Interviews
The Startup Squad
In which we interÂview BriÂan WeisÂfeld, one of the authors of The StartÂup Squad series, feaÂturÂing a relucÂtant team of four girls who start their own busiÂness. I found them to be charmÂing … and I mean that in both sensÂes of the word: being appealÂing and castÂing a spell.
Gennifer Choldenko
I’m so pleased to have GenÂnifer CholdÂenko grant BookolÂoÂgy an interÂview about all the quesÂtions I’ve botÂtled up since readÂing Orphan Eleven, her newest novÂel. Each one of her novÂels is a page-turnÂer from first to last, often introÂducÂing hisÂtoÂry we didn’t know but can’t wait to learn more about. Those are my favorite sorts of books.
Writing a Funny Book
One of my favorite books of GenÂnifer CholdÂenko’s is One-Third Nerd, in which a brothÂer and two sisÂters attempt to solve the probÂlem of their beloved dog being inconÂtiÂnent in their rentÂed apartÂment, over which the landÂlord threatÂens to evict them. They’ve been told a vet could fix the probÂlem, but surgery for their dog is low
When the Meteorologist Writes the Weather Books
It’s not often that we get to interÂview a subÂject expert about a series of books on that expert’s area of knowlÂedge. We’re pleased to talk with the author of the Bel the WeathÂer Girl books, six of them, each preÂsentÂing a weathÂer topÂic that kids will feel betÂter about if they underÂstand it: clouds, thunÂderÂstorms, hail, tornadoes,
When Sue Found Sue
Is there any museÂum exhibÂit more fasÂciÂnatÂing than Sue, the T. rex, at The Field MuseÂum in ChicaÂgo, IlliÂnois? Now there’s a curiosÂiÂÂÂty-raisÂing, shyÂÂÂness-recÂogÂnizÂing, disÂÂÂÂÂcusÂÂÂsion-worÂthy book about the othÂer Sue, the woman who disÂcovÂered the T. rex durÂing a dig in South DakoÂta. For eleÂmenÂtary school stuÂdents and your dinosaur-inspired kids in the library and at home,
The Lost Forest
How many books can you name that are about surÂveyÂing … and a mysÂtery? I know. Right? And yet we see surÂveyÂors every day in fields, on busy street corÂners, and in our neighÂborÂhoods. What are they doing? Would it surÂprise you to know that nearÂly every acre of your state has been surÂveyed? That knowlÂedge about
Eliza Wheeler
Eliza WheelÂer is the fasÂciÂnatÂing illusÂtraÂtor of many books, includÂing John Ronald’s DragÂons: The StoÂry of J.R.R. Tolkien, The PomeÂgranÂate Witch, and Tell Me a TatÂtoo StoÂry. You can read about her work on her WheelÂer StuÂdio blog. For this interÂview, we are focusÂing on a series she has illusÂtratÂed for CanÂdlewick Press, the Cody books by
Linda Sue Park
Melanie HeuisÂer Hill recentÂly interÂviewed LinÂda Sue Park, curiÂous about her daiÂly work habits as a writer, and how LinÂda Sue balÂances life and work. Do you have speÂcifÂic writÂing goals that you forÂmuÂlate and work toward — a cerÂtain numÂber of words/pages a day, a draft finÂished by a cerÂtain date, reviÂsion done in x numÂber of weeks
Sigurd Olson Nature Writing Award Committee
We’re in the midst of award seaÂson, when best of the year lists and specÂuÂlaÂtion about award winÂners proÂlifÂerÂate on the social media platÂforms swirling around chilÂdren’s and teen books. In NovemÂber, we attendÂed the award cerÂeÂmoÂny at the SigÂurd Olson EnviÂronÂmenÂtal InstiÂtute’s ChilÂdren and Young Adult LitÂerÂaÂture ConÂferÂence, which takes place at NorthÂland College
Marion Dane Bauer
MarÂiÂon Dane Bauer and her books are respectÂed and loved by chilÂdren, parÂents, eduÂcaÂtors, librarÂiÂans, ediÂtors, and writÂers. She began her career as a novÂelÂist, turnÂing to picÂture books latÂer in her career. CelÂeÂbratÂing the release of her newest picÂture book, the charmÂing WinÂter Dance, we were curiÂous about how she writes these short books so
Melanie Heuiser Hill
Our BookÂstorm this month feaÂtures Giant PumpÂkin Suite, the first novÂel from Melanie HeuisÂer Hill (CanÂdlewick Press). Often called debut authors, a first-time author is intriguÂing for a readÂer. Is this someÂone we’ll look forÂward to readÂing for many years to come? How will this author grow as they become more expeÂriÂenced at craftÂing a stoÂry with character,
Tricia Springstubb
I’ve been readÂing TriÂcia Springstubb’s books ever since her first picÂture book, Phoebe & DigÂger, was pubÂlished. I eagerÂly await each new book. They are books that resÂonate with many young readÂers: chapÂter books, midÂdle grade novÂels, and one picÂture book. They are stoÂries of famÂiÂlies, neighÂborÂhoods, and the changes that conÂfront every child. They are thought-provoking,
Richard Jackson
We are honÂored to interÂview the highÂly respectÂed Richard JackÂson, who is on to his next career as a writer. His most recentÂly pubÂlished book is all ears, all eyes, a lush and irreÂsistible read-aloud book, illusÂtratÂed by KatherÂine TillitÂson (Simon & SchusÂter). We thought we’d take the opporÂtuÂniÂty to talk with him about the proÂgresÂsion from his
Katherine Tillotson
For this interÂview, we turn to the illusÂtraÂtor of a new book, all ears, all eyes, whose work I’ve long admired. This is a very speÂcial book. Open it and you’ll be capÂtiÂvatÂed by the forÂest at night. Such unusuÂal art! But, then, her priÂor books have also been disÂtincÂtive, each in their own way. I hope you
Creekfinding with author Jacqueline Briggs Martin
A stewÂardÂship for our one and only Earth are an abidÂing conÂcern for many of our planÂet’s inhabÂiÂtants. When an author finds an opporÂtuÂniÂty to share with the world of readÂers her own pasÂsion for conÂservÂing our ecosysÂtems, the book CreekÂfindÂing: A True StoÂry is creÂatÂed. We hope you’ll find inspiÂraÂtion for your own exploÂration and