 We are so excited to interview author Dr. Haleh Massey about her graphic novel Say Something, Poupeh Babaee!, illustrated by Ghazal Qadri. Read more below. Kidlit in Color: What was your inspiration for Say Something, Poupeh Babaee! ? Dr. Haleh Massey: I originally wanted to name the book Poopy Baby, but that didn’t go over well with my editor. I get it. It’s an important topic and probably shouldn’t be listed in the scatology category. KLiC: Please tell us about your writing process. How long did it take you to write and sell this book? HM: After I went to school for a loooooong time to become a clinical psychologist, I finally sat down to write my first book. Problem was, besides a creative writing class in high school, I didn’t know the first thing about writing for fun. Let’s just say that original manuscript was a lot of talking heads and long-winded Shakespearean monologues about my childhood that I thought were funny. Thankfully, my stubborn mule personality was determined not to give up. Oh, and at the beginning, all my protagonists were white because that’s all I ever read growing up. My husband/BFF, therapist and author, Christopher Massey aka William DeNoyer, gently reminded me that I should write about my own experiences as an Iranian immigrant. So, I went back to the proverbial drawing board. Ten long years and many, many rejections later (sob), I was finally able to land an amazing agent, Heather Cashman, at Storm Literary Agency. A few years after that, with Heather’s patient guidance on explaining what a plot is, she sold my first book to Little Bee. And the rest, really, is history. KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in the book? HM: I love the Nowruz scene because it is literally me, every single year, trying to balance that darn egg on Iranian New Year. And I’m not like some other people who, we won’t name names, balance the egg using the cracks and crevices in the floor. I do it for real. And then someone accidentally knocks it over and I have to wait till the next year to balance my egg again. Although, according to Poupeh’s cousin, Afrooz, the egg balancing thing on spring equinox is all phony boloney and can be done any old day of the year. I refuse to fact check because it will ruin the magic of Nowruz for me. Kind of like construction at Disneyland, but worse. KLiC: What’s the one thing you want children to take away from your book? HM: All kids matter. And all feelings matter. And people should be nice to each other. Period. KLiC: Do you have any tips for pre-published authors? HM: Take on my stubborn mule personality and NEVER. GIVE. UP. If I could learn to write a book after not knowing what a plot was, or setting a scene, or having all my characters float around in time and space, so can you. KLiC: What’s next for you? HM: My semi-autobiographical book My Name is Harriet Mansoor (NOT Hairy Man Suit)! (Lee & Low) is coming out on May 26! It’s sequel, My Name is Hangameh Mansoor (NOT Harriet Mansoor)! (Lee & Low) is coming out Spring ’27! Yippeeeeee -- Dr. Haleh Massey is a licensed clinical psychologist and marriage and family therapist and shares a private practice in the suburbs of Los Angeles with her husband/BFF, author Christopher Massey aka William DeNoyer. In an effort to promote herself on social media without having her clients find her, Dr. Massey shadows as Dr. Wood E. Woodchuck, Ph.D, LRAT, LMNOP, a dapper school psychologist—and rodent—at Rodentia Elementary School in Rodentia, USA. In addition to marrying her husband/BFF and having two beautiful children, Dr. Massey’s lifelong dream has been: 1) to have an unlimited supply of turkey sandwiches and, 2) become a published children’s book author. While she’s still working on the first dream (any/all deli partnership inquiries welcome), her debut middle grade graphic novel, Say Something, Poupeh Babaee! illustrated by Ghazal Qadri (Little Bee Books) was recently released. Dr. Massey's middle grade novel, My Name is Harriet Mansoor (NOT Hairy Man Suit!) illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh (Lee & Low), comes out Spring '26, and its sequel, My Name Is Hangameh Mansoor (NOT Harriet Mansoor!) (Lee & Low) in Spring '27. My website is: DrHalehMassey.com. I also have another website: AskDrWoodchuck.com 
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 KLiC: What was your inspiration for Every Breath, Every Blessing? DW: This story is a gem forged through the fire. Three years ago, our community was rocked by the tragedy at Covenant School here in Nashville. In the days following, I journaled my longing and lament. The tension was palpable in our community, balancing the care our young ones needed while acknowledging our own difficult emotions. I perceived how parents and leaders were navigating difficult conversations with children, and I had a heightened awareness of our collective need to wrap ourselves in warmth, love, and reassurance. KLiC: Please tell us about your writing process. How long did it take you to write and sell this book? DW: I wrote reflections during those tender days to comfort my own heart. As a Pastor and leader who regularly shares words in various formats, I considered that the reflections that helped me could also be a blessing for others. One of my passions in writing children’s books is shaping perspectives on relevant issues. I realized that a book like this would be in line with the type of work I’ve been pleased to publish. So began the process of editing my reflections and formatting a manuscript. I was thrilled when HarperCollins imprint Zonderkidz eagerly jumped on board to partner in sharing this story.   KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in the book? DW: I always champion rich racial representation, and am pleased with how Paran Kim painted the kids with beautiful skin tones. The presence of a child with a cochlear implant is one of the book’s most precious inclusion. One spread shows a Black mama pushing her daughter on the swing. Their joy wraps around my heart and reminds me to delight in simple pleasures with my loved ones. Illustrating rainy and sunny day scenes helps kids understand how the seasons flow together in life and how we can embrace each day. KLiC: What’s the one thing you want children to take away from your book? DW: In the journey of life, we all face ups and downs. I want children (and adults alike) to be empowered to take life one breath at a time and count the blessings in each day. KLiC: Do you have any tips for pre-published authors? DW: Place yourself in a community to encourage others and be empowered in your writing journey. Whether it is around shared identity or similar genres, we are better together. Be your biggest fan! Stay excited about the words you hope to put out into the world. As often as possible, grow through webinars, conferences, and resources to be ready for the publishing journey. KLiC: What’s next for you? DW: My tenth picture book, Love Lives On, releases in August. In addition, I am working on collaborative projects and branching into middle-grade writing. I also have non-fiction stories to share with the world. The writing life is a wild and wonderful adventure!  Dorena Williamson is a best-selling author of nine children's books showing how differences in race, ability, and background can be curiously explored and joyfully celebrated. She is a longtime bridge-builder and clergy in a multicultural faith community in Nashville. She and her family call Smyrna, TN, home.
Visit her at http://dorenawilliamson.com  KLiC: What was your inspiration for HEIRESS OF NOWHERE? SL: The story began with a question: What would happen if someone who had always lived on the margins suddenly inherited enormous power? Lucy has spent most of her life in the background—first as a maid, then as a research assistant to a magnate who runs his shipping empire from Orcas Island. When she unexpectedly inherits the estate and the business, it throws the entire island into turmoil. I was also inspired by the edge-of-the-world setting of Orcas Island in Washington State. It’s a beautiful place with deep history, rugged landscapes, and a strong sense of community. Putting a mystery inside such a small, close-knit world creates wonderful tension—because everyone knows everyone, and secrets are very hard to keep. KLiC: Please tell us about your writing process. How long did it take you to write and sell this book? SL: I start with a healthy dose of curiosity. A story has to absorb me for the entire journey, so I need to be hooked from day one. I knew I wanted to set the book in the San Juan Islands, and when I closed my eyes and imagined the story, I saw a girl walking down a beach and coming across the remains of someone very important to her. From there the questions began: Who was this person? Why was the discovery so meaningful to her? We sold the book off a proposal and a few chapters to my wonderful editor, Sarah Dotts Barley, for her new imprint, Sarah Barley Books. The first draft of HEIRESS OF NOWHERE took about a year to write. After that, I spent several more months revising the manuscript with my editor, shaping the clues and strengthening the characters. Mysteries require careful plotting, so I spent a lot of time making sure the pieces of the puzzle fit together. From the first idea to the finished book, the process took about two years. KLiC: What kind of research did you do for HEIRESS OF NOWHERE? SL: Research is one of my favorite parts of writing. For this book, I spent time learning about the history and ecology of the Pacific Northwest and the San Juan Islands. I read about the plants and animals of the region—things like murrelets, tide pools, forests, and coastal wildlife—because the natural world is such an important part of life on the island. I also visited the island and spoke with experts at the local museum as well as longtime residents to better understand early 20th-century communities in the Pacific Northwest. I toured fish canneries (cooler than you might think!) and learned about fishing methods, the kinds of boats people used, and the many different people who worked in those industries. And somewhat unexpectedly, I also became an expert on lime production. KLiC: Tell us about your cover art (cover provided by Sarah Barley Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's) SL: HEIRESS OF NOWHERE isn’t an illustrated book, but I do love the atmospheric cover art. I think it captures the intense mood of the story and hints at the gothic mystery readers will find inside. And I always encourage readers to check out the case under the dust jacket—it has a fun surprise. KLiC: What’s the one thing you want readers to take away from your book? SL: I hope readers come away thinking about courage in a new way. Lucy doesn’t begin the story as the most powerful or confident person in the room. She isn’t even sure where she belongs. But over time she learns that leadership doesn’t come from status or inheritance—it comes from integrity and the willingness to face problems head-on. Sometimes the people who seem least likely to lead are exactly the ones who change things. KLiC: Do you have any tips for pre-published authors? SL: My biggest advice is simple: keep writing and keep reading. Writing is a craft that improves with practice. Every story teaches you something new. Reading widely is just as important, because it shows us all the different ways stories can be told. And finally, be patient with yourself. Publishing can take time, but every book begins the same way—with someone sitting down and writing the first page. KLiC: What’s next for you? SL: Right now I’m back in the forest, following story trails. It’s a great place to be. I love sniffing out story ideas and following them to wherever they lead. And of course, I’m excited to share HEIRESS OF NOWHERE with readers and hear what they think about Lucy’s story.  Stacey Lee is the New York Times bestselling author of historical young adult fiction, including The Downstairs Girl, a Reese’s Book Pick; Luck of the Titanic, which received five starred reviews; and Outrun the Moon, winner of the Asian Pacific Award for Literature. A native of southern California and fourth-generation Chinese American, she is a founder of the We Need Diverse Books movement and writes stories for all kids (even the ones who look like adults).
 KLiC: Please tell us about your writing process. How long did it take you to write and sell Rica Baptista: The Box of Possibilities? JCB: I am a ‘pantser’ by nature. A single sentence will often come to mind and, without a clue of where the story is going, I start writing. Some people have great success writing this way, but I find that when I write longer pieces, my plot falls flat even though I’ve been told that my characters are strong and the voice is spot on. The problem is that when I try to be a ‘plotter’ and carefully lay out all of the details beforehand, I lose the voice. My remedy was to find middle ground - I’ve become what I call a ‘quilter.’ I allow myself to write scenes as they come to me. With a very slight outline, so slight that I don’t know if I can even call it an outline, I begin to weave the pieces together. Some scenes make it into the story and some don’t, but this ‘quilting’ method allows me to have some idea of where the story is going while keeping the voice strong. I’m not a fast writer but, since THE BOX OF POSSIBILITIES was sold on proposal (I already had a contract for the first book in the series), I had no choice but to write it somewhat quickly. Luckily, it flowed! KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in the book? JCB: As a chapter book, THE BOX OF POSSIBILITIES has black and white illustrations on some, but not all, of the pages. But even in black and white, Gladys Jose managed to capture the personalities of the characters perfectly. That’s evident even from the first illustration you see, which is the book’s cover. Rica and her best friend Laini’s expressions reveal their excitement about what could potentially be in the box while Rica’s older cousin Serenity looks completely annoyed at their excitement. When I saw the very first illustration of Rica (for the first book in the series, LLAMAS, IGUANAS, AND MY VERY BEST FRIEND), I was excited because the day before I had just put my granddaughter’s hair in the same style, including the clip on the side of her hair. I was happy to see an authentic representation of a young Black girl. KLiC: What’s the one thing you want children to take away from your book? JCB: I want kids to be encouraged to dream! Imagination is the building block for anything that ever has ever been or will ever be accomplished or invented. KLiC: Do you have any tips for pre-published authors? JCB: Build community. Find the people who will encourage you when you’re feeling discouraged, who will offer honest feedback, and who will genuinely celebrate your wins. Fortunately, there are an abundance of wonderful people in the kidlit community. If I ever decide to quit writing (which I might have done a few times - it didn’t take), I will still find ways to stay connected to the kidlit community. KLiC: What’s next for you? JCB: I’m very excited about my next project! Read to Grow, a Connecticut based literacy organization, asked me to write a board book for them. LOVE GROWS HERE will be donated through the organization’s partner hospitals. Last year their Books for Babies program distributed books to 25,000 expecting families and families with newborns in Connecticut.  Janet Costa Bates is proud to share her Cape Verdean American heritage through the RICA BAPTISTA series and picture book, SEASIDE DREAM. Honors for her picture book TIME FOR BED, OLD HOUSE include an NAACP Image Award nomination, starred reviews, and multiple 'best books' lists. Her latest book, LOVE GROWS HERE, will be gifted to 70% of newborn families in Connecticut through the Read to Grow organization. When she's not doing bookish stuff, she enjoys letting her grandchildren wear her out. You can find Janet online at janetcostabates.com and on Instagram @jcostabates.
 We welcome Cherise Harris, author and illustrator of THE TOY PLANE to the blog today. KLiC: What was your inspiration for The Toy Plane? CH: I first came up with the idea that inspired The Toy Plane years ago, during a class as a BFA Illustration student at the School of Visual Arts in NYC. In recent years, I decided to revisit that early idea and those early illustrations. My agent would always ask, what is the heart of the story? I had just given birth to my son, and I wanted to make a story that would be set in my country Barbados, and I knew I wanted to create a book that showed boys in a more tender story setting; which inspired the theme of loss, and how we cope with grief. KLiC: Please tell us about your writing process. How long did it take you to write and sell this book? CH: When I revisited this story idea, I originally wanted it to be a wordless picture book. I first wrote a summary of the story that I could illustrate from, and then sketched it out and made a book dummy. This process included critique and feedback from my agency, and when all edits were complete, my agent then pitched it to the editor. My editor loved the wordless story, but felt that including words would enhance the experience for children, especially in our targeted age group; so we decided to include a few words of story throughout the book. As both an illustrator and an author, this process worked well for me, and the written words became a blend of narration as well as a beautiful poetic journey, where the use of metaphor can take readers on a deeper interpretation of the illustrations. I would say the process to write and sell the book took roughly a year.  KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in the book? CH: My favorite illustrations in the book include first in the beginning, when Leonard's father gifts him the toy plane, and Leonard is overcome with emotion. I really enjoyed showing this tender moment between a father and son. My other favorites are the fantasy scenes. Growing up in Barbados I loved fantasy books like the Chronicles of Narnia, but I didn't see children with skin like mine that were in stories like that. In The Toy Plane, I really enjoyed illustrating Leonard flying the plane among dragons and lions with wings! KLiC: What's the one thing you want children to take away from your book? CH: One thing I want children to take away from The Toy Plane is that it's okay to feel a range of emotions when it comes to processing grief. I want them to know that it's okay to cry- especially for boys. When I was making this book, I imagined boys in Barbados and around the world seeing themselves in the character of Leonard, going from being sad, to crying tears, to being lovingly embraced. In the book, children will see that we can go from feeling vulnerable to feeling brave and feeling joy. KLiC: What's next for you? CH: I'm currently working on my first early graphic novel series as both author and illustrator called Audrey's Magic Book Club!  Cherise Harris is an author and illustrator from Barbados. Her work centers around an interest in fairy tales and their role in telling deep, meaningful stories. Cherise uses pencil, watercolor, and clay, exploring her ideas in both 2D and 3D form. She has a master’s in illustration from Falmouth University in the UK.
Headshot credit: Ryan Harris  Today we feature Sili Recio & Elena Lawrence and their picture book, The Other Side of the Garden, illustrated by Brianna McCarthy. KLiC: Please tell us about your writing process. How long did it take you to write and sell this book? Elena told me this story on November 2, 2019. I know the date because it was recounted during one of our nighttime convos. She said "when I was little" and that phrase, combined with the things she was saying, made me take notes as she spoke. I wasn't sure what this would become, but it felt like such an important story. It sat in my notes app and I slowly created the full story around what she shared. I didn't send a proposal until July of 2021. Months later, I spoke to Denene Millner, my editor, and we talked about the themes. I took lots of notes, edited the story and submitted the final draft. We received a formal offer in October of 2022. KLiC: What kind of research did you do for The Other Side of the Garden? Because this was a story that Elena recounted as a lived experience, there wasn't a lot to research around the heart of the story. The research we did was around what other books existed in the space for kids. I felt that there was a need for more books like this one, and I'm now glad that it's here for others. I'm especially grateful to be in the company of a book like The Toy Airplane which offers another opportunity to dance with the topic of grief.  KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in the book? Brianna is such a brilliant illustrator. This book wouldn't land with the power, beauty and depth that the story carries without her illustrations. When I saw the first sketches, my breath caught in my chest at the spread toward the end of the book where it shows the little girl's growth over time. I tear up recounting this even now. It reminded me of how much Elena has grown over the years, but also how much life has grown around our grief. Elena: I love every single illustration created by Brianna. I'm truly grateful we have such an amazing artist to help bring this project to life. If I had to pick one, I'd say it's the cover image where the girl is holding the butterfly. I also love the cats that can be found in the background throughout the book. KLiC: What's the one thing you want children to take away from your book? Elena: I hope that when kids read this book, they gain a sense of comfort. It can be hard losing someone at a young age, but it's important to understand it gets easier with support from others. Sili: I want children to feel seen and validated. We don't often explore what children are feeling after the loss of a loved one because they might not have the words to explain. I pray this gives them visibility and an understanding that they're not alone. KLiC: What's next for you? Elena would probably say college. She will be a junior next year and we are already discussing college visits, SATs, and application essays. I'm sitting in expectation as to what our little book will do for her as she moves forward in life. That's been the unexpected treat this project has provided. For me? There's another children's book in the works and I'm mulling over several other projects for older children and adults. But immediately next is the desire to be present with this new book, to sit with people in their grief – children especially – as this book makes it out into the world.  Sili Recio has been calling herself a writer since she won a trophy in a poetry contest in the sixth grade. She is an Afro-Dominican storyteller, disruptor, and Mami. Sili earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rollins College. She entered the world of social media via her blog in 2010 and has never looked back. Sili lives in Florida with her daughter, the Frog Princess, and tries not to pass on her love of café con leche to her child. She is failing. You can visit her at SiliRecio.com.  Elena Djome Lawrence is an artist and violinist who excels in both her schoolwork and creative projects. Her literary debut picture book The Other Side of the Garden was inspired by a story she shared with her mother when she was nine years old. Her imaginative telling of her own grief serves as the foundation of the book, offering inspiration to those navigating their own journeys of loss.
Headshot credit: Deshay Washingtongton)  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.
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  KLiC: What was your inspiration for JEONG IS JEONG? JY: I was reading the novel Babel by R.F. Kuang, and the book's magic system is based on the premise that there is no such thing as a perfect translation between languages. It made me think about how even as a kid who was most comfortable speaking English, I would still use certain Korean words when talking with family members. Even at a young age, I recognized that there weren't always equivalent words in English. It made me curious if there were any picture books that explored this idea, and I started thinking about what Korean words I would want to write about. KLiC: Did you do research for JEONG IS JEONG? If so, what kind? JY: I researched a number of uniquely Korean concepts before landing on jeong. In fact, as a Korean American who isn't completely fluent in Korean, I wasn't familiar with the word until working on this book! When I read about jeong, it was a total aha! moment. It was a concept that I knew in my bones and was now finally able to name. After I wrote the manuscript, I had my parents read it to make sure they felt I was accurately representing the spirit of jeong. I also researched comp titles. I wanted to: 1) see if picture books about words in other languages had been done before and 2) ensure I wasn't writing something too similar. I came across a number of lovely picture books, including Eleven Words for Love by Randa Abdel-fattah and Maxine Beneba Clarke, I Am You: A Book about Ubuntu by Refiloe Moahloli and Zinelda McDonald, and Namaste Is a Greeting by Suma Subramaniam and Sandhya Prabhat.  KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in the book? JY: Michelle Lee's art is full of warmth, love, and so much jeong! I truly adore every page, but if I had to pick favorites, it would be the endpapers. There are so many little details to discover. And you'll definitely want to compare the front and back versions because Michelle did something really fun in the design! Also, I'm going to cheat and name one other thing that I thought was completely brilliant. As the main character Luna learns what jeong means, Michelle has the Korean characters in the background of one spread transform into the Romanization of jeong. Seeing Michelle capture the idea of translation within the illustrations in that way was really magical. What's the one thing you want children to take away from your book? Jeong is a word that I hope will resonate with kids (and their grown-ups!) and spur them into action. In its simplest form, jeong represents the stickiness of relationships, all the big and small things that bond us over time. Particularly today, when the world is so polarized, sharing jeong feels more important than ever.  Jessica Yoon is a Korean American author from Philadelphia (Go Birds!). Her current and forthcoming books include BLACKPINK: A Little Golden Book Biography, Jeong Is Jeong, Kpop Demon Hunters: The Deluxe Junior Novelization, and The Legend of Ban-Dal. She is a member of the Harrisburg Asian Writers Collective and a recipient of the Highlights Foundation’s Anti-Bias Book Bearer Scholarship. When not writing, Jessica enjoys Pilates, spicy food, and spending time with her husband, two kids, and dog. You can find her online at jessicayoon.com, on Instagram, and Substack.
 KLiC: What was your inspiration for PRAYER IS? TFB: In 2022, I received a tip from Agent Kelly Dyksterhouse—who I’ve known for nearly two decades—that Joy Peskin at FSG was looking for a picture book about prayer from a Christian perspective. Since the project hadn’t been a fit for any of her clients, and she knew Joy and I had worked together previously, she asked if this was a project I’d be interested in. It absolutely was. I reached out to Joy and said something like, “A little birdie told me you were interested in a pb manuscript about prayer. Is that still the case?” She said yes and we were off and running. KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in the book? TFB: I’m glad you asked this question in the plural. I have many, but I’ll just point out two. I’m kind of obsessed with the illustration where our main character is sprawled on the bed, fuming. Alleanna did such a great job infusing both humor and relatability in this picture. Anger and frustration are common impediments to one’s desire and ability to pray. But as I say in the book, trying is what counts most with God. Sometimes trying is the best we can do. That’s true about prayer, and it’s true about other aspects of life as well. Another one of my favorite illustrations is the church scene near the end of the book, where congregants are praying in various ways that feel authentic to them. My favorite part about this scene is the teenager in the back giving that bit of side-eye. Is it because of the crying baby, or is she one of the “doubters” that the text refers to? It could be either…or both. It was important for me to state that prayer is for believers and doubters because my study of the Bible has shown me that God wants to hear whatever it is we are thinking or feeling—including our doubts. Even if they are about Him. I’m not ashamed to admit that I have prayed “Lord help my unbelief” on more than one occasion. Alleanna captured the spirit of inclusion through this character in a subtle but powerful way.   KLiC: What’s the one thing you want children to take away from your book? TFB: That prayer is less about memorization and recitation, and more about talking honestly to God. That it’s about more than just asking for stuff. That no one is ever too young (or too anything else) to pray. That’s three things, but I think they’re all equally important. KLIC: What’s next for you? TFB: I have a book coming out in 2027 with Candlewick called MORE THAN ENOUGH. It’s my most personal picture book to date. Not only is it a lyrical celebration of all the everyday people, places, and experiences that shape us, it’s also a reminder that each of us is worthy of the same respect, honor, and dignity afforded to everyone else in the room—no matter who we are or where we come from. This ode to Miami, my childhood home, is being illustrated by Jenin Mohammed, who was also born and raised in South Florida. MORE THAN ENOUGH will mark my first time publishing with Candlewick. They have an amazing reputation in the industry so I’m excited to be on this publication journey with them!  To learn more about Tameka Fryer Brown, please visit:
tamekafryerbrown.com |
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