by Acy Day
My Journey into Picture Book Creation When I decided to become a children’s book author, I had no idea just how much goes into creating a picture book. As a brand‑new “newbie” in the publishing world, I quickly realized that hiring a professional illustrator was out of the question. So, I rolled up my sleeves,… Continue reading Picture Book Creation
Where the Story Begins Before my picture books ever become fully illustrated, text-filled, polished pages, they start as thumbnails. Thumbnails are tiny, rough sketches that help me plan the whole story, page by page. With these little drawings, I can map out where the text will go, shape the illustrations to better tell the story,… Continue reading Picture Book Thumbnails
Once upon a time I worked as a Head Start teacher. My favorite part of the day was Storytime. Not because it was quiet — it rarely was — but because something amazing happened when I opened a book. Those wiggly little humans, who couldn’t sit still for anything else, would suddenly lean in. After… Continue reading Why I Write for Children
Building Children's Confidence Leaving young children on the first day of preschool can be challenging, not only for the children but for adults as well. By teaching children three simple rules, adults can feel confident that they are helping to keep children safe and healthy, and children can have the confidence needed for a successful… Continue reading First Day of Preschool
My work as a Head Start teacher proved that a good children's picture book can be a powerful learning tool. One well-written book for PreK children can provide a week or more of lesson plans. For instance, The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats offers opportunities to discuss cold weather and wintertime, explore making prints… Continue reading Writings that Teach