Anyone who knows me, also knows that Peter H. Reynolds is one of my absolute favorite children’s author/illustrators. Although I have four children, and read lots and lots of books with them when they were young, amazingly I did not discover Peter’s picture books until I was in a children’s literature class in graduate school, working on my Master of Library Science. His messages of hope, affirmation, creativity, and connection have been important in my journey in school librarianship.

When I began teaching in 2012, I also began celebrating  International Dot Day (a global celebration of creativity, courage and collaboration) with my students, and have made it an annual celebration ever since. We are all Dot Day Dreamers, my students and I!

Many tweets and several blog posts showcasing my students’ wonderfully creative dots are part of The Creative Librarian’s experience (check out my archives).  This past year, I was thrilled when many staff members also joined in on the fun. We definitely have been making our marks and creating bravely!

Other important social-emotional books I have regularly shared with my students in media lessons are The North Star, Be You!, Sky Color, Say Something!, Happy Dreamer, The Word Collector, Our Table, and the I AM series that Peter illustrated for Susan Verde. I will share lessons I have created for these books in future blog posts.

It goes without saying that I am overjoyed that THE Peter H. Reynolds is coming to the Gaithersburg Book Festival as a featured author on May 21, 2022. GBF will be at our new location at Gaithersburg’s Bohrer Park, 506 S Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg. He will be speaking about The Table and Love You By Heart (and other PHR favorites) in the Jim Henson Pavilion 12:15-1:05 pm (immediately followed by book signing).

In addition to appearing at GBF, Peter (and his equally delightful twin brother Paul) will be at the MCPL Gaithersburg Branch on Sunday, May 22nd at 11 am for a free Meet the Authors Create Bravely interactive family storytime, and at BlackRock Center for the Arts for their debut showing of the Peter H. Reynolds’ Stories That Matter, Stories That Move film fest on Sunday, May 22nd  at 4:00 pm. I hope you and your families will attend each and every event while Paul and Peter are here in Maryland.

I hope you enjoy my interview with the talented and kind Peter H. Reynolds.

What is your creating space like?  

I have a studio I call “The Sanctuary” filled with books, art supplies and inspirational artifacts, but honestly, I create anywhere – especially in busy places like cafes. I love the energy from other humans.  I am lucky to have founded my own bookstore THE BLUE BUNNY in my hometown of Dedham, MA – not too far from Boston. It is my happy place. It has a cafe so I can sip tea and be surrounded by books – and book people! Great energy! 

How (or in what ways) do you hope librarians will promote your books? 

My books are a social emotional learning toolkit. My hope is that librarians will get my books into the hands of all ages because we all need to get our creative spirits recharged.

What do you hope your readers will learn from reading your books (specifically Our Table and Love You By Heart) ? 

Both of these books celebrate the power of love. Our Table is a cautionary tale about letting technology get the better of us and allow it to separate us. Young Violet’s love for her family fuels her clever thinking to reconnect her family. This book especially would be a great take-home-and-read-with-your-family book! 

Who is the reader you are writing for? 

I am writing for humans seeking hope. Humans seeking to be better humans. Any age. Anywhere on the planet. I also am writing books to help teachers more easily inspire their students who can then inspire their families and communities. I want to cause “reading ripples” around the world.

What is one (or more) thing(s) that you really want your readers to know about you?

I want my readers to know my twin brother, Paul. He is an extraordinary human. I was born with my best friend who also happens to be a great optimist, a teacher, a writer, a gardener, an artist, a community activist, a spiritual philosopher  and a stellar father. He has been my advocate, my cheerleader, my counselor, my thinking-partner, my challenger, my action-activator my whole life. He shares my joy in my work but also how my work can help, heal and inspire the world. My wish is that everyone have a “Paul” in their lives. 

Can you tell us about your creative process? 

I can imagine kernels of corn in my head and they pop as I get ideas. When I get a story idea – I imagine it as a film. I grab paper and quickly sketch note the little movie in my head. Nothing fancy or polished – just a doodle and a little caption to help remember what is happening in that scene. That storyboard becomes my guide to create the final book. Polishing it up might take two months – including sharing the story with my family and friends, as well as my editors who get it ready for “showtime.” 

What has surprised you most about the characters in Our Table and Love You By Heart?

I am proud of all my characters who show what it looks like to be caring, loving and kind. They are like my children. When they show unconditional love – I get very emotional and proud! 

In Our Table, as Violet started reconnecting with each o  her family members as they planned the different parts of the table, why did you keep those pages purple, instead of assigning a color to each family member, and making these pages a combination of the two colors, and ending with full color spreads as they built the table?

I love making color be intentional to help with the storytelling. I wanted the full color to represent the joy of humans being connected. I chose to make the times that Violet is alone a cooler purple – and yes, violet color (which inspired the character’s name!) I did not choose blue because young Violet was still loving and hopeful. Add a bit of warm red to blue and voila! Violet!

Which book review or award has been most meaningful to you? 

My book, The Dot received The Irma Simonton Black and James H. Black Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature which goes to “an outstanding book for young children—a book in which text and illustrations are inseparable, each enhancing and enlarging on the other to produce a singular whole. The Irma Black Award is unusual in that children are the final judges of the winning book.” I love that children gave me that award. The Dot was one of my first books and really set the course for my collection to inspire creative journeys. 

What are you most looking forward to at our book festival?

I love connecting face-to-face with my readers which is extra special given the two long years we all have endured apart from one another. This will be a celebration of togetherness and human connection. My favorite kind of connection! 

To learn more about Peter’s work and mission: www.peterhreynolds.com and www.reynoldsTLC.org 

Did you know that Peter created the beautiful “Peace” print in support of Ukraine? Please consider purchasing a “Peace” print – proceeds go to UNICEF for lifesaving support for children and families in Ukraine. Click here for more information.

I hope you will join me at the Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 21st to meet Peter H. Reynolds – and join me at his and Paul’s events on May 22nd as well!

New York Times best-selling author/illustrator Peter H. Reynolds is the beloved creator of more than 50 award-winning picture books, including “The Dot,” “Our Table,” “The Word Collector,” “Happy Dreamer,” “Be You,” “Going Places” and “Love You By Heart,” as well as illustrator of the Judy Moody & Stink series. Peter is founder of Boston-based educational media and interactive developer, FableVision, which creates positive media, storytelling and tech-powered learning tools. He oversees InternationalDotDay.org a global celebration of creativity, which has attracted more than 21 million in 196 countries. Peter founded the indie bookshop The Blue Bunny nearly two decades ago in Dedham, Mass.

According to her website, June Smalls has “swam with sharks, fed tigers, bears, giraffes, stingrays and sea turtles, met an elephant, rode a camel, come face-to-face with a wild skunk, and was bitten by an emu … twice.”  Sounds like that is all in a day’s work for a nonfiction children’s book author!  She Leads: The Elephant Matriarch and He Leads: Mountain Gorilla are both beautifully illustrated by Yumi Shimokawara – an illustrator, picture book writer, and animal lover living in Japan. Yumi’s illustrations are delicately detailed and the colors are muted and gorgeous – the generous white spaces on each spread help us to focus on the beautiful animals and their habitats.

June will be presenting her new book, He Leads: Mountain Gorilla, The Gentle Giant along with Timothy Young (P Is for Puffin: The ABCs of Uncommon Animals) on May 21, 2022, at the Gaithersburg Book Festival.

Author Presentation: 11:15-12:05 in the Jim Henson Pavilion (immediately followed by a book signing).

I hope you will enjoy the interview with the lovely June Smalls!

What is your writing space like?  

I have a small home office with art from picture books and typically at least one pet begging for attention, though I’ll write anywhere and on anything when an idea strikes. That may be texting myself in the middle of the night or writing on post-it notes I have everywhere.

How (or in what ways) do you hope librarians will promote your book?

I hope with the LEADS series, She Leads: The Elephant Matriarch and He Leads: Mountain Gorilla, The Gentle Giant, that librarians share them for their not just their lyrical style that works across age levels, but as a conversation starter on leadership, family dynamics, and different social structures.

(The LEADS series will also have educational guides to support student learning … visit June’s website here).  June has also shared with me the He Leads teacher guide here, and a more detailed She Leads teacher guide will be added to her website in the near future.  

What do you love most about writing non-fiction books for kids?

Kids want the truth. They are curious and capable. I love how kids absorb everything from the beautiful birth of a baby animal, to the interesting adaptations that help those animals survive, and even how they absorb the truth about the circle of life. They are always ready to learn and share their own knowledge as well.

How do you choose the animals for your books?

Mostly my own curiosity. I love animals and have put my favorites in my books (like turtles, fossa, and of course the elephant) but for HE LEADS I needed to find a social animal with a male leader that was deeper than just the biggest or strongest. I wanted one that we as humans could also understand and learn from.

What is the most important thing you want your readers to learn about in He Leads: Mountain Gorilla, The Gentle Giant?  

Every big and powerful leader was once tiny and helpless. Great leaders in the animal kingdom have many attributes such as patience, knowledge, and a protective nature in addition to strength and stamina. I want young readers to know they can learn and grow and make good leaders themselves.

Who is the reader you are writing for?  Please describe them.

The child that is curious about animals and the natural world. I want those kids who ask, “Why?” at every opportunity to pick up my books and then say, “This is cool. Where are the other books so I can learn more?”

What is one (or more) thing(s) that you really want your readers to know about you?

Readers should know that I’m a reader too. I love animals and want to share that with readers and classrooms. I love researching these amazing animals and, whenever possible, meeting the creatures I’ve researched. I hope to help build a generation of kids who appreciate the wonders of nature near and far.

What do you love most about the cover art and illustrations in your book?  

Yumi Shimokawara is amazing. Her cover art feels like the silverback is staring into your eyes. I absolutely adore her use of negative space in the interior art as well. It keeps the focus on the gorillas while giving the art such a unique feel.

Which book review or award has been most meaningful to you?

SHE LEADS earned a Kirkus starred review, which was amazing. But a stranger’s child in the library snagging my book, hugging it, and saying it was her favorite (even though she didn’t realize I wrote the book) about brought me to tears. While that isn’t a review I’ll find online, it will always hold a special place in my heart. Funny enough, she wasn’t impressed that I was the author. Just told me okapi’s were her favorite animal and went off to add to her book stack.

What are you most looking forward to at our book festival?

I can’t wait to talk to other authors, artists, and book lovers. I’ve missed having the opportunity to share my books with people the last few years. Plus, I’m excited to discover some new books myself. Always gotta add to my To Be Read pile!

Would you like to learn more about June and He Leads?  Kathy Temean has an interview with June on her blog, Writing and Illustrating.

I hope you will enjoy meeting June Smalls in person at the Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 21st.

June Smalls has been making up stories since she only had pets and stuffed animals to share them with. She is the author of fiction and non-fiction picture books, such as “He Leads: Mountain Gorilla, a Gentle Giant” and “Odd Animal ABC’s,” as well as books for the educational market. June is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and resides in Northern Virginia with her family and an ever-growing assortment of animals.

I first met Fred Bowen about 11 years ago, when I was in a Children’s Literature class at the University of Maryland iSchool.  He and fellow local author, Valerie Tripp, had been invited by my grad school professor, Maria Salvadore, to speak to us about, well, writing children’s literature. I remember that it was a lively discussion that planted a seed for my aspiration to become a published children’s author as well.  Shortly after I began teaching, he gave a fantastic baseball-focused author talk at my elementary school. Our lives intersected again when I recruited him to lead a writing workshop at the Gaithersburg Book Festival – it was tied to one of his football books, and was about journaling. He’d initially been invited as a featured author, but then enthusiastically jumped in to lead a workshop, too.  This is one of the many things I love about children’s authors – they are “game” for anything!

Fred will be presenting his two new books, nonfiction, Hardcourt: Stories from 75 Years of the National Basketball Association and fiction, Soccer Trophy Mystery along with Charly Palmer (The Legend of Gravity: A Tall Basketball Tale)  2:25-3:05 pm in the Jim Henson Pavilion, immediately followed by a book signing.

Hardcourt is illustrated by the amazingly talented James E. Ransome, and Maria Salvatore has a great Reading Rockets Page by Page interview with Fred and James about their previous collaboration, Gridiron: Stories from 100 Years of the National Football League.  

I hope you enjoy this interview with sports author, Fred Bowen.

What is your writing space like?  

I do most of the writing of my sports books and columns for The Washington Post in my cluttered home office in the basement of our house.  It is hardly a picturesque setting.  However, some of the items I have in my office to inspire my writing include:

• All 23 volumes of the Chip Hilton sports series by Clair Bee (my favorite books as a young reader)
• A photograph of the old Boston Garden from 1987 with the classic Celtics lineup of Bird / McHale / Parrish / Ainge / Johnson
• My grandfather’s Harvard law degree from 1911
• My collection of more than 100 sports books
• A picture of a family golf outing at Tedesco CC in Marblehead Massachusetts from more than ten years ago
• A painting of 42 Leicester Road in Marblehead (the house I grew up in)
• Several pictures kids have sent me of them reading my books
• A two-foot-high cardboard rendition of the kid who appeared on the original cover of my second book, The Golden Glove 

How (or in what ways) do you hope librarians will promote your books?

I hope librarians will lead kids ages 8-12 who like baseball, basketball, soccer or football to my books.  But I also hope they realize my books are not “just sports books.”  The books deal with lots of important issues such as friendship, jealousy, fear of failure, dealing with disappointment, and many other themes.  My books are more than just play-by-play action (although there is plenty of that).

What do you hope your readers will learn from reading Hardcourt and Soccer Trophy Mystery?

When kids read Hardcourt: Stories from 75 Years of the National Basketball Association, I hope they will learn that the NBA was not always the billion-dollar international sensation it is today.  I hope that will get them interested in the history of the NBA and sports in general.  I also hope this realization that things were not always as they see them now will get them interested in American history.

Soccer Trophy Mystery is simply a fun book.  Who doesn’t love a good mystery?  As with any of the 24 titles in my Fred Bowen Sports Story series I hope my readers will learn the pleasure of getting lost in a book.

Who is the reader you are writing for?  Describe them.

My readers are kids usually ages 8-12 (although some are older and younger) who love sports.  I think of them constantly as I write.

However, with my latest book, Hardcourt: Stories from 75 Years of the National Basketball Association, I hope my usual readers will share the book with their parents and grandparents.  After all, these older relatives may have seen Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan and the dozens of other NBA players I write about in the book. 

I hope the book will start a conversation about great players and memorable games between the generations.

What is one (or more) thing(s) that you really want your readers to know about you?

I am not just a “sports guy.”  I was a lawyer for more than thirty years.  I love to listen to jazz and other kinds of music.  And like every writer I have met, I am a big reader who especially loves to read about American history and culture.

What do you love most about the cover art and illustrations in your book?   

I think James Ransome did a fabulous job with the art in Hardcourt: Stories from 75 Years of the National Basketball Association.  My favorite painting from the more than seventy images in the book is the image at the beginning of Chapter 12 of Michael Jordan practicing his jump shot in an empty gym.  To me the painting is a perfect depiction of an athlete’s lonely pursuit of excellence.

I knew the art in Hardcourt would be great because James and I had previously teamed up for the book, Gridiron: Stories from 100 Years of the National Football League.  The art in Gridiron was fabulous too.

I also really like the cover to Soccer Trophy Mystery.  The artist, Marcelo Baez, is creating new covers for all the titles in the series to celebrate my 25 years of publishing with Peachtree Publishers.

What has surprised you most about the characters in your book?

I outline my books in considerable detail before I sit down to write them, so I have a very good idea what my characters are going to do and say before the final version.  But it is always surprising how often a character insists on stepping forward and becoming more important to the narrative.  

Which book review or award has been most meaningful to you?

I have been fortunate to get many very positive reviews including some starred reviews.  I have also been nominated for dozens of state reading awards over the course of my career.  I even won the Land of Enchantment Award (New Mexico).

However, my favorite reviews and greatest rewards are when parents tell me their child didn’t enjoy reading until they found my books.  To lead a child to the joys of reading is the best award any author can win.

What are you most looking forward to at our book festival?

I always say that being at the Gaithersburg Book Festival (GBF) is like going to the Baseball Hall of Fame.  By that I mean, at the Hall of Fame you are surrounded by people who love baseball.  As a result, it is easy to strike up a conversation with a stranger.  

In the same way, when you are at the GBF you are surrounded by people who love books and ideas.  So you spend a wonderful day talking about books and the books you love.  What could be better than that?

We hope you will join Fred Bowen at the Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 21st!

Fred Bowen is the author of 27 sports books for young readers ages 8-12. He is the creator and author of the Fred Bowen Sports Story series, 24 books that combine sports fiction, sports history and always have a chapter of sports history in the back (Peachtree Publishers). Fred also has written three sports history books, including “Hardcourt: Stories From 75 Years of the National Basketball Association” (Margaret K. McEldery Books 2022). Since April 2000, Fred has written a weekly kids’ sports column for the KidsPost page of The Washington Post. He lives in Silver Spring, Md., with his wife Peggy Jackson.

On May 21, 2022, author Mariama J. Lockington is coming to the Gaithersburg Book Festival to share her middle grade novel, In the Key of Us  with her readers. In the Key of Us is a coming-of-age story about the losses that threaten to break us and the friendships that make us whole again.

I loved this novel. I loved that the setting was musicianship and band camp. I loved that the story was told in alternating viewpoints of Andi, Zora, and the camp itself. Mariama’s writing poignantly depicts the highs and lows of relationships, the unhealthy ways in which some handle stress, and the grieving process. And I appreciated that Mariama included an important author’s note that included inclusive mental health resources.

I listened to the audiobook, and the narration by Yinka Ladeinde and Imani Jade Powers was wonderful. I hope you enjoy this middle grade novel as much as I did.

Mariama will be presenting In the Key of Us along with Sheela Chari (Karthik Delivers) 4:15-5:05 pm in the Willa Cather Pavilion, immediately followed by a book signing.

I hope you enjoy this interview with the talented Mariama J. Lockington.

What is your writing space like?

My wife and I just bought a house last May, and after years of sharing a small work space, I feel really lucky to now have my own sunlit office at the back of the house. My office has a desk, a plush lavender desk chair, a couple of bookshelves with my books that are organized in rainbow colors, pictures of my author inspirations (Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Zora Neale Hurston, etc) and lots and lots of plants on every window sill/free surface. There’s also a small couch where I read and where my dog, Henry, sometimes cuddles me when he’s not asleep in his day-bed next to my desk. I love a good candle, so I always have a candle burning when I’m in my office— notes of citrus, gardenia, or eucalyptus are my favorite. 

How (or in what ways) do you hope librarians will promote your book?

I love libraries and librarians are magical! While In the Key of Us deals with some hard topics (self- harm, bullying, anxiety, the loss of a loved one) it’s also a story full of hope, music, adventure, friendship, and love. I hope that librarians are able to promote this book with a good understanding of all of these nuances, as well as put it into the hands of young people who are excited to read inclusive, first-love, coming of age stories. 

What do you hope your readers will learn from reading your book?

That it’s OK to change your mind, to not have all the answers— growing up is messy, wonderful, and full of adventure. That they are loved, just as they are. 

Who is the reader you are writing for?  Please describe them.

I am writing for the reader who has a powerful voice, but is sometimes scared to share it. For the reader who feels like they never quite fit in, even though they try their hardest, for the reader that is brave and determined, even when they feel lost.  I am writing for the reader that could spend all day outside, in the sun, soaking up the magic of the outdoors, for the queer reader and the perfectionist reader, and the reader who knows without a doubt that music can help us feel alive and connected beyond the bounds of this world.

What is one (or more) thing(s) that you really want your readers to know about you?

When I was young, I played flute and piano. While I don’t play these instruments anymore, practicing music helped me with the practice of writing and gave me a deep appreciation for the arts. Summer Camp is where I first believed I could really be an author— and where I first fell in love with the outdoors. 

What do you love most about the cover art of your book?   

All of it!  The cover artist, Tonya Engel, really just captured the essence of both my main characters so perfectly. But if I have to pick one thing, I love that Zora and Andi are out on the water in a kayak and that they are holding hands under the glimmering sun. 

What has surprised you most about the characters in your book?

Sometimes I think I’ve written a character that’s very different from the girl I was growing up, and then a reader will point out a quality that we share. It’s always eye-opening to see the ways we put our past selves into stories or even our current selves.

Which book review or award has been most meaningful to you?

The most valuable reviews that I’ve received in my author journey have been from young readers writing to me. When a young person says: “I don’t like to read, but I read your book in one night” or “After reading your book, I’m not afraid to be myself anymore.”  That’s when I know I’ve done ok, made an impact, and that I have to keep going. 

What are you most looking forward to at our book festival?

Being in-person and getting to talk to readers! While virtual events have been great as far as connecting with people across states, there’s nothing like being able to talk to readers in the flesh and feel the excitement of a live festival. Also— of course, I will likely come home with lots of new books that I am excited to read.

Would you like to learn more about Mariama?  Check out this interview:  Ask the Author: Mariama J. Lockington. 

Mariama J. Lockington is an adoptee, writer and non-profit educator. She has been telling stories and making her own books since the second grade, when she wore short-alls and flower leggings every day to school. Her work has appeared in a number of magazines and journals, including Buzzfeed News Reader, and she is the author of the poetry chapbook, “The Lucky Daughter.” Her latest book is “The Key of Us.” Mariama earned a Masters in Education from Lesley University and Masters in Fine Arts in Poetry from San Francisco State University. She lives in Lexington, Ky., with her partner and dapple haired dachshund, Henry.

A friend of the Gaithersburg Book Festival, John Patrick Green is returning to our in-person event on May 21st, along with John Gallagher (Max Meow), Abby Denson (Kitty Sweet Tooth) and lifelong friend, Dave Roman (Astronaut Academy series).  When I introduced the InvestiGATORS to my students, they were an instant hit (my students love a good graphic novel series)!

Author Presentation (followed by book signing):  12:15-1:05 pm in the Cather Tent

Comics Co-Lab: Kids Graphic Novel Workshop:  3-3:45 pm in the children’s workshops pavilion

I hope you enjoy this interview with John Patrick Green!

What is your writing space like?

When I’m in the process of writing a book, wherever I am is where I am writing. It’s not a process that has an easy on/off switch. So sometimes I’ll be writing at a desk, other times it’s on a couch watching TV, occasionally it’s laying in bed trying to get to sleep. Much of my writing happens while pacing around my apartment. For me, sitting still isn’t really conducive to creating a story, so I’ll move around a lot. I’m probably most productive writing-wise when I’m doing a chore like laundry or washing dishes!

How (or in what ways) do you hope librarians will promote your book?

The best promotion I’d say is just recommending my work. Being familiar enough with it and other books like it that you can say, “oh, you like that book? Then you might also like THIS book.” 

What do you hope your readers will learn from reading your book?

One thing I hope they’ll get out of my books is an appreciation for the connection between text and visuals when it comes to this type of storytelling. And maybe they’ll also learn the occasional big or obscure word.

Who is the reader you are writing for?  Describe them.

My target audience is, basically, myself when I was a kid. I try to harness the types of stories and humor and cartoons that I liked when I was little, and make something that young me would find entertaining. And hopefully kids today will find it enjoyable as well.

What is one (or more) thing(s) that you really want your readers to know about you?

Hmm… I guess I’d want them to know how much I appreciate hearing that they are enjoying my books! And if there’s any occasion that calls for such a thing, please send me cheese instead of flowers.

What do you love most about the cover art and illustrations in your book?   

The part about my illustrations I like the most is when they’re DONE and I get to hold the books in my hands. It takes a lot of drawings to make a graphic novel, and while it’s fun making them, it’s very satisfying when the art is finished and ready to be seen by readers!

What has surprised you most about the characters in your book?

What probably is most surprising about a few characters is how they just showed up out of nowhere. When I’m making a book, I usually start with a short outline, and then I come up with specific dialog and detailed situations that I sketch out. Many times this results in a joke that wasn’t planned, and often it results in a funny character insetting themselves into the story unexpectedly. Characters like Dr. Doodldoo and C-ORB were not planned at all up until the moment I sketched out the page each one first appears in.  

Which book review or award has been most meaningful to you?

These aren’t really reviews or awards, but I’d say the response that has meant a lot to me is the appreciation my work gets from readers who *aren’t* actually the target demographic. While I want these books to connect with the audience I’m aiming them at, it’s nice to know that there are readers outside of that window that connect with the work as well. So when I hear from them or see fan art they’ve done it makes me feel like I’ve accomplished creating something that works on different levels.

What are you most looking forward to at our book festival?

I’m most looking forward to meeting readers! And after a couple years of mostly virtual conventions and festivals, it will be nice to meet some in person.

We hope you will join John Patrick Green at the Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 21st!

John Patrick Green is a human with the human job of making books about animals with human jobs, such as “Hippopotamister,” “Kitten Construction Company” and “InvestiGators.” John is definitely not just a bunch of animals wearing a human suit pretending to have a human job. He is also the artist and co-creator of the graphic novel series “Teen Boat!”, with writer Dave Roman. John lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., in an apartment that doesn’t allow animals other than the ones living in his head.

Hena Khan is a local author, having been born and raised in Montgomery County.  Since she was a little girl she has had her nose in a book, so it is not surprising that she became a children’s author – and there are many, many young readers thankful she did, too! My elementary school readers love her books, especially Amina’s Voice, Amina’s Song, and More to the Story, and were excited to learn that she wrote books with boy protagonists, too. Zayd Saleem has made his appearance in my library, and his books are also becoming favorites.  If you haven’t read her Muslim Book Of Concepts  picture books, beautifully illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini, you need to do so!

Hena will be presenting her latest book, Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun, the first in a humor-filled middle grade series starring a young Muslim girl with an endless list of hobbies who searches for ways to maximize fun for her family and neighborhood friends.

She’s a featured presenter along with Angela Dominquez (Stella Diaz to the Rescue) and Nicole D. Collier (Just Right Jillian).  This panel will be moderated by MCPS media specialist and 2018 Maryland School Librarian of the Year, Tracy Jeffcott. Join the conversation 4:15-5:05 pm in the Jim Henson Pavilion and it is immediately followed by a book signing.

I hope you enjoy this interview with the talented Hena Khan.

What is your writing space like?

It varies! I have a home office with a desktop computer and lots of bookshelves in it where I work when I need quiet. But I also move around my house with a laptop, sitting at the dining table or even on my couch at times! 

How (or in what ways) do you hope librarians will promote your book?

Librarians are amazing and do so much to support me, so I want to extend a huge and heartfelt thank you to you all! I hope you will continue to focus on the universal aspects of my books and highlight what might appeal most to all kids, in addition to the diversity component. I always appreciate the book tastings, read-alouds, book clubs, battles of the books, and the many other creative ways librarians share my work with readers! 

(Her website is filled with great resources for educators and activities for kids so I encourage you to explore it!)

What do you hope your readers will learn from reading your book?

I hope they are entertained most of all, and that they find a friend in Zara who they want to read more about in the next book in the series. I try not to be overly message-oriented, but there are themes of friendship and overcoming jealousy and the need to be in charge that might prove helpful to readers. And I hope kids will appreciate getting to know all the personalities in Zara’s multifaceted and fun Pakistani American Muslim extended family. 

Who is the reader you are writing for?  Describe them.

This book is for the reader who wants a lighthearted and fun-filled read that will make them laugh, but who also craves rich character development and some depth and substance in the story. 

What is one (or more) thing(s) that you really want your readers to know about you?

I’d like them to know that many of the things that happen to Zara in this book are taken from my childhood, and that many of the characters are inspired by my real-life friends and neighbors growing up. For that reason, these books are especially close to my heart! 

What do you love most about the cover art and illustrations in your book?   

I adore the energy and emotion that Wastana managed to create on the cover illustration, along with the incredible design, including the fonts, color choices, turquoise foil and embossed images that make it pop. I would have gravitated toward this cover as a kid! Plus, all the illustrations in the book capture the personalities and emotions of the characters so well.

What has surprised you most about the characters in your book?

I always secretly scoffed at the idea of characters coming to life for writers and taking over the storytelling process, but now that I’ve written about these characters in six books, they are so real to me! I can picture them when I write and imagine their voices and what they would likely do or say, which makes it super fun for me. 

Which book review or award has been most meaningful to you?

I’m so grateful for every review and award, but apart from kids’ reviews which are by far my favorite, the most meaningful was probably the first review I got from Publisher’s Weekly for Night of the Moon, my first picture book, way back in 2008. I didn’t know anything about the significance of editorial reviews back then, but I felt so validated when the reviewer said that I “portray Muslims as another vibrant thread in the great American tapestry, emphasizing the bonds of family, community and spirituality” since that was, and remains, a goal of mine.

What are you most looking forward to at our book festival?

I cannot wait to see people, meet friends new and old, and to talk with everyone face-to-face after so long! The festival has long been my favorite since it’s in my hometown, so well organized and run, and always such a good time! 

We hope you will join Hena Khan at the Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 21st!

Hena Khan is a Pakistani American writer. She is the author of the middle grade novels, “Amina’s Voice,” “Amina’s Song,” “More to the Story” and the Zara’s Rules series, and picture books, “Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns,” “Under My Hijab,” and “It’s Ramadan, Curious George,” among others. She will be presenting “Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun” at the Festival. Hena lives in her hometown of Rockville, Maryland, with her family.

Julia Kuo’s beautiful words and art are breathtaking. The color palette is gorgeous.  In her newest picture book, Let’s Do Everything and Nothing, I find a strong emotional connection because my youngest daughter, Shannon, and I had similar mother-daughter adventures when she was a little girl. I remember our quiet moments, our joyful moments, and our curious moments like they were yesterday. I am grateful that Julia created this book so that I can share it with my all-grown-up daughter.

Julia will be presenting her book, Let’s Do Everything and Nothing, along with Joyce Hesselberth (Beatrice Was a Tree) at the Gaithersburg Book Festival on Saturday, May 21, 2022, a our new location: Gaithersburg’s Bohrer Park, 506 S Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg, 12:15-1:05 pm in the Willa Cather Pavilion.

For those interested in Julia’s process for creating this book, I highly recommend reading about it here!

What is your writing space like? 

I write and illustrate in my office on the third floor of a townhouse in Seattle, Washington. Hanging behind me are two pinatas I’ve made – one of a bison, another of a rainbow – that I couldn’t bring myself to destroy. On the window ledge in front of me are 8 air plants that were extras wedding favors from getting married last summer. And down by my feet, in a dog bed nestled in another dog bed, is my snoring pup Carmen. 

What do libraries mean to you? 

I spent a lot of time in my local library branch as a high schooler, but it wasn’t until I was an adult that I began associating libraries with new homes. I moved to Cleveland after college and fell in love with the city; while I was there, I worked with the Cleveland Public Library to create a design for their library card and even designed a summer arts space next to a library called “Literary Lots”. When I moved to Chicago, I signed up for a library card almost immediately. I still remember walking away from the beautiful Harold Washington branch and feeling like the possession of the library card had suddenly made me a true Chicagoan. 

What do you hope your readers will learn from reading your book? 

This book is really about companionship and contentment, so I hope readers will take a moment to reflect on how they find these things in their own lives – whether it’s with a child, parent, partner, sibling, or friend! 

Who is the reader you are writing for? Describe them. 

I’m writing for mothers and daughters! I want women of all ages to see themselves reflected as bold, confident adventurers who can find energy and rest in companionship. If I’m being honest, I’m also writing for myself. This book is for my past self, as a young Asian American girl, to see myself centered in a book and daring enough to attempt great adventures. It’s for my current self, to find satisfaction and contentment in my current relationships, even if we are doing nothing – and for my future self, to see motherhood as the ultimate adventure! 

What is one (or more) thing(s) that you really want your readers to know about you? 

I love spending time outdoors, whether it’s rock climbing or hiking up a mountain (mostly the smaller ones). I actually wrote this story after climbing Mt. Rainier in 2019! As a 5 foot tall Asian American woman, I know that I don’t fit the typical profile of an outdoor adventurer, but I would love to change that stereotype through my writing and illustrations.

What do you love most about the cover art and illustrations in your book? 

One of my favorite things about the book’s illustrations is that they center around the adventures of a warm skinned, dark haired mother and daughter who live in a home coded as Taiwanese American (rice cooker, wok on the stove). The story doesn’t explicitly address culture or ethnicity, but the characters can just be without having to explain themselves. 

What has surprised you most about the characters in your book? 

This book is much more poetic than it is narrative, so I expected the illustrations and characters to be quite general. But somehow, the characters in this book have still managed to unearth some of my most private thoughts on parenthood, relationships, and fulfillment. I illustrated an Asian American mother and her daughter, and I have identified with both; as a woman who wishes for a motherhood filled with adventures, and as a daughter who seeks out companionship through both the wildest adventures as well as the most peaceful of moments at home. 

What part of the publishing process has been the most meaningful to you thus far? 

I’ve been continuously blown away by the collaborative aspect of publishing. I’ve worked with really amazing editors and teams who have definitely improved my work, both in the writing and illustration. It was Bethany Strout’s idea at Little Brown to shift the color scheme from bright to monotone in The Sound of Silence, and it was Connie Hsu of Roaring Brook’s idea to make the characters’ home a Taiwanese-American one in Let’s Do Everything and Nothing! This is also true for the writers I’ve had the privilege of working with, from Katrina Goldsaito to Martha Brockenbrough and Livia Blackburne. I just don’t write the way they do, and it feels like such an honor to illustrate their books. Every person I’ve worked with from the designers to the publicists makes me feel so lucky to be in this profession.

 What are you most looking forward to at our book festival? 

This will be my first in-person event for Let’s Do Everything and Nothing, and I am so excited to see people in person and to sit in on other author talks!

Julia Kuo is a Taiwanese-American illustrator who has worked with The New York Times, Google and Science Friday. Julia has taught illustration courses at Columbia College Chicago and at her alma mater, Washington University in St. Louis. She is the illustrator of “Drawing Leaves and Trees: Observing and Sketching the Natural World;” “I Dream of Popo,” written by Livia Blackburne; Katrina Goldsaito’s “The Sound of Silence;” Roni Schotter’s “Go Little Green Truck!;” Melissa Gilbert’s “Daisy and Josephine,” “20 Ways to Draw a Dress,” “20 Ways to Draw a Cat” and “Everyone Eats.” Her latest book is “Let’s Do Everything and Nothing.”

John Gallagher, creator of Max Meow, will be a featured author at the Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 21, 2022, at our new location: Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg.  John will be part of a graphic novel panel with John Patrick Green (Investigators: Braver & Boulder), Abby Denson (Kitty Sweet Tooth) and moderated by Dave Roman (Astronaut Academy series).  John will lead a meowsome workshop for elementary students as well.

Creating Super Cats and Vile Villains – A Kids Comics Workshop:  10:15-10:45 am

Author Presentation (followed by book signing):  12:15-1:05 pm in the Willa Cather Pavilion

What is your studio/creative space like?

I have a home studio with a diner booth! After college, I lived with multiple roommates. Needless to say, it was hard to concentrate with so many folks running around. So I would go to the local diner and draw. I became so used to the height of the diner table, that when I moved into my open studio, I got a diner booth for use as my work space.

How (or in what ways) do you hope librarians will promote your book?

My main goal is to show young readers that reading can be fun—and librarians have done a wonderful job of promoting Max Meow (and many other books) that way.

What do you hope your readers will learn from reading your book?

I often try to impart small bits of wisdom that have helped me through life, such as taking chances, it’s okay to mess up, and that being a good person (or cat) to others is an important part of being a hero or leader. But I also like to stick in little snippets of science via Max’s best buddy, Mindy.

Who is the reader you are writing for?  Describe them!

I write for the 7-10 year old I was: one part imagination, one part comedian, and maybe someone that thinks too much sometimes. But maybe also someone that might be reluctant to read, at first, but forgets that when they see a flying cat and alien wiener dog.

What is one (or more) thing(s) that you really want your readers to know about you?

I love cats AND dogs! Many kids want me to choose, or explain why Max is a cat, and I am a big fan of both. In fact, I have one cat, Millie, and a dog named Cody.

What do you love most about the cover art and illustrations in your book?   

Getting to do them! I was mesmerized by comics as a kid, they really took me to whole new worlds. So trying to do that for a new generation of readers is very exciting for me.

What has surprised you most about the characters in your book?

I often start out with certain ideas about where my characters are headed in the stories—but rarely do they stay on that path. For example, Agent M, a grumpy mouse (or is he a rat?), and the first book’s villain, has grown as a character so much over the series, that he actually reformed and became something of a hero in later books.

Which book review or award has been most meaningful to you?

Reviews by librarians have meant a lot, because they are so dedicated and discerning for their young readers. But it’s the reviews that kids share online about Max Meow that have helped me to appreciate the importance of storytelling in inspiring others.

What are you most looking forward to at our book festival?

Meeting and talking to the readers and their parents is such an invigorating experience, and really reminds me why this is the best job in the world.

Creating Super Cats and Vile Villains – A Kids Comics Workshop:  10:15-10:45 am

Author Presentation (followed by book signing):  12:15-1:05 pm in the Cather Tent

Visit the Gaithersburg Book Festival website for more information about this literary event.

Did you know?

John has a great website with interactive games for his readers, as well as coloring sheets and other activities.  Check out  Citizens of Kittyopolis and Videos, Fun & Games pages!

John Gallagher is the art director of the NWF’s “Ranger Rick” magazine, cofounder of “Kids Love Comics” (an organization that uses graphic novels to promote literacy), and leads workshops teaching kids how to create their own comics. John lives in Virginia with his wife and their three kids.