Creating a strong image, whether written or drawn, comes down to choosing the right moment and knowing what to leave out. In this year's final Author Spotlight Post, R. Gregory Christie talks about how observation and instinct shape those decisions. Readers will understand how those sensibilities carried into his work on Black Hands: Builders of Our Nation.
Category: picture book
What Makes a Personal Memory Worth Writing About?
Julie Leung’s new picture book, Navigating Night, takes a different path from her earlier biographies of well-known Chinese Americans. Drawing on her own childhood, she highlights the Chinese American experience, showing both its challenges and successes. She hopes to honor these important stories and help young readers understand their value.
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Creating “Emily Saw a Door”
Author Mel Rosenberg and illustrator Orit Magia share a behind-the-scenes conversation about their creative journey making Emily Saw a Door. Discover how their collaboration brought Emily’s story to life through heartfelt text and striking, minimalist illustrations.
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Finding Home and Building Voice: How Picture Books on Moving and Belonging Inspire Young Writers
Discover how picture books about moving, belonging, and new beginnings can help students find their voice as writers and build empathy in the classroom.
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Community-Building Books for the New School Year
During the first six weeks of school, the foundation you lay for your writers can transform their entire journey. When every writer feels seen and valued, they gain confidence and joy. Explore three new picture books that inspire connection and collaboration. Comment for a chance to win them all!
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Five Books to Help Build a Writing Community
Discover how building a writing community in your classroom can transform your students' writing experiences and foster a sense of belonging. Learn about five picture books that will inspire meaningful conversations and support the development of a collaborative, inclusive writing community. Leave a comment on the blog post for a chance to win all five books, perfect for building a supportive writing environment!
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ICYMI: The 9th Annual #TWTBlog Author Spotlight Series
Here's a recap of this year's Author Spotlight Series.
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Where the Writer Ends and the Character Begins
Craig Barr-Green likes to see how a writer creates unbearable tension and resolves it. Like Gina, he sometimes experiences sensory overload, and like Gina he can deal with it by jumping into a book.
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From Idea to Book: Sharing the Process
When we write, we gain an insider’s perspective on the process. Sharing what we learn with kids makes teaching authentic and meaningful.
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A Sneek Peek at the 9th Annual #TWTBlog Author Spotlight Series
Starting tomorrow, picture book, middle-grade, and professional-teaching authors will share their insights on writing, their processes, and the path to publishing in #TWTBlog's Author Spotlight Series. We want to hear your thoughts throughout the week, so there's a book giveaway for those who share comments on each author's post!
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Mentor Texts for Independent Writing Projects
Discover the transformative power of independent writing projects for students as they embark on their summer break. Explore a range of captivating mentor texts, from science and poetry to cooking and forgotten skills, that will inspire and engage young writers. Don't miss out on the chance to enter the book giveaway for a chance to win ALL EIGHT featured books.
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Writing Wonders
Nonfiction authors often start with wonder. But to spark wonder, we need to “prime the pump” with some knowledge, either by reading a book or article, studying a photograph, or watching a video. That’s where all of Kirsten Larson’s books begin! This post will help you find appropriate media to spark student curiosity and guide them through the process of writing down their wonders. The end result: topics students are eager to research and write during their writing time.
