Children's Books, and Other Cool Stuff

Where does the children  Publishing industry stand? Are their any trends? Can my manuscript fit in somewhere? What steps should I take to get published? Are Agents an important to have? How can I grow as an author or illustrator? How can I have good endings and beginnings? Has technology made the paper book old fashioned? Will the future of  children publishing market grow or slow? All these questions were answered in the conference and many others. The conference started on Friday February 12, I woke up early with an open mind and excitement in  my heart. Day 1 Morning February 12 Writer's roundtable Empty Room I found myself in an empty room, Set up with 24 round tables. That moment of silence was the quiet before the storm. Then the people started coming in, that moment of silence was broken and the excitement and anxiety started taking place.    One side of the room As I found my table way in front the...

Picture Books Rip Van Winkle - Retold and illustrated by Will Moses, based on Washington Irving's book. Philomel Books a division of Penguin Putnam Books for young readers. New York 1999. This book is based on a  classical folk tale about a man who goes into the woods and falls asleep waking up many years later to a new world. This classic tale is retold with a combination of wonderful illustrations and words. It is probably better suited for the older child because of complex words and storyline. This new version brings a wonderful story back to our modern world. The storyline and sophisticated crafted words make it more suited for an older child.     Patti Cake and Her New Doll - Written by Patricia Reilly Giff and illustrated by Laura J. Bryant. Published by Orchard books New York an imprint of Scholastic Inc. 2014. The book describes one day in a life of a little girl named Patti and her home companions m...

Author Spotlight " Emmy Laybourne-   is a novelist and recovering character actress. She appeared in the movies Superstar and The In-Laws, the NBC series DAG and Comedy Central's Premium Blend, among other. Emmy lives in upstate New York with her husband, their two children, and a feisty, slightly judgmental, bearded dragon named Goldie.  Monument 14  is her fiction debut." Copyrighted by Square Fish, an imprint of Macmillian New York 2012.   Monument 14- Written by Emmy Laybourne, published by Square Fish an imprint of Macmillan New York 2012. I had the honor of interviewing Emma for my blog Children Books and other cool stuff. You will find the questions and answers below. Thank You Emma for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer my six questions.   I'm so delighted to be here on Children Books and Other Cool Stuff! Thank you David, for having me on your blog! 1) What kind of children books, did you read as a c...

What makes you think about when you hear the word Reference Books. A dusty pile of books that are never used standing on a library shelf? The books that are used often but cannot be taken out. Actually there is much more to them than that. I used to work in several libraries and worked closely with this collection. From cataloging them to placing them on the library shelves. Reference book play an important role in any library. In this update I decided to dedicate a post to Reference Books.   Reference Books   "Scholastic Children's Dictionary- This book was put together by  many people. Scholastic Books Inc. Published USA 2013. This Dictionary is a wonderful tool for both children and adults. It is full of wonderful illustrations and detailed word meanings. It is divided into many sections and covers everything from Thesaurus to different facts. It is very easy to follow and is a wonderful reference tool not only for ...

Middle Grade   Goosebumps Most Wanted Book 5 Dr. Maniac Will See You know- Written by R.L Stine Goosebumps book series created by Parachute Press Inc. Published by Scholastic Inc. New York 2013. What is a boy to do when a tunnel between different worlds is open bringing with it adventure and danger that can change earth forever. In this gross and funny story, it is up to the three children to save the planet from comic book villains who want to take over. Richard Dreezer, his younger brother Ernie, and the most popular girl, Bree Birnbaum need to join forces to accomplish this monumental task. This book is written in Richard's voice and has the same charm as other "Goosebumps" books. Your middle grader will most likely finish it in one sitting.    E very Soul a Star- Written by Wendy Mass and published by Little, Brown and company, Hachette Book Group, New York 2008. "One extraordinary event a rare solar eclipse brings together three unlikely friends:...

Fantasy Book Reviews Picture Books 1) Where The Wild Things Are - This picture book by Maurice Sendak and  a very popular book. I highly recommend it if you did not read it yet. The book is a classic and has been for years.  It was published originally in 1963 and won the 1964 Caldecott Medal for most distinguished picture book of the year. When a boy named Max misbehaves his mother sends him to his room where his fantastic journey begins. After his journey he comes home to discover that barely any time had passed even though his trip seemed to take place a very long time. This book is a wonderful read not only for children but adults as well. It explores the possibilities of other worlds and so much more. 2 ) The Egg - This picture book by M.P Robertson is less known, but also a great read. It was published in 2001 by Dial books. It is about a boy named George, who one day discovers a huge egg under one of his barn chickens. When the egg i...

Great books to read The Adventures of Huck Finn - This book written by Mark Twain is a great example of an all time classic. It is about a young boy who never went school and who spends days at time just doing noting but having fun. Ain't this a dream of many boys. The book has lots of bad grammer and language. It was written in the 19 century just after the civil war. The author is a genis in many ways. The book really takes of when Huck Finn meets a slave named Jim. He helps this man escape. That is when the real adventure begins. They build a raft and go on a dangerous journey on the Mississippi River the heart of the south. This book is a classic American boy tale. The language is hard but it will be the perfect book for your middle grade or young adult reader. Please incourage your children to read this classic american novel and do not forget about The Adventures of Tom Sawyer . I really loved both these books and did a research paper on th...