Seven Questions Over Breakfast with Klaas Verplancke

JULES's latest virtual breakfast is with noted illustrator KLAAS VERPLANCKE, whose art is described by a fellow illustrator as 'strange, yet strangely comforting. Beautifully crafted, and beautifully bonkers.'
by David McGee
 

 
 

‘Battle Bunny’: A Visit with Jon Scieszka, Mac Barnett and Matthew Myers

JULES queries the creative team behind the new children's book, BATTLE BUNNY. An interview with JON SCIESZKA, MATT BARNETT and MATTHEW MYERS.
by David McGee
 

 

 

‘Africa Is My Home’: Captivating Look at a Captivating Woman

JULES considers 'AFRICA IS MY HOME,' the fictionalized story of a real-life child named Margru, taken from her home by slave traders in West Africa, and brought to the U.S. on the Armistad.
by David McGee
 

 
 

The Bookman in Zoomland

JULES welcomes a guest post by DEAN SCHNEIDER, a veteran teacher at Nashville, TN's Ensworth School. Herein Mr. Schneider reveals his plan for a history course he'll be teaching this year--one that recognizes the temper of the ...
by David McGee
 

 

 

Graffiti, Hip-Hop & Misfit-ness

In praise of graffiti-inspired illustrator THEODORE TAYLOR III, in his own book, OFF THE WALL, and in WHEN THE BEAT WAS BORN, the story of DJ Kool Herc.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Baby Penguins Everywhere!: A Chat with Melissa Guion

I welcome new-to-the-field illustrator MELISSA GUION. She’s here to share some of her bright, gentle watercolors and talk about her debut title, Baby Penguins Everywhere!, a picture book as much for the parents and teachers o...
by David McGee
 

 

 

My Beautiful Birds

In MY BEAUTIFUL BIRDS author SUZANNE DEL RIZZO addresses young readers with an instructive, very human tale about the plight of Syrian refugees, told from a young refugee's point of view.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Robert Neubecker’s Little Plane That Could

Two superb new children's books are on JULES's radar: ROBERT NEUBECKER's charming LITTLE SMOKEY and, from the legendary ELOISE GREENFIELD, a personal look at midwives in THE WOMEN WHO CAUGHT THE BABIES
by David McGee
 

 

 

This Very Tree, The Survivor Tree & A Hundred Thousand Welcomes

On the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on America, our acclaimed kids' lit blogger, JULES, finds fresh perspectives for young readers in three new books, two specifically addressing the World Trade Center attacks, another ...
by David McGee
 

 
 

Up-and-Coming Illustrator Brooke Boynton Hughes: ‘I Love Residing in Imagined Worlds’

This month JULES interviews a real find in children's books in up-and-coming illustrator BROOKE BOYNTON HUGHES, who tells us she loves 'residing in imagined worlds.'
by David McGee
 

 

 

Me and the Boss

MICHELLE EDWARDS's ME AND THE BOSS is subtitlted "A Story About Mending and Love." For young readers, it's so much more. Illustrations by APRIL HARRISON.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Last Stop on Market Street: A Visit with Matt de la Peña & Christian Robinson

JULES sits down with MATT DE LA PEÑA, author of one of her favorite new books of 2015, LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET, beautifully illustrated by CHRISTIAN ROBINSON.
by David McGee