Wat Takes His Shot is the stirring biography of Japanese American basketball star Wataru Misaka–the first person of color to play in the NBA. The book has already garnered praise, including being a Junior Library Guild Selection and garnering a starred review in School Library Journal. Title: WAT TAKES HIS SHOT: The Life & Legacy of Basketball Hero Wataru Misaka Author: Cheryl Kim ~ Illustrator: Nat Iwata Publisher: Lee & Low Launching June 18, 2024. Cheryl Kim is an elementary school teacher from San Jose, California, teaching K-5 Art at an international school in Thailand. She ..read more

(Updated May 26, 2024. Also see: Rejection Stories & Advice From Published Kidlit/YA Creators) This is a photo of a letter I’ve had pinned up on my home office Inspiration Board for years now. It represents the many encouraging-but-still-rejection letters I received over the years when I was actively writing and submitting my novels for young people. I’ve decided to post it publicly because I keep reading posts from writers who are considering giving up when their first or second book mss doesn’t sell. Note the date on the letter: years before I received my first children’s picture book c ..read more

I first heard about Hanh Bui and Ánh’s New Word during the SCBWI Summer Conference last year, when I covered the Debut Author Panel for Team Blog; you can read my post on the SCBWI Conference Blog. Beautifully illustrated by Bao Luu, Ánh’s New Word is about a child living in a Vietnamese refugee camp who learns their first word in English with help from their teacher and grandmother. Title: ÁNH’S NEW WORD Author: Hanh Bui ~ Illustrator: Bao Luu Publisher: Feiwel & Friends / Macmillan ~ Publication date: May 14, 2024 Age range: 3-6 years Synopsis: A child living in a Vietnamese refugee cam ..read more

We’re delighted to interview the creators behind Mamie Tape Fights To Go To School, based on the true story of an eight-year-old Chinese American changemaker who fought for the right to go to school in San Francisco in the 1880s. Title: MAMIE TAPE FIGHTS TO GO TO SCHOOL Author: Traci Huahn ~ Illustrator: Michelle Jing Chan Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers/Penguin Random House Publication date: May 7, 2024 Traci Huahn (she/her) writes books for kids and especially loves stories rooted in Asian American culture, history, and identity. MAMIE TAPE FIGHTS TO GO TO SCHOOL is her debut ..read more

I am thrilled to announce that I just signed a contract with Simon & Schuster to illustrate I’M BUSY, a new picture book written by Michael Ian Black. I identify way too much with this story. I’M BUSY is the latest in the I’M series, joining I’M BORED, I’M SAD, I’M WORRIED, and I’M SORRY. The post I just signed a book contract! appeared first on Debbie Ridpath Ohi ..read more

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: Password: The post Protected: Interview with Traci Huahn (author) and Michelle Jing Chan (illustrator), MAMIE TAPE FIGHTS TO GO TO SCHOOL, 7 May 2024 appeared first on Debbie Ridpath Ohi ..read more

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: Password: The post Protected: Interview with Hanh Bui: ÁHN’S NEW WORD, illustrated by Bao Lou (F&F/Macmillan)  appeared first on Debbie Ridpath Ohi ..read more

Thanks to author Sylvia Chen and illustrator Fanny Liem for answering some questions about their new picture book, TRICKY CHOPSTICKS, now out from Atheneum/Simon & Schuster. This is Sylvia’s debut as a picture book author! Upcoming launch event: Mar. 19, 2024 at Brick & Mortar Books (Redmond, WA). Title: TRICKY CHOPSTICKS Author: Sylvia Chen ~ Illustrator: Fanny Liem Publisher: Atheneum / Simon & Schuster Children’s Publication date: March 19, 2024 Synopsis: A young Chinese American girl uses creative STEAM-powered problem-solving to master chopsticks so she can pick up her dumpl ..read more

(Last updated March 4, 2024) If you haven’t already, do check my earlier post, Social Media and the KidLit Community: My (Updated) Personal Take, which includes my thoughts on different social media platforms, why I’ve settled on Bluesky as my shortform watercoolor of choice, and some of the Public Lists I’ve created on Bluesky so far. I also have some Starter Threads for those already on Bluesky. The shortlinks will always post to the most updated versions: DebbieOhi.link/starter: My main Starter Thread for those new to Bluesky, includes links to all my Starter Threads, including: DebbieOhi ..read more

Quick navigation: Bluesky Lists – I’m mainly on Bluesky and Substack these days. Spoiler alert: As you can tell from the image above and screenshot below of Melissa Stewart’s article in School Library Journal, Bluesky is currently my preferred social media watercooler of choice these days. For slower-paced and longer-form posting, my happyplace is still Substack. Since I posted my previous personal take on social media for the kidlit community, a lot has changed, so I decided it’s time I post an update. However, keep in mind that I am NOT actively posting on all social media platforms. Like ..read more