Kate DiCamillo Tag

Kelli Panique
September 3, 2024 In Founders

Kelli Panique – Top 10 Picture Book Summit Moments

Kelli PaniqueWow! Ten years of Picture Book Summit. I guess it’s true what they say that time flies when you’re having fun. I hope you’ve been enjoying our team’s top 10 lists this week. If you missed any of them, you can find Emma’s here, Katie’s here, and Julie’s here.

When this journey started, I was a picture book novice to say the least. Katie and Julie asked me to come onboard because I had experience in customer service and online conferences. (Back then we still had to explain what a web room was and how it worked. THAT was my job!) As that background person, my memories skew a little differently from the rest of the team, so if you’re a lover of behind-the-scenes peeks, I think you’ll enjoy my Top 10 List.

1. It worked!

Mac Barnett was our last Superstar Speaker of the day at our very first Summit. Once he logged in and his camera and mic worked. It was a HUGE sigh of relief for me and the rest of the behind-the-scenes team. (Shout out to Aaron and Kristin!) Then there was the surge of adrenaline realizing that WE DID IT! That Summit was immediately followed by online toasts and celebratory beverages! (In fact, all Summits are immediately followed with this kind of celebration!)

2. “Do you want to see my studio?”

Yes, please! When Julie and I did our tech check with the late beloved Tomie DePaolo, he offered to take us on tour of his studio. First off, Tomie was just a big beautiful light in this world. Even through a video screen, his smile lit up the room and his eyes twinkled in that special way of someone who is truly happy to see you. So, he loaded up his laptop and took us round his studio and gave us the grand tour. He laughed and giggled as he showed us around. It was such a special moment and Julie and I could not believe our luck! I still have the email he wrote me after the Summit signed with x’s and o’s. He was a gem of a human being.

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Kate DiCamillo
August 27, 2024 In Podcast

Podcast – Kate DiCamillo: Commit to Your Dreams of Writing

Kate DiCamillo

A few years ago, we had the privilege of hosting former National Ambassador of Young People’s Literature and bestselling author Kate DiCamillo as one of our Superstar Speakers. Her presentation was nothing short of magical. She shares how she went from wanting to write and thinking about writing to actually writing. We hope this snippet of her talk inspires you to get started (or restarted) too.

Savor this episode.

 

 

Listen here:

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PBS Katie Davis Top 10
August 27, 2024 In Founders

Katie Davis – Top 10 Picture Book Summit Moments

PBS Katie Davis Top 10When we first started Picture Book Summit, I had no thought of doing it for a decade. I had no idea how many we would end up helping, both our attendees, as well as the charities we would give a portion of the proceeds. Now, as I look back and think of my top 10 memories of the last 10 years of dozens of brilliant presentations, I’m overwhelmed with options. So I’m lying here. These aren’t my top 10. They are among dozens of stellar memories of Superstar Speakers. But I had to choose 10, so here are the first 10 that popped into mind, in no particular order.

(Did you miss Emma’s Top 10. Catch up here!)

#1 – Paul O. Zelinsky

I remember Paul O. Zelinsky’s poignant reflection of being in his crib at his great-grandmother’s. Over the crib hung a painting she’d made of Hansel and Gretel and he talked about the intense feelings this painting gave him and how you never have such such strong reactions to things again once you’ve grown up.

#2 – Jane Yolen

Jane Yolen’s comment about being called prolific and how she preferred “versatile” because “Prolific always has that whiff of, ‘She does too much, she does too fast, how can it be any good?’ And then there’s the word versatile, which I like better because it means that you can do a variety of things, that you can do them well…”

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PBS Emma Walton Hamilton
August 26, 2024 In Founders

Emma Walton Hamilton – Top 10 Picture Book Summit Moments

PBS Emma Walton Hamilton Picture Book Summit is 10 years old!

So much has happened in the picture book industry in these past ten years… we’ve said goodbye to some treasured industry colleagues and welcomed many new ones. There has been a long overdue push towards greater diversity in characters, stories, and creators, and a surge in picture books that focus on STEM, STEAM, and SEL. Today’s picture books explore all sorts of fresh ideas and approaches—non-linear narratives and unconventional formats. Topics that were once considered too complex for young readers are now addressed regularly in picture books. And the publishing industry not only survived the challenges of pandemic but proved that picture books play a critical role in young people’s lives and are definitely here to stay.

With all this evolution, one thing has remained constant—the quality of learning at Picture Book Summit. We have been fortunate to have some of the industry’s best and brightest writers, illustrators, editors, and agents deliver memorable and inspiring keynotes and workshops over the past ten years.

In keeping with the theme of our 10th anniversary, here are 10 of my most memorable moments from Picture Book Summits past, and what they taught me…

 

  1. Andrea Davis Pinkney’s flip-flop – Andrea swims every morning at the crack of dawn. One day, while doing her laps, the idea for Seven Candles for Kwanzaa came to her—and because she didn’t have her trusty notebook with her poolside, she wrote it on her flip-flop. Never postpone capturing an idea, no matter where you may be!

 

  1. Mac Barnett’s page turns – Mac opened our eyes to the power and magic of the page turn. “Page turns are the most important property of picture books,” he said. “Think of a 32-page picture book as, once front matter and back matter are taken into consideration, 13 page turns. And each page turn is a chance to surprise, to change themes, or to amplify the narrative, to have things happen. The space between page turns is a very exciting space. It’s a moment that builds anticipation. Anything can happen between your page turns.”

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2022 PBS Book Giveaway IG
July 14, 2022 In Giveaway

Picture Book Giveaway 2022!

2022 PBSummit Book Giveaway

Who wants new picture books? Silly question, right?

If you’re reading this blog post, you probably love picture books as much as we do. That means you’re in luck because it’s time for our annual Picture Book Summit Book Bundle Giveaway! This is your shot to win one of three out-of-this-world book bundles with books from this year’s Superstar Speakers and workshop presenters! Enter to win these six picture books!

Picture Book Summit Book Bundle Giveaway 2022!

 

A PIGLET NAMED MERCY written by Kate DiCamillo & illustrated by Chris Van Dusen

Kate DiCamillo - A Piglet Named MercyMr. Watson and Mrs. Watson live ordinary lives. Sometimes their lives feel a bit too ordinary. Sometimes they wish something different would happen. And one day it does, when someone unpredictable finds her way to their front door. In a delightful origin story for the star of the Mercy Watson series, a tiny piglet brings love (and chaos) to Deckawoo Drive — and the Watsons’ lives will never be the same.

 

LIZZY AND THE CLOUD written & illustrated by The Fan Brothers

Lizzy and the Cloud by The Fan Brothers

It’s a little out of fashion to buy a pet cloud, but Lizzy doesn’t mind. She’s not looking for a big one or a fancy one, just one that’s right for her. And she finds it in Milo.

Soon, she’s taking Milo out on walks with her family, watering Milo right on schedule, and seeing Milo grow and grow. But what happens when her pet cloud gets too big for Lizzy to handle?

 

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Kate DiCamillo at Picture Book Summit
June 30, 2022 In Speakers

Kate DiCamillo said YES!

When we came up with this year’s theme, The Write Stuff: Creating Picture Books That Are Out of This World, we knew we had to land Superstar Speakers that would live up to that stellar title.

That’s when we asked ourselves, who would we ask to speak at Picture Book Summit if we knew they wouldn’t say no?

Who was at the top of that list?

Kate DiCamillo.

So, we took a chance, crossed our fingers and toes, and asked THE Kate DiCamillo to be a Superstar Speaker at this year’s Summit. And (you may already know the exciting ending to this story…) she said YES!

Kate DiCamillo at Picture Book Summit
Kate has written some of the most beloved children’s books of this generation including Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux, as well as the picture books Good, Rosie!, A Piglet Named Mercy, and La La La. Whether she’s writing picture books, chapter books, or novels, Kate DiCamillo knows how to write in a way that resonates with young readers and we could not be more honored to have her speak to you writer-to-writer at this year’s event.

Here’s a bit more about Kate’s presentation coming to a computer near you on October 8th:
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Picture Book Summit 2022 Video Reveal Capture
May 24, 2022 In Giveaway, Speakers

2022 Superstar Speakers

In case you haven’t heard, we have an exciting new theme and some amazing Superstar Speakers lined up for Picture Book Summit 2022! Make plans to join us October 8, 2022, for…

The Write Stuff: Creating Picture Books That Are Out of this World!


Do you have the right stuff for writing picture books? This year’s speakers can’t wait to share their secrets for reaching the publishing stars!

Over the next week, we’ll fill you in on all the juicy details of each presentation for this year’s Picture Book Summit!

We can’t wait for these sessions and we’ve crafted them so you’ll leave this year’s Summit with actionable steps you can take to write manuscripts that are ready for lift-off—whether you write fiction or nonfiction. So, let’s get started with our Superstar Speaker presentations!

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