May 3, 2022
In
Caldecott
Watercress
It’s the culmination of our 2022 Caldecott Breakdown series as we dive into this year’s Caldecott Medal Winner, WATERCRESS!
If you missed our previous discussions, you can still catch them at the links below.
In today’s video, we are honored to share with you the stunning picture book WATERCRESS, written by Andrea Wang and illustrated by Jason Chin.
Here’s a brief description:
“Driving through Ohio in an old Pontiac, a young girl’s parents stop suddenly when they spot watercress growing wild in a ditch by the side of the road. Grabbing an old paper bag and some rusty scissors, the whole family wades into the muck to collect as much of the muddy, snail covered watercress as they can.
At first, she’s embarrassed. Why can’t her family get food from the grocery store? But when her mother shares a story of her family’s time in China, the girl learns to appreciate the fresh food they foraged. Together, they make a new memory of watercress.
Andrea Wang tells a moving autobiographical story of a child of immigrants discovering and connecting with her heritage, illustrated by award-winning author and artist Jason Chin, working in an entirely new style, inspired by Chinese painting techniques. An author’s note in the back shares Andrea’s childhood experience with her parents.”
Click the video below and listen in as Julie Hedlund shares some behind-the-scenes insight from Jason Chin about this remarkable story. READ MORE
April 26, 2022
In
Caldecott
Mel Fell
Welcome to the fourth video in our 2022 Caldecott Breakdown series. Today, we soar to new heights with MEL FELL. If you missed our previous discussions, you can still catch them at the links below.
In today’s video, we jump into Caldecott Honor Book MEL FELL written and illustrated by Corey R. Tabor.
Here’s a brief description:
“Readers will delight in turning their book sideways and upside down to follow Mel on her journey from downward fall to triumphant flight in this tale of self-confidence and taking a leap of faith.
An especially enjoyable and satisfying read-aloud!
Sometimes, you might fall
down,
down,
down,
before you learn to fly
up,
up,
up…”
Click play to join in the fun of this charming book with Katie Davis and the Picture Book Summit Team.READ MORE
April 19, 2022
In
Caldecott
Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre
Welcome to the third video in our 2022 Caldecott Breakdown series. Today, we explore UNSPEAKABLE: THE TULSA RACE MASSACRE. If you missed our previous discussions, check them out at the links below.
Today’s analysis centers around Caldecott Honor Book UNSPEAKABLE: THE TULSA RACE MASSACRE written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by the late great Floyd Cooper.
Here’s a brief description:
Celebrated author Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrator Floyd Cooper provide a powerful look at the Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the worst incidents of racial violence in our nation’s history. The book traces the history of African Americans in Tulsa’s Greenwood district and chronicles the devastation that occurred in 1921 when a white mob attacked the Black community.
News of what happened was largely suppressed, and no official investigation occurred for seventy-five years. This picture book sensitively introduces young readers to this tragedy and concludes with a call for a better future.
In today’s video, Emma shows how the illustrations and text introduce readers to this terrible event in an accessible way.READ MORE
April 12, 2022
In
Caldecott
Have You Ever Seen a Flower?
Welcome to the second video in 2022 Caldecott Breakdown series. The committee honored five picture books this year, so look for more videos over the coming weeks! If you missed last week’s discussion on WONDER WALKERS with Emma Walton Hamilton, you can check it out here.
In today’s analysis, we discover the 2022 Caldecott Honor Book HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A FLOWER? This delightful picture book is written and illustrated by Shawn Harris.
Here’s a quick description:
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A FLOWER? is an enchanting picture book exploring the relationship between childhood and nature. In this simple yet profound story, one child experiences a flower with all five senses–from its color to its fragrance to the entire universe it evokes–revealing how a single flower can expand one’s perspective in incredible ways.
In today’s video, Katie Davis shares Shawn Harris’ authorial debut and what happens when you look at seemingly ordinary things in an extraordinary way. READ MORE
April 5, 2022
In
Caldecott
Wonder Walkers
Our Caldecott Breakdown Series is back for 2022! Each year, our founders give an in-depth analysis of the winning books. We examine the illustrations, analyze the text, and discuss how they combine to create an award-winning picture book. Over the next five weeks, we’ll dive deep into each of this year’s amazing books and share insights into the illustrators and their processes. Most importantly, we hope these talks will give you a new perspective as you work on your own manuscripts.
First off, congratulations to the 2022 Caldecott Medal Winner: WATERCRESS written by Andrea Wang and illustrated by Jason Chin! This book is a thing of beauty and we can’t wait to share it with you in the coming weeks.
This year the Caldecott Committee recognized four books as 2022 Caldecott Honor Books:
- WONDER WALKERS written and illustrated by Micha Archer
- HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A FLOWER? written and illustrated by Shawn Harris
- UNSPEAKABLE written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Floyd Cooper
- MEL FELL written and illustrated by Corey R. Tabor
Free Mini Summit 2021 – Debut Authors Panel
We listen to our Summiteers!
Today we are excited to announce we’re hosting a FREE online Mini Summit to showcase three debut authors and their recent success in publishing. On August 31st at 8pm ET/5pm PT, join the Picture Book Summit Team for:
Hot Off the Press!
Three Debut Authors Share Their Journey to Publication
August 24, 2021
In
Podcast
Podcast – Samantha Berger
In today’s episode, we’ll hear from Samantha Berger, a twice Emmy-nominated writer and award-winning author of over 80 books for young readers, including Crankenstein, Monster’s New Undies, Snail Mail, and Rock What You Got! Now, she’s revealing five things you need to know about being AND writing funny.
Samantha Berger may not be an otter with an attitude, a monstrously cranky boy, OR a Snail crossing America, but she has written about them all. Sam is a twice Emmy-nominated writer and award-winning author of over 80 books for young readers. Samantha LOVES picture books, and loves sharing them with people of all ages. She wrote for Nickelodeon for 12 years, and currently writes for Sesame Street in Communities, Sesame Street International, and various preschool shows. Sam likes to see as much of the world as she can, and do as much good as she can along the way. She is an official We Need Diverse Books Mentor, and looks forward to helping new voices and new stories shine.
Wondering what it takes to be funny in picture books? Listen in to Samantha Berger’s top 5 tips:
Listen here:
READ MORE
August 3, 2021
In
Podcast
Podcast – Submission Savvy
In Submission Savvy, Emma Walton Hamilton talks about the three things you should do before you start submitting, submissions dos and don’ts, query etiquette, and the key components of your query letter, including how to craft your hook and what to include in your bio.
Emma Walton Hamilton is a best-selling children’s book author, editor, and writing coach. With her mother, actress/author Julie Andrews, Emma has co-authored over thirty children’s books, eight of which have been on the NY Times Bestseller list, including The Very Fairy Princess series. She is Director of the Children’s Lit Fellows program at Stony Brook University and co-host of the Julie’s Library Podcast.
Are you asking yourself what is it going to take to get from query to offer? Listen in as Emma reveals all!
Listen here:
READ MORE
August 1, 2021
In
Giveaway
Book Bundle Giveaway Winners 2021!
It’s time to announce our Book Bundle Giveaway Winners! Thank you to everyone who helped get the word out about the giveaway. Without further ado, here are our winners:
Congratulations, Marla, Lyn, and Jeanne! Email support (at) picturebooksummit.com with your mailing address so we can get you your new books!
Learn More
If you didn’t win this time, head to your local library and check out these books to get to know our 2021 Superstar Speakers better! Be sure to join us October 2nd to hear the stories behind these books and to discover how to the tell the stories only YOU can tell! It’s going to be an awesome day of picture book writing fun! Don’t miss your chance to see Superstar Speakers Yuyi Morales and Jon Klassen and workshop presenter Rob Sanders LIVE ONLINE at Picture Book Summit 2021: Discover the Story Only You Can Tell.
Join us for the LIVE online conference October 2, 2020. For a limited time, you can register at the Early Bird price. (That’s $100 off this year’s regular price!)
Click this button to see the full program and register today!
