May 30, 2023

Let's Talk Illustrators # 251: Nelleke Verhoeff

I am so happy to present my interview with Dutch creator Nelleke Verhoeff! Today we're talking about her Mix-and-Match board book series, which features split pages for kiddos to build in three sections. Each book has a loose "theme" and the hilarity that ensues from some of the combinations can't be matched! Enjoy our conversation! 


May 29, 2023

Case(wrap) of the Mondays

We've got a case(wrap) of the Mondays!


May 27, 2023

Crushes of the Week: May 21-27, 2023

This week's crushes:
  1. To the Other Side by Erika Meza (Katherine Tegen Books, March 2023)
  2. Windrush Child: The Tale of a Caribbean Child Who Faced a New Horizon by John Agard and Sophie Bass (Candlewick Press, April 2023)
  3. Animals in Pants by Suzy Levinson and Kevin & Kristen Howdeshell (Harry N. Abrams, April 2023)
  4. No Is All I Know! by Chris Grabenstein and Leo Espinosa (Random House Books for Young Readers, May 2023)
  5. The Shape of You by Mượn Thị Văn and Miki Sato (Kids Can Press, May 2023)
  6. Heart Berry Bling by Jenny Kay Dupuis and Eva Campbell (Highwater Press, May 2023)
  7. Sorry, Snail by Tracy Subisak (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, May 2023)
     

May 23, 2023

Let's Talk Illustrators #250: Lian Cho

Oh No, the Aunts Are Here, written by Adam Rex and illustrated by Lian Cho, is a laugh-out-loud story with inviting, diverse, and all-too-relatable illustrations, and I'm so glad I got to catch up with Lian about her illustration process. Let's dive right in!!


May 22, 2023

Case(wrap) of the Mondays

We've got a case(wrap) of the Mondays!


May 20, 2023

Crushes of the Week: May 14-20, 2023

This week's crushes:
  1. The Loud Librarian by Jenna Beatrice and Erika Lynne Jones (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, April 2023)
  2. From Shore to Ocean Floor: The Human Journey to the Deep by Gill Arbuthnott and Christopher Nielsen (Big Picture Press, May 2023)
  3. Dear Earth by Isabel Otter and Clara Anganuzzi (Tiger Tales, February 2023)
  4. My First Pop Up: Endangered Animals by Owen Davey (Candlewick Press, March 2023)
  5. Light Speaks by Christine Layton and Luciana Navarro Powell (Tilbury House Publishers, April 2023)
  6. Picky Panda (with Fun Flaps to Lift) by Jackie Huang (Abrams Appleseed, April 2023)
     

May 16, 2023

Let's Talk Illustrators #249: Lotta Nieminen

I finally got to talk to Lotta Nieminen, creator of the Cook in a Book series! This has been a long time coming for me because I have loved the heck out of this series since book one, and today Lotta and I talk about both the series overall and the most recent addition, Spaghetti. Bon appétit!


May 15, 2023

Case(wrap) of the Mondays

We've got a case(wrap) of the Mondays!


May 13, 2023

Let's Talk Picture Books Turns 10!

My, oh my how time flies! Let's Talk Picture Books is 10 years old today! That’s an entire decade! THANK YOU for every moment of support you’ve shown as we’ve combed through illustrated children’s books to find those fine details and illustrated moments that make them favorites for life. I’m so grateful I get to nerd out about the coolest thing on the planet with you all!


Crushes of the Week: May 7-13, 2023

This week's crushes:
  1. My Indigo World: A True Story of the Color Blue by Rosa Chang (Minedition, May 2023)
  2. Perfect Presents! by Anke Kuhl (Gecko Press, May 2023)
  3. Some of These Are Snails by Carter Higgins (Chronicle Books, May 2023)
  4. One Little Seed: Exploring Nature for Curious Kids by Becky Davies and Charlotte Pepper (Tiger Tales, February 2023)
  5. Wind by Olga Fadeeva and translated by Lena Traer (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, April 2023)
  6. One World: 24 Hours on Planet Earth by Nicola Davies and Jenni Desmond (Candlewick Press, March 2023)
  7. Little Person by Luis Amavisca and Anna Font (Nubeocho, May 2023)
  8. A Home for Every Plant: Wonders of the Botanical World by Matthew Biggs and Lucila Perini (Phaidon Press, May 2023)
       

May 9, 2023

Let's Talk Illustrators #248: Natalia Aguerre

I recently spoke to Natalia Aguerre about her work on the beautifully quirky There's a Monster in the Kitchen, written by Patricia Strauch and translated by Kit Maude. I'm so excited to share some of her insights into creating picture books! I hope you enjoy our chat, and don't worry, there are no monsters at the end of this interview!


May 8, 2023

Case(wrap) of the Mondays

We've got a case(wrap) of the Mondays!


May 6, 2023

Crushes of the Week: April 30-May 6, 2023

This week's crushes:
  1. Bear Is Never Alone by Marc Veerkamp and Jeska Verstegen, translated by Laura Watkinson (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, April 2023)
  2. Manolo & the Unicorn by Jackie Azúa Kramer, Jonah Kramer, and Zach Manbeck (Cameron Kids, April 2023)
  3. How Dinosaurs Went Extinct: A Safety Guide by Ame Dyckman and Jennifer Harney (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, April 2023)
  4. Follow Me, Flo! by Jarvis (Candlewick Press, March 2023)
  5. The Story of the Saxophone by Lesa Cline-Ransome and James E. Ransome (Holiday House, March 2023)
  6. Peaceful Me by Sandra V. Feder and Rahele Jomepour Bell (Groundwood Books, May 2023)
     

May 2, 2023

Let's Talk Illustrators #247: Jack Wong

I was lucky enough to get a chance to talk to debut picture book creator Jack Wong about When You Can Swim. Jack's inspirational story of learning to find pleasure in swimming reflects the journey a lot of people take, and I'm so excited that I get to share our conversation with you all today. Enjoy!


May 1, 2023

Case(wrap) of the Mondays

We've got a case(wrap) of the Mondays!