Author: Karin Lefranc

KARIN LEFRANC had lived in five countries by the time she finished college, but she now lives in a small Connecticut town, which boasts the largest tree in the state. Her picture book I Want to Eat Your Books was published Sky Pony. When she’s not writing picture books, she’s time traveling to the 6th century in her middle-grade novel. You can find her on Twitter @karinlefranc.
Three Pockets Full by Cindy Rodriguez features a boy wearing a guayabera, a traditional Mexican shirt, on the cover and his dog
Book Recommendations, Picture Books

Recommended: Three Pockets Full by Cindy L. Rodriguez

Written by Cindy L. Rodriguez and illustrated by Begoña Fernández Corbalán, Three Pockets Full: A Story of Love, Family, and Tradition will delight young readers as it skillfuly balances themes of grief and change with humor and hope. Beto is adamant that he doesn’t want to wear a guayabera, a traditional Mexican wedding shirt, to his mother’s wedding. He repeats the fun refrain: “Nope! Nunca! Not … Continue reading Recommended: Three Pockets Full by Cindy L. Rodriguez

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Author, Chapter Books, Interviews, Picture Books

Ariel Bernstein Tells Us About Her New Chapter Book Series WARREN & DRAGON

Ariel Bernstein’s new chapter book series WARREN & DRAGON is a modern-day Calvin and Hobbes-esque tale about a dreamy boy and his vain dragon companion. The first two books in the series—100 Friends and Weekend with Chewy—just published last month. So, I am thrilled to interview Ariel, who I had the pleasure of meeting recently at an unworkshop at Highlights. First of all congratulations, Ariel, on the publication … Continue reading Ariel Bernstein Tells Us About Her New Chapter Book Series WARREN & DRAGON

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Creativity and Craft, Master Your Craft

Tasting Your Words: Writing with Your 5 Senses

Welcome to this week’s Master Your Craft post! Each Wednesday we’ll discuss prewriting and drafting a new book from the BIG IDEA to QUERYING. Last week, we talked about Ten Steps to Tightening. This week, we’ll discuss Tasting Your Words: Writing with Your 5 Senses. We are physical beings who experience life on this planet through our five senses. It’s true that our minds love to time-travel, … Continue reading Tasting Your Words: Writing with Your 5 Senses

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Book Recommendations, Picture Books

Monster Picture Books are Monstrously Good for You!

“Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.”– G.K. Chesterton  As I’m partial to monster picture books, I think they should be enjoyed year-round, but as it’s Halloween, it’s time to get into full-on monster picture book mode! After all, monster picture books feature so many hideously fantastic monsters! There … Continue reading Monster Picture Books are Monstrously Good for You!

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Creativity and Craft

Are There Genres in Picture Books?

We always talk about genres in novels, but what about in picture books? Are there any? Are they the same as for novels? Is it even helpful categorizing picture books into genres? It seems to me that picture books can definitely fall into the adventure, mystery, sci-fi, horror (monster books), and fantasy genres, even though we don’t usually do this. Instead, we think of them … Continue reading Are There Genres in Picture Books?

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Creativity and Craft, Master Your Craft

MYC: Pacing and Tension: The Heartbeat of Your Story

Welcome to this week’s Master Your Craft post! Each Wednesday we’ll discuss prewriting and drafting a new book from the BIG IDEA to QUERYING. Last week, we talked about the importance of letting your manuscript sit. This week, we’re talking about pacing and tension. Pacing and tension are the drivers that have us flipping through the pages from the first chapter through to the last one. … Continue reading MYC: Pacing and Tension: The Heartbeat of Your Story

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Creativity and Craft

8 Tips for Writing Picture Books

Writing picture books is hard. It doesn’t matter if you’ve written one or one hundred, just ask Jane Yolen or Mo Willems or John Klassen. But good news is if you keep writing and reading picture books, you will get better! Don’t think your way into your story–feel your way in. Instead of seeing your characters as separate, become your character. For example, if you’re writing … Continue reading 8 Tips for Writing Picture Books

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Creativity and Craft

Unlocking Our Creativity

As writers, we spend so much time developing our craft, but at the end of the day we still need something we can’t seem to control—our creativity. Or maybe we can. At least a little. Author Jarrett J. Krosoczka said in his keynote speech at the recent NESCBWI conference that you need to be bored to spark creativity. He’s right, but maybe it’s more than … Continue reading Unlocking Our Creativity

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Book Recommendations, Conferences & writing retreats, Publishing & Promotion, Writer's Life

Insider Tips To Get the Most Out of Your Next Conference

You’ve signed up for the conference. You’ve chosen your workshops. You may even have signed up for a critique. Now what? You tweak and revise your MS yet again. What else? I asked the Pennies to share their insider tips on how to get the most out of your conference. So without further ado, here are their wise, funny, practical and inspirational tips! Julie Artz: … Continue reading Insider Tips To Get the Most Out of Your Next Conference

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Creativity and Craft

You know you’re a children’s writer when…

  …someone says the word DUTY and you giggle like a third grader …you shamelessly wear dragon jewels! …you know more about the books your kids read than they do …you have more in common with kids than their parents …you get a paper cut and bleed coffee/tea …you day dream A LOT …you have creative ways of procrastinating like sock skating …your co-worker is a … Continue reading You know you’re a children’s writer when…

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