Welcome to the world, LITTLE TORTOISE š¢ , plus advice for aspiring authors and more
Congrats to Carrie Finison on her July new release, HURRY, LITTLE TORTOISE, TIME FOR SCHOOL! with illustrator Erin Kraan.
From the publisher:Ā It's the first day of school and Little Tortoise is ready with a backpack filled with new school supplies. Little Tortoise can't wait to get to school and tries very hard not to be the last student there.
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But soon Cheetah, Llama, and even a snail on a scooter, overtake her.
And then when she gets stuck in the gutter of the book, she's sure she'llĀ be the last pupil to arrive! But the timely arrival of Mr. Sloth, her new teacher, changes everything.
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Gentle reassuring language full of wordplay, and bold and bright art by an up and coming artist offer students a comforting story about this new experience. Here's a fresh way to encourage reluctant students to be on their way.
Kirkus Reviews says, "Hurry to read this adorable, delightful twist on a very familiar tale."
Learn more (and buy the book) in the Soaring '20s BookshopĀ or wherever books are sold.
Affiliate disclosure: If you order the book from Bookshop using the link above, we receive a small commission at no cost to you.
Welcome back to our series, 20 QUESTIONS!,
where we answer questions about writing, reading, and author life.
This monthās question:
Whatās your top piece of advice for aspiring authors and illustrators of all ages?
Darshana Khiani
Follow your curiosity.
āDarshana Khiani, author of HOW TO WEAR A SARI, illus. Joanne Lew-Vriethoff (Versify, 2021)
Kelly Carey
Itās very easy to get stuck in the āthinking aboutā phase of becoming a writer. To get over that hurdle, aspiring writers need to build intention and structure around their writing. This can mean committing to writing at least twenty minutes a day or devoting a specific day a week to writing. Iām partial to Writing Wednesdaysāit has that nice alliteration. Your writing dream needs a concrete plan and goals. For help with that check out www.24CarrotWriting.com, a goal-setting blog I host with fellow authors. Itās full of good advice and help as you kick off your writing journey.
āKelly Carey, author of HOW LONG IS FOREVER?, illus. Qing Zhuang (Charlesbridge, 2020)
Read more advice on our blog, here.
New Cover Reveals
New Book Deals
Join us for theseĀ events
Jun-July - Angela Burke Kunkel will participate in a number of library storytimes. Check out her website for details.Ā Rajani LaRocca has a number of upcoming events during this timeframe as well. See her website for details.
Aug 6 Ā - Colleen Paeff will appear at the SCBWI Summer Conference (virtual) on two panels, "Debut Author Panel: An Honest Talk About the Path to Publication" @ 9:30 a.m. Pacific andĀ Ā "Level up with Layers: Creating an Irresistible Nonfiction Picture Book" @ 2 p.m. Pacific. Valerie Bolling will present "Tips for Your Picture Book Publication Journey.Ā Click here for conference details.
Aug 7 @ 1 p.m. Mountain (in person) Valerie Bolling will present "Let's Look Again and Again and Again: Revision That Transforms" at the Margins. Conference in Denver, CO. FullĀ schedule here.
Aug 9Ā @Ā 4 p.m. Pacific (in person) - Book launch for NANA, NENEK & NINA with author/illustrator Liza Ferneyhough at Books Inc. Laurel. Get full details here.
Aug 13 @ 10 a.m. Central (online) - Getting Into Graphic Nonfiction with Kirsten Larson via The Writing Barn ($25). Register and learn more here.
Aug 20 - Rajani LaRocca will be at the Adirondack Family Book Festiva (in person)l. Learn more here.
AugĀ 24Ā @Ā 7 p.m.Ā Eastern (virtual)-Ā Print: A Bookstore hosts author Melanie Ellsworth and illustrator James Rey Sanchez to read and discuss the creation of their new picture book, BATTLE OF THE BOOKS, on Zoom. Register at Print: A Bookstore.
Aug 27 from 1-4 p.m. Eastern (in person) -Ā Ā The Camden Public Library (Camden, Maine) presents the 15th Annual Children's Book Fair by the Sea! Join Soaring '20s member Melanie Ellsworth and other Maine authors and illustrators for readings and book signings on the beautiful library grounds. Learn more here.
Sep 17 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern (in person)- Bath Book Bash featuring Carrie Finison, Melanie Ellsworth, Anna Crowley Redding, and many more. Learn more here.
Oct 8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (in person) - Join Carrie Finison at the Princeton Book Festival. Full details here.