The Yarn
Posts by Travis Jonker
Books on Film: Henry Winkler on CBS
Henry Winkler recently appeared on the CBS Morning Show to talk about the third book in his Detective Duck series (co-written by Henry Winkler and illustrated by Dan Santat).
Cover Reveal Q&A: OFF THE WALL by Molly Idle and Juana Martinez-Neal
It’s a pleasure to share the cover for Off the Wall, a picture book collaboration between Caldecott Honorees Molly Idle and Juana Martinez-Neal. But before we take a look at the cover, I talked with Molly and Juana about how the book was made. Travis: What was the initial inspiration for OFF THE WALL? Juana […]
Predictions! New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books 2025
Trying to predict the 2025 New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children's Books list.
More Recent Posts
Now on The Yarn Podcast: SUNDUST Author/Illustrator Zeke Peña!
Back in June I talked with author/illustrator Zeke Peña all about his stunning new picture book Sundust. Zeke’s path to picture books was unique, and the result is a book that feels completely fresh (and a book I’m keeping an eye when award season rolls around). Here’s the episode: Subscribe below to catch every episode […]
Reading Rainbow Returns!
Here’s some good news. Reading Rainbow is back with the perfect host: librarian Mychal Threets. Here’s the announcement: Here’s how to watch (via ABC News): The new “Reading Rainbow” will be presented as a digital series on the Reading Rainbow website and KidZuko, a children’s YouTube channel. The first of four new episodes premieres this […]
Nominate Your Favorites for the 2025 Undies and Endies Awards!
The best (see: only) case cover and endpaper awards in children’s literature are back! That’s right, the 2025 Undies and Endies are officially up and running. It’s time to submit your favorite case covers and end papers of the year. First up, the Undies Case Cover Awards. What’s a case cover, you ask? It’s what […]
ADVERTISEMENT
Notes on September 2025
In September . . . . . . we checked in on the Newbery and Caldecott race. Or at least the books getting the most love over on Goodreads. You should read Betsy’s excellent predictions over on A Fuse #8 Production as well. . . . we announced a new book! Little Turtle Pond is […]
10 to Note: Fall Preview 2025
Don’t mind me, I’m just looking through 2148 books publishing in September, October, and November, and picking out the ten books I’m most looking forward to this fall. Picture Books A Snow Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead, illustrated by Erin E. Stead September 30 | Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan) | Grades PreK-1 […]
Now on The Yarn Podcast: Nicholas Day
I’m always fascinated with how narrative nonfiction books are made, so it was such a pleasure to have author Nicholas Day on The Yarn podcast. He won a Sibert medal for his last book – The Mona Lisa Vanishes – and in this episode he takes us behind the scenes of his latest: A World […]
Slate Names the Greatest Picture Books of the 2000s
We are at the quarter century mark, and the “Best (blank) of the Past 25 Years” lists are in full swing. Slate went and talked with “authors, illustrators, librarians, booksellers, academics, and publishing pros” to come up with their list of the Greatest Picture Books of the Past 25 Years. Click here to have a […]
ADVERTISEMENT
Archives
ADVERTISEMENT
Author/Illustrator Blogs
Book Blogs I Like
- A Book and a Hug
- A Fuse #8 Production
- A Kids Book a Day
- A Year of Reading
- Abby (the) Librarian
- Awful Library Books
- Becky’s Book Reviews
- Better Book Titles
- Book-A-Day Almanac
- Bookends
- books4yourkids.com
- bookshelves of doom
- Bottom Shelf Books
- Calling Caldecott
- Caustic Cover Critic
- Chad C. Beckerman
- Charlotte’s Library
- Cheryl Rainfield
- Chicken Spaghetti
- CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATION
- Collecting Children’s Books
- Cybils
- EarlyWord
- educating alice
- Finding Wonderland
- For Those About to Mock
- Good Comics for Kids
- Good Show Sir
- GottaBook
- Great Kid Books
- Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
- Hi Miss Julie!
- Jen Robinson’s Book Page
- Kidsmomo
- Maria T. Middleton Design
- Nerdy Book Club
- Neverending Search
- Nine Kinds of Pie
- One Book, Two Books, Old Books, New Books
- Out of the Box
- Oz and Ends
- PlanetEsme
- Read Roger
- Reading Rants!
- Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
- sharpread
- ShelfTalker
- so tomorrow
- The Children's Book Review
- The Miss Rumphius Effect
- Uncovered Cover Art
- Waking Brain Cells
- Watch. Connect. Read.
Library Blogs
Trending on the SLJ Blog Network
Follow This Blog
Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.