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Frozen Peaches: Author Interview + Giveaway

By on April 21, 2023   /   Articles, Author Interviews  

Frozen Peaches

Scrolling through Twitter, I saw the cover of Frozen Peaches with the sled dogs and ice castle. I had to read it! I was fortunate enough to get a chance to interview the author, Erin Soderberg Downing. Read on for a chance to enter the giveaway for a copy of the book.

Erin Soderberg Downing — Interview

About the Book

Hi Erin! Thank you for sharing the latest book in The Great Peach Experiment series: Frozen Peaches with me (and such a clever and fitting title!). Congratulations on its recent release. Can you give us a short summary about the book?

Sure! The third Peach adventure opens with Freddy Peach’s announcement that he’s been testing his family’s recent good-luck streak by entering them in a series of sweepstakes, and they’ve actually won a few of them! One prize they win is….a year’s worth of free yogurt! But the other sweepstakes win has earned the Peaches…a free trip to the Icehotel in Sweden, where the Peaches will get to learn about running a tourist hotel from the best of the best! When they arrive, they discover that they are one of several hotel-owning families who have won, and while they’re at the Icehotel they’ll have the chance to compete in a series of competitions (dogsledding, ice carving, sled racing) to try to win the title of FROZEN BEST!

 

Who would especially enjoy this book?

Any kids (or adults!) who love stories with a lot of action, humor, and fun settings (I love when a book can transport you somewhere wonderful, even from the comfort and warmth of your own bed).

 

About the Author: Erin Soderberg Downing

Path to Publication

What was your path to becoming an author? Any other interesting jobs you have had?

When I was a kid, I actually didn’t really like writing and never would have imagined I’d write a book (let alone almost 100 of them!) someday. But I was a big reader as a kid, which is what led me to get a job as a children’s book editor at Scholastic when I graduated from college. It was in this job that I learned what makes a great book, and I figured out how much fun it can be to put a story together. After I left that job, I realized I missed creating stories…and that’s when I started writing for fun and with an eye toward publication. I have also worked as a rollerblading waitress, a tour guide on a boat in Duluth, MN, at several coffee shops, as a marketing person at Nickelodeon, and I worked in “snack innovation” for a short time at Pepperidge Farm. I’ve met a lot of interesting characters over the years!

Influences

What authors (and/or books) would you say influenced your writing style?

My favorite series growing up were the Ramona series (Beverly Cleary), the Fudge series (Judy Blume), and the Baby-sitter’s Club series (Ann M. Martin). I loved these series for their humor, but also for the powerful connections and relationships between characters in the stories. I have always been a huge fan of series, both as a reader and a writer, because every time you open up a new book in a series it’s like opening the door to a whole house full of friends – you’ve already met, and can get right into the good part of the story!

My more recent favorite series include the Penderwicks (which I read aloud to my kids when they were in elementary school) and the Vanderbeekers series—and I’ve taken a lot of inspiration from both for The Great Peach Experiment series.

 

Which of the Peach children would you say you were most like growing up?

Definitely Lucy – I was pretty responsible and mature (I’m an only child) and I loved reading.

 

What is something from your childhood that you snuck into the book?

I stole my best friend’s Sarah’s house to use as inspiration for The Peach Pit, including her closet with a secret reading/fort nook tucked up into a corner!

 

Research/Writing

How the Book/Series Came to Be

How did The Great Peach Experiment series come about?

I was inspired to start thinking about this series after my family’s road trip in an RV. My kids kept begging me to buy a scratch off lottery ticket at every gas station we stopped at and when I finally caved, I made them play a game with me – what would you do if we actually won? What if you suddenly had a million bucks…how would you spend it? And I rolled on from there!

And how did you get the idea for the premise for this book in the series, Frozen Peaches?

After visiting the Swedish Icehotel for real about twenty years ago, I knew someday I would want to use that setting for a book I wrote someday. I’ve been saving this truly special setting for a truly special book ever since. Before I’d even finished writing the first book in the Great Peach Experiment series, I knew this was the perfect family to send on an adventure to this frozen wonderland!

I know that you lived in Sweden for a year, so you already had a lot of background knowledge to set a book there. What research did you still end up having to do?

The best research I got to do for this book was to try dogsledding! I didn’t know anything about that sport, and knew I had to at least have some fundamentals in order to write the dogsledding scenes. So my family and I booked a dogsledding adventure on Minnesota’s North Shore, and got to spend a day learning about harnessing, caring for, and guiding dogs through the woods!

 

Writing Tip!

Can you share any tips for writing a series?

The most important thing I do when I know I’m planning out a series is to keep a running series bible from the very beginning. Eye color, favorite stuffed animals, fears, room color, best friend names – you don’t realize how many things get casually mentioned in a book, and then you forget about them a few books later! So I keep a series bible where I note any details about characters that I include at any point in my stories.

 

For Teachers

Curriculum Guide

Do you have a curriculum guide or discussion questions posted online?

Yes! Pixel + Ink created both an educator guide and a Peach Family Recipe book! Check it out: https://holidayhouse.com/site/pixel-ink/?book=the-great-peach-experiment-1-when-life-gives-you-lemons-make-peach-pie 

 

School Visits

Are you doing school visits related to this book?

I absolutely love doing school visits – it’s the best part of my job! I’ve been lucky enough to visit a ton of schools this past year to talk about the “ingredients” I use when I create my stories, as well as the recipe I follow when I’m writing. I’ve been to many schools in Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, Texas, New Hampshire, New York, and many others via Zoom! I have so many new releases between 2021-2024 that my school visits are extra exciting right now. There’s more info for me to share during each visit than I have time for, which keeps things interesting for me, too!

 

How can we learn more about you?

I have a ton of info and details about my books, the research I’ve done, my family/dogs/favorite things, and author visits on my website – www.erinsoderberg.com

Thanks for your time, Erin!

Erin will be giving a copy of Frozen Peaches to a lucky reader. Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a copy. (U.S. addresses only)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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STEM Tuesday– Architecture– Writing Tips & Resources

By on April 18, 2023   /   Architecture, STEM Tuesday  

What do you see when you picture an architect? They might be sketching building plans using rulers, protractors, and pencils. Or they might have finished their design and now have their plans rolled up and tucked under their arm. Are they making a model of their building projects? Long before the construction process begins, architects are busy planning and designing what the finished building will look like. And it often takes a lot of trial and error.

This is an image or an architect's building plan

Writers also spend a lot of time planning and designing their work. As part of the process, they decide what structure their writing will take. Will the writing be a narrative with a main character, setting, and conflict? Is it a “how to,” which uses a sequential, step-by-step structure?  Or does this piece of writing have description structure? Like creating a building plan, choosing writing structure is full of trial and error and experimentation.

Let’s look at some of this month’s books from the Architecture Book List to see how authors have structured their writing.

Narratives

Narratives focus on a main character and follow a chronological structure. This month’s book list features several narratives, including MAYA LIN: THINKING WITH HER HANDS by Susan Goldman Rubin. The first chapter begins with May Lin’s birth, and each chapter traces her projects in chronological order, ending with her “What is Missing?” project – her latest. Along the way, Lin encounters obstacles as she struggles to achieve her dreams. If you look at other biographies of architects from the book list, you’ll see a similar pattern.

Narratives frequently use the “story spine” popularized by Pixar to organize them. The story spine starts with “Once upon a time…” introducing the main character and their world before the inciting incident, the moment everything changes. And it ends with “the moral of the story is…” which shows what the main character learned from their journey. Writers can use the story spine to both preplan and revise their narratives.  You can learn more about the elements of the story spine here.

How To (Step-by-Step Structure)

ADVENTURES IN ACHITECTURE FOR KIDS by Vicky Chan uses a “how to” structure. If you’ve ever cooked or baked using a recipe, you’ve encountered how to structure before. How to books give step-by-step instructions for doing or making something. They may include a list of ingredients or materials. Then the steps are in the exact order they need to be completed. If you choose this structure, think about what the reader must do first, second, third, and so on. Your writing will probably even include those words as cues.

Expository Books (Description structure)

In expository books, authors describe or explain something to the reader. Since the ideas are not necessarily presented chronologically or step-by-step, writers have to organize their ideas in a logical way that readers will understand. In HOW WAS THAT BUILT? Author Roma Agarwal describes how various structures are built from the bottom up – literally. The first chapter, “Building Flat,” focuses on foundations, the bottom of the building. Chapter Two is “How to Build Tall,” focusing on the framework for building skyscrapers like beams and columns and the machines used to do so. “How to Build Long” focuses on bridge-building, “How to Build a Dome” describes dome construction, etc.

In description text structure, a writer’s chapter headings and subheadings can reveal their plan.  For example, in Nancy Castaldo’s BUILDING’S THAT BREATHE, the first subheading in chapter one is “city life” where she explains the problems of city living, including pollution and traffic creating carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming. This comes immediately after the opening hook, which describes a treescraper designed by Stefano Boeri.

Next up is the subheading “planning for change.” There she explains how scientists, planners, and architects met in 2018 to discuss the urban greening idea and how architect Stefano Boeri focused on trees. In “why trees?” she covers why trees are an ideal source for greening designs. “Is there a downside?” explores issues like allergies and other drawbacks from greening cities. The final subsection “The Green Builders” explains more types of green building. Then Castaldo moves to the history of green building in the next chapter. 

Throughout the book, Castaldo’s ideas unfold logically, giving the reader just the information they need at just the right time, as if anticipating reader’s questions. She also builds upon what readers already know and what have learned previously in the book.

Look at other expository books in this month’s book list, like WILD BUILDINGS AND BRIDGES by Etta Kaner, illus. Carl Wiens to see how other writers have used description structure their writing.

Your turn

What’s the best structure for your writing? There’s no right or wrong answer. Remember, writers don’t always see their structure from the start. Sometimes it just takes rolling up your sleeves and jumping in, drawing and erasing your plan, just like an architect. You can use this month’s books as your mentor texts.

For an overview of text structures, see this handout from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

About the blogger—–

Kirsten W. Larson used to work with rocket scientists at NASA. Now she writes books for curious kids. Kirsten is the author of the picture books: WOOD, WIRE, WINGS: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane, illustrated by Tracy Subisak (Calkins Creek, 2020), A TRUE WONDER: The Comic Book Hero Who Changed Everything, illustrated by Katy Wu (Clarion, 2021), THE FIRE OF STARS: The Life and Brilliance of the Woman Who Discovered What Stars Are Made Of, illustrated by Katherine Roy (Chronicle, February 2023), and THIS IS HOW YOU KNOW, illustrated by Cornelia Li (Little, Brown 2024). She also is the author of the middle grade, graphic nonfiction, THE LIGHT OF RESISTANCE, illustrated by Barbara McClintock, (Roaring Brook, 2023), along with 25 nonfiction books for the school and library market. Kirsten lives near Los Angeles with her husband, lhasa-poo, and two curious kids. Learn more at kirstenwlarson.com.

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News From the CBC

By on April 16, 2023   /   Oh MG News  
Middle Grade Authors

The mission of the Children’s Book Council (CBC) is to support the children’s publishing industry by connecting publishing professionals and creators with young readers. And they find a lot of ways to fulfill that mission. Take a look at some of the things the CBC is doing in the world of children’s books.

The CBC Diversity Initiative

White box, rainbow stripe, CBC Diversity

Founded in 2012, the CBC Diversity Initiative advocates for an inclusive and representative children’s publishing industry. The initiative is rooted in the belief that ALL children should see themselves and their worlds reflected in books. 

As part of this initiative, the CBC champions diverse book creators and their books, and they create and maintain diverse reading resource lists that can be used by teachers, librarians, booksellers, and parents.

The #FReadom Movement

Letters to color in spelling #FReadom

The CBC actively supports #FReadom. This movement was launched by Texas librarians in 2021 as a way to combat book bannings. #FReadom resources are intended to highlight the positive impact of intellectual freedom, celebrate school libraries and librarians, and draw attention to the need to make diverse books available to young readers.

The CBC has made available six different coloring pages to support the #FReadom movement. Download the free coloring pages here. 

Children’s Book Week

Blue background, green and black book running gleefully, text "Read books. Spark change."

As part of their Every Child a Reader program, the CBC designates two separate weeks during the year to celebrate the joy of reading. Established in 1919, this is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country. This year, Children’s Book Week will be celebrated May 1-7 and again November 6-12. 

This year’s theme for Children’s Book Week is Read Books. Spark change. You can download printable resources, including the free poster created by Rilla Alexander that speaks to the power of books and stories to inspire positive change.

Partnering with SLJGraphic illustrated, gray background, colorful characters, rainbow stream

In 2022, the CBC partnered with School Library Journal (SLJ) to create two posters celebrating the freedom to read. First, they worked with Penguin Random House and artist Rafael Lopex to create the “Open Books, Open Doors” poster to promote free expression and access to diverse books. You can download Lopez’s poster for free.

Next, they worked with artist Chan Chau to produce a poster themed “Imagining a world with you.”  The poster celebrates LGBTQIA+ children and teens, and it was showcased and made widely available by multiple organizations, including the CBC. You can download a copy of Chau’s poster for free.

Banned Books Week

Red book cover by yellow tape, text "Banned Books Week"

The CBC also partners with the American Library Association (ALA) to support and promote Banned Books Week. Launched in 1982, this annual observance has become more relevant now than ever. This year, Banned Books Week will be observed October 1-7. Mark your calendars!

Free downloads and information from last year’s Banned Books Week observance are still available on ALA’s website. While there, you can also find “Social Shareables” to show your support on multiple social media platforms.

Learn more about the Children’s Book Council and all their initiatives to promote free access to books and celebrate the power and wonder of books for young readers by visiting cbcbooks.org.

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