Posts by Beth
A Word with Beth about “Than” and “Then”
The Grammar Owl is back and so is my monthly feature that looks at some question about English language usage and grammar. Today, the Grammar Owl and I want to talk about the words “than” and “then” and when to use one and when the other. (You may have gathered that from the title of…
Read MoreLeaving China by James McMullan — a book to savor
Title: Leaving China: an artist paints his World War II childhood Author/Illustrator: James McMullan Publisher: Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin, 2014 Genre: Autobiography; illustrated book for older kids Audience Age: 8 and up (including adults) Themes/Topics: Author/Artist’s early life; China during World War II; Art and growing up Opening Sentences: “My earliest memory is of throwing…
Read MoreHow to Make a Picture Book, part 3d
Character Development/ A Collaborative Process Developing the Characters for the Bubblegum Princess by illustrator Lori Hanson Today, I’m delighted to welcome Lori Hanson, illustrator of Bubblegum Princess — the other half of the collaboration team with author Julie Gribble. Lori will explain how the illustrations contribute to the development of the characters. Thanks, Lori,…
Read MoreCollaborating with another writer… Would you? Could you?
On Tuesday of this week, I heard a fascinating interview on Minnesota Public Radio. In fact, it was so interesting that I have preempted my planned post for today in order to share it with you. In her regular Talking Volumes live interview, Kerry Miller talked with Cassandra Clare, author of the Mortal Instruments series,…
Read MoreA “Just Write” Interview with Author, Educator, Editor Emma Walton Hamilton
We’re welcoming a return visitor to By Word of Beth today, Emma Walton Hamilton. I got to know Emma in 2010 when I took her Just Write for Kids online/home study course in writing picture books. We’ve since become friends and colleagues, working together in the Children’s Book Hub Facebook Group and on the Hub…
Read MoreRe-read Any Good Books Lately?
I love to re-read books. Some books, such as Karen and With Love from Karen by Marie Killilea, I have read so many times that my copies have worn out, and I’ve had to replace them. You’ll note that the links I’ve given for these two books are to Amazon. I rarely link to Amazon…
Read MoreMoving Forward — with Emma Walton Hamilton’s “Just Write for Middle Grade”
As I mentioned when I signed off for the summer, I spent May, June and July taking Emma Walton Hamilton’s online/home study course Just Write for Middle Grade. Back in 2010 I took Emma’s Just Write for Kids, which is a course in writing picture books. I’ve been eager for a similar course dealing with…
Read MoreHow To Make a Picture Book, part 3c
I’m delighted that Julie Gribble is back with her monthly guest post on the making of her picture book Bubblegum Princess. Welcome back, Julie! The Making of Bubblegum Princess Story and Character Development – Part 3c: A Collaboration Children’s book writers are there with our readers when they’re very young, learning how to negotiate the terrain, from…
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