Finding Out How It All Ends: An Original Comic from Emma Hunsinger

Finding Out How It All Ends: An Original Comic from Emma Hunsinger

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Sometimes I just glance at someone’s work and I like it so much that I instantly know I’m going to be that person’s #1 fan for (checks watch) life. I felt it last year when I saw Mexikid for the very first time. I feel it this year now looking at the upcoming debut middle grade graphic novel How It All Ends (out August 6th). Or, to be more precise, I’m not looking at the GN quite yet. Instead, I’m looking at a comic that Emma Hunsinger, the personage behind the book, created to introduce YOU to the book.

But before we get into any of that, let’s meet Emma Hunsinger. You may already be familiar with her work. After all, her viral New Yorker piece “How to Draw a Horse” was nominated for an Eisner Award and included in the prestigious annual “Cartoon Takeover” print edition of the New Yorker. Not too shabby. Now take a gander at what her upcoming book entails:

“Thirteen-year-old Tara lives inside the nonstop adventure of her imagination. It’s far more entertaining than dull, everyday life. But when she’s bumped from seventh grade directly to high school, she gets a dramatic jolt to reality.

Now Tara is part of a future she doesn’t feel at all ready for. She’s not ready to watch the racy shows the high school kids like, or to listen to the angsty music, or to stop playing make-believe with her younger brother. She’s not ready to change for PE in front of everyone, or for the chaos of the hallways, or for the anarchy of an English class that’s overrun with fourteen-year-old boys.

But then there’s Libby.

Tara doesn’t know whether she’s ready for Libby. She can’t even explain who Libby is to her because she doesn’t know yet. She just knows that everything’s more fun when she and her new classmate are together. But what will happen next? How will it all end?

This debut graphic novel is a clever and candid portrait of a young girl grappling with the pressures of fitting in, finding your people, and sorting through confusing feelings. Emma Hunsinger has a pitch-perfect ear for the awkward yet endearing moments that accompany growing up, and her illustrations are downright hilarious. She brilliantly captures the humor and the horror of self-discovery and the first blushes of having a crush. How It All Ends deftly explores how unbearable—but exciting!—it is to grow up.

Today, I’ve the greatest of pleasures to debut an original comic from Ms. Hunsiger has created for all of us. Before showing it, I must apologize for my blog’s limitations. No matter what I do, I simply cannot make these images any larger than they currently stand. However, you will find that if you click on the first one, you should be able to scroll through them by selecting the right arrow next to each one.

(Also, if I’m not too far off, there is a character in here that sure as heck looks like Molly O’Neill and may be the greatest love letter from a cartoonist to her agent I’ve seen to date)

She’s dead on when it comes to pears. Mealy, yes.

I can’t thank Emma Hunsinger enough for allowing me the chance to debut this one my site today. How It All Ends is out August 6th, so be sure to look for it absolutely everywhere then. Thanks too to Samantha Brown and the team at Harper Collins for helping to put all of this together.

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: King Stork by Howard Pyle, ill. Trina Schart Hyman

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What makes an appropriate April Fool’s post? How about a book that FOOLED its own art directors, editors, publicists, etc. by including copulation? I’d say that counts! In fact, you might say that Trina Schart Hyman was the ultimate April Fool’s picture book creator! She snuck insults of book reviewers onto gravestones. She managed to get the missionary position into a Howard Pyle book. She even made her ex-girlfriend the evil queen in her version of Snow White (while she made herself one of the seven dwarfs). But going back to that case where doing the wild thing made an appearance of the margins of a table in a picture book, I’ve been hoping to do King Stork with Kate for years. And let me say, it doesn’t disappoint. It’s just as weird, sexist, strange, and funny as it was the first time I read it lo these many years ago. Think The Twelve Dancing Princesses meet Tam Lin.

Listen to the whole show here on Soundcloud or download it through iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Play, PlayerFM, Audible, Amazon Music, or your preferred method of podcast selection.

Show Notes:

I said I’d link to it. Here’s my Huffington Post piece, Startling Acts of Mischief in Children’s Literature.

Kate says this is the drummer’s “He-Man moment”. He does have a certain Prince Adam quality to him.

King Stork? More like King Zaddy, amiright?

That dog? Thanks, Trina. Thanks. A little too accurate, this picture. And I think we can all agree on that.

Kate says the decapitated heads would be her preferred tattoo on her upper arm. Who can argue? That would be a great tattoo! Plus, I’m just happy that I was finally able to find for her the requisite blood and violence she’s been craving in a picture book for so long.

“So princess comes out in a see-through dress…” Seriously, Trina?!? God, leave a little something to the imagination, girl.

Let’s talk for a moment about the witch’s interior design. I’m seeing hints of Cocteau’s Beauty and the Beast by the hand sconce, but who knows what this other stuff (including the copulating couple) is alluding to.

Love the carvings at the top of these thrones. They seem to reflect the moods of their sitters.

“And then he kills the princess’s MOM!!!” Apparently that’s how you get a girl, dudes.

Kate Recommends: The new Ghostbusters movie Frozen Empire

Betsy Recommends: The number of Broadway singers that contribute to Helluva Boss and Hazbin Hotel as seen in this video:

In the Mix: A Q&A and Cover Reveal of All Mixed Up with Raj Tawney

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It’s tough, man. Tough putting a middle grade out there, when there are folks claiming the middle grade novel is dead (mmhmm). Tough to pretty much have to do all your own publicity. Tough to try to sell yourself to the public, sight unseen. It’s a harsh world out there.

But here at A Fuse #8 Production, there’s nothing I like more than a cover reveal paired with a nice little old-fashioned Q&A. And back in January, you might have seen this news item show up in the Publishers’ Weekly:

Paw Prints Publishing, the children’s book imprint launched by Baker & Taylor in 2022, will expand into the middle grade market this fall. The first book in the category to be published by the imprint will be All Mixed Up by Raj Tawney, which, the publisher said is “an adventurous and timely story of a young multiethnic American boy who forges a complex friendship with a Pakistani immigrant in the wake of 9/11.” The book is planned for October 28. Paw Prints is distributed to the trade by Baker & Taylor Publisher Services.

Today, we’re talking with Raj Tawney himself and getting an exclusive sneak peek at his novel’s cover before All Mixed Up releases on October 28th.

Betsy Bird: Raj! Thanks so much for joining us today and answering my questions about ALL MIXED UP. First and foremost, tell us a little bit about where this book came from. What was your impetus for writing it?

Raj Tawney

Raj Tawney: Betsy! Thanks so much for featuring me. It’s a big honor. It’s hard to believe this book is actually going to exist in the world. When I was a young reader, my mom would take me to our local library and give me the freedom to select titles I was drawn to. I loved adventure series with strong and clever characters like Cam Jansen and The Boxcar Children, and stories that examined boyhood and the human condition like My Side of the Mountain. I was also a devoted fan of the TV show The Wonder Years and saw myself in the lead character Kevin Arnold. Although my generation and background were different from his, I related to the universal themes adolescence, identity, friendship, family, and questioning one’s place in a world they have no control over.

As an essayist and journalist, I’ve written countless nonfiction pieces about my multiracial identity and how I navigated through a beautiful yet confusing youth. As our melting pot population in America continues to evolve, I wondered what it would be like to write a story about a boy like me, having the same feelings and thoughts, experiencing some awkward adventures as I did as a kid in the ‘90s and early 2000s. Would other kids relate, mixed or otherwise? Could I tap into those same universal themes so any reader can see themselves? Also, could I infuse a little humor while discussing tough subjects? I really wanted to challenge myself to see if I could pull it off. It started out as a silly daydream many years back. Then, it evolved into a personal mission.

BB: The book was based on some of your personal life experiences, as I understand it. What elements of your life did you call upon when writing this story?

Raj: As a mixed person, it’s important to show the differences between homelife and school life, and how one’s cultures play significant roles in how they are seen or feel about themselves, or perhaps they are suppressed in order to present as more “American.” My dad is an immigrant from India, and my Puerto Rican and Italian American mom has immigrant roots on both of her parents’ sides. As a kid, I varied between being curious about my distinct heritage and my family’s many roots, to feeling totally ashamed and just wanting to assimilate. I’ve met a lot of people over the years, from all kinds of backgrounds, who have also struggled with their own sense of American identity. I’ve struggled with it and have also found ways to create humor from it. I felt an opportunity to examine myself through the lead character Kamal in hopes that others may relate to this inner dilemma.

I was also a self-conscious boy who lacked friends and was bullied often but certain friendships I made were vital toward helping me grow. Kamal also experiences these elements.

Nature is another big theme as I spent a lot of my time in the backyard, being creative with my hands and using my imagination with the things I’d find in the woods. Although TV, video games, and computers were already dominant when I was growing up, I had compassion for animals and a love for the outdoors early on in my life. I purposely went low-tech, hoping to encourage the value of the natural world.

BB: Was the book always intended to be for older readers or did you ever think about writing a younger version? And how much of the story changed between the initial draft and the final project?

Raj: I always had the goal of writing Middle Grade because the genre had such a powerful impact on my young, developing mind. I’ve always loved picture and chapter books, but I wanted to dig deeper and cover challenging issues for a slightly more mature audience.

The draft has continued to evolve into something I could have never imagined when I first started. Originally, when I worked with editor and friend Beneé Knauer, she encouraged me not to hold back on any tough subject matter, like cultural identity and immigration. Then, when I signed with Paw Prints Publishing/Baker & Taylor, director Bobbie Bensur and editor Saanya Kanwar gave me the strength to further flesh out difficult storylines and develop these nuanced characters. Their support, along with my wife Michelle who’d talk with me for hours about the story and the real life issues surrounding it, helped me find Kamal’s voice and in turn, my own voice.

BB: Was there anything you wanted to include in the book and just couldn’t? Anything you had to cut?

Raj: Honestly, I don’t feel I held back. There are some difficult conversations being had in this story and it was important to let them flow naturally and honestly. That being said, I have a funny bone and love finding humor in awkward or inappropriate moments. Humor plays an important role. The only thing I may have cut over time are some direct political jabs that just felt unnecessary to the story.

BB: Tell me a little bit about your book jacket. I know it was created by Daniela Alarcon. What was your reaction on seeing it for the first time? Do you think it’s a good reflection of the book itself?

Raj: It was an emotional experience I wasn’t expecting. I knew the cover was going to be special based on what I’d seen of Daniela’s beautiful work but I wasn’t prepared for how overwhelmed I’d feel when Bobbie and Saanya finally showed it to me. I was looking at a reflection of my younger self. Literally! That’s me! It was surreal. I’ve never seen someone like me in a book before. I was told that Daniela related to the story on some level (I don’t know all of the details) and that she felt passionate about this project. I’m grateful my words inspired her illustration. Amanda Bartlett, who designed the cover, totally got it too and the final result is something that gives me chills each time I gaze at it. I’m fortunate for the talented people I’ve gotten to work with on this book. 

I hope young readers will see themselves in this story, no matter the background, and relate to Kamal’s experience.

BB: Finally, what do you have coming out next? What else have you been working on?

Raj: I’m not sure what’s coming out next. I’m giving my all to this book. I want it so badly to find an audience and make a positive impact on young readers. I’m excited to visit schools and libraries, and speak to students directly about it. I’m going to push this book as far as I can and see where it takes me, hopefully creating meaningful moments along the way. I’d certainly love to keep writing more Middle Grade. I love this genre.

Aside from All Mixed Up, my first book, Colorful Palate: A Flavorful Journey Through a Mixed American Experience, a memoir, was released last fall to mostly positive reviews and is still acquiring new readers everyday. It’s even finding its way into university programs, which boggles my mind as I wasn’t a strong student myself in my teens and twenties. But passion and hard work has really taken me far. I’m so proud to have my words live on shelves. I may sound naive but I’m a strong believer that books can change the world. I hope my work contributes toward supporting that belief.

And now, folks of all ages, here is that cover:

Big thanks to Raj for responding to my questions. You’ll be able to see All Mixed Up for yourself when it rolls out October 28th. Meanwhile, Raj will be at PLA next week, signing giclée prints of the cover in Baker & Taylor’s booth (#2114) from 4:15-5:00 PM on Wednesday, April 3rd. Stop by and be sure to see him then!

Eerdmans Books for Young Readers: A Fall 2024 Preview

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Admit it. When it comes to preview posts about smaller publishers, where ya gonna go? You’re coming to me, my darlings, because I love small publishers almost as much as I love you, my dear readers.

Today we turn our sights to a publisher located in my home state of Michigan. Eerdmans is a particularly fascinating company too. Initially conceived as a Christian book publisher in 1911 or so, it was in 1995 that the Eerdmams Books for Young Readers imprint was launched. They were given a significant boost when A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams and The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus, by Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet, won a Caldecott Honor. Today, they’re one of the few publishers for children that regularly take a chance on international literature for kids. As such, it was a great delight to get to hear about their upcoming Fall 2024 list. Behold!

2024 Fall Titles from Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

Kingdoms of Life by Carly Allen-Fletcher

ISBN: 978-0-8028- 5591-6

Publishing Date: August 13, 2024

Behold! A UK-based title that stands as the first frontlist title for a new grouping on STEAM books. What we have here is an adventure through the six kingdoms of life and all the worlds inside of THOSE. So let’s have some fun with this. Can you, dear reader, name the six kingdoms of life alluded to in the title? Archaea was new to me (and, if I’m going to be honest, I doubt I could have remembered the Protists). Throughout the book you get a text that includes great descriptions, as when one creature is described as, “a tiny floating plant as small as a cupcake sprinkle”. And for you jaded adult out there, don’t worry. There are plenty of unusual things mentioned, that can break the brains of the adults that encounter them (ever heard of a Resurrection plant?). The art does a great job of bringing all this to life. My personal favorite is the bacteria spread. Can you blame me? (It’s the third image below). And in spite of its European origins, the book has backmatter. No Bibliography, alas, (mostly it’ll be in an accompanying online activity kit) but there are sections dedicated to Scientific Names and Featured Life-Forms. Also, throughout the book the numbers that appear on the different living creatures correspond to the numbers in the backmatter, which give greater context.

A Star Shines Through by Anna Desnitskaya

ISBN: 9780802856319

Publication Date: August 20, 2024

If this cover looks a bit familiar, that may be because I recently hosted a guest piece from author/illustrator Anna Desnitskaya on this very blog less than a month ago. Desnitskaya’s a Moscow-born author who moved to Israel and now lives in Montenegro. In this story she tells the story of escaping Russia for another country and the discomfort and uncertainty that comes with such a move. Expect a certain level of poignancy to both the art and the word choices. Also expect some truly fantastic art. I love that shot of the mother and the daughter in the rain, as well as the sheer bareness of the apartment when they first encounter it. Back at home, the girl in this story would see a star in her home’s window whenever she approached. And when her mother makes a new star for the new home, “Everything around us became a little less different” with the star. It really is a lovely book, and an effective emigration/refugee story. Desnitskaya has the ability to captures the gritty reality of moving into a new place, from the cords on the wall to the lack of curtains.

It Is Okay by Ye Guo

ISBN: 9780802856241

Publication Date: August 27, 2024

If I know anything about you at all, it’s that you woke up this morning thinking, “I really hope I get to see a goat in a beret today.” Friend, consider your wishes granted and then some. The whole premise of this story is that Goat has run out of his favorite food: canned grass. “Every morning, Goat has a cup of coffee with canned grass on taste.” When Goat goes to the supermarket to get some more canned grass he meets a bunny and they discuss canned grass brands. They become friends after that. Mind you, they have their differences. “Goat thinks that Bunny puts too much sugar in his coffee.” Does that stand in the way of their friendship? As the book puts it, “Goat and Bunny are very different. But it is okay.” How do you go wrong with that laid back title? Put simply, this is a full-on buddy movie in a picture book. And it models a gentle way of showing how people can disagree but meet in the middle and acknowledge their different ways of doing things. It also addresses how do we respond to stress and what we can do when things go wrong? No doubt this will speak to a lot of readers.

Hiro: Winter and Marshmallows by Marine Schneider, translated by Vineet Lal

ISBN: 9780802856326

Publication Date: September 3, 2024

The tale of a TRUE party animal. Hiro, our heroine, is the bear shown on this book’s cover. Put simply, this is one bear who doesn’t want to hibernate. Instead, she yearns for adventure. So, one day in the winter, she goes for a walk. In doing so she discovers the smell of toasted marshmallows and a winter party in full swing. Be sure to check out the delightful two wordless two-page shots of the shocked humans seeing Hiro and then fleeing for their lives. It takes one brave little boy to finally get up the courage to talk to Hiro. When he does he asks her what’s it like being a bear. Listen to her answer: “It’s as if the world were very small and very big, all at once.” In the end, Hiro finally has her fill of marshmallows and goes home, with this great final line, “Before falling into a deep sleep which may or may not last until the end of winter.” This is the kind of readaloud ideal for class hibernation units. Or maybe you’d like to do a hygge storytime? Consider this the ultimate cozy cozy book. Heck, you could even throw a nice (non-denominational) winter party in conjunction with this. Just make sure you include plenty of marshmallows! Oh! And the true surprise for me? I had this pegged as Japanese. The true origin: Belgium!

Fast Cheetah, Slow Tortoise: Poems of Animal Opposites by Bette Westera & Mies van Hout, translated by David Colmer.

ISBN: 9780802856357

Publication Date: September 17, 2024

Previous Batchelder Honor winner (as recently as 2024) Westera is prepared to bring you Dutch poems packed with opposites! In one poem, for example, you might find a pig that is meticulously clean. On the opposite page, a warthog embodying true mess. The art is the standout in this book, but don’t discount the wordplay. In fact, if you’re the kind of adult who likes reading poetry aloud to kids, I can assure you that the word choice, pacing, tone, and tenor make it so that you don’t even have to practice reading this. Consider it a fun way to hang out in the world of antonyms. Educators will have a really fun time making their kids think, “How would your poem sound if you were a turtle? A cheetah?”

By the way, in the course of writing this up I went down a bit of a rabbit hole, trying to determine the difference between a laternfish and an anglerfish. Turns out, they are NOT the same!

Counting Winter by Nancy White Carlstrom and Claudia McGehee

ISBN: 9780802855701

Publication Date: September 24, 2024

Okay, endpaper geeks. You’re in good hands. Even the endpapers of this book are beautiful:

And yes. They have considered turning them into wrapping paper, but it’s just not economically feasible. Sorry about that.

So this is a book positively riddled with glorious scratchboard art. It’s a counting book, certainly, but it gives that counting a particularly wintery twist. Honestly, it’s a rather good pairing with the aforementioned Hiro. Each bit of text that accompanies a number reads like a little poem, as when we learn that the squirrels, “feast at their midden full of cones”. Ultimately the book ends with a luminous, joyous natural conclusion of the season in the last spread. Spring starts to arrive (something I think we’re ALL ready for right now). For a fun bit of backmatter there are animal profiles at the end with little facts. There’s also a mention at the end of the research process that went into this book and why the creators wanted to make it. Perfect for a winter storytime.

The Cat Way by Sara Lundberg, translated by B.J. Woodstein

ISBN: 9780802856333

Publication Date: October 8, 2024

A Swedish picture book presented in two parts (so dramatic!). Consider this a cat book as well as book about mindfulness, being present, and giving control to someone else. Right from the start a woman says, while on a walk with her cat, that SHE is in charge. All goes well at first, but eventually questions about control are raised. The cat eventually asks why the woman is always in charge. By the end of part one, the woman says that the cat can be in charge next time. So, in part two, the cat is! Ultimately, the owner realizes what you can experience when you give up control and let someone else be in charge for a little while. The folks at Eerdmans are calling this one, “An SEL book for cat lovers”. And check out that watercolor and gouache art:

The Most Beautiful Winter by Cristina Sitja Rubio, translated by Vineet Lal

ISBN: 9780802856272

Publication Date: October 15, 2024

Last book of the day and it’s about . . . winter! What a surprise! An English-language debut, Cristina Sitja Rubio was born in Venuzuela, and now splits her time between Barcelona and Berlin. As a result, it is fair to say that she has experienced winter in lots of different forms throughout her life. Like the aforementioned Hiro, this is another story about a woodland creature not wanting to hibernate. Badger is quite up and about in this story but in spite of his best efforts he cannot wake the other hibernators. Illustrated with a mix of crayon and watercolor art, again, this is a book that would be ideal for hibernation and winter units and seasonal storytimes. There’s even some nice backmatter to help kids understand the strange gray space that happens between hibernation and torpor (badgers as a rule go into torpor).

Oh, and extra points for this depiction of knitting. You see how Rubio placed those knitting needles? Yeah, she knew what she was doing.

Special thanks to Amy Storey and the good folks at Eerdmans for this information. Look for these books in the fall! It’ll be here before you know it.

Sexuality Educators Writing for the Youngest of Readers: A Q&A with Dorian Solot and Marshall Miller on All About Penises, Vulvas, and Vaginas

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Well, y’know. Gotta keep you on your toes.

The title of today’s post (which is bound to get me loads of unwanted spam in 3…. 2…. 1…) isn’t there to shock or get you in trouble at work. It’s just that sexuality educators Dorian Solot and Marshall Miller have two new books out next month about our bodies for kids. The pair are nationally recognized sex educators who have presented over 1,000 programs on sexuality topics at universities, businesses, high schools, national conferences, churches, and adult education centers over the past 20 years. Their new books for younger children, ALL ABOUT PENISES: A LEARNING ABOUT BODIES BOOK and ALL ABOUT VULVAS AND VAGINAS: A LEARNING ABOUT BODIES BOOK, are due out on shelves April 30th and give parents tools to simply teach their kids facts about bodies, reassure them that they’re normal, and embrace body diversity—all in a shame-free, kid-friendly way. These books are also dropping into a culture where books are banned for far less than these books’ titles. You can understand, then, why I felt that it was necessary to talk to these authors today about the necessity of what they’re writing:

Betsy Bird: Dorian and Marshall, thank you so much for joining me! You know, I was talking the other day to Alex Willan about his book UNICORNS ARE THE WORST, which got challenged in a Florida school district because it showed a naked goblin butt. The Moms for Liberty woman who brought the challenge cited a Florida law that prohibits showing minors any “nudity or sexual conduct.” Into this world in which a fictional creature’s butt can get challenged, you are introducing straightforward information about real human bodies and how they work. Tell us a little bit about why you’re introducing these books with these topics now.

Dorian Solot and Marshall Miller,
photo by Wild Moon

Dorian Solot: I wish there were some grand political response to the “why now?” question, but the honest answer is that a few years ago my sister called me about her son, my then four year old nephew, and said, “He has so many questions about his penis. What’s the best book to get him, like a book for four year olds that’s all about penises?” I thought for a moment and told her there was no book like that. She literally didn’t believe me. So I asked her, if there were a book like that, what would be in it? I took notes as she talked, hung up the phone, and wrote the first draft.

Marshall Miller: Since we started working on the books, we’ve found that a ton of parents and educators (and thankfully, the very wise Kate Farrell at Henry Holt) have the same reaction: of course there needs to be a book about this! Books are such perfect tools for educating about sensitive topics in matter-of-fact ways. These body parts are as important as any other–and arguably way more interesting.

Also, I promise you there are no goblin butts in our books. Not even one.

BB: Touché. Your books are coming out in 2024, the very year that our previous doyenne of sex education, Robie H. Harris, passed away. Robie’s books, like IT’S NOT THE STORK and IT’S PERFECTLY NORMAL, set the tone for a lot of books to come, but they were written a long time ago and times change. One thing that struck me particularly about your own books is how careful you are not to say “girls have vaginas” or “boys have penises” but rather that “people” have them. Can you talk a little bit about the ways in which you chose the specific language that would be used in these books?

Dorian: We are huge fans of Robie’s books, and were so sad to learn that she had passed. Our own kids have her books on their bedroom shelves! She had such a knack for explaining factual information in kid-friendly ways. But you’re right: times have changed. Even though I still recommend her books to my friends, these days I have to add caveats, like, “They were written in a different era.” The body parts themselves haven’t changed, but some of the ways people talk and think about bodies and gender have evolved.

Marshall: One thing we’ve learned as educators is to be clear: if we’re talking about bodies, use body part words. And if we’re talking about gender, use gender words. So yes, these books are more inclusive than books written a generation ago, but I think and hope they’ve retained that sense of down-to-earth kid-friendliness. Our goal was to create books that are inclusive and relevant to transgender, non-binary, and intersex kids and parents, and just as readable and relevant to families for whom those topics aren’t on their radar screen.

BB: I mentioned the Robie H. Harris books, but it’s worth noting that her educational titles were also generally for older kids. What sets your books apart is that their intended age range is more along the 3-7 age range. Now you’ve been presenting to universities, businesses, high schools, national conferences, churches, and adult education centers on sex education over the past 20 years. Was writing for this young an age range a gear shift for you or did it come naturally after all your previous experience in the field?

Dorian: As for so many authors, the shift was the result of becoming parents ourselves! While most of our work these days is still with college students, once you become a parent you’re immersed in a world of other parents trying to navigate sexuality-related issues related to young kids (as well as other critical parenting issues, like figuring how how to convince your child that macaroni and cheese is still macaroni and cheese whether it’s white or orange).

We were also hired to update the kindergarten and first grade edition of Our Whole Lives (OWL), a national sexuality education curriculum. It introduces topics like body parts, consent, and sexual abuse prevention. It’s actually taught mostly in churches! Before we started those revisions, we reached out to the hundreds of OWL teachers who had been presenting that curriculum to groups of kids over the last twenty years. Their insights about what kids wonder about and how they think were so valuable!

BB: When writing for kids of this age, what were the main points you wanted to nail down? And how do you walk the line between what’s important and educational to learn, and what you need to hold off on mentioning until the kids are a bit older?

Marshall: The most important thing was keeping the books developmentally appropriate. We knew kids should learn the correct names for the parts they can see, and some simple information about what those parts do. We wanted to be sure to communicate that however their body looks is fine and just right for them.

And it was also important that the books do some education about preventing sexual abuse. You’d be amazed how much time we spent on phone calls and Zooms with experts on this subject, revising and revising to reflect trauma-informed best practice. Interestingly, experts on that subject say that one of the most important things we can all do to help prevent sexual abuse is to be sure kids know the correct names for their genitals!

Dorian: These books are about external anatomy, the parts a kid can see themselves when they’re in the bathtub. So whenever one of us would say, “Wait, should we include the ovaries?” if it didn’t pass the “can they see it in when they’re in the bathtub?” test, it didn’t go in. Therefore, no ovaries, no fallopian tubes, no vas deferens. They can learn about those parts later. And there’s also no information about partnered sex or teen/adult sexuality, the kinds of topics grownups often think about when they hear the words “sex education.”

BB: Your illustrator Tyler Feder has been praised widely in the past for her inclusive books like BODIES ARE COOL so it makes a lot of sense to see her paired with you on these books. What were some of your takeaways after seeing her work? Had you been familiar with her work before?

Dorian: We love Tyler’s work and had included her name in our book proposal as the illustrator we thought would be perfect for these books. We were delighted when our publisher agreed to ask her, and even more thrilled when she said yes to the project! We were concerned that another illustrator might draw the cutest teddy bears and ladybugs in the world, but might not have Tyler’s intuitive sense of how to draw kids and adults’ bodies with a style that’s both warm and realistic, accurate without looking like a dry textbook illustration. We think she nailed it!

Tyler is so gifted at bringing her illustrations to life with endearing little details, like an octopus lamp on the bedside table, a kid with a bandaid, a dad with hairy legs, pink socks, and a belly. My very favorite Tyler touches are the pair of pages in each book where you can see the same kid as a little kid and then a bit older. The kitten becomes a cat, the girl who had a softball and glove when she was little now has a softball trophy on her shelf, the boy who loved magic tricks when he was little has a magician’s top hat nearby when he’s bigger. From the feedback we got when we asked our friends to read their kids the draft books, kids are as tickled by these details as we were!

BB: You’re not unaware of any of the book banning going on, obviously, considering the nature of your work. My question for you, then, is what can librarians, educators, and booksellers do to let parents know that books like ALL ABOUT PENISES and ALL ABOUT VULVAS AND VAGINAS are a necessary part of a child’s education?

Dorian: I think the best thing we can all do is normalize that learning about these parts of the body should happen right alongside the learning kids do about the five senses, about toes and heartbeats, about caterpillars and the solar system, in just the same factual way. Introducing these topics as ones that parents and kids read about together lays a foundation that makes it easier to continue the conversations as kids get older about how babies are made, puberty, and navigating teen dating and relationships. Start with the easy stuff!

Even though they look like kids’ books, these books are just as much parent and educator tools. A parent isn’t sure what to say to her five year old about his erections? (Yes, these are super common — and sometimes uncomfortable! — for young kids.) Someone’s kids have questions about why they look different than each other, or different from mom or dad? A single parent or a two-mom or two-dad family needs a comfortable way to talk about the “other” genitals? Pulling out a book gives parents the just-right words to introduce a topic, answer a question, start a conversation.

Marshall: So many people got the unspoken message growing up that their parents were deeply uncomfortable with questions about sex and bodies, and are committed to taking a different approach now that they’re a parent themselves. But that can be tough if you never had a good role model! Reading books like these when your kids are young shows them you’re un-afraid to say the words, and lets them know your door is open to continue to discuss related topics as they grow.

BB: Finally, do you have any interest in continuing to write books on these topics for kids and, if so, are you looking at other age ranges?

Dorian: There’s one more on its way in this series, Ingredients To Make a Baby (Holt Books for Young Readers, 2025). It’s our “how babies are made” book: inclusive and factual with a generous dose of silly.

And after that … we’ll see! We have so many ideas!

A great deal of thanks to both Dorian and Marshall for taking the time to answer my questions here today. You’ll be able to find both ALL ABOUT PENISES: A LEARNING ABOUT BODIES BOOK and ALL ABOUT VULVAS AND VAGINAS: A LEARNING ABOUT BODIES BOOK on shelves April 30th. Thanks too to Kelsey Marrujo and the folks at Macmillan for helping to set this interview up.

The House Before Falling Into the Sea: A Q&A with Ann Suk Wang & Hanna Cha

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When it comes to books published in 2024, I refuse to choose favorites. That said, I feel no qualms about bestowing a potential award for Best Historical Fiction Picture Book Title, because this year it is definitely going to the just published The House Before Falling Into the Sea. Lotta things to love here. First, there’s the mystery behind the name. Next, the fact that it was created by newly minted Caldecott Honor winner Hanna Cha and debut picture book author Ann Suk Wang. But better than all that is the book itself. Here’s the summary from the publisher itself:

“A child and her family take in refugees during the Korean War in this poignant picture book about courage and what it really means to care for your neighbors.

Every day, more and more people fleeing war in the north show up at Kyung Tak and her family’s house on the southeastern shore of Korea. With nowhere else to go, the Taks’ home is these migrants’ last chance of refuge “before falling into the sea,” and the household quickly becomes crowded, hot, and noisy. Then war sirens cry out over Kyung’s city too, and her family and their guests take shelter underground. When the sirens stop, Kyung is upset—she wishes everything could go back to the way it was before: before the sirens, before strangers started coming into their home. But after an important talk with her parents, her new friend Sunhee, and Sunhee’s father, Kyung realizes something important: We’re stronger when we have each other, and the kindness we show one another in the darkest of times is a gift we’ll never regret.”

It’s already racked up three starred reviews with Kirkus crowing that it’s, “a lyrical gem of a story”, Horn Book saying it’s, “A touching homage to the author’s own grandparents’ heroism, which also offers rare insight into complex feelings about personal sacrifice and witnessing the suffering of others,” and Booklist also calling it “touching” and “beautiful” by turns.

Today we’ll be talking with Ann and Hanna about the title, where it came from, changing your intended audience, family coincidences, research, and more:

Betsy Bird: Ann and Hanna, thank you so much for answering my questions about your latest! First and foremost, I’d love to know more about how this book came to be. Ann, could you talk a bit about what inspired you to create this tale in the first place? And was it always a picture book in your mind?

Ann Suk Wang,
photo by Howard Min

Ann Suk Wang: The story of people living in my grandparent’s home during the Korean War, while my mom was seven-years-old, came in bits and pieces over decades. But when my father passed away, there were people at his funeral who I had not seen in a very long time. My mom told me that they stayed with her family during the war. I realized just then, that people we used to visit with when I was young were friends of the family and descendants from the days of wartime Korea in Busan. (Kids, it’s worth it to listen to and ask about your family’s stories!)

I always knew I wanted to write something about this, but I didn’t know what format was best. I actually started writing this as a middle grade novel because I thought the topic was too serious for elementary school kids. But since I also enjoyed writing picture books and well, young kids go through tough things, too, I thought I would give it a try. Once I started, I could see it was flowing well and knew I had something special.

BB: Reading your Author’s and Illustrator’s Notes at the end of the book, one thing that stands out is how both of your family histories are so deeply tied to Busan. How did you both come to work on this story together?

Hanna Cha,
photo by Chrissy Bulakites

Hanna Cha: The thing is, I didn’t know that I had family ties to being a refugee in Busan until I asked my grandma about it when I received the manuscript. At that time I only knew in passing – very roughly that my grandma fled from the North with her two older brothers. As I talked with her more to understand that time during the Korean War I started to put her stories together and realized she was one of the many who took that trek down to the south during the war. Working on this book and story allowed me to explore my roots that I didn’t know were a part of me. It was a magical lucky coincidence.

Ann: Rosie, the editor (as I like to call her) pointed me to Hanna. And I simply LOVED her work: the watercolor, the facial expressions, the epic flowing nature of her brush strokes… magical! I could clearly see her images paired with my words, elevating them and giving them life. After she agreed to work on this project, she sent a letter about how her family was related to this story. I got chills. We were meant to be together… or our art needed to be married.

BB: Hanna, since this story is set during the Korean War, I have to assume that you were inclined to do some kind of research for your illustrations. What does that kind of research look like for you?

Hanna: When I work I tend to take the most time in my sketches and research phase. Especially for books that are based on history and real moments, I want to make extra sure that they reflect that period as accurately as I can. But, in all honesty, I am that little mole who loves scavenging for references. However, I did a lot extra for this project haha. My research involves hoarding hundreds of tabs of articles and blogs, looking up books, and scouring photography and videos from that period onto one big virtual billboard that I can go back to, and then I will just sketch sketch sketch. For this project, I especially spent a lot of time looking up a lot of videos of Korea during the 1950s. Unfortunately, I needed to sift through a good number due to most videos focusing on the army or the war front of the Korean War. But as much it was painful to view that aspect of the war it also allowed me to respect the strength everyone had to find joy amongst such pain and reality

BB: For the American children reading this book today, war is in our news, but it’s a distant thing. But the idea of seeing refugees from war-torn places is very present and visible for a lot of them. What would you both say that you hope child readers take away from THE HOUSE BEFORE FALLING INTO THE SEA?

Hanna: I wish I could say that war is a distant history and something that is far away but that is simply not true. The themes of the book are still very current and a reality for many. This book is a testament to Korea’s painful past which still has its effects on Korea today.

I hope that this book will allow children to learn from history. I hope it brings empathy and open minds. But I also hope this book can be a celebration of perseverance and humanity. A reminder to see beyond tragedies, to not define people to those tragedies, but to remember them for their strength and their ability to find joy in the darkest hours. And ultimately a reminder that anyone can do their part no matter how young or old you are.

Ann: Hopefully, kids will see the similarities in people so we can have more compassion for each other, as well as see the differences which add a beautiful diversity and richness to life. After reading this book, I hope kids feel a sense of agency, feeling empowered to make a difference in big and small ways that they can, whenever and wherever they are. A “small” kindness can actually make a big difference in the life of someone who might need a bit of encouragement.

And everyone has a story. Our families share and are made of stories. Joyful and difficult ones all make us who we are. So I hope children press into this truth, maturing into a deeper understanding of these stories as they get older.

BB: At the back of the book are four “Questions to Consider” which I found interesting. I’ve never really seen something like that at the back of a book before. Whose idea was it to include these questions? Were there some you wanted to include but didn’t make the final cut?

Ann: That would be me. I like good stories. Period. But whenever I read anything to my kids or even by myself, I often ask, “But how does this relate to me?… Perhaps it comes from my journalism background or my curious nature. I want to extend the learning. So of course, I wanted to ask questions that would stimulate more questions. And yes, I had more, (thanks for asking) like: What’s a helpful thing you can do when something feels too difficult or overwhelming? But sticking to the heart of the story seemed best. I self-edited here. Rosie may have agreed to more questions, but I thought asking fewer could spark even more than I could’ve thought of myself!

BB: Hanna, one thing I particularly liked about the book was its endpapers. The front endpapers show Busan in the past, and the back endpapers show Busan today. How did you come up with the idea to bookend Ann’s story with these visuals?

Hanna: Ah, I am so happy you noticed! I recently have been having fun with endpapers and jacket covers, it adds that extra layer to the total experience of a story. While growing up in Korea I heard from my grandparent’s generation the phrase “The miracle of Han River.” This coined phrase referred to Korea’s miraculous transformation from being the 5th poorest country in the world to the modern powerhouse it is today. While researching more about the Korean War, I couldn’t help recalling that phrase while extensively seeing those visual images for the first time. The past looked so different in comparison to the idea and imagery of Korea that I know of today. With this revelation, I wanted to take up to challenge to recreate that juxtaposition between Korea’s past and its modern day for the readers. My hope was the endpapers become a prologue and the epilogue for the readers without getting in the way of the story.

BB: At the end of the book it says that “part of the proceeds of this book will go to non-profit organizations who help house families, like samaritan’s purse.” Could you tell us a little bit more about why some of the profits are going there, and what they can do?

Ann: The Samaritan’s Purse cares for hurting people around the world in various ways. And actually, it just occurred to me, as my husband pointed out, that “The Good Samaritan” is also a story in the Bible, prompted by a question, “Who is your neighbor?” It’s about showing kindness to others (regardless of race or religion), a theme in this book!

They provide food, water, aid and shelter to refugees everywhere. And they do creative things like providing shoebox-sized gifts during the Christmas season to kids in need of basic goods. They allow volunteers to put their own boxes together, including small toys as well as school supplies and more. Thousands of these stuffed boxes go to kids in many countries. They have been caring for their neighbors since 1970. I wanted to make sure worthy groups like this received support from a story with the same heart.

BB: Finally, what are you two working on next?

Hanna: I am working on writing and illustrating again with another picture book! I am slowly chugging through that. Right now I am immediately working on Tea is Love written by Adib Khorram. Which is honestly a blast because I get to illustrate another topic that I love haha. Keep a look out for it in Fall 2025.

Ann: My next picture book is about Korean viewing stones and the relationship between a child and their grandfather. It’s another family story about love and loss, healing and hope. I’m also editing my middle grade novel about K-pop and a family restaurant in K-town. This is a fun one!

That was awesome. I really want to thank Hanna and Ann for answering my questions so thoroughly today. And big thanks to Kaitlin Kneafsey at Penguin Young Readers who, as far as I can determine, did a great deal of work formatting my questions and Hanna and Ann’s answers into the interview you see here today. I am grateful!

The House Before Falling Into the Sea is on bookstore and library shelves now, so go on out and find yourself a copy today.