The next challenge for Julia Donaldson’s monster is to get its claws into parents and persuade more of them to read aloudIt is 21 years since Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler published The Gruffalo’s Child, the sequel to their bestselling Gruffalo picture book of five years earlier. While the pair have collaborated on numerous other stories, none is as iconic as the tale of the little brown mouse who outwits a succession of predators. There is no shortage of Gruffalo merchandise. But in an age of franchises and prequels, this author-illustrator partnership clearly decided that less was more.It is reportedly thanks to her wish to support the National Literacy Trust that Ms Donaldson decided to bring the Gruffalo back after all. The new book will be published next year, and used in an international campaign to promote children’s reading. The depressing findings of a survey released this week, showing a steep decline in the proportion of UK parents who read aloud to their children, make this announcement particularly welcome. Another report, from the National Literacy Trust, found that the proportion of eight- to 18-year-olds who read for pleasure fell last year to a record low of 35%.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2025-05-01 17:56:06 UTC ]
Literary agent for children's book authors Mary Cummings explains the biggest mistake she sees in picture book pitches—and how you can avoid making that mistake. The post Picture Book or Short Story? Which is it? appeared first on Writer's Digest. Continue reading at Writer's Digest
[ Writer's Digest | 2025-05-03 12:00:00 UTC ]
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Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler have announced they are working on a new outing for the monster in the deep dark wood, due out in September 2026He’s got knobbly knees, turned-out toes, a poisonous wart at the end of his nose … and he’s back, for the first time in more than 20 years: Julia... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2025-04-30 11:30:50 UTC ]
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Bestselling author Joan Holub shares her expertise at storyboarding picture books and graphic novels, with both authors and illustrators. The post Storyboarding for Writers: How Sketching Can Strengthen Your Picture Book or Graphic Novel! appeared first on Writer's Digest. Continue reading at Writer's Digest
[ Writer's Digest | 2025-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PBS Kids in collaboration with GBH Kids is releasing a slate of short-form episodes and an hour-long special adapted from Kwame Alexander’s picture book 'Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2025-04-08 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Author Teresa Argenbright shares five lessons learned about developing a picture book series with recurring characters. The post 5 Lessons Learned: Developing a Picture Book Series With Recurring Characters appeared first on Writer's Digest. Continue reading at Writer's Digest
[ Writer's Digest | 2025-04-08 02:00:00 UTC ]
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The new memoir about Sandberg and Mark Zuckerberg is billed as an exposé – but it feels like a morality tale for our timesMany years ago, when Facebook was an entity most people had warm – or at least neutral – feelings towards, I visited the company’s HQ in Menlo Park, California. I admired the... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2025-03-12 17:57:42 UTC ]
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The American Booksellers Association used a dedicated issue of its weekly Bookselling This Week newsletter to address a host of issues raised during a contentious community forum during Winter Institute last week. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2025-03-07 05:00:00 UTC ]
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When an artist friend came to visit me a few years ago, she remarked on the art hanging up in our house. “It’s all by picture book illustrators!” she said. And I laughed, because although she was perfectly right, I hadn’t even realized it until then. But I do love and admire picture book art, […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2025-03-03 09:58:56 UTC ]
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A big-name picture book adaptation of the Grimm fairy tale “Hansel and Gretel” goes to HarperCollins, Margaret Atwood brings a memoir to Doubleday, Sourcebooks picks up the memoir of the daughter of Gisele Pelicot, and more in this week’s book deals. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2025-02-14 05:00:00 UTC ]
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There is nothing I love more in a picture book than a good author’s note. Often author’s (and illustrator’s) notes ... Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2025-02-13 12:30:00 UTC ]
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These picture book biographies about Black changemakers feature a phenomenal athlete, a Wild West baddie, and a talented singer. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2025-02-10 13:30:00 UTC ]
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Let’s see if AI can take the faff – the actual writing bit – out of penning a Shakespearean thriller with a Scottish villainThe monsters of artificial intelligence are coming for you. They will cast you out on the street like a Dickensian mill owner and laugh as they do it – at least they will... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2025-02-08 17:55:27 UTC ]
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Among recent book deals are titles guiding Christian women in moving forward after divorce, a look at the psychology of evangelism, a picture book promoting compassion, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2025-01-22 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Retellings of novels like Huckleberry Finn and David Copperfield help to keep the canon aliveIt might have lost out at the Booker, but James, a reworking of Huckleberry Finn by Percival Everett, was the unofficial book of 2024, topping best-of-the-year lists and winning the prestigious US Book... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2024-12-30 18:25:43 UTC ]
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A new picture book, a pair of novels, and two titles by a mental health expert, and more are among this week’s deals. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-12-03 05:00:00 UTC ]
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The authors of the 2005 picture book ‘And Tango Makes Three’ argue that the book’s removal from school library shelves is rooted in unconstitutional, anti-LGBTQ+ “viewpoint discrimination.” County officials insist that it is “government speech.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-11-26 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Police investigation into writer’s alleged tweet has sparked a debate over free speech, albeit a somewhat selective one There are few columnists with whom I disagree more than I do with the Daily Telegraph’s Allison Pearson. Yet, I welcome the decision by the police to drop their investigation... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2024-11-24 08:30:06 UTC ]
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The Telegraph journalist sent a deeply offensive and inaccurate tweet. Yet she has won the support of a swath of newspapers, an ex-PM – and Elon MuskThe Allison Pearson saga is nothing if not a morality tale about the modern media. Among its many learnings are that calling a group of people of... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2024-11-20 08:50:32 UTC ]
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