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Articles by Chad Otis
Kid Review: Hazel is All That By Chad Otis
About This Book: While observing all the dogs in the park, Hazel realizes that first impressions are not always as they seem in this charming picture book that teaches readers about emotions. Hazel has things all figured out—she is one clever girl. So, when she encounters a snarling dog in the park, she knows that dog is mean. And as her walk continues, she identifies a sweet dog, a sad dog, a naughty dog, and many more.
Spirituality & Practice
In the spirit of The Little Engine That Could and , this ferry tale takes us to "a place with more water than land" where a patient, careful, always-on-time little ferry boat wishes that she was as fearless, thundery, or graceful as the larger boats surrounding her. Wanting to gain the admiration and cheers of human fans, she tries to race as fast as Speedboat, glide as elegantly as Sailboat, and push as fiercely as tugboat.
This Last Adventure, By Ryan Dalton Plus Giveaway
February 11, 2022 Hilary Margitich Book Reviews, Book Reviews - Middle Grade, Inspiration, Writing - Middle Grade & Young Adult To Austin For all the reasons you forgot From those who remember This is the dedication at the front of Ryan Dalton’s beautiful new middle grade novel, THIS LAST ADVENTURE. It is a tribute to his own grandfather and real-life personal hero, who lost his battle with Alzheimer’s disease in 2017.
Interview with Jenny Lacika, debut picture book author
February 8, 2022 Carol Gordon Ekster Interviews, Interviews - Authors & Illustrators, Publishing - Marketing & Publicity, Publishing - Querying & Submitting, Writing, Writing - Critiquing & Community, Writing - Picture Books CAROL GORDON EKSTER: I met Jenny Lacika in my picture book critique group in Cambridge, MA, where we met in person pre-Covid. I’ve watched Jenny’s journey of improving craft and writing wonderful and unique manuscripts.
World of Books #12 Costa Rica
February 4, 2022 Joyce Audy Zarins Book Reviews, Book Reviews - Picture Books, Illustrating, Writing, Writing - Picture Books When my family met in Costa Rica in November, I bought a charming picture book there by a well-known local author. It is inspiring to be alert to beautiful books for children published around this small planet of ours. Llegó mi hermanita – My Little Sister Arrived – by Lara Ríos is the story of young Santiago’s evolving response to the new baby.
February Picture Book Opportunities
It’s February! This post lists what’s scheduled for this month, plus a sampling of what’s coming up. But many resources are on-demand–they’re available all year, on whatever schedule works for you. Where are those listed? At the top of the PICTURE BOOK SUPPORT resource page, ahead of the events coming up for the rest of the year. But hey, you might not click through. So for the next few months, I’ll spotlight one on-demand resource from the resource page.
February Middle Grade and Young Adult Opportunities
January 28, 2022 Lexi Donahue Events & Announcements, Online Events, Publishing, Publishing - Querying & Submitting, Uncategorized, Writing, Writing - Middle Grade & Young Adult, Writing - Tools, Tips & Resources, Writing - Workshops, Events & Courses Welcome to our MG/YA Opportunities post! In 2022, the MG/YA Opportunities post has taken on a new structure but don’t worry, you’ll still be able to find all of the monthly opportunities on the MG/YA support page! All opportunities listed are...
Grace Lin on Diversity & Inclusion
Part 2 of 2: Grace Lin on Diversity and Inclusion Grace Lin, a NY Times bestselling author/ illustrator, won the Newbery Honor for Wherethe Mountain Meets the Moon and the Caldecott Honor for her picture book, A Big Mooncake for Little Star.
Interview with Nancy Tandon, debut author of THE WAY I SAY IT
January 18, 2022 Laura Fineberg Cooper Book Reviews, Book Reviews - Middle Grade, Inspiration, Interviews, Interviews - Authors & Illustrators, Uncategorized, Writing, Writing - Middle Grade & Young Adult I can’t say my name. Not because it’s a secret or anything. Honestly I’d shout it into a microphone right now if I could. I’d give up anything to be able to do that. Even my guitar-playing fingertip calluses, which took like a million hours to get. The first half-million hours hurt. A lot.
Prepublished and Proud: Looking Back, and Looking Forward
January 14, 2022 Hilary Margitich Inspiration, Writing - Critiquing & Community, Writing - Tools, Tips & Resources Hi, again. Some of you may remember me from a few blog posts I wrote here on Writers’ Rumpus in 2021. I dipped my toe into the proverbial waters of kidlit blogging with a few pieces inspired by authors, books, and topics that really spoke to me at that time, and I have no regrets.
Grace Lin on the Craft of Storytelling
January 11, 2022 Amy Amberg Interviews - Authors & Illustrators, Writing - Picture Books Part 1 of 2: Grace Lin on the Craft of Storytelling Grace Lin, a New York Times bestselling author/ illustrator, won the Newbery Honor for her middle grade novel Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and the Caldecott Honor for her picture book, A Big Mooncake for Little Star.
Plotting Great Escapes: Two New Books from Candlewick
December 3, 2021 Joyce Audy Zarins Book Reviews, Book Reviews - Picture Books, Illustrating, Inspiration, Writing, Writing - Picture Books, Writing - Tools, Tips & Resources While seeming to have little in common, the urge to escape can unite those who otherwise live separate lives. That unity benefits all. How might this theme fit into a story plot? In One Mean Ant with Fly and Flea and Moth, the quirky protagonists clearly are of different species with personalities to match.
Getting Back To The Page: How to Start Writing Again
August 20, 2021 Rebecca Moody Writing - Tools, Tips & Resources You meant to write—you really did—but life got in the way. Things got busy, summer arrived, you took a vacation and never fell back into your regular writing rhythm. Or maybe you just needed a break, and so you took it. Whatever the reason, it’s been a little while since you sat down at the keyboard to write . . . and now the thought of doing so is totally overwhelming. Terrifying even. What will you write? What even are words?
August Middle Grade and Young Adult Opportunities
July 30, 2021 Lexi Donahue Writing - Middle Grade & Young Adult, Writing - Tools, Tips & Resources, Writing - Workshops, Events & Courses Welcome to our MG/YA Opportunities post! Marti Johnson and Lexi Donahue are excited to share MG/YA Opportunities each month, we started in April 2021. All opportunities listed are available to anyone with an internet connection. Click the links to go directly to each list.
Sloth & Squirrel In a Pickle, by Cathy Ballou Mealey
July 21, 2021 Kirsti Call Book Reviews - Picture Books The pickles were slippery. The jars were slippery. The floors were slippery. Delightfully heartwarming and hilarious, Sloth and Squirrel in a Pickle by Cathy Ballou Mealey, illustrated by Kelly Collier made me laugh out loud. Themes of friendship, making the best of a bad situation and perseverance make this the kind of picture book that evokes discussion.
Hustle Culture, Overextension, and Writer Burnout
June 18, 2021 Rebecca Moody Inspiration The year 2020 did such a bang-up job on so many writers that here were are, nearly halfway through 2021, and most of us are only now beginning to take stock and recover. To shake ourselves off and start looking ahead to “business as usual.” That’s if we’re fortunate. Some of us are not. Some of us are not recovering. Some have endured too much over the past year to be able to shake it off and get back to business as usual.
Top Ten Picture Books of 2020
December 15, 2020 Kirsti Call Book Reviews - Picture Books I Am The Storm by Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple, illustrated by Kristen and Kevin Howdeshell is the perfect book for 2020. Lyrical text paired with stunning illustrations and a message of empowerment make this a wonderful book to read with your kids when they are weathering the storms of life.
Reimagining a classic: The Great Gatsby as a graphic novel
December 4, 2020 Joyce Audy Zarins Book Reviews, Book Reviews - Young Adult, Illustrating, Inspiration To transform a preeminent and beloved literary work into a graphic novel for young adults is a challenge for the brave. Katharine Woodman-Maynard’s adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby illustrates the full range of innovation required for such a strategic project. Image courtesy of Candlewick Press from the BLAD for The Great Gatsby.
Recommended reading from Deschutes librarians
Children’s books ”Oliver the Curious Owl,” by Chad Otis Curiosity breeds adventure. Meet Oliver. This curious little owl wants to know more than just “Who? Who? Who?” Oliver wants to know everything there is to know, including “What,” “When,” “Where” and “Why.” So, he sets off on an odyssey with his friend Bug to explore the world beyond The Big Tree. From the Faraway Woods to The Beyond, Oliver and Bug ask questions and meet new animals, approaching each new situation with charming inquisitiveness.
Meet #kidlit debut middle grade author, Alyson Gerber
December 13, 2016 Carol Gordon Ekster Events & Announcements, Interviews - Authors & Illustrators, Writing - Middle Grade & Young Adult Carol Gordon Ekster: I had the pleasure of living in the same town as Alyson and watching her grow up into a beautiful, intelligent, and talented woman. When I heard she was working with the amazing editor, Cheryl Klein, I wanted to find out her story behind her story. Here goes: Tell us about your debut novel BRACED.
Interview with Talented Author and Teacher, Jane Yolen
April 21, 2015 Kirsti Call Interviews, Interviews - Authors & Illustrators Jane Yolen books make my heart sing. So when I heard about her Picture Book Boot Camp, I applied. After four days in Jane’s home, learning from her wit and wisdom, I am forever changed. It’s a privilege to interview her for Writer’s Rumpus. Kirsti Call: Your picture book boot camp was transformational and easily the most inspiring and motivating writing workshop I’ve ever been to. What are your future workshop plans?
Kidlit 411 Interview with Elaine Kiely Kearns and Sylvia Liu
June 17, 2014 Kirsti Call Illustrating, Interviews, Interviews - Authors & Illustrators, Writing, Writing - Tools, Tips & Resources By Kirsti Call Kidlit411 is exactly what it sounds like; a high quality site with all the information you would ever want as a kidlit writer or illustrator. Elaine Kiely Kearns and Sylvia Liu, my fellow 12x12ers, launched Kitlit411 in January 2014 and received over 11,400 page views the first month.
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