 Book Release News for GOAL SETTING IN THE WRITING CLASSROOM: BUILDING STUDENT AGENCY, INDEPENDENCE, AND SUCCESS Book Description Goal setting is an integral part of life. But when and how do we teach this important skill to students? And how can we do so in ways that are engaging, rewarding, and nestled into our other priorities in the writing classroom? In Goal Setting in the Writing Classroom: Building Student Agency, Independence, and Success, Valerie Bolling breathes new life into the work of goal setting with students. Bolling guides teachers, step by step, through helping students set goals, monitor progress, revise (and sometimes even abandon!) goals, and celebrate their achievements along the way. Moreover, Bolling illustrates how teachers, themselves, can set their own goals so that they are learning alongside their students and serving as models for them. Goal Setting in the Writing Classroom draws on Valerie Bolling’s experiences as a teacher, instructional coach, and children's book author to offer relevant and engaging stories, lessons, strategies, and graphic organizers to help all students become successful and independent goal setters and writers. Pre-Release Buzz “When it comes to motivating writers, self-selected goals are much more powerful than school-selected goals, and this book offers practical steps that not only help students to make and revise goals, it also offers reflective practices that foster continual improvement. I like how Goal Setting in the Writing Classroom positions the students to do the thinking.” ―Kelly Gallagher, author of Write Like This and Teaching Adolescent Writers “Valerie skillfully blends her experience as a children’s author and middle school writing teacher to offer practical strategies that help students set and achieve personal writing goals. This book is a valuable tool for educators.” ―Dr. Towanda Harris, author of The Right Tools: A Guide to Selecting, Evaluating, and Implementing Classroom Resources and Practices “In Goal Setting in the Writing Classroom, Valerie Bolling shares her knowledge and experience as an educator, author, and human that gives new meaning to the term mentor author. Students will love learning about her process, can reflect on her work and find easy to implement steps to improve their own writing. She shares her secrets to meaningful goal setting ‘that leads to confidence, perseverance, and self-reflection.’ Read, write, reflect, and repeat.” ―JoEllen McCarthy, educator, literacy advisor, and author of Layers of Learning: Using Read Alouds to Connect Literacy and Caring Conversations Release Date and Purchase Information Goal Setting in the Writing Classroom: Building Student Agency, Independence, and Success is released TODAY on June 20, 2025. You may order here: Bookshop Routledge Amazon How This Book Came to Be My editor, Kassia Omohundro Wedekind, saw me present on a panel during the 2023 NCTE annual conference. After the conference, she emailed me to see if I’d be interested in writing a book for teachers. I wasn’t sure at first because I’d never written such a book. Though I’d been an educator for 30 years, I doubted if I’d be able to do it, especially when I was told that I’d need to write a minimum of 30,000 words! (This book is almost 40,000 words.) After careful consideration – and encouragement from my husband, agent, and friends – I decided to accept the challenge. Having only published children’s books before, I was hesitant, but Kassia assured me that she would be a collaborator throughout the process, and she kept her word. Each step of the way she was there, and I’m so grateful for her guidance and support. Why It Made Sense for Me to Write This Book I believe in goal-setting, personally and professionally, and I have witnessed how taking this action has contributed to my success as well as my students’. My husband and I set goals every year as a couple and as individuals. When I was a classroom teacher and instructional coach, I set goals each year. I determined what I would study and learn to develop a particular skill or gain an understanding of something new. I also looked at student data to set goals for what I wanted students to learn and improve. As a writer, I set goals, too. I have set goals to study and write new genres, read a certain number of books, and schedule events to promote and sell my books. Most importantly, I have achieved or surpassed most of the goals I’ve set, and many of my students have exceeded their goals. My 30 years as an educator and five years as an author of 11 children’s books make me a credible source for writing about this topic. What’s Next I’m working on my second book for teachers, which I’m co-authoring with Pamela Courtney. My first picture book biography, A Flea for Justice: Marian Wright Edelman Stands Up for Change (illustrated by TeMika Grooms) will be released on Sept. 16, 2025. I also have another picture book, The March for Hope (illustrated by Monica Mikai), scheduled for release in 2026 and a board book, Chloe’s Community Garden (illustrated by Felicia Whaley) slated for 2027.  Valerie Bolling is an award-winning educator and author. She was an educator for 30 years, teaching grades 2, 4, 5, and 8 and working as an instructional coach and planning professional development for middle and high school teachers. She has been an author of children’s books for five years, having published more than 10 books. Goal Setting in the Writing Classroom is her first book for teachers. A graduate of Tufts University and Teachers College, Columbia University, Valerie has always loved teaching and writing, and she enjoys connecting with both children and adults and inspiring them to write their own stories.
Connect with Me Website: valeriebolling.com Instagram: instagram.com/valeriebollingauthor Bluesky: valeriebolling.bsky.social Facebook: facebook.com/ValerieBollingAuthor LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/valerie-bolling-223a92271
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 We are so excited to interview the talented author-illustrator, Corlette Douglas. She has two books coming out on June 24th: LEO WAKES UP GRUMPY and LEO TAKES A BATH. For this interview we talked to her about LEO WAKES UP GRUMPY. KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in the book? CD: My favorite illustration in the book is the one where Leo is screaming and the words Ah appear on the wall, as well as the one where Leo is tossing his toys, making a big fuss. KLiC: What’s the one thing you want children to take away from your book? CD: Learning to express one's emotions is vital for a developing young mind. But at times, it's essential to take a step back and breathe, think about our emotions, and if we can't do it alone, there's always an adult to help you remember that the grumpy way we're feeling will only last for a little while. KLiC: What’s next for you? CD: My goal is to keep writing fun stories and explore my illustrating and writing process. KLiC: Is there anything you want readers to know about you or your book(s)? CD: I hope the readers can see a little of Leo in themselves as they read these stories. We were all once or are becoming toddlers learning new helpful emotions for the first time, and patience goes a long way when handling toddlers who have tiny bodies and big emotions.  Corlette Douglas is a Guyanese-American artist and author of children’s books from Brooklyn, New York. She's a 10-year veteran in children’s media with work ranging from animation to print, creating content meant to educate and entertain. Readers will soon discover that she is a vibrant and colorful human being who carries those characteristics over into her work. Corlette adores creating characters that are compelling, authentic, and relatable. Her characters often deal with the everyday struggles of making hard choices, overcoming intimidating situations, or dealing with big emotions in a small body. Learn more about Corlette and order her books here.
 Valerie Bolling was thrilled to have the opportunity to interview her agent sister, Pamela Courtney, about her debut picture book, A Season for Fishin’: A Fish Fry Tradition. Let’s learn more about this beautiful book… VB: Pam, I’m so excited for your debut. What’s your one-liner to describe this book? PC: Chér and Papéré reel in a skillet full of Louisiana fun as the start of still water fishin’ and the flavors of the season’s first fish fry get underway... Let the Cane River fish fry begin. Howeeee! Sounds like fish fry Friday. VB: That’s a great description. I’m sure some readers are craving fried fish now. Tell us how this fish fry story came to be. PC: This book began as a poem in Renée LaTulippe’s Lyrical Language Lab class as part of a collection of poems for a novel in verse. However, it was suggested the poem would be a cool children’s book and that I had to add a young protagonist. All of my childhood memories of running from house to house on Friday evenings tasting the neighbors’ fried fare poured. I didn’t, couldn’t, move until my protagonist caught and ate her catch. I wrote the draft in one sitting. This does not happen often. But when it does, y’all . . . it's pure magic. Now, it has to be noted there were revisions after my completed first draft. I don’t like revising. However, my editor challenged me to add heightened depth to my character. So, I dug deeper. I researched for a second element that would add a new perspective to my character’s—well, character. Here's where I began adding layers to my character. My character wanted to be part of this family tradition of still water fishin’. What really is still water fishing? What would it mean to participate in this tradition? My character wanted to bring home a batch of bream for Maméré. What would this mean for the character’s standing in the family if she failed? What exactly are bream? The only thing I knew about bream is that it’s one of my mama’s favorite panfried fish. And the one thing my character needed to go still water fishin’ and catch some bream was a cane fishing pole. But what would that pole look like? AND how can it connect to this tradition? I researched everything. Oddly enough, through my research, I found so many interesting facts. I was having fun! Revision Fun Fact—During revision, I learned that bamboo, what we call river cane, is native to my part of Louisiana. That’s what many use to make the fishing poles. As a child, I thought cane fishing poles were ONLY made from sugar cane stalks. VB: It’s really interesting to hear about your process, Pam. I didn’t realize how much research you did for the book, and you seem to have had a clear vision for it. Did the illustrator’s vision match yours? Were there any sweet surprises? PC: I fell in love the first time I saw my character’s sweet face. So much joy. There are some places where the movement and energy leap off the page. Toni Chambers shares her vision through these rich, saturated colors. Now in my mind, I envisioned this story in pastels (think E. B. Lewis). In hind-sight, no way would that work with the text. Having said that, I’m so glad I was not the illustrator. What Toni brought to this story is so much more than what my writer’s eye could ever see. Now, one of my favorite images in the book is . . . no, wait. I have several favorite moments that Toni gifted. I loveLoveLOVE that she gave our character this layered quirkiness by giving her a pair of yellow galoshes and purple hair. Imagine the personality of this kid in yellow Wellies fishing off the riverbank of Ol’ Cane River. Imagine! The next thing that almost brought me to tears was the matching overalls and striped shirts that the character and her papéré wore. There is no way I would ever have thought of showing their bond, their intimacy, in that sweet, sweet, yet oh-so-familiar way. Everyone knows that families down south love any occasion to dress alike. LOL. I enjoyed the story Toni delivered. VB: It's obvious that you love Toni’s illustrations and the sweet details she added to the story. How do you hope young readers will experience this book? What suggestions do you have for parents and teachers who read this book to children? PC: I wrote this book to share my multicultural experience in my rural Louisiana. I grew up speaking in a way I thought was purely unique to southern, Black American culture. However, the language of my childhood crisscrosses so many groups of people. Page after page shows that Black people are not a monolith. That’s important. Having said that, there are so many fun activities that can accompany this read aloud. Sharing the rich, yet complicated history of my hometown will be a fascinating lesson about powerful women in industry, the impact our waterways had on the nation’s economy, the influences of African, Tribal, and European peoples can be explored through food—so let’s cook up some Louisiana fare. Explore the sounds by sharing the multicultural blends of Zydeco music. Engage in the culture of the Mardi-Gras parade. This book demands you to have fun when creating activities. Laissez le bons temps rouler! VB: Wow, Pam! This book is such a treat! What book(s) can we look forward to next from you? PC: I have a book coming out in Fall 2026 called Freedom’s Eve: A Story of Watch Night. I am working on a piece of little-known American history, a biography, and a rhyming nonfiction story I’m excited for y’all to learn all about. But you’ll have to wait for those. VB: We’ll look forward to Freedom’s Eve next year and your future titles. Thanks so much for chatting with me, Pam, on the KidLit in Color blog. A Season for Fishin’: A Fish Fry Tradition is available wherever books are sold. Pam encourages readers to support their local bookstore.  Pam’s Louisiana upbringing inspired her 2025 spring publication, A Season of Fishin’—A Fish Fry Tradition, Macmillan (FSG) and nurtured her life’s passion of writing, teaching, and enjoying culturally diverse music. Combining these loves Pam created MyLMNOP,
a literacy and music program for early learners. With nearly three decades as an early childhood practitioner and elementary school teacher, Pam brings the eyes of an educator to each narrative she crafts, as she engages children in history, folklore, and the mysticism of her rural Louisiana culture. “My duty is great,” states Pam. “I’m a writer who teaches. I’m a teacher who writes.” Pam is the recipient of WeNeedDiverseBooks Mentorship, Highlights Diversity Fellowship, and the WeNeedDiverseBooks Walter Dean Myers Grant. Pam also serves as faculty for the Highlights Foundation. For more about Pam and her books... Website: https://www.pamelacourtney.com/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/pamismylmnop.bsky.social IG: https://www.instagram.com/pam_is_mylmnop/ Threads: https://www.threads.com/@pam_is_mylmnop TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pam_is_mylmnop?lang=en  KLiC: What was your inspiration for Ripening Time? This story, inspired by my childhood, is about a little girl who is waiting across a week for plantains to ripen. It’s a celebration of food and family and connecting across generations. My parents are Jamaican immigrants, and I grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, a place where—at the time—it wasn’t always easy to find plantains. My mother used to go to the grocery store across town in search of plantains, sometimes finding the food we longed to eat. Their presence in our home was always a special treat. Waiting for those green plantains to ripen was so hard, but that ripening time produced the very taste I wanted to eat! Given that background, Ripening Time was the perfect title! KLiC: Please tell us about your writing process. How long did it take you to write and sell this book? I first drafted this book in the autumn of 2021. I wanted to tell a story connected to a beloved food in my life, and I was also interested in creating a book structured around the days of the week. The ripening of plantains felt like the perfect fit. It took me another six to eight months after that first draft to finish the manuscript because I struggled to bring the story to a satisfactory ending. Sometimes the ideas are there, but the ending isn’t! Working with wonderful picture book writing coach, Rona Shirdan, helped me get that manuscript over the finish line! Sometimes we just need a solid outside voice to speak into our work. The manuscript sold to WorthyKids in the summer of 2022.  KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in the book? There is an absolutely gorgeous spread that takes place on Friday in the story. The plantains are almost ripe and the family is dancing in celebration. I love all the vibrant colors Carlos Vélez Aguilera brought into this illustration. They bring such happiness. During school visits, I love to talk with the children about how we can feel the excitement and joy because of the colors! And this book is full of such joy. This illustration perfectly captures that emotion present across the entire book! KLiC: Do you have any tips for pre-published authors? The journey to publication can sometimes be such a strange thing, and I think it matters that we: 1) connect with community that understands the work that we do; people who can encourage us and we can encourage as well, 2) keep learning—whether through reading craft books and mentor texts, taking classes, attending webinars, etc. and 3) believe that the work we create matters in the world; that our work adds beauty to the world.  KLiC: What’s next for you? I just wrapped up my second season of my podcast Picture Books Are for Grown-ups, Too! It’s such fun, but it’s also quite a bit of work, so I’m excited to take a little rest from that. In addition, I’m thrilled that my next picture book, Beyond Alaska’s Window, illustrated by Monica Mikai, will release with Viking in 2026. Inspired, once again, by my life, it’s the story of a Jamaican family in Alaska who eats the same Jamaican meal every Sunday across the changing seasons. This story is so close to my heart, and I loved creating a book I wish the child version of me had a chance to read decades ago.  Patrice Gopo is the child of Jamaican immigrants and was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. She is an award-winning essayist and the author of multiple picture books, including Ripening Time and All the Places We Call Home. Patrice lives with her family in North Carolina, where one taste of fried plantains immediately takes her back to some of the sweetest moments in her childhood. Please visit patricegopo.com to learn more.
Name: Patrice Gopo Book Title: Ripening Time Publisher Name and Date published: WorthyKids/Hachette; April 22, 2025 Illustrator full name: Carlos Vélez Aguilera  In the summer of 1975, I was ten years old, and the only things I had to worry about were keeping my comic books untarnished, getting tennis balls off roofs, and keeping up with the increasingly bold stunts of my best friend David. And then Jaws came to town. Growing up across the street from your best friend is both joyous and convenient. But ten years in, diverging interests can get harder to ignore, especially as you stumble toward “manhood.” You might find yourself trying to bridge the divides in any ways possible. In my case, it was by watching a movie about a giant killer shark. For a boy who was barely keeping up as it was, going to this movie was a test of my manhood that could not be avoided. So I asked my dad to take me.  Once I’d made the decision to go, I was excited to see it — partly to prove my bravery and partly to become part of a massive cultural phenomenon. There were parodies, games, a hit novelty song, even a Saturday morning cartoon based on the shark. Everyone was seeing this movie. How bad could it be? Turns out, pretty bad. I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised. The poster was rather clear. Far from proving my courage, Jaws left me a cowering mess. All seeing it did was further underline the growing gap between myself and David, as well as the distance between where I stood and the world’s expectations of a boy’s “manliness.” I couldn’t go near water of any kind. I saw sharks everywhere. Jaws himself took up residence in my closet and became the manifestation of all the fears and demands that were overwhelming my life. Not to mention getting salt water all over my comics.  I’ve never been very good at manly stuff. Car engines were Dr. Seuss-ian contraptions, bikes were best used with both wheels on the ground, and the scariest thing I could handle on TV was Grimace from the McDonald’s commercials (that guy was nuts!). And things didn’t change much as I got older. I’m still going nowhere near a “suicide hot wing.” My individual tastes butted up against my need to fit in, and there was a growing realization that who I was didn’t line up with who some people thought I should be. It hadn’t occurred to me that I was supposed to be “macho” until I was confronted with all the ways I wasn’t.  Sifting through those days for this memoir made me realize how much of our youth is still swimming around inside us. I guess we’ve all got some version of a giant shark living in our closet. Confronting and overcoming them is part of the process of becoming who we really are. I’ve come a long way since then — I can go in pools now! — but like many of us, whenever I enter a large body of water, I still hear some faint “du-nuh du-nuh du-nuh” music. But I remain determined to keep any sharks from pushing me around, or getting salt water on my comics.  Paul Gilligan writes and draws the syndicated comic strip Pooch Café, which has been twice nominated by the National Cartoonist Society for best strip. He’s the author/illustrator of the early-reader graphic novel series Pluto Rocket, the chapter book series King of the Mole People, and the graphic memoir Boy Vs. Shark. He lives in Toronto with his wife and kids, where he quite comfortably swims in lakes and pools, as long as nobody makes any “du-nuh” sounds.
 KidLit in Color author, Valerie Bolling, was thrilled to have the opportunity to interview her KidLit in Color sister, Tina Athaide, about her debut middle grade novel, Wings to Soar. Let’s learn more about this special book… Tina, what’s your one-liner to describe Wings to Soar? A powerful middle-grade novel-in-verse that captures a refugee girl's resilience and hope as she navigates hate, loss, and the search for her missing father in 1970s England. Wow! That one-liner will certainly make people want to read this book! Please tell me how this book came to be. Wings to Soar is more than a story—it's a healing gift to “little Tina,” a way to process the early childhood experiences that shaped my life. The decision to write this novel in verse, with white space on the pages, is deliberate; it mirrors the pauses, the breaths, and the moments of silence that are so much a part of navigating trauma and uncertainty. At the same time, this book is a gift to my students, especially struggling readers. The white space serves as an accessible pathway for kids who might otherwise feel overwhelmed by a dense narrative, as well as providing them with a narrative that shows the power of perseverance and the importance of finding light in challenging times. I love that Wings to Soar is both a gift to your younger self as well as to your students. What you said about what the space on the page allows is a gift in itself – both a reminder to breathe and reflect and an invitation to struggling readers. Speaking of writing for the reader, share with us how you cross between writing novels and picture books. Do you have a preference or “sweet spot?” I don’t know if I have a “sweet spot,” but crossing between writing novels and picture books allows me to explore a wide range of themes and tones. My middle-grade novels often dive into more serious subjects. These stories give me the space to tackle tough issues with the nuance they deserve. When I switch to writing picture books, I embrace the opportunity to celebrate the lighter, more humorous aspects of life, capturing the joy, curiosity, and whimsy of childhood. Picture books allow me to create moments of laughter and wonder for young readers. What type of writer are you, Tina? Are you a plotter or pantser? Do you have any writing routines? I like to call myself a plotter when crafting my books—really, I do. I even go so far as to write out basic outlines, color-coded and everything. But then, inevitably, my true nature busts out... and, suddenly, I'm a full-blown pantser, leaping from idea to idea like an over-caffeinated squirrel. The outline becomes more of a suggestion, and the story takes on a life of its own, dragging me along for the ride. Who needs a roadmap when the detours are so much fun? Balancing these two forms lets me honor both the serious and the silly in life, offering stories that resonate with children at different stages and emotional experiences, all while reflecting the rich tapestry of South Asian heritage. I laughed at the image of an over-caffeinated squirrel! What’s your involvement in the writing community? I wouldn’t be where I am today without my writing community. SCBWI has connected me with amazing writers and illustrators, giving me a sense of belonging. Kidlit in Color has been especially meaningful, surrounding me with supportive authors of color who share my passion for diverse stories. Attending and speaking at conferences is always a highlight—I love learning from the pros, meeting fellow writers, and staying inspired. These connections and experiences keep me grounded and excited to keep creating stories. How do you hope readers will experience this book? What suggestions do you have for parents and teachers who read this book to children? I hope readers experience Wings to Soar as a journey of resilience, hope, and the power of friendship during challenging times. I want them to connect with Viva's struggles and triumphs, feeling both the weight of her challenges and the light of her determination. Beyond Viva's personal story, I hope readers gain insight into a significant historical event—the expulsion of Asians from Uganda in 1972—and learn about the incredible resilience of the people who lived through it. For parents and teachers reading this book to children, I suggest using it as a starting point for discussions about the refugee experience, racism, and the importance of family and community. Encourage young readers to reflect on how they can support others who may be facing difficult circumstances. Since the book is written in verse with thoughtful use of white space, allow children to pause and absorb the emotions and messages in each poem, giving them the space to ask questions, share their thoughts, and connect the past to the present. Those are great suggestions, Tina. What book(s) can we look forward to next from you? Sunshine in the Monsoons is my new picture book that follows Mira as she seeks out the hidden joy of the rainy season, missing the bright umbrella-twirling, puddle-jumping fun she once shared with her grandmother. As thunder roars and rain pours, Mira and her brother embark on a quest to find sunshine in the monsoons to bring back to their grandmother. [HarperCollins, Aug. 2025] We’ll look forward to that book next year. Thanks so much for chatting with me, Tina, on the KidLit in Color blog. Wings to Soar is available wherever books are sold. Tina encourages readers to support their local bookstore.  Tina Athaide is a children’s book author who writes stories to capture the texture and richness of a wide scope of cultural experiences, recent or distant, with the hope to open readers’ hearts. She was born in Entebbe, and after leaving Uganda, she immigrated with her family to Canada from England. Believing that books can present different experiences to children in an organic, natural way, she started publishing early literacy readers for the educational market before her debut MG book, Orange for the Sunsets, and picture book, Meena’s Mindful Moment.
For more about Tina and her books, please visit: Website: http://www.tinaathaide.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004255516156 X: https://x.com/tathaide Instagram: https://instagram.com/tinaathaide  What was your inspiration for MAMIE TAPE FIGHTS TO GO TO SCHOOL? I’m a former lawyer and first learned about Mamie while researching Asian American civil rights cases. I grew up just across the bay from San Francisco, where Mamie fought to attend her neighborhood school and, like Mamie, am the daughter of Chinese immigrants, so I was surprised I hadn’t learned her story. It stuck in my mind as something more people should know, but it wasn’t until the pandemic hit and anti-Asian hate was on the rise, that I truly felt compelled to write this book. Please tell us about your writing process. What kind of research did you do for your book? How long did it take you to write and sell this book? etc. I started with the legal research – Mamie’s California Supreme Court decision, Tape v. Hurley, and all the documents filed in her case. I also read books and journal articles to get a good overview, then went more specific, listening to a recorded interview of Mamie Tape from 1972 (shortly before she passed away), and interviewing some of Mamie’s relatives, including her eldest great-granddaughter who lived with Mamie while growing up. A big source of my information came from the dozens of newspapers from the 1880s that reported on Mamie’s case. Even though they often reflected the anti-Chinese bias of the time, they were the most immediate accounts of what happened and helped paint of picture of how much Mamie’s fight was a two steps forward, one step back process. It took me about eight months to research, write, and sell this book. It was a very unusual process as I had submitted my manuscript for an industry critique through the Kweli Color of Children’s Literature Conference, but instead ended up getting an offer from my now-editor Phoebe Yeh at Crown Books for Young Readers!  What are your favorite illustrations in the book? Michelle Jing Chan did an amazing job with the illustrations, so it’s hard to choose, but I think my favorite is of Mamie standing on a hillside overlooking San Francisco Bay and her neighborhood where she fought to attend school. Michelle beautifully captured a combination of determination, uncertainty, and innocence in Mamie’s expression. And the foggy windy sunset is so San Francisco! The scene really sets the tone for the rest of the book and Mamie’s long fight. Another one I love is of Mamie and her family eating the traditional Chinese New Year’s meal of jai. This illustration is extra special because the dishes on the table are inspired by actual dishes hand-painted by Mamie’s mom, which I had a chance to see when I visited Mamie’s great-granddaughter. Michelle did a wonderful job sprinkling little historic details like this throughout the illustrations. What’s the one thing you want children to take away from your book? I hope this book inspires children to step up in the face of unfairness and be part of the change, whether in big or small ways. I also hope they’ll recognize that even though change often comes slowly, especially in terms of social justice and the fight for equality, every little step helps move us forward.  Do you have any tips for pre-published authors? Lean into the kidlit community! I have met so many amazing creators through conferences, classes, pitch contests, and writing communities, and it has made all the difference in my journey. You won’t find a more supportive group of people who share their wisdom, root for each other, and commiserate together! These connections and friendships have really furthered my growth as a writer and helped sustain me in my writing practice.  Traci Huahn (she/her) writes books for kids and especially loves stories rooted in Asian American culture, history, and identity. Mamie Tape Fights to go to School is her debut picture book. As a former attorney and the daughter of Chinese immigrants, Traci feels a deep connection to Mamie’s story and hopes it will inspire young readers to become changemakers, even if it starts by taking just one small step.
Traci was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and still lives close to where she grew up. Most days you can find her there writing, along with her husband, two kids, and their pup who loves belly rubs and Brussels sprouts. To learn more about Traci visit her at: Website: www.tracihuahn.com Instagram: @tracihuahn Bluesky: @tracihuahn.bsky.social  KidLit in Color author, Valerie Bolling, was thrilled to have the opportunity to speak to Tonya Duncan Ellis about her debut picture book, They Built Me for Freedom. Let’s learn more about this special book… Tonya, what inspired you to write They Built Me for Freedom? I started out writing for children with chapter books and self-published the Sophie Washington series, which has sold over 175,000 copies. During the pandemic, I wrote a middle grade novel manuscript that won an SCBWI conference prize. The agent who selected my book asked if I also write picture books, because she said my writing has a lyrical quality. Intrigued, I started learning more about picture books, and I fell in love with the genre. On a visit to Houston’s Emancipation Park, the site of the first Juneteenth celebration, I got chills thinking about my ancestors commemorating their newfound freedom on the very ground I was walking. I felt like this was a story that needed to be told, and I began research that led to the first draft of They Built Me for Freedom.  I love that you started out writing self-published chapter books and then moved on to traditionally published picture books. What inspired you to tell the story of Emancipation Park? How long did it take to write and sell this book? This project moved pretty quickly. I spent around three hours writing the first draft of the manuscript a week after visiting Emancipation Park and doing research. I shared that manuscript at a Highlights Foundation virtual summer camp during the pandemic and made some updates, which took an hour or two. Then I shared that version in a critique group and worked another hour making a few more additions. My agent, Sara Megibow of kt Literary, who had taken me on as a client with my middle grade novel manuscript, rejected my initial version of They Built Me for Freedom, which told the story of a little girl visiting the park. I reworked the story, personifying the park, and she liked that version. All totaled, I probably spent around seven hours writing and revising the They Built Me for Freedom draft that was shopped to editors. Two to three weeks after the manuscript was sent out on submission, it got a purchase offer, which I accepted. It's always interesting to hear a story’s journey and to learn how it changed throughout the process. By the way, personifying the park was a brilliant change. What are your favorite illustrations in the book? Illustrator, Jenin Mohammed, did a phenomenal job on the images. I was blown away when I first saw her colored illustrations and teared up in the grocery store line after I opened my phone there and glimpsed the final cover. I truly love all the illustrations, but my favorites are the spread with the grandmother and child looking at the ancestors in the clouds and the image of the protestors.  I agree that Jenin’s illustrations are magnificent. What do you want kids to take away from your book, Tonya? Besides learning about different aspects of Juneteenth and facts about Houston’s Emancipation Park, I want kids to understand that there is history all around us. My hope is that after reading They Built Me for Freedom, children will become more interested in learning about historical spaces in their communities. I, too, hope children are motivated to learn more about history that isn’t always discussed in their classrooms. Do you have any tips for pre-published authors? Establishing a writing habit and perfecting your craft are important, but make sure to build your writing community as you continue along your publishing journey. Publishing is a roller coaster ride of emotional highs and lows. Getting an agent, landing a book contract, and marketing your book once it’s finished are experiences that elicit anxiety, stress, frustration, depression, envy and many other difficult feelings, along with the celebrations. Support from empathetic creatives who understand what you’re going through gives you the strength to continue when times get tough. Great advice Tonya! What’s up next for you? I’m contracted to write another, not yet announced, historical picture book with HarperCollins, and I’m working on a couple of other picture books. I’ve got some ideas for a new middle grade brewing, which I’m hoping to begin writing this fall. We’ll look forward to seeing these projects published. Thanks so much for stopping by the KidLit in Color blog and chatting with me, Tonya. They Built Me for Freedom is available wherever books are sold. Tonya encourages readers to support their local bookstore.  Tonya Duncan Ellis is author THEY BUILT ME FOR FREEDOM: The Story of Juneteenth and Houston’s Emancipation Park, the bestselling, award-winning, Sophie Washington chapter book series and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), the Authors Guild, Black Creators HQ and the Brown Bookshelf’s Highlights Foundation Sponsored Amplify Black Stories storyteller cohort.
For more about Tonya and her books, please visit: Website: www.tonyaduncanellis.com Facebook: @tonyaellisbooks X: @TonyaDEllis Instagram: @tonyaellisbooks  KidLit in Color author, Valerie Bolling, was thrilled to have the opportunity to interview picture book author, Anita Crawford Clark, about her debut picture book, Old to Joy. Let’s learn more about this special book… Anita, what’s your one-liner to describe your book? In Old to Joy, young Joy learns to appreciate the charm and value of older people and old things through her grandmother's wisdom and the shared experiences of exploring her home, garden, and family traditions, ultimately discovering the joy of living well and seeing the world through one another’s eyes. That’s a great one-liner! You shared a lot of details about your beautiful book in just one sentence. Tell us how this book came to be. The story Old to Joy began in my childhood home on Albion Way in Sacramento, California – only I did not know it. As I often did, I drew all kinds of pictures for my little sister to color. But on one occasion, I kept drawing and added words. When I was finished, I stapled the pages together and created my first book. I was eight years old. I went on to make exact copies of that book by hand. The next morning, I invited the younger neighborhood kids to the makeshift school I had set up in my garage. I handed out the books I had created to my eager, wide-eyed students and taught them. Is it any wonder I grew up to be a teacher and author-illustrator?  Based on your creativity as a child and sharing your handmade books with your neighborhood friends, you’re right that it’s no surprise that you have a career as a teacher and author-illustrator. Can you tell us the story behind Old to Joy? It would not be until 1998 when I first penned the words as they now appear on the opening spread of the book Old to Joy, “Grandmama lived in an old house, on an old street, with old trees, and all kinds of old things.” I still have several rejection letters I received in the mail from potential publishers back then – snail mail, of course. I dibble-dabbled with that story and others over the years, but I did not pick it up again in earnest until the Covid-19 lockdown in March of 2020. I dusted it off and revised it. My fabulous editor, Sandra Sutter, and I began working on my book in 2021. Sandra believed in this story from early on and worked tirelessly to help bring it to life. Other publishers and agents had requested the manuscript through #DVPit during their Twitter pitch event, and there were more rejections in the fall of 2020. Like many others have stated, I only needed one publisher who believed in the potential of the story. I am absolutely thrilled that my debut picture book was acquired and published by Gnome Road Publishing.  It's always exciting and validating when we find a publisher who wants to bring our story to life, and, yes, we only need ONE. I’m so glad this happened for you, Anita. Since you’re an author-illustrator, can you share a bit about your process of creating both beautiful words and art? I did not initially plan to illustrate this book. Even though I am an artist, the idea of having to create sixteen spreads for a 32-page picture book was overwhelming. As fate would have it, I connected with Larissa Brown on Twitter early in 2020 and was awarded a scholarship to one of her drawing classes. Larissa’s skill, love, and passion to see artists reach their potential and realize their dreams is one reason I’m holding this beautiful book in my hands today. My learning curve going from traditional media to digital was steep. Nevertheless, armed with my new iPad and the Procreate software, I commenced learning. Additional classes with Larissa and Children’s Book Academy (CBA) gave me the confidence to create a book dummy and take on illustrating Old to Joy. That’s where my editor and I met. At the intersection of CBA and courage. I decided to emphasize healthy aging perspectives. I also decided to illustrate the book myself and wanted the main character, Joy, to be a beautiful, chubby Black girl with dimples and braids. Additionally, I wanted the grandmother to have a beautiful, chocolate complexion and a joyful heart. Another big change and challenge for me was learning to illustrate digitally. My early illustrations of Joy and her grandmother were created with traditional materials – paper, pastels, and collage. Pastels are a messy medium, and I worked on large sheets of paper around 30x36 inches. I was not sure how this would work for a picture book. Ultimately, I illustrated the majority of Old to Joy digitally. I’m very much a traditional artist, and my illustrations tend to be more realistic. How wonderful that you connected with Larissa and that you met Sandra “at the intersection of CBA and courage.” Since you’ve given us insight into how you created your beautiful art for the book, let us know more about how you work as a writer. Do you have any writing routines or anything you must have when you write? I am mostly a pantser. I am also someone who likes to write early in the morning when the house is quiet with a hot cup of tea cooling on my desk. When I sit down to write, I can write for what seems like forever. Often, during the school year, I would be inspired early in the morning. I would get up to write, only to be interrupted with having to get ready for work. After teaching all day and arriving home, that spark was sometimes gone. The moment and the creativity had waned. I did not try to force it. Most times, I could capture it again in later evening hours.  What’s your involvement in the writing community, Anita? The children’s book writing community is absolutely fabulous. I began to engage with this amazing community in early 2020. Soon, I joined SCBWI and Authors Guild. I was honored to be selected as one of eight inaugural winners of the SCBWI 2022 OMA (Out from the Margins) Award. The financial support and training we all received was immensely beneficial in planning a successful book launch. However, I might not have received my first publishing contract without the insight from my wonderful critique partners. Valerie, I thank you for inviting me to join your critique group, even though you are all back east, and I’m in California. Since the group was meeting online, I was able to join them virtually. They were instrumental in helping me make Old to Joy shine. I remember originally connecting with you, Valerie, through our involvement with Black Creators in KidLit (now Black Creators HQ). I responded to a tweet by Antwan Eady and was connected with this group, which he helped launch. Over the years, I connected with many other groups and soon joined Picture Book Gold, a children’s book promotion group. I continue to engage with the writing community primarily on X, Instagram, and Facebook. You are definitely involved in the writing community, Anita, and I appreciate you giving me a shout-out. I’m forever grateful that you and I connected in BCHQ and was happy to have you join my critique group. Connections are so important. Speaking of connections, how do you hope young readers will connect with your book? Old to Joy is a journey through time and memories, capturing the essence of cherishing old things and family traditions. For young readers, I hope they will experience a sense of wonder and appreciation for the past, understanding the value in older people who have stories to tell. I also hope they come away with a healthy perspective on aging and appreciation for the wisdom and joy in relation with the older people in their lives. There is so much to offer one another. I agree that we all have much to offer each other, regardless of age. What suggestions do you have for adults who share this book with children? Suggestions for Parents and Teachers:
By making the reading experience interactive and personal, parents and teachers can help children connect deeply with the book's messages and carry those lessons with them. Wow! You’ve certainly given fabulous ideas and options for engaging with your gorgeous book, Anita. What book(s) can we look forward to next from you? I have another picture book with Gnome Road Publishing, titled Plucking Through History, that is set to release in the fall of 2026. I also have several works in progress, including a middle grade novel. Congratulations on having another picture book that will be released soon, Anita, and I look forward to hearing more about your WIPs, especially that middle grade novel. Thanks so much for stopping by the KidLit in Color blog and chatting with me. Old to Joy is available wherever books are sold. Anita encourages readers to support their local bookstore.  Anita Crawford Clark is a writer and illustrator of fiction and nonfiction books for children. Anita grew up chasing butterflies and fishing crawdads from a nearby creek during scorching Sacramento summers. Her stories and illustrations often reflect those memorable childhood years. Anita is an inaugural recipient of the SCBWI OMA (Out from the Margins) Award for her manuscript of her debut picture book, OLD TO JOY , which was released on September 5, 2023. A veteran K-12 teacher, Anita especially enjoys directing musical theatre productions. The athlete in Anita enjoys shooting hoops. The musician in her enjoys playing the drums, piano, and banjo. Anita draws inspiration from her faith, nature, music, history, and everyday life.
You can connect with Anita on: Website: acrawfordclark.com Twitter: twitter.com/AnitaLClark Instagram: instagram.com/anitasfavpics Facebook: www.facebook.com/AnitaCrawfordClark  Rashmi Bismark talks with Meghana Narayan about her picture book, A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING, illustrated by Michelle Carlos. RB: What was your inspiration for A Little Bit of Everything? MN: I am Indian American. My husband is bi-racial Chinese, and I knew that whatever way we brought children into our lives, our family would be inter-racial. How could I prepare them for this beautiful, unique life that they would have? So I started writing a love letter to my future child. I wanted to let my children know that they of course would have a bit of me, their mama, within them, and a bit of their papa. But they were also free to make their own path in this world. I wanted my children to know that while their home culture was incredibly important and I wanted them to hold tightly onto it, that they were so much more beyond that one facet of their identity. RB: Please tell us about your writing process. MN: I feel like I am still trying to find my rhythm as a writer. My schedule isn’t consistent; rather, it's fragmented throughout the day and week. My creative time comes to me in bursts! While I experience a lot of frustration and feel like I am moving at a glacial pace in my career, I made a deliberate choice to prioritize my time with my children. I try to lean into that and recognize this to be the season of inspiration. Stories are all around me as I’m surrounded by the boundless wonder of childhood! RB: What’s the one thing you want children to take away from your book? MN: What I hope readers will take away most is that they are made up of lots of little parts and bits. And that if they take time to collect all of those memories and lay them out, they will discover this beautiful map of identity. No two maps are alike. Amaya meets her younger sister in this story and she gives her the space to make her own path, to write her own story. RB: Do you have any tips for pre-published authors? MN: My biggest tip would be to find community. Share with the world that you are a children’s book creator. Once you start believing it and embracing this identity, you’ll find that connections with others can so easily be made. The writing community is incredibly supportive and generous. Lean on these creatives, seek their advice, and uplift their work. RB: Is there anything you want readers to know about you or your book(s)? MN: I try to write stories where the characters' cultural heritage is highlighted and they are proud of it, but it is only one part of their identity. They are free to try on new identities and change and take layers off. I feel like I was waiting for permission to do that as a young person, and I didn’t get it. Stories and media can offer that mirror, that affirmation, we are all craving. And I’m so glad that more and more children have that now.  Meghana Narayan is the daughter of Indian immigrants. She graduated from Teachers College, Columbia University, has an MA in literacy, and taught in early childhood classrooms for over a decade. She is a mama of two girls and one rambunctious dog named Diggity. After stepping away from the classroom, she founded Teach for the Change, a platform where she shares her passion for creating more inclusive and diverse spaces and experiences for little ones. She is also a visual artist who creates alongside her daughters each day. Meghana lives in Maryland, where you can find her chasing her children through the garden and stuffing her pockets with all kinds of natural treasures! Connect with Meghana at: https://meghananarayan.com
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