Welcome to the Back Matter Break Down! Today I’m excited to bring you an interview with a wonderful debut author, Steena Hernandez. She gives us a look into the process of writing and revising her back matter, and how she landed on mixing her personal story with some facts about dancers and ballet shoes. AndContinue reading “Back Matter Break Down: Interview & Giveaway with Steena Hernandez”
Back Matter Break Down: Evidence!: How Dr. John Snow Solved the Mystery of Cholera
Welcome to the Back Matter Break Down! The book we’ll look at today is one of my favorite non-fiction picture books from thelast year. I’ve always been a fan of Deborah Hopkinson’s work, and this is one of her best. My 7-year old son also gives this book a ringing endorsement, and I loved theContinue reading “Back Matter Break Down: Evidence!: How Dr. John Snow Solved the Mystery of Cholera”
Back Matter Break Down: The Reindeer Remainders
Welcome to the Back Matter Break Down! For my final blog post of the year, I must have Christmas and holidays on the brain which is why I gravitated towards this book featuring reindeer. But let’s be clear, this is NOT a Christmas book! Instead we have a autumnal color palette with a mix ofContinue reading “Back Matter Break Down: The Reindeer Remainders”
World Read Aloud Day 2025 – Zoom with a Self-Published Author or Illustrator
It’s time to get ready for World Read Aloud Day 2025! The list of self-published volunteers is live! Keep reading for all the details: If you’re new here, I’m Judy Campbell-Smith. I am the author of AJ’s Neighborhood, a picture book I self-published in 2022, and Ice Cream Everywhere: Sweet Stories from Around the World,Continue reading “World Read Aloud Day 2025 – Zoom with a Self-Published Author or Illustrator”
World Read Aloud Day 2025 – Call for Self-Published Volunteers
I’m so excited for this: World Read Aloud Day is back! For those unfamiliar, World Read Aloud Day was founded by an organization called LitWorld to “celebrate the power of reading aloud to create community and amplify new stories, and to advocate for literacy as a foundational human right.” This year WRAD will be onContinue reading “World Read Aloud Day 2025 – Call for Self-Published Volunteers”
Back Matter Break Down: Interview & Giveaway with Helen Kampion & Reneé Critcher Lyons
Welcome to the Back Matter Break Down! This week we have a fantastic interview with a dynamic duo behind a new PB bio! I’m so glad these two have decided to let us see behind the scenes into what their process was to put together the back matter in their book. And make sure youContinue reading “Back Matter Break Down: Interview & Giveaway with Helen Kampion & Reneé Critcher Lyons”
Back Matter FAQs: Submitting Back Matter
Welcome to the Back Matter Break Down, my blog series all about back matter in picture books! I wanted to try something new with post and answer a common question I have encountered from picture book authors who are working on manuscripts with back matter. It’s a question I also had when I first startedContinue reading “Back Matter FAQs: Submitting Back Matter”
Back Matter Break Down: Interview & Giveaway with Rachel Funez
Welcome to the Back Matter Break Down! I am excited for today’s interview and giveaway with Rachel Funez! The back matter for her picture book reaches both kid and adult readers and carries on the super-hero theme of the main text. So much fun and good info here, and don’t forget to read all theContinue reading “Back Matter Break Down: Interview & Giveaway with Rachel Funez”
Back Matter Break Down: Interview & Giveaway with Marie Chan
Welcome to the Back Matter Break Down! I am so excited today to bring an interview with one of my writing friends about her debut picture book! Marie Chan was actually one of the first people I met when I joined SCBWI a few years ago, and it’s amazing to get to see her reachContinue reading “Back Matter Break Down: Interview & Giveaway with Marie Chan”
Back Matter Break Down: The Very True Legend of the Mongolian Death Worms
Welcome to the Back Matter Break Down! The book we’ll be looking at today is very charming and I just love the illustrations. The back matter is also very fun and takes an interesting approach to myth. This feels different than some of the other books I have reviewed lately, so I’m excited to diveContinue reading “Back Matter Break Down: The Very True Legend of the Mongolian Death Worms”
Judy Campbell-Smith 