KidLitTag

"Capturing Lightning in a Bottle" Naseem Hrab on the Magic of Kids Can Press Turning 50

Naseem Hrab is one of the definitive "how does she do it?" people in Canadian publishing: a Governor General's Literary Award-winning writer for young people and former librarian, she also serves as Kids ...

Shake Up Your Writing Routine

January is full of messages about intention setting and challenges. Personally, I do not go in for unwieldy resolutions, but prefer to think of the new year as a good time to shift into something a little ...

Get Some Chocolate Ready for When You Read Sandra Bradley's Cocoa Magic, a Perfectly Cozy Picture Book

Sandra Bradley's Cocoa Magic (Pajama Press, illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard) is coming out at just the right time: combining a story of kindness and generosity with a fragrant chocolate shop as its homey ...

A Love Letter to the Canadian Children’s Book Centre

It’s November, month of #GivingTuesday, and I want to highlight the wonderful Canadian Children’s Book Centre, the only national, not-for-profit Canadian organization dedicated to “encouraging, ...

Do Kids’ Book Awards Matter?

It’s Moira Rose’s favourite season— (book) awards season! It feels like a new list of finalists is posted every day. And while there is lots to celebrate, it can be crushing to watch your book go ...

9 Kidlit Page-To-Screen Adaptations that are just as Good as the Book

Earlier in the month, I had the opportunity to see Lena Dunham’s spirited and loving adaptation of Catherine Called Birdy, Karen Cushman’s novel of the same name, at the Toronto International Film ...

Naseem Hrab's Adorable Snail Party Picture Book is a Love Letter to Homebodies of All Ages

While everyone loves a special occasion, we all have different ideas about the perfect way to celebrate. Some people may love a big, boisterous party, but plenty of people find that all a bit overwhelming ...

To Rhyme or Not to Rhyme

Nothing is as divisive as rhyme in children’s picture books. When it works, it sings, but when it doesn’t, it can turn readers (and editors) right off. Many people have fond memories of their favourite ...

6 Reasons Why Your Kids’ Book Was Rejected

After working in children’s publishing, sitting on various book selection committees, and judging writing for kids contests for 15+ years, I’ve read a lot of manuscripts. Here are the six most common ...

Genres You Didn’t Learn About in Kidlit 101

One of the most formative experiences in my development as a writer was working in a bookstore. For four glorious years I was the manager of the award-winning, much beloved Flying Dragon Bookshop in Toronto. ...