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Thursday, February 23, 2012

3 Authors I Really Admire

1.  I adore Grace Lin.  She writes incredible books for children across genres.

Newberry Honor!  

Geisel Award Winner!
What I love about Grace is that she follows the story where it needs to go.  So if the story needs to be for beginning readers, that's how she writes it.  If the story wants to be more lyrical, that's how she writes it.  There are not many folks who do well as easy reader and middle grade authors--but Grace Lin does.  AND my student LOVE her books.  Just love them.  (And she has a couple of amazing chapterbooks out, too!)

Check out her blog, here.  Grace is the kind of author that I want to be.

2. So is Jane Yolen.

This book

Caldecott winner....oh yeah!
changed me as a reader and a writer.  How I love the way she writes!  And she is an award winner, too.  (In addition to writing over 300 books!  True! )  Jane Yolen loves language and I so love to read her words.  From simple picture books:
To intense novels (and graphic novels as well!!)  Jane Yolen consistently knocks it out of the part. She is another writer that I adore.

3. And then, there's Cynthia.  Cynthia Rylant, that is.

Her Henry and Mudge books were among the first that inspired me to write my own easy readers.
Cutest. Couple. Ever.
And she showed me that children's authors can write across genres, yet again!

Yes, that is a Newberry Medal
I loved the book, Missing May, sooooo much.  Cried, but they were good tears.

I am sensing a theme--maybe with the Oscars looming I am thinking about award-winning authors...I dunno. But I do know that these writers and their collective spirits of writerly freedom inspire me and ignite within me the desire to be better at my profession as a writer, to push myself to try new things, and to give to my writing the best effort that I can.
 

When I grow up, I want to be them.

What writers inspire you?

hrh

5 comments:

Laura S. said...

These are all terrific choices, Shelley! I'll have to check out Grace Lin's books. I love the dinosaur picture book series by Jane Yolen. I've gotten a lot of them for the little kids in my life! And I remember really liking Missing May when I was kid. I haven't read that since then, so I should get it from the library.

I love soo so many children's authors so I'll name the top three that come to mind: L.M. Montgomery, Roald Dahl, Sharon Creech.

Hope you have a great weekend!!

Julie Dao said...

Wow, these books all look and sound terrific and these authors definitely worth looking up to. I loved Missing May when I was little! Beverly Cleary was one of my favorite writers when I was growing up... still own a copy of The Mouse and the Motorcycle and a couple of her Ramona books!

Catherine Denton said...

I've read and LOVED the books by Jane and Cynthia. But Grace Lin is a new one to me. I'll be checking her books (and blog) out with your recommendation!

storyqueen said...

Laura-
Oh, I do love me some Roald!! And Sharon Creech's Love That Dog is one of my faves!

Julie- So cool to hear that you loved Missing May, too. So many people that I mention it too have never heard of it! Such a great book.

Catherine-You will love Grace!

Lydia Kang said...

Those are some wonderful authors that have inspired you!