The Weekly 411 (8/30/24)

© Heather Bell

 August 30, 2024 vol. 35

The Weekly 411 gathers all the links added to Kidlit411 each week. To receive this post by email, sign up for our email updates. Are you on Facebook? Join our Kidlit411 group for conversations and camaraderie. This week's illustration is by Heather Bell.

Picture Book Giveaway

We are pleased to host a giveaway of the picture book, Pigs Dig a Road, by Carrie Finison, illustrated by Brian Biggs (G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers), out on Sept. 10. Enter to win a copy via the Rafflecopter below.

About the Book: A rhyming picture book featuring pig construction workers that's perfect for fans of Good Night, Good Night, Construction Site. Construction crew chief Rosie and her team are building a new road to the Hamshire County Fair. It's time to put on hard hats, grab hammers, and bring out the big trucks: bulldozers, excavators, pavers, rollers, and more! Unfortunately, work with Rosie's crew doesn't always go as planned. Rosie is there to save the day, but she can't do such a big job all by herself. There's only one way to get the road done on time . . . teamwork!

 

About the Author: Carrie Finison writes picture books with humor and heart, including Dozens of Doughnuts, a Junior Library Guild selection, and Don’t Hug Doug, an ALA Notable Children’s Book. Her latest book, Pigs Dig a Road, is coming in September, 2024. She lives in the Boston area with her human family, plus two cats who have granted her permission to work in their cozy attic office. For updates and giveaways, subscribe to her newsletter, check out her website, or follow on Twitter or Instagram @CarrieFinison.

 

About the Illustrator: Brian Biggs was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. He currently makes illustrations for books, posters, puzzles, and games in an old garage in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Visit his website at www.mrbiggs.com.

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Two-Picture Book Giveaway

We are pleased to host a giveaway of two of Stephanie Wildman's picture books, Ghost Writer, written with Cecilia Populus-Eudave, illustrated by Estefania Razo (Lawley Publishing), out on Sept. 3, in English and Spanish, and Miri's Moving Day, written with Adam R. Chang, illustrated by Dream Chen (Kar-Ben Publishing) out on Nov. 5. Enter to win a copy of both via the Rafflecopter below.

About Ghost Writer: Twins Flor and Roberto and their big brother Luis are back again, just in time for Halloween and Dia de los Muertos. But Halloween reminds them of Julio, their beloved Boston Terrier who’d passed away. From conjuring La Catrina for a Halloween costume to decorating the altar with treats that Julio loved, the twins and Luis combine holiday traditions and come back in touch with happy memories of their pet.  

About Miri's Moving Day: Miri will miss the Chinese lions in front of her apartment building that have always taken care of her. What will happen to her now that it's moving day? Fortunately Zayde, her Jewish grandfather, and Yeh Yeh, her Chinese grandfather, have some surprises to help her feel at home in her new apartment. "There are no stone lions to guard your new apartment building, but you can hang this mezuzah at your door," says Yeh Yeh, presenting her with a beautiful mezuzah. And Zayde also has a gift for Miri, two small stone lions to remind her of the Chinese lions she left behind.

 

About the Author:  Stephanie Wildman, author of five children’s books, became a Professor Emerita after serving as the John A. and Elizabeth H. Sutro Chair at Santa Clara Law. She is a grandmother, mother, spouse, friend, good listener, who can sit “criss-cross apple sauce” thanks to her yoga practice. 

About the co-author of Ghost Writer: Cecilia Populus-Eudave has spent the last 29 years in San Francisco, California. She also lived in Los Angeles, California and Veracruz, Mexico. Cecilia has translated songs for artists Marty Willson-Piper (The Church) and Dave Lloyd (The Suns). She also produced and directed the music show, On the Tip of My Tongue, for a public cable station in San Francisco. Ghost Writer/Escritor Fantasma is the fourth book by Stephanie Wildman that she has translated into Spanish and her first picture book. You can follow her on Instagram: @ceepopsy.

 

About the Illustrator of Ghost Writer: Estefanía Razo has a Bachelor of Graphic Design degree from the University of Guadalajara. She is passionate about illustration, books, and art in general. During her free time she enjoys reading children’s books with her nieces and watching movies accompanied by her cats.

About the Co-author of Miri's Moving Day: Adam Ryan Chang  is a graduate of Rooted and Written (class of 2020, The Writers Grotto) for emerging writers of color, a #QueerKidlit 2022 mentee, and a three-year member of SCBWI. He was also a 2022 semi-finalist for the TV pilot of “America’s Next Great Author.” He is second generation Asian American, gay and queer, and a foster-adoptive parent of a Chicana/Latinx daughter. Adam serves as the Executive Director of Oasis Legal Services, which supports LGBTQ+ immigrants seeking asylum.

 

About the Illustrator of Miri's Moving Day: Dream Chen is an artist with a background in illustration and animation. She prides herself on creating colorful and imaginative dream worlds utilizing a variety of media and tools. She teaches at the Shanghai University of Engineering Science International Institute of Creative Design.

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 For Writers

Creating Stunning Character Arcs, Part 5: The Characteristic Moment

Revisions

Choosing an Editor

Critique Groups

The Importance of Fresh Eyes: Why Peer Reviews and Beta and Sensitivity Readers Matter

 Blogs to Follow

From the Mixed Up Files blog focusing on trade middle school books

Contests & Awards

Sept. 1 SCBWI Bologna Scholarship

• What: submit 3-4 images representative of your illustration style
• Who: SCBWI member
• Award: Two winners will each receive a ticket to the Bologna Book Fair, travel fare, and a stipend for accommodations. Winners will have an opportunity to show their portfolios to publishing professionals, display their portfolio at our industry party in Bologna, and attend the prestigious fair.

Oct. 1-3 Kid Lit GN Pitch Event (#KidlitGN)

• What: pitch your kid lit graphic novel project (upload pitches Oct 1-3, pitch stays live the month of October)
• Award: potential interest from editors and agents 

Nov. 1-30 Independently Published Pre-Publication Grant

• What: submit a brief cover letter with the name of your proposed book, a 1-2 paragraph synopsis, your publication timeline, a short bio, a 1 page business plan of how the grant money will used, and 2-3 sentences about why you have chosen to self-publish this book.

• Who: SCBWI members
• Award: $2500 to offset the costs of self-publishing

Nonfiction

Lead in Nonfiction Picture Books