Picturebooking

What happens when you giving yourself the space for magic? Well, if you are Zanni Louise you get to author an amazing picture book called ARCHIE AND THE BEAR (illustrated by David Mackintosh).

We dive deep into this book and I enjoyed getting to know Zanni's thoughts on imagination and how to make space for stories.

P.S. If you are a Picturebooking Patreon … thank you for keeping me going this year! See you Feb. 2019!

Picture book author Tim McCanna stops by the pod to chat about his four books that came out this year (BITTY BOT'S BIG BEACH GETAWAY, JACK B. NINJA, BOING! A VERY NOISY ABC & SO MANY SOUNDS). We get to all these stories but we also talk about musical theatre, graphic design, finding picture books and a new passion. Plus Tim's best moment of his picture book life will blow you away.

P.S. If you are a Picturebooking Patreon check out the bonus talk with Tim.

Ruth Spiro returns to the podcast to talk about her latest Baby Love Sciences books and a Maker picture book titled MADE BY MAXINE. We talk about failing forward, first pets, science babies and how she was introduced to the maker movement.

P.S. If you are a Picturebooking Patreon check out the bonus talk with Ruth.

Joe Bluhm is a storytelling artist who has spent his career putting himself in environments that allow him to grow as a creator. He has worked with the story legend William Joyce (THE FANTASTIC FLYING BOOKS OF MR. MORRIS LESSMORE), the hockey star Zachary Hyman (THE MAGICIAN'S SECRET) and a picturebooking favorite Alison McGhee (DEAR SISTER).

Michael Rex stops by the pod to chat about his new picture book EAT PETE!

EAT PETE is a hilarious story about Pete's playdate with a hungry monster.

Michael talks about how he makes his humorous picture books and what they mean to him and to his audience. We go from the silliness of this book to Star Wars and beyond. I learned a lot from this chat, and I hope you get something out of it too.

P.S. If you are a Picturebooking Patreon check out the bonus talk with Michael.

Caldecott Medalist, Sophie Blackall stops by the pod to talk about two of my daughter's favorite children book characters … Ivy and Bean. Sophie is one of the most interesting artists working. Her books and her art move me and continue to bring my family closer together.

Sophie is a special person and this conversation was such an honor.

Check out the latest Ivy + Bean book: One Big Happy Family and her latest picture book Hello Lighthouse.

P.S. If you are a Picturebooking Patreon check out the bonus talk with Sophie.

This is a recommended – best of Picturebooking episode

Grace Lin, a NY Times bestselling author/illustrator, won the Newbery Honor for "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" and the Theodor Geisel Honor for "Ling and Ting."

Her latest book "A BIG MOONCAKE FOR LITTLE STAR" is a picture book that celebrates the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival and Grace's American roots.

This talk dives deep into Grace's journey to become an artist. Along with what it means to be an American during this time. In this talk you'll find topics like immigration, politics and an ugly side of culture next to the celebration of thankfulness, joy and beauty.

P.S. If you are a Picturebooking Patreon check out the bonus talk with Grace.

This is a recommended – best of Picturebooking episode

Libraries, minimalism, art and travel … how can you not love the life Stevie Lewis is living!

We talk about her latest book LOST IN THE LIBRARY written by Josh Funk, her transition to a traveling lifestyle and finding fulfillment.

LOST IN THE LIBRARY is a picture book about Patience and Fortitude, the two lion statues that guard the New York Public Library. It's a book about the magic of reading and friendship and stories.

P.S. If you are a Picturebooking Patreon check out the bonus talk with Stevie.

This is a recommended – best of Picturebooking episode

Liz Reed and I talk about finishing projects and finding success in your work.

For the record I don't think my daughter is going to let me give away my copy of Liz and Jimmy Reed's newest picture book "Sweet Success." It's a story about an ice cream cone who loves projects. My daughter loves projects and she love ice cream cones. Now that I've found it, this one is going to stay in our story time rotation.

Liz Reed is part of the husband-and-wife team behind "Cuddles and Rage," a webcomic featuring dioramas and illustrations of anthropomorphic food and animals. Liz also does a bi-weekly podcast featuring creatives pursuing their passion call People I Think Are Cool. To see more of their sweet work, visit them online at www.cuddlesandrage.com.

I hope you enjoy this conversation.

P.S. If you are a Picturebooking Patreon check out some bonus Liz.

Cale Atkinson and I talk about how he pushes himself to grow as an artist. His latest book Off & Away comes directly from his personal work to improve himself as an illustrator.

Cale is an illustrator and animator living lakeside with his family in Kelowna, British Columbia. His work can be found in children's books, animated shorts, television and games. Visit him online at www.cale.ca.

I hope you enjoy this conversation.

P.S. If you are a Picturebooking Patreon check out some bonus Cale.