November 15, 2021

World Toilet Day Resource Roundup

When my potty-humor books (Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty? and Where Does a Pirate Go Potty? ) first rolled onto the scene, I found myself wondering aloud about the appropriateness of creating silly books during such a serious time in our world. I confessed about my worry that maybe I should use my gifts for more serious subjects. 

Photo Credit: West Margin Press

In the end, I came to the conclusion that it is not an either-or situation. That there is in fact value in light-hearted books, and also, that there are ways to connect silly topics to more serious issues. So, although I do try to laugh and have fun, I also do my best to use my platform to raise awareness about topics of import, for example, the importance of clean water and sanitation.

One way to connect this topic to my silly books is to raise awareness about World Toilet Day, a serious observance that takes place on November 19th each year to inspire "action to tackle the global sanitation crisis and help achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which promises sanitation for all by 2030. Established by the World Toilet Organization in 2001, World Toilet Day was made an official UN day in 2013." (Source: World Toilet Day Website).

The theme of World Toilet Day 2021 is, "Valuing Toilets." 

Source: World Toilet Day website

Visit the World Toilet Day website where you will find fact sheets to help better understand the issue, along with social media resources to help draw attention to the issue and opportunities to join the conversation and take action

For those looking for even more resources, such as learning extensions and enrichment materials for young readers, here is a solid rundown:  

*Water1st International supports sustainable clean water projects and toilets for the world's poorest communities. They also provide helpful curriculum guides and information about clubs and other youth leadership opportunities related to this issue on their website.

*Northeast Ohio Sewer District offers a seven-part educational series that can be accessed via YouTube.

*The state of New Jersey has educational program called Clean Water Raingers, with interactive activities that can be accessed on their website. 

*Marshall Mitchell, the artist behind the song that accompanies the book trailer for Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty?wrote an entire CD of watershed songs for the Illinois River Watershed Partnership

*Annie Lynn, of AnnieBirdd Music, LLC is a vocal advocate for our planet, and she writes and produces a variety of music for use in educational settings, and she regularly shares a variety of educational resources via Twitter. Here is one example of a song that Annie has developed with interactive elements to engage students in conversations and advocacy around climate issues. (Incidentally, Annie Lynn / AnnieBirdd Music, LLC is the artist behind the song that accompanies the book trailer for Where Does a Pirate Go Potty?)

*Educators' Guides for Where Does a Pirate Go Potty? and Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty? go well beyond the silly potty humor portrayed in the books. The guides provide pre and post-reading discussion questions along with learning extensions that support science, math, and language arts, as well as interactive activities such as word searches and Reader's Theatre scripts.  

I'm bolstered by my firm belief that igniting a child's desire to read is serious business, and I'm hopeful that my silly books (and the many fun resources I've developed and curated to support these silly books) will bring laughter into lap time and snickers into story time, setting a joyful foundation for a lifetime of reading. (And, if you ever need a little toilet flushing sound loop to flood you with laughter, you'll find one here. Enjoy!)

Photo Credit: Dawn Prochovnic

November 10, 2021

Birth Stories for Books: Who Is a Scientist? by Laura Gehl

Hello readers! Up next is another Birth Stories for Books interview. Today's guest, Laura Gehl, shares some unique insights about her path to publication for one of her latest books, WHO IS A SCIENTIST?, so let's get right to it. 


Dawn Prochovnic: I’m so glad to have you on the blog, Laura, and I’m excited to learn more about your latest book, WHO IS A SCIENTIST? (Millbrook Press, October 2021.) 

Laura Gehl: Thanks so much for having me, Dawn! 

DP: In recent interviews on Mr. Schu Reads and the Lerner Books websites, you’ve talked about what inspired you to write this book. I’d love to hear more about the process and timeframe between your initial idea for the book and the manuscript that was formulated fully enough to submit to an editor. For example, the book features a very diverse range of scientists. How did you connect with these individuals, and how did you arrange for the excellent collection of photographs in the book that features snapshots of the scientists’ professional lives and personal hobbies?

LG: Great question! I had a few scientists in mind when I started working on the project. To find more, I posted on social media, talking about my vision and goals for the book. Some scientists volunteered themselves after reading my post, while others were referred to me by friends who thought they would be a great fit. Then I needed to find photographers…in many different locations…to take the photos! One of the photographers was someone I knew personally, and one was a referral from an old friend. The others I found through online searches for photographers in each of the cities where the scientists lived. It was actually a LOT of work to find all the photographers, connect them with the scientists, arrange for permission forms and payments, etc…not to mention that we were dealing with COVID. And one scientist moved to Australia before we got her photos taken! But the hard work paid off. The photos of each scientist at work and at play are the heart of the book, and I am thrilled with how they turned out. 

DP: The photos are an excellent aspect of the book! It's fun to hear how they came to be. 

When you compare one of your earliest manuscript drafts to the published book, what stands out for you in terms of what is most different? Likewise, is there anything in particular that stands out that was included in your earliest drafts and survived the revision process?

LG: The biggest thing that stayed the same was the primary text (Who is a scientist? This is a scientist. Isha is a meteorologist.) And on the flip side, the biggest change was the addition of the secondary text, giving more information about each scientist’s work. 



DP: In addition to the primary and secondary text, I love the many “extras” in this book. The "Meet the scientists” QR code that takes you to a video where the scientists introduce themselves. The name pronunciation guide in the back of the book. The flow chart that helps a reader decide what branches of science they might most enjoy exploring. 

Image from Who Is a Scientist? by Laura Gehl

DP: How did those extras come to be? Were these elements included in your initial vision for the project, or did they develop in collaboration with your publisher’s editorial team? 

LG: The back matter was very much a collaboration with my publisher. Millbrook is amazing with back matter, and I’m so grateful I got to work with Carol Hinz and Jordyn Taylor, among others, on the special back matter for this book. 

DP: Sounds like you had a great team to work with! 

Reflecting on the journey from idea to published book, is there any one moment along the way that you credit with opening the door for this particular book to find its way to publication? 

LG: I think including photos in my proposal was probably key to the book being acquired. The photos in the proposal were just photos I took from the Internet—not the photos that we ended up using in the book. But they gave my editor a sense of what I wanted to do with the book in a way that would have been very difficult to accomplish using only words. 

DP: It appears like your approach was really effective.

Shifting gears a bit, one of my favorite parts of being an author is connecting with young readers at school, library, and bookstore visits, and I’m always looking for new pro tips. Your bio indicates you are a former reading teacher, and your website indicates you do author visits, so you have experience on both sides of the table. Based on this experience, what professional advice or suggestions do you have for fellow author/presenters in terms of planning successful (in-person and/or virtual) events? 

LG: I think understanding the age group that you will be presenting to is key. If you haven’t spent time around 3-year-olds and you want to present to preschoolers, try to sit in on a library storytime or a preschool class before you put together your presentation. Same with 1st graders or 5th graders. What will work best for each age group is different. With 2-year-olds, for example, you really can’t ask a question and then have kids raise their hands to answer. If you call on a 2-year-old to answer a question, they will probably tell you that their cat’s name is Pluto or that they are wearing blue underwear. For the youngest kids, props, puppets, and songs work great (I like adapting a song they will already know, like Old McDonald or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, to fit the book I am reading to them). For older kids, you can keep the same amount of interaction and humor but target it differently…with quizzes and games and group brainstorming exercises, for example.    

DP: Excellent tips, Laura.

I know from your social media accounts (and from our being in a book launch group together!) that you've had quite a year in terms of new releases, plus you offer freelance editing services, and you maintain an active schedule of virtual book events. How do you balance the time between your different book projects and the different aspects of the publishing business?

LG: I like doing lots of different things, because I never get bored, and if I am having trouble with one project, I can work on a different one. That said, I’ve learned that I sometimes need to say no even when I wish I could say yes. This fall, I’ve just been too busy to take on freelance editing projects, and I’ve had to turn down quite a few. My local SCBWI is doing a mentorship program right now that I would have loved to be a part of…but I knew I just didn’t have the bandwidth at the moment. It’s really hard for me to say no to anything writing-related, but sometimes it’s necessary, both in order to preserve my mental health and to preserve time to write! 

DP: If you could go back in time, what would you tell your pre-published self? Or, said another way, what do you know now, that you wished you would have known a bit earlier?

LG: I would tell myself to find a great critique group (or two) much sooner!  

DP: Is there something you wish someone would ask you about your path to publication for WHO IS A SCIENTIST?  that you haven’t had the opportunity to share yet? 

LG: I don’t think anyone has asked if I sold this book as a proposal or as a completed manuscript. The answer is that I sold it as a proposal… but I did include the basic text for the manuscript in the proposal. I didn’t recruit the actual scientists or the photographers until after I sold the book, but I had “placeholder” scientists and placeholder photos in my proposal to show how the finished book would look.   

DP: It sounds like that approach really helped the publishing team envision what you had in mind.

Do you have anything you’d like to tell us about what you’re currently working on? 

LG: Right now I’m working on another project with the fabulous team at Millbrook, a book about climate change, which will release in 2023 in time for Earth Day. I am learning so much every day I work on this book! (And for your readers who are considering how to sell a NF book idea, I sold this new book on proposal with sample text included, similar to Who Is a Scientist?)

DP: Thanks so much for sharing your Birth Story for WHO IS A SCIENTIST? with us, Laura. I've learned so much!

LG: Thanks again for hosting me, Dawn! 

Friends, the best way to thank an author whose insights have been helpful and/or intriguing to you is to support their work. Buy their books. Request them from your library. Read and share them with others.   

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Laura Gehl is the award-winning author of more than two dozen picture books, board books, and early readers including One Big Pair of Underwear; My Pillow Keeps Moving; Always Looking Up: Nancy Grace Roman, Astronomer; Except When They Don’t; and Odd Beasts. Laura lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with her husband and four children. Visit her online at www.lauragehl.com and follow her @AuthorLauraGehl on Twitter and Instagram





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Birth Stories for Books is an occasional feature of Dawn Babb Prochovnic's blog. Dawn is the author of multiple picture books including, Lucy's Blooms, Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty?, Where Does a Pirate Go Potty?, and 16 books in the Story Time With Signs & Rhymes series. Dawn is a contributing author to the award-winning book, Oregon Reads Aloud, and a frequent presenter at schools, libraries, and educational conferences. Contact Dawn using the form at the left, or learn more at www.dawnprochovnic.com.  



November 3, 2021

Birth Stories for Books: MOONSONG, by Denise Gallagher

Hello, readers! I'm delighted to bring you another Birth Stories for Books interview--this time from an author/illustrator's perspective! Today's guest, Denise Gallagher, stops by to share her path to publication experience for her latest book, MOONSONG (Little Press Publishing.)

Book Cover by Denise Gallagher

Dawn Prochovnic: Welcome to the blog, Denise. Turning the pages in your book, I feel transported to a magical place and time. Even children who are not yet independent readers will enjoy the vivid images and the imaginative journey. I’d love to hear how the idea for this story came to be.

Denise Gallagher: Before I was an author and illustrator, I was a graphic designer with an itch to do more. Illustrating picture books was vastly different from anything I’d done before. I had a lot to learn! I felt that one way to do this was to write a picture book myself in order to practice illustrating one. I was drawn to folk tales and fairy tales and read them voraciously. I studied works from the Brothers Grimm to Aesop’s Fables. I loved the magic elements and vivid worlds contained in the stories. I then sat down with a sketchbook and a pencil and sketched and scribbled. 

Sketch by Denise Gallagher

My own magic spilled out onto the pages. What emerged was a very wordy book called “Claire de Loup” about a girl and a wolf in a forest. That was eleven years ago. That initial manuscript and the illustrations that accompanied it went through many iterations to eventually become what is now “Moonsong.” 

DP: Wow, that is quite a journey! What an inspiration you are for sticking with this story idea and seeing it through to fruition! 

I’d like to hear more about the process between your initial idea and the story that was formulated fully enough to submit to an editor.

DG: Over those eleven years, the manuscript that eventually became “Moonsong” changed many times. During that time, I joined the Society of Children’s Book Authors and Illustrators (a big first step to becoming an author) and attended conferences and critique groups. I took every critique and piece of constructive advice seriously. I listened and I revised. (First revision? It was WAY too long!) But I was always true to myself and to my story. 

My illustration style also changed during that time and I did a scary thing — I scrapped the entire book and illustrations and started over. 


Art Credit: Denise Gallagher

Art Credit: Denise Gallagher

I worked with an agent and got feedback on the new art and manuscript, but never an offer to publish. There were times when I was dejected and set the story aside. Then, in 2019 I attended a workshop where I got this bit of advice: “If something is not working with your story, try changing an aspect of it. Maybe the character, the voice, the setting?”  I took that advice to heart. I decided that my story might work better as a girl with a TIGER in the JUNGLE. I revised the manuscript and worked on a third round of illustrations. 

Early Sketch of Fulki a character in Moonsong, by Denise Gallagher

Illustration from Moonsong, by Denise Gallagher

Illustration from Moonsong, by Denise Gallagher

I changed the name to “Moonsong” and was excited about my story once more. It was then that I met my editor who loved the story and the art. It took nine months to complete the illustration and layout of the book and now it is in the hands of readers and I am ready to celebrate!


DP: Congratulations! It's time to celebrate, indeed.

It sounds like you definitely made some major revisions to your story along the way to the path of publication. When you compare one of your earliest drafts of this story to the version in the published book, what stands out for you in terms of what is most different? Likewise, is there anything in particular that stands out that was included in your earliest drafts and survived the revision process?

DG: The original story did not include the missing moon! Looking back now, I realize that including the problem of the missing moon in the plot helped Fulki and the Tiger grow together as friends and added another layer to the tale.

I love playing with language. I’m happy to say that a lot of the initial phrases that I loved survived to the end, even as the manuscript was whittled down. The song lyrics changed, the setting changed, but in the end, Fulki and the Tiger still “tumbled and danced and shared stories and cakes.” 

DP: Thanks for sharing those details, Denise. 

Reflecting on the journey from idea to published book, is there any one moment along the way that you credit with opening the door for this particular story to find its way to publication? 

DG: I have to say, sometimes it helps to set something aside for a bit and return to it later with fresh eyes. With “Moonsong” it took hearing that bit of advice about shaking the story up for me to really dig in and come up with a fresh, modern story that maintained the vivid, magic folk tale feel that I loved.

DP: Well said, and an important reminder. 

In addition to authoring and illustrating books, you also have a passion for design. How do you balance the demands of these different elements of your creative life? 

DG: I received my degree in graphic design and I still really enjoy it. It’s a different skill set — designing projects from logos to packaging. Happily, these graphic design skills also come in handy when working on books. I’ve been fortunate to assist with designing each of them. I truly love great type and compelling page layouts, eye-catching color palettes and unique details. Using these elements along with my writing and illustrations to create a book that I am proud of is truly a joy. So, I consider myself lucky to be able to have these skills. Writing, illustration, graphic design — they are all ways that I can share my stories and express myself creatively.   

DP: Are there ways these different elements of your creative life work in concert with one another? For example, the lettering on the cover of MOONSONG draws the reader in and sets the tone for the book. I’m guessing that’s no accident.

DG: Book design is an art all on its own. I approach each of my book projects as a whole – from the art and words to the design, color and type. So yes! I designed the cover of “Moonsong” as an invitation to the reader. I wanted to create a sense of wonder and draw them in before they even began to read.

DP: I definitely feel the sense of invitation when I look at the cover!

DG: I also believe that books are a child’s first introduction to art and literature. So I try my best to create art and stories that will delight and engage them — helping them to see the beauty that exists in the world all around them. 

DP: It really shows that you approach your books in this way. 

If you could go back in time, what would you tell your pre-published self? Or, said another way, what do you know now, that you wished you would have known a bit earlier?

DG: I’d definitely tell my younger self that it is true, “Patience is a virtue!” There is a lot of waiting in publishing. Often that’s a good thing. I know now that I was not quite ready to be published when I had just graduated from college, or even when I started to focus on publishing again many years later. It took a lot of hard work, a lot of learning, a lot of starting over and a lot of patience. But now? Now comes the fun part. After all of my time preparing, I can now share my work with children and families, teachers and librarians. Now I can talk about my progress and my love of art and literature and I can sing the Moonsong. Even though my singing is a little off-key!

DP: Is there something you wish someone would ask you about your path to publication for MOONSONG that you haven’t had the opportunity to share yet? 

DG: I’ve only shared this little tidbit with one other group but I’ll share it with you, too. I’ve included a secret “Easter egg” in “Moonsong.” If you look carefully at the illustration where the children are being fussed at for singing, Fulki is holding a book. Hidden on the spine of the book are the initials W.B. and on the cover is the face of a tiger. W.B. stands for William Blake, an artist and poet from the 1800s who wrote one of my favorite poems “The Tyger.” In that scene, Fulki is reading William Blake’s poem and smiling. I like to believe that she is thinking of the Tiger who is waiting to sing the Moonsong with her in the jungle. 

DP: I love learning and discovering little secrets like this! 

Do you have anything you’d like to tell us about what you’re currently working on?

DG: I am excited to report that I have written a middle school novel. I’m still working on revising and editing, but it’s in its final stages. And when it is complete, it will contain illustrations throughout.


DP: That sounds fantastic!

DG: When I started this literary journey, I dared to believe that I’d even be able to write and publish a picture book. When the idea for my novel started nagging at the edges of my brain, I was not sure I could do it. But here we are, 40,000 words and a dancing bear later, ready for my next chapter.

DP: That's fabulous, Denise. Thank you for sharing your experiences and insights with us. 

Friends, I hope you will head on over to Bookshop or your favorite local indie and get yourself a copy of this beautiful book. It's available everywhere books are sold. You can also ask your local library to include it in their collection and/or share this post with a friend. 

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Denise Gallagher is an author and illustrator for children. As a child, she drew constantly. Now, she can usually be found deep in thought with a sketchbook and a cup of tea. She loves folklore, music and nature and draws inspiration from her lush, green Louisiana home. The combination of her lyrical writing and her whimsical artwork has charmed children of all ages. She has written and illustrated picture books, is currently working on a middle grade novel and has also illustrated folk tales from both Louisiana and Canada. Denise is devoted to promoting a love of arts and literature in both children and adults and nothing pleases her more than to share her stories with you. Learn more at denisegallagher.com.





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Birth Stories for Books is an occasional feature of Dawn Babb Prochovnic's blog. Dawn is the author of multiple picture books including, Lucy's Blooms, Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty?, Where Does a Pirate Go Potty?, and 16 books in the Story Time With Signs & Rhymes series. Dawn is a contributing author to the award-winning book, Oregon Reads Aloud, and a frequent presenter at schools, libraries, and educational conferences. Contact Dawn using the form at the left, or learn more at www.dawnprochovnic.com.