SATA
ENTRY TYPE: new
WORK TITLE: Lucas and the Capoeira Circle
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://www.joanapastro.com/
CITY:
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY:
LAST VOLUME:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married; children: three.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Architect and writer.
MEMBER:Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
[OPEN NEW]
Joana Pastro was born and grew up in Brazil but came to the United States where she became an architect, married, and had children. She started dreaming of becoming a children’s book author, and she spent eight years brainstorming ideas, then joining a writer’s group, and eventually writing her first picture book, LillyBelle: A Damsel Not in Distress. That book was inspired by herself as a child, and her follow-up, Bisa’s Carnival, was inspired by the Brazilian celebration of Carnival.
Lucas and the Capoeira Circle is about capoeira, a Brazilian artform that combines martial art and dance. Lucas is a young boy who is excited about his moving-up ceremony, where he will show off his moves and hopefully receive his capoeira nickname. On the day of the ceremony, however, he is nervous and worried he will lose his ginga: his courage and rhythm. Lucas’s teacher inspires him, however, and Lucas is able to recapture his ginga and perform.
Miriam Aronin, writing in Booklist, acknowledged that the text introduces a number of terms that will be new to readers, but she praised it as an “authentic-looking (and -sounding) glimpse into capoeira. She also appreciated the glossary and information page at the back of the book. A contributor in Kirkus Reviews was even more enthusiastic, calling the book a “marvelous celebration of inner strength and courage.” They particularly appreciated the “superb” artwork by Douglas Lopes and how Pastro’s prose takes the story from Lucas’s struggles to his triumph.
In an interview with Good Reads with Ronna, Pastro compared the process of writing to that of being an architect: “In both you get some sort of prompt, then you do a bit of research, you let it simmer for some time, and start drafting. Then you revise a thousand times because there’s always something you can make better.”
[CLOSE NEW]
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, July, 2024, Miriam Aronin, review of Lucas and the Capoeira Circle, p. 74.
Kirkus Reviews, July 15, 2020, review of LillyBelle: A Damsel NOT in Distress; October 15, 2021, review of Bisa’s Carnival; August 1, 2024, review of Lucas and the Capoeira Circle.
ONLINE
Good Reads with Ronna, https://www.goodreadswithronna.com/ (December 7, 2021), author interview.
Jena Benton, https://jenabenton.com/ (December 9, 2021), author interview.
Joana Pastro website, https://www.joanapastro.com/ (February 11, 2025).
KidLit 411, https://www.kidlit411.com/ (September 18, 2020), author interview.
Maria Marshall, https://www.mariacmarshall.com/ (February 11, 2025), author interview.
Vivian Kirkfield, https://viviankirkfield.com/ (September 26, 2020), author interview.
For as long as Joana can remember, she wanted to be an artist of some kind. So, she became an architect. But once her first child was born, all the visits to the library, and the countless story times made Joana start dreaming of becoming a children’s book author. She had no idea how to start, so for seven years all she did was collect story ideas on a little notebook. Finally, one Sunday afternoon she decided to sit down and write… Soon Joana discovered that writing children’s books isn’t easy. But she didn’t give up. She became a member of SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators), joined a critique group, made many writing friends, took classes, workshops, went to conferences, and did a lot of reading, writing and revising. One day, she sent out a story to an agent. The agent loved it and decided to help Joana share her stories with the world. And now here is Joana, still chasing her dream. But every day she gets a step closer to making it come true. Her debut picture book, LILLYBELLE, A DAMSEL NOT IN DISTRESS, illustrated by Jhon Ortiz, was published by Boyds Mills Press on October 20, 2020. Her second book, BISA'S CARNAVAL, illustrated by Carolina Coroa, will be published on November 2, 2021 by Scholastic.
Originally from Brazil, Joana now lives in Georgia with her amazing husband, her three extremely creative children, a rambunctious Morkie, and a needy Maltipoo.
You can read her BookEnds Welcome interview here.
Follow her on:
Twitter @jopastro
Instagram @joanapastro
Labels
Author Spotlight
Joana Pastro
Author Spotlight: Joana Pastro
September 18, 2020
We are excited to feature author Joana Pastro and her debut picture book, LILLYBELLE, A DAMSEL NOT IN DISTRESS illustrated by Jhon Ortiz (Boyds Mills Press, October 20, 2020)
Enter to win a copy!
Tell us about yourself and how you came to write for children.
Thank you so much for having me!
I was born in Brazil and moved to the U.S. after graduating from Architecture and Urban Design School. I worked at an architectural office for about five years. Just like many other picture book authors, I started dreaming of writing for children once I had my first child, but it took me EIGHT years to actually start pursuing that dream. At first, I wrote in Portuguese, until one day I had an idea for a middle grade novel with dialogue lines in English, so I started writing it. Once I finished that manuscript, I joined SCBWI and then a critique group. I spent the next two years trying to fix the manuscript, until I finally set it aside and write something new. In 2015, I tried my hand at a short story that would become my debut picture book. I spent the following year learning and slowly transitioning to picture book writing.
Congrats on your debut picture book, LILLYBELLE, A DAMSEL NOT IN DISTRESS. Tell us about the story and what inspired you.
Thank you! I was inspired by a call for submission for a short story from Cricket magazine. The prompt was Knights and Castles. I had just filed away my middle grade novel and was looking for something new to write. So, while researching and brainstorming I came upon the phrase “a damsel in distress.” I added the word “not” and LillyBelle was born! Now, the character of LillyBelle was inspired by my daughter and also myself as a kid. We’re both friendly and creative, although my daughter is a lot more outspoken than I am. I should learn from her and LillyBelle!
Was your road to publication long and winding, short and sweet, or something in between?
It’s something in between if I consider the whole journey, but definitely short and sweet if we focus on writing picture books. It’ll have been almost exactly four years since I wrote the very first draft of LillyBelle (as a short story) until publication.
What projects are you working on now?
I’m revising some older picture book projects, brainstorming ideas for a board book series, and hoping I’ll be able to finally focus and write the chapter book that’s been nagging at me for a very long time.
What advice would you give to your younger self? Is this the same advice you'd give to aspiring authors?
I’d say, “Joana, don’t start writing the middle grade novel before joining SCBWI!” Writing the middle grade on my own, without any help, was a learning experience. I don’t see it as wasted time, but I’m convinced that if I had joined SCBWI earlier, the writing would have turned out much better. I’d have had access to so many great resources and joined a critique group much sooner. Besides it’s great to be part of a community of like-minded people!
What is one thing most people don't know about you?
That I was once cast as Huniak in a community theater production of Chicago. The director took the liberty of making that character Brazilian instead of Hungarian, so I was Brazuca instead. I loved every minute of it. So much fun!
Where can people find you online?
I’m on Twitter @jopastro, on Instagram @joanapastro and on my website www.joanapastro.com.
Also, check out Joana Pastro's Pre-Order Giveaway (separate from the Kidlit411 giveaway):
Joana Pastro always wanted to be an artist of some sort. So, she became an architect. But once her first child was born, all the visits to the library, and the countless story times made Joana start dreaming of becoming a children’s book author. After a lot of reading, writing and revising, her dream is coming true. Her debut picture book, LILLYBELLE, A DAMSEL NOT IN DISTRESS, illustrated by Jhon Ortiz, will be published by Boyds Mills Press, an imprint of Boyds Mills & Kane, on October 20, 2020. Her second book, BISA’S CARNAVAL, illustrated by Carolina Coroa will be published by Scholastic in Fall/2021. Originally from Brazil, Joana now lives in Florida with her husband, her three extremely creative children and a rambunctious Morkie. You can find her on Twitter @jopastro, Instagram on @joanapastro, on her website at www.joanapastro.com.
The Picture Book Buzz - Interview with Joana Pastro
Originally from Brazil, Joana Pastro now lives in Florida with her amazing husband, her three extremely creative children, a rambunctious Morkie, and a needy Maltipoo.
For as long as Joana can remember, she wanted to be an artist of some kind. So, she became an architect. But once her first child was born, all the visits to the library, and the countless story times made Joana start dreaming of becoming a children’s book author. She had no idea how to start, so for seven years all she did was collect story ideas on a little notebook. Finally, one Sunday afternoon she decided to sit down and write… Soon Joana discovered that writing children’s books isn’t easy. But she didn’t give up. She became a member of SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators), joined a critique group, made many writing friends, took classes, workshops, went to conferences, and did a lot of reading, writing and revising. One day, she sent out a story to an agent. The agent loved it and decided to help Joana share her stories with the world. And now here is Joana, still chasing her dream.
Her debut picture book, Lillybelle, A Damsel Not In Distress was released by Boyds Mills Press in 2020 and now she’s getting ready to release her second picture book, Bisa’s Carnaval with Scholastic on December 7th.
Welcome Joana, thank-you so much for stopping by to talk about your newest picture book and writing.
It’s my pleasure, Maria. Thanks for having me!
Tell us a little about yourself. (Where/when do you write? How long have you been writing? What is your favorite type of book to write?)
Life takes the most unexpected turns, right? As you mentioned before, I’m an architect. I always dreamed of being one. However, after moving to the US my interests shifted, and I began searching for a different career. One day, my husband said I should write a book. That had never crossed my mind before. Still, it took me about 10 years and three children, to finally start pursuing it. At first, I committed to writing two days a week. Soon, I was writing every day! This, of course, isn’t limited to writing books. There’s also researching, reading, and the dreaded self-promoting to be done. Luckily, I have wonderful author friends holding my hand along the way, and I’m part of a fantastic promo group, the Soaring 20's. It’s an amazing group of extremely talented, hard-working authors, who keep me motivated and on track. The cherry on top? We’ve become great friends.
It is talented group of authors. What is something no one (or few) knows about you?
I lived in East Sussex, England for two years as a child. This experience had a huge impact on me. I believe that a lot of my interests, like my love for history, art and art history(!), stems from that time.
That would have been a lot of fun. Who was your favorite author, illustrator, and/or favorite book as a child?
That’d be a Brazilian cartoonist, Mauricio de Souza. He’s the creator of the Turma da Monica (Monica’s Gang) comic books. I had three huge drawers filled with them. The main characters were regular kids, with unique personalities and voice. Their little adventures usually happened around their neighborhood. They were filled with nonsense, kids being kids, and lots of laugh out loud moments. It was great!
Thank you for introducing me (us) to this comic series. So, what was the hardest part of writing Bisa’s Carnival?
Figuring out what was the story I wanted to tell was the hardest part. Once I realized I wanted to write about a young girl enjoying quality time with an older relative, the story poured out of me.
Finding that core, or the heart of the story, can be so frustrating and exhilarating. How long did it take from the first draft to publication? What was the hardest part of the publication process? The easiest?
Three years and a half. I wrote the first draft in June 2018, and it’s being published in a few weeks! The hardest part of the process was when my wonderful editor, Jess Harold, left Scholastic. Working with her was such a joy! The easiest part… I want to say working with Jess, but I already said that, so I’ll say trusting the illustrator. When I first saw Carolina’s studies for the book, I was in awe. She made a study package where she shared the reasoning behind the color palette choice, and character sketches not only for Bisa and Clara, but the whole family. She even had names for each of them! I was truly impressed.
Wow! That would have been something to see. Did anything about Carolina Coroa’s illustrations surprise you? What is your favorite spread?
Text © Joana Pastro, 2021. Image © Carolina Coroa, 2021.
After seeing her original overview, I knew she was perfect. I love everything about her work. She’s so talented! The wordless spread is amazing. It’s rich, colorful and vibrant! Another favorite is the spread where they’re heading back home to Bisa. It has a strong meaning to me as someone who lives far from their family.
I love all the costumes and aura of fun and celebration in this spread. Are there any projects you are working on now that you can share a tidbit with us?
I’m working on edits for something that I’m not allowed to share yet.
I always have a few picture books in the works, but I’m at that stage where I need to decide which manuscript I’ll be focusing on next. I’ve been working on chapter books.
I have a board book series that I absolutely love and is out on submission (fingers crossed!).
And I’m participating in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), but I’m not sure I’ll be winner. November is such a busy month. My critique group might rebel and have our own Novel Writing Month in March. We’ve decided it’s an easier month to do it.
Well, we'll have to keep our ears open for news. What have you been doing to stay inspired these days?
It’s been a challenging year. We moved in July, but I feel like we were in moving mode for most of the year. Having said that, to stay inspired, I’m always on alert. Anything can serve as inspiration if we look close enough. I observe the world around me, and the information I consume, with the clear intention of having ideas. That doesn’t mean that all my ideas are great, but I can always find a few good ones in that mix.
Last question, what is your favorite animal? Or one that you are enamored with right now. Why?
I’m so glad you asked which one “I’m enamored with right now,” because I’d have such a hard time picking a favorite. Right now, I’m obsessed with sloths. I love how they always seem to be smiling. It makes me smile too!
Sloths are awesome! Thank you, Joana for stopping by and sharing with us. It was wonderful to chat with you.
Be sure stop by on Friday for the Perfect Picture Book #PPBF post on Bisa's Carnaval.
To find out more about Joana Pastro, or contact her:
Website: http://www.joanapastro.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jopastro
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joanapastro
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joanapastro
An Interview with Joana Pastro Author of Bisa’s Carnaval
December 7, 2021
goodreadswithronna
Ages 4-8, Author Interview, Holidays & Celebrations, Juvenile Fiction
AN INTERVIEW WITH
JOANA PASTRO
AUTHOR OF
BISA’S CARNAVAL
ILLUSTRATED BY
CAROLINA COROA
(Orchard Books; $18.99, Ages 4 to 8)
Bisas Carnaval cover
SHORT SUMMARY
“Trumpets, trombones, tubas, and saxophones sing louder, faster, faster, louder!
It’s CARNAVAL!”
With help from her bisa (great-grandma), a young girl in Brazil prepares for Carnaval: bright costumes, feathers, flowers, and plenty of glitter. But bisa must stay home. As the girl hugs bisa goodbye, the music pulls her in. Excitement is everywhere, on every sight, sound and scent. But…
Carnaval isn’t the same without bisa.
With the blow of a whistle and lots of love, the girl will make sure BISA’S CARNAVAL is the best one ever!
INTERVIEW
Colleen Paeff: Hi Joana! Congratulations on the starred Kirkus review for Bisa’s Carnaval! This book is receiving such a warm welcome. That’s got to feel good. What are you doing to celebrate the launch of your second picture book?
Joana Pastro: It’s so nerve-wracking sending our book babies out in the world. We never know how they’ll be received, so when we see an enthusiastic response from readers and from reviewers it’s a huge relief. And if it has a star next to it? Even better! To celebrate, today (Tuesday, 12/7 at 12noon EST) I’m having an Instagram live event with Carolina Coroa, where we’ll chat about BISA’S CARNAVAL and answer questions from whoever shows up. Then tomorrow (Weds., 12/8), I’ll be on Scholastic’s #BookParty on Instagram at 7pm EST. It’ll be fun! (See Instagram links below)
CP: That sounds great! Your debut picture book Lillybelle, a Damsel NOT in Distress was one of my favorite books of 2020. Does the launch process feel any different this time around?
JP: Awwww That’s so great to hear! I love my little LillyBelle!
The launch process feels different, but still not what I had dreamed it’d be. I had hoped to do both launches in person at a bookstore, but it wasn’t possible. Last year, I chose not to have a launch event, but because we were home, I was able to plan a three-month pre-order campaign, and I was a lot more active on social media.
This year, with kids back to in-person learning, and a lot of driving around, I didn’t have as much time on my hands. Like I mentioned before, we’re doing Instagram live. Having a virtual launch is great because I can have it with Carolina, my family, and friends from Brazil and all over the world, but I miss interacting in person. I hope my next launch will have the best of both worlds: virtual and in-person.
Bisas Carnaval int1
Interior spread from Bisa’s Carnaval written by Joana Pastro and illustrated by Carolina Coroa, Orchard Books ©2021.
CP: When did you get your first glimpse of Carolina Coroa’s wonderfully vibrant illustrations for Bisa’s Carnaval? Did anything about the illustrations surprise you?
JP: The first glimpse was when my editor shared Carolina’s color palette research and character studies. I was in awe. I knew then and there that we had hit the jackpot when she accepted the job!
There’s so much to love in her work! I was surprised by her attention to detail on every spread: the costumes, the buildings, the Portuguese words . . . a guy playing harmonica on his balcony! So amazing. Oh, and she even named the whole family on her character studies. So cool!
CP: I love that! I really liked how, in the story, you mention that carnaval is a time when people can forget their troubles and you go on to list some of the troubles people might have. Was that part of the book from the beginning or did it develop over time?
JP: That was a suggestion I received from an editor who requested a revise and resubmit. She wanted the story to expand on the social-economic aspects. I believe her note truly helped elevate the story, and make it much better.
CP: What do you hope young readers take away from Bisa’s Carnival?
JP: From the cultural aspect, I hope readers will want to expand their horizons by learning more about Brazil and about other countries too, and that Brazilian-American children will see themselves in it, be proud of their heritage, and want to share this story with their friends.
From the family aspect, I hope both children and adults will be inspired to put their electronic devices aside, and spend quality time, and create new memories with their loved ones, especially the older ones.
Bisas Carnaval int2
Interior spread from Bisa’s Carnaval written by Joana Pastro and illustrated by Carolina Coroa, Orchard Books ©2021.
CP: You were an architect before you started writing for children. Have you discovered any crossover between architecture and writing?
JP: Definitely! The creative process is very much the same. In both you get some sort of prompt, then you do a bit of research, you let it simmer for some time, and start drafting. Then you revise a thousand times because there’s always something you can make better. In the future, once it becomes a book or a building, you’ll probably find something that you would have done differently. I imagine this to be true in all creative areas.
CP: Do you have any favorite productivity tricks or anything you do that helps you to stay focused on your writing work?
JP: Whenever I notice that I’m not being productive and that I’m becoming frustrated with a project, I leave it alone. Allowing myself to rest, work on something else, or doing other unrelated activities is the best way to get the creative juices flowing again. The brain will be doing the work even when we’re not paying attention! When I finally go back to it, the roadblock is usually gone.
CP: What’s next for you?
JP: The Spanish version of BISA’S CARNAVAL comes out in 2022. I have two picture books that haven’t been announced yet, but I believe will publish in 2023 and 2024.
I’ve been focusing on writing chapter books, and I’m out on submission with a board book series that I absolutely love writing. Hint: I get to travel the world without leaving my desk! Fingers crossed!
CP: How exciting! Thank you so much for chatting with me, Joana. Happy book birthday!
JP: My pleasure! Thank you so much for having me, Colleen!
BUY THE BOOK
Lillybelle, a Damsel NOT in Distress: www.joanapastro.com/lillybelle-a-damsel-not-in-distress.html
Bisa’s Carnaval: www.joanapastro.com/bisas-carnaval.html
author Joana Pastro
Joana Pastro, Author Photo credit: Diego Castelo
BRIEF BIO
Joana Pastro is an architect who became a children’s book author. Her debut picture book, LILLYBELLE, A DAMSEL NOT IN DISTRESS, illustrated by Jhon Ortiz, was published by Boyds Mills Press (now Astra Kids), in 2020. Her second book, BISA’S CARNAVAL, illustrated by Carolina Coroa, will be published by Orchard Books on December 7th, 2021. Originally from Brazil, Joana lives in Florida with her husband, her three extremely creative children, a rambunctious Morkie, and a needy Maltipoo. You can find her on Twitter @jopastro, Instagram on @joanapastro, on her website at www.joanapastro.com
e
Simply 7 with Joana Pastro–BISA’S CARNAVAL
December 9, 2021 / jenabenton
There are still many places all over the world that I would love to see someday. Brazil is one of them. Thank goodness for books that let us travel vicariously!
JoanaPastroJoana Pastro visited my blog last year for her debut picture book, LILLYBELLE, A DAMSEL NOT IN DISTRESS, illustrated by Jhon Ortiz. Her second book, BISA’S CARNAVAL, illustrated by Carolina Coroa released just this week! Originally from Brazil, Joana now lives in Florida with her husband, her three extremely creative children and a rambunctious Morkie. You can find her on Twitter, on Instagram, or learn more about her at her website.
Bisa COVERBISA’S CARNAVAL is the story of Clara and her great-grandma Bisa who are preparing for Carnaval. Clara is young and excited for the costumes and parades. Bisa helps to make her costume and remembers fun from the past, but can’t participate this year as it’s harder for her to keep up with fast-moving parades. This is a sweet story about the festival of Carnaval, traditions, and family connections. It’s a story with an amazing heart.
Welcome back Joana!
Me: Surprisingly, there aren’t many picture books about Carnaval out there. What gave you the idea to write about it?
Joana: True. I wanted to share my heritage with American readers. I knew there was a market for it, because there really aren’t many books featuring Brazilian experiences in general. I chose to write about Carnaval because it’s an extremely rich cultural celebration. There are so many different Carnaval traditions within Brazil that I could write ten different books with that topic and still have material for more!
Me: Why tell the story from both a child’s perspective and a great-grandparent’s perspective?
Joana: BISA’S CARNAVAL is the story of Clara and her great-grandmother, Bisa, preparing for Carnaval, but they’re not just making a costume. Bisa is sharing her memories and they’re creating new ones along the way. Nowadays, we’re all excessively busy with work, school, sports, and electronic devices, that we risk taking our older relatives for granted. We need to be reminded of how wonderful it is having them in our lives. Hopefully this will be a takeaway for readers, and they’ll be inspired to spend quality time with their loved ones and create new memories.
Screen Shot 2021-12-04 at 2.52.07 PM
Me: There are so many wonderful elements in the text of your story. There are some lines in your text that come close to rhyming but then veer away. There are some really fun sounds that start to create a repetitive rhythm, but then don’t show up again. Did you set out to make this a rhyming story or a rhythmic story? How many revisions did it take to get to the final version readers see?
Joana: I believe that I have a good ear for rhyme, but I don’t know enough about meter to write in rhyme, so I never considered it. And although I didn’t use repetition, I think the story has a certain rhythm. When I read it aloud, I think it has a crescendo quality to it, that builds up to the climax and then it explodes with “BOOM!” circling right back to the beginning with “Louder, Faster, Faster, Louder!”
From first draft to publication, I did about twenty revisions, which really doesn’t feel like a lot. For my debut, LILLYBELLE, A DAMSEL NOT IN DISTRESS, I did about seventy.
Me: Wow! What is one thing that surprised you in writing this story?
Screen Shot 2021-12-04 at 2.56.04 PMJoana: I started this book by researching everything that I could find about carnaval around the world and in Brazil, and by reading mentor texts covering celebrations and other cultures in general. Once I felt research was done, I allowed this information to simmer for a few months. The biggest surprise came one morning when suddenly it all clicked. I woke up, I read the research, and when I sat down to write, the story poured out of me.
Me: I understand that you grew up in Brazil. Do you have other stories about growing up there that you hope to turn into picture books?
Joana: Of course! I have a few manuscripts in different draft stages that fit that description and, one that I can’t talk about yet, but I believe will be coming out in 2023.
Me: Ohh! That sounds exciting. I can’t wait to hear more. The illustrations by Carolina Coroa are wonderful. I especially loved the patterns and the color palette. Were there any illustration surprises for you?
Joana: So true. I can’t think of anyone better to illustrate this book. She’s so talented and did such an amazing job! She surprised me from the very beginning with her elaborate color palette and character studies. At that moment, I knew that she was perfect for this project, and completely invested in it. And she was fast! I truly hope we’ll get to work together again.
Screen Shot 2021-12-04 at 2.52.31 PM
Me: What was your favorite Carnaval costume from when you were a child in Brazil?
Joana: I always say that I have a hard time picking favorites. I gravitated toward fairy tale characters, like fairies and princesses, and strong historical women, like Nefertari and Amelia Earhart. See, we were always on a budget, so a good deal of creativity, recycling, and my mom’s sewing skills went into creating these. It was a lot of fun!
That sounds like fun. Thank you for stopping by my blog again Joana.
Dear readers, if you haven’t yet had a chance to track down this book, I highly recommend it. It’s a book of celebration, but also a book about the heart connections we have with our families that make those celebrations so meaningful. You won’t want to miss this one.
JOANA PASTRO: Will Write for Cookies Plus PB Critique Giveaway
Posted on September 26, 2020
WILL WRITE FOR COOKIES
Plate of Cookies
INSIGHT – INFORMATION – INSPIRATION
FOR WRITERS
TODAY’S GUEST
JOANA PASTRO
What a joy it is to be part of this incredible kidlit community! I love attending conferences and taking classes because I get to meet so many wonderful people. Another way I connect with authors and illustrators is by doing critiques – and the win-win of that scenario is that I get to read fabulous stories…like the one that today’s Will Write for Cookies author wrote and asked me for feedback. And how cool…that manuscript is now a real book!!!!!
Joana Pastro always wanted to be an artist of some sort. So, she became an architect. But once her first child was born, all the visits to the library, and the countless story times made Joana start dreaming of becoming a children’s book author. After a lot of reading, writing and revising, her dream is coming true. Her debut picture book, LILLYBELLE, A DAMSEL NOT IN DISTRESS, illustrated by Jhon Ortiz, will be published by Boyds Mills Press, an imprint of Boyds Mills & Kane, on October 20, 2020. Her second book, BISA’S CARNAVAL, illustrated by Carolina Coroa will be published by Scholastic in Fall/2021. Originally from Brazil, Joana now lives in Florida with her husband, her three extremely creative children and a rambunctious Morkie. You can find her on Twitter @jopastro, Instagram on @joanapastro, on her website at www.joanapastro.com.
ME: Welcome, Joana! What a thrill to have you here today! Thank you so much for stopping by and for offering such a generous giveaway…a nonrhyming pb manuscript critique! I know everyone is excited to hear a bit about who you are and how your path to publication progressed – it’s a fascinating story and I thank you for sharing it with us.
JOANA: I’m so happy to be here, Vivian. Thank you so much for having me! I’m ready whenever you are.
ME: Who were your favorite authors/illustrators when you were a child?
JOANA: As you know, I was born in Brazil and spent most of my childhood there, so my favorite Brazilian authors were (I guess still are!) Ziraldo, Ruth Rocha, and especially Mauricio de Souza. He’s the creator of the most popular comic book series in Brazil, A Turma da Mônica (Monica’s Gang). Me and my sisters had a subscription for it and a huge drawer full of them. It was our favorite bedtime reading. I also lived here in the US as a toddler, at that time my favorite books were the ones by Dr. Seuss. Those traveled back with us to Brazil. Later, when we lived in England, my absolute favorite was Beverly Cleary. I only found out she was American a few years ago!
Turma da Mônica Figurines I keep in my office.
ME: What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started writing?
JOANA: When I decided to pursue writing circa 2011, I bought the book WRITING CHILDREN’S BOOKS FOR DUMMIES. I devoured it and that’s when I first heard of SCBWI (Society of Children’Book Writers and Illustrators). The book highly recommended becoming a member. I wish I had followed that advice right away, but because I was an absolute beginner, I thought I wasn’t ready. Instead I used only the tools I had at hand. Progress is slow for those who go it alone. Three years later, I finished my middle grade novel, and finally joined SCBWI. I won’t underestimate the experience of writing on my own—it was valid and I did learn a lot. However, I was only able to feel that my writing was truly improving once I became part of a critique group and found the camaraderie of people who share the same passion and goals.
ME: Where do you like to write – inside, outside, special room, laptop, pen and paper?
JOANA: The first thing I do when I have an idea is try to solidify the beginning and the end. I write a rough pitch—I’m awful at pitches—to help keep my goal, and the takeaway focused. Then I roughly plot the middle, which inevitably changes as I get to know my character. This part of the process is usually done on a clipboard that I carry everywhere around the house, in the car, wherever I go.
Once I’m ready to start writing the manuscript, I move to my laptop in my office. I have a balcony facing the lake behind my house and I love staring at it. I might spend too much time doing it while I try to solve plot problems, but all that daydreaming seems to help the process. Having my books at hands reach is another advantage of working in the office.
For the record, I still carry that clipboard with my work in progress everywhere, so no matter where I am, if an idea strikes, I’m able to jot it down really fast. Especially when my kids were younger and I needed to carve small periods of writing time. I’ve written while waiting for swim, karate and ballet lessons. But life is different in 2020, and these days my clipboard only moves around the house.
The view from my desk
My workspace: desk and clipboard!
ME When do you write – early morning, late in the day, middle of the night, on schedule, as the muse strikes?
JOANA: I feel a lot more creative and productive in the morning, but not too early! I usually get started around 8 am, after I’ve sent the kids to school and gone for a walk. If I’m in the zone, I’ll write any time. The clipboard really helps me stay on a writing mood all day.
5.ME: Why do you write for children?
JOANA: Because picture books make me happy! I love diving into that world. It’s fun! I love the lightness of writing for children, even when we tackle deep, difficult subjects.
Picture books are targeted for children but, in reality, they’re for everyone. A picture book can help deal with emotions and problems, understand our place in the world, and reminds us of our worth. Seeing ourselves in a book, by relating to a main character or a situation lived, can be truly empowering. I think we all need that reminder and that feeling in our lives, don’t we?
ME: Also, if you have any thoughts or advice for aspiring writers, please share. As well as anything else you want to talk about that parents, educators, writers, librarians might want to hear.
JOANA: For aspiring authors, don’t underestimate the power of picture books and their complexity. A good picture book looks easy to write, but it isn’t. Learn the craft and seek feedback from other writers and professionals in your genre. Read extensively and as part of your learning process, read recently published picture books.
For all readers, don’t discard picture books once you’ve turned 8. Picture books are for everyone!
ME: THANK YOU SO MUCH! I know everyone is thrilled to read your insights, Joana…such valuable advice! And you’ve got something else that is very valuable – you are sharing a fabulous GLUTEN-FREE Brazilian cookie recipe…woo-hoo!
JOANA: Casadinho” Cookies – A traditional Brazilian cookie that’s a hit at my house! (And since one of my kids has celiac disease, I added the modifications I make for a gluten free version.)
My cookies aren’t the prettiest, but they sure taste good!
Ingredients
3/4 cup of butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
2 cups flour (I used 2 cups of multipurpose gluten-free flour and added an extra 1/3 tsp of xantham gum)
1 cup guava jam for the filling (or any jam you have at hand, it’s great with dulce de leche too!)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350F.
Beat butter and sugar together until creamy.
Add the egg and the flour (or gf flour + xantham gum) and mix by hand until well combined.
Divide the dough in smaller pieces and make rolls (about ½” diameter) and place them on a cookie sheet.
Cover with plastic and place in fridge for about one hour.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Cut the rolls in 1/2″ pieces and place them on the new cookie sheet.
Place in preheated oven until golden. About 10 minutes.
Remove from oven and allow it to cool on a cooling rack.
Using a spoon spread the filling on one side of the cookie and top with another piece of cookie, like a sandwich.
Let them dry for about one hour.
Enjoy!
This looks amazing, Joana…I can’t wait to try them. Raspberry jam is my favorite, with apricot coming in as a close second – so, I think I will do some with raspberry and some with apricot!
I want to remind everyone to leave a comment to be entered in the fabulous giveaway of a nonrhyming picture book critique from the lovely Joana! For extra tickets in the giveaway hat, you can share of your social media platforms and follow Joana on Twitter @jopastro. And don’t forget that our favorite authors need our support, especially these days. Please buy their books, review their books, tell friends about their books, and ask your local library to purchase their books.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I’ll be moving next week, but I’ll be back bright and early on October 1st with a Book Birthday post for Vicky Fang’s new board book series, I CAN CODE and then a double header with Julie Abery’s newest nonfiction pb THE MAN AND THE PENGUIN for Perfect Picture Book Friday and a Q&A with Julie on Will Write for Cookies. Stay well, dear friends, and be safe.
Pastro, Joana LILLYBELLE Boyds Mills (Children's None) $17.99 9, 8 ISBN: 978-1-63592-296-7
A damsel-in-training saves her own skin.
LillyBelle adores tea parties, but she is not the standard student at Lady Frilly’s School for Damsels: She enjoys playing loud music and baking absurdly tall cakes. LillyBelle also refuses to accept Lady Frilly’s lesson that damsels are meant to be kidnapped and saved, never to properly fend for themselves. One day, while out playing hopscotch, LillyBelle is abducted by a witch, but LillyBelle isn’t afraid. Instead of waiting for a prince or a knight or a wizard to save her, LillyBelle takes matters into her own hands to decide her own fate. But for LillyBelle, escaping the witch is just the beginning of a long journey back home that finds her using her baking skills, fondness for loud music, and even Lady Frilly’s deportment lessons to return home unharmed. Pastro effectively uses both the traditional rule of three and oft-seen fairy-tale characters to subvert a particularly pernicious fairy-tale trope. The picture book’s lessons of self-empowerment, the importance of dialogue, and the value of understanding are efficiently rendered, aided by rounded, earth-toned illustrations that create a grounded fairy-tale world little readers will enjoy. LillyBelle has beige skin and fluffy black hair; her classmates are somewhat diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-17-inch double-page spreads viewed at 13% of actual size.)
An empowering fairy tale. (Picture book. 4-7)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Pastro, Joana: LILLYBELLE." Kirkus Reviews, 15 July 2020. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A629261421/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=870c9827. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
Pastro, Joana BISA'S CARNAVAL Orchard/Scholastic (Children's None) $18.99 12, 7 ISBN: 978-1-338-61762-7
A young girl and her great-grandmother share their love for a special annual holiday.
It's Carnaval time in Brazil, and Clara can't wait to celebrate it with her family and especially with her bisa (great-grandmother). In the lead-up to the festivities Clara and Bisa spend time together going through Bisa's memories of previous years and lovingly choosing the colorful fabrics Bisa will use to create beautiful fantasias--costumes--for Clara, her cousins, and her sisters. Bisa herself doesn't attend Carnaval this year due to her age, and as Clara loses herself to the sounds and scents around her, she realizes there is something she can do to make it all even better. The Brazilian duo of author Pastro and illustrator Coroa bring to life the street Carnaval of Olinda, a city in the northeast of Brazil, with a story that celebrates one of the country's most important and beloved holidays with humor, truth, and heart. The picture book showcases Carnaval as a heartwarming multigenerational celebration and is peppered with easy-to-contextualize Portuguese words (a glossary is provided at the end). The illustrations are suitably celebratory, with bright colors and detailed and festive backgrounds as well as a plethora of characters who represent the diversity of the Brazilian people. Clara and her family have light-brown skin.
Joyous multigenerational fun. (Picture book. 5-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Pastro, Joana: BISA'S CARNAVAL." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Oct. 2021. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A678748328/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=63dd4681. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
Lucas and the Capoeira Circle.
By Joana Pastro. Illus. by Douglas Lopes.
Sept. 2024. 40p. Atheneum, $18.99 (9781665924771).
PreS-Gr. 2.
In Pastro's new picture book, capoeira, the Brazilian mixture of dance and martial art, is a family activity. Lucas wakes up in the morning excited for his batizado, the moving-up ceremony where he will demonstrate his capoeira moves in the roda, or circle, and receive his capoeira nickname, as his parents have done before him and as his little sister hopes to do someday. But when his turn comes, Lucas loses his ginga, or confident way of moving. With encouragement from his teacher and the help of his tambourine's rhythm, he regains his confidence and gets just the right name. The text dives into the world of capoeira, attempting to capture the rhythms of its music and introducing plenty of terms that will be new to many readers. (A glossary and informational page about capoeira in the back matter are helpful.) Lopes provides further atmosphere through illustrations that capture the bold style and movement of the martial art. An authentic-looking (and -sounding) glimpse into capoeira.--Miriam Aronin
YA Recommendations
Adult titles recommended for teens are marked with the following symbols: YA, for books of general YA interest; YA/C, for books with particular curricular value; and YA/S, for books that will appeal most to teens with a special interest in a specific subject.
Did You Know?
We flag books published for adults with notable teen appeal. Look for YA, YA/C, and YA/S in the Adult Books section for titles we recommend for YA readers.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
Aronin, Miriam. "Lucas and the Capoeira Circle." Booklist, vol. 120, no. 21, July 2024, p. 74. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A804615964/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=8043344d. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
Pastro, Joana LUCAS AND THE CAPOEIRA CIRCLE Atheneum (Children's None) $18.99 9, 24 ISBN: 9781665924771
A young capoeirista learns to reawaken his ginga.
Anticipation blooms as the day of Lucas' batizado, or moving-up ceremony, arrives. Dressed in his abadá, Lucas shows off his capoeira moves with each swift kick and arm swing. If he can demonstrate his finest moves to the roda (or circle) before Mestre sweeps him to the ground, Lucas will receive a new corda and a cool nickname. As Lucas practices, his little sister, Lilica, joins in, falling in the process. Tears come, and Mamãe consoles her: "It happens. We all lose our confidence from time to time." Uh-oh. Will a suddenly nervous Lucas lose his ginga at the capoeira circle? At the park, the roda welcomes Lucas and his family, and the batizado commences. Lucas' friends demonstrate their moves one by one until the Mestre calls for Lucas. Unable to move, Lucas grabs his dependable tamborim and drums to the rhythm--"tuk-tuk-tek"--to regain his ginga. Full of dynamic language set at a precise pace, Pastro's cadenced prose builds up Lucas' inner journey through the rush of initial excitement, anxieties of creeping dreads, and joys of eventual triumph. Similarly, Lopes' superb artwork depicts the elegance of capoeira via larger-than-life stances and extravagant gestures, all shaded in warm colors. A quick addendum provides details on the historical importance of capoeira and its role in Afro-Brazilian culture. Lucas and his family read Black, while the capoeira circle is racially diverse.
A marvelous celebration of inner strength and courage. (glossary)(Picture book. 4-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Pastro, Joana: LUCAS AND THE CAPOEIRA CIRCLE." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Aug. 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A802865028/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=1331a9ed. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.