Peggy Archer
Children's Author

On March 6th the Ezra Jack Keats Awards for new Writer and Illustrator for 2012 were announced. Beginning in 1985, the Ezra Jack Keats Book Award has been awarded annually to an outstanding new writer and new illustrator of picture books for children (age 9 and under) by the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by the late Keats and dedicated to enhancing the love of reading and learning in all children.

The award for new writer is Meg Medina for Tía Isa Wants a Car
Publisher: Candlewick Press
In Tía Isa Wants a Car, first-time picture book author Meg Medina tells the story of Tía Isa, who dreams of buying a car, and the niece who helps her save. As hard as they work, money is tight—especially since everything goes into two piles: one for here and one for family members far away so that they too can come to the U.S. one day. Medina’s idea for the book began with memories of her family’s first car. “My aunt’s car was a light-blue Wildcat that stalled everywhere and was awful to park on crowded streets,” she said. “But that car could take us anywhere we wanted in this new country. It was freedom.”

The award for new illustrator is Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw for Same, Same but Different
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books, Henry Holt and Company
Through vivid illustrations and an inviting point-of-view, Kostecki-Shaw introduces readers to two pen pals—Elliot, who lives in America, and Kailash, who lives in India. By exchanging letters and pictures, the boys learn that they both love to climb trees, have pets and ride a school bus. Their worlds might look different, but they are actually similar. Same, same but different!

In addition to the awards, for the first time honor awards were given this year. They are:

2012 New Writer Honor:
Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw for Same, Same but Different, Henry Holt & Company

2012 New Writer Honor
Nicola Winstanley for Cinnamon Baby, Kids Can Press, Ltd

2012 New Writer and New Illustrator Honor
Anna Witte (writer) and Micha Archer (illustrator) for Lola’s Fandango, Barefooot Books

2012 New Illustrator Honor
David Ercolini for Not Inside this House!, Orchard Books/Scholastic

Congratulations to the winners and honor recipients!

My own good news is that my picture book on animal teeth is finally finished and in the mail! Thanks to my critique groups, especially my group in NW Indiana who has been there with me on this project from the start, for all of your help. My reward—I’m going to take a break and read some books!  Read More 

My husband and I returned mid-week from a wonderful week in northwest Indiana. It was good to be back home.

We celebrated the marriage of our son and his new wife along with family, old and new. Special congratulations and blessings to Dan and Leslie! Later, we visited with more family and old friends. Their warmth and generosity made my heart full.

During the week, I was a visiting author at Edison Elementary and Lincoln Elementary schools in Hammond, and a guest author for the Beta Delta Chapter of DKG Society. My praises go out to the teachers and parents who plan these events and encourage their students to read and to write their own stories. I could tell that they had been talking about writing. Questions from adults and the students’ interest and questions fed my soul.

Another highlight of the week was to attend a meeting with my Indiana critique group at the Michigan City Library. We continue to meet via Skype every other month, but there’s nothing like getting together as a group. Karen and I have conspired together about writing for children for many years. When we finally met Peggy and Mary Ann at an Indiana SCBWI conference in Brown County, we decided that traveling an hour or more to get together was worth the drive. Later we were joined by Katie and Fred, and sometimes Judy. We go quite a long way back now, sharing our stories, poetry and articles, our good news, marketing tips and conference notes, and our lives. As always, I got helpful comments on the writing that I brought along. The group’s experience, insight and dedication was food for my mind.

We’re making ties here in Missouri, too. We have family and grandchildren nearby, good for my heart. I’ve met librarians and booksellers and am slowly making contact with teachers and schools, which feeds my soul. And I’ve met some wonderful, dedicated children’s writers, feeding my mind.

And it’s good to be back home.  Read More 

Judith L. Roth writes poetry, picture books and middle grade fiction for children. She lives in Elkhart, Indiana. Her latest picture book, GOODNIGHT, DRAGONS has just been released from Disney Hyperion (February 2012).

Hello Judy, and welcome to Peggy’s Pages!

Can you tell us a little bit about GOODNIGHT, DRAGONS, and what inspired you to write it?

JLR: Oddly enough, it was frustration. I had two novel-in-verse books that were being seriously considered by two different publishers (they had me do revisions), and within two weeks, they were both finally rejected. When I got the second rejection, I sat down at my computer and told myself, “I’m going to write something they have to publish,” and I just started writing. I sent it to my agent within a couple of days, and he got two bites days within sending it out. I wish this was a process I could repeat!

GOODNIGHT, DRAGONS is not your first children’s book. Please tell us something about your other published books. And can you tell us about your road to publication—what inspired you to write for children, and how did you get started?

JLR: I’ve always wanted to write books since the time I realized that authors were people and not magical beings. I continued to love children’s literature well past the time when I should have been reading adult literature. I took an ICL course (Institute of Children's Literature) while I was attending college and began submitting. I went to a lot of conferences. I had a lot of encouragement from editors and other writers, and I had poetry and nonfiction and curriculum and songs published, but I couldn’t seem to crack the fiction arena. Finally, about 25 years after first submitting children’s fiction, I had a story accepted. Then a book. Then another book. Then an agent. Then a book to a bigger publishing house. Then two. It was a really long road, but I was determined I was going to keep trying.

My first picture book, Cups Held Out, is about a child who goes with her father to Mexico to gain some small understanding of poverty. It talks about their reaction to their experience that one day.

My second book, Julia’s Words, is about two girls, one hearing, one deaf, who become friends while at a camping ground. They learn how to navigate the complexities of communication and friendship.

Goodnight, Dragons, is about a boy who is called to tame dragons rather than slay them. He senses they won’t be so grouchy if they are shown kindness. It’s a goodnight book, although it didn’t start out as one.

When you have an idea for a book, where do you go from there? Do you outline, or just jump in and start writing?

JLR: In the last few years, I’ve started a new way of beginnings. I don’t wait for an idea. I just start writing, and soon words appear on the computer screen that interest me, and I go further, dig deeper. Sometimes the words don’t interest me, so I leave them in my file as simply freewriting. I don’t know how efficient this is, but it’s fun!

Since you have an agent, Judy, can you tell us something about how your book is marketed? Is this entirely up to your agent, or do you play a part in the marketing?

JLR: My agent is in charge of marketing my books. (I do it for anything else.) He is open to suggestions about where I’d like him to send them. He also tells me if he thinks something isn’t ready, or how it can be made more marketable.

Having written your story, how difficult is it to turn it over to the illustrator? Do you have any input on choosing an illustrator for your books, or on the illustrations themselves?

JLR: It’s exciting to see what an illustrator will do with it. No, I don’t really have anything to do with choosing an illustrator. The editors tell me who they think will be good and then we hope together that the illustrator will agree to work on the book. No input on the illustrations at all.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Did you always want to be an author? What other interests do you have besides writing?

JLR: Yes, always. Other interests include traveling, reading, music, gardening, learning foreign languages, a bit of kayaking, watching my boys become young men, enjoying the beautiful world God made.

What books did you enjoy reading as a child?

JLR: I read whatever I could get my hands on and enjoyed most of it. I remember Edgar Eager’s Magic Series. When I read mysteries, it was about Trixie Beldon. For career series, it was about Sue Barton. I discovered Madeleine L’Engle when I was in fifth grade, and quickly became a fan. I liked the way she made characters from one series show up in another series. A book that really moved me when I was in junior high was Mrs. Mike.

Do you have any new books coming out? What are you working on now?

JLR: My novel-in-verse for Viking is due at copyediting in three weeks. The title is up in the air, but the working title is Serendipikitty. It’s the story of a girl and her father, who are trying to figure out how to be a family again since her mother died three years ago. A kitten dropped off at their door begins to show them the way. The book is scheduled to be out in 2013.

What tips or advice do you have for aspiring children’s writers?

JLR: Be ready to persevere. If you don’t love it, it probably won’t be worth it. Read as much as you can. Join SCBWI and go to conferences. Join or start a critique group. Write.

Do you have a website where readers can learn more about you and your books?

JLR: Yes. It’s www.judithlroth.com. Thanks for asking! Right now I have a contest going on the site that will end with two people getting a free book of one of my first two picture books. The contest will wind up February 29th.

Thank you so much, Judy!

I received my copy of GOODNIGHT, DRAGONS the other day, and I asked my 5 year old grandson if he wanted me to read it to him. He was busy playing at the time and promptly said "No." So I started reading it out loud, to myself. After the first page he dropped what he was doing and sat next to me, absolutely into the book until the end. A kid-friendly testimony to GOODNIGHT, DRAGONS!


GOODNIGHT, DRAGONS
by Judith L. Roth
illustrated by Pascal Lemaitre
Disney*Hyperion 2012
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Since my main focus has been on writing children’s non-fiction and poetry lately, I thought I’d share the websites of a few children’s authors who write wonderful non-fiction for children. Visit the following websites to find out more about the authors, and what you can learn from them about writing non-fiction for children.

Brian P. Cleary: http://www.brianpcleary.com/
An award-winning author of non-fiction and self-proclaimed ‘word nerd, Brian’s books include SKIN LIKE MILD, HAIR OF SILK: WHAT ARE SIMILES AND METAPHORS? On his website you’ll find fun learning games for kids with sound effects and colorful illustrations.
Go to http://www.lkwdpl.org/lfiles/cleary/ for more information about Brian and his books, and for links for writers, teachers and kids.

Sue Bradford Edwards: http://www.suebradfordedwards.com/
A prolific writer of non-fiction for preschool children through young adults, Sue has had over 140 publications in the educational field and in magazines. In addition, she has written many articles about writing for children. On her website under her resume are links to some of those articles.

J. Patrick Lewis: http://www.jpatricklewis.com/scenes.shtml
Visit J. Patrick Lewis on his website to see a list of his books which include FIRST DOG’S WHITE HOUSE CHRISTMAS. Also find riddles and poems, and links to children’s literature and poetry sites. His wonderful poetry and non-fiction for children make learning fun. He has been named the third US Children’s Poet Laureate (2011-2013) by the Poetry Foundation.

Heidi B. Roemer: http://heidibroemer.com/
An award-winning author of non-fiction and poetry for children, Heidi’s books include WHAT KINDS OF SEEDS ARE THESE and COME TO MY PARTY.
Visit Wild About Nature at http://wildaboutnaturewriters.blogspot.com/ where, together with children’s authors Laura Crawford and Kim Hutmatcher, Heidi explores non-fiction books for children. Includes articles, author interviews, book reviews, a list of publishers of non-fiction for children, and more.

April Pulley Sayre: http://www.aprilsayre.com/
Award-winning author of non-fiction and poetry for children, April’s books include RAH RAH RADISHES! April’s site includes the Animal of the Month, educator links, and links for parents, kids, and aspiring authors.

Visit the following sites to find more about non-fiction picture books.

School Library Journal—non-fiction picture book reviews: http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/afuse8production/tag/2011-nonfiction-picture-books/

The Cybil Awards for non-fiction picture books: http://www.cybils.com/2011-finalists-nonfiction-picture-books.html  Read More 

The first week in February celebrates Children’s Authors & Illustrators Week (CAIW). How will you celebrate?

Children’s Authors & Illustrators Week is sponsored by the Children’s Authors Network (CAN!). Their purpose is to celebrate the school visits, library programs, and hands-on workshops that authors and illustrators do to inspire a life-long love of reading and writing. Visit their site at www.childrensauthorsnetwork.com.

Here are some suggestions for ways that children’s authors and illustrators can celebrate CAIW:

• TALK with a children’s librarian or a local children’s bookseller—ask for their input on what children are reading in the genre that you write for. Ask what topics there are in children’s books that they can’t find enough of. Offer to read at story time.

• VISIT independent bookstores and children’s specialty bookstores. Browse, and get to know the owner there. Find out what you can offer as a children’s author or illustrator. (see http://mainstreetbooks.net/, www.stlindiebook.com, and www.kidsink.com, or do a web search for independent bookstores in your area).

• COMMENT on children’s author and illustrator blogs. There are some wonderful blogs written by children’s authors and illustrators with some great tips and articles out there! And when you leave a comment, you also leave a link to your website or blog.

• TALK TO a local school or library about doing an author visit, or send out information about doing an author visit. Read about doing an author visit at Alexis O’Neil’s site: http://schoolvisitexperts.com/?page_id=6, and plan an author presentation so that you’re ready when you get that author gig. Discover what you have to offer to inspire a child to read, and write.

• ATTEND a bookstore or library event featuring a children’s author or illustrator. This is a great way to meet an author or illustrator, observe an author presentation and take notes, ask questions, and come away with some writing or illustrating tips.

• READ children’s books in the genre that you write. Pay attention to what you like about the book, what you would do differently, techniques used by the author or illustrator, words on a page, word length and length of the book overall. Learn from the best by reading the best and also reading the not-so-good. Find a list of Best Children’s Books on websites for Publishers Weekly, American Library Association, Children’s Book Council and parenting sites. Do a web search to find these and other sites.

READ to your children, grandchildren, or borrow your neighbor’s kids. Offer to read at a library, school classroom, or bookstore. Offer to talk to a scout troop or youth group about reading or writing.

What a great excuse to take extra time to read and spend time with people who promote books and reading-- celebrate Children’s Authors & Illustrators Week!
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There’s a free day in February this year, and I’ll take it!

So what does it take for you to meet your writing goals this year? Being self-disciplined isn’t easy. But perhaps signing up for a group challenge can help by giving you some additional motivation.

A notice on one of my writers’ listservs announced the 4th Picture Book Marathon:
Picture Book Marathon 2012
Take the Leap!
“Your Goal: Between February 1 and February 29, 2012, write one picture book a day, until you get to 26. This year, February has 29 days (thus, Take the Leap!), so you get a bonus break day….”
Find more details on Lora Koehler and Jean Reagan’s blogspot at http://picturebookmarathon.blogspot.com/2012/01/pbm-2012-take-leap.html.

Another site encourages you to write a picture book every month with its “12 x 12 in 2012” challenge:
12 x 12 in 2012: Picture Book Writing Challenge
Twelve complete picture book drafts. Twelve months. 2012.
“Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to write one picture book per month for each of the twelve months of 2012. This means a first draft: beginning, middle, end. NOT a submission-ready piece.”
You can read more at Julie Hedlund’s blogsite: http://writeupmylife.com/2011/11/30/12-x-12-in-2012-picture-book-writing-challenge/.

So what do you really get from signing your name to a group challenge? Quoting from Julie’s blogsite:
“…In the end, it doesn’t matter if you have 12, 4 or even 1 PB drafted if you’ve gotten more accomplished by being in the group than by going it alone. …the idea is that we support, encourage, and help each other throughout the year as we try to put flesh on the bones of those PB ideas. “

Also for those of you who write picture books and like the group challenge, watch Paula Yoo’s website for the NaPiBoWriWee—National Picture Book Writing Week. The date is the first week in May. Check out her website at http://paulayoo.com/home.html.

Don’t let that extra day this month go to waste! Find what it takes to get you motivated and energized to write great children’s literature. It might be that signing your name to a group challenge will work for you!
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Here are a couple of contest opportunities for children's writers. Note the deadlines of January 31st and February 29th.

Highlights 2012 Fiction Contest.
This year's theme is a funny story inspired by an unusual newspaper headline. There will be three prizes of
either $1,000 or tuition for the Highlights Foundation Writers Workshop at Chautauqua.

Your entry must be no more than 750 words and postmarked by January 31, 2012. No entry fee is required.
For guidelines and mailing address, go to: http://www.highlights.com/highlights-fiction-contest.

Children’s Writer—Middle Grade fiction.
Submit a well-constructed fictional mystery that will engage readers 9-12, to 900 words. Entries will be judged on structure, appeal for the audience, use of the best elements of the mystery genre, and an interesting protagonist. The judges will look for originality and publishability.

Submissions: Entries must be received by Feb. 29, 2012. Current subscribers to Children's Writer enter free. All others pay an entry fee of $15, which includes an 8-month subscription. Winners will be announced in the July 2012 issue. Prizes: $500 for 1st place plus publication in CW; $250 for 2nd place; and $100 for 3rd, 4th, and 5th places.

For complete information go to: www.childreswriter.com.
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Randolph Caldecott Medal
The Randolph Caldecott Medal honors the illustrator of the year's most distinguished American picture book for children. Presented every year since 1938, the medal is named for Randolph Caldecott, a 19th-century English illustrator known for the action, vitality and humor of his picture books. It is administered by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of ALA.

Dorothy P. Lathrop won the first Caldecott Medal in 1938 for ANIMALS OF THE BIBLE.

This year’s winner is A BALL FOR DAISY written and illustrated by Chris Raschka, published by Schwartz & Wade Books (Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.).

“In a wordless book with huge children’s appeal, Chris Raschka gives us the story of an irrepressible little dog whose most prized possession is accidently destroyed. With brilliant economy of line and color, Raschka captures Daisy’s total (yet temporary) devastation. A buoyant tale of loss, recovery and friendship.

“Chris Raschka’s deceptively simple paintings of watercolor, gouache and ink explore universal themes of love and loss that permit thousands of possible variants,” said Caldecott Medal Committee Chair Steven L. Herb. ‘A Ball for Daisy’ holds as many unique stories as there will be young readers and re-readers.” –from the ALA website.

Caldecott Honor Awards went to:

Blackout, written and illustrated by John Rocco, published by Disney • Hyperion Books, an imprint of Disney Book Group

Grandpa Green, written and illustrated by Lane Smith, published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership

Me … Jane, written and illustrated by Patrick McDonnell and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

The John Newberry Medal
The Newbery Medal is awarded annually by the American Library Association for the most distinguished American children's book published the previous year. The award was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery.

The Newbery Award became the first children's book award in the world. Its purpose: "To encourage original creative work in the field of books for children. To emphasize to the public that contributions to the literature for children deserve similar recognition to poetry, plays, or novels. To give those librarians, who make it their life work to serve children's reading interests, an opportunity to encourage good writing in this field."

Hendrik van Loon was awarded the first Newberry Medal in 1922 for THE STORY OF MANKIND.

This year’s winner is DEAD END IN NORVELT by Jack Gantos, published by Farrar Straus Giroux.

“The importance of history and reading (so you don’t do the same “stupid stuff” again) is at the heart of this achingly funny romp through a dying New Deal town. While mopping up epic nose bleeds, Jack narrates this screw-ball mystery in an endearing and believable voice.

“Who knew obituaries and old lady death could be this funny and this tender?” said Newbery Medal Committee Chair Viki Ash.” –from the ALA website.

Newberry Honor Awards went to:

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai, published by HarperCollins Children's Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers

Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin, published by Henry Holt and Company, LLC.
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On January 10th, author Walter Dean Myers was sworn in as the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature.

Myers is the third person to be appointed to the post, which was created in 2008 and is chosen by a committee formed by two groups: the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and Every Child a Reader, a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Children’s Book Council.

Myers has earned two Newbery Honors, five Coretta Scott King Awards, two National Book Award finalists, the Margaret Edwards Award for his YA literature. His books have also won the Coretta Scott King Award and the Michael L. Printz Award.

He stresses that parents need to read to their children. "Read to them at three months, six months, nine months old," he said, citing a new study showing that, when they start school at five years old, most kids are "already far behind." (from www.shelf-awareness.com)

One of his goals: "Reading has to become cool for boys." Myers was raised by foster parents. He went through some difficult family times and dropped out of high school to join the Army. In spite of everything, he became a successful author. Myers credits his success in life to being able to read.

His platform as ambassador is "Reading is not optional."
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Happy 2012!

Is it too soon to be breaking New Year’s resolutions yet? One of mine was to be on time with weekly blogs, and here it is already January 5th! Here are a few other resolutions, that are still intact up to now.

Reading—at least one book a month. I’d like to say one book a week, but another of my resolutions is to set realistic goals. So if I go for one a week and don’t make it, then I feel let down. But if I go with one a month and read more than that, then I’ve exceeded my goal and feel pretty good. I’ve actually read two books so far in January. One, a Christmas mystery book, and the other, DIAGNOSIS: MONSTER, a children’s book by Nancy Polette which I absolutely enjoyed.

Writing—to finish what I’ve started (I have at least a few things close to being completed), and start something new (I have ideas that have been floating around in my head forever—and my kids wonder why I don’t remember things they tell me!). There are at least two manuscripts that I am determined to finish before the year is out. The best way for me to accomplish that is to aim for their completion sometime in the next few months. I’ve a good start on one of them so far. This category would probably include working on submissions to contests and grants, too.

Marketing—submitting my ‘finished’ manuscripts, the ones that I’ve worked on until I feel they’re ready. That includes some that will probably never be books but would be a good fit for a children’s magazine. And sending out poems that don’t have a home, and submissions to contests and grants. I think I should be able to do this once a month, or at least twelve in 2012. Hey, that might be a good slogan—12 in 2012!

Networking—this is my real challenge! Blogging once a week tops my list. Here are some other things I’d like to do: update my website, learn how to do more on my website, post on facebook more often, maybe even create a separate author listing on facebook, check out other authors on facebook, jacketflap, twitter, and their websites on a regular basis and post on their sites. Another thing is to connect more with other children’s authors in Missouri, through critique groups or by attending author appearances close to home.

When making New Year’s resolutions, it’s also important to look back and see how you did with your Old Year’s resolutions. If you sailed through all of your goals with flying colors, then maybe you need to up the stakes a little. I think that if the resolutions that you made helped you move forward even a little, then you succeeded. So take a look back before striking out in 2012. Then file 2011 away, and leap into the New Year!
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