Celebrating 2015 Books from Former Students and Friends ~ Mira Reisberg

There's nothing like celebrating great books from friends and former students. Wahoo!! So here goes starting with former students with many congratulations for all.

This exquisite book by Kathryn Otoshi and Bret Baumgarten is a tribute to Kathryn's incredible smarts, heart, and talents. Kathryn co-created this book with Bret while he was dying to help him realize his dream and to follow up on the question he asked his daughters every morning, "What will you do with your beautiful hands today?".

Like all of Kathryn's concept books, it is both aesthetically beautiful, intriguing, and multi-layered with many 5 star reviews on Amazon. Kathryn is also a course contributor to The Craft and Business of Writing Picture Books!

So delighted to see April Chu get the recognition that she deserves. I also love saying "I told you so!". Both of these are awesome books.

Also thrilled to see Miranda Paul doing so brilliantly winning awards and accolades as well! Didn't need to say "I told you so!" to Miranda. She'd already been published before she came to us. Miranda teaches our awesome Get Your Grammar Groove course, which is about so much more than grammar and contributes to The Craft and Business of Writing Picture Books as well as the Blogateers blog!

Jennifer Swanson's career is also rocketing in the nonfiction arena and am so happy for her. She is one smart woman and lovely to boot!

Jen teaches our Writing for Love and Money course, which really needs a better title.

Right Julie Bayless is one super talented lady who I'm looking forward to seeing much more from. Visit her website to find out more.

Yay to the wonderful Jannie Ho, who was already published when she came to us but who has now generously contributed to our Craft and Business of Illustrating Children's Books Course. Pauline T'so was published ages ago but just had Whispers of the Wolf come out, which she both wrote and Illustrated beautifully. She really is a master of light and shadow. Lea Lyon is another wonderful former student creating books that that have depth and meaning to help make a better world.

And then there's fabulous Deborah Underwood who was a student ages ago had THREE books come out this year. All very fun and super smart. Way to go Deborah!! Finally, I want to share about two former students whose books were published in 2014 but who won major awards in 2015!

Another while ago student, Yuyi Morales, won a Caldecott honor this year for her incredibly beautiful and innovative re-conceptualization of Frida Kahlo. It's quite exquisite! Yuyi has contributed to both The Craft and Business of Writing Picture Books and The Craft and Business of Illustrating Children's Books!

More recent student Gayle Pitman won another ALA award, the prestigious Stonewall Award for LGBTQ kidlit for her multi-layered super fun book on the Gay Pride March. There's so much to like in this rollicking book with great illustrations and fun rhythmic text.

So many wonderful books came out this year. In my next post, I plan on sharing more fabulous books from friends and course contributors!! Being an author or illustrator is generally not a lucrative business. So, please buy these books if you can.

I'd love to hear what you think of these along with your suggestions of favorite books from 2015 as well!