Podcast Tag

074 PBSummit Dark Picture Books

Podcast – The Appeal of Dark Picture Books

074 PBSummit Dark Picture Books

What is the appeal of dark picture books? Do kids want to read (and re-read) books about tougher topics? How do you make these books kid-friendly?

Julie Hedlund leads our Roundtable discussion about dark picture books, what place they have in children’s lives, and why they’re so important (and re-readable).

Books mentioned in this episode:

    • The Rough Patch by Brian Lies
    • The Longest Letsgoboy by Derick Wilder and Catia Chien
    • Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson and Hudson Talbott
    • Kamau & ZuZu Find a Way by Aracelis Girmay and Diana Ejaita
    • Finding Papa by Angela Pham Krans and Thi Bui
    • Lubna and Pebble by Wendy Meddour and Daniel Egnéus
    • The House Before Falling into the Sea by Ann Suk Wan and Hanna Cha
    • The Skull by Jon Klassen
    • The Cat Man of Aleppo by Karim Shamsi-Basha, Irene Latham, Yuko Shimizu
    • The Circus Comes to the Village by Yutaka Kobayashi

Grab some of these books from your local library and share your picks for dark picture books in the comments below.

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Read-Aloudability Part 3 with Emma Walton Hamilton

Podcast – Read-Aloudability – Part 3

Read-Aloudability Part 3 with Emma Walton Hamilton

It’s time for part 3 of Read-aloudability: The Measure of a Great Picture Book. If you missed our last two episodes, you can listen to those here and here. Our first two installments reveals ways to improve read-aloudability on a story level. In our final installment, Emma Walton Hamilton shares why picture book authors, screenwriters, and playwrights have a lot in common.

With tips to make your (often adult) reader feel like a rockstar, Emma shares how to make your manuscript reader-proof.

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Read-Aloudability Part 2 with Julie Hedlund

Podcast – Read-Aloudability – Part 2

Read-Aloudability Part 2 with Julie Hedlund

Today we bring you part 2 of Read-Aloudability: The Measure of a Great Picture Book. If you missed our last episode, be sure to listen soon. In part one, Emma Walton Hamilton defines “Read-Aloudability” and Katie shares one juicy technique you can use make your book fun to read.

It seems nothing is more fun to read aloud than lyrical or rhyming picture books. When rhyming is done well, it seems like it must be so easy to write. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Our own Rhymer Extraordinaire Julie Hedlund gives examples of what good rhyme and lyrical writing actually is, what makes it work, and how to write it yourself.

This is the second of a three-part series. Look for part 3 in two weeks!

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Read-Aloudability in Picture Books Part 1

Podcast – Read-Aloudability – Part 1

Read-Aloudability in Picture Books Part 1

Picture books are a truly unique genre of literature. Other books CAN be read aloud, but picture books are ENGINEERED exactly for that precise purpose. That’s why read-aloudability is so important.

In this episode, Emma Walton Hamilton defines exactly what read-aloudability is and how important it is in picture books (HINT: it can sway the submission process), while Katie Davis illustrates one impactful way to factor that secret sauce into your writing.

This is the first of a three-part series all about read-aloudability and how it can be your ticket to getting published. Stay tuned!

 

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Podcast – Meet the Gatekeepers

If you can’t get your manuscript past the gatekeepers, you have zero chance of getting published. So who are the gatekeepers? They are often editor and agent assistants. These assistants often take the first pass at the agent’s or editor’s inbox to eliminate manuscripts that don’t follow guidelines or don’t meet their boss’ tastes.

In this episode, Emma Walton Hamilton asks editor and agent assistants AZ Hackett, Claire Tattersfield, and Gaby Caballero all the burning questions from writers and illustrators like you.

 

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Shadra Strickland Podcast

Podcast – Shadra Strickland

Shadra Strickland PodcastShadra Strickland might be the most delightful writing workshop presenter on the planet. In this episode, the author/illustrator (and agent!) reveals how to get at the heart of your story by sharing some of her best writing exercises to get your creative juices flowing from your brain to the page.

This is a fun one! Enjoy!

 

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The Fan Brothers

Podcast – The Fan Brothers: To Imagination and Beyond

The Fan Brothers

What do t-shirt design and writing and illustrating picture books have in common?

Quite a bit actually! They have to be eye-catching. They have to be something the wearer or reader wants to go back to again and again. And just like a picture book, a good design tells a story.

Eric and Terry Fan take us on a journey in To Imagination and Beyond. The Fan Brothers share how your next story might be waiting for you where you least expect it. And, they should know. A t-shirt design ultimately became the award-winning picture book The Night Gardener and a 30-year-old doodle grew into Lizzy and the Cloud.

We adore The Fan Brothers and after this episode we think you will too!

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Kate DiCamillo

Podcast – The Cosmic Connection Between Beginnings and Endings

Connection between Beginnings and EndingsToday’s episode features a practically perfect pair of presenters.

You’ve seen presentations about great picture book beginnings. You’ve seen them about effective endings. But a truly great picture book relies on the connection between the two.

Today, Emma Walton Hamilton & Julie Hedlund are here to show how to launch topflight stories and navigate them to stellar endings.

 

 

 

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PBSummit Katie Davis

Podcast – Katie Davis: Houston, Your Manuscript Has a Problem

PBSummit Katie Davis

One of the best ways to navigate your course as a writer is through critiques.

In this episode of the podcast, we share a snippet of Founder Katie Davis’ presentation Houston, Your Manuscript Has a Problem. Katie discusses why critiques are important and things to consider as you seek feedback from critique groups and freelance editors.

Get ready to take your work to a whole new stratosphere!

 

 

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Kate DiCamillo

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.

 

 

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