Top Ten Things to Love About Picture Books (A Book Birthday Countdown)

by Christina Soontornvat
author of The Blunders: A Counting Catastrophe!

10. They are meant to be shared with someone — a child, a grownup, or even a whole classroom full of wiggly people.

9. You can give your favorite ones as gifts to nice people. Mean people should never be given picture books. Give them smelly cheese, loosely wrapped in thin newspaper instead. 

8. They can be so silly that you bust a gut laughing (like KID COACH by Rob Justus).

7. They can be so moving that they bring a tear to your eye (like MUSLIM GIRLS RISE by Saira Mir and Aaliya Jaleel).

6. They don’t have to have any words at all (like DRAWN TOGETHER by Minh Lê and Dan Santat).

5. You can read them again and again and again. (When you are the parent of a three-year-old, this can seem annoying at the time, but years later you will still remember all the words to CHICKA CHICKA BOOM BOOM, and that’s gotta be worth something). 

4. Sometimes when you read them again, you catch something that you missed the first time (like in TEA PARTY IN THE WOODS by Akiko Miyakoshi).

3. They can help you feel fully seen, and loved just as you are (like JUST LIKE ME, by Vanessa Brantley-Newton).

2. We picture book authors write our books for children, but you don’t have to be a child or have a child to enjoy them. In fact, I think our world would be a way better place if all the grownups read a picture book every day.

1. Wait . . . I don’t have this one . . . hold on a second — I must have lost count!

Annnnd . . . cue the segue to my new picture book, out today:
THE BLUNDERS: A COUNTING CATASTROPHE! (Gosh, that was brilliant, wasn't it? You never saw that coming.)

Book Details

THE BLUNDERS: A Counting Catastrophe!

by Christina Soontornvat
Illus. by Colin Jack

Pub Date: February 11, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-5362-0109-3
Publisher: Candlewick

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Cathlin McCullough Photography

Christina Soontornvat is the author of several books for young children, including the Diary of an Ice Princess chapter book series and the forthcoming novel, A Wish in the Dark. The Blunders: A Counting Catastrophe! is her first picture book. Learn more about all her books at www.soontornvat.com/books/

Connect with Christina:
Twitter: @soontornvat
Instagram: @csoontornvat

Connect with illustrator Colin Jack:
Tumblr: colinjack.tumblr.com
Instagram: @colinjackstories

Happy Book Birthday, KID COACH!

By Rob Justus

As a debut picture book author and illustrator, I didn’t know that “book birthdays” were a thing (I like to operate in a nice little bubble). We were told that we could write about anything that celebrates this momentous occasion in an author’s life. It’s a big deal! GUYS! I’M PUBLISHED!!!

I thought about doing a light-hearted post focusing on the evolution of a particular spread in KID COACH that started as this:

And turned into this:

But I didn’t think it did my journey to publication justice.

 A lot of people think it’s easy to make a children's book. Getting published is a marathon, not a sprint.

When I found out an offer was being made on KID COACH in September of 2018, I was sitting alone in my small one bedroom apartment, eating McDonalds in the dark.

Ottawa, Canada — where I live — was in the middle of a mass blackout after a strong storm and a series of tornadoes ripped through several parts of the city. Oddly most of my friends and family were out of town. My partner had taken the car for the weekend for a bachelorette party, so I was relegated to hanging out by myself.

My agent called to tell me the good news, then told me to go celebrate with people, but there I was . . . alone in the dark eating a Big Mac.

At first it was funny. Of course no one would be around to share this news with! But as the weekend went on it gave me time to reflect on the five-year journey it took to get a book deal. The second night without power, I had decided to have a beer in the park overlooking the Ottawa River.

It was at this point that I had a good cry.

I was feeling such a mix of emotions. I was over the moon that I had finally accomplished my goal, my dream! I’d been through numerous submissions, rejections, and loads of self-doubt, but also my life had completely changed in those five years.

One of the reasons I took a shot at becoming a children’s book author and illustrator was because I’d been laid off and couldn’t find a job in my field. My industry had shrunk and I was losing job opportunities to people who had 20 years more experience than me as they scrambled for employment. It was shortly after this that my marriage suddenly came to an end. My ex-wife encouraged me to get into children's books, and I’m forever thankful to her for that, but I know it also played a role in the end of our marriage. Soon after this, my dad relapsed after 30 years of sobriety. I’m not sure what was harder. Going through my divorce or seeing my dad fall off the wagon so hard.

I could have given up then. I was broke. I had no real place to call home. It was just me and my dog, but I knew this is what I was supposed to do. The feeling was and is SO strong inside of me!

Thankfully during that time I met the most beautiful and supportive woman. She believes in me, even when my commitment “to make it” waivers. Without her support I wouldn’t have found my agent. Without her support I wouldn’t have written new stories. Without her support KID COACH would not have made it to publication, and it certainly wouldn’t be the fun read-out-loud it is today.

Needless to say, that night by the river all these emotions poured out of me. It had been such a long journey, but without all that I wouldn’t be here. It made the good news and that weekend so much more powerful. It made me appreciate where I was, what I had been through, and where I was going. Those five years taught me perseverance, persistence, and hard work.

Now here I am, a year and a half later. A new dad, engaged to the love of my life and prouder than anything that it’s my first book’s birthday! Not only that, I’m hard at work on the next three books to be released over the next two years (a second picture book with Page Street Kids and a series of middle-grade graphic novels named Death & Sparkles). FOUR books in three years!

It’s funny to think that this next phase of my new career started alone in the dark. Thankfully my future seems so bright.

Thanks, and happy birthday, KID COACH!

(Now go buy five copies of KID COACH!)

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Rob Justus is a guy who does this and that. When he’s not doing things, he’s probably doing stuff. His debut thingy, KID COACH, was born out of his love of doodads. He lives in that place where that guy with the air lives.

Follow Rob:
www.robjustus.com
Instagram: @robjustus
Indiebound
Indigo

Book Details

KID COACH

by Rob Justus

Pub Date: February 4, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-6241-4886-6
Publisher: Page Street Kids

20 Questions: Publishing Surprises

By Elisa Boxer and Kjersten Hayes

Welcome back to our series, 20 QUESTIONS!

This is the place where we here at the Soaring ‘20s answer questions about our picture-book process.

With just two months to go until our debut year, today’s question is:

What’s been the most surprising part of your pre-publication journey?

Melanie Ellsworth

Melanie Ellsworth, author of CLARINET AND TRUMPET: “I think it’s the fact that it’s actually possible to write a picture book and get it published. Years ago, I thought that was just a dream — a possibility only for the very lucky and the inordinately talented. But somewhere along the journey, I figured out that while luck and talent are factors, commitment to your craft, perseverance in the face of continual rejection, and support from your peers are far more important.”

Susan Kusel

Susan Kusel, author of THE PASSOVER GUEST: “Crying. I have cried a lot. They’re happy tears but they keep catching me off guard. I’ve been working on this project for so long. Every time I see it get a step closer to an actual book, it’s a very emotional experience. I cried when I first saw a piece of art from the professional illustrator of something I had made up in my head. I cried when I signed my contract. I even cried when I saw the book had an actual ISBN. I’m going to need tissues when I see the final book!”

Kelly Baptist

Kelly Baptist, author of THE ELECTRIC SLIDE AND KAI: “My patience! Since this is a picture book, I imagined that I would be chomping at the bit to see the illustrations. Instead, (while I have been eagerly awaiting the draft pictures) I have made it a point to stay busy with next projects, etc., so that when there are updates, they are pleasant surprises!”

Kelly Carey

Kelly Carey, author of HOW LONG IS FOREVER: “I never thought that what seemed like such a solitary, stay-at-home career, would offer so much comradery. The long journey to publication has given me time to gather an amazing circle of writing friends and colleagues. I have always loved writing, but now I love my writing community too!”

Kjersten Hayes, author of THE ELEPHANTS’ GUIDE TO HIDE-AND-SEEK: “After years of experiencing all the roller coaster hard parts of the industry, I am constantly surprised and amazed that none of it has yet seemed to affect my love of actually making the work. I just love making stories and art for kids. Despite all the hard stuff, the work delights me.“

Rob Justus

Rob Justus, author/illustrator of KID COACH: “I guess my biggest surprise since getting my first book contract has been how much freedom I’ve had in crafting my story, especially with my illustrations and layout. I was expecting so many more comments and critiques. I guess I was lucky in providing the editor and art director with what they were looking for.”

Mary Wagley Copp

Mary Wagley Copp, author of WHEREVER I GO: “The most surprising part has been how much work I feel I have to put into getting ready for publication: business cards, website, planning a launch party and bookstore launch, staying up to date with debut group postings, thinking about school visits! On and on. But I realize that this is all part of getting the book into the world and supporting the work of fellow authors!”

Rajani LaRocca

Rajani LaRocca, author of SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS: “The most surprising part has been REALLY internalizing that a book needs to find the right home, that rejections are not a reflection on me or my writing, and that patience is the best quality to have in the world of publishing.”

Hope Lim

Hope Lim, author of I AM A BIRD: “Every part of the journey requires more waiting and patience than I had imagined.”

Angela Burke Kunkel

Angela Burke Kunkel, author of DIGGING FOR WORDS: JOSE ALBERTO GUTIERREZ AND THE LIBRARY HE BUILT: “The most surprising part has been a new understanding of time! There are long stretches between the offer, signing the contract, different rounds of edits, and just about every other benchmark. I’ve tried to give in to how time moves in the publishing industry and relish the process, from big moments to small.”

Julie Rowan-Zoch

Julie Rowan-Zoch, illustrator of LOUIS: “I suppose the biggest surprise for me has been that recognizing a great (or bestselling) manuscript is as much a shot-in-the-dark calculation for myself and my critique partners as it is for an editor or agent. Starting out, I imagined editors would just know what would sell at first sight. But they have no more super powers than we do!”

Qing Zhuang

Qing Zhuang, illustrator of HOW LONG IS FOREVER: “It was a pleasant surprise to work with such kind editors. It took me several years to break into publishing and I had imagined that editors would be rather cold and ruthless. My editors expect high quality and professionalism but they are also supportive, warm and wise.”

Vicky Fang

Vicky Fang, author of INVENT-A-PET: “I’m surprised (and excited!) every time I see updates on my book! It’s such a treat and I’m always re-invigorated when I see the amazing work my editor/illustrator/designer/team have done.”

Kirsten W. Larson

Kirsten W. Larson, author of WOOD, WIRE, WINGS: EMMA LILIAN TODD INVENTS AN AIRPLANE: “It takes many hands to make a book! Creating picture books isn’t solitary, but involves working with critique partners, agents, editor, art director, book designer, and marketing staff. Every person helps make the book the best it can be and helps it reach a reader who can fall in love with it.”

NoNieqa Ramos

NoNieqa Ramos, author of BEAUTY WOKE: “One surprise for me was how much I have been included in the artistic decisions for illustrations. I am grateful, but find it a tiny bit terrifying. All my years at conferences taught me I would have no input into the process. I even heard illustrators say they found author input to be an infringement on their interpretation of the work. It’s a new learning curve for me.”

Lindsay H. Metcalf

Lindsay H. Metcalf, author of FARMERS UNITE! and co-editor of NO VOICE TOO SMALL: “I never imagined how connected I would feel to the publishing industry, living in rural Kansas, but even my agent and one of my editors work from home. There’s so much opportunity to learn and collaborate online. And I’ve formed true friendships with people I’ve never met in person.”

Joana Pastro

Joana Pastro, author of LILLYBELLE, A DAMSEL NOT IN DISTRESS: “No publishing experience is the same. There’s no use in trying to compare timelines, order of events, or milestones. A Publishers Weekly deal announcement might come in three, nine, or twenty-two months. Some learn their illustrators before a contract is even signed, while others don’t know for over a year.“

Carrie Finison

Carrie Finison, author of DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS: “One surprise for me is how incredibly humbling it is to realize the hours and hours that an illustrator has lavished upon my story to bring it to life. I was thrilled when my publisher selected Brianne Farley, and even though we didn’t communicate directly, I was lucky enough to get some glimpses into her process through posts on Instagram. It hadn’t occurred to me just how many details an illustrator would have to think through about my story that I didn’t have to consider as a writer.”

Candy Wellens

Candy Wellins, author of SATURDAYS ARE FOR STELLA: “I’ve heard other authors express disappointment with how the art turned out for their books. As a writer, it can be challenging when your vision does not match the illustrator’s. And even authors who like the end result are dismayed with how different it is from what they had imagined. So the most surprising part of my journey so far is how pleased I am with the art for my book.”

Abi Cushman

Abi Cushman, author/illustrator of SOAKED!: “The warm welcome of the kidlit community. Four years ago, when I first started, I viewed publication as an individual pursuit. I never would have imagined the strong kinship I now share with other authors and illustrators. We really do bolster each other up.”

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Now… Over to you! Wherever you are on the picture book journey, what’s been the most surprising part for you? Leave a comment and let us know!