The Whimsical World of Children's Literature

I’ve always been a fan of children’s literature, enjoying the words and lessons of Shel Silverstein and Dr. Seuss. Some of my favorite stories include Hot Day on Abbott Avenue, The Enemy and Where the Wild Things Are. Most recently, I’ve added Yesterday I Had the Blues to my hefty list. It’s a strange realization that it took me so long to consider writing for children, given that it’s the perfect hybrid of my day job as an educator and my passion as a writer.

I’m glad to say that I’ve changed that, penning my first picture book, titled Mya J.’s Kinky, Curly Crown. When I first took on the task, I wasn’t fully prepared for the adventure. I’d underestimated the talent and energy I’d have to pour into writing a book for children. And while I already had an appreciation for authors such as Margaret Wise Brown, Maurice Sendak and Varda Aardema, I now have a new respect for their work and the gifts they create for bookshelves and little hands. I only hope that one day I can join the ranks of those boasting Coretta Scott King and Ezra Jack Keats Book Awards.

Adding children’s books to my repertoire is simultaneously exciting and daunting. While I don’t want to take on too much as a creative writer, I don’t want to limit my abilities to a few genres. I’m glad to say that whether I’m in the mode of a poetess, novelist, freelancer or children’s author, I’m writing. That’s the beauty of it all.