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ENTRY TYPE: new
WORK TITLE: Patrick and the Not So Perfect Party
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://annewynter.com/
CITY: Austin
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY:
LAST VOLUME:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married.
EDUCATION:Washington University (St. Louis), bachelor’s degree.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer.
AWARDS:Ezra Jack Keats Award, Boston Globe Best Book of 2021, Booklist Editors’ Choice Book, 2021, all for Everybody in the Red Brick Building.
WRITINGS
Has also written short plays.
SIDELIGHTS
Anne Wynter is a writer based in Austin, TX. She holds a degree from Washington University in St. Louis.
Earlier in her career, Wynter wrote plays for adults, but her first published work was a children’s picture book called Everybody in the Red Brick Building. The volume chronicles the noises heard over the course of a day in an apartment building. It begins with a baby’s cry, then continues with sounds including a toy rocket, a parrot, and a police siren. Finally, at the end of the day, the noises decrease, as the apartment’s residents go to bed. In an interview with Tonya Abari, contributor to the KidLit in Color website, Wynter discussed the process of creating the book, stating: “I grew up in a house, but I spent most of my adulthood in apartments. So I was always noticing the unique aspects of apartment living—especially the relationships between apartment neighbors. For a long time, I tried to write about that theme in a full-length play for adults. I loved the idea but my scripts kept falling flat. Once I started trying to write picture books, Everybody in the Red Brick Building was the second manuscript I wrote.” Luann Toth, critic in Horn Book, remarked: “The subtle diversity, urban setting, and universality of theme make this an excellent addition to bedtime bookshelves everywhere.” Booklist reviewer, Connie Fletcher, described the book as “a sound-evocative tour de force.”
In Nell Plants a Tree, the narrative moves back and forth in time. In the past, Nell is a little girl who plants a seed and waters it as it grows. In the present, the seed has become a tree that Nell’s descendants play around. In an interview with Maria Marshall on Marshall’s self-titled website, Wynter explained: “I love time travel stories and I’ve always wanted to write one. And it just recently occurred to me that—in a way—Nell is almost a time travel story. I wanted to write about how someone’s actions impacted the lives of their descendants in a positive way.” She continued: “But at first, everything felt too broad and the concept just wasn’t working. It took a while to come up with the idea to use a tree. I actually received an email from my husband’s aunt, encouraging us to plant more trees. Once I put a tree at the center of the story, things started to fall into place.” Wynter discussed her intentions for the book in an interview with Brian Gehrlein, writer on the Picture Book Spotlight website. She stated: “I … wanted to tell the story of a grandmother whose actions when she was young would go on to impact her dependents.” Referring to the book, she told Gehrlein: “I think it also communicates that we are not so different from the people who came before us. When I was little and I saw older people, it felt impossible to wrap my mind around the fact that they had once been young. But in this book we get to see Nell as a child in a similar way that we see her descendants. … The past often echoes in the present and hopefully we can take the good parts and make sure they get passed down and repeated.” “Generations of readers will be inspired by this sweet story to plant seeds of their own,” remarked Lisa Bubert in BookPage. Julie Danielson, reviewer in Horn Book, commented: “Wynter’s text sings with the economy and elegance of a poem.”
A perfectionist child plans a celebration that goes awry in Patrick and the Not So Perfect Party. Patrick meticulously plans every detail of his birthday party, from the menu to the guest’s costumes. However, his brother, Russ, makes a typo in the party invitation that leads to guests dressing up differently than Patrick planned. Next year, a similar mishap takes place, and the guests are again in funny costumes. Reviewing the volume in School Library Journal, Jessica Marie suggested: “Not only is it nice to a see a boy doing the party-planning, but it’s good to see a child being a fusspot in a low-stakes situation.” A Kirkus Reviews critic noted that the book represented “maybe not a perfect party, but a perfectly entertaining read; no special invitation needed.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, October 1, 2021, Connie Fletcher, review of Everybody in the Red Brick Building, p. 71.
BookPage, February, 2023, Lisa Bubert, review of Nell Plants a Tree, p. 29.
Horn Book, November-December, 2021, Luann Toth, review of Everybody in the Red Brick Building, p. 90; January-February, 2023, Julie Danielson, review of Nell Plants a Tree, p. 71.
Kirkus Reviews, April 15, 2024, review of Patrick and the Not So Perfect Party.
School Library Journal, June, 2024, Jessica Marie, review of Patrick and the Not So Perfect Party, p. 72.
ONLINE
Anne Wynter website, https://annewynter.com/ (October 28, 2024).
KidLit in Color, https://www.kidlitincolor.com/ (October 6, 2021), Tonya Abari, author interview.
Maria Marshall website, https://www.mariacmarshall.com/ (October 28, 2024), Maria Marshall, author interview.
Picture Book Spotlight, https://www.pbspotlight.com/ (March 1, 2023), Brian Gehrlein, author interview.
Anne Wynter is the Ezra Jack Keats Award-winning author of Everybody in the Red Brick Building, illustrated by Oge Mora; board books One Big Day and Hands On!, both illustrated by Alea Marley; and Nell Plants a Tree, illustrated by Daniel Miyares.
Anne earned a degree in theatre from Washington University in St. Louis and penned a number of short plays that have been produced around the country. She lives in Austin, TX with her family.
The Fun Stuff
Favorite color: Yellow
Favorite food: Cheese. Any kind of cheese.
Siblings: Three older brothers
Favorite animals: Cats and giraffes
Childhood dream: To perform on Broadway
Random fact from childhood: I had an enormous pencil collection.
Random fact from teenagerhood: I was in a handbell choir and I loved it.
Random fact from adulthood: My ideal day at home would involve a jigsaw puzzle and a good audiobook.
Short Bio
Anne Wynter is the Ezra Jack Keats Award-winning author of the picture books Everybody in the Red Brick Building and Nell Plants a Tree as well as the board books Hands On! and One Big Day. She lives in Austin, TX.
Longer Bio
Anne Wynter is the Ezra Jack Keats Award-winning author of Everybody in the Red Brick Building, illustrated by Oge Mora; the board books One Big Day and Hands On!, both illustrated by Alea Marley; and Nell Plants a Tree, illustrated by Daniel Miyares.
Her book Everybody in the Red Brick Building was named an Ezra Jack Keats Award Honoree, a Kids’ Indie Next pick, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, a Boston Globe Best Book of 2021, and a Booklist 2021 Editors’ Choice Book – among other honors. Nell Plants a Tree received 5 starred reviews and was on the 2023 Barnes and Noble Children’s Book Awards Shortlist.
Originally from Houston, Anne earned a degree in theatre from Washington University in St. Louis and penned a number of short plays that have been produced around the country. She lives in Austin, TX with her family.
QUOTED: "I grew up in a house, but I spent most of my adulthood in apartments. So I was always noticing the unique aspects of apartment living - especially the relationships between apartment neighbors. For a long time, I tried to write about that theme in a full-length play for adults. I loved the idea but my scripts kept falling flat. Once I started trying to write picture books, Everybody in the Red Brick Building was the second manuscript I wrote."
Anne Wynter - Everybody in the Red Brick Building
10/6/2021
Everybody in the Red Brick Building
KidLit in Color author Tonya Abari interviewed author Anne Wynter about her new picture book, Everybody in the Red Brick Building, illustrated by Oge Mora.
Tonya: What inspired you to write the story Everybody in the Red Brick Building?
Anne: I grew up in a house, but I spent most of my adulthood in apartments. So I was always noticing the unique aspects of apartment living - especially the relationships between apartment neighbors. For a long time, I tried to write about that theme in a full-length play for adults. I loved the idea but my scripts kept falling flat.
Once I started trying to write picture books, Everybody in the Red Brick Building was the second manuscript I wrote. The writing process was relatively quick, probably because I had spent so much time thinking about these themes and working through plot possibilities. It turned out to be a much better fit in a picture book.
Tonya: This picture book is rich with onomatopoeia. Can you explain your process for selecting which middle-of-the-night sounds to use for this book?
Anne: This was one of the hardest parts. I tried to pick onomatopoeia that was a little truer to the actual sound - in the way that a “woof” is usually closer to the sound a dog makes than a “bark.”
I also wanted to make sure the sounds didn’t have too many similarities when it came to assonance and consonance. This was challenging because, for the quiet sounds, it was tempting to use multiple sounds with “shhh,” so I had to play around a lot to make sure the text had enough variety.
And I took several nighttime walks for inspiration!
Tonya: You captured such an intricate moment (waking up and going back to sleep in the middle of the night) so beautifully. Regarding this manuscript, does art imitate life?
Anne: Thank you! And yes, definitely. I wrote this when I had an infant and a toddler, and there was a lot of waking up in the middle of the night. When each of my kids were babies I would think about the person on the other side of the wall in the apartment building. I’m sure they could hear the baby crying - and I always crossed my fingers that they were heavy sleepers or were able to fall back to sleep fairly easily.
I think about sleep a lot because it’s one of my favorite activities!
Tonya: What advice would you give to a new picture book writer who is mining their world for smaller moments to write about?
Anne: If there’s something that really captures your attention or imagination, make note of that and don’t automatically dismiss it because it seems too silly, strange or trivial. If you’re around kids, notice what fascinates them. Kids are wonderful at picking up on the smallest details and moments.
Tonya: Oge Mora’s collage-style illustrations really compliment your words perfectly . Tell us about the author/illustration process for this book – working with Oge Mora.
Anne: I didn’t work directly with Oge for most of the process, and we only (virtually) met and communicated after the final artwork was done. Getting to talk with her, pick up on her energy (she’s a great presenter and speaker) and receive practical tips from her - it has been inspiring and invaluable.
Tonya: Many authors have said that their debut picture books are the ones they least expected to be published first. As a debut picture book author, was this the manuscript that you expected to debut first?
Anne: When I sent out Everybody in the Red Brick Building to agents, I only had one other picture book manuscript, and I knew Everybody in the Red Brick Building was the stronger one. So if my querying process was successful, I expected that one to be my debut.
But I have to say, I had practically zero expectations for this manuscript. I was hopeful, of course, but after years of submitting for short story and playwriting opportunities, I learned not to expect anything. So getting an agent and a book deal was a wonderful and surprising ride!
Tonya: We all know that publishing is very top secret, but can you give us the scoop – or at least a subtle hint – on what you’re working on next?
Anne: I have two board books coming out in January - One Big Day and Hands On! - both illustrated by Alea Marley. After that is Nell Plants a Tree, a picture book illustrated by Daniel Miyares that’s scheduled for 2023.
I have two more unannounced picture books coming out (I’ll give you one hint about the first one - it has to do with Texas) and I’m also working on chapter books - which feels a bit scary because it’s new to me. But I’m having a lot of fun.
Anne Wynter
Originally from Houston, Anne is an author and playwright who currently lives in Austin, TX with her husband, her two children, and her cat. Her debut picture book, Everybody in the Red Brick Building, is illustrated by Oge Mora and will be published on October 19, 2021 by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins. She also has two board books coming out in January 2022 - One Big Day and Hands On!, both illustrated by Alea Marley - and a picture book that will be published in Winter 2023 - Nell Plants a Tree, illustrated by Daniel Miyares.
To learn more or say hi, follow Anne on Instagram (@anne_wynter) or visit annewynter.com.
QUOTED: "I love time travel stories and I’ve always wanted to write one. And it just recently occurred to me that—in a way—Nell is almost a time travel story. I wanted to write about how someone’s actions impacted the lives of their descendants in a positive way."
"But at first, everything felt too broad and the concept just wasn’t working. It took a while to come up with the idea to use a tree. I actually received an email from my husband’s aunt, encouraging us to plant more trees. Once I put a tree at the center of the story, things started to fall into place."
The Picture Book Buzz - Interview with Anne Wynter and Daniel Miyares
I have the privilege of interviewing the super talented author and illustrator duo of the ingenious picture book - nell plants a tree.
Anne Wynter is the Ezra Jack Keats Honor-winning author of Everybody in the Red Brick Building, illustrated by Oge Mora (2021). Anne earned a degree in theatre from Washington University in St. Louis and penned a number of short plays that have been produced around the country. She currently lives in Austin, TX with her family.
She’s also the author of Hands On! illustrated by Alea Marley (2022), and One Big Day illustrated by Alea Marley (2022).
Daniel Miyares is a critically acclaimed picture book author and illustrator. He grew up in the foothills of South Carolina before studying at Ringling College of Art and Design. After graduating with a BFA in illustration he headed west to Kansas City. Daniel has been called “…a master of visual storytelling.”- Jody Hewston, Kinderlit, and “…enchanting, versatile” – The New York Times. He believes that our stories have the power to connect us all. Daniel’s story currently takes place in Lenexa, KS with his wife, their two wonderful children, and a dog named Violet that gives them all a run for their money.
He is the author/illustrator of Hope at Sea: An Adventure Story (2021), Night Out (2018), That Neighbor Kid (2017), Bring Me a Rock! (2016), Float (2015), and Pardon Me! (2014). And the illustrator of Big and Small and In-Between by Carter Higgins (2022), Midnight and Moon by Kelly Cooper (2022), Night Walk to the Sea: A Story About Rachel Carson, Earth's Protector by Deborah Wiles (2020), The Boy Who Dreamed of Infinity: A Tale of the Genius Ramanujan by Amy Alznauer (2020), Come Next Season by Kim Norman (2019), Bambino and Mr. Twain by P.I. Maltbie (2019), A Chip Off the Old Block by Jody Jensen Shaffer (2018), Little Fox in the Snow by Jonathan London (2018), That Is My Dream!: A picture book of Langston Hughes's "Dream Variation" by Langston Hughes (2017), Surf's Up by Kwame Alexander (2016), and Waking Up Is Hard to Do lyrics by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield (2010).
For additional information on Daniel, see our earlier interviews (here), (here) and (here).
Their picture book, nell plants a tree, releases on January 31st.
Anne and Daniel, thank you so much for stopping by to talk about your book, writing, and illustrating.
Anne let’s start with you. 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?)
ANNE - I’ve been writing since I was a kid - and I’ve tried a lot of different types of writing: short stories, novels, plays, poetry . . . but picture books, board books and short plays feel like the best fit for me (so far!).
Board books are my favorite to write! I like the challenge of having a super low word count and keeping the concepts simple, but also adding enough layers for the adult reader. Board books are wonderful.
I love your books and am excited to see what you'll explore next. Who was your favorite author, illustrator, and/or your favorite book as a child?
DANIEL - Growing up, I absolutely loved Shel Silverstein. I had a teacher in elementary school introduce me to his poems and drawings. He would stand in front of the class and perform all the poems with such conviction. That moved me. My gears were turning.
ANNE - I was also really into Shel Silverstein! My favorite picture book as a child was probably Me and Neesie by Eloise Greenfield. It was about a girl and her imaginary friend Neesie, who was always getting them into trouble. The book has a sad ending and I think that’s part of the reason I loved it.
Anne, what was your inspiration for nell plants a tree?
ANNE - I love time travel stories and I’ve always wanted to write one. And it just recently occurred to me that - in a way - Nell is almost a time travel story. I wanted to write about how someone’s actions impacted the lives of their descendants in a positive way.
But at first, everything felt too broad and the concept just wasn’t working. It took a while to come up with the idea to use a tree. I actually received an email from my husband’s aunt, encouraging us to plant more trees. Once I put a tree at the center of the story, things started to fall into place. I settled on using a pecan tree pretty soon afterwards because pecan trees were so common in my childhood.
One of the things I really like about the book, is the dual time-line/"time-travel" element. Daniel, what about the nell plants a tree manuscript appealed to you as an illustrator and/or offered you “room for discoveries to be made”?
DANIEL - Well, right away I noticed how beautifully the story was written. The rhythm of it and how that played into the multiple timelines made me think there would be a lot of unique illustration issues to work out and room to discover. Also I really liked the idea of exploring the family dynamic in the story. Not just a cast of characters, but relationships that grow over time like the majestic pecan tree.
I really enjoyed the family story and textures which you wove throughout the illustrations. What is the most fun or unusual place where you’ve written a manuscript or done an illustration?
ANNE - I’m not sure if I’ve written in any truly unusual places. But I do remember doing some writing while I rode the school bus in middle school.
DANIEL - Artists are always looking for ways to stay portable for various reasons. I normally am most happy making illustrations in my home studio, but that isn’t always possible. The deadline doesn’t seem to care where you’re at! I’ve made illustrations for books on airplanes, at the beach, in parks, relatives’ basements on Christmas Eve, as demos in front of hundreds of school children. I get a little nervous just listing those out.
Sorry Daniel. But I'd have loved to have been in the classroom that day! Anne, I love the combination of a verse poem and a modified “chronology” similar almost to Before She Was Harriett. How many drafts did it take to discover or create this narrative format for nell plants a tree? And how long did it take from your first draft to publication?
ANNE - The two timelines were there from the very beginning, but it took A LOT of drafts to make it work. I don’t have a specific number, but NELL had more drafts than any other book I’ve written. I’d write several drafts in a day without changing much about the story, but it just wasn’t feeling right until one day, when it finally did. My first draft of the book was in early 2018 - so from that date to publication it has been almost 5 years!
It is such a fun format and so lyrical. I'm glad you figured it out. Daniel, many illustrators leave treasures or weave their own story (or elements) throughout the illustrations. Did you do this in nell plants a tree? If so, could you share one or more with us?
DANIEL - I tried to let some of my treasured memories make their way into the art for the story. One thing that I was inspired by from the beginning was a quilt that my Grandmother made and gave to me when I was heading off to college. I wanted the feel of that quilt to make appearances throughout as a way to speak to the connection of the generations in the story. The endpapers, some borders, and even in the final spread in the trunk of the tree. Also, my Grandmother had an old creaky rocking chair that she always sat in. I used that chair for the rocking chair.
Thank you for sharing this! I had seen the tree trunk and wondered about that. Is there something you each want your readers to know about, or take away from, nell plants a tree?
ANNE - Of course I’d love for readers to be inspired to plant trees and other types of plants. But I’d also love it if Nell Plants a Tree leads people to consider how their actions - whether big or small - could have a significant impact on people (or animals, or the landscape) in the future. Even a tiny, kind gesture - for example - can stay with someone for years.
DANIEL - Like Anne said so well, I hope that readers are inspired to think about how their actions do have an impact on people in their lives. Love and care has a way of radiating out for a long time, but so does anger and hurt. Also, I really want readers to be inspired to appreciate their families. We have a tendency to take them for granted, especially our elders.
I think you will succeed with these hopes. Anne, did anything surprise or amaze you when you first got to see Daniel’s illustrations? What is your favorite spread?
ANNE – The first thing that wowed me was the color palette. It’s gorgeous and warm and feels perfect for a story about family and love. I also love that he connects past and present Nell with a yellow dress - it was such a smart choice and — as a bonus, yellow is my favorite color!
Text © Anne Wynter, 2023. Image © Daniel Miyares, 2023.
My favorite spread is the one where the young girl has climbed the tree and is standing in the branches, staring out at the sky. She’s bathed in this beautiful light and it just takes my breath away. I wish I could jump into the page and spend the day there.
Oh, how cool that he chose your favorite color! I'd join you in a second; it's been too long since I climbed a tree. Daniel, is there a spread that you were especially excited about or proud of? Which is your favorite spread?
Text © Anne Wynter, 2023. Image © Daniel Miyares, 2023.
DANIEL - I have a lot of favorites! Not necessarily because of the illustrations, but because of Anne’s words. One is the spread where Nell is opening the curtain for her newly planted pecan sprout and it just says, “Nell lets in the sun.” I love it because I think Nell “lets in the sun” for her family for years throughout the book.
I love this one too. Are there any new projects you are working on now that you can share a tidbit with us?
ANNE - I’m working on longer formats - chapter books and novels! - but long books are very much out of my comfort zone and I’m in awe of people who write them. I also have a picture book coming out in 2025 with Jerome Pumphrey. It’s called So Many Years and it’s about Juneteenth.
DANIEL - I’m currently working on my first graphic novel. It’s based on my father’s escape from Cuba in the early sixties.
Those all sound exciting! I can't wait to see them. Last question, what is the best advice you’ve ever gotten - whether it’s regarding writing/ illustrating or not?
ANNE - Someone (maybe my brother?) once told me to do things on my own timeline, and that’s always been helpful. Even though I’ve always wanted to write children’s books, it took me a while to get here. I wound my way through several starts and stops and different careers, but none of it feels wasted. It all helped me get to where I am now.
DANIEL - I don’t know if I can say that any one thing was the best all time piece of advice. Things seem relevant at different times. I can share these two bits of advice that seem like they’re at odds, but I feel like life is a lot of navigating tension. When I had my first job in a restaurant kitchen at fourteen or fifteen, I was working on the line prepping plates and making sure they went out to the right table. It was a Friday night and an area general manager was in observing the operation. She leaned over to me while I was working and said, “Never lose your sense of urgency. It will serve you well.” But then again at another time, I was told by an artist coworker to always make room for play, and that has served me just as well.
Whether 'best all time' or not, that is all definitely great advice. Sometimes we all need to be reminded to - never forget to play and travel our own journeys!
Thank you Anne and Daniel for stopping back by to share with us about your collaboration and your newest picture book.
Be sure to come back on Friday for the Perfect Picture Book #PPBF post on nell plants a tree.
To find out more about Anne Wynter, or to contact her:
Website: https://annewynter.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anne_wynter/
To find out more about Daniel Miyares, or contact him:
Website: http://www.danielmiyares.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daniel.miyares.1
Twitter: https://twitter.com/danielmiyares
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielmiyaresdoodles/
QUOTED: "I ... wanted to tell the story of a grandmother whose actions when she was young would go on to impact her dependents."
"I think it also communicates that we are not so different from the people who came before us. When I was little and I saw older people it felt impossible to wrap my mind around the fact that they had once been young. But in this book we get to see Nell as a child in a similar way that we see her descendants. ... The past often echoes in the present and hopefully we can take the good parts and make sure they get passed down and repeated."
Brian Gehrlein
Mar 1, 2023
10 min read
Author & Illustrator Spotlight: Anne Wynter & Daniel Miyares
Happy Wednesday and welcome to Picture Book Spotlight!
I'm pumped about this double interview! It's not very often that I get the opportunity to spotlight an author and illustrator team but today I DO! I had so much fun hearing from this powerhouse collaboration (hashtag dream team) and I'm confident you're going to love it as well. From the first read, Nell Plants a Tree had my curiosity buzzing. It's one of those books that makes you hungry to stop whatever you're doing and go write something innovative and deeply meaningful. Because that's what it is. As soon as I finished the book, I emailed Anne and Daniel. I had so many questions! If you're a cyborg and have missed my authentic enthusiasm for this picture book, please know that it is amazing and is, without a doubt, a must-read. Like now, cyborg! Go buy it! Here's a bit from the publisher:
This gorgeous picture book shows how one little girl’s careful tending of a pecan tree creates the living center of a loving, intergenerational Black family. For Earth Day and every day! Perfect for fans of Matt de la Peña and Oge Mora.
Before her grandchildren climbed the towering tree,
explored its secret nests,
raced to its sturdy trunk,
read in its cool shade,
or made pies with its pecans…
Nell buried a seed.
And just as Nell’s tree grows and thrives with her love and care, so do generations of her close-knit family.
Inspired by the pecan trees of the creators' own childhoods, Anne Wynter’s lyrical picture book, brought to life with breathtaking illustrations by Daniel Miyares, brims with wonder and love.
Before we dive into this double-Spotlight interview of awesomeness, can I just ask how is it March already!? March means that I've got flowers, sunshine, and spring on the brain. As a high school teacher, what it really means is that spring break is just around the bend. I've never been super into basketball--probably because I'm 5'4" on a good day when I'm thinking tall thoughts and the only dunking I've ever done (and will ever do) involves cookies and milk--but I can get on board with the March Madness theme. That's why I'm offering 25% off of a one-hour Zoom session with me this month. Need a story coach who will ask you deep questions and get you thinking about your picture book in new ways? I'm your guy. I'm a teacher--it's what I do! So, for the month of March, use the promo code "marchpbmadness" when you register. Let's collaborate and make March picture book madness!
Brian's Story Coaching Service
Wherever this post finds you on your author journey, I hope your March is springy, productive, and meaningful. Are you having fun? Are you staying curious? Are you taking time to reflect and capture all your learning? Have you made time to fall in love with a book that inspires you to finish that story that's been on your heart and mind for so long? Maybe it will be Nell Plants a Tree.
The introduction fades to black...the stage is engulfed in darkness...and then...TWO spotlights snap on!
It's Anne Wynter and Daniel Miyares!
Anne, I’m dying to know the influences and inspirations for this beautiful story. Give us the inside scoop!
I think this is one of those types of stories that I come back to every decade or so. I’ve written a play that toggled between a character in the present day and the experiences of her mother in the past. I love time travel stories - but they’re complicated! This almost feels like an easier way to travel through time in a story.
I also wanted to tell the story of a grandmother whose actions when she was young would go on to impact her dependents. But the idea to focus on the tree didn’t come until later.
Daniel, what were your initial reactions to the manuscript? What went through your heart and your head when you first read it?
When I first read Anne’s manuscript, I was taken with how beautifully written it was. The rhythm of it was wonderful and how that rhythm helped to reinforce the two timelines for the reader had me hooked.
This picture book does something extremely unique that I cannot recall ever seeing in our medium—a seamless parallel timeline, weaving two narratives separated by decades as one. We have both feet in the past and the present, transitioning back and forth almost effortlessly. How in the world did you two pull this convention off?! You never say it. You never explain it. We see it. We feel it. It just is…and it works! And it MAKES the story. When I read it and it clicked I was so nerded out I felt like my brain was melting. To be clear, there are two stories woven as one in this book. Separately, they would not have the same impact. It’s the weaving of the timelines that makes this book so magical. I simply cannot wait to introduce this storytelling convention to my four-year-old. So…how did you pull it off? What were the art notes like and how did the visual cues and artistic decision-making help marry these narratives so seamlessly?
Anne: First of all, thank you for the kind words! Regarding art notes, I prefaced my manuscript with a paragraph describing how the two timelines would work. Then there were a few art notes in the manuscript that explained that Nell was doing certain actions and other kids were doing other actions. But I was still a little worried it would be confusing!
Daniel: Brian, I’m so glad you enjoyed the different narratives! It was definitely a fascinating illustration and design problem to try and solve. The story really needed a solution that held it together, but didn’t require too much sleuthing from the reader. I didn’t want my choices to get in the way of the wonderful rhythm that Anne had already established. When I was making sketches and experimenting with materials early on in the process it became clear to me that color should give a sort of visual structure to the book. The simple idea that Nell’s cloths could be based on the same warm yellow color as a kid and adult throughout seemed to work. Also, I tried to focus on keeping the same essence of personality from young Nell to matriarch Nell. I should mention that I got to work with the brilliant Donna Bray and Dana Fritts on this project. Their insight was so important. In the very beginning I was playing with making art on two different colors of toned paper. One for the present and one for the past. It seemed like too much, but Dana had the idea of instead adding a slight cream tone to all the past spreads. You might not even notice, but it adds a nice bit of continuity I think across those pages.
There is a poignant and timeless theme woven into this story. For me, it spoke of planting today to reap tomorrow. It showed a unique perspective, bridging generations and how value and meaning takes time to grow. What else does this story communicate? What does it speak for you?
Anne: I think it also communicates that we are not so different from the people who came before us. When I was little and I saw older people it felt impossible to wrap my mind around the fact that they had once been young. But in this book we get to see Nell as a child in a similar way that we see her descendents. Similarly, Nell planted the tree at the center of the book and we see that her grandaughter (or maybe great granddaughter) is also going to plant a tree. The past often echoes in the present and hopefully we can take the good parts and make sure they get passed down and repeated.
Daniel: For me it’s the theme of the cyclical nature of history and family, and if that is true then what sort of a cycle do you want to create? The love and care we show has a way of radiating out far beyond our current reach.
Daniel, what is your favorite line of Anne’s and why?
My favorite line is the one where Anne writes, “Nell lets in the sun.” It’s about the moment and how she’s caring for the new tree sprout, but it also foreshadows how she brings that same love and light to her future family.
Anne, what is your favorite artistic element of Daniel’s and why?
Daniel’s color palette is magical and conveys a sense of warmth and love. I’d love to live inside these illustrations. The colors plus the way Daniel illustrates light . . . it’s transcendent.
Okay, you two…let’s spotlight a whole spread! What’s your very favorite whole spread in the book and why?
Anne: My absolute favorite is the spread where the young girl has climbed to the top of the tree and is standing in the branches looking out at the sky. The artwork is stunning and I feel like I could get lost in the color of the sky.
Daniel: It is really hard for me to choose a favorite! One that I liked a lot was the spread that says, “before anyone asks what to do with a seed,”. In that moment Nell and her granddaughter are both sitting on the front porch. Nell is working on a quilt and her grand is showing her a pecan root that she has found. I like this one because it brings the circle back around.
Anne, how did you grow as a storyteller and a writer as a direct result of working on this book? What did you discover?
What a great question. This was the hardest book I’ve written by far. It took a lot of persistence and luck. Persistence because I had to get through so many drafts - what felt like an absurd number of drafts! - to finally end up with the finished manuscript. And luck because there were little things along the way - an email about trees and a song someone sent me - that gave me inspiration at exactly the right time, changed the direction of the manuscript and got it closer to where it needed to be.
Daniel, how did you grow as a visual storyteller and an artist as a direct result of working on this book? What did you discover?
Every time I work on a book I feel like I’m relearning how to balance all the visual information needed to give the story context while leaving enough room for the emotional journey to be felt by the reader. The same was true with this one. Also, specifically for this book, I worked to carry a quilt panel theme through the visuals. Sometimes more specifically like the end papers that are based on a quilt my grandmother made and gave to me, or sometimes simply suggesting that all the character’s lives are woven together in the book by using collaged elements to define shapes.
What encouraging word can you leave picture book creators seeking to get their work out into the world?
Anne: This book taught me that some ideas are worth relentlessly plugging away at. I’m not sure I would’ve finished this manuscript if I didn’t have a contract for a second book and if I wasn’t in the middle of a class that forced me to turn in drafts. I know sometimes we have to put aside ideas that aren’t working, but if you feel like an idea is really worth fighting for, keep your eyes open for sources of inspiration and keep writing more drafts!
Daniel: Work on your craft some each day. Make it a habit. I’ve tried to do at least twenty minutes of art making I’m not required to do or paid to do each day for years. It has been a great time to just check in on myself and see what I’m interested in and when a new project or idea comes along my hands seem to be ready to make.
Thank you both so much for the opportunity to chat about this incredible book. Many congrats again!
And thank YOU, kidlit fam for participating with us with your readership and time. As an additional thank you for reading this interview, Anne has graciously set aside a copy of Nell Plants a Tree to be personalized for one winner! To toss your name into the raffle hat, check out details below!
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***The deadline for this contest is Wednesday, March 8th at 9 AM CST
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About the Author: Anne Wynter
Anne Wynter is the Ezra Jack Keats Honor-winning author of Everybody in the Red Brick Building, illustrated by Oge Mora, as well as the board books One Big Day and Hands On!, both illustrated by Alea Marley. Her next book – Nell Plants a Tree, illustrated by Daniel Miyares – will be out in early 2023.
Her book Everybody in the Red Brick Building was named an Ezra Jack Keats Award Honoree, a Kids’ Indie Next pick, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, a Boston Globe Best Book of 2021, and a Booklist 2021 Editors’ Choice Book – among other honors.
Originally from Houston, Anne earned a degree in theatre from Washington University in St. Louis and penned a number of short plays that have been produced around the country. She lives in Austin, TX with her family. Anne's Website
About the Illustrator: Daniel Miyares
Daniel Miyares is a critically acclaimed picture book author and illustrator. Some of his books include: Float, Night Out, That is My Dream, and Bring Me A Rock!. Daniel has been called “…a master of visual storytelling.”- Jody Hewston, Kinderlit, and “…enchanting, versatile” – The New York Times. He believes that our stories have the power to connect us all. Daniel’s story currently takes place in Lenexa, KS with his wife, their two wonderful children, and a dog named Violet that gives them all a run for their money.
Some of his partners have included: Schwartz & Wade Books, Chronicle Books, Candlewick Press, Simon & Schuster BFYR, Nancy Paulsen Books, FSG (BYR), North/South Books, Charlesbridge Publishing, The NY Times Daniel's Website
QUOTED: "Not only is it nice to a see a boy doing the party-planning, but it's good to see a child being a fusspot in a low-stakes situation."
WYNTER, Anne. Patrick and the Not So Perfect Party. illus. by Shirley Hottier. 40p. little bee. Jun. 2024. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9781499814460.
Gr 1-2--Patrick is a young perfectionist who loves to cook and plan parties. To celebrate his birthday, Patrick wants to create a perfect event and asks his brother Russ to type the invitations, encouraging his friends to dress up as their favorite food, flnfortunately, his brother makes a mistake on the invitations, and his friends all arrive as their favorite foot. What turns out to be a merry mix-up, instead causes Patrick a great deal of dismay, leading him to tell his parents that his favorite thing about the party1 is when it is over. In a tightly paced text and borne out in scene after scene, over the next year, Patrick plans the perfect tea party for his next birthday, encouraging his friends to wear the perfect hats. Although he triple checks his invitations to be sure there are no mistakes, somehow his friends arrive wearing their favorite cats. Vibrant illustrations provide a festive atmosphere throughout the story and comically illustrate Patrick's ensuing frustration at the chaos caused by the miscommunications. It is unclear whether or not Patrick learns to embrace the less-than-perfect situations that arise, but it just goes to show, the best laid plans do not always go our way, and that message may resonate for conscientious young perfectionists. Patrick and his family have dark skin in various shades. VERDICT Not only is it nice to a see a boy doing the party-planning, but it's good to see a child being a fusspot in a low-stakes situation, since that's where almost all childhood disappointments start. Recommended only' for larger collections.--Jessica Marie
KEY: * Excellent in relation to other titles on the same subject or in the same genre | Tr Hardcover trade binding | Board Board book | pap. Paperback | BL Bilingual | SP Spanish
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Marie, Jessica. "WYNTER, Anne. Patrick and the Not So Perfect Party." School Library Journal, vol. 70, no. 6, June 2024, p. 72. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A798594623/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=1495732d. Accessed 11 Sept. 2024.
QUOTED: "maybe not a perfect party, but a perfectly entertaining read; no special invitation needed."
Wynter, Anne PATRICK AND THE NOT SO PERFECT PARTY Little Bee Books (Children's None) $18.99 6, 11 ISBN: 9781499814460
A young boy with perfectionist tendencies throws a birthday party.
Patrick loves cooking; he's meticulous in his slicing and dicing, and the meals he whips up for his parents and his brother, Russ, meet with lip-smacking approval. He's just as careful with his preparations for his upcoming birthday party. Patrick gets precisely the decorations and party menu he wants, and Russ types up the invitations as Patrick dictates: Guests are requested to dress as their favorite food. But Patrick's bewildered when nobody shows up to the party in food garb. Uh-oh. Instead of "favorite food," Russ typed "favorite foot." No wonder guests came as socks, skates, and "sparkly toenails." For Patrick, the best part of the party is when it finally ends. Afterward, Dad compliments the tea Patrick blended; over the next year, Patrick lovingly works on the perfect pot of tea. Next year's party theme? A tea party! Guests are invited "to wear a fancy hat." Will they? Hint: Russ makes another typo. Children will laugh over the hilarious ending; indeed, they'll giggle their way through this uproarious book--and perhaps realize that learning to be a bit flexible can be a lot of fun. The colorful illustrations are a dynamic hoot, and the costumes will spark great ideas. Plump, curly-haired Patrick and his family are brown-skinned; note his spiffy green-and-yellow-striped eyeglasses. Guests are racially diverse; one uses a wheelchair.
Maybe not a perfect party, but a perfectly entertaining read; no special invitation needed. (Picture book. 5-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Wynter, Anne: PATRICK AND THE NOT SO PERFECT PARTY." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Apr. 2024, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A789814816/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=86a559c7. Accessed 11 Sept. 2024.
QUOTED: "Generations of readers will be inspired by this sweet story to plant seeds of their own."
Nell Plants a Tree
By Anne Wynter
Illustrated by Daniel Miyares
Run away to Granny's house, where the fields are vast and the pecan tree is old and tall and perfect for climbing. But before we can do that, a girl named Nell must bury a seed in a pot. Before we can find out how high we can climb in that pecan tree, Nell must water a sprout. Before we can discover "a nest filled with eggs" and witness "three chicks hatching free," Nell must ensure that her potted seedling gets plenty of sunlight. And before we can find treasures ("a long strip of bark / and a shell /and a stone / and a leaf flecked with holes"), Nell must plant her tree in the ground.
In Nell Plants a Tree (Balzer + Bray, $17.99, 9780062865779), author Anne Wynter draws on many of the techniques that made her debut picture book, Everyone in the Red Brick Building, so successful. She leverages her eye for detail to highlight the loveliest moments of a child's day spent playing in a field, finding the ideal spot for reading at Granny's house and baking a delicious pie with the tree's pecans. Wynter's prose is spare, lighting like a little blue bird on the moments that matter, and it combines with Daniel Miyares' recognizable ink and gouache artwork to skillfully elicit the feel of a lazy summer day.
Wynter's text travels back and forth in time, as do Miyares' illustrations. We see, for instance, Granny pouring lemonade for her grandchildren as they all gather on her porch, then we turn the page and find a young Nell giving her sprout a drink from a metal watering can. Nell's and Granny's dresses are similar shades of yellow, offering a hint that the young girl and the grandmother are the same person. This becomes clear as Nell's tree grows along with her, her children and then her grandchildren.
Text and image couldn't be better paired than they are here. The concept underlying Nell Plants a Tree is a tricky one that would be difficult for any writer and illustrator to pull off, yet Wynter and Miyares succeed handily. Generations of readers will be inspired by this sweet story to plant seeds of their own.
--Lisa Bubert
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 BookPage
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Bubert, Lisa. "Nell Plants a Tree." BookPage, vol. 00, no. 00, Feb. 2023, p. 29. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A732359621/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=836c02a2. Accessed 11 Sept. 2024.
QUOTED: "Wynter's text sings with the economy and elegance of a poem."
Nell Plants a Tree
by Anne Wynter; illus. by Daniel Miyares
Preschool, Primary Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins 40 pp.
1/23 9780062865779 $17.99
Wynter (Everybody in the Red Brick Building, rev. 11/21) presents a loving brown-skinned family through the generations in a story that explores, by providing glimpses into the past, how long it takes a tree to grow. In the opening spreads, we see children in the present day figuring out "how high they can climb" in the branches of a tall tree. But before that can happen, a girl (in the past) named Nell must pick up a seed, tend it, and bury its sprout. The children can only play in the tree's cool shade because Nell watered the soil; and so on. Miyares establishes two visual timelines: present-day with elderly Nell and one that is generations past with Nell as a girl. Viewers see the ways in which the characters in the present reap the rewards of a splendid pecan tree (e.g., Nell baking a pecan pie with her grandchildren) and regularly pause to look backward to see young Nell attentively nurturing the tree. Palette choices aid readers with the timeline and the cast of characters: the old and young versions of Nell wear a mustard-colored dress. Wynter's text sings with the economy and elegance of a poem, and specificities delight ("a leaf flecked with holes"). Miyaress (Night Walk to the Sea, rev. 9/21) illustrations, which capture light especially well, reflect the wonder of family, friends, the outdoors--and the magnificence of a tree that began when "Nell picks up a seed."
* indicates a book that the editors believe to be an outstanding example of its genre, of books of this particular publishing season, or of the author's body of work. Please visit hbook.com and hornbookguide.com for expanded review coverage, including additional titles and themed booklists.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Sources, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Danielson, Julie. "Nell Plants a Tree." The Horn Book Magazine, vol. 99, no. 1, Jan.-Feb. 2023, pp. 71+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A735604677/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=a6668295. Accessed 11 Sept. 2024.
QUOTED: "The subtle diversity, urban setting, and universality of theme make this an excellent addition to bedtime bookshelves everywhere."
Everybody in the Red Brick Building
by Anne Wynter; illus. by Oge Mora
Preschool Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins 32 pp. g
10/21 978-0-06-286576-2 $17.99
On a clear, starry night, everybody in a red brick apartment building is sound asleep. That is, until Baby Izzie sits up in her crib and starts to cry, "WaaaAAH!!" This sets off a chain reaction in which other residents are roused from their slumber and create noises of their own. Young Rayhan gets out of bed to check on his parrot, who calls out, "RraaK! Wake UP!" In another apartment, three boys awaken and initiate a game of flashlight tag, including the requisite "Pitter, Patter, STOMP!" Before long the whole building is astir. The perspective pulls back to reveal the exterior of the building as a cat jumps down from her perch in a window and leaps onto a car, setting off an alarm, "WEEYOOOWEEEEYOOOOO!!!!" It takes a while, but bit by bit everyone settles down to the familiar "shhhhshhhhshhhh" of the street sweeper and goes back to sleep. Even Baby Izzie dozes off in her mama's arms as the charming child-centric story comes full circle. Mora's (Saturday, rev. 10/19) dynamic, richly colored collage art reinforces the warm, cozy scenes and adds depth, texture, and vitality to the pages. The subtle diversity, urban setting, and universality of theme make this an excellent addition to bedtime bookshelves everywhere.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Sources, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.hbook.com/magazine/default.asp
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Toth, Luann. "Everybody in the Red Brick Building." The Horn Book Magazine, vol. 97, no. 6, Nov.-Dec. 2021, pp. 90+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A682425282/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=f8b79ed7. Accessed 11 Sept. 2024.
QUOTED: "a sound-evocative tour de force."
Everybody in the Red Brick Building. By Anne Wynter. Illus. by Oge Mora. Oct. 2021.32p. HarperCollins/Balzer+Bray, $17.99 (9780062865762). PreS-Gr. 1.
Sounds rise to a crescendo and then descend into quiet in this rollicking roller coaster of a book. Like "The House That Jack Built," this is a cumulative tale, but the lines that repeat on each page are about noises, not objects. The setting is a three-story red-brick building. It's night, rendered in thick, van Gogh-like blue-black swoops. A baby wakes up with a "WaaaAAH!" The cry causes a parrot to let out a "RraaK! Wake up!" Three boys having a sleepover, now wide awake, pitter-patter and stomp around. A girl releases her rocket out the window ("Pssheew!"). A cat asleep in a window box leaps onto a police car, setting off its screaming siren. Caldecott Honor Book author-illustrator Mora uses her trademark collage illustrations to spectacular effect, with rising and falling lettering mimicking sounds, along with lots of yellow bands of light and moving characters that heighten interest. The peak of the cacophony is reached with all the noises shown and all the lights on in the house, until the adults start quieting the baby, the boys, the rocket girl--and the sounds subside to small ones, ending with the baby listening to the pah-poom pah-poom pah-poom of the mothers heart. A sound-evocative tour de force.--Connie Fletcher
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
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Fletcher, Connie. "Everybody in the Red Brick Building." Booklist, vol. 118, no. 3, 1 Oct. 2021, pp. 71+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A695507223/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=b27626c4. Accessed 11 Sept. 2024.