Kids Comics Q&A Blog Tour

I'm super excited to have the Kids Comics Q&A Blog Tour, organized by Macmillan, stopping by today!

Celebrate kids comics with Q&As with fantastic children’s cartoonists for Children’s Book Week! Join us as great authors talk about their own creative work and the graphic novel industry throughout April and May. Comics for kids are reaching a time of unprecedented acceptance in the American literary scene, and it’s now true that there are comics for everyone. All interviews are conducted by Jorge Aguirre and Rafael Rosado.

I'm honored to share the interview with the Adventures In Cartooning team, with y'all...

QUESTION:  Do you think of your books as a campaign to train future cartoonists? What are you hoping readers take away from your books?

James: In the future everyone will be a cartoonist—and I'm not saying that facetiously. One day all elementary schools will be teaching visual literacy —and cartooning is like the ABCs of visual literacy. Adventures in Cartooning is a text book disguised as an adventure.

Andrew: Most definitely! It's my hope that any kid (or adult, for that matter!) who wants to tell a story with comics—no matter his/her drawing "level"—believes that he/she can do so.

Alexis: The Adventure in Cartooning books encourage readers to tell stories using the skills they already have. Our books don't set out a prescribed method for making comics which I think is antithetical to the creative process. Instead, they seek empower young artists who, hopefully, discover a tool they can use to help process the world around them. The goal is less about training cartoonists than validating a young readers creative impulse. So, if the Adventures in Cartooning books were part of a campaign the slogan would be "Yes, you, can, DRAW!"

QUESTION:  Andrew and Alexis, if we understand correctly, you both met James while students at the Center  for Cartoon Studies where James teaches.  What are some of the things your study at the CCS prepared you for in your lives as working cartoonists?

Andrew: This is true! Alexis and I were members of the school's first graduating class. Looking back, I think one of the most important things I learned from CCS is the process of editing one's own work. Creating comics is a strenuous and time-consuming process, but being patient with your work is one of the only ways it will get better!

Alexis: Two important lessons I learned were, "Watch out for James' elbows in the low post," and "Wearing a sweater during the summer is totally normal in Vermont." But in all seriousness, the school's focus on teaching students about the entire process of creating a comic, from developing an initial concept, through writing and drawing the story, to preparing the final document for printing, is invaluable for any aspiring cartoonist. Additionally, during the first year, students are expected to create at least one complete comic weekly. This heavy work load helped prepare me for the amount of effort that goes into producing a graphic novel for print

QUESTION: James [Sturm], we really enjoyed the 12 Panel Pitch series you curated with Slate Magazine awhile back.  They were funny, weird - in the finest way possible - and we could see some of them as actual movies.  Did you get much response from them?  Are any of the pitches going to become time-traveling-pirate spring-break sports-comedy movies?   Are you going to do it again? 

James: 12 Panel Pitch grew out of a classroon exercise that explored genre structure and tropes and narrative compression. No movie deals signed yet! Will I do it again? Well, I do it every year with students at The Center for Cartoon Studies.

QUESTION:  For someone with a kid who loves your books and wants to read even more about cartooning who or what would you recommend?

James: There are so many great comics out there now. How about chek out some classics like Little Lulu, Moomin, Tintin and Scrooge McDuck? These comics are beloved by generations for good reason.

Andrew: Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud, to my mind, is the best overall book out there when it comes to talking about the art of comics. But it's not only a wonderful tool—it's just an overall great read, and I'd recommend reading and re-reading it whenever you can.

Alexis: For older kids, Scott McCloud's "Understanding Comics" is probably the best book there is about the mechanics of narrative storytelling. "Drawing Words and Writing Pictures" by Jessica Abel and Matt Madden is also great. But, I would agree with James, one of the best ways to learn how to draw comics is to read lots of comics. For example, reading through the Calvin and Hobbes box set is like getting a master class in cartooning.

QUESTION:  What's next for each of you?  More books in the Adventures in Cartooning series?  Or are you working on individual projects?

James: After the four AIC Jr. books are done we'll take a deep breath and hudddle with the :01 crew and figure out if we want to keep it rolling. 

I hope to have two solo childrens books coming out next year. One was inspired by Kamishibai (a Japanese storytelling tradition) and another one is about a sensitive Ape and an Armadillo who doesn't play so well with others. This fall marks CCS's 10-year anniversary so I plan on celebrating.

Andrew: I've got a few projects that I'm working on and hope to flesh out once we've wrapped up the final book in the picture book series. They're in the early stages, so I'd rather not elaborate on them too much because you never know how much something might change from idea to book!

Alexis: We're really excited about the four Adventures in Cartooning Jr. of books that are coming out starting in April. These are unique books that use visual narrative storytelling in a traditional picture book format. I guess the future of the AIC gang depends on how this mash-up is received. I am working on some solo projects during the time I have between drawing the Adventures in Cartooning books but they are still very much works in progress.

Sponsored by the Children’s Book Council with Every Child a Reader and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund in celebration of Children’s Book Week.

Tuck Everlasting 40 Days For 40 Years Blog Tour

I am beyond thrilled to be participating in the Tuck Everlasting 40 Days For 40 Years Blog Tour and to help celebrate this beloved classic! If you have never had the pleasure of reading Natalie Babbitt's gorgeous story of love, family, life, and death, then you are in for such a treat. Tuck Everlasting is one of those super special books that may have been written for children, but touch and move readers of all ages. This lovely little book is imaginative, sweet, funny, thoughtful, and unforgettable with its charming characters and stunning story...

Tuck Everlasting (40th Anniversary Edition)

1/20/15

Macmillan Children's Publishing

2015 marks the 40th anniversary of Natalie Babbitt’s celebrated, groundbreaking title Tuck Everlasting (Anniversary edition on sale January 20). In celebration of the anniversary, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group will publish a special anniversary edition featuring an introduction from Wicked author Gregory Maguire.

Tuck Everlasting asks readers “What if you could live forever?” Doomed to, or blessed with, eternal life after drinking from a magic spring, the Tuck family wanders about trying to live as inconspicuously and comfortably as they can. When ten-year-old Winnie Foster stumbles on their secret, the Tucks take her home and explain why living forever at one age is less of a blessing than it might seem. Then complications arise when Winnie is followed by a stranger who wants to market the spring water for a fortune. 

Upon the book’s publication in 1975, Natalie was greeted with concern from parents and educators who were stunned to read a book about death written for children. She is an author who challenges her readers and thinks the best questions are the ones without answers. This 40th anniversary will introduce a whole new generation to this timeless classic. Four decades later, the question Natalie asks in Tuck Everlasting (“What if we could live forever?”) is still a source of constant intrigue. Young adult literature trends, in particular, seem to be obsessed with mortality. From vampires through the current wave of realistic fiction, it is clear that readers are just fascinated with examining death, or in many cases the possibility of eluding death. The book has sold over 3.5 million copies in the US alone, and has never been out of print since publication. This edition features an introduction from Wicked author Gregory Maguire.

Praise for Tuck Everlasting

"A fearsome and beautifully written book that can’t be put down or forgotten." —The New York Times

"Exciting and excellently written." —The New York Times Book Review

"With its serious intentions and light touch the story is, like the Tucks, timeless." —Chicago Sun-Times

"Rarely does one find a book with such prose. Flawless in both style and structure, it is rich in imagery and punctuated with light fillips of humor. The author manipulates her plot deftly, dealing with six main characters brought together because of a spring whose waters can bestow everlasting life. . . . Underlying the drama is the dilemma of the age-old desire for perpetual youth." —The Horn Book Magazine

"Probably the best work of our best children’s novelist." —Harper’s

"Natalie Babbitt’s great skill is spinning fantasy with the lilt and sense of timeless wisdom of the old fairy tales. . . . It lingers on, haunting your waking hours, making you ponder." —The Boston Globe

"This book is as shapely, crisp, sweet, and tangy as a summer-ripe pear." —Entertainment Weekly

"Beautiful and descriptive language is the strength of Babbitt’s fantasy about Winnie and her encounter with the Tuck family, who cause her—and readers—to ponder an important question: What would it be like to live forever?" —Booklist

Pre-order the special 40th Anniversary Edition in all formats

NATALIE BABBITT is the award-winning author of Tuck Everlasting, The Eyes of the Amaryllis, Knee-Knock Rise, and many other brilliantly original books for young people. She began her career in 1966 as the illustrator of The Forty-Ninth Magician, a collaboration with her husband. When her husband became a college president and no longer had time to collaborate, Babbitt tried her hand at writing. Her first novel, The Search for Delicious, established her gift for writing magical tales with profound meaning. Knee-Knock Rise earned her a Newbery Honor, and in 2002, Tuck Everlasting was adapted into a major motion picture. Natalie Babbitt lives in Connecticut, and is a grandmother of three.

by me!

What if you could live forever?

This is the question Natalie Babbitt asks her readers and the question I've been asked to answer for this blog tour. As a child, I wanted young Winnie to go back to the magic spring as a teenager, drink, and live forever, having fantastic adventures with Jesse...now, as an adult, I'm so glad she didn't. She may not have lived forever, but Winnie lived fully, and that is, after all, the greatest adventure of all. Would I choose to live forever? The easy answer: no. I've been musing over the long, thoughtful answer and honestly, its pretty boring. So, I started wondering what IF I could live forever? I always wondered what fun things Jesse and Miles Tuck did and and saw every ten years. And that got me to thinking about all the fun, amazing things I would want to do if time was no issue. So I give you:

The Top Ten Careers I Would Attempt If I Could Live Forever

1. Astronaut...if I'm going to live forever, then Earth would eventually get too small for me, so naturally, I'd explore the great wide universe and beyond.

2. Marine Biologist...but before I went exploring outer space, I would love to spend decades exploring the great oceans. I would want to find shipwrecks, swim with great whites, and help clean up the oceans.

3. Bookshop/Cupcake Bakery Owner...yep a bookshop AND cupcake bakery! I'd call it Sweet Reads and it would be awesome!

4. Doctor...this would actually probably be the first career I would accomplish because an immortal doctor can save A LOT of lives and deliver A LOT of adorable babies!

5. Nail Polish Designer...I am obsessed with naming nail polishes and have always wanted to design a line of bookish nail polish called Novel Nails.

6. Ghost Hunter...with my own reality television show of course!

7. Actress...c'mon, if I'm gonna live forever then I should go for my 15 minutes of fame. And based on my acting skills, it'll be a very short 15 minutes.

8. Teacher...several lifetimes of experience, learning, and discoveries could make for a helluva teaching career.

9. Disney Princess character at Disney World or Harry Potter character at the Magical World of Harry Potter...how fun would these jobs be?!

10. Time Traveler...I'm going to live forever and chances are, time travel WILL be a reality eventually...maybe, I'll even get my own TARDIS!

and for some extra fun...

Top Five Things I Would Do If I Could Live Forever

1. read ALL the books

2. learn ALL the languages

3. play ALL the instruments

4. eat ALL the food

5. adopt ALL the babies

Ok, so whaddya think of my career choices? What would YOU do if you could live forever? Be sure to pre-order the 40th Anniversary Edition and check out the other stops on this blog tour by searching the #Tuck40th hashtag on Twitter and Facebook.

Interview and Giveaway: Yona Zeldis McDonough, author of Little Author in the Big Woods: A Biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder

I'm so thrilled to have author Yona Zeldis McDonough stopping by today to talk about her new middle-grade biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder! Plus, you can win a copy...

Little Author in the Big Woods

(A Biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder)

by Yona Zeldis McDonough

9/16/14

Macmillan

Many girls in elementary and middle school fall in love with the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. What they don’t always realize is that Wilder’s books are autobiographical. This narrative biography describes more of the details of the young Laura’s real life as a young pioneer homesteading with her family on many adventurous journeys. This biography, complete with charming illustrations, points out the differences between the fictional series as well as the many similarities. It’s a fascinating story of a much-celebrated writer.

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N / Indiebound

What three words best describe Little Author in the big Woods?

Fun. Cozy. Inspiring.

Can you give us your best one sentence pitch to convince readers, especially reluctant readers, to give Little Author in the big Woods a try?

Here is a story about a plucky little girl who crisscrossed the country with her family more than a dozen times and who, despite so many hardships and interruptions, never lost her cheerful nature or optimistic outlook.

Grab a copy of Little Author in the big Woods and answer the following:

favorite chapter?  CHAPTER THREE: A TERRIBLE ILLNESS

favorite page?  PAGE 45

flip to a random page and give us a 1-2 sentences teaser:

“And although she did not know it, making pictures with words for her sister was preparing her for what would be her life’s work: it was turning a bright, observant girl who loved reading into a full-fledged writer.”

What was it like writing this biography for children?  

I had so much fun writing this book! I loved learning about the many correspondences between Laura’s life and the stories she wrote.

Was it difficult taking all the fascinating facts about Laura Ingalls Wilder and exploring them in a way that is appropriate for younger readers?

Not really because she had such an interesting childhood and it’s been my experience that kids love to read about the lives of other kids. Laura’s early life was so fascinating that she made it easy!

In all the research you did for this book you must have learned lots of interesting things! What are your top three favorite facts or things you learned about Laura Ingalls Wilder?

That she got her start writing about farm life

That she hated wearing a bonnet

That she was an early feminist who urged farmers’ wives to become active partners in their farms and made sure her own daughter got the best education possible.

Why do you think Wilder’s books and life still resonate with people today?

Life on the American prairie has an almost mythic attraction for so many people: it represents a combination of freedom, self-determination and courage. Laura’s books give us an insight into that life, and they chart its joys and sorrows with great specificity and detail.

What do you love most about this beloved author?

Her resilience and her perseverance.

Fill in the blanks:

I’m really awesome at baking banana muffins!

I’m really embarrassed to admit that I have dreadful penmanship!

The last great book I read was THE GOLDFINCH, by Donna Tartt.

If you were to create and bake a cupcake inspired by Little Author in the big Woods, what would it look and taste like, and what would you call it?

The cupcake would be made of yellow cake, to represent the golden plains of the prairie landscape.  The frosting would be green and blue butter cream, to represent the lush forests and cooling rivers that Laura knew so well.  I would call it Ode to America and it would taste fresh, sweet, delicious, and unlike anything else.

Thanks so much for stopping by, Yona!

website * goodreads * blog

Yona Zeldis McDonough is the author of many books for children, includingSisters in Strength, Anne Frank, and Louisa: The Life of Louisa May Alcott. Ms. McDonough lives in Brooklyn, New York.

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Little Author in the Big Woods!

Macmillan has generously offered up one finished copy for one winner.

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Interview and Review: S.A. Bodeen, author of Shipwreck Island

I'm stoked to have author S.A. Bodeen stopping by today to chat about her new middle-grade adventure, Shipwreck Island! You can also read my review below...

Shipwreck Island

by S.A. Bodeen

July 29, 2014

Macmillan

Sarah Robinson is deeply troubled in the wake of her dad’s second marriage. She now has to deal with a new stepmom and two stepbrothers, Marco, who is her age, and Nacho, who’s younger. Even though they’ve all moved from Texas to California to start life as a new, blended family, none of the kids seem remotely happy about it.
Sarah’s dad and stepmom then decide to take the whole family on a special vacation in order to break the ice and have everyone get to know one another. They’ll fly to Tahiti, charter a boat, and go sailing for a few days. It’ll be an adventure, right? 
Wrong. Dead wrong.  
Shipwreck Island is the first installment in a series from S.A. Bodeen.

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N 

S.A. Bodeen’s Shipwreck Island is an exciting middle-grade adventure, full of thrills, laughs, and fantastical creatures.

Sarah Robinson is not happy that her dad has remarried a woman he met online. She’s even more unhappy that her new stepmother and two new step-brothers, Marco and Nacho, have moved into the Robinson’s California home. Sarah, Marco, and Nacho get an even bigger nasty surprise when their parents tell them that they will all be taking a private cruise vacation, as a way to get to know each other. A luxurious boat, experienced captain, and cruise around Tahiti: what could go wrong? EVERYTHING! Shipwrecked on a mysterious island, this new blended family must learn to work together if they are going to survive.

Bodeen combines everything a captivating middle-grade read needs- excitement, humor, great storytelling, and likable characters- in Shipwreck Island, to create a fun, edge-of-your seat story that will keep younger readers anxiously turning pages until the cliffhanger ending!

With a mix of adventure, relatable contemporary aspects, and fantastical sci-fi elements, Shipwreck Island will easily amuse and entertain younger readers from beginning to end. From the first moments these characters become a blended family to their less than fun ocean journey and their perilous island adventures, Bodeen crafts an atmosphere ripe with anticipation, mystery, and fun chills. The island this family finds themselves marooned on, dubbed Shipwreck Island, makes for a wonderfully eerie and twisty setting! Giant crabs, kangaroos with claws, terrifying birds, weird sounds and sights- this island is full of the unexpected, the impossible, dark whimsy, and spine-tingling fun!

Sarah, Marco, and Nacho are all likable, endearing characters in their own ways, and I had fun getting to know each of them. Young readers will love Sarah’s humor, Marco’s bravery, and Nacho’s sweetness, and their engaging interactions with each other.

Shipwreck Island is a shorter read and, while I would have happily welcomed more, younger readers will love this bite-sized size book and easily gobble the story up in one sitting. Bodeen leaves us with a shocking, exciting cliffhanger ending and I’m definitely excited for more.

My Final Thoughts: With thrills, humor, fantastical elements, and engaging characters, this middle-grade adventure will please young and older readers alike!

MY RATING

What three words best describe Shipwreck Island?  

Peril. Adventure.  Suspense.

Can you give us your best one sentence pitch to convince readers, especially reluctant readers, to give Shipwreck Island a try?

Shipwreck Island is like Swiss Family Robinson meets Lost…

Grab a copy of Shipwreck Island and answer the following:

favorite chapter? 16

favorite page? 180

favorite setting/place? I like their camp under the monkey pod trees.

flip to a random page and give us a 1-2 sentence teaser: His eyes locked with hers. “I have a feeling that we haven’t seen the worst of this place. Not at all.”

What inspired Shipwreck Island? How did the story come to be?

Jean Feiwel suggested I write a middle grade series reboot of The Swiss Family Robinson, and I knew it needed a very contemporary  spin with a big dose of creepy. Shipwreck Island is where my imagination led.  

Young Sarah, Marco, and Nacho make for three different, yet equally likable characters. Can you briefly tell us a bit about each of them and what makes them special?

Sarah likes her life the way it is. She sees her new step-brothers as invaders to the life she has with her father. She stands up for herself and her family. Whether the boys and their mom will ever be considered family to her remains to be seen…

Marco is a big brother, often annoyed by his younger sibling. He is tough, strong, and doesn’t like having to pull up roots to move in with a new family. He doesn’t let his fear get the best of him, and down deep, he’d do anything to protect his mother and brother.

Nacho is a collector of information, much of which he retains. He wants his older brother to respect him, but time after time he gives Marco reasons to make fun of him. He is the most open-minded of the kids, the only one willing to make a go of their new family situation.  

The characters in Shipwreck Island end up on quite a mysterious, unique island and must rely on some serious survival skills...what would say are the top three things one must have or do to survive being shipwrecked?

Fire-making: top of the list. Shelter-building: also an asset. Common sense/a level head: also important. If you run around freaking out, you won’t be able to build a fire or cook or do anything you need  to.

Shipwreck Island ends in such an exciting, yet cliffhang-ery way...can you tell us anything about what’s to come in book two?

Book 2 starts up seconds after Book 1 ends and the reader will learn much more about the new character and possibly that eerie message in the sand…

As a middle-grade author, why do you think middle-grade is so important? Who is your absolute favorite MG hero and heroine?

I think middle grade is when independent readers really branch out, discover what they like to read, and begin to form lifelong solo reading habits. Providing terrific books at this age is crucial in order to develop/ foster/maintain that love of reading. Oh, it’s hard to pick a favorite. Hero: Charlie Bucket  Heroine: Karana, from Island of the Blue Dolphins.

Fill in the blanks:

I’m really awesome at baking desserts.

I’m really embarrassed to admit that I can’t swim.

The last great book I read was She is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick.

If you were to create and bake a cupcake inspired by Shipwreck Island, what would it look and taste like, and what would you call it?

I think it would be marbled Madagascar vanilla and mango, with cream cheese frosting and green-tinted shredded coconut on top. I would call it The Moonflight Delight, of course.

Thank you so much for stopping by, S.A. Bodeen!

website * goodreads * twitter * facebook

S.A. Bodeen is the author of The Garden and The Compound, which earned her an ALA Quick Pick for Young Adults, a Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year, and a Publishers Weekly "Flying Start." She is also the author of several picture books, including  Elizabeti’s Doll, winner of the Ezra Jack Keats Award. Bodeen grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin. Her first friends were cows, which she named after characters in books. From there she went on to be a Peace Corps volunteer in East Africa, and has lived in seven states, as well as a remote Pacific island. She adores books and is a big fan of cheese. She lives in Oregon.