally intense than models of child-directed speech, and picture books typically feature narratives containing emotional situations and opportunities for emotion talk.” (Source of the information above.) Poetry goes hand in hand with writing picture books.

I write kidlit poetry and love to condense my research findings into spare text for picture books.  

From mid-March to mid-April, Cindy Mackey, fellow picture book poet and I hosted a STUCK! Bumblebee Poetry and Illustration Challenge on Instagram, BlueSky, and SubStack. During the 35-day challenge, we sent out one-word prompts on Joyce’s Instagram and BlueSky and on Cindy’s Instagram and Cindy’s BlueSky. We encouraged readers to use the prompts to spark their own poetry and illustration creativity. Each word was pulled directly from the text of our lyrical picture books.

Hide and Seek in the Seeps uses a variation on the hide and seek poetry form. HERE is a link to my website where you can find all of the prompts and poetry form descriptions.

What other fascinating topics are you currently writing about?

JU: I have nonfiction picture books out on submission. I love to focus on our planet’s natural beauty and destinations where families can visit. In addition, I have a nonfiction picture book biography of an author-illustrator whose life was dedicated to art and inspiring kids to create their own art. This person is an important contributor to children’s literature. Her art had stories to tell.

Joyce Uglow has been asking questions and collecting words since an early age. Retired, she now writes picture books and poetry for children who are also intrigued by words and our wondrous world, books that educators, librarians, and kids tell each other about. She currently serves as SCBWI Wisconsin’s Co-Regional Advisor and in 2026 will take on mentees as a part of the Mighty Mentor in the Mighty KidLit platform. She is unwaveringly committed to sparking kids’ interests. Her mantra… elevate others & prioritize joy.

She enjoyed a wonderful 37-year career in schools, beginning as a teacher for students who needed that little something special in order to be successful with literacy. She was fortunate to have worked with students who taught her a great deal about being there for them. She, in fact, taught many, many kids to read through writing. Her experiences in classrooms and resource rooms, led her to the school office where she had the pleasure of serving as principal at Lyons (a K-4 building) and Dyer School (a 4-6 grade building). Both buildings housed public school Montessori programs as well as traditional and resource programs. Along with her career path, she got actively involved on the Board of Directors and conference planning for the Wisconsin State Reading Association (WSRA). Besides serving as WSRA president, one of her favorite volunteer positions had to do with the Young Authors Festivals. When she retired from her day job as principal, she put her mind to work on writing for children. It was a natural next career for her.

To learn more about Joyce and her books, visit her online:

Website: http://joyceuglowauthor.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jpuglow?utm_source=linktree_admin_share 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jpuglow/?hl=en 

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/jpuglow.bsky.social 

SubStack: https://substack.com/@jpuglow

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9178331-joyce-uglow  Pinterest          https://www.pinterest.com/jpuglow/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jpuglow/

2 GIVEAWAYS!

Folks, we have two fantastic giveaways today! Joyce is generously offering a signed copy of her fabulous book Stuck! The Story of La Brea Tar Pits to one lucky winner AND a picture book manuscript critique to another lucky winner. Just comment on this post by September 29th and mention if you’d like to be entered to win the book or the critique or either. I’ll choose two winners at random and connect them with Joyce. Good luck! (Book giveaway open to US residents only)

Six Tips for Hosting a Picture Book Tea Party by Laura Sassi (+ a Giveaway!)

Welcome multi-published picture book author and kidlit friend Laura Sassi! I’m so excited to help Laura celebrate the publication of her newest book Pumpkin Day for Boo and Belle, which was just released in July by Paraclete Press, and is the sweetest rhyming friendship story with the most adorable illustrations by artist Farah Shah!

Laura has visited Frog on a Blog before, which I love, and you can see her interview and other guest post Here and Here. Today, she’s stopped by to share Six Tips for Hosting a Picture Book Tea Party as well as more about her new book. Be sure to read to the end for a chance to win a copy of Pumpkin Day for Boo and Belle! Let’s hear from Laura! (All text and images are copyrighted by the author and illustrator.)

Six Tips for Hosting a Picture Book Tea Party

Thank you for having me as your guest, Lauri. There’s something magical about tea parties and picture books. Both are opportunities to connect with others through a shared experience and to enjoy special treats—for the belly and mind! With that sentiment, and in celebration of my new picture book Pumpkin Day for Boo and Belle (Paraclete Press, 2025), which revolves around a tea party, here’s a plan for collaborating with your kids to create an experience that celebrates both— a Picture Book Tea Party!

Tip One: Together with your child(ren), select the picture book you would like to feature at your Picture Book Tea Party. Consider choosing a book that touches on a holiday, occasion, or theme that coincides with the month the party will take place or with a special interest your child has (dinosaurs, princesses, etc).

Tip Two: Read your chosen book together, brainstorming as you go, what tea party decor might pair well with the book. This is a great opportunity for an older child to practice list making, or if your children are younger, they can verbally list the ideas while you write them. Ideas might include hanging decor and table decor, including napkins, place cards, and a centerpiece. For the most home-grown feeling tea party, have the kids make as many of these as possible! 

Tip Three: Again, inspired by the book, create a tea party menu. A tea party, in my opinion, should include a mix of sweet and savory treats, with fruit included, so that little ones aren’t just consuming sugar and butter. So, with your children, brainstorm what fruit or simple tea sandwich they think the characters in your chosen picture book might enjoy and include that on the menu. For the dessert-y item, consider making sugar cookies decorated to look like a character or object from the book, such as these pumpkin-shaped cookies that I brought to share at my book launch party with Pumpkin Day for Boo and Belle. You might also consider cupcakes or muffins, with home-made or printed toppers, like these from my book Love is Kind.

Tip Four: Make and send invitations to your Picture Book Tea Party. Part of the tea party fun is getting a fancy invitation in the mail. So, after making your list of invitees, create an invitation that includes the book cover and the words “You’re Invited to a Picture Book Tea Party featuring Title of Book” along with other pertinent details including the date, time, and location of your party. For extra fun, encourage guests to come in tea party attire or dressed up in a manner that fits the theme of the book. (Note: Someone once told me a good rule of thumb for the number of guests to match the approximate age of the children attending the party.)

Tip Five: Ahead of time, plan at least four activities to do at the tea party. Little ones love moving around and doing things, so, at your Picture Book Tea Party, I recommend planning two crafts and two games/movement activities. For the games/movement activities, I have found that doing book-themed variations of traditional childhood party games like Simon Says, for example, are always a hit. For the crafts, many picture books these days have free activity kits that the publisher has created to go with them. These often contain great crafts. Here, for example, is the activity kit that goes with Pumpkin Day for Boo and Belle.  https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0107/8889/6826/files/Pumpkin_Day_Activity_Guide_-_REV.pdf?v=1741280044 (Note: This activity kit actually includes plans for a Pumpkin Day tea party complete with games, crafts, and treat suggestions!)

Tip Six: Once you have all the above ready, create a party timeline so that when the guests arrive, everything is ready and you and your guests can just have fun! Here’s a sample timeline for a 60-minute party for preschoolers:

  • Guests arrive.
  • Do a welcome craft.
  • Read the story.
  • Play a book-themed game.
  • Serve the tea and treats.
  • Play another book-themed game.
  • Do a craft.
  • Read the story again, or have a couple extra that also fit the theme on hand as a calming way to end the party as children are getting picked up.
  • Say thank you for coming and good bye.

Thanks again, for having me as your guest, Lauri. I hope it results in many fun tea parties!

Laura Sassi is the author of multiple books for young children including the best-selling Goodnight, Ark, which was a 2015 Christian Book Award Finalist; My Tender Heart Devotions, which was a 2024 Christianity Today Book Award finalist, Faithful Feet, Love Is Kind, Happy Birthday Christmas Child and more. She writes daily from her home in Cranford, New Jersey and finds special joy in sharing messages of kindness, comfort and hope at school visits, church gatherings, and other events.

To learn more about Laura and her lovely books, visit:

http://laurasassitales.wordpress.com/

twitter.com/laurasassitales

https://www.facebook.com/LauraSassiTales

https://www.instagram.com/laurasassitales/

Giveaway

To win a copy of Pumpkin Day for Boo and Belle, generously provided by Paraclete Press, please leave a comment on this post by September 23rd. I’ll choose a winner at random and connect them with Laura. This giveaway is open to US residents only. Good luck!

How to Christmas by Robin Currie

Hey, picture book authors, do you hope to one day write a Christmas story? I know I do. That’s why I’m super excited to welcome multi-published children’s book author Robin Currie to Frog on a Blog! Robin’s sweet picture book Just Enough Room for Christmas officially launched yesterday. And Robin stopped by today to share “easy steps to writing a holiday picture book.” Let’s hear from Robin!

How to Christmas

by Robin Currie

Ever since the Grinch stole into our holidays in 1957, authors have been spinning the “How xxx Christmas” tales. Take an unlikely hero and save the day! It’s holiday magic!

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss (Random House)

Unicorn and the Rainbow Poop Save Christmas by Emma Adams (Scholastic)

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas: A First for Gus by Sherry Roberts  (Lee Press)

The Tinysaurs Save Christmas by Patricia Hegarty (Tiger Tales)

Little Bird Finds Christmas by Marianne Richmond (Jabberwocky) 

How Winston Delivered Christmas by Alex T. Smith (Silver Dolphin)

Dasher: How a Brave Little Doe Changed Christmas Forever by Matt Tavares (Candlewick)

Elbow Grease Saves Christmas by John Cena (Random House)

How Winston Came Home for Christmas by Alex T. Smith (Silver Dolphin) 

How the Villains Ruined Christmas by Serena Valentino (Disney Press)  

How the Crayons Saved Christmas by Monica Sweeney (Sky Pony) 

Pete the Cat Saves Christmas by Eric Litwin (Scholastic) 

So how do we get our “How to xxx Christmas” books on the publishers’ lists? 

WHERE?

Snow is not always in the weather forecast for December 25! Our northern hemisphere Christmas visions are based on European traditions, but Christmas comes worldwide and through time.

  • Thailand
  • South Africa
  • Australia 
  • Underwater
  • The far future
  • Prehistoric times

How does the change in location impact how Santa dresses, who pulls the sleigh, and what they eat for Christmas dinner?

WHO? 

Christmas-saving protagonists are unlikely but possess a unique talent.

  • Wombats dig deep tunnels.
  • Prairie dogs communicate and do “The Wave.”
  • Plumed Basilisks walk on top of the water.
  • Dung beetles roll up to 10 times their weight. 
  • Hummingbirds fly backward.
  • Bats use sounds to guide them in the dark.

WHAT?

Our spunky protagonists need an insurmountable obstacle to overcome!

  • Blizzard
  • Air pollution
  • Monsoon
  • Living in a new place 
  • Monsters
  • People who don’t believe in Santa!

AND A TWIST…

We need to know enough about the one who saves Christmas to care about the struggle and cheer for victory.

Has the protagonist been an outcast from the group, mocked for his size or lack of ability?

Does our protagonist display courage, compassion, or creativity? Will there be unlikely helpers or encouragers along the way?

What obstacles will cause failure (usually 2 times) and then be overcome by the unique skill?

Then a sprinkle of Santa’s magic and we take flight!

PS: Do let me know if you manage “How Dung Beetle Saved Christmas in South Africa!”

Robin Currie spent her library career in the children’s department, where she could baa, moo, and honk without getting shushed. Her writing engages children not only in noisemaking but jumping, waving, and face making. So do her sermons.

Despite her incessant need to wiggle, Robin earned a Master’s Degree in Library Science and worked in public libraries before answering the call to seminary. She holds a Master’s of Divinity and Doctorate of Preaching, and remains active in area churches.

She and her husband have 4 mature children and a crop of grown-up grandchildren who keep them from becoming Old Foggie’s. Because there is no fun noise for that.

Robin has traditionally published more than 45 picture books. She writes stories to read and read again!

To learn more about Robin and her books, visit her online:

Landing page: Robin Currie | Substack

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/robincurrie

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/165559.Robin_Currie

Facebook: Robincurrieauthor 

LinkedIn: rc2147/

Instagram: authorrobincurrie/

BlueSky: @robincurrie.bsky.social

Happy Book Birthday to JUST ENOUGH ROOM FOR CHRISTMAS by Robin Currie!

Title: Just Enough Room for Christmas

Author: Robin Currie

Illustrator: Estelle Corke

Publisher: Good Books

Release Date: September 2, 2025

Format: Hardcover, eBook

Summary: In a tiny barn in Bethlehem, Old Hannah the cow lives alone until the cold wind drives other animals to seek shelter. One by one, they squeeze in, but when a tiny mouse stirs up trouble, the barn erupts into chaotic mooing, meowing, and barking. Will there be enough room for a little family to have a silent night?

Just Enough Room for Christmas is written to be read aloud, at home, in preschool classes and church children’s messages, or even Christmas Eve services. Families often get distracted by all the noise of the Christmas season. When we clear away all the clutter and distractions, we find, in our homes and hearts, just enough room for the newborn King.

Come back tomorrow for a special guest post by Robin Currie where she shares easy steps to writing a holiday picture book!

Do you have a children’s picture book coming out soon? I’d love to wish it a Happy Book Birthday here on Frog on a Blog! For more information, CLICK HERE.

Happy Book Birthday to GILBERT AND THE GHOST by Heather Pierce Stigall!

Title: Gilbert and the Ghost

Author: Heather Pierce Stigall

Illustrator: Jess Mason

Publisher: Beaming Books

Release Date: August 19, 2025

Format: Hardcover, eBook

Summary: The ghost at 632 Savannah Street is real . . . right?

Gilbert often feels invisible, just like the ghost living at 632 Savannah Street. Despite his family’s disbelief, Gilbert leaves gifts for the ghost: a friendship bracelet, a plate of cookies, even a drawing with a note. When each disappears one by one, Gilbert finds that believing and friendship are worth the effort.

For kids who might often feel unseen, Gilbert and the Ghost is a ghostly tale of overcoming obstacles and finding friendship in mysterious places. Gothic, whimsical illustrations make this picture book perfect for spooky season, while its earnest themes make it worth a read all year round.

Do you have a children’s picture book coming out soon? I’d love to wish it a Happy Book Birthday here on Frog on a Blog! For more information, CLICK HERE.

Interview Alert: Elayne Crain

I’m excited to welcome picture book author Elayne Crain to Frog on a Blog! Elayne was my picture book writing mentor for a few months through an Inked Voices mentorship program. Elayne is super sweet and so funny and just a genuinely nice person. She’s here today to talk about her rib-tickling debut picture book There’s Something Odd About the Babysitter, which published in June from Feiwel & Friends and is a July/August 2025 Kids’ Indie Next pick over at the American Booksellers Association. Please enjoy the interview! (Bonus: You won’t want to miss Elayne’s five literary “star qualities” of picture books!)

Huge congratulations on the publication of your hilarious debut picture book There’s Something Odd About the Babysitter! Please tell us a bit about the story and what inspired it.

EC: Hi, Lauri! It’s so lovely to chat with you again! Like most picture books, the punchiness of the form belies the years of work that went into making it. 😊 But I will say I was a babysitter, first for my brothers and then for others, from about age 8 onward, and since both my parents worked, I certainly had my fair share of sitters throughout my lifetime. So, I knew I was very interested in (and hopefully suited to) telling some sort of babysitting-related tale.

There were lots and lots of things that went into both the plotting, and the writing, over years of revisions, especially some of what I find funny (including, but not limited to, the name Freddie—a nod to a Steve Martin character I loved as a child—plus some viewing of Shaun the Sheep with my kids). Everything got blended into the ol’ Elayne Crain Brain™…et voilà: this strange mix!

Text © Elayne Crain, 2025. Image © John Ledda, 2025.

How excited were you when you saw the illustrations for the first time?

EC: I was very, very excited—like, “Drop everything—I just saw an email!” excited! I will say, I was also very lucky—I got to see the first sketches, as well as the rounds in-between. So, it wasn’t all just one big “Christmas morning” final illustration smorgasbord, but rather a series of lovely surprise courses over time. I know that doesn’t typically happen, especially for first-time authors, but it was such a great learning experience for me to get just a peek behind the visual storytelling curtain in that way! I’m still so honored to have been trusted to witness some of John’s process for this story—he really is fabulous.

When did you begin writing with an eye toward being published? And do you write other things besides picture books?

EC: If I’m being honest, I always cared about being published someday (in at least a daydream sort of way), so I guess from day one—actually before, because the dream came many decades before the actual hard work. 😂 While I’ve always been a writer and puzzler at heart, the big difference came from finally admitting to myself that if my dream of being published was going to happen, I would need to, you know, start doing real work to get there. That didn’t happen until my 40s, and I haven’t hit my 50s yet, so it’s fair to say it was a steep learning curve to specifically write picture books, despite having written (in lots and lots of forms) my whole life.

Besides picture books, I enjoy writing poetry, middle-grade fiction, and writing about my writing (aka, blogging). I also have some adult writing (not “racy” adult, but, say, a guide to yard sale shopping, a few half-formed mysteries, stuff like that). Maybe someday that will go somewhere, but I think I’m meant to write for children, really, and picture books are certainly my favorite literary forms. It’s so nice to finally really understand that about myself.

Text © Elayne Crain, 2025. Image © John Ledda, 2025.

What is one of your favorite recent picture books? What is one of your favorite classic picture books?

EC: Oh, boy. I have so many favorites. I’m going to cop out re: recent and point to my Goodreads, because I’ve done a lot of work there to catalog some of the many, and why.

Growing up, for my first four years, my favorite picture books were the handful we had in our house, which I bet I can recall even now: The Monster at the End of This Book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Farmer Small, Cowboy Small, Where the Wild Things Are, The Giant Jam Sandwich, Scuffy the Tugboat, A Tiny Family, Curious George, Madeline, Lovable Lyle, and Are You My Mother? (which I think of as a picture book—the pictures add essential story information, such as with the Snort). Although once I was finally a schoolkid, with regular access to a school library, that was a game-changer. I would check out nearly anything, and repeatedly hogged anything funny, by James Marshall or Shel Silverstein, or folk-tale-related. I often went before school, sitting in the hallway until it opened each day, since my mom’s work schedule meant she dropped me off well before school started.

Why do you think picture books are important for children?

EC: This is a great question, because it really gets to the heart of what makes picture books so incredibly powerful (not only for children, but *especially* for children). And it’s something I have thought about a lot, though I will undoubtedly continue to do so.

I think, for me, picture books have five literary “star qualities”:

Immersiveness. Because the visual storytelling is so deep and so gorgeous, the child reader who does not yet read words can read the visual story alongside their grownup, and comprehend even more than the adult, since they are taking in the full information (while the adults are often very caught up with the words while reading).

Theater (or, “ The Theatre!”, if you must). Outside of many lullabies (which, honestly, I’ve been shocked to hear many parents aren’t even really doing anymore—instead, relying on professional music, which is so very sad to me!), picture books are going to be most children’s first taste of theater, with their parents and caregivers as the performers. In my subgenre, humor, the fact that (if I write the story ‘right’) the parent could suddenly seem like a comedic genius to their child is not lost on me, and I highly value that “bonding over” aspect, the strange sort of catharsis that both the performer, and the audience, go through, once a story is brought to life in this way.

Interactivity. One notable asterisk to the theater of a picture book is that, of course, it’s not ONLY the read-alouders who are involved in the performance of a picture book. So often, you can work with the format to bring the audience IN, even more than theatre—say, by joining in a chorus (which we call a refrain), or by including meta elements (which, for my money, The Monster at the end of the Book is the absolute gold standard). In fact, what I know from reading to lots (and lots) of children over my life is that children often appoint themselves as the official “page turners” of a picture book. So, if they are bored halfway through the text on a page, guess what? The page turn becomes a SKIP button! (Parents themselves do this, too, of course: “skipping” tedious sections.) Writers should prepare themselves for that, and keep their prose punchy and purposeful, even when (maybe especially when) it’s lyrical.

Virtually limitless subject matter. Because illustrations have no age boundaries (well, within certain accepted parameters, ha ha), there is no absolute limit to the kind of story you can tell—using too big or niche words is not really a concern, when the words themselves are only part of the story being conveyed. Because it’s about the young readers’ visual vocabulary, rather than their spoken or read one, the storytelling can be really intense and/or poetic, and the reader can absorb it all the same.

Snacky. Because of their succinct format, picture books are, in some ways, very snacksome. You can sit down and enjoy one, if you are in a hurry, or you can sit and make a virtual meal of them. Because of that, because the child can so often choose the ones they want to be read, it’s one of the few ways a child can healthily emotionally self-medicate. I think about this a lot as I choose the sorts of stories I want to work hard on, vs. ones I leave as drafts. “Is this a story a child would choose to read, themself? Will it make them feel what they want to feel, in some way?” And it is also an essential reminder to myself that writing humor is, in fact, supremely important, especially during stressful times.

Text © Elayne Crain, 2025. Image © John Ledda, 2025.

What other creative endeavors do you dabble in?

EC: Oh, I fancy myself a lifelong student and crafter, so there’s not much I haven’t (or wouldn’t!) try my hand at. I do love visual art (especially sketching, painting, and papercraft) and needle felting. At some point, I’d love to have a picture book where I told the visual story, too.

Funny side story: my first coloring book was the Gray’s Anatomy medical coloring book (my dad was in med school—so it was my go-to for coloring since he bought it but didn’t use it much). I’m still more ‘drawn’ to making line art than to fully fleshed-out imagery when I pick up a pen, but I’m working on finding my way toward real illustration, including (gulp!) backgrounds. 😊

Elayne Crain is the author of There’s Something Odd About the Babysitter (illustrated by John Ledda), a Summer 2025 Kids Indie Next List pick. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys LOLing at memes, drinking sugary coffee, and scouting thrift stores.

You can find Elayne wasting time at: https://elaynecrain.substack.com, Instagram, and Bluesky.  

Happy Book Birthday to GRANDMA YOGINI by Raven Howell!

Title: Grandma Yogini

Author: Raven Howell

Illustrator: Alexander Santos

Publisher: Nymeria Publishing

Release Date: August 5th, 2025

Format: Paperback

Summary: Henry and his sister, Meredith, can hardly wait for Grandma to arrive for a visit. But what should they expect? Among the children’s diverse friends and their grandmothers who bake, create art, and speak Spanish, will Grandma be able to share something unique and fun with the kids?

Henry’s fears are alleviated when, not long after arrival, they flutter like butterflies, slither like snakes, and enjoy other challenges of stretching their muscles and calming their minds. This is no run-of-the-mill grandma, and, when it’s time for goodbye, the kids know this was the BEST grandma visit ever.

Do you have a children’s picture book coming out soon? I’d love to wish it a Happy Book Birthday here on Frog on a Blog! For more information, CLICK HERE.

Interview Alert: Sherry Roberts

Please welcome multi-published children’s book author Sherry Roberts to Frog on a Blog. Today is All American Pet Photo Day, so it seems like a great day to feature Sherry and her brand new picture book Amica Helps Zoe, which is about a loveable rescue dog and the little girl who loves her.

I love dogs, and I love picture books about dogs. My little rescue dog recently passed away, so this story really tugged at my heartstrings. Let’s hear more from Sherry about this special picture book and some of her other books, which include nonfiction picture books, a middle grade series, and a new chapter book series.

Congratulations on the publication of your new picture book Amica Helps Zoe! Please share a little about the story and what inspired it.

SR: Attention, all dog lovers! Prepare to embark on a heartwarming journey with Amica and her rescue dog, Zoe. Set in a cozy neighborhood filled with leafy trees and friendly neighbors, Amica’s biggest challenge is convincing Zoe to enjoy walks. Despite Amica’s love for Zoe, she can’t help but feel frustrated and worried that Zoe will never overcome her fear of being abandoned. But with determination and love, Amica shows Zoe that a walk is just a fun adventure and not a scary separation.

This story was inspired by one of my nieces. When she was 5 years old, her family got their first dog. My niece wanted to walk her dog in the neighborhood, but her dog would not walk. Halfway through the walk, the dog would sit down and not move. My niece would have to carry the dog home. As the dog got bigger, it got harder for her to do. For Christmas, she asked Santa for a red wagon so she could ride the dog around the neighborhood. This solved her problem, and she was so happy.

As I was developing the story, I decided to make the dog a rescue dog. The dog I had at the time, Gizzie, would not take a walk, or a ride in the car. This was because he had been driven away from his home and thrown out in a field, abandoned. I thought about how rescue dogs often have problems with abandonment. This led to the story focusing on working with a rescue dog who had a fear of a walk leading to abandonment. I had tried to help Gizzie with walks and learned that so long as he could see the house, he was ok.

Image from Amica Helps Zoe

What path did you take to publish your book—traditional, self-publishing, or hybrid—and why?

SR: I have traditionally published a couple of books with very small publishers but found that to not be the path I wanted to take. I am now indie published through Solander Press. I find this to be an easier and more enjoyable path to publishing for me. I like the freedom to choose projects, illustrators, editors I work with, and basically a say in all the steps to publishing this allows me.

Image from Amica Helps Zoe

What do you hope young readers will take away from reading your book?

SR: With Amica Helps Zoe, I hope young readers learn that it is best to understand others before making a judgement and then to look for ways to help. For Amica, she became frustrated with Zoe because she wouldn’t walk. As Amica learned Zoe’s story, she better understands the reason Zoe doesn’t like to walk. Then Amica looked for a way to help Zoe learn to trust again.

It’s also important that young readers take away an understanding that old does not always mean it cannot become something useful again. As Amica says, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” Amica figures out a way to reuse something her neighbor, Mr. Brown, is throwing out. She works to fix it up to use with Zoe to help with walking in the neighborhood. Young readers will learn about the importance of patience, understanding, and a theme that occurs in many books, friendship.

You also write chapter books and middle grade novels. Tell us about your The Galaxy According to CeCe series.

SR: Like many of my books, this is based on a time in my life. I’m the one who moved from North Carolina to Missouri right before the school year. I’m the one who moved into a house connected to an observatory. The feelings are very similar to ones I had but, from there, the story changes from my life to the story of Cece. This middle grade series is about change (book 1), friendships (book 2), and closure (book 3).

Book blurb for Book 1, The Galaxy According to Cece:

CeCe is having a ‘badventure’. What if her new school doesn’t have band tryouts? Or a soccer team? What if CeCe can’t make new friends? Moving across the country was hard enough, but the new house is an unusual house, and there definitely is something haunted about it.

Excited about her first year of middle school, CeCe and her friends anticipated all the fun they would have transitioning from elementary school to middle school. That was until the BIG announcement. Her family was moving across the country for her father’s job as an astronomer.

Starting the new school doesn’t go well, the class popular girl sets her sights on CeCe as she attends tryouts for the school soccer team and band. Making friends is difficult when the rumors swirl that the observatory is haunted. There are only so many “what ifs” for one eleven-year-old girl to think about. As CeCe balances her anxiety and comes to terms with her new situation, she starts to make forward strides in her new life embracing what the galaxy has given her.

Book 2, The Galaxy According to Cece: The Mysterious Dr. Pruitt:

Cece thought she had finally begun to settle into her new home, school, and town. Until the unexpected happened. The ghost of Dr. Pruitt, the scientist who built the observatory, appears and turns her life upside down. Is he a friendly ghost or a vengeful one? And why can only she see him?

Book 3, The Galaxy According to Cece: The Stars Align:

Cece never expected her friendship with Dr. Pruitt to take a sudden turn, but when she and her friends discover a secret room in his domain, tensions rise. With their curiosity piqued and Dr. Pruitt’s disapproval looming, the friends must decide whether to push forward or back away. Will he allow them to use what they know, or will he continue to hide from them and create even more problems?

You’ve also written nonfiction picture books, which you photo-illustrated yourself. How do you decide which topics to write about?

SR: My two non-fiction were fun to do. The first, Sonnet, Sonnet, What’s in Your Bonnet?, features a variety of flowers that I photographed from my own garden and public gardens around town. The story tells fun facts about each flower that readers, young and old, may not have known. For example, do you know what flower is the international flower of love? If you say the rose, that would not be correct. It is actually a red tulip. Why is the blanket flower called the blanket flower? Ever seen a leopard lily? Answers to all the questions and so many more may be found in this book.

The second book, A Visit Through the Wetlands, takes the reader through a local wetlands to see the foliage, water fowl, amphibians, animals, and so much more that may be found when wandering through wetlands. This book was written to encourage families to not only visit this local wetlands but to find designated wetland areas when on vacation and take a tour to see all that may be found of nature in these beautiful reserves.

Where can people learn more about you and your books or connect with you online?

SR: My website features all my books, and talks more about me, and a blog that features many of my author friends, and educational resources for many of my books (more to be added). The address is www.sjrobertscreative.net.

People may also connect with me on the following social media channels:

Instagram: Instagram

Threads: @sjrobertscreative

Facebook: Facebook or Facebook

My email address is sjroberts@sjrobertscreative.net.

I look forward to hearing from you and others to talk about my books or just visiting. Look for a new chapter book series coming August 1, 2025, for readers ages 6-8.

Sherry Roberts is an award-winning children’s book author. She holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Louisville. She has written multiple award-winning picture books such as Hello, Can I Bug You?, Gabriel and the Special Memorial Day, What’s Wrong with Barnaby, and The Best Reading Buddy. Her newest, Amica Helps Zoe, was featured in Kirkus’ e-newsletter, June 2025, and received a Get It: Recommend review.

As a former middle school teacher, Dr. Roberts decided to write her first middle-grade novel. Her debut novel, The Galaxy According to CeCe, is the first book in a three-book series. It was officially released on February 24, 2024. Book two, The Galaxy According to Cece: The Mysterious Dr. Pruitt, was released August 2024. Book three, The Galaxy According to Cece: The Stars Align, released February 2025.

Happy Book Birthday to JESUS LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN, ALL THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD by Tara Hackney!

Title: Jesus Loves the Little Children, All the Children of the World

Author: Tara Hackney

Illustrator: (Photo illustrations)

Publisher: IVP Kids

Release Date: June 24, 2025

Format: Board book, eBook

Summary: The classic song “Jesus Loves the Little Children of the World” has been heard in homes and churches for over a century. This fresh adaptation includes three new stanzas that reflect God’s inclusive love. The vibrant photographs showcase children from around the globe, creating a captivating reading (or singing!) experience for preschoolers and their accompanying grown-ups. With the beautiful reminder that all children of the world are “made and loved so perfectly,” these updated lyrics celebrating God’s love will quickly become a favorite in every home.

Do you have a children’s picture book coming out soon? I’d love to wish it a Happy Book Birthday here on Frog on a Blog! For more information, CLICK HERE.

My View Book Review: FREE BIRD by Christine Mott

Title: Free Bird: Flaco the Owl’s Dreams Take Flight

Author: Christine Mott

Illustrator: Ofra Layla Isler

Publisher/Year: Lantern Publishing & Media/2025

Format: Hardcover, eBook

Happy HELP ANIMALS DAY! I have a great book to share for the occasion.

Free Bird: Flaco the Owl’s Dreams Take Flight, written by Christine Mott and illustrated by Ofra Layla Isler, will officially be available May 6th from Lantern Publishing & Media, an American non-profit book publisher with a mission I can really get behind. It’s “to inform and inspire new generations of global citizens to create a healthy, compassionate, and resilient world for animals and humans alike.”

Free Bird is a fictional children’s picture book based on the true story of an owl named Flaco, a Eurasian Eagle Owl, which is one of the largest species of owl in the world, who escaped from his enclosure at the Central Park Zoo in New York City. Fifty percent of the author’s royalties will be donated to the Wild Bird Fund.

Flaco the owl dreams of flying free. So when an opening appears in the metal wire surrounding his zoo habitat, he carefully climbs out, opens his enormous wings, and jumps into the night sky. His flying skills are a little rusty, but with a bit of practice, he’s soon soaring over the zoo and into the bustling city where the lights and noise and cars and people are overwhelming. So he settles in the park where there are plenty of trees and food to eat. Before long, he’s exploring the whole city and making new animal friends. And, best of all, he’s enjoying his life of freedom.

Through lovely poetic text and Flaco’s own words, Free Bird offers an optimistic message to young readers about being brave, believing in yourself, and following your dreams. My favorite lines are the last two: Any dream needs a plan; there’s the “how” and the “when.” But the most important part of it is the “WHOOO”–and that “who” is you.

The illustrations are realistic and sweet, depicting many New York City sites as well as some of the animals who call the city home. Flaco is, of course, prominently featured soaring across the pages. A bonus “Fun Facts About Owls!” section can be found at the end of the book. Did you know there are over 200 owl species in the world?! And Flaco belonged to one of the biggest, the Eurasian Eagle Owl, with a 6-foot+ wingspan!

Free Bird: Flaco the Owl’s Dreams Take Flight is perfect for owl, animal, or NYC fans of all ages or simply for people you know who may need a bit of encouragement to follow their dreams.

The Central Park Zoo in Manhattan, NY, is home to hundreds of animals, including several bird species, like four distinct species of penguins: chinstrap, gentoo, macaroni, and king penguins.

“The Central Park Zoo is part of an effort to save wildlife that began 120 years ago with the creation of the New York Zoological Society, an organization founded on science and hope which has since grown to become the Wildlife Conservation Society.”

Interview Alert: Lauren Briére

Please welcome talented author and illustrator Lauren Briére, along with her whimsical robot pals, to Frog on a Blog! Lauren’s new picture book, Alphabot Adventures, which is part of her Robots In Rowboats series, is bursting with adorable, friendly, inquisitive, amusing, kind, and even pensive robots that kids will LOVE!

This fun and colorful concept book, published by Blue Star Press, features the alphabet, and it “will have your little one laughing and learning from A to Z!” Each of the 26 robots shares something very special about itself, its hobby or something it simply enjoys, with many of the things being animal or nature related, for example, D Bot delights in the company of dogs, and E Bot enjoys exploring everywhere among the evergreens. (I had a very difficult time choosing favorites to include in this interview. I had so many!)

This book is sure to be a hit with robot-loving children (and adults) everywhere! Let’s learn more from Lauren about Alphabot Adventures!

Congratulations on the publication of your new picture book Alphabot Adventures! What inspired you to create a concept book about robots? And where does your love for robots come from?

LB: Thanks so much! Well, I’ve been riding this wave of oil paintings of robots for about 11 years now, and I figured I’d keep it going in book format! After all, I got my art degree in children’s book illustration. Since there’s such a massive amount of choices of ABC books out there, I thought- Why not throw my own into the mix?! The idea of the robots initially started by randomly painting a robot in a rowboat because I simply liked the alliteration of it all. The wording ‘rolled off the tongue’ and onto a canvas, and a rabbit hole of quirky & sweet ideas opened up.

copyright © 2025 by Lauren Briére/accompanying text: J Bot just enjoys living among jellyfish.

Why did you decide to pair robots with nature and outdoor activities (which I love, btw!)?

LB: It just came so naturally! Admittedly, I wish I could claim there was more forethought, but, I guess, instinctually, I like unifying objects in juxtaposition and bonding them through empathy.

Your illustrations are so whimsical and detailed! Please tell us a little about your art process when you were working on your book and what media you used.

LB: I started with phrasing, sweet and silly to begin with, and the imagery just followed. My process is much like filling in a coloring book page. Once I’ve got a sketch I like, the oil painting just appears before me on gessoed wood-panel.

copyright © 2025 by Lauren Briére/accompanying text: N Bot navigates nature under the northern lights.

How are you able to give each robot its own personality?

LB: ? It’s all in the eyes and child-like poses & gestures, which we all can relate to: to some capacity, in heart, there’s a child within us all. I generally just paint stuff that I like… and I just love relatable, gentle, and sweet things that emanate humor and curiosity.

Why do you feel picture books are important for kids?

LB: I believe that imagery imprints itself in young minds. For example, I can’t recite the exact wording of my favorite book from when I was little, but I’ve got pictures and the mood that I perceived from it forever in the back of my mind, stirring a flavorful nostalgia soup. I’d like to think I’m able to do what I can now as an adult because I can frequently sample from it!

copyright © 2025 by Lauren Briére/accompanying text: Z Bot is a zany zoologist.

What do you hope children will take away from reading your book?

LB: I hope they absorb the overall curiosity of the Bots’ amusement in their letters. The alliteration I used when writing the book was utilized as a tool to pique their interest in language and the written word, while the imagery sets the tone and hopefully sparks memory.

Will there be more picture books starring your loveable robots in the future?

LB: ABSOLUTELY! I’m currently working on a concept where robots learn about a variety of sports. Through illustrations, viewers will see how these sweet robots experience competition, strategy, strength, and FUN. Eventually, there’ll be a similarly themed book about music & instruments.

Lauren Briére, a true product of the 80’s: watches too many movies and eats popcorn as a meal more often than not. She grew up in Wrentham, MA, and got her BFA in illustration from MassArt in Boston. She works in Austin, TX, now and works on the painting series, Robots In Rowboats. Her professional artist’s resume consists of work ranging from children’۪s book illustration, designer rain umbrellas “Over Our Heads”, animated music videos (two of which for the awesomely sweet band, The Weepies), and quirky paintings to amuse her young daughter.

To learn more about Lauren, her books, and her art, visit her website Robots In Rowboats or follow her on Instagram. Prints of some of her gorgeous robot art is available for purchase via her website. And her book Alphabot Adventures is available on Amazon as well as through several other vendors.

My View Book Review: COUNTING WINTER by Nancy White Carlstrom

Title: Counting Winter

Author: Nancy White Carlstrom

Illustrator: Claudia McGehee

Publisher/Year: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers/2024

Format: Hardcover

Counting Winter, written by Nancy White Carlstrom and illustrated by Claudia McGehee, was published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers in 2024. In this fun seasonal tale, readers count woodland animals (and some exuberant children) from 1 to 12, beginning with 1 red fox silently walking through the forest.

I don’t usually review concept books, but I love, love, love picture books set in winter! Just the dreamy way the snow is often illustrated with whites and blues and other hues warms my heart. And this book is no exception. The illustrator used scratchboard and watercolor to create the dynamic art featuring all of the creatures that the author introduces and the reader follows deeper and deeper into the snow-covered, tree-dotted woods. Along with the stealthy fox, we meet talkative ravens, silent snowshoe hares, soaring golden eagles, strong musk oxen, bright-eyed owls, and more.

I like the simplicity of the text, conveying what each type of animal might do in nature, and the author includes a bit of internal rhyme (tracking, cracking) with each page turn and ends each line with winter.

“One red fox walks across the white snow quietly stalking winter.”

“Two ravens croak and gurgle cutting the sounds out of forty below raucously talking winter.”

Perfect for this time of year, Counting Winter is a lovely picture book showcasing a winter wonderland, dozens of busy animals, and lots of swirling, twirling snowflakes. Back matter features an author’s and an illustrator’s note imparting their inspiration and creative process, respectively, as well as more information about each species of animal.

Common Ravens are considered highly intelligent birds and have been known to mimic the calls of other birds and even human words. They’re also skilled flyers and can also, surprisingly, fly upside down!

Happy (belated) Book Birthday to IN THE BEGINNING, GOD SMILED by David Lahm!

Title: In the Beginning, God Smiled

Author: David Lahm

Illustrator: Lael Brinkley

Publisher: Divine Rhyme Publishing

Release Date: October 4th, 2024

Format: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook

Summary: In the Beginning, God Smiled is a poetic journey that blends faith and science, beautifully depicting God’s creation of the universe through the Big Bang. This enchanting tale invites children to marvel at the cosmos, celebrate God’s work of creation, and join Him in His happiness.

Spark wonder in your child through this poetic retelling of the creation account.
Filled with joyful rhymes and colorful illustrations, In the Beginning, God Smiled is a tale of God’s joy and the Big Bang that followed.

Do you have a children’s picture book coming out soon? I’d love to wish it a Happy Book Birthday here on Frog on a Blog! For more information, CLICK HERE.

My View Book Review: KINGDOMS OF LIFE by Carly Allen-Fletcher

Title: Kingdoms of Life

Author: Carly Allen-Fletcher

Illustrator: Carly Allen-Fletcher

Publisher/Year: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers/2024

Format: Hardcover

Kingdoms of Life, by British children’s book author and illustrator Carly Allen-Fletcher, was published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers in 2024. This lushly illustrated nonfiction picture book with a gorgeous, eye-catching cover is overflowing with images and information about the six kingdoms of life-form classification: animals, plants, fungi, protists, bacteria, and archaea.

There are millions of species of life on Earth, each sorted into one of the six kingdoms. I love that the author made sure to include some really fascinating and unusual creatures in her book for each kingdom. For example, there’s a species of wasp called a fairy wasp that’s smaller than a grain or rice. Baobab trees store thousands of gallons of water in their trunks to cope with their dry environment in Africa. Oyster mushrooms are a fungi that feed on plastic. Although seaweed looks like a plant, it’s actually algae, which is classified as a protist. There’s a type of bacteria that makes a tiny squid species glow, helping it to blend into the light shining down on the ocean, hiding it from predators. Archaea can live in conditions too extreme for most life, like the salty waters of the Dead Sea or far under the ice of the South Pole. Kids will read about these amazing creatures and so much more.

The digital illustrations are bold, bright, and brimming with dozens of examples of life in each of the six kingdoms. Each creature is numbered so that curious readers can turn to the back of the book to learn what they are. A common name and the scientific name are both given. Also near the end of the book is a simple explanation of how life forms for each kingdom are further sorted into smaller and smaller groups, such as cats into “big cats (lions, tigers, etc.)” and “small cats (house cats, Pallas’s cats, etc.)” and so on.

Lots of details are presented, but it’s not overwhelming. Facts are nicely spaced and each kingdom has its own color code. The jacket flap lists the age range as 6-10, but younger kids will enjoy viewing the animals and plants as well as all the shapes and colors spread throughout the book.

Kingdoms of Life would make a lovely gift for budding young biologists, zoologists, or taxonomists (scientists who study organisms and classify them into groups) or anyone who loves learning about animals, plants, and other forms of life. The art alone will have kids (and adults) turning the pages to see what they will discover next. It’s like a whole zoo in a book! And, although this is not a Halloween book, animal costumes are some of my favorites. Maybe a few of the creatures found in this book will inspire your kids’ Halloween costumes. Happy Halloween, everyone!

Of the eight species of bears in the world, only Sloth Bears carry their cubs on their backs. They often have two cubs at a time and will carry them both until they are about nine months old. They are even known to fight off tigers while their cubs cling to their fur!

Interview Alert: Stenetta Anthony

Please welcome award winning author Stenetta Anthony to Frog on a Blog! Stenetta has published three lovely picture books and is working on publishing a fourth. She was an elementary school teacher for many years before becoming an author, and this is what she said about her new life’s path: “This change in career has taken me to places that I never envisioned as a teacher.”

I love how Stenetta’s books often include animals, and it’s through the animals’ stories that kids learn self-love as well as kindness and empathy for others. Her books clearly carry messages of hope and inspiration. We all need a little bit more hope and inspiration in our lives, don’t you think? Now, let’s hear from Stenetta about her books and her journey as a children’s book author!

Please share a little about each of your picture books and what inspired them.

SA: My first book, The Love Story, was inspired by a question asked by a young child who wanted to know who God is. Although I was familiar with children’s Bibles and other materials to educate children about God, I found it difficult finding a book which introduced a child or adult who was unfamiliar to God and why he was so important to our world.

(From The Love Story, copyright © 2015 by Stenetta Anthony)

A Home for Sally came from a place of concern for special needs animals and children. Using Sally’s story to promote empathy and understanding is an essential representation of a child with a disability, where they don’t feel alone and learn that being “perfectly imperfect” is okay, reinforcing the idea that everyone is beautiful.

(From A Home for Sally, copyright © 2018 by Stenetta Anthony)

Ella Learns to Dance was written to demonstrate the misconceptions and stereotypes that sometimes surround a person who does not look like a ballerina, empowering a child to follow their dream regardless of what others may say.

(From Ella Learns to Dance, copyright © 2022 by Stenetta Anthony)

Each of these books was written to foster inclusivity, validation, and empathy on the importance of kindness, love, understanding and acceptance.

Why do you believe picture books are important for children?

SA: As a former educator, children are introduced to words at an early age either through watching television, social media or [other] avenues. Picture books introduce children to the world. Connecting the words with the pictures increases a child’s language skill, emotional literacy and visual thinking. Children can look at a picture and sometimes create their own story, developing creativity in the mind of a child.

What route did you take to publish your books—traditional, self-published, or hybrid—and why?

SA: The route I have taken to publish most of my books is hybrid; however, I have had the opportunity to self-publish one of my books, which was valuable to my learning more about the steps necessary to publishing.

Tell us a bit about your journey from being a teacher to becoming a children’s author.

SA: Many people dream about becoming an author; however, this is not my story. I was an educator for 22 years teaching pre-kindergarten – 3rd graders. During the years spent in the classroom as a teacher, I often looked for books that reflected my students, especially those with a disability; however, this was often difficult. This desire had me creating stories of my own. One day, while reading one of my creative stories to a friend, they asked, “Where did you get that book? I love it.” Telling them I had written it myself, they quickly asked, “Have you ever thought about publishing your own books?” 

After this conversation, thought and time, along with encouragement from my husband and children, I wrote and published my first children’s book entitled The Love Story, with three more books to follow and presently working on publishing my fourth children’s book, taking this teacher on a journey that took me from the classroom to becoming a published, multi award-winning children’s book author.

How would you encourage others who dream about being a published author?

SA: Following your dream can sometimes be intimidating. Since writing my first book, I have been told on multiple occasions, “I want to write a book.” The simple answer always given is to just start writing. Carry a pen, paper, digital recorder or other material and begin the writing process. Remember to never give up regardless of how long the process may take. Never give up on your dream to become a published author.

Multi award-winning author, Stenetta Anthony, was an elementary school educator for 22 years before becoming a published author, after reading hundreds, possibly thousands of books to her students and writing her own books. Stenetta has a passion for creating books that engage, enhance, elevate, motivate and evoke a love for reading in children. She is a graduate of Grand Canyon University. When Stenetta is not writing, she enjoys time speaking and reading with children in educational settings and other venues. Stenetta’s goal is to inspire people through her books.

To learn more about Stenetta and her books, visit her Website: www.stenettaanthony.weebly.com

Or connect with her on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/public/stenetta-anthony

Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/StenettaA

Instagram: www.instagram.com/stenettaanthony/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stenetta-anthony-42b28544

My View Book Review: YOU STOLE MY NAME TOO by Dennis McGregor

Title: You Stole My Name Too

Author: Dennis McGregor

Illustrator: Dennis McGregor

Publisher/Year: Blue Star Press/2024

Format: Hardcover

You Stole My Name Too, written and illustrated by Dennis McGregor, was published by Blue Star Press in 2024. This beautiful over-sized picture book, called a “children’s coffee-table-art book”, follows You Stole My Name, which was chosen as a Kirkus Best Indie Picture Books in 2023. The “You Stole My Name” series continues with a third book titled You Stole My Name Tools, which is due out in 2025.

Whereas the first book compares shared animal-to-animal names (e.g. bull and bullfrog) and the third book compares animal-to-tool names (e.g. monkey and monkey wrench), You Stole My Name Too introduces shared animal-to-plant names, such as the tiger and tiger lily depicted in the striking cover image above.

This book is overflowing with gorgeous hand-painted artwork, done in gouache, by Dennis McGregor, who is also a talented designer, songwriter, and musician. Children will delight in the colorful, realistic plants and animals depicted on each two-page spread. They’ll meet a friendly ostrich with an ostrich fern, an aromatic skunk with skunk cabbage, a bright-eyed wolf with wolf lichen, and several more charming animal/plant pairs.

Along with each animal/plant pair, young readers will find Dennis McGregor’s four-line, rhyming poems entertaining and fun, and the text may even induce a bit of laughter from kids and adults alike as each animal questions why their corresponding plant was named after them. Additionally, many of the poems include a touch of educational detail, and, of course, those unfamiliar with some of the plants, especially what they look like, will learn something new too.

Here’s my favorite verse, titled “KiwiFruit” (I’m sure you can guess the animal/plant pair):

I guess you think you look like me?

Sorry, but I disagree.

Yes we’re brown, round, and cute,

but I’m a bird and you’re a fruit!

(The covers of the first and third books in the “You Stole My Name” series)

Just like a picture book about plants and animals is perfect to feature here on Frog on a Blog, all three of these lovely books would make perfect gifts for animal, plant, and art lovers (and tool lovers? 🙂 ) of all ages!

Native to Asia, the Tiger Lily flower gets its name from its bright orange coloring and dark spots that some say resemble a tiger. In Chinese culture, the Tiger Lily is a symbol of good fortune.

Happy Book Birthday to THE ATTIC DOOR by Leslie Eva Tayloe!

Title: The Attic Door

Author: Leslie Eva Tayloe

Illustrator: David Barrow

Publisher: Doodle and Peck Publishing

Release Date: September 4th, 2024

Format: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook

Summary: Scary noises are coming from the creepy attic door in Eduardo’s bedroom. His imagination goes wild! When Eduardo finally gathers the courage to investigate, what does he find? This book is designed to build a child’s literacy skills and empower them to succeed. Inside the book, you will find developmentally appropriate activities to use with your young reader.

Do you have a children’s picture book coming out soon? I’d love to wish it a Happy Book Birthday here on Frog on a Blog! For more information, CLICK HERE.

My View Book Review: HELLO, RAIN! by Katherine Pryor and Rose Soini

Title: Hello, Rain!

Author: Katherine Pryor

Illustrator: Rose Soini

Publisher/Year: Schiffer Kids/2024

Format: Board Book

It’s been a while since I’ve reviewed a board book here on Frog on a Blog. But board books are essentially picture books, just in a different format. They’re for the littlest book aficionados, infants to about three years old. Thanks to their extra-sturdy covers, board books hold up well in the hands and mouths of these future readers.

Today, I’m pleased to share, on a rainy Wednesday here at home, Hello, Rain! by Katherine Pryor, with illustrations by Rose Soini. Hello, Rain! was published by Schiffer Kids in 2024. It’s the second in the “Hello,” series, following Hello, Garden!, by the same author and illustrator, which received the IBPA (Independent Book Publishers Association) Benjamin Franklin Gold Award in 2022 for its age category.

Both books feature the same diverse family. And, as you can see from the covers, the kids are the stars. In Hello, Rain!, readers follow the family as they set off to play in the rain. The children enjoy splashing in puddles and drawing in mud until a thunderstorm drives them all back to the safety and comfort of home where a family story time, followed by a bubble-filled bath, proves to be the perfect way to end the day.

copyright © 2024 by Katherine Pryor and Rose Soini

The rhyming, rhythmic text adeptly uses short sentences and simple noun/verb pairs to create mood and movement throughout the story. The colorful illustrations, which I believe are watercolor, depict sweet kids and lots of outdoor scenes, including birds, squirrels, trees, and plants. Parents will have fun pointing out a sleeping mouse, baby robins, and curious worms. What I like most about this book is just the pure joy the kids express while playing outside in nature.

copyright © 2024 by Katherine Pryor and Rose Soini

Hello, Rain! is a great choice for the little book and nature lovers in your life!

On average, American Robins lay 3-4 eggs in a clutch but only 1 egg per day. They also typically lay more than 1 clutch of eggs throughout the nesting season.

My View Book Review(s): THE BOX by Isabella Paglia -and- THE THINGAMAJIG by Rilla Alexander (an animal mystery pb pairing)

You’ll meet lots of friendly animals and help them “solve” a mystery in both of these superb picture books. Mysteries are all about questions. The Box evokes the questions “Who’s in the box? How did they get here? And why won’t they come out?” While The Thingamajig will have readers asking “What is it? Where is it? And who took it?”

The Box, written by Isabella Paglia and illustrated by Paolo Proietti, was originally published in Italy in 2020, but has since been published in the US, in 2022, by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. When a box appears in the forest, the animal residents are baffled and full of questions, especially when they realize that someone is hiding inside. Who could this mysterious stranger be? They try diligently to welcome the little creature and to coax them out of the box, but nothing works, not even an entertaining show or a party. Only after the concerned animals rescue the box and its frightened occupant from the pouring rain of a thunderstorm, does the mystery creature finally feel comfortable enough to emerge.

At its heart, this story is about friendship, kindness, and patience. All of the adorable animals–Bear, Fox, Rabbit, Squirrel, and Owl–are sweet and thoughtful and work together to make sure that their guest feels safe and comfortable. They don’t abandon the box, but they don’t push either, which allows the creature to come out at their own pace. The pastel, chalk, and watercolor illustrations are rendered in pale earth-tones, which adds to the soft, gentle feel of the over all story. You’ll have to read the book to discover who the animals’ mysterious new friend is.

The Thingamajig, written and illustrated by Rilla Alexander, was published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers in 2024. When Little Elephant’s parent loses something, Little Elephant springs to action and goes on a hunt to find the missing thing-a-ma-jig. Along the way, they meet other animals who have lost things as well. Bird lost a hoo-zee-wots-it. Butterfly lost a doop-ee-dit. And Rabbit lost a yoke-a-me-bob. Snail, Bee, Squirrel, and the group of ladybugs have all lost something too. So Little Elephant and the others search together for all of the missing, oddly named things. But Frog thinks there may be a thief in the neighborhood and asks each of them to describe their missing item. What could their mysterious items (or item) be? Will Little Elephant ever find the thing-a-ma-jig? And can Little Elephant help his animal friends find suitable replacements for their lost doohickeys? Read the book to find out!

This story, that cleverly begins on the first endpaper, is fun, lively, and bursting with bold, bright colors and cute, whimsical animals. The illustrations, which really pop off the page, were created with collaged photographs and hand-cut rubber stamps. Sharp-eyed readers will notice a few “hidden” items spread throughout the book that might just be the perfect alternatives to the animals’ lost things. Interesting back matter introduces the unique words that other countries use to describe something they don’t know the name for, such as Japan’s “na-nee na-nee” and Australia’s “doo-va-la-kee.” I’m partial to “thing-a-ma-bob” myself. 🙂 Lastly, young readers will love discovering a different cover underneath the book jacket.

Put on your Sherlock Holmes hats, grab your magnifying glasses, and enjoy reading (and solving) these two great mystery picture books, one quiet and one energetic, with your kids!

The smallest owl species in the world is the Elf Owl. Adults are less than 6 inches tall, about the size of a sparrow!

My View Book Review(s): HARRIET’S REFLECTIONS by Marion Kadi -and- SOURGRASS by Hope Lim (an unexpected pairing)

Girls reign in these two lovely picture books, each uniquely illustrated and overflowing with color and character (and animals!).

Harriet’s Reflections, written and illustrated by Marion Kadi, was originally published in France in 2021, but has since been published in the US, in 2024, by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. This unusual book earned starred reviews from Kirkus, Booklist, and BookPage. The story starts on a sad note, the death of a lion, but soon turns light-hearted when we see that the lion’s reflection has a life all its own. The reflection, feeling bored, sets off in search of someone new in order to be their reflection and comes upon the spunky Harriet. Harriet accepts him, forgetting all about her own reflection, and, with a lion as her new reflection, Harriet heads off to school feeling more confident than ever. She has the best day, but, by the second day, things take a turn when her wild side takes over, getting her into trouble, and she begins to miss her old reflection. Now Harriet has to learn to balance two reflections, which we come to understand represent two sides of her personality.

There’s a subtle message here about self-reflectance, recognizing and accepting the different parts of ourselves. One day, we might feel confident, ready to take on the world, and the next, we might feel like being alone, and there’s nothing wrong with either. All people, kids included, experience changing moods and lots of big, or small, feelings, and no one has just one side. As quiet as the concept of self-reflectance may seem, the brightly colored acrylic illustrations in this book really jump off the page and are full of life and movement. Harriet’s classmates are a diverse group of children, and different animals can be seen throughout the book. You’ll want to spend some time “reflecting” on each page, as the pictures are imaginative and cleverly done. Marion Kadi did a fantastic job showing the “fluid” lion reflection in various puddles and mirrors. And the art on the endpapers is gorgeous!

Sourgrass, written by Hope Lim and illustrated by Shahrzad Maydani, was published by Beach Lane Books in 2024. This sweet story introduces readers to best friends Sofia and May who meet everyday at the gate that separates their two yards. Sometimes they play in Sofia’s yard and sometimes in May’s yard. Eventually, they discover the beautiful fields beyond their yards, which are spilling over with wild sourgrass flowers. They have even more fun playing in and racing through the fields and rolling down the yellow, flower-covered hills, until, one day, May moves away, leaving Sofia to play by herself, which, of course, just isn’t the same. But they keep in touch by letter, and that reassures Sofia that May will never forget her, that they will never forget each other and the days they spent playing together in the fields of sourgrass.   

This is a story about friendship, about childhood, about a time when life was simple and days were spent playing, without worries or cares, until a life-changing event happens–your very best friend in the world moves away. Something like that can deeply affect a child. I mean, their whole world can be turned upside down. That’s why I like that Hope Lim chose to include the letter writing so the girls could keep in touch and have a long-distance friendship, which brings comfort to Sofia. And a little hint of happier days ahead is depicted on the last page. This book also has a lot going on in the art. Shahrzad Maydani’s chalk pastel and watercolor illustrations are so dreamy, colorful, yet blended and, at times, muted, perfectly expressing playful memories that melt together under the summer sun. The pictures are a feast for the eyes, inviting the reader to linger on each page. Kids will have a joyful time discovering the various animals “hidden” throughout and noticing that even Sofia and May’s stuffed animals seem to come alive.

Though different, these charming books have some similarities and would make a great pairing. Both are worthy of repeat readings, too, and I love how you can discover new animals with each new viewing!

A male African Lion’s roar can be heard up to five miles away.

Packed With Facts: Animal-focused Nonfiction Picture Books (a roundup for Wild About Wildlife Month)

I just LOVE learning interesting facts about wild animals! I like discovering where they live, what they eat, and what their daily habits are, especially if they’re animals I’ve never heard of before. I bet you know some kids (or kids at heart) who love learning about animals too. And the more kids get to know them, the more they develop a fondness and, hopefully, compassion for the animals with whom we share the world.

I’ll admit that nonfiction picture books don’t get as much attention here on Frog on a Blog as fiction picture books do. So, when I do feature them, it’s a special occasion indeed. Today, I have four incredible books to share. Each one is overflowing with amazing animal facts. And each one has a unique angle that makes learning fun. You and the little animal lovers in your life will definitely want to take a look at these!

Home, written and illustrated by Isabelle Simler, was originally published in France in 2022 and published here in the US by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers in March of 2024. This gorgeous book, which is a part of Eerdmans’ Spectacular STEAM for Curious Readers line, earned starred reviews from School Library Journal, Booklist, and Shelf Awareness.

Visit the homes of 27 different animals, from the common octopus’s “Stony Villa” (rocky crevice) to the hummingbird’s “Mossy Miniature Home” (tiny nest) to the Sumatran orangutan’s “Bunk Bed In The Branches” (leafy bed high in the trees). Richly detailed illustrations accompany lyrical text on every two-page spread as each animal tells the reader all about its home. Back matter includes more information about the animals as well as a short glossary of unfamiliar terms.

Favorite Featured Creature: the satin bowerbird–This industrious Australian bird builds a little pavilion out of twigs and decorates it with all manner of blue items he finds, including feathers, flowers, butterfly wings, pen caps, marbles, and string, all to attract a mate.

…

The Wild Life of Animals (The Secret Lives of Astounding Animals), written by Mike Barfield and illustrated by Paula Bossio, was published in the US, by Kane Miller, and in Great Britain in 2023. Told with subtle humor in both the text and illustrations, this book introduces (actually, the animals introduce themselves) young readers to over 50 different animals, depicted in a cute cartoon style, in 8 habitats from across the globe. Kids (and you) will learn about the pygmy hippopotamus who lives in a forest environment in West Africa, the thorny dragon lizard who lives in the desert region of Western Australia, and the vampire squid who lives deep in a tropical sea, to name just a few.

Plenty of information is presented about each animal without being overwhelming, and the Table of Contents allows readers to flip right to the animals they want to learn more about. A glossary of unfamiliar terms can be found at the end of the book too. But what’s really clever about this book is the kid-friendly layout. Comic style is used throughout for the main spreads, and then additional fun facts about even more animals in each region can be found on pages that resemble the screens of a tablet. There are pages devoted specifically to baby animals as well. There’s a lot going on in this book for sure!

Favorite Featured Creature: the okapi–This curious creature hails from the dense forests of Central Africa, and though its black-and-white striped hind end and legs resemble a zebra and its head resembles a deer, it’s actually the only living relative of the giraffe, and it even has a long prehensile tongue like a giraffe does.

…

Menus for Meerkats and Other Hungry Animals, written by Ben Hoare and illustrated by Hui Skipp, was published in the US by Kane Miller in 2024. It’s a companion book to Maps for Penguins and Other Traveling Animals. Here readers learn about the favorite foods and fascinating (sometimes gross) eating habits of 10 different animals, along with other interesting bits of information about each of them. For example, did you know the scarlet macaw, which is a brightly-colored parrot, can live to be 50 years old in the wild? Did you know Indian cobras, which are venomous snakes, drink water by dipping their heads into puddles and opening their mouths to allow the water to soak into the skin of their lower jaws? And did you know blue whales, which are the largest animals on Earth, produce up to 50 gallons of poop at a time, enough to fill a bathtub?

My favorite thing about this book is the fun way the information is presented. Each of the animals, which are all drawn in a sweet cartoon style, has four pages (or two spreads) devoted to it. The first two pages are essentially a menu listing main course foods, sides, and drinks. The grizzly bear’s main course selections include nuts, berries, and roots. Its sides are grubs, worms, insects, and larger animals like gophers, fish, and elk. And its drink choice is water from rivers or lakes. Then the second spread tells us more about the animal, such as its eating habits, where it lives, and how big it is. (See the previous paragraph for examples.) This book also has a Table of Contents, allowing the reader to quickly find a specific animal, and a glossary and an index can be found at the end of the book as well.

Favorite Featured Creature: the koala–Everyone knows koala bears (which, by the way, aren’t bears at all) are from Australia, and you probably know that their diet consists mostly of eucalyptus leaves, but did you know eucalyptus leaves are poisonous? Luckily, koalas can eat them without getting sick thanks to a specially-adapted portion of their large intestine that aids in the digestion of their toxic meal.

…

Lifesize Deadly Animals, written and illustrated by Sophy Henn, was published in 2023 by Kane Miller and is part of their Lifesize line of books. Kids, in particular, will get a kick out of this oversized book as they marvel at the many animal species, small and large, from around the world, realistically depicted on the pages. The text, presented in manageable chunks and in big print, imparts fascinating facts about each animal. Readers will view lifesize harpy eagle talons, which are bigger than a grizzly bear’s claws, lifesize black caiman (largest member of the alligator family) jaws, which can easily crack a turtle’s shell, an African lion’s lifesize tongue, which is covered with tiny spines, a lifesize Chinese bird spider, which is a venomous tarantula, and several more. Kids will especially love the surprise fold-out pages that open up to reveal a great white shark’s mouth with its over two-inch long, razor-sharp teeth. An added section at the back of the book compares the animals’ sizes to each other and to the size of the book.

Favorite Featured Creature: the (lifesize) Bengal slow loris–How can this adorable nocturnal primate from China and southeast Asia be deadly? Well, apparently, these little guys produce flesh-rotting venom from a mixture of their sweat and saliva and can deliver a toxic bite to their enemies, but they only use it as a last resort.

I hope you’ll check out these four fabulous books, which are perfect for Wild About Wildlife Month!

Interview Alert: Jami Gigot (+ a Giveaway!)

Please welcome kidlit friend Jami Gigot to Frog on a Blog! Jami is an author, an illustrator, and a Texture Supervisor at LucasFilm’s Industrial Light & Magic. I recently featured a Happy Book Birthday post for Jami’s brand-new picture book The World In Our Backyard, which was published in May. I also interviewed Jami way back in 2015 when her book Mae and the Moon came out with Ripple Grove Press shortly after my book did.

I’m excited to welcome Jami back during the month of July, which happens to be Park and Recreation Month, to talk about The World In Our Backyard. This lovely and imaginative book is all about spending time and having fun in the great outdoors, especially our own backyards, and features a diverse group of kids from the city, the suburbs, and the country. It’s perfect for summer reading! Let’s hear more from Jami, and be sure to read to the end for details about how to win a copy of her book!

Congratulations on the publication of your beautiful new picture book The World In Our Backyard! Tell us the inspiration behind the story.

JG: Thank you so much! This book was inspired by my love of nature and my constant awe of our incredible world. One of my favorite things about writing for children is putting my mind back in the state where I try and think like I did as a child, and it was wonderful to revisit my own childhood memories and feelings of exploration and play. I had the thought, what would the world look like to a group of insects? It dawned on me that a clover patch would seem like a forest to them, and I made a sketch, which eventually became the first spread of the book. From that initial image, the rest of the story began to unfold. I thought, well, if there is a forest in a backyard, maybe there is a mountain, or a desert, or an ocean and so on. It was important to me to also explore the idea of backyards themselves and expanded the definition to include not only suburban households, but balconies, city parks, community gardens, or wherever we find joy exploring outside. 

copyright © 2024 by Jami Gigot

What was your process like when creating the illustrations for the book? And what’s your favorite spread?

JG: Whenever I start illustrating a book, I first sketch out a very rough version of the book in its entirety in pencil or on my tablet, blocking out the layout and text on every page. This helps me feel the pacing and overall balance of the book. In terms of final art, I never know exactly how it will work, but it usually ends up being a collage of traditional and digital mediums. Often I will use watercolor or colored pencil and then mix that with digital painting and do the final layout in photoshop. For the spread with the kids making chalk drawings, I incorporated some photos of the chalk art my children and I drew on the street behind our home. 

copyright © 2024 by Jami Gigot

What do you hope kids will take away from reading the book?

JG: Kids already have incredible imaginations, and I hope this book reminds them of all the joys and wonders around us in our natural environments and encourages them to explore creatively. In a time when we have so much stimulation from screens and electronic devices, I think it’s more important than ever to get outside and play. 

copyright © 2024 by Jami Gigot

What outdoor activities do you and your kids enjoy doing together?

JG: I have always been very active with the kids, and we spend a lot of time exploring outside. We have done things like making a bed for a fairy out of a chestnut shell, or making art from leaves we collected. When they were very small, I would plop them in a baby carrier to go snowshoeing or push the double stroller around on my rollerblades through the city. Now that my kids are a little older (12 and 14), we do a lot of activities like playing lawn games, hiking, and stand-up paddle boarding, but we are still very curious and love spotting slugs or collecting shells and rocks. 

Can you give us a sneak peek of any projects you’re working on right now?

JG: I’d be delighted to show a little sneak peek of my next project! I am currently working on a humorous picture book called A BIGFOOT FIELDGUIDE TO CAMPERS (and other mysterious creatures), which will be published by Kids Can Press next Spring 2025. It is a story about not being afraid of the unknown and listening to your heart and is written in a guidebook format where the words and pictures completely contradict each other, so makes for a very fun read aloud! 

Image from A BIGFOOT FIELDGUIDE TO CAMPERS/copyright © 2025 by Jami Gigot

Giveaway

Jami has generously offered a copy of her beautiful book The World In Our Backyard to one lucky person who comments on this blog post! For your chance to win, just leave a comment on this post by July 15th. I will choose a winner at random and connect them with Jami. This giveaway is limited to residents of the US and Canada only.

Jami Gigot is the author-illustrator of many books for children, including Starboy: Inspired by the Life and Lyrics of David Bowie, Imagination Vacation, Seb and the Sun, Mae and the Moon, and The World in Our Backyard and the illustrator of My Daddy Can Fly!. She is also a Texture Supervisor at LucasFilm’s Industrial Light & Magic, and has worked on many award-winning films. In her free time, she can be found in a hammock in her small and lovely backyard, bird-watching and listening to the buzzing of bees. She lives in Vancouver, BC, with her husband, two children, and a big orange cat.

 Visit her at www.jamigigot.com or on Instagram @jamigigot. 

Nature as a Nurturer by Kerry Aradhya

I’m excited to welcome author Kerry Aradhya to Frog on a Blog! Her debut picture book, Ernő Rubik and His Magic Cube, which is a biography of Hungarian architect and inventor Erno Rubik, the creator of the iconic Rubik’s Cube, just published this month by Peachtree. As you may know, the focus of my blog changed this year to feature animal and nature-themed picture books almost exclusively, so when Kerry reached out to say that nature played a pivotal role in Rubik’s creative process, I was intrigued. I asked Kerry to write a guest post about the role nature played in Rubik’s creative process and how nature might also help the creative process of picture book authors. Lucky us, she gladly agreed! Please read Kerry’s fantastic guest article below. If you’re a picture book writer or any type of creative, you just might be inspired!

Nature as a Nurturer by Kerry Aradhya

What do you do when you’re stuck on a revision or can’t quite figure out the ending (or maybe the middle, if you’re like me) of your latest picture book manuscript? Has nature ever factored into your solution?

In Ernő Rubik and His Magic Cube (my debut picture book with illustrator Kara Kramer), Ernő Rubik encounters his own unique problems as he sets out to design a cube made up of smaller cubes that twist and turn around each other. One of those problems is that he needs a way to hold all the smaller cubes together so his three-dimensional model doesn’t fall apart. Although his passion for puzzles and his background in art and architecture came in handy, it was nature that arguably played the biggest role in helping him find a solution.

During my research for this book, I learned that young Ernő Rubik spent many summer vacations by the lake with his family, and those memories stayed with him throughout his life. In his memoir Cubed: The Puzzle of Us All, Rubik poetically describes several of his experiences by the lake, including how the water and surrounding hills transformed during a storm. “There is darkening in the water, then a white line races towards you, followed closely by a pitch-black mass, which only a second ago was an innocent, gentle green,” he writes. He clearly understood the power, surprise, and inspiration that nature can bestow.

Interior from Erno Rubik and His Magic Cube. Text © 2024 by Kerry Aradhya. Illustrations © 2024 by Kara Kramer. Used with permission from Peachtree Publishing Inc. All rights reserved.

Years later, it was during a walk by another body of water—the Danube River—that Ernő Rubik came up with the idea to use a round internal mechanism to hold all the pieces of his cube together. Watching the river water swirling and twirling around some round pebbles along the shore was the impetus. When he set out for his walk that day, Rubik probably had no idea how it would affect his creative process. But, given his lifelong connection to nature, he likely had an inkling that it could affect it in some way.

Interior from Erno Rubik and His Magic Cube. Text © 2024 by Kerry Aradhya. Illustrations © 2024 by Kara Kramer. Used with permission from Peachtree Publishing Inc. All rights reserved.

As I reflect back on all the manuscripts I’ve written over the years, I see that nature has played a role in my creative process as well. In fact, I recently (meaning just a few minutes ago, as I was writing this post) reviewed all the poems I have published in children’s magazines and discovered that two-thirds of them have nature themes! Now that I’m thinking about it, I do remember walking in our neighborhood many times, paying attention to the sights and sounds around me, letting my mind roam freely, catching any interesting ideas that fluttered by, so I could play with them when I got home.

Although it’s difficult to find the time and resources for overnight writing retreats, I’ve been fortunate to have gone on a few over the past decade. The longest was a week spent at the Wellstone Center in the Redwoods, near the Santa Cruz Mountains in Northern California. Nestled among the redwoods, with a garden outside my door and trails through the forest only steps away, I had one of the most productive weeks I’ve ever had in terms of my creative writing.

In each of these scenarios, being away from my normal environment, responsibilities, and stressors allowed me to relax and open my mind, because that’s what nature does—whether you’re in it for days, hours, or merely minutes. So next time you’re stuck on a revision or can’t quite figure out the ending (or maybe the middle, if you’re like me) of your latest picture book manuscript, consider spending some time in nature. It could affect your creative process in ways you might not expect, or even realize. Nature is powerful, surprising, inspiring. Nature is a nurturer.

Kerry Aradhya has loved puzzling over words and immersing herself in the creative process ever since she was a little girl growing up in Erie, Pennsylvania. She is the author of the picture book biography Ernő Rubik and His Magic Cube (Peachtree, 2024) and more than a dozen poems in award-winning children’s magazines such as Babybug, Ladybug, and Highlights High Five. She also supports young writers in her role as a mentor and collaborating artist with the nonprofit Society of Young Inklings. 

When not writing for children, Kerry works as a freelance science writer and editor, performs with a quirky modern dance ensemble, and occasionally muses about children’s literature and dance at her blog, Picture Books & Pirouettes. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, their two daughters, and one cute but naughty pooch named Sofie.

To keep up with Kerry, visit her website https://www.kerryaradhya.com/. Or follow her on social media: Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/kerryaradhya, Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerry.aradhya/, Blog: http://kerryaradhya.blogspot.com

Three “Pawsitively” Perfect Picture Books For National Foster A Pet Month (My View Book Review)

Title: Bless Our Pets: Poems of Gratitude for Our Animal Friends

Author: Fourteen authors, including Lee Bennett Hopkins

Illustrator: Lita Judge

Publisher/Year: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers/2024

Topic/Theme: Pets, human/animal companionship, poetry anthology, expression of gratitude

Favorite Line: If I could pick a pet to pet, the pet I’d pick is you. (from “A Letter to My Guinea Pig” by Darren Sardelli)

Title: The Writer

Author: Davide Cali

Illustrator: Monica Barengo

Publisher/Year: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers/2022

Topic/Theme: Dogs, human/animal companionship, writer’s life

Of Note: New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Books Award (2022)

Title: No Cats in the Library

Author: Lauren Emmons

Illustrator: Lauren Emmons

Publisher/Year: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books/2024

Topic/Theme: Cats, human/animal companionship, libraries and librarians, books, reading

Of Note: School Library Journal starred review

Happy National Foster A Pet Month! Kids love pets of all kinds! Growing up with a pet or two helps kids learn compassion and how to care for others. Taking care of pets helps kids learn to be responsible too. And the great joy and love both the kids and the pets feel is so special. If you have room in your home and your heart to foster (or better yet, adopt) a pet from a shelter or rescue organization, please consider it. Here’s the ASPCA’s list of Top 5 Reasons to Foster an Animal in Need and the Best Friends Animal Society’s list of Top 10 Reasons to Foster a Pet. Take a look when you get a moment. In the meantime, enjoy three great picture books all about–you guessed it–pets!

Bless Our Pets is a lovely celebration of pets, all kinds, from the majestic horse to the tiny mouse. Fourteen authors have contributed a poem to this collection. Some rhyme. Some do not. But all convey a child’s love (or at least their wonder, as in the case of the snake) for an animal who has touched their lives, including a parakeet, a hamster, a kitten, and more. Charming and expressive watercolor and colored pencil illustrations by Lita Judge accompany each poem. Kids will enjoy the text and pictures together and will likely experience a range of emotions as some of the poems are joyful, such as “Goldfish” by Linda Trott Dickman, and others perhaps a bit sad, such as “My Old Dog” by Lee Bennett Hopkins. The other 12 contributors are Ann Whitford Paul, Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Eric Ode, Ralph Fletcher, Sarah Grace Tuttle, Kristine O’Connell George, Darren Sardelli, B.J. Lee, Charles Ghigna, Lois Lowry, Prince Redcloud, and Joan Bransfield Graham.

Image from Bless Our Pets/copyright © 2024 by Lita Judge

From the jacket flap: One of the last books edited by beloved poet Lee Bennett Hopkins, this endearing anthology expresses children’s gratitude for creatures big and small. [It’s] the perfect tribute to the animal friends who bring so much joy into our everyday lives.

Originally published in Italy, The Writer, by Davide Cali, is the kind of picture book that would appeal to both kids and adults. It stars an adorable French bulldog who watches his human companion type, type, type all day long on his laptop. The clever dog feels it’s his responsibility to make sure his human takes breaks to eat and go for walks. But he needs help. So he plays matchmaker. But things don’t go as planned. The engaging and unusual illustrations by artist Monica Barengo, which were rendered using graphite pencil and digital media, nicely capture the varied expressions of the dog, from who’s point of view the story is told. The story flows at a pleasing pace. Text is sparse, leaving plenty of room for the art. Adults, especially dog-owning writers, will likely relate strongly to the writer’s somewhat solitary life depicted in the book. And kids will love the dog’s many amusing poses and antics. And they may just learn a little something about what it’s like to be a writer.

Image from The Writer/copyright © 2022 by Davide Cali and Monica Barengo

From the back cover: A dog has an important job to do, especially if his human is a writer. But even the world’s best French bulldog can’t do everything. Maybe this perfect pair needs someone new in their lives.

Written and illustrated by Lauren Emmons, No Cats in the Library is a heartwarming story about a sweet stray cat named Clarisse who loves books, especially the kind with pictures. When she discovers the library and tries to get inside, she’s thwarted by the ever-vigilant librarian. She finally sneaks in through the book drop and makes her way to the children’s section where a little girl reads to her, and they both benefit from the experience. Clarisse got to hear a story, and the girl gained confidence in her reading abilities. Hopefully, now, the librarian will let Clarisse stay. The colorful and adorable digitally created illustrations depict a diverse group of kids and adults. This book is overflowing with library and literacy love, and as a former library assistant, I highly recommend it. Studies show that reading to animals helps kids improve their reading skills and build confidence. Wouldn’t it be fun if this was the book a child picked to read to a cat or dog?

Image from No Cats in the Library/copyright © 2024 by Lauren Emmons

From the jacket flap: Meet Clarisse! She’s a clever cat who loves books. She may not understand the dark, squiggly lines, but she can’t get enough of the pictures. One day she stumbles upon a magical building where people walk in empty-handed and come out with an armload of books. She has to find a way inside!

Adult male parakeets have a blue cere (the area above the beak containing the nostrils), while an adult female parakeet’s cere is brown.

Happy Book Birthday to MOON CHOO-CHOO by Mona Voelkel!

Title: Moon Choo-Choo: A Tale of Imagination and Sibling Adventure

Author: Mona Voelkel

Illustrator: Nancy Kincade

Publisher: Arigna Press

Release Date: May 30, 2024 (National Creativity Day)

Format: Paperback, Hardcover, and eBook

Summary: Everybody, time to play. What should we pretend today?

Destination: The Moon

Engine, Engine, Number 3

Shooting through the galaxy.

If our train gets lost in space,

Stars will help us find our place.

Where will imagination take you?

Take a rollicking ride with Moon Choo-Choo and three siblings as they blast off on a journey of imagination. What will they play today? Will they be engineers? Astronauts? Their imagination powers up Moon Choo-Choo. They journey into space, have a lunar lunch, and, despite being low on fuel and threatened by asteroids, make it back home safely. 

Moon Choo-Choo, a 200-word rhyming picture book for ages 3-6, is a joyful celebration of sibling bonds and imaginative play.

Link to Teaching and Discussion Guide: https://issuu.com/monavoelkel/docs/moon_choo-choo_teachers_guide-3?fr=xKAE9_zU1NQ

*Join Mona and Nancy for their 30 minute “First Read and Review Zoom Party” on May 30, 2024, at 7PM EST: https://forms.gle/ygMC9MntfzNVCnd69

Do you have a children’s picture book coming out soon? I’d love to wish it a Happy Book Birthday here on Frog on a Blog! For more information, CLICK HERE.