Our own wordplay warrior, Julie Hedlund, gave a stupendous workshop encouraging us to have fun with our writing by turning it into play. Today, we share a snippet of that presentation where Julie reveals what wordplay is, where it can be used effectively, and how to use it to make your audience feel smart.

Remember, you can purchase lifetime access to any past Summit Superstar Presentation or Workshop, including this one, at picturebooksummit.freshlearn.com.

Join the Picture Book Summit Team as we celebrate this year's crop of Caldecott Winners and Honorees. We have so much to say that it can't be contained in one episode! Today, we analyze OUR LAKE, written and illustrated by Angie Kang, and EVERY MONDAY MABEL, written and illustrated by Jashar Awan.

Plus, we discuss commonalities in all of this year's Caldecott books, what we loved and observed about these books, and while picture books look easy, these are particular ones are so layered and full of nuance. From thoughtful and beautiful to funny and relatable, we hope this conversation inspires you to do some creating of your own.

Books mentioned in this episode:

• OUR LAKE written and illustrated by Angie Kang
• EVERY MONDAY MABEL by Jashar Awan

Find all of this year's Caldecott books in the Picture Book Summit Bookshop!

How are Caldecott books chosen each year? Check out Emma's video explanation here.

We talked about Katie's awesome Summit presentation on picture book endings. Podcast listeners can get 25% off! Use code PODCAST at this link: https://picturebooksummit.freshlearn.com/endings.

To celebrate our 10th Anniversary Picture Book Summit, we hosted returning Superstar Speakers Jon Klassen and Mac Barnett to talk about how they construct picture books together. You will be fascinated by the details behind one of their seemingly simple stories. (You might also leave with a greater appreciation of 8-bit video games.)

Enjoy this insight into their partnership, how they think, and how they play off one another's work.

Remember, you can purchase lifetime access to any past Summit Superstar Presentation or Workshop, including this one at picturebooksummit.freshlearn.com.

Who needs feedback on their picture book manuscripts? You do! (Don't worry. We do too!) In fact, every writer needs good critiques of their work before it's ready for publication.

So, what kind of feedback are you looking for and where can you get it? Emma Walton Hamilton, Julie Hedlund, Katie Davis, and Kelli Panique share their best advice on getting feedback that will actually make your writing stronger.

What does it mean to be a part of the writing community? How can you be a good literary citizen within the writing community?

In this episode, Emma Walton Hamilton, Julie Hedlund, Katie Davis, and Kelli Panique share easy ways you can support your fellow writers and illustrators, as well as booksellers and libraries. (Guess what? Many of these suggestions are free things you can do help get the word out about books and support the reading, writing, and literacy communities.)

What will you do to be a good literary citizen in your neighborhood and online?

When National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Meg Medina joined the Picture Book Summit, she discussed the three Rs of picture book writing: Readers, Relationship, and Revision. Today, Meg shares about what it means to write for young readers and what matters to them by exploring the genesis of her own books. She even provides a fun writing exercise to get us started on our own stories.

Book mentioned in this episode:

• Tia Isa Wants a Car by Meg Medina and Claudia Munoz
• Mango, Abuela, and Me by Meg Medina and Angela Dominguez
• Evelyn Del Rey is Moving Away by Meg Medina and Sonia Sánchez

At no additional cost to you, Picture Book Summit may earn a small commission on books purchased through the links above.

What makes a great picture book? Artistic duo The Steads share their approach to picture books and how something seemingly so simple actually takes a lot of work, nuance, and collaboration.

Philip C. Stead and Erin E. Stead are the author and illustrator of the Caldecott Medal Book A Sick Day for Amos McGee. They have collaborated on many books together, including Bear Has a Story to Tell, Lenny & Lucy, Music for Mister Moon, and The Sun Is Late and So Is the Farmer. Philip and Erin create their books in the hayloft of an old barn at the edge of the world.

Time is running out! Get your ticket to Saturday's online Picture Book Summit today!

www.picturebooksummit.com