Tag Archives: Gaithersburg Book Festival

Karthik Finds His Passion @ GBF

The School Library Journal review of Karthik Delivers shares that “Chari’s prose has a very conversational tone, which adds to the book’s authenticity and ease of reading . . . A wonderful realistic fiction title about a young Indian boy following his heart.”  I agree whole-heartedly. Karthik is a character that many can connect with on a variety of levels and is so very endearing. I found myself rooting for him the entire time I listened to the audio book. Simply trying to navigate one’s teenage years along with an annoying older sibling and nerdy parents is difficult enough, without taking a chance and doing the unexpected (like acting in a play.) But those who have been part of a theatrical performance know that it is a great place to be to find – or reinvent – yourself!

Author Sheela Chari will be presenting her newest middle grade novel, Karthik Delivers, on May 21st at the 13th Gaithersburg Book Festival at its new location, Gaithersburg’s Bohrer Park.

Sheela will be presenting Karthik Delivers along with Mariama J. Lockington (In the Key of Us) in the Willa Cather Pavilion 4:15-5:05, immediately followed by a book signing. The discussion will be moderated by MCPS School Librarian,Terri Perper.

I hope you enjoy my interview with author Sheela Chari.

What is your writing space like?  

Photo provided by the author.

My writing space is my attic office. It’s beautiful and quiet, and from up here, I can watch birds in the tree next to my window,

and the gorgeous, evening sunsets. I also have a bulletin board hanging over my desk, with pictures, postcards, and mementos that inspire me. 

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

I think Karthik Delivers is a funny book and a quick read, but it also gets to the heart of some important questions facing middle schoolers:

What am I passionate about? How do I fit in while still being myself? How am I going to be different from my family and their expectations of me? These are questions especially important in immigrant households like the one I grew up in, when our cultural backgrounds shape those expectations our parents have for us.

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

In this story, 14 year-old Karthik is working in his dad’s Indian grocery store when he gets unexpectedly cast as the lead in a play. This might sound like a miracle, but such miracles happen in life all the time. When an opportunity falls in your lap, grab it! You never know what will happen next.

Melissa – I loved the audio book narration by Varun Sathi, a Boston-based voice actor.

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

I’m writing for middle schoolers, parents, librarians, and anyone who is interested in the creative arts (drama, art, music), growing up in an immigrant household, or finding their passions!

Melissa – I continually encourage my students to get involved in the creative arts – especially theatre, as there is something for everyone, and it is so empowering.

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

I grew up playing the violin, and so music is a very important part of my life. I’m always interested in finding ways to include art and music into my life. 

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

I love my cover! The illustrator is Kitt Thomas, and they did a fantastic job rendering Karthik riding his delivery bike in Boston, while looking upwards and dreaming!

If you look carefully at the cover, you will notice that Kitt incorporated orange, green, white, and blue — the colors of the Indian flag! 

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

One of my hopes was to show that kindness prevails nearly in every situation. All of my characters grow, either by learning to adopt more kindness towards others, or to accept it when shown to them. Karthik delivers groceries, the lines from his play, but most importantly, on kindness to his friends, family, and the customers at the store. But I’m most surprised to see how this kindness turns out to be the very basis of how all the characters relate to each other by the end of the story.

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

I was thrilled to receive the APALA Children’s Literature Honor Book award for my first novel, Vanished!  

I was also so excited to receive a starred review from Publishers Weekly for Karthik Delivers, who describes the book as “overflowing with love.” Wow! For me, writing the book was definitely an act of love.

Melissa:  Want to learn more about Sheela? Please read the We Need Diverse Books blog Q&A With Sheela Chari, Karthik Delivers – it is a wonderful interview!

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

Books are about readers and writers intersecting with each on the page. But book festivals are about people being together. I can’t wait to see readers of all ages and passions together in-person!

I hope you will join Sheela and me at the Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 21st!

Sheela Chari is the author of the Edgar Award finalist “Vanished” and “Finding Mighty,” a Children’s Choice Award finalist and Junior Library Guild selection. Sheela has an MFA in Creative Writing from New York University, and is a faculty member of Vermont College of  Arts’s MFA Program in Writing for Children and Young Adults. She lives with her family in New York. She will be presenting “Karthik Delivers” at the Gaithersburg Book Festival.

A Joyous Family Collaboration @ GBF

Sisters-in-law Sanyukta Mathur and Courtney Pippin-Mathur will be joining the stage together to present their book Happy Diwali! at the Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 21st.  Their presentation will be in the Willa Cather Pavilion beginning at 10:15am. The picture book Happy Diwali! is a joyous family collaboration about the Hindu festival of lights.

I hope you enjoy my interview with Sanyukta Mathur and Courtney Pippin-Mathur.

What prompted you to write this book together?  How did you get started?
Courtney – I drew an illustration of my daughter hiding behind some sarees and mailed it out on a postcard. An editor (not the one who acquired HD) approached me at a conference and said that I should write a book featuring our inter-racial and intercultural family celebrating holidays in the US. So, I ran back to my hotel room and called Sanyukta and asked her to list everything that she does to prepare for Diwali for our family. I added a few things and put it into a picture book format and created a rough dummy (like a sketch of the entire picture book) and it was sent off for submissions.

Original postcard
Final image in book

Sanyukta: When Courtney approached me with the idea I was really surprised, it’s not my field: But the more we discussed we felt this book reflecting our blended family, showing how we try to celebrate traditions in the US was maybe something that was needed. Ultimately this is the book I was always searching for when I was looking for simple books about Indian festivals to share with my kids & at their school. It’s been a joy to work on this with Courtney. 

Are you planning to write any future books together?  If so, could you tell us about it?
Courtney – Hopefully!  🙂 Two of our other favorite holidays are Holi (festival of Spring) and Raksha Bandhan (celebrating the love between brothers and sisters) so it would be lovely to be able to share those!

Sanyukta: We hope so! 😉

Do you have any resources about Diwali you would like to share with readers?   Do you have a discussion guide?  Or discussion questions?
Courtney -There is currently not a discussion guide, though I will work on something for this fall, when the book will be out before Diwali. (Shipping delays last year pushed the book to be released after Diwali.) There are a few books out about celebrating Diwali in India that we share on the holiday. I’ll let Sanyukta chime in with her favorites. 
Sanyukta: there are many lovely books about Diwali that explain the Hindu mythology behind the festival. One of our family favorites is Amma tell me about Diwali written by Bhakti Mathur (no relation). My kids also enjoy the books by Sanjay Patel (E.g., The Little Book of Hindu Deities). When I was growing up we loved reading the Indian graphic/comic books by Amar Chitra Katha that relayed Indian religious and historic stories.

Melissa – Additional resources that my readers may find helpful:
Celebrate Diwali With Books! | Parenting Tips… | PBS KIDS for Parents
21 Children’s Books about Diwali, the Festival of Lights –

What medium did you use to create your art, Courtney?  Can you tell us about your process?  Do you have any pictures of the various stages of creation?

Courtney – I combined watercolor and line drawing in photoshop. Here is a spread through a few of the stages:

Original line drawing that I scanned.
About 2/3 finished, with most of the colors blocked in.
Final image in the book.

What is your writing space/ art studio like? Courtney – My husband and I share a room. I call it my corner of chaos, because I have a lot crammed into a small space (including random things my kids throw on my desk). 

I hope you enjoy my interview with Happy Diwali! co-authors @SanyuktaMathur and @pippinmathur @MacmillanUSA @MacKidsBooks @GburgBookFest

Sanyukta – We worked on this book during the height of the Covid-19 lockdowns, so my writing and collaboration space was my basement office and zoom!

How (or in what ways) do you hope librarians will promote your book?
Courtney – I hope they will share it in storytimes to teach kids about Diwali and connect it with other important holidays that celebrate goodness and light and being with families. 
Sanyukta – I hope librarians can use our book to talk about Diwali (the Festival of Lights), about different festivals around the world, how festivals are celebrated by people of the Indian diaspora, and how food/special meals are often a key part of many family celebrations.

What do you hope your readers will learn from reading your book?
Courtney – I hope they will learn about Diwali and how we celebrate it in our mixed cultural family. 
Sanyukta – I hope young readers will see how some families in the US celebrate Diwali. I hope, too, that the vibrant illustrations will make them curious about the traditions, clothes and foods.  

Who is the reader you are writing for?  Please describe them.
Courtney – Children who are curious about other cultures and holidays.
Sanyukta – This book is for families who want to see their culture and traditions represented and families who are curious about other cultural celebrations.

What is one (or more) thing(s) that you really want your readers to know about you?
Courtney – I love being part of a multi-cultural family and believe diversity makes people more kind and caring and stronger as a community.  
Sanyukta – I loved working with my sister-in-law on this book and am excited to share how our diverse family continues the traditions of Diwali here in the US. 

What do you love most about the cover art and illustrations in your book?
Courtney – Being able to include most of the children in our family and the raised embossing and foil and the teal background 
Sanyukta – The illustrations by Courtney (my sister-in-law) really make the book and the festival come alive in all its vibrancy. 

What has surprised you most about the characters in your book?
Courtney – How happy all the nieces, nephews, and cousins are about being drawn in a book. I was so stressed about capturing cartoon versions of real people! 
Sanyukta – Not so much a surprise about the characters, but I was surprised by how my son (who is one of the kids in the book) was overjoyed to take this book to his 3rd grade class and share the book and Diwali with his friends.

What are you most looking forward to at our book festival?
Courtney – I love the vibe of being around book lovers, kids and adults! 
Sanyukta – I love the GBF and we usually make it an annual family event. I hope we get to meet lots of curious kids, teachers, librarians, and parents and share this book with them.

I hope you will join me and attend Sanyukta and Courtney’s presentation at the Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 21st.

Sanyukta Mathur

Sanyukta Mathur is a social scientist and studies how to improve the health and well-being of young people around the world. She is the author of various research publications. “Happy Diwali!” is her first children’s book. She lives in Maryland with her family.

Courtney Pippin-Mathur

Courtney Pippin-Mathur is an author/illustrator of picture books, such as “Maya was Grumpy” (2013), “Dragons Rule, Princesses Drool” (2017) and “Happy Diwali,” with her sister-in-law, Sanyukta Mathur (2021). She loves being part of a multicultural family and lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, three children and one very friendly dog.

Just Right Jillian is Coming to GBF

If you haven’t heard of Nicole D. Collier’s debut middle grade novel, Just Right Jillian, you need to get ahold of a copy!  Kirkus Reviews describes it as, “A heartwarming novel about developing the courage to stop hiding.”  As someone who was very shy as a child, a straight-A student with self-esteem issues, and had my share of run-ins with bullies in elementary school, I connected with Jillian right away. I hope Just Right Jillian finds her way onto many bookshelves, and into the hands of young readers everywhere, because she will be your readers’ new best friend.

Nicole will be presenting Just Right Jillian at the Gaithersburg Book Festival in the Friendships & Feelings author panel with Hena Khan (Zara’s Rules for Ground-Breaking Fun) and Angela Dominguez (Stella Diaz to the Rescue)  on May 21st  in the Jim Henson Pavilion 4:15-5:05pm (immediately followed by author signing.)

I hope that you enjoy my interview with Nicole D. Collier, Ph.D.

What is your writing space like?

I write wherever I feel most comfortable. Sometimes I’m curled up on the floor, other times I’m sitting up tall at a desk, and still others, I may be sitting outdoors with my notebook or laptop on my lap or a nearby table. Whenever possible, I write by the light of the sun. Thankfully, Georgia is sunny year around, so you’ll usually catch me near windows if I’m indoors.

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

I hope librarians will share this book with everyone. It’s great for shy readers who will see their struggles so plainly on the page. It’s wonderful for kids who love real life stories – these characters could be your classmates and neighbors. It’s a sweet book for people who enjoy reading about friendships. Friends and allies can come from unexpected places, and first impressions aren’t always right. And, I’ve had many non-shy readers tell me they’ve developed so much empathy for their shyer, quieter friends.

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

Many of us have this one big thing that stops us from living the lives we want to live. For Jillian that ‘one thing’ is a lack of confidence in herself. Ultimately, she decides to go after her goal, in the face of her doubts. I hope readers will see themselves in Jillian, and decide to pursue their dreams, even if doing so feels scary.

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

I’m writing for the reader with a big secret (smile). In all honesty, all kids have interior lives they keep hidden to all but their closest friends. Sometimes even their friends don’t know the deep down truth. When you’re growing up, there’s always something to figure out on your own. You’re trying to decide who you are, what you want to do and be, and how to bridge the gap. I write stories in the gap. I’m writing for the kids who don’t have it all together, who haven’t figured it out yet. They’re not sure what to do, or who to ask, but they are relieved to see they are not alone.

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

I came to writing after years of procrastination, fear, and whatever else keeps you from pursuing your dreams. Even though I’ve known since elementary school that I wanted to be a children’s author, I found a million ways to avoid it. I understand what it’s like to grapple with the truth and feel as if you can’t let it out. I think about this all the time – the struggle to be authentic. I’m writing from a place of compassion and love. I hope it shines through.

I’m writing from a place of compassion and love. I hope it shines through.

~ Nicole D. Collier ~

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

One of my friends exclaimed when she first saw the cover saying, “Wow! That looks just like my daughter.” I pulled up a picture of the little girl and she was absolutely right. I love the cover because so many young readers can see themselves in Jillian – from her Afro puffs to her wide, curious eyes. I also love that she is so big and prominent holding a newly hatching chick. This story is all about Jillian taking center stage in her own life and learning to break free from her shell. You can see all of it in just one glance.

(Kitt Thomas is the illustrator of this beautiful book cover.  Kitt also created the illustrations for Stacey Abrams’ bestseller, Stacey’s Extraordinary Words and Sheela Chari’s middle grade novel  Karthik Delivers – Sheela is also presenting at Gaithersburg Book Festival.)

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

I spent a long time with the characters before I began writing, so nothing really surprised me, but I do think readers are often surprised by the layers they each have. There’s always more than meets the eye!

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

I treasure all of the book reviews I’ve received thus far. There’s no guarantee that readers in general, nor reviewers in particular, will “get” your book. I’m so grateful that many have written so thoughtfully and warmly of Jillian. I also deeply appreciate being featured alongside other Black middle grade authors in Horn Book and Kirkus for writing books simply about daily life. I love observing and writing about everyday experiences, so it means a lot to me to see this valued by others.

(There are many wonderful interviews and reviews of Nicole’s book linked on her website here.)

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

As a debut author, this will be my first festival! I’m excited to meet new readers, meet fellow authors, and be inspired to get back to work!

Click here for more information about the Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 21, 2022, at our new venue, Gaithersburg Bohrer Park. See you there!

Nicole D. Collier, Ph.D., was born and raised just south of Atlanta. She has spent the past two decades teaching. Originally an elementary school teacher, she’s now a partner in an executive training, coaching and consulting firm. Nicole writes for all ages, but her first love is middle grade contemporary fiction. Young people are trying to discern who they are vs. who they want to be, and how to bridge the gap between the two. Nicole’s stories are in that gap. A self-proclaimed ever-victorious woman, Nicole has been known to run, dance, and turn cartwheels on sunny days. She will be presenting “Just Right Jillian” at the Festival.

Stella Diaz is Coming to GBF!

If you joined us for vGBF 2021 and the Dream Big panel (I hope you did!), you will be thrilled to know that Angela Dominguez is joining us again this year with her newest middle grade novel, Stella Diaz to the Rescue.  It is book #4 in her popular series with the delightful Stella, who is based on Angela’s experiences growing up Mexican-American. A talented artist as well as writer, Angela is the illustrator of her Stella Diaz series of middle grade novels.   Her next book in the series, Stella Diaz Leaps to the Future will publish on March 21, 2023!

Don’t miss the series’ Sea Musketeers resources and activity kit on the Macmillan website – click here! 

Angela has written and illustrated several children’s picture books, including the sweet, I Love You Baby Burrito. She is the illustrator for Associate Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s newest picture book, Just Help! A talented artist, Angela is a two-time Pura Belpré Illustration Honoree for the illustrations in picture books, Maria Had  Little Llama (2014) and Mango, Abuela, and Me (2016).

Angela will be presenting Stella Diaz to the Rescue at the Gaithersburg Book Festival in the Friendships & Feelings author panel with Hena Khan (Zara’s Rules for Ground-Breaking Fun) and Nicole D. Collier (Just Right Jillian) on May 21st  in the Jim Henson Pavilion 4:15-5:05pm (immediately followed by author signing.)

I hope you enjoy my interview with Angela Dominguez!

What is your writing space like?

I have a home office where I do most of my writing. It’s filled with books, knickknacks, my computers, and drawing materials as well. It also has a wonderful view of our backyard where we have spent many hours gardening.

That said, I really enjoy writing on the couch with my dog, Petunia. She insists on curling up on my lap which can make typing a little challenging at times. But with that face, I just can’t say no to her.

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

I’ve been very grateful to have librarians be some of my biggest supporters. The way they have championed the first Stella Díaz book, Stella Díaz Has Something to Say, has been amazing. However, the last couple of years have been challenging in many ways. As an author, it’s been especially hard to let people know there are new books. I hope librarians can provide awareness to other books in the Stella series like Stella Díaz Never Gives Up, Stella Díaz Dreams Big and the latest, Stella Díaz to the Rescue.

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

There are many things about Stella that are relatable to kids. Her love of sea creatures, her shyness, the bullies she deals with, and her feelings of being overscheduled. Still, if her cultural experience doesn’t relate to some kids, I hope they can learn empathy by reading her story. And

that they will still cheer her on as she overcomes her fears and achieves her goals. That aside, I hope kids learn to care about the environment and speak up for the causes they believe in just like Stella.

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

I’m writing for the kids who love series and books, but also for the kids who know what it is like to feel like they don’t quite fit in. The kids whose family speak two languages and maybe feel caught between cultures. I grew up feeling that way and I felt alone in that experience. Now, I realize that many people feel that way. I want kids to know they are not alone.

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

That’s a tricky one! I guess they should know that Stella is based on my experiences and personality, but we’re not identical. Sometimes, I think she is even braver than me. One of the biggest differences is I love coffee, but Stella thinks it’s gross.

What do you love most about your book’s cover art?

I always love the job Kristie, the designer, does with the hand lettering. I illustrate Stella to fit in the space around it. I’m always so pleased to see when the full cover comes together. It’s a real collaboration.

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

I never really planned this to be a series. It just has evolved this way. It surprises me how much the characters have grown over the course of these books and the interests they have developed. Their club, the Sea Musketeers, has probably been the most surprising!

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

Winning the Pura Belpré illustration honor twice has been incredible. It helped create more opportunities for me as an author and illustrator. Also feeling embraced by my book and Latino community is a wonderful feeling.

However, I must admit winning the Sid Fleischman award from SCBWI was really special. It’s an award that recognizes humor in writing. My mom always said I was funny, but now I have proof!

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

I’m thrilled to be attending in person! I’ve attended the past few years virtually, but nothing compares to seeing an audience. I’m thrilled to meet readers and my fellow authors. It’s going to be a blast!

Click here for more information about the Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 21, 2022, at our new venue, Gaithersburg Bohrer Park. See you there!

Angela Dominguez was born in Mexico City, and now resides on the East Coast. She is the author and illustrator of several books for children, including the Pura Belpré Illustration Honor books “Mango, Abuela, and Me” (written by Meg Medina) and “Maria Had a Little Llama.” She will be presenting “Stella Díaz to the Rescue” at the 2022 Festival. When Angela is not in her studio, she teaches at the Academy of Art University. Angela is a proud member of SCBWI and PEN America, and is represented by Wernick and Pratt Literary Agency. As a child, she loved reading books and making a mess creating pictures. She’s delighted to still be doing both.

Wildseed Witch #BlackGirlMagic at GBF

Wildseed Witch, written by Marti Dumas,  is described as “a fun middle-grade contemporary fantasy with an all-BIPOC cast, about a social-media-loving tween who gets sent to an ultra-private witch camp.”  I can think of many of my students who would be interested in getting lost in this story – and with good reason #BlackGirlMagic.  My readers will be able to relate to Hasani’s struggles of standing out, feeling inadequate, and accepting change.

The absolutely stunning cover art was created by the very talented illustrator and graphic artist, Erick Dávila, whose amazing book covers are written about in this Book & Film Globe article, The Amazing Colors of Erick Dávila .  I encourage you to visit his website linked above and follow Erick on social media to explore his other works of art.

Marti will be presenting Wildseed Witch at the Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 21st at Gaithersburg Bohrer Park.  She will be Finding the Magic with Alyssa Colman (The Tarnished Garden) in the Willa Cather Pavilion  3:15-4:05 pm (immediately followed by author signing).

I hope you enjoy my interview with Marti Dumas.

What is your writing space like?  

I prefer to write in small, quiet spaces where I can zone out and click in, but one lesson I’ve learned over the last couple of years is that—in the immortal words of the Rolling Stones—you can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you might find you get what you need. I’ve written in everything from a tent on a rooftop during lockdown, to favorite coffee shops, to my current desk situation in a corner of our dining room. Whatever works!

Photo provided by Marti Dumas.

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

Wildseed Witch is just as much about relationships as it is about magic. There are frenemies and friends, old family and new, and learning to tell the one from the other all while you learn to love and accept yourself despite being perfect. And if that doesn’t work, there’s always the promise of spells, incantations, and, eventually, kittens.

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

That they are as whole and imperfect as Hasani is and, no matter how many mistakes they make, they are deserving of love and friendship—just like Hasani.

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

I wrote this story for kids roughly ages 10-13 who can see themselves reflected in someone whose family is good, but not perfect, who wants to achieve a goal, no matter how small, and who wouldn’t mind waking up one day to realize that they are magic.

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

Sometimes my life has been just as awkward as Hasani’s, but I survived through THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP! (Yep. I don’t care how many memes there are. The power of friendship is a real thing.) Oh! And plants. And dragons.

What do you love most about your book’s cover art?   

I think a lot of people are drawn in by the flowers, but what I love most is the perfect humanity of Hasani’s face. It draws me in and makes me want to get to know that girl.

[I agree, the cover is absolutely stunning!]

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

How loving they are. How their hearts are all in the right place even when it seems they aren’t.

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

2,000 kids at KIPP New Orleans got to read copies of Wildseed Witch before release. The book has had a lot of lovely reviews, but nothing could top the lines of extra-cool eighth-graders who were supposed to be being silent in the hallway risking their teachers’ wrath to say:

“I like your book.”

“I love your book.”

“Your book cool.”

Joy. Pure joy.

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

Getting to finally visit Gaithersburg (I’ve never been!) and meet as many families, teachers, and librarians as I can. I absolutely love talking to people who are working to get books to kids.

I hope you will join me at the Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 21st!.

Marti Dumas taught elementary school literacy for 10 years, conducts teacher literacy trainings, and is the author of “Jaden Toussaint, the Greatest.” She lives in New Orleans with her family. Marti will be presenting “Wildseed Witch” (Book 1) at the Festival.

Be a Tree at Gaithersburg Book Fest (the Tree City)

Maryland author, and illustration instructor at the Maryland Institute College of Art, Joyce Hesselberth, will be joining the many wonderful children’s authors and illustrators presenting at the Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 21, 2022.  Joyce will be a featured presenter along with the equally talented Julia Kuo in the Willa Cather Pavilion (12:15-1:05 pm), immediately followed by a book signing.  GBF will be at our new location Gaithersburg’s Bohrer Park, 506 S Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg.

I am not only looking forward to meeting Joyce at GBF, but I am also looking forward to teaching a lesson to my young naturalists this week using Beatrice Was a Tree as my anchor text (a future post will include this library media lesson).

I hope you enjoy my interview with the lovely Joyce Hesselberth.

What is your writing space like?

I have two writing spaces. One is our* studio in Baltimore. It’s a renovated warehouse space and I’m surrounded by all my favorite art supplies there. That’s important because I switch back and forth between writing and drawing. The second place is our den at home, with a cat by my side. 

(*Joyce and her husband, David Plunkert, own Spur Design in Baltimore)   

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

I hope librarians will share my books with kids, and also with other librarians. Just sharing books they love is the perfect way for them to promote authors. I also love when they reach out to other teachers. During a recent school visit, we were able to combine a book reading with a hands-on project that the art teacher and I planned together. It was a great way to extend the reading experience and engage kids who like to tell stories with pictures too!

(Note to educators and parents:  Joyce has an Activities for Kids section on her website – check it out for some great extension activities)!

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

Most of my books look at the world in a slightly different way. Beatrice Was a Tree is a book about why trees are important, but it’s also a book that asks readers to turn inward and imagine themselves as a tree. I hope they come away feeling that they have a connection to nature.

I hope they come away feeling that they have a connection to nature.

~ Joyce Hesselberth ~

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

I think I’m always writing (and drawing) for myself. Or maybe for myself as a kid! It might sound silly, but if I’m not having fun while writing, then my reader probably won’t have fun reading it, right? 

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

My family has seven chickens. I can list all fifty states in alphabetical order. 

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

Since this is a book about trees, there are thousands of leaves in it. I loved drawing each and every leaf. There is something so satisfying about those shapes. I also love that on the cover some of the leaves are shiny. The publisher used a special varnish to make them look that way and if you tilt the book back and forth they shimmer!

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

Probably that Beatrice ended up having purple hair! I didn’t plan it that way when I started drawing her, but a lot of the book takes place at night, and the purple just seemed to fit with the deep blues in the sky.

(All shades of purple is my absolute favorite color, so I adore Beatrice’s hair)

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

One of my reviewers called my book Kafkaesque and I really like that! Picture books can be weird and imaginative.

(For those of you (like me) not familiar with the term Kafkaesque, per Dictionary.com, Kafkaesque means relating to, characteristic of, or resembling the literary work of Franz Kafka; marked by a senseless, disorienting, often menacing complexity).

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

People! I’m so looking forward to seeing people in person!

I hope you will join me at the Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 21st to meet Joyce Hesselberth!

Joyce Hesselberth’s illustrations have appeared in national ad campaigns, theater productions, and major newspapers and magazines. She writes and illustrates children’s books, including “Mapping Sam,” which won a special mention award in the Bologna Ragazzi non-fiction category. Her most recent book, “Beatrice Was a Tree,” was published in 2021 by Greenwillow Books (HarperCollins). Her work has been recognized by American Illustration, Society of Illustrators, and the Art Directors’ Club of New York among others. She and her husband David Plunkert co-founded Spur Design in 1995. Spur Design is located in a renovated factory building in Baltimore, Md. Joyce is also a professor of illustration at Maryland Institute College of Art.

Moonwalking with Zetta & Lyn at GBF

Zetta Elliott and Lyn Miller-Lachmann will be joining us as featured presenters at the Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 21, 2022, at our new location Gaithersburg’s Bohrer Park, 506 Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg, MD.  They will be sharing their co-authored book, Moonwalking, a stunning exploration of class, cross-racial friendships, and two boys’ search for belonging in a city as tumultuous and beautiful as their hearts.

Zetta and Lyn are presenting their book 12:15-1:05 pm in the Ogden Nash Pavilion. MCPS School Library Media Specialist, Joela Paik, will be moderating the discussion. Their presentation will be immediately followed by a book signing.

I hope you will enjoy my interview with Zetta and Lyn.

What is your writing space like?

Lyn: The most unusual feature of my writing space is a giant LEGO town that I’ve been working on for 15 years. It features buildings in the LEGO Modulars series that I built according to the instructions, ones that I’ve modified to suit the needs of the town (such as adding extra floors to several of the buildings), and my original creations that I’ve designed to fit seamlessly into the display. Some of the minifigures in my town look like characters in my various books and are set up to portray scenes in those books. I have a vignette that includes JJ from Moonwalking, even though he leaves his own LEGO pieces behind when he moves from a Long Island suburb to his grandmother’s home in Brooklyn because he doesn’t have the space and has become obsessed with Joe Strummer and The Clash instead. 

Lyn’s Amazing LEGO Town – photo provided by the author.

Zetta: I tend to write all over my apartment even though I do have a designated office that’s bright and sunny (and purple!). I bought an adjustable desk so I can sit or stand when working, but I haven’t tried it out yet. I mostly sit at my desk for Zooms since the bookcase behind me shows off my dragon collection and my latest titles. By noon, I’ve usually moved into the living room—it has a bay window that lets in lots of light, and I can see and hear all the birds in the shared garden. I just moved to Chicago last fall so I’m still getting to know my neighborhood. Since writing for me is 70% dreaming, I spend a fair bit of time gazing out the window, or walking by the lake, or visiting the nearby Japanese garden to gather my thoughts and hear my characters’ voices.

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

Zetta: I trust librarians to pair young readers with the right book! I think Moonwalking will have broad appeal because of the alternating viewpoints and different backgrounds of the two main characters. Verse novels are often great entry points for reluctant readers so I hope poetry fans find our book but also folks who might think poetry isn’t for them (poetry is for everyone!). I’ve seen a lot of art in the libraries I’ve visited so it would be great to have a display with work by local graffiti artists and, of course, images of tagged trains from 1980s NYC and the art of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Lyn has already assembled The Clash playlists so maybe library websites could make those tracks available to patrons.

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

Zetta: I tried to create an entire village in Moonwalking and I hope readers will think about their own communities in new ways after reading our book. JJ and Pie seem like opposites but when you go beneath the surface, there are enough similarities to sustain a connection. Pie wants more from his life, he’s outgrowing his childhood friends, and his teacher is nourishing his interest in art. For JJ, playing an instrument is a way to express himself and connect to the themes of resistance in punk music. Things were kind of hectic at home when I was Pie’s age so I hope kids dealing with family drama realize they’re allowed to BE kids and can search for and find adults in their community who can provide the help they need.

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

Lyn: Like JJ, I was not diagnosed as autistic when I was in school, and I didn’t understand why I was bullied and it was so hard for me to make and keep friends. I had a whole lot of other diagnoses that tried to explain, for instance, why I never looked people in the eye, so I wore an eyepatch for months and had to do exercises that never worked. I never had a problem focusing when I read books, but eye-to-eye contact intimidated me. I also experienced selective mutism, and in fourth grade stopped speaking in school altogether for about three months. That time of being too terrified to speak, even if I wanted to, is what inspired JJ’s invisibility when he goes to public school for the first time.
What do you love most about the cover art and illustrations in your book?   

Lyn: I love the way David Cooper evokes early 1980s Williamsburg, pre-gentrification, with the Domino Sugar factory, the Williamsburg Bridge, the lights of Manhattan, and the graffiti murals on the sides of buildings. One can see the inspiration for the cover in Zetta/Pie’s powerful poems “Bomb” and “Sugarland” right at the beginning, and they set the tone for everything that comes after.

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

Lyn: The most surprising thing for me was how different from me JJ turned out to be, even though we’re both autistic and experience the same confusion and fear in new situations. There’s a saying, “When you’ve met one autistic person, you’ve met one autistic person,” and it’s true! Kiara in my earlier middle grade novel Rogue was a more autobiographical protagonist, with incidents lifted from my life, but JJ’s life, abilities, and interests are different. My parents gave me music lessons, and I hated them, but JJ embraces music as a way of communicating what he can’t express in words. Except for brief episodes of selective mutism, I was highly verbal and an A student in school. I didn’t really experience what JJ does as a struggling C student until I was out in the workplace and realized that exceptional academic skills don’t always lead to success outside of school.

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

Zetta: My books don’t always get reviewed but I think the most meaningful feedback definitely comes from young readers and parents or educators who are sharing books with kids. I often hear from parents who express gratitude for the books I write because like me, they remember all too well how it felt to grow up not seeing yourself in the stories you loved. Teachers tell me that students with little interest in reading became more engaged after finding one of my books—even going on to write their own story. Awards are nice and my career in kid lit started with the Lee & Low New Voices Honor Award for Bird, but so many excellent books never get that sort of recognition…it’s nice to have shiny stickers on the cover of your book but what matters most to me is that my stories resonate with a broad range of readers.

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

Lyn: This festival is a first for me. I’ve always been on the other side of the table, listening to the authors’ presentations and hoping to meet them and get my books signed. I look forward to meeting young readers and their families, talking to them about verse novels, how Zetta and I came to write this book, and my process for creating a protagonist on the autism spectrum who is very different from me even though I’m also autistic. I’m especially eager to be at the Gaithersburg Book Festival because the pandemic has isolated us for the past two years and canceled most in-person book events. While going out in public can be stressful for me, I don’t do well with isolation either. It’s too easy for me to hole up with my LEGO town and let my hard-won social skills wither.

I hope you will come to Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 21st to meet these two authors!

Zetta Elliott is a black feminist writer of poetry, plays, essays, novels and stories for children. Her poetry has been published in “We Rise, We Resist, We Raise our Voices,” and her picture book, “Bird,” won the Honor Award in Lee & Low Books’ New Voices Contest and the Paterson Prize for Books for Young Readers. Her latest book is “Moonwalking.” She lives in West Philadelphia.

Lyn Miller-Lachmann is an author, teacher and librarian. Her latest book is “Moonwalking.” As an adult, she was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome and delves into her diagnosis often in her writing. Lyn received her Masters in Library and Information Science from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and edited the journal “MultiCultural Review” for 16 years. In 2012, she received my Masters in Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She lives in New York City.

Don’t Worry, Get Happy with Paul Noth

The 10th Gaithersburg Book Festival is right around the corner, and I am excited to share the third in my trilogy of interviews with GBF featured children’s authors.   Paul Noth will be a featured author paired with Jonathan Roth for both their book presentations, and a children’s workshop entitled Creating Characters with Character, where Noth and Roth will help elementary age kids come up with characters that are fun, interesting and have meaning to the creator. They will brainstorm ideas, draw figures, come up with meaningful motivations and, of course, cool character names.

Paul Noth, known for his witty cartoons regularly appear in the New Yorker and the Wall Street Journal, has also written for Late Night with Conan O’Brien and The Late Late Show, among other television shows.  He hasn’t been known as a KidLit author till of late. He is the author of How to Sell Your Family to the Aliens (April 2018) described by School Library Journal as “Strange and original with just the right amount of juvenile humor, this story features odd and endearing characters and a wonderfully weird plot.” At the Gaithersburg Book Festival he will be speaking about  How to Properly Dispose of Planet Earth (January 2019), which Kirkus Reviews states that it is … “a story where everyone deserves to be the main character.”   Coming in September 2019 is How to Win the Science Fair When You’re Dead which promises to be another “laugh-out-loud” funny book for middle grade readers.    

How did your journey take you from The New Yorker, Wall Street Journal, and evening talk shows, to children’s books?

I’ve always wanted to write both picture books and children’s novels. Once my work started appearing regularly in the New Yorker, several agents reached out to me asking if I had ideas for kids’ books, so that provided the opportunity.

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

Sometimes I think the less they know about me the better. I like my books and cartoons to speak for themselves. But if they have to know something, it’s that I have two dogs, Watson and Biscuit.

Who is the student you are writing for?  Describe him/her.

He or she treasures funny books and cartoons as much as I do.

What are you most looking forward about the Gaithersburg Book Festival (can be more than one thing ;-D )

I’m really looking forward to collaborating with Jonathan Roth again. He and I hit it off last time. We work well together.

When you tell other authors and illustrators about GBF, what do you say?

I say it’s a great festival and well worth the trip.

What message do you have for your readers?

Thank you for reading my books! I know the second one, How to Properly Dispose of Planet Earth ends with a bit of a cliffhanger, but book 3, How to Win the Science Fair When You’re Dead is out in September!

What message to you have for educators, and especially for school librarians?

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Please visit www.paulnoth.com for more information about him!

Gaithersburg Book Festival will be held on May 18, 2019, 10 am – 6 pm on the grounds of Gaithersburg City Hall.  Visit the website here!

Paul’s books will be available for sale at the Politics and Prose Book Store tent.

Paul Noth and Jonathan Roth

Author Presentation:  Begins at 12:15 pm

Location:  Willa Cather Pavilion

Children’s Workshop: Creating Characters with Character

Time: 11:15-11:45 am

Location: Children’s Workshops Tent

Exploring the Amazing Natural World with Susan Stockdale

The 10th Gaithersburg Book Festival is right around the corner, and I am excited to share the second in my series of interviews with GBF children’s authors! Susan Stockdale is a local author / illustrator and a true gem – her books are fantastic, fabulous, and just plain awesome.  

Susan will be leading a children’s workshop entitled Let’s Create Fabulous Fishes!  (10:15 – 11:00 am in the Children’s Workshop Tent).  She will read her picture book, Fabulous Fishes, then guide children in exploring different fish shapes, colors and patterns to create their own fish using oil pastels on black paper. Then the young artists will complete their art piece by adding a title to their artwork.

I caught up with Susan in April and want to share our conversation about her research and artistic process.

Your picture books – especially Fantastic Flowers and Fabulous Fishes – have a definite joyful feeling to them – what inspires you to create your books? 

I want to excite young children about our amazing natural world, which is always my muse. As a former textile designer, I delight in finding patterns in everything I paint, and nature presents a treasure trove of them.

Can you tell me about your art?  Your books indicate that the art medium is acrylic on paper.  What is your creative process?  How large are your paintings for your picture books? Do you create art using other mediums?

I gather reference photos of my subjects, create many pencil drawings of them and select those I like best for my final illustrations. I submit my drawings to scientists for their feedback to ensure they are factually accurate and revise as necessary. I then trace each drawing onto Bristol paper. For each color, I apply many layers of acrylic paint to give the image a flat, crisp appearance. I work solely in acrylic, my favorite medium, and my paintings are the same size featured in my books.

As a school library media specialist, I teach my students the importance of using multiple reliable sources for research, and citing sources.  I love that each of your books include a thanks to specific experts that helped with your research, a visual glossary, and a bibliography at the end.  Some include an interactive activity.  Can you tell me about your research process?

I research my subjects in magazines, books and reputable online resources; consult closely with scientists; visit natural history museums, zoos and other venues; and, when possible, view my subjects in their natural habitats. My most exotic research trips have been to Africa and the Galapagos Islands. Once I’ve gathered sufficient information on my subjects, I begin writing my manuscript. The poem always comes first, followed by the addendum.

Some of my research resources for Stripes of All Types: (l-r) books; websites; a trip to Costa Rica; visits to museum exhibitions; consultant Dr. Kris Helgen, former head of the Mammal Division at the National Museum of Natural History


Your picture books are wonderful examples of nonfiction genre of animals, and of poetry.  Why did you decide to write your books in a lyrical, rhythmic, and rhyming form?

I didn’t make a conscious decision to write in rhyme when I began creating children’s books. This form just came naturally to me. I’m sure it’s because my mother, a published poet, rhymed words together all the time when I was little. This had a wonderful influence on me. I love how rhythmic rhyme engages children in a fun and musical way. Children learn to anticipate the rhyming word and make predictions, so rhymes help them learn to read.  

What message do you have to students about the importance of research?

Research is essential to conveying accurate facts. I particularly enjoy the surprising information I uncover while researching, such as how Red-billed Oxpeckers “hiss when started, alerting their hosts to possible danger.” I included that fact in my Bring On the Birds addendum.

What is a message from you that I can share with my educator colleagues? 

Encourage students to read more nonfiction. It sparks their curiosity and opens their minds to the world. It helps them develop background knowledge they need to be academically successful. Also, studies show that reading more nonfiction early on helps children reach the appropriate reading levels in later grades.

What is a message from you that I can share with my students?

When I present at schools, children often tell me that “when I grow up, I want to write and illustrate books.” My response? You don’t have to grow up to do this! You can create your own books now. All you need is a few pieces of paper folded in half, a pencil, and an idea. Have fun!

To learn more about Susan and her books, please visit her website here.

Let’s Create Fabulous Fishes!

TIME: 10:15 am – 11:00 am

LOCATION: Children’s Workshops Tent

AUDIENCE: Elementary School students

Gaithersburg Book Festival will be held on May 18, 2019, 10 am – 6 pm on the grounds of Gaithersburg City Hall.  Visit the website here!

Susan’s books will be available for sale at the Politics and Prose Book Store tent.

GBF – The Greatest Book Festival!

As an enthusiastic member of the Gaithersburg Book Festival Committee, I was thrilled to see our lineup of featured children’s authors and illustrators, which included: Dianna Hutts Aston, Cece Bell, Gennifer Choldenko, Paul Czajak, Alexis Frederick-Frost, Laura Gehl, John Green, Steve Light, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Dave Roman, Aaron Reynolds, Syl Sobel, Maris Wicks, Timothy Young among others.

Paul Czajak reads Monster Needs Your Vote.

A family oriented event, the GBF also offers outstanding  (if I do say so myself!) series of children’s and teens workshops and other entertainment in the Children’s Village and Young Adult Pavilion.

2016 Children’s Workshops included:

 

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Despite the rainy (and cold) weather, our dedicated guests arrived in full rain gear.  And stayed.  And listened. And participated in the many author talks and workshops.  It was a wonderfully creative and enthusiastically attended community event, led by a group of totally awesome lovers of literature…Cannot wait for next year’s event!

Gaithersburg Book Festival

The 2016 GBF Children’s Village:  About  100 Reasons to Bring the Kids on 5/21