First, just look at that handsome guy hanging out in his office at work. That’s my honey and God has really blessed me with a wonderful husband and best friend. ❤️
Second, check out the background. My honey is such a strong supporter and cheerleader for me. He’s proudly displaying and showing off Be Kind, Make Friends, my new picture book. What a great guy! I love you honey!
I’m excited to have my friend and fellow critique partner, Kim Larson, interview me today. Her debut picture book, Goat’s Boat Won’t Float, will be released Oct. 1 (The Little Press). You can learn more about her at KimALarson.com.
And here’s my guest host, Kim!
Congratulations on your beautiful book, Angie! It has such an important message. I’m thrilled to interview you today so your blog readers can learn more about this amazing book. Please tell me where you got the idea for it?
In January 2023, I was at a WMU (Woman’s Missionary Union) preschool affinity group meeting—a group of leaders who love and teach preschoolers. We discussed what resources the leaders wanted or needed, what they would like to have for their classrooms. The idea of a picture book about friends and kindness came up. The topic of kindness and friendship is evergreen for everyone, especially preschoolers who focus on practicing kindness and skills for making friends every single day. Be Kind, Make Friends came out of that discussion and sharing of ideas.
I should back up a bit and share that the name of the WMU preschool-aged missions discipleship program is called Mission Friends. More on that later.
That is such a fun backstory! I love that you found a need and filled it. Was this always the title for the project?
Be Kind, Make Friends has been the title from early on in the process, with a few tiny variations. I LOVE how Gayle West, our illustrator, turned the comma into a paper heart!
I agree! Gayle did an amazing job on the illustrations. I bet you were thrilled when you saw them. Tell me more about the writing process. Did you go through many revisions of the text?
So. Many. Revisions. From large picture down to tiny word changes. I think as authors, we are pretty hard on ourselves, aiming for the very best manuscript we can write, but also we are so close to the work, we need fresh eyes that haven’t spent nearly every waking minute writing, revising, thinking, and rearranging our manuscripts. It was an important part of my process to involve feedback from others. I had feedback from the preschool team at WMU, critiques from my critique partners, critiques from the 12×12 Picture Book Writing Challenge community—and all of that was to get it as close to perfect as possible.
And THEN we sent the Be Kind, Make Friends manuscript out to preschool leaders (who would potentially be using the book with preschoolers) and others in the WMU audience, a group of readers who regularly read preschool materials for feedback, preschool writers, and even higher education experts.
Getting fresh eyes on my manuscript was so important and helped me see words and ideas that might not be as clear to others as they were in my mind. Be Kind, Make Friends is nonfiction, so accuracy is vital. I am so thankful to ALL the readers. Writing something like Be Kind, Make Friends really is a team effort. Thank you, team!
For new (or any) writers, sending out our work can make us feel nervous. EEK! But when we have others read and critique our manuscripts and then we carefully choose how to implement the comments, this only makes our work better. But we need to remember that we are the creators of the work, so we do not have to use all of the suggestions, only those that fit with our vision for the work. I did find that if several readers mentioned the same section of the manuscript, then I knew that there was a problem I needed to work on, something to fix so the idea was clear.
I couldn’t agree with you more about the importance of feedback. As one of your critique partners, I’ve appreciated your honest, helpful suggestions and the encouragement you always provide. When did you know your manuscript was ready for submission?
I knew Be Kind, Make Friends was ready after I went through all of the above steps. Revisions. Critiques. Addressing comments. Rereading. Allowing time for the manuscript to rest. And then a final round of reading by our preschool team. I did not have to submit at that point since the project was already approved. In the kidlit world, Be Kind, Make Friends is called a work-for-hire project, so the process was a bit different. Gayle West was working on the illustrations right along with me as I worked on revisions. After I paginated (this is SO helpful) and made a thumbprint board of what text went on which page, she was ready to go. We came roaring down the finish line together! Ready to go to the printer.
You laid out the steps beautifully, whether it’s a work-for-hire project or otherwise, it takes a team to get a book into print.It sounds like one of your first steps was to find a publisher.How did you connect with the publisher of Be Kind, Make Friends?
About 30 years ago, my husband and I were attending First Baptist Church in Wapato, the church my husband grew up in and we were married in. Our family had grown by two babies, both preschoolers at the time. Wednesday night meetings were great for youth and adults, but there was nothing offered for preschoolers. Our pastor at the time suggested I try Mission Friends, a preschool missions discipleship curriculum. From the get-go I was in love with Mission Friends and the curriculum! Missionaries around the world, international excitement, fun activities, engaging stories, loads of hands-on learning. It was exactly right for us.
I loved the curriculum so much, I cold-queried them! LOL That’s what I’d call it now. Back then, in the dark ages of technology, I sent a typewriter-typed letter introducing myself and asking if I could write for them. I was soon invited to a writer’s conference in Birmingham, Alabama, and I was on my way. I’ve been writing preschool curriculum (stories, activities, session plans), picture books, articles, and other resources since then. I’ve been blessed to have a connection with WMU for many years. When this project came up, I was still (and still am) writing and editing preschool resources for WMU. I was very excited to write Be Kind, Make Friends!
I loved learning about your connection with the Mission Friends organization! I hope that continues. Tell me, what’s next for you?
I will continue writing and editing for WMU. I also write picture books and submit them to publishers and editors. I enjoy penning haiku poems and sharing them on my blog. There are always ideas swirling around in my head. I will have to see what happens next!
You are very creative, Angie, and I look forward to reading your future work. Please let your readers know where they can buy a copy of this beautiful book!
I would love to share where to find Be Kind, Make Friends!
Kim, thank you so much for hosting me today on my blog! You are a truly gifted writer and a special friend and critique partner! I appreciate you. I look forward to interviewing YOU soon about your upcoming debut picture book, Goat’s Boat Won’t Float!
So many people contributed this book, whether it be by sharing an idea, reading different drafts, offering suggestions, copyediting, proofreading, creating the fabulous illustrations, or getting the word out. Thank you! This was a labor of love, and I am thankful to the Lord and the community of helpers.
About this book:
What does it mean to be kind and make friends? Why is this important? Preschoolers will explore the whys and hows of being kind to others and making friends as they interact with the engaging text and colorful pictures found in Be Kind, Make Friends. You can encourage preschoolers to be kind and make friends with this picture book. Preschoolers will be especially glad to follow the examples when you share that missionaries show kindness and make friends with others in their work around the world.
Just in case you were wondering, Be Kind, Make Friends is available at wmustore.com.
Last May I won a book on Kathy Temean’s Writing and Illustrating blog. The book was The Strongest Thing, When Home Feels Hard. Wow! The topic is TOUGH, and Hallee handled it with the greatest of care. Thank you, Hallee, for sharing your picture book with me!
Book Description:
A sensitive, hopeful story about breaking the cycle of bullying and abuse.
Sera doesn’t always like being at home, where her dad’s anger feels like the strongest thing. School feels better. But when Sera gets into an argument with a friend and finds herself acting like the bully at home, she discovers that the strongest thing isn’t loud or angry at all.
Why I liked this book:
~the story is strong, captivating, and hopeful, and is written with sensitivity
~the subject matter is tough, but for those kids (and perhaps adults!) who need it, it can be a doorway to discussion
~the illustrations fit just right for the subject matter
~the book would be perfect for counselors and therapist who work with children and families
Note: I would advise adults to pre-read The Strongest Thing, When Home Feels Hard BEFORE sharing it with children. Some parts might be triggering or scary.
Thank you, Hallee and Rea, for putting this book out in the world!
You can learn more about Hallee’s books on her website.
Just look at the joy on these precious faces! They make me smile.
I’m THRILLED to present the cover of my new picture book BE KIND, MAKE FRIENDS! Published by Woman’s Missionary Union, BE KIND, MAKE FRIENDS will be available next month. Coming soon in JUNE!
Sending much thanks and love to the fabulous team at National WMU! You rock!
Fussy Flamingo is a tasty, delightfully pink picture book just right for little flamingos. Thank you, Shelly Vaughan James for sending me a copy of your lovely book! It is so sweet!
I love Lola! Lola is a shrimp eating flamingo. Except she does not eat shrimp. So she is not pink. Lola eats other things and looks beautiful. But she is picky (quite like several young ones I know). Shrimp are not her thing, much to the dismay of her beautifully pink parents.
Fussy flamingo Lola is adorable and funny and perfectly like a picky eater. This picture book is a FUN read!
Why I like Fussy Flamingo:
~Adorable Lola
~Lola tries several ‘other’ foods, which make her turn different colors. But not pink.
~The simply shared facts about flamingos (eat shrimp and turn pink, wade in water, etc.)
~The humor
~The repeating refrain after each of Lola’s (not shrimp) meals
~The satisfying ending (which I will not spoil)
~The gorgeous illustrations
~The fantastic flamingo back matter
Thank you, Shelly and Matthew, for creating Fussy Flamingo.
Today I’d like to welcome Janet Lawler, author of the new picture book THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOPE (FSG, 2024). With Janet’s beautiful words and Tamisha Anthony’s adorable illustrations, this picture book is delightful!
Congratulations, Janet and Tamisha. Welcome!
Janet, tell us about your brand-new picture book.
Thank you for asking, Angie!
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOPE is a kid-friendly exploration of how hope makes us courageous, kind, and connected to one another. Tamisha Anthony’s diverse characters, shown caring and sharing in childhood/community scenes, beautifully complement my text.
My words are intentionally universal; I wanted to leave a lot of leeway for an illustrator to interpret them and add depth to this picture book. And I love what Tamisha did with my poem! For each couplet she developed a story vignette that helps children understand the concept of hope. For example, I wrote:
Hope helps you fix things
when plans have gone wrong
and offers you comfort
when nights are too long.
The illustration shows a child in pajamas, tossing and turning in multiple poses. The reader then sees that child snuggled with an older sibling under a blanket tent, reading a book.
I believe that THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOPE will provide comfort and hope for young readers and their families during difficult times. The book also will be a good addition to classroom, school library, and school counselor collections focusing on community and kindness.
I totally agree, Janet. We all need more hope, community, and kindness in our lives.
Where did you get the idea for THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOPE?
The recent pandemic severely challenged my usually optimistic outlook, both professionally and personally. My darkest days were those in early 2021, when it seemed as if there would never be a vaccine approved to change the course of Covid’s deadly advance. But sometime in January of that year I began writing about hope, sparked by a suggestion from my agent. That creative effort (and spring news of a vaccine!) sustained me over the next few months. I wrote, revised, and polished a picture book text that could be illustrated in a way that would make the positive pull of hope relatable for young readers.
From a place and time that seemed without hope, you discovered hope—and a brand-new picture book to inspire others. Excellent.
How did you decide to write this picture book in rhyme?
Honestly, I am not sure it was a conscious decision. I often write in rhyme, and my early scribbles came out that way. Maybe subconsciously I knew it was the right choice for writing about hope—a fluid, connecting, healing concept. And rhyming text, especially when read out loud, sounds musical in a very uplifting way, don’t you think? So verse seems to further my theme; at least, I hope so!
Give hope as a gift,
like the song of a bird.
Your words will have wings.
Your voice will be heard.
I think rhyme is the perfect choice for this picture book!
How are you celebrating the release of THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOPE?
I am very excited to be launching this book with an appearance at the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford, CT on Valentine’s Day, February 14th. CCMC has recently created an in-house TV studio, where guests can “visit” into the patients’ rooms via closed circuit broadcast, allowing for more entertainment for children in need of isolation for health reasons. I will read the book during an afternoon virtual story time and donate autographed copies of THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOPE for each child hospitalized there on Valentine’s Day.
What a perfect way to celebrate hope! And Valentine’s Day!
What’s next for you, Janet?
I have a couple of early nonfiction projects and a fiction picture book under consideration for possible acquisition. Those will require further development and revision if they move forward. In the meantime, I have new ideas percolating, as well as plans to revise a couple of stories I wrote a while back that might benefit from a fresh look.
We can’t wait to hear more in the future. Best wishes to you with all of your books, new and old! Thank you for stopping by!
I have something in common with this lovely picture book by Molly Ruttan. Stage fright!
Thank you, Molly Ruttan, for sending me a copy of your delightful picture book. And thank you, Kathy Temean, for introducing me to Molly and her work. What a great picture book!
Something Wild is the story of a young violin player who loves playing her violin. But she is nervous about her upcoming recital. She desperately wishes for something wild to happen so she won’t have to go. But it doesn’t. She hopes again, but nope, nothing wild. Again. Nothing. When it’s finally her turn to play on the big stage, something does happen! But you’ll have to read the book to find out. Beautiful!
What I Love About This Book:
~ beautiful, emotion-filled illustrations
~ imagination
~ the theme of stage fright
~ the love of playing a musical instrument
~ the common challenge many young performers face when they prepare to share what they’ve learned at a recital
~ overall wonderful book
Thank you, Molly! Best wishes on your future projects!
My Tender Heart Prayer Book is a beautifully illustrated board book. Which means it is sturdy enough to last through repeated readings, accidental food and drink spills, trips in the car, and the myriad of other life experiences of a book living with a child.
This book is filled with easy to read one page prayer prompts. The prayers are all related to things that naturally occur throughout the day of a young child. A title on each page lets the adult reader know the theme of the prayer. Next, the Bible verse(s) is listed. This is followed by a short rhyming prayer, perfect for young children. To finish each page, Laura has included a Heart Moment. This idea is a way for the reader to personally connect with the prayer theme. Some of the Heart Moments include encouraging a child to think of his or her favorite breakfast food and thank Jesus for each one, asking how a child can show love to their family that day, and naming ways God loves them.
It’s time for new book news! Author Illustrator Amalia Hoffman kicked off 2024 with a new picture book! Amalia is joining us today to talk about her newest project. Welcome, Amalia!
Tell us about your brand-new picture book, Afikotective. What is it about?
A family of bears is getting ready for the Passover seder, preparing all the items for the seder plate. When the time comes in the seder for hiding the afikomen, Grandma breaks the middle matzah into two pieces. She hides the bigger piece, the afikomen, that the kids will eagerly search for later in the seder. It’s a good thing one little bear has turned his toy elephant into an Afiko-Sniffer! The invention sniffs out apples in a bowl, eggs in the fridge, and horseradish in the pantry, but can it help find the afikomen?
Amalia, this story sounds super adorable! I love learning about Passover in such a fun way.
Where did you get the idea for Afikotective?
When I grew up in Jerusalem, we used to attend the seder over at a family’s relative. The hosts used to hide the afikomen (the piece of matzah that is hidden during the Passover seder) in the most obscure places. One year, they hid it in a cactus planter that stood on the balcony. Another year, it was hidden wrapped in a towel by the bathtub. It was really challenging to find. But I was determined because finding the afikomen was rewarded with a small amount of money. At one seder, I stood up and announced: “I’m the afikomen detective!” I guess that this is what gave me the idea for the story.
So this picture book springs right from your own childhood! That’s pretty cool.
How did you decide to write and illustrate this book?
I wanted to create a book about Passover but to write a story that is fun and funny and will resonate with little kids’ sense of humor. So I came up with the idea that Afikotective and his “helper,” the Afiko Sniffer, look for the afikomen in all the wrong places, until Afikotective decides to fix his afiko-sniffer and finds the afikomen in the toolbox, that could be something that will put a smile on the face of a 3–7-year-old. I was always in love with anything pop-up, like pop-up books and cards. But producing a pop-up book is very expensive so I decided to illustrate the book by cutting elements so they look like they pop up off the page. I started by cutting elements out of paper and positioning them on boards. Later, I added color to my figuring and the background. I started using lighting to see how the shadow will play a role in the final photograph. Then, I incorporated other elements such as string, yarn, etc. For the cover, I painted a faux matzah.
Your illustrating style is unique, intricate, and captivating! I imagine it takes quite a long time to get all the illustrations just right. Well done!
How have you been celebrating the January 2024 release of Afikotective?
I decided to plan book launch not in January but closer to Passover. But on the day of January 2nd, when the book launched, I held it close to my heart and sniffed it. I love the smell of a freshly printed book. I also sniffed the flowers I got from my family.
Awwww, you are absolutely right! That new book smell is so enticing! Congratulations on your new book!
What’s next for you, Amalia?
I am working on a picture book about peace. I have a board book about the Jewish holiday of Shavuot launching in May. I am working on a picture book about peace and another picture book. I am also experimenting in different illustration style, using paper tissue collage.
Wow, you are busy! We look forward to hearing more about your upcoming book projects!
Thank you, Amalia, for visiting and sharing your new book with us.
You can see Amalia and her puppet helper Elfie in this sample of the presentation she does for Afikotective. Very cute!
See below for more information about Amalia and her new book. Afikotective is available now (the press release says Spring).
Love, Laughter, and Life 