Books I’m Reading in 2014

This book has been on my shelf forever. I’ve always believed reading to be the inverse of writing and have tried in the last few years to collect sentences and paragraphs I love into my commonplace book. I hope this book might make my reading even more intentional.

I’ve been told this is the book to read when it comes to picture books. I’ve gone as far as purchasing it! This is a part of my writing I really need to strengthen, and I look forward to learning more.

Agent Mary Kole has received high praise for this book she published last year. I bought it soon after it came out, but haven’t opened it yet.

This came from a recommendation from a friend in my local SCBWI. Here’s a quick description of this absolute must read: For more than three decades, the same children’s historical novels have been taught across the United States. As works of historical interpretation, however, many are startlingly out of step with current historiography and social sensibilities, especially with regard to race. Taken individually, many present troubling interpretations of the American past. But embraced collectively, this classroom canon provides a rare pedagogical opportunity: it captures a range of interpretive voices across time and place, a kind of “people’s history” far removed from today’s state-sanctioned textbooks.

The Writer’s Guide To Crafting Stories For Children — Nancy Lamb

This is another definitive title I’ve had for years. I’ve never read more than the chapter on characterization.

Maybe I first heard of this book while in my adolescent literature class in 1995. Maybe it was from NPR’s Diane Rehm. However I first heard, I was again reminded at The Decatur Book Festival in 2012 when I heard Leonard Marcus tell about discovering files and files of Ursula’s letters at HarperCollins. As one of the most influential editors in the history of children’s literature, I can’t wait to see how she communicated with and brought out the best in her authors.

In Decatur Leonard moderated a panel on picture books. I left the session telling my sister about his latest book. She bought it for me for Christmas that year. Here’s the description: In compelling interviews by the acclaimed Leonard S. Marcus, twenty-one top authors and illustrators reveal their inside stories on the art of creating picture books.

Three people this last year have recommended this book to me. I treated myself to a copy this Christmas and have read about a third. It is marvelous so far and reminds me a lot of Annie Dillard.

I’ve followed former agent/middle-grade author Nathan Bransford blog for years. This is his experiment in self-publishing. I’ve got a copy on my Kindle and look forward to digging in.