On Translating Annika Thor: A Conversation with Linda Schenck

Annika Thor

Annika Thor's classic A Faraway Island tetralogy, about two sisters growing up apart from their parents due to war, is read in many languages but almost didn't make it into English fully. I spoke by Zoom with Thor's Gothenburg-based translator Linda Schenck.

Avery: Did these books find you, or you them?

A Faraway Island, The Lily Pond, Deep Sea, and Open Sea by Annika Thor, translated from Swedish by Linda Schenck

Linda: They found me. I was contacted by Annika's agent, who wanted a sample translation, and of course I was thrilled and made the sample. Then it took years—not metaphorically—for her to place the books in an English-speaking country. The main problem was that too early on in the books for what the Americans, English and Canadians thought was the target reader, things about sexuality came in.

What happened in the end is Francoise Bui at Delacorte, who had read the books in French, saw the possibilities of these books and not just the problems. She bought the first book, I did the first book—as you know, it won some recognition—the second book also won some recognition, and then Delacorte had had a change of management and decided book 3 couldn't be listed as a children's book. It had to be a YA book. And so, they listed it as a YA book instead, and it didn't find its readers. Book 3 didn't make enough money for them to feel they could justifiably publish book 4. Francoise had moved on by that point, so it was not her fault in any way . . . it was just, you know, a publisher's decision.

I was working on book 4 from the minute I finished book 3, so as not to lose momentum. So by the time they made it clear that they were not intending to publish it, it was long since finished. 

So, the book lay around for a while, and then I said to Annika, "You know, it can't be very hard to self-publish this book. Let's ask your agent, and ask her to ask Delacorte if we can have free hands to do that." And after a bunch of back and forth—and that also took some time!—they gave us free hands.

A: Did you and she feel good about how the ebook came out? 

L: Yes, absolutely. We had very nice communication, and we've had a very pleasant relationship since then. Annika knows a middle school teacher near New Delhi who loves these books in English . . . the teacher reads A Faraway Island with her 11-year-olds every year, and they have a Zoom with Annika. And starting last year, they've also had a Zoom with me. And it was the most moving and touching experience, it was just wonderful! They were these fabulous kids, and they had good questions, and they loved the books, and they were starting to think also about, What role does the translator play in all of this? 

A: Did you find it challenging to translate a series that features young children in the first volumes but later comes to be about young adults getting their first tastes of independence?

L: That, to me, was just a positive. I loved that. Partly because I translated the books just as my four grandchildren were growing into them. And one of the grandchildren is sixteen now, but until last year, she would reread them every year, and at some point during the year she had to write something about a favorite book, or a favorite author; she wrote about these books and about Annika Thor the entire time. I have the definite feeling that she'll read them with her children one day. 

A: The story of two girls having to grow up apart from their parents is, sadly, timeless.

L: It's something that a parent or a grandparent reading the book thinks about too, right? In these books, there's nothing about that existential decision that Stephie and Nellie's parents had to make to send them off, but you can feel it there under the surface, somehow—what a huge, huge choice that was for them. And if you're a parent reading these books out loud to your children, then you identify not only with the children, I think you identify with what the parents are going through when all of this is happening.

A: Finding out what happens to Stephie and Nellie's father is another reason I'm so glad the fourth volume is out in English. 

Would you like to share about your latest project?

L: The Story of Bodri by Hédi Fried is a very short book and meant for very young children—whenever the child begins to develop an awareness of and questions about war and survival. And it's a work of art, it's an absolutely gorgeous book, and told with just the right degree of succinctness. When it came out a couple of years ago in Sweden, I decided, I am translating this book. Nothing's going to stop me. 

A: I see!

L: I mean, it's very short, it was no huge risk on my part. I translated it, and then I wrote to Stina Wirsén, the illustrator, with whom I had had other contact, and said I had done this, and I think the course of events was that she then gave me the email address to their agent, and the agent—I think she thought I was crazy to begin with, like, why would anyone translate something without being asked?

A: I've done it!

L: Me too! She said, "OK. Thank you very much. We'll see," and then there was silence for a long time, and then suddenly, she had placed it with Eerdmans in Michigan. 

A: Seeing your passion for these books, it makes me think of all those folks who see translation as mechanical, automatic . . . but it's connected to our souls. It's heart work.

L: It is heart work.

A: The world has both changed and not changed since 2010, when A Faraway Island won a highly deserved Batchelder Award. What do you feel that these books offer readers in the 2020s?

L: I would just repeat how so many children in the world today are, for reasons relating to war or strife of some kind, separated from their families. And it's really important for our children and grandchildren to know that, even if they are fortunate enough not to experience it themselves. There will be people around them, there will be kids in their class. As they get bigger, they'll be able to volunteer to work with other kids, or be able to help someone in some way, because they're attuned to the fact that turning up in a new country isn't just an exciting adventure.

I feel that it's so important, especially for our relatively privileged children, to think about, Is there anyone on the periphery of my world who might be in a similar situation, and to whom I should think about being a little extra empathetic?

My name is Avery Fischer Udagawa, and I'm honored to be blogging global reads this month on Thursdays. I serve as SCBWI Translator Coordinator (see Translation in SCBWI) and SCBWI Japan Translator Coordinator (see Ihatov).

Which Books Will Win the 2022 SCBWI Golden Kite Awards? Live, Free Awards Presentation Streams Tuesday March 15 at 4pm Pacific!

Did I mention that National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Jason Reynolds, will make a special guest appearance with a short address to the viewers at the start of the event?

Log into Zoom here: https://scbwi.zoom.us/j/92714509642

to be "in the zoom where it happens" and find out which of these amazing nominated books win their category:

PICTURE BOOK TEXT

THE BOY AND THE SEA, written by Camille Andros, illustrated by Amy Bates published by Abrams Books for Young Readers

EVERYBODY IN THE RED BRICK BUILDING, written by Anne Wynter, illustrated by Oge Mora, published by Balzer & Bray/HarperCollins 

EYES THAT KISS IN THE CORNERS written by Joanna Ho, illustrated by Dung Ho published by HarperCollins Books for Young Readers

ME + TREE, written by Alexandria Giardino, illustrated by Anna + Elena Balbusso, published by Creative Editions

SOUL FOOD SUNDAY, written by Winsome Bingham, illustrated by C.G. Esperanza, published by Abrams Books for Young Readers

PICTURE BOOK ILLUSTRATION

GLADYS THE MAGIC CHICKEN illustrated by Adam Rex, written by Adam Rubin, published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Reader

KING OF RAGTIME: The Story of Scott Joplin illustrated and written by Stephen Costanza, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers 

OUTSIDE INSIDE illustrated and written by LeUyen Pham, published by Roaring Brook Press

¡VAMOS! LET’S CROSS THE BRIDGE illustrated by Raúl the Third, story by Elaine Bay, published by Versify

WONDER WALKERS illustrated and written by Micha Archer, published by Nancy Paulsen Books

 

MIDDLE GRADE FICTION

BETTER WITH BUTTER by Victoria Piontek, published by Scholastic Press

CUBA IN MY POCKET by Adrianna Cuevas, published by Farrar, Strauss, Giroux Books for Young Readers 

MIGHTY INSIDE by Sundee T. Frazier, published by Levine Querido

RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE by Rajani LaRocca, published by Quill Tree

STRONG AS FIRE, FIERCE AS FLAME by Supriya Kelkar, published by Tu Books

 

YOUNG ADULT

DONUTS AND OTHER PROCLAMATIONS OF LOVE by Jared Reck, published by Knopf Books for Young Readers

LAST NIGHT AT THE TELEGRAPH CLUB by Malinda Lo, published by Dutton Books for Young Readers

THE MARVELOUS MIRZA GIRLS by Sheba Karim, published by Quill Tree Books

PERFECTLY PARVIN by Olivia Abtahi, published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

WHEN YOU LOOK LIKE US by Pamela N. Harris, published by Quill Tree Books

  

ILLUSTRATED BOOK FOR OLDER READERS

THE GENIUS UNDER THE TABLE: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain illustrated and written by Eugene Yelchin, published by Candlewick Press

PAWCASSO illustrated and written by Remy Lai, published by Henry Holt Books for Young Readers

SAMIRA SURFS illustrated by Fahmida Azim, written by Rukhsanna Guidroz, published by Kokila

THE SEA RINGED WORLD, illustrated by Amanda Mijangos, written by María García Esperón, translated by David Bowles, published by Levine Querido

SPROUTING WINGS: The True Story of James Herman Banning, the First African American Pilot to Fly Across the United States, illustrated by Floyd Cooper, written by Louisa Jaggar and Shari Becker, published by Crown Books for Young Readers

 

NONFICTION TEXT FOR YOUNGER READERS

CHILD OF THE FLOWER-SONG PEOPLE: Luz Jiménez, Daughter of the Nahua by Gloria Amescua, illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh, published by Abrams Books for Young Readers

THE GREAT STINK: How Joseph Bazalgette Solved London’s Poop Pollution Problem by Colleen Paeff, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter

I AM AN AMERICAN: The Wong Kim Ark Story by Martha Brockenbrough with Grace Lin, illustrated by Julia Kuo, published by Little Brown Books for Young Readers

NIGHT BECOMES DAY: Changes in Nature by Cynthia Argentine, published by Millbrook Press

THE PEOPLE’S PAINTER: How Ben Shahn Fought For Justice With Art by Cynthia Levinson, illustrated by Evan Turk, published by Abrams Books for Young Readers

 

NONFICTION TEXT FOR OLDER READERS

EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT INDIANS BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK: Young Readers Edition by Anton Treuer, published by Levine Querido

A FACE FOR PICASSO: Coming of Age with Crouzon Syndrome by Ariel Henley, published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux Books for Young Readers 

FALLOUT: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown by Steve Sheinkin, published by Roaring Brook Press

TOGETHER WE MARCH: 25 Protest Movements That Marched Into History by Leah Henderson, illustrated by Tyler Feder, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

WE MUST NOT FORGET: Holocaust Stories of Survival and Resistance by Deborah Hopkinson, published by Scholastic Focus

Congratulations to all the nominees, and good luck!
Illustrate, Translate, and Write On,
Lee

First Kirkus Reviews International Podcast, Issue Offer Insights and Reading Ideas

Anton Hur

Anton Hur is perhaps best known in kidlit circles for contributing to the volume International LGBTQ+ Literature for Children and Adults. But to hear him interviewed from Seoul on the first international episode of the Kirkus Reviews podcast (March 1) is to meet someone just plain great—and funny—at describing the role of literary translators. We're like musicians bringing to life what's on sheet music, he says, and it's OK that we didn't compose it; we can't all be Taylor Swift. We're like the violinist Hilary Hahn, whose interpretations move people without her being Mozart.

Listen for a lift, more music references, and insights into any and all translated books. Then, keep listening as Kirkus editors discuss several, including

• the picture book Star Fishing by Sang-Keun Kim, translated from Korean by Ginger Ly, published by Abrams.
• the middle grade novel Bronze and Sunflower by Cao Wenxuan, translated from Chinese by Helen Wang, published by Walker (UK) and Candlewick (US).
• the YA novel The Color of the Sky Is the Shape of the Heart by Chesil, translated from Japanese by Takami Nieda, published by Soho Teen.

The Color of the Sky Is the Shape of the Heart is due out on April 5, 2022.

An interview with Seoul-based Kim about Star Fishing appears in the March 1 issue of Kirkus Reviews, free to view and download. The issue also includes an interview with Ghanaian-born, Senegal-based YA author Ayesha Harruna Attah. Finally, it features intriguing releases from around the world selected by young readers' editors Summer Edward (p. 90) and Laura Simeon (p. 118). 

#UkrainianKidLit update: Enchanted Lion is donating all proceeds from web sales of the picture book How the War Changed Rondo by Romana Romanyshyn and Andriy Lesiv, translated from Ukrainian by Oksana Lushchevska, to UNICEF's relief efforts in Ukraine "for as long as the conflict is ongoing."

My name is Avery Fischer Udagawa, and I am honored to be blogging global reads this month on Thursdays. I serve as SCBWI Translator Coordinator (see Translation in SCBWI) and SCBWI Japan Translator Coordinator (see Ihatov). I live near Bangkok. 

Prize Ideas - 24 Book Promotion Prizes to Inspire You and Build Interest in Your Book(s), Compiled by Leila Hirschfeld at BookBub

 

Whether you run a contest on a bookish platform or on social media or to your email list or in some other way, here's an article rounding up "24 Great Prize Ideas for Book Promotion Contests and Giveaways" that goes beyond just giving away a copy of your book.

Standout creative ideas included:

• an ebook reader preloaded with your book

• signed copies of books from multiple authors all aimed at the same readership that includes a signed copy of your book

• book-related accessories (like bookends that thematically go with your book) along with your book

What ideas will the two dozen approaches spark for you? Read Leila Hirschfeld's full article here.

Illustrate, Translate, and Write On,
Lee

#UkrainianKidLit and #UkrainianLit Picks

As all eyes turn to Ukraine, many of us find ourselves seeking Ukraine-born books for children, ourselves, or both. Two hashtags and two groups can help.

On Twitter, #UkrainianKidLit leads to a selection of children's books authored in Ukrainian, translated into English, and published by the likes of Chronicle, Enchanted Lion, and Tate, posted by (especially) Project World Kid Lit—the collective behind World Kid Lit Month in September. Standout Ukrainian titles not yet published in English are also viewable. 

Stars and Poppy Seeds by Romana Romanyshyn and Andriy Lesiv, translated from the Ukrainian by Oksana Lushchevska, published by Tate (UK) and Abrams (US).

Also on Twitter, #UkrainianLit leads to books authored in Ukrainian and translated into English for adults, some of which may interest teens, posted by (especially) the Global Literature in Libraries Initiative—the collective behind the GLLI Translated YA Book Prize.

Further reading can be found, and shared, by slotting other nations into the hashtags and visiting:

Project World Kid Lit

Global Literature in Libraries Initiative

My name is Avery Fischer Udagawa, and I am honored to be blogging global reads this month on Thursdays. I serve as SCBWI Translator Coordinator (see Translation in SCBWI) and SCBWI Japan Translator Coordinator (see Ihatov). I live near Bangkok.

YA Author Bill Konigsberg's Open Letter to Parents Who Want To Ban His Book From School Libraries

The following is shared here with Bill's kind permission. You can read the original posting at Bill's website here.

Dated Feb 18, 2022

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Elliott,   

I recently read with interest your call to remove 282 books from your local school library. In it, you claim to have reviewed yourself all of these books and deemed them unfit for K-12 usage (quite a range there!).

I saw that you included among these books my 2020 novel, THE BRIDGE.

First off, thank you for reading my book! I would be happy to chat with you about the book, to see what you took from it.

Second, I want to say up front that I believe your intent here is to protect your children. I echo your concern; I also want safety for children. It’s one of the main reasons I write books for young adults.

THE BRIDGE, as you know, is about two teens, Aaron and Tillie, who are severely depressed. They are both suicidal, and they meet atop the George Washington Bridge in New York City. From there, the book splits into four parts, illustrating all the possible scenarios about what could happen: they could both jump, they could both NOT jump. Or one or the other could jump. The novel follows the impacts of these decisions all the way out, so that readers can come to understand two things—just how difficult it is to be depressed and navigate the disease of depression, and also just how devastating one loss to suicide is to the whole world.

I was a bit surprised to see THE BRIDGE on your list for removal from the library. Not entirely surprised, as I was aware of Matt Krause’s list of 850 books he wants removed, which includes five of my titles. But still I was a bit startled, especially when I read your review of why the book ought to be removed.

You wrote that the book “Contains 1 or more of the following: Marxism, incest, sexual explicit material — in written form and/ or visual pictures, pornography, CRT, immoral activities, rebellious against parents, and the material contradicts the ISD’s student handbook.” As I looked through your screeds, it seems that this is how you describe each of these books. It’s as if you cut and pasted that complaint 282 times. That surprised me, because you took the time, you say, to read each of these books. That’s a lot of reading! Surely you have thoughts about these books you read beyond some cut and paste jargon?

So I want to address these concerns. While I disagree that books should be removed from libraries because some people are uncomfortable with the content, I felt it made sense to go through these since you specified your issues with THE BRIDGE.

• There is no Marxist philosophy in this book. In fact, its author is a capitalist. Of course, since we live in a free country, a book with Marxist philosophy ought to be able to exist in a library, so long as it isn’t threatening to overthrow the government. But that seems like a moot point here.

• Incest is not a part of THE BRIDGE. In fact, my book does not include explicit sexual activity, though one student at one time writes a poem about wishing she hadn’t had sex with a boy. It is not explicit. In fact, I have read a lot of young adult lit, and I know very few books that include incest, and in each of those cases, it depicts incest in order to help readers who have been through that trauma, not to glamorize it. If you wish to start a petition banning books that glamorize incest in school libraries, I might actually sign it. That’s simply not happening here.

• Sexual (sic) explicit behavior: I had to think about that one, since teens are sexual beings and sometimes have sexual thoughts. Both Tillie and Aaron have sexual thoughts, but they aren’t explicit in their thinking. No one has sex in this book. That is not what the book is about.

• Pornography: There is no pornography in my novel.

• CRT: I believe you are referring to Critical Race Theory. My book doesn’t touch on this. Some of my others do, but this book, again, is about suicide and depression. One of the characters is Korean and was adopted at a young age by a white family. At moments she describes what it feels like to be of a different race than her parents and sister, but at no point does this novel delve into theories about race or a screed about racial inequality. I do wonder what your concern is here, as my understanding is that CRT is a scary buzzword for “teaching history as it happened.” What is the problem with teaching American history, and the fact that this country was built on slave labor? What would you have books say instead? I think it is very important to learn about history. We learn about challenging times in history so that we don’t repeat them.

• Immoral Activities: Wow, that’s quite an umbrella there. We’d have to dig a bit deeper to know what you mean, but one thing I will say is that misbehaving is often central to literature, as novels always have a conflict. If you are referring, as sometimes people do, to sex before marriage, or taking street drugs, I think you will agree that these things do not happen in THE BRIDGE. I have read some books in which characters do have sex and take drugs, and my take is that it is rarely done to titillate, or to glamorize drug use. Usually in YA literature, drug use is depicted as something negative, and that is as it should be. Now, it is possible you consider Aaron’s sexuality immoral, since he’s gay, but Aaron has never had sex. So unless you are the thought police (and I’m pretty sure those people are on the Left, correct?), I can’t really see how anything about Aaron’s behavior in this book is immoral.

• Rebellious (sic) against parents: Ah. I think at one point in this book, Tillie skips school. She is depressed, and she is in a therapist’s office with her mother in the waiting room, and she realizes they want to commit her to an institution because she is so deeply depressed, and she freaks out and flees the office. This is, in fact, rebellious behavior. It is also exactly the kind of thing that could happen in the world. I read that you have an elementary school daughter. Congratulations! I don’t have kids, but I have many friends who do. If this sort of rebellious behavior is means for taking a book out of a library, I think you have some exciting and potentially difficult discoveries in front of you when your daughter reaches adolescence. I won’t spoil them. You’ll find out when you have a teenager!

• I don’t have the ISD handbook, so I don’t know what’s in it specifically. But I do think that if you want to have all the characters in novels adhere to a school handbook, you might have trouble finding novels. In THE WIZARD OF OZ, Dorothy drops a house on a witch. Is murder allowed in the handbook? In A TALE OF TWO CITIES, a French aristocrat runs down a working-class child with his carriage. I would assume this would be considered poor behavior in your district. Should we ban these books, too? Mr. and Mrs. Elliott, the truth is that stories, both fictional and non-fictional, include behaviors that might be considered outside the bounds of how schools might like their students to behave. People lie and cheat and steal. Find me a book for teenagers where no one behaves poorly, and I’ll show you a boring book!

You suggest that the libraries in your district remove THE BRIDGE from its shelves. I guess the question I want to ask, since you have read the book, is: why?

Why, exactly, are you wishing to remove a book about suicide and depression from your libraries?

Perhaps you are concerned for the safety of your students. If so, I applaud you. Health and safety of young people is at the top of my list of concerns, too. As I wrote THE BRIDGE, I spent a lot of time ensuring that I wrote my book in a way that would help teens, not trigger them by making suicide somehow glamorous or sexy. Just like a doctor, who takes an oath to “do no harm,” I take my craft very seriously. I want my books to leave the world better than they found it.

That said, we live in a society where, increasingly, young people are dying by suicide. The reasons for this are too long to go into here, but I would say that among the reasons is isolation and feeling alone and misunderstood.

Right there, in a nutshell, is why I write books for teens. I felt isolated and alone and misunderstood as a teen. I so wished there was a book out there that had a person going through what I was going through. See, I was gay. I knew I was gay because of my thoughts, not because of any book or TV show, because there were basically none of those things back when I was in school. At the time, I was depressed and suicidal because I felt so alone. So I wanted to make sure no other young person went through that.

I am concerned about the young people in the McKinney Independent School District, because in my experience, kids are the same everywhere. There are depressed kids everywhere. There are isolated, at-risk kids everywhere. There are LGBTQ kids everywhere. Getting rid of books from the library won’t change that; it will just make life that much harder and more isolated for those children.

Do you think there should be books in the library that might help a depressed teenager feel a bit more understood? A book that stresses the importance of staying another day, even when everything feels hopeless? Knowing how concerned you are for the safety of your daughter, I would actually guess you would want a book like that available to your child when she gets older. Perhaps I am wrong.

My concern is that you didn’t actually read THE BRIDGE and said that you did. I say this because your list of 282 books includes the exact same concerns for each book. That seems lazy, at best. At worst, it is deceitful, which, I imagine, goes against the ISD handbook. I certainly hope you’re not doing that! It would be hypocritical to behave in ways that go against the values we try to instill in our children.

I think you didn’t read THE BRIDGE, and that in fact you would have been better served to include a book of mine that was more focused on LGBTQ representation. Not because you would be right, but at least then we could have a conversation about why you’re wrong about that, too.

I can say with total honesty that I wish the best for your child. I want for her to have every opportunity for joy and success in life. To experience freedom and happiness.

What I wonder, though, is whether you feel the same way for kids who suffer from depression? Or for kids who are gay? The truth is that like it or not, some kids are gay. Some kids are trans. To make the world safer and better for them, we need to have representation of those people in books. Books with LGBTQ characters save lives. I know because of the hundreds of emails I’ve received from kids who have told me my books saved their life.

Perhaps you would like it better if those kids repressed those desires and didn’t act upon them. Or tried to pray the gay away. I’ve seen that movie. I have met hundreds of men and women over the course of my life who have tried to do that. It doesn’t end well for them, nor does it end well for their spouses.

You might say this is blasphemous, but here is a question for you: what if it turns out your daughter is lesbian or bisexual? You might think this is impossible; I can tell you from experience that I have met hundreds if not thousands of teens and parents in that situation. Kids from conservative, religious households. Parents who believe that marriage is between a man and a woman and anything else is immoral.

My question is, if it turns out your child is lesbian, or bi, or trans, what would you wish for them? Would you want them to feel loved and safe, or would you want them to feel alone and ashamed?

You might think now you’d prefer the latter, but I see from the fact that you are doing so much to try to keep your child safe that perhaps you might change your mind about that. According to a 2021 national study by The Trevor Project, 42 percent of LGBTQ youth considered suicide last year. The number is much higher for trans and non-binary youth. I have heard the argument that this shows that LGBTQ youth are simply troubled, but I can tell you that’s not right. LGBTQ youth are at risk precisely because of endeavors like yours that aim to erase people like them from the library.

I’ll end with a prayer for you, because I know that you are religious. I pray that you and your family find prosperity and joy. I hope that in your prayers tonight, you will pray for at-risk kids who need these books. Because in many cases, their lives depend on it.

Sincerely,

Bill Konigsberg

***

Thanks to Bill for allowing me to share this letter here.

Illustrate, Translate, and Write On,
Lee

Black Creatives Speak Love During Black History Month and Beyond!

A few summers ago, when I wrote DADDY SPEAKS LOVE, I hoped each word would speak love, and through that love, truth—something I strive for in all my work (that and possibilities). For E.B. Lewis, he wanted his illustrations “to convey a strong sense of feeling and emotion.”

                          DADDY SPEAKS LOVE 
       author, Leah Henderson & illustrator, E.B. Lewis

As we near the end of February and the month-long celebration of Black History, I wanted to take a moment to ask a few brilliant debut and up and coming Black authors and illustrators—who speak love into their work each and every day—what they strive to capture, highlight, explore, or reveal in their stories?

FLY author, Brittany J. Thurman

Brittany J. Thurman, author of FLY, illustrated by Anna Cunha said: I always think back on the time I spent with my elders as a kid. Many of those elders are ancestors now. Back then, I didn’t understand their protection, their way of keeping me safe, their way of showing what it meant to be loved. Today, I see every action of my elders, from my great-grandmother pulling me close to give her some “sugar” (a kiss), to my great-grandfather warning me not to eat the left-over communion crackers, it was all an act of love. Elders pop up in my work a lot. I seek to capture what it means to showcase and hold tight to their adoration. I hope to reveal through my words that we are all witnesses to our elder’s protection, to their dreams, which often become the life we are living today. Through them I strive, and I hope my work highlights the prowess our elders exhibited, a legacy that continues with us today.

SHOW THE WORLD! author, Angela Dalton

Angela Dalton, author of SHOW THE WORLD!, illustrated by Daria Peoples wrote: When I look at the work that I’ve created to date, there are two distinct themes that thread throughout my stories. They are the value of independence and finding your path. I enjoy developing and presenting Black characters who are curious. This curiosity finds them exploring places and spaces they’ve been told they don’t belong or have been left out of seeing themselves in. They celebrate Black spaces with joy and pride, and embrace them with honor. As they look, feel, touch, and listen to the world around them they develop what I think is the most important element to claiming independence and one’s unique path – the courage to know that they deserve both. I hope that my work continues to show Black children that their courage and curiosity is a gift, and through both, they can find themselves and their way through life.

A HISTORY OF ME, author Adrea Theodore

Adrea Theodore, author of A HISTORY OF ME, illustrated by Erin Robinson shared: As an author from a marginalized group, one thing that I want to do is write to highlight both the unique and the universal.  I want Black children to see themselves within the story; I want to show what is unique about our experience(s). At the same time, I also want to show what is universal, and how relatable our experiences are for everyone. A Black child may feel ashamed when taught about history that only emphasizes a negative portrayal of Black people; but that feeling of being ashamed?  That’s pretty universal.  A Black child can have the unique experience of being singled out for their skin color; but others can relate to being singled out or excluded for other reasons. We share a common humanity, and I strive to reflect this in my writing.

WHO ARE YOUR PEOPLE illustrator, Reggie Brown

Reggie Brown, illustrator of WHO ARE YOUR PEOPLE, written by Bakari Sellers added: The thing that I strive to capture in my artwork is a sense of familiarity. I want you (the viewer) to feel like you’ve seen that tree or house. You know that group of kids. No matter how mundane, whimsical or fantastical the situation is, you can see yourself in it.

 

YOUR LEGACY illustrator, Tonya Engel

Tonya Engel, illustrator of YOUR LEGACY, written by Schele Williams offered: Coming from a generation of great storytellers, I was so lucky to discover that even as a shy, quiet child, I could tell my truth and speak volumes in my own way—through my art. Once I was sure of my footing and where I wanted to go with my work, I found that I was able to make canvases sing with a certain mystery, playing with visual metaphors, bright colors and symbolism, especially in my fine art originals. In my canvases, people and families are center-piece. Their layered skintones are made up of a kaleidoscope of colors; purples, yellows, reds, greens. The subjects are living, loving, tending the earth, experiencing loss or marveling at the beauty of existing on this wonder-filled earth. All things I long to see in art myself. What I hope the world gets out of my art at the end of the day is Love. Stories made of and made from Love.

Community Book Center, New Orleans, LA

                *Book links support the Community Book Center, a black-owned bookstore.*

Guest blogger, Leah Henderson

Leah Henderson is also the author of the middle grade novels The Magic in Changing Your Stars, 

a 2021 Golden Kite Finalist and One Shadow on the Wall. Her other picture books include A Day For Rememberin’ and Together We March, a 2022 Golden Kite Finalist. When Leah isn’t writing or teaching, she is traveling in search of discovery, stories, and fun. 

The Impact of a New York Times Nonfiction Bestsellers List for Children's Books - and How You Can Support the Idea

Screen shot of the opening paragraphs of the letter to the New York Times asking for children's nonfiction bestseller lists.

On February 14, 2022, as part of the #KidsLoveNonfiction campaign, Mary Ann Cappiello, Professor of Language and Literacy at Lesley University and Xenia Hadjioannou, Associate Professor of Language and Literacy Education at the Harrisburg campus of Penn State University, sent a letter to The New York Times requesting that the paper add three children’s nonfiction bestseller lists to parallel the existing picture book, middle grade, and young adult lists, which focus on fiction. The letter was also shared on more than 20 blogs that serve the literacy and children's literature communities. (I learned about it from nonfiction powerhouse author Melissa Stewart.)

This change will align the children’s lists with the adult bestseller lists, which separate nonfiction and fiction. It will also acknowledge the incredible vibrancy of children’s nonfiction available today and support the substantial body of research showing that many children prefer nonfiction and still others enjoy fiction and nonfiction equally.

The submitted letter included the signatures of more than 500 educators and librarians as well as the institutional signatures of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and the Children’s Literature Assembly of NCTE.

From the letter:

Adding children’s nonfiction best-seller lists would:

• Help family members, caregivers, and educators identify worthy nonfiction titles.

• Provide a resource for bibliophiles—including book-loving children—of materials that satisfy their curiosity.

• Influence publishers’ decision-making.

• Inform the public about innovative ways to convey information and ideas through words and images.

• Inspire schools and public libraries to showcase nonfiction, broadening its appeal and deepening respect for truth.

The letter is now available as a petition for individuals – including those of us who create (write, illustrate, translate) and work in and with children's literature (agents, editors, booksellers, librarians) – to sign to show our support.

Here's the link to read the full letter.

And here's the link to add your name in support of the idea of the New York Times having children's nonfiction bestseller lists.

Illustrate, Translate, and Write On,
Lee

The Stories We Hold

I’m sure I’m not the only one who sometimes feels pressure, from my own inner critic or others, to tell a certain story—a story that is funnier, more serious, more literary, more creative—I could go on and on. Something more commercial or just plain different than what I’ve written or am trying to write. We sit with ideas for days, months, and years wondering if they are the ones we should explore, shape, and share. Hoping they are worth the time it will take to make them into something. 

                          

But how do we ever know if we are picking the right one?

Honestly, I’m not sure we ever truly do. That is, until we actually begin (and even then, I’m still not so sure). I was listening to an interview with adult author Marlon James, where he spoke about how he often “pick[s] the wrong seed.” Where it has sometimes taken him between sixty to five hundred pages to figure out that a storyline or character needed to be left in a bin of ideas. That the right “seed” hadn’t been planted. While the radio host seemed shocked to hear this, I wasn’t surprised at all. I’ve been there. At times, it has taken writing a whole novel to know it isn’t right, that it’s not the story I’m meant to tell or the journey my characters are meant to travel.

                          

This isn’t to say I can’t get there, or that the project should be abandoned, it just means it’s going to take a lot more work. Even then it doesn’t ensure others will agree it’s a worthwhile story to pursue. So I’ve had to find ways to quiet my own doubts, and uncertainties and believe in the story, characters, or moments that have captured my attention and heart. That they are worth figuring out. So now I try and pick projects that mirror seeds I hold dear. Whether it is the things that make me curious, the experiences I grew up loving, or wanting to see, hear, and read or a moment I just wish to uncover or understand. These seeds speak to family, friendship, possibilities, discovery or so many other things. But for me, these are the ideas worth planting.

                           

 

Part of the wonder of writing is the wonder itself, the journey of exploration to find the story that is inside us, built on our hopes, wishes, and experiences. Those are the stories I’m okay with writing extra pages to figure out. While I hope it won’t take me too long to find my way into any stories, these are the projects that are worth the challenge. They are the ideas I will stand by, that speak to me, whether they are the stories my inner critic or others think I should write or not. These will be the stories that I am proud of, the stories that have a little piece of me. These are the stories I’ll hold dear.

 

What are the stories and ideas you will write extra pages for?

Leah Henderson is the author of the middle grade novels The Magic in Changing Your Stars, a 2021 Golden Kite Finalist and One Shadow on the Wall. Her picture books include Daddy Speaks Love, A Day For Rememberin’ and Together We March, a 2022 Golden Kite Finalist. When Leah isn’t writing or teaching, she is traveling in search of discovery, stories, and understanding.

Frané Lessac Retrospective Exhibition and Book Launch: 50 Books in 40 Years - A Guest Post by Frané Lessac

Frané with framed illustrations from the Retrospective exhibition 50 Books in 40 Years

I’ve been fortunate to work with some of the children's book industry's most renowned authors. When some of these greats passed on, I decided to organise a retrospective to pay tribute to their contribution to my career by gifting me their extraordinary words. 

The Retrospective showcases one piece of original artwork from 50 of my books released over the past four decades - from the waterfalls and ravines of the Caribbean to the starry skies of the Milky Way in North America to explore the ancient wonders of my adopted homeland, Australia. The exhibition takes visitors on a journey around the world via the people, communities and places featured throughout my books that celebrate, empower, and inspire young children to discover their own unique heritage and explore cultures that exist outside of their own. 

My career started by chance, on a trip to a little island of Montserrat in the Caribbean. The people, the way of life and the brightly coloured houses inspired me to pick up a brush and paint. To my surprise, tourists and rock stars recording on the Emerald Isle wanted to purchase my distinctive naïve art, and those first paintings are still treasured in private collections in many countries. My desire to share the island's beauty with people all over the world resulted in the first book in the Retrospective - My Little Island. That book led to several more books that celebrate the people and the islands of the Caribbean. 

Since then, my books have brought to life stories from Papua New Guinea, Polynesian folktales, West African creation stories and traditional tales from southern India and Nigeria. The stories have taken readers into poor neighbourhoods in Los Angeles, into the White House in Washington and down the Mississippi River. More recently, my Native American books, We Are Grateful: Ostaliheliga and We Are Still Here! Native American Truths Everyone Should Know with Traci Sorrel, a Cherokee Nation citizen and author, have received the highest accolades in the US. 

Putting together this exhibition made me contemplate how far I've come. Every book is always a challenge. With each new book, I always ask myself, how can I do my best to give the author’s text justice? But as I looked around the walls of the Retrospective, I was immensely proud of all the books and the sense of accomplishment hits home. To see all of one's life’s work in sequential order is uplifting. It showed the progression for the first time in a single space and was an opportunity for visitors to look back at a body of work produced over many years. The Retrospective was also timely as it coincided with the release of my 50th book, which presented an opportunity for the double reason for celebration - to open the exhibition and host the book launch. Our Country, Ancient Wonders, written by Mark Greenwood and published by Walker Books Australia, celebrates my adopted country of Australia’s remarkable natural treasures and wild wonders. 

Gathering a piece of art from 50 books was not an easy task. Almost all of the illustrations from my Caribbean books have been sold in past exhibitions. Luckily, a painting from my first book, My Little Island, is as vivid as the day it was painted. My stepmother's house was decorated in Italian rococo, and my art was delegated to the basement - hence the gouache colours were kept out of sunlight and are as pristine today as the day I painted them. Other books or selected art have been donated to places like the De Grummond Collection in Mississippi and the State Library of West Australia. It's a great honour to know that the book's art and drafts will be looked after for perpetuity. 

In an adjacent room in the gallery, I exhibited large-scale oil paintings that complement my books and document my love of travel. These paintings allowed me to stretch my wings, literally. Painting in oils makes me slow down, as they take so long to dry. The paintings in these rooms give viewers and myself permission to slow down and explore.

The costs of framing, creating a 50-book catalogue, hiring a gallery, and catering was way more than I expected. But by offering art, prints and books for sale, it was a worthwhile endeavour. Fortunately, one of the best children's bookshops globally, Paper Bird Books and Arts, is located next door to the Gallery. They were the official bookseller for the duration of the exhibition. I also conducted a series of Artist's talks, a Masterclass for adults and workshops for children. This has allowed me to interact with the community and a network of students, parents, teachers, librarians, and art lovers. 

And now that the Retrospective is framed with a complimentary and comprehensive catalogue, I've received invitations for the exhibition to travel. The work will be displayed in a regional arts centre and the State Library in West Australia in the coming months. 

A view of the exhibition

The Retrospective exhibition and catalogue are available to view on Frané's website: www.franelessac.com

**

Thanks, Frané! And congratulations on this amazing milestone and retrospective exhibition.

Getting Unstuck: Maneuvering Roadblocks, Hurdles, and the Blank Page

 We’ve all been there, envisioning a perfect story in our minds, only to sit down excited to type, and find the words just aren’t there, or worse, we start off strong and then our ideas and momentum peter out as quickly as they first came to us. Where did all those amazing ideas go that were bursting with imaginative subplots, dynamic characters and heart stopping emotion? They are just gone. Hiding in the shadows of our minds, or maybe they never truly formed. 

This has been my world on countless occasions. Some people might think of this as writer’s block, but I prefer to think of it as not spending enough time with my story, my characters and my story’s world. If I don’t know enough, how will I be able to tell the story I see in my mind? Whenever I am met with these days, I go back to square one. 

                 

In last Thursday’s post, I spoke about discovery and finding my way to new stories in a new year, well, how do I find my way into the one I’ve found, or would like to find? 

 

I start at the beginning of everything. Sounds simple, right? It can be.

 

Whether that is diving into a character’s life, by rutting around in their bookbag or purse, or maybe their most secret drawer, I try to get to know who they are when no one is watching. I try to find what makes them tick. What makes them nervous and happy, what they will fiercely protect and what they will run away from or towards. While most of this I can’t completely figure out by peeking into their bookbag, or suitcase, it does give me a tiny glimpse into who I imagine them to be. What would they grab fleeing a fire? Who would they call last if they could only make one more phone call? Who would they visit if they could only see one more person? What do they carry in their pockets? Or reach for when they’re scared?

                                        

Sometimes I need to shake things up even more, so I’ll hop in my car and take my character out to dinner—what’s their favorite dessert? Do they share? What do they drop in our grocery store cart? What would they spend their money on at a clothing store, toy store, or sports store? What comic would they pull off the shelf? 

                                                

 Why so many questions? Because that is the only way I will truly know and discover who my characters want and need to be for my story. I am trying to find what I don’t already know. I want to be surprised by something. Excited to head to the page again. So I walk with them and talk with them, see what they see, hear what they hear, wonder what they wonder. I am ready to do almost anything to get to know the character they want to be, so that when I go back to the story’s world, I care a little more about them and the world they are traversing. I’m rooting for them and am curious to see how they confront (or don’t) any roadblocks or hurdles I throw their way. In finding them, I find my way to getting unstuck.

 

  Guest Blogger

 

 

Leah Henderson is the author of the middle grade novels The Magic in Changing Your Stars, a SCBWI Golden Kite Finalist and One Shadow on the Wall. Her picture books include Daddy Speaks Love, A Day For Rememberin’ and Together We March. When Leah isn’t writing or teaching, she is traveling in search of discovery, stories, and understanding.

The 2022 SCBWI Winter Conference is Here! #scbwiWinter22

With socials starting today and leading up through the official conference kickoff with a keynote from Brian Selznick, with panels (agents, editors, art directors!) and keynotes and then an entire day to get "up close" with publishing professionals, special illustrator sessions, all the way to Sunday's awards and wrap-up (and even a GenNext Twitter social) we're in for an amazing few days of connection, inspiration, craft, business, opportunity, and community.

Check out the full schedule and all the conference offers here.

And whether you're able to attend or not, head over to the Official SCBWI Conference Blog (at http://scbwiconference.blogspot.com/) for live blogging from a great team of authors and illustrators, including Don Tate, Jolie Stekly, Jaime Temairik, Debbie Ohi, and myself, Lee Wind.

Here's to a great conference ahead!

Illustrate, Translate, and Write On,
Lee