Cynthia Mackey's Blog

If a Bumblebee Lands on Your Toe – Perfect Picture Book Friday

Dear Kid Lit Village blog readers,

I have a bit of a sad announcement today. You may have read my earlier post about this already. Unfortunately, I am overwhelmed by all the social media – it’s becoming too much. In an effort to streamline, I am shutting down the Kid Lit Village blog. It will go off line officially as of November 10th. As hard as it is to let go, I do so knowing I’ve been able to connect with so many kid lit creators because of the blog and it’s been a great pleasure. Like the leaves changing in the fall, it’s time to let go.

It’s been such a pleasure to feature children’s book creators and review books. Connecting with other bloggers and writers has helped me tremendously on my journey to becoming a children’s book creator and I hope this blog has contributed to the community in some small way.

Each author/illustrator I’ve met through the blog has taught me something and it supports my belief that we are all mentors and we can all be mentored by one another. It’s similar to my approach as an educator and the team of educators I work with to deliver our nature preschool program.

I will not be disappearing completely from the online environment. No. I am working on a blog tour to feature my upcoming debut, IF A BUMBLEBEE LANDS ON YOUR TOE, and I have huge appreciation for the bloggers out there who will be supporting me through their interviews and joint giveaways as we go through the pre-order and launch period. Launch date is March 4th, 2025!

Holly Wolverton, Susanna Leonard Hill, Tara Lazar, Vivian Kirkfield, Maria Marshall, Jilanne Hoffman, Andrew Hackett, Kathy Teaman, Jennifer Pease, Heather Morris, and Mariana Rios Ramirez all have blogs that you ought to follow and support as they are doing amazing work in getting the word out about children’s books.

You can sign up for my newsletter, visit my website, or follow me on Instagram or Bluesky. Twitter is something I’m on and off about but that platform might be coming to an end for me soon as well. For now, I’m participating in Limerick Sunday, which is simply for my goofy side and because I have good friends who I love writing the limericks with. Haiku Saturday is lovely and if you haven’t discovered it yet, I encourage you to follow that hashtag and read all the lovely poetry posted every Saturday. I’ll join in there too when I can.

Thanks to each and every reader who shared, commented, entered giveaways or interacted with the blog in some way. I appreciate you.

Thanks, and keep in touch!

Hello Lovely blog readers and Welcome to Kid Lit Village! Today I’m thrilled to share this interview with fellow Kids Book Crew member, Lori Dubbin, author of THE PERFECT MATCH: The Story of Althea Gibson and Angela Buxton!

Perfect Match, The Story of Althea Gibson and Angela Buxton, is a nonfiction picture book about two female tennis players who were treated as outsiders by the elite world of tennis in the 1950s. Althea wasn’t accepted into the top U.S. tennis league because she was Black. Angela wasn’t allowed to join English tennis clubs, where her teammates practiced, because she was Jewish. Despite these challenges, Althea and Angela found ways to play the game they loved. They became close friends and doubles partners, and, with teamwork and perseverance, they became champions.

Lori Dubbin, a former early childhood educator, enjoys researching and writing about people who have made extraordinary contributions to the world and who model kindness, compassion, and perseverance for young readers. She’s an active member of SCBWI, the 12 x 12 Picture Book Challenge, and she is represented by Joyce Sweeney at the Seymour Agency. Her children’s picture book, Perfect Match, The Story of Althea Gibson and Angela Buxton is a Junior Library Guild Selection.

What appeals to you about writing/illustrating books for children?

I enjoy digging deep into a true story about unsung heroes and heroines – people who have contributed to our world in remarkable ways but are just outside the framework of history.  Their contributions and accomplishments are usually not well-known, and they haven’t been as celebrated as they ought to be. In my research, I try to find and write about people who are good role models for young readers – people who faced huge obstacles, but showed patience, persistence, and determination in reaching their goals.

Did anything from your childhood influence this book?

Growing up in the 1960s as a Jewish Miamian, I had an unexpected experience in Junior High – students I thought were my friends wrote antisemitic remarks in my textbooks.  I was hurt and also surprised by the incident. My parents came to school and I received apologies from the students. It stung, but I moved forward. I transferred to my neighborhood public school the following year. As I learned more about the intolerance Althea and Angela faced and how they both continued to play the game they loved despite the discrimination of the time (the 1950s) – I knew I had to write about them.

Tell us about the inspiration for this book.

My son had received a nonfiction book, Great Jews in Sports by Robert Slater, as a gift for his Bar Mitzvah. I started leafing through it many years later (in 2015) and landed on a page about Angela Buxton. There was a picture of her in her tennis outfit and the text mentioned her doubles partner had been Althea Gibson, whose name sounded familiar to me. But I didn’t know their story and I wanted to find out more about how they met, became doubles partners, and ultimately champions (which the blurb in the book briefly describes).

Is there a scene for this book you really enjoyed creating?

I loved writing about the moment Angela and Althea met during the Asian Goodwill tennis tour in 1955, the year I was born. There was such a strong connection between the two from the start. They had been seen as “outsiders” by the United States Lawn Tennis Association and the British Tennis Association, and they had separately fought against the discrimination they faced. Suddenly, they each had a friend and ally on the tennis tour. They spent their free time together and had a lot of common interests. It led to their tennis doubles partnership. Angela hadn’t been allowed to pick her partner and no one had ever asked Althea to be theirs – a sad commentary of the times. It was uplifting to write a subsequent scene when they saw each other the next time in 1956 in Paris at the French Championships (now called the French Open). They were so happy to see each other again and it’s where they became a true doubles team. The illustrations by Amanda Quartey reflect their emotions beautifully.

Can you recommend any resources for developing your talents as a writer?

My favorite writing book is Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott. It’s the first writing book I ever read. It’s funny and chock full of writing wisdom for beginners as well as writers well on their way. It reads like a good novel and describes the ups and downs of writing, which we all know can quickly go from intense to exhilarating to frustrating. There are helpful tips and suggestions for getting through the difficult phases of the journey. I especially loved the relatable story about the author’s father and brother that inspired the title. Her brother had a project he needed to complete about birds, but he became overwhelmed by it. He asked his dad how he was going to get it done. His (and Anne’s) father answered, “just take it bird by bird,” which turns out to be a fitting metaphor for writing and for life.

Thanks so much for chatting with me today, Lori. It was a pleasure to learn more about your book and your writing!

Twitter/X: @LoriDubbin

Website: loridubbin.com

Who’s the blogger behind Kid Lit Village?

Cynthia Mackey is the author of of Katie Shaeffer Pancake Maker and The Lullaby Monsters and her poetry appears in The Toy, The Dirigible Balloon and Little Thoughts Press. Her debut picture book, If a Bumblebee Lands on Your Toe is forthcoming with Yeehoo Press in fall of 2024. http://www.booksbycindy.com

Thanks so much for following my blog! I’ve made the difficult decision to end Kid Lit Village. The cost of maintaining the blog in both time and money is something that I can no longer justify. I’m truly grateful to all the authors and illustrators who participated in the blogs and the giveaways. My goal has always been to support children’s book creators. I hope that going forward, I can find new ways to do that outside of this blog. Please sign up for my newsletter or follow me on Instagram/Bluesky to get updates.

Hello Lovely blog readers!

The only sure thing in life is change and for a lot of reasons, this blog is going to come to an end fairly soon. My renewal date is nearing and I’m not prepared to pay for another year. If you’ll miss it, I’d sure love to hear from you because sometimes I wonder if there are more than 3.5 readers out there.

If you’ve just stumbled upon it, the blog typically features interviews with children’s book creators on Mondays, inspirational quotes on Wednesdays, and book reviews on Fridays. I’ve loved doing the blog and have made so many great kid lit community connections. At the same time, I’ve learned a lot about writing for children, illustration, and all the resources available to children’s writers and illustrators.

The blog has a cost, and although it is small, there are a lot of other costs to being a children’s writer. The workshops, the memberships, the conferences, the professional critiques. It can add up! If you’ll miss the interviews, do let me know as I am considering the possibility of something similar on Instagram. Hopefully, that platform will continue to be free?!

Anyway, the official end date is November the 6th. I have a couple of posts scheduled before then. After that, look for me on Instagram or my website.

And thanks so much for reading! I appreciate you.

Hello Blog Readers, thanks for stopping by Kid Lit Village and here’s my latest review from a picture book by Aixa-Perez Prado – Mercedes Sosa: Voice of the People. A picture book biography with historical significance, this book is scheduled for release on September 17, 2024 by Lee and Low Books. I try to keep my reviews short and sweet, knowing reviews are typically scanned by readers trying to decide which books to purchase or borrow from the library.

It was a pleasure to read the ARC of this beautifully written and illustrated picture book biography. Aixa brings the story of Mercedes Sosa to life, allowing me to connect my limited knowledge of the time period and where she fits in.

The sprinkling of Spanish words gives readers and opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture through its unique language. The book celebrates history, diversity, overcoming difficulties and music. The role of music in our lives is powerful. It belongs in all school libraries.

Five stars.

Hello Lovely blog readers and welcome to another review on Kid Lit Village. Today’s picture book is Playdate Surprise by Karen Autio and Laura Watson. Reviews are short and sweet to show how easy it can be to leave a review for a book you loved. They are featured on Fridays.

Playdate Surprise is a delightful, much needed book that shows a friendship between two girls – Kayla, who needs a wheelchair, and Piper, who does not. Karen shows how there can be barriers to having playdates for children who requires wheelchairs and how those barriers can be overcome. Most importantly, readers can see what it can mean to make homes more accessible. I love how the girls connect over training their puppies – it’s such a genuine, relatable friendship. An important book to add to your library.

Five stars!

It’s a pleasure to share short, sweet picture book reviews here on Kid Lit Village. I’m happy to share this book by Lori Dubbin and Amanda Quartey, which features a friendship story between two tennis players born in different countries from diverse backgrounds. The book is published by Kar-Ben Publishing with an expected release date of September 10, 2024.

I had the opportunity to read the digital ARC of this book. What an intriguing story of two tennis players from completely different backgrounds who became friends and persevered to play the game they both loved in spite of what seemed like insurmountable odds. Both players, one African American, one Jewish, were initially banned from competition because of their culture. This story will be great inspiration for so many children. It touches on themes of challenging established norms, team work, diversity, equality, history, and friendship. This book belongs in schools and libraries around the world.

Hello Lovely Blog Readers! It is a great pleasure to welcome Mariana Ríos Ramírez to the blog. Mariana and I were in a critique group together and we are together again for our promo group, Kids Book Crew! This post is special for me because Mariana’s story, Abuelita’s Gift, was one I had the pleasure of reading when the manuscript was in development. I can attest that she has done a beautiful job with this book and it is already receiving excellent reviews!

About the book:

Julieta is excited for Abuelita’s spirit to visit on Día de Muertos. She is determined to find the perfect gift to honor Abuelita and to show how much she misses her. However, her ideas fail one by one and Julieta grows worried. It is only when Julieta embraces the memories she once shared with her abuelita, that she realizes the perfect gift comes from the heart. An uplifting story about both life and death, family, and the threads that connect us, long after we are gone.

ABUELITA’S GIFT: A DÍA DE MUERTOS STORY

Abuelita’s Gift: A Día de Muertos Story 

Spanish edition: El regalo de abuelita: Un cuento de Día de Muertos

Illustrator: Sara Palacios

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Photographer: J. Pray Photography 

Mariana Ríos Ramírez is a Mexican children’s book author who loves sharing elements of her culture, language, and traditions through her stories. Besides writing, Mariana loves photography, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. She currently resides in Anderson, South Carolina with her husband, two kids, and a Chihuahua dog named Rogers. 

Welcome to the Kid Lit Village blog, Mariana! Thanks for taking the time to do an interview with me. I know our readers will appreciate learning more about you and your book, Abuelita’s Gift.

Thanks for this wonderful opportunity, Cindy. It means a lot to me to get this chance to share about my books with your readers. 

I think our readers would like to know what appeals to you about writing for children.

What I love most about writing for children is having the unique opportunity of inviting them into the worlds of the characters that I imagine. I like how children can get to experience different life situations, discover new traditions and cultures, and how they get to travel to far away lands as they flip the pages of books. In addition to this, I appreciate that my stories allow me to share messages and values that are important to me, such as kindness, perseverance or friendship; while in other instances I can also share glimpses of my Mexican culture, traditions, and even some Spanish, my first language. 

It’s so fun to learn more about your culture through your books. Can you tell us about your inspiration for this book?

I wrote Abuelita’s Gift: A Día de Muertos Story because I wanted to share a piece of México with kids around the world. Día de Muertos is a beloved tradition in my country, and it’s celebrated by many people in different ways depending on each region. However, what I love most is that it’s a time to celebrate the life of our ancestors and to honor their memories, by being joyful instead of sad. 

When my family moved to the USA in 2016, my children were faced with several new traditions that we were not used to before. Since then, we have adapted and embraced them. However, for me it was also important that my kids had their own Mexican traditions. In this particular case, Día de Muertos allows us to feel connected to México, but also to our family and our ancestors. It’s the perfect opportunity to share with our children the memories that my husband and I have of our grandparents, great grandparents, and other dear relatives. This is a tradition that I hope my kids will keep on celebrating as they grow up.

For these reasons, I was inspired to write Abuelita’s Gift. I wanted to share, as I did with my kids, a glimpse of this beautiful tradition; and in doing so, it became such a personal story in many ways. It doesn’t only remind me of my own family, but also of those feelings of love and connection that are always there with loved ones, even if they are not around us anymore, at least not physically. 

I think it’s especially wonderful to learn about a culture through its celebrations. Is there a scene for this book that you enjoyed creating?

Yes! I absolutely love the last two spreads of the story, when Julieta finally presents her special gift to Abuelita by the ofrenda, and how she realizes that it’s also a gift for herself.  Sara Palacios’ art is so heartwarming and beautiful, that it just made this scene much more powerful and emotional. I think it perfectly shows what Día de Muertos is about: the love of family never ends. I hope each reader will be able to feel that emotion and realize this is true, in their very own way. 

Could you please share some resources for writers that you find helpful.

In my experience, having critique partners has proved to be one of the best resources to grow as a writer as well as reading a lot of picture books, which is the genre I write. Listening to podcasts, signing up to webinars, or reading/watching interviews with authors to know more about their books and their writing journeys, has been very enlightening too. Thankfully, within the writing community there are plenty of valuable resources to learn from, and many of them are free.

Mariana, thank you so much for taking the time for this interview! I’m sure Kid Lit Village readers have enjoyed this as much as I have. I invite readers to share your comments below. Look for Mariana’s books in your library or buy them at your local indie book store. If you get a chance to read them, please leave a review! And if you’d like to get in touch with Mariana directly, here’s where to find her.

Facebook: @marianarioswrites

Instagram/Threads: @marianariosr

Twitter: @marianariosrmz1

Bluesky: @marianarios.bsky.social

Linktree: linktr.ee/MarianaRiosR

Website: www.marianariosramirez.com

Who’s the blogger behind Kid Lit Village?

Cynthia Mackey is the author of of Katie Shaeffer Pancake Maker and The Lullaby Monsters and her poetry appears in The Toy, The Dirigible Balloon and Little Thoughts Press. Her debut picture book, If a Bumble Bee Lands on Your Toe is forthcoming with Yeehoo Press in spring of 2025. http://www.booksbycindy.com

Hello Lovely Blog Readers! Here’s another short and sweet review. Goat’s Boat Won’t Float is by Kim Larson and Gozde Eyce. Picture Book reviews are typically posted Fridays on the Kid Lit Village blog.

Readers will enjoy the humour in this picture book featuring a fainting goat and a seafaring turkey. The earmuff wearing goat needs more oats and goes on a hilarious journey to get them. A book for kids who love to laugh.

Five Stars!

Save this space for Heather Morris August 19th 2024