Welcome to the 11th Annual Author Spotlight Series! This week, we’re featuring daily posts from an inspiring lineup of children’s authors and illustrators: Gabbie Benda, Lauren Castillo, R. Gregory Christie, Julie Leung, Àlàbá Ònájìn, Mel Rosenberg, and Orit Magia. Each creator will share their creative journeys, writing tips, and reflections on topics like bridging reading gaps, creative collaboration, risk-taking, personal history, the art of graphic novels, and crafting images that linger.
Since 2015, we’ve dedicated a week each spring to celebrating children’s book creators. This year’s series promises to be as inspiring and uplifting as ever. As always, commenters have a chance to win book giveaways and virtual author visits!
PREVIEW THE SERIES
Lauren Castillo will start us off tomorrow with “From Picture Books to Chapter Books: Bridging the Gap,” where she shares her journey from a child who found comfort in illustrated stories to an author helping kids make that leap. Lauren reflects on the anxiety she felt as she moved from picture books to text-heavy chapter books, and how that inspired her to create the “Our Friend Hedgehog” series. Lauren’s books blend heartfelt stories with art on every page, designed as a bridge for young readers who, like her younger self, need visual storytelling to boost their reading confidence. Her post highlights the importance of creating accessible, encouraging books that nurture a lifelong love of reading.
On Tuesday, step into a candid conversation between author Mel Rosenberg and illustrator Orit Magia as they share the creative journey behind Emily Saw a Door. Orit explains how her intuitive, minimalist art style perfectly complements Mel’s sparse, evocative text, leaving space for children’s imaginations to flourish. The story and artwork explore themes of searching for belonging, self-identity, and finding one’s voice, conveyed through color, design, and white space. Their collaboration shows how restraint in both illustration and narrative can create a deeply moving, immersive experience for young readers.
This Wednesday, Àlàbá Ònájìn’s post, “The Risks We Take,” recounts his bold decision to pursue a career as an author and illustrator despite pressure to choose a safer path in Nigeria. He shares the doubts, setbacks, and sacrifices he faced as he invested everything in his creative passions, finding inspiration in both his dreams and fear of regret. Through reflection, Àlàbá shows how embracing risk and remembering personal sacrifices can fuel perseverance and resilience, even in uncertainty. His journey is a testament to following your own path and staying true to your artistic vision.
On Thursday, Julie Leung’s post, “What Makes a Personal Memory Worth Writing About?” explores her shift from writing biographies of inspiring Chinese Americans to telling her own story in Navigating Night. Through vivid memories of helping her father deliver food from their family’s restaurant, Julie reflects on trust, adaptation, and the importance of honoring everyday experiences. Her piece illustrates why personal memories, big or small, are vital threads in the tapestry of history.
This Friday, Gabbie Benda demystifies the process of creating comics, emphasizing experimentation and the importance of finding your own drafting style. She shares how her approach begins with bullet points and loose thumbnail sketches, allowing the visual narrative to take shape before finalizing dialogue or scripts. Gabbie discusses planning for speech bubbles and keeping the process playful, blending illustrator instincts with a screenwriter’s mindset. Her insights are perfect for aspiring graphic novelists eager to dive in and discover what works for them.
Closing out the week is a piece from R. Gregory Christie on how powerful images and words combine to leave a lasting impact on children’s books. He describes the artistry behind crafting each visual moment, emphasizing that meaning grows from the careful interplay among words, images, and the flow from page to page. Drawing on his experience illustrating Black Hands: Builders of Our Nation, Greg shares how character, emotion, and movement shape both the art and the reading experience. His insights reveal that the true magic of a book lies in the seamless integration of every part into a cohesive whole.
Giveaway Information
Leave a comment on each creator’s post for your chance to win!
- Lauren Castillo: Enter to win one of three copies of School for Woodland Creatures.
- Mel Rosenberg & Orit Magia: Win a 20-minute virtual author visit with Mel Rosenberg and a copy of Emily Saw a Door.
- Àlàbá Ònájìn: Win a copy of his children’s mystery graphic novel, Korobá!.
- Julie Leung: Receive a 20-minute virtual author visit and a copy of Navigating Night!
- Gabbie Benda: Get a copy of Serendipity and a 20-minute virtual author visit with Gabbie.
- R. Gregory Christie: Enjoy a 20-minute virtual author visit and a copy of Black Hands: Builders of Our Nation.
The Author Spotlight Series celebrates creativity, shares inspiration, and connects educators with authors and illustrators. Come back each day this week to explore each creator’s post and join the conversation. I hope this year’s series sparks your curiosity and encourages you and your students to dive into the stories and wisdom of this year’s featured guests.
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