 We are thrilled to have Judy Campbell-Smith on the blog today where she talks about her picture book, Baseball for Breakfast: A (Mostly) True Story, illustrated by Maggie Carroll. KLiC: What was your inspiration for Baseball for Breakfast? JCS: For this book, I was inspired by learning about the true story of Bill Veeck and the Milwaukee Brewers’ morning baseball games during World War II. I am a lifelong baseball fan, and I had been hoping to find an interesting slice of baseball history to bring to life in a picture book. Bill Veeck was such a colorful character in real life, and I could immediately imagine the potential layers and connections of the fun baseball games set against the historical backdrop of war. KLiC: What kind of research did you do for Baseball for Breakfast? JCS: I started off researching books about Bill Veeck and looking for some details about the morning baseball games. I was able to find even more information from historical records and newspapers. I was thrilled to find a website dedicated to history of Borchert Field, the stadium that the Brewers played in during the time period that my story is set. They had wonderful old photos from the 40’s, vintage paraphernalia, signage, and newspaper clippings. Then I looked at gathering information about what life was like in Milwaukee during World War II, especially for children. All of these resources gave me a good foundation of facts to support my fictional characters.  KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in the book? JCS: It’s so hard to choose a favorite because Maggie Carroll has done such beautiful work. I fell in love with her art which feels vintage-inspired, but still fresh and energetic. If I have to choose a favorite spread, it’s the one that shows Pa in his naval uniform and Ma in the classic “Rosie the Riveter” outfit. They are surrounded by spot illustrations that show men going off to war and women working in the factory. I felt like Maggie’s approach was the perfect way to support the storytelling as it zoomed out from Jimmy’s family and showed what was happening in the wider world at the time. KLiC: What’s the one thing you want children to take away from your book? JCS: I hope children see that when times are tough, the way to get through it is by finding joy and becoming a helper. The book shows that there are many ways to help, and even small things can make a difference. You might not be able to reschedule a baseball game, but you can make someone laugh or share your cereal. These things matter too. KLiC: Do you have any tips for pre-published authors? JCS: Keep writing the stories that excite you and bring you joy. That is what will keep you going when the work is tough and the no’s pile up. But if you keep going, good things will come eventually.  Judy Campbell-Smith writes picture books that spark curiosity and celebrate diversity. Judy is Black and Puerto Rican, and she’s always trying to write books that she wished she had as a child. She is the author of AJ’s Neighborhood, Ice Cream Everywhere: Sweet Stories from Around the World, and Baseball for Breakfast: A (Mostly) True Story. Judy works for Made for PAX, a non-profit organization, and is very active in the kidlit community. She lives in Southern California with her husband and two children.
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 We are thrilled to interview picture book author, Nadine Presley on our blog today. Read below about her newest picture book, A Ramadan Night: Kidlit in Color: What was your inspiration for A Ramadan Night? Nadine Presley: I knew I wanted to write a Ramadan book, but I was not quite sure where to start. What I did know was that I wanted to capture the wonder, excitement, and anticipation that fills the month, especially as experienced through a child’s eyes. So I began by asking children what their favorite part of Ramadan was. Many said the food, which is completely fair, but most of them said the nights. I immediately responded, “Me too!” And that is where the story truly began. From there, I drew deeply from my own childhood memories. I remember closing my eyes and trying to feel Ramadan arrive, sensing the subtle shift in the air and in our hearts. I have vivid memories of growing up in Damascus, Syria, walking to the mosque each night to pray taraweeh, taking in the lights, sounds, and quiet magic of the world around me, much like Sami does in the book. As I wrote, it became important to me to show the many layers of Ramadan. While it is often understood simply as a month of fasting, it is truly a rich, immersive, and multidimensional experience. A Ramadan Night became my way of inviting children into that sensory journey, the sights, sounds, feelings, and wonder of the month, while also tapping into a universally familiar childhood joy, staying up late and enjoying dessert at night. KLiC: Please tell us about your writing process. How long did it take you to write and sell this book? NP: My writing process often begins with emotion and memory rather than plot. With A Ramadan Night, I started by jotting down moments, the sights, sounds, and feelings I wanted to capture, and slowly shaped them into a narrative that followed a child’s experience through the night. I began by listing the sensory details I hoped to include and then grounding them in my own childhood memories of Syria. Picture books go through many drafts, and this one was no exception. While drafting and revising, I read widely and intentionally, immersing myself in the craft of picture books. I read well over one hundred titles, including classic works such as What Is Love? by Mac Barnett, books centered on Ramadan, stories that explored father and child relationships, and books that followed characters on walks or unfolded during nighttime. Reading across these themes helped inspire me as I slowly uncovered the story I really want to tell. I was incredibly fortunate that this book sold relatively quickly. It was preempted by the wonderful editor Celia Lee at Simon & Schuster just a couple of weeks after it went on submission in 2022. KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in the book? NP: I have both a favorite spread and a favorite small detail. One of my favorite elements is Sami wearing flip-flops over socks, which is a very Syrian masjid look that I find incredibly charming and familiar. As for my favorite spread, the scene where everyone is in sujud beneath the mosaic, dome-shaped ceilings holds a very special place in my heart. Seeing such an intimate moment of prayer depicted so openly and unapologetically in a mainstream children’s book feels incredibly meaningful. Huge credit goes to the team at Simon & Schuster for allowing that level of authenticity on the page. KLiC: What is the one thing you want children to take away from your book? NP: I hope children come away with a sense of wonder and a feeling that their traditions, memories, and everyday moments are meaningful and worth celebrating. I want Muslim children to see their experiences reflected with beauty and care, and I want non-Muslim children to feel invited into the warmth and magic of Ramadan. KLiC: Do you have any tips for pre-published authors? NP: Read widely and read often, especially in the genre you hope to write in. Studying picture books taught me so much about pacing, structure, language, and how much can be said with very few words. I have also learned the importance of building genuine relationships. Connect with fellow authors, librarians, booksellers, educators, and book lovers not just when you are launching a book, but because you truly want to be part of the community. Those relationships grow naturally and become incredibly meaningful over time. Finally, be patient and kind to yourself. Publishing can be slow, overwhelming, and unpredictable, but consistency, community, and believing in your story go a long way. Keep showing up, keep learning, and trust that your voice matters. -- Nadine Presley is a Syrian Canadian author who loves everything about Ramadan. Her earliest memories of Ramadan go back to her days in Damascus, where she joyfully awaited the month to begin. She now resides in Canada with her husband and three boys, working as a literacy educator. Passionate about anti-racism work and promoting pride in Arab Muslim heritage, she is also a speaker for children, youth, and adults. Her favorite things in the world are big hugs, kind words, and delicious Syrian food—especially during Ramadan.   We are excited to interview Young Adult author, Ahmad Saber about his upcoming book, Ramin Abbas Has MAJOR Questions. Kidlit in Color: What was your inspiration for Ramin Abbas Has MAJOR Questions? Ahmed Saber: My inspiration had always been the question I’d asked myself for well over 15 years: is the pain of having to reconcile your sexuality with your religious or cultural identity in vain, or could it have a meaning? And I didn’t realize it all those years but the answer had always been to write a story based on my lived experience. However if you’re asking about that “spark” moment, then I’d say it was seeing a video clip of a Muslim high school and looking at all the students looking happy in there, apparently looking like they belong, found their community, and then imagining a teen boy who’d have to blend into that while having to hide their true, authentic self. KLiC: Please tell us about your writing process. How long did it take you to write and sell this book? AS: Oh gosh, the idea was born exactly in July 2019, and publication date is March 2026, so that is almost 7 years in the making! The main breakthrough came when my incredibly generous and passionate agent Dan Lazar gave me a chance to revise and resubmit, and this truly changed the DNA of the story, and ultimately led to the book deal in July 2023. Then it was 3 more years of editing and revising! I am therefore a firm believer in editing, revisions, and R&Rs! (provided it resonates with you. I don’t recommend it otherwise). For my writing process, I’m pretty squarely a pantser. I find overly plotting takes the joy out of it for me. KLiC: What kind of research did you do for Ramin Abbas Has MAJOR Questions? AS: For the initial drafts, I had to research what life in a Muslim school set in the modern west would be like, the curriculum, the fees required, the dress code observed, the religious education etc. In later drafts, as more details emerged, I had to basically research everything from the minutiae of soccer rules, to how horses behave in barns (someone kindly pointed out it’s darn near impossible to raise a stallion as a pet because they break everything!) KLiC: What’s the one thing you want teens to take away from your book? AS: Increased empathy. Whether that is a straight sophomore girl reading to understand the queer Muslim perspective, whether that is a queer junior of non-South Asian background who would like to explore the unique perspective of queer Muslims and/or Desis, or whether that is a kid of color who sees themselves in this book and feel seen. KLiC: Do you have any tips for pre-published authors? AS: Revise, revise, revise! There were more occasions than I can count on two hands where I felt like quitting. I thought revision limbo was gonna last forever! But I am so, so glad, in retrospect, to have revised this story and hammered away at it. (Caveat: this is you get “green light” signals e.g. getting a R&R, getting editor feedback etc. Sometimes, in certain situations, it really is best to shelve a manuscript and write another book). Ahmad Saber is a medical doctor specializing in rheumatology and internal medicine. Born and raised in Pakistan, Ahmad and his family moved to Canada while he was in high school. Ramin Abbas Has MAJOR Questions is his debut novel and based in part on his own life. You can find him on Instagram @ItsAhmadSaber.  We've had the privilege of featuring many Black books on the KidLit in Color blog written and illustrated by Black creatives. Below are some of our features and favorites in picture books. We hope you'll check out the author interviews for those we've featured to learn about the inspiration and writing process behind these remarkable titles. We also hope you'll help readers find these titles and more to curate a diverse home and school library.  Brown Baby Lullaby by Tameka Fryer Brown, illustrator AG Ford Together We Ride by Valerie Bolling, illustrator Kaylani Juanita Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins Bigelow, illustrator Luisa Uribe Jayden’s Impossible Garden by Mélina Mangal, illustrator Ken Daley Better Together Cinderella by Ashley Franklin, illustrator Ebony Glenn Under the Clam Moon by Kaitlyn Wells, illustrator Mariyah Rahman Everybody in the Red Brick Building by Anne Wynter, illustrator Oge Mora Prince: A Little Golden Book Biography by Nikki Shannon Smith, illustrator Don Tate Josey Johnson’s Hair and the Holy Spirit by Esau McCaulley, illustrator LaTonya Jackson Fly by Brittany J. Thurman, illustrator Anna Cunha Opal Lee and What it Means to Be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth by Alice Fay Duncan, Keturah A. Bobo, illustrator The Bronx is My Home by Alyssa Reynoso-Morris, illustrator Kim Holt Not Done Yet by Tameka Fryer Brown, illustrator Nina Crews Stella Keeps the Sun Up by Clothilde Ewing, illustrator Lynn Gaines The March of Hope by Valerie Bolling, illustrator Monica Mikai The Juneteenth Story by Alliah L. Agostini, illustrator Sawyer Cloud All Aboard the Schooltrain by Glenda Armand, illustrator Keisha Morris All Because You Matter by Tami Charles, illustrator Bryan Collier Hold Them Close: A Love Letter to Black Children by Jamilah Thompkins Bigelow, Patrick Dougher, photography Jamel Shabazz Six Triple Eight by Tonya Abari, illustrator Lance Evans Keyana Loves Her Family by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley, illustrator Charnelle Pinkney Barlow The ABC’s of Black History by Rio Cortez, illustrator Lauren Semmer Big Tune by Alliah L. Agostini, illustrator Shamar Knight-Justice Peaches by Gabriele Davis, illustrator Kim Holt Elijah’s Easter Suit by Brentom Jackson, illustrator Emmanuel Boateng Zara In the Middle by Erika Lynne Jones Miles of Style by Lisa D. Brathwaite, illustrator Lynn Gaines They Built Me for Freedom by Tonya Duncan Ellis, illustrator Jenin Mohammed Old to Joy by Anita Crawford Clark A Season for Fishin’: A Fish Fry Tradition by Pamela Courtney, illustrator Toni D. Chambers Leo Wakes Up Grumpy by Corlette Douglas William Still and His Freedom Stories by Don Tate Ripening Time by Patrice Gopo, illustrator Carlos Vélez Aguilera Dear Star Baby by Malcolm Newsome, illustrator Kamala Nair Jump In! By Shadra Strickland Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrator Floyd Cooper Locs Not Dreads by Tonya Abari, illustrator Chasity Hampton BIG by Vashti Harrison The Walk (A Stroll to the Poll) by Winsome Bingham, illustrator E.B. Lewis There Was a Party for Langston by Jason Reynolds, Illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey A Walk in the Woods by Nikki Grimes, illustrators Jerry Pinkney, Brian Pinkney Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller, by Breanna J. McDaniel, illustrator April Harrison Our Joyful Noise by Gabriele Davis, illustrator Craig Stanley A Voice of Hope: The Myrlie-Evers Williams Story by Nadia Salomon, illustrator London Ladd Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrator James Ransome Blues Boy: The B.B. King Story by Alice Faye Duncan, illustrator Carl Joe Williams I Love My People by Kim Singleton, illustrator Kim Holt Not Quite Snow White by Ashley Franklin, illustrator Ebony Glenn Sing A Song: How "Lift Every Voice and Sing" Inspired Generations by Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated by Keith Mallett Because Claudette by Tracey Baptiste, illustrated by Tonya Engel You So Black by by Theresa tha S.O.N.G.B.I.R.D., illustrated by London Ladd CeeCee: Underground Railroad Cinderella by Shana Keller, illustrated by Laura Freeman The Story of We by Nikkolas Smith Extraordinary Magic: The Storytelling life of Virginia Hamilton by Nina Crews Yvonne Clark and Her Engineering Spark by Allen R. Wells, DeAndra Hodge illustrator Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement by Angela Joy, Janelle Washington, illust. Sparrow Loves Reptiles by Murry Burgess, Tamisha Anthony, illustrator A Cup of Quiet by Nikki Grimes, Cathy Ann Johnson, illustrator The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes, Vanessa Brantley-Newton, illustrator The Last Stand by Antwan Eady, Jerome Pumphrey (Illustrator), Jarrett Pumphrey (Illustrator) A Place For Us by James Ransome |
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