Susan Hughes's Blog

Hi all,

I'm so delighted that my newest informational picture book is now in the world. SAME HERE: THE DIFFERENCES WE SHARE (illus by Sophie Casson, pub'd by Owl Kids), a 64-page picture book, explores how kids around the world live and the common needs that unite them.

It took several years for me to find a publisher, and the shaping and editing of the text took several more years. The artist came on board, and more tweaking of the text was needed. All in all, the book was 12 years in the making!!

So I'm especially thrilled to see how beautifully it turned out and yay--it's finally available for everyone to read!

I hope you'll get a chance to have a peek.

All the best and happy writing and reading,
Susan

Same Here!: The Differences We Share

My newest board book is almost here!

UPSY-DAISY, BABY! illus by Ashley Barron (Owl Kids, Sept 15, 2019) is "a celebration of baby love as it's carried out all over the world" (Kirkus). We know you and your little ones will love it!

Upsy-Daisy, Baby! How Families Around the World Carry Their Little Ones

Join me at the Jane's Walk Community Birthday Party in Ottawa-Gatineau on May 4!

I'll be reading my picture book biography Walking in the City with Jane: A Story of Jane Jacobs to help celebrate what would have been the 103rd birthday of urban activist Jane Jacobs. And yes, there will be colouring AND birthday cake!

More information:
<"www.eventbrite.com/e/janes-walk-commu...

"We're thrilled to welcome both Susan and Carey to Open Book today as this important book is published. For our newest interview series, Going Pros & Cons, we talk to creators about the publishing experience, their favourite moments, strangest surprises, and biggest frustrations."

http://open-book.ca/News/Author-Illus...

What Happens Next Book Launch – Saturday, March 3 at 2PM - Queen Books, 914 Queen Street East, Toronto

Join us for the launch of “What Happens Next”, a brand new picture book from Toronto’s very own Susan Hughes and Carey Sookocheff from Owlkids!

“What Happens Next” is a raw, realistic story told by an unnamed protagonist who is made to feel different from everybody else—even invisible sometimes. Bullied by a girl at school, our narrator gives a terse script of the related facts (What Her Friends Do: Laugh. What Everyone Else Does: Nothing.) and emotions (How I Feel Sometimes: Bad. Really Bad.).

The narrator takes these hurt feelings home, where Mom listens and offers some ideas. At school the next day, the child confronts the bully by turning a “weirdo” fascination with science into an opportunity to find common ground, and maybe help the bully see the world in a new way.

SUSAN HUGHES is the author of over 30 children’s books, including Up! How Families Around the World Carry their Little Ones, Off to Class, and Making Canada Home. She is a freelance editor and story coach. She lives with her family in Toronto, Ontario. Find out more about Susan and her books at www.susanhughes.ca.

CAREY SOOKOCHEFF is the illustrator of the critically acclaimed Buddy and Earl series, and the author/illustrator of Solutions for Cold Feet and Other Little Problems and Wet. She has worked with a wide range of editorial, design and corporate clients. She lives in Toronto with her husband, two kids, and their dog.

Admission is free, and we’ll have some light refreshments!

Find out more about the book here: http://owlkids.com/whathappensnext/

https://www.facebook.com/events/72690...

http://queenbooks.ca/2018/02/24/what-...

Welcome to autumn and the return of my Kid Can lit blog! Because to me, September is a time to look forward to new beginnings, especially new writing projects, I decided to chat with some of the amazing editors which help make it all happen in the publishing world of children’s books. So please say hello to Patricia Ocampo of Simon and Schuster, Jennifer Stokes of Kids Can Press, and Sarah Harvey of Orca. I know you’ll find their insights into publishing helpful and their enthusiasm for kid lit contagious.

http://open-book.ca/Columnists/Chatti...

Today I continue my chat with four terrific middle-grade novel authors. They’ll share more about their writing process, their aspirations for their writing -- and even reveal something … well, something they don’t really want us to know!

Welcome back and thank you to Shari Green, Joanne Levy, Marina Cohen, and Deborah Kerbel. ...

http://open-book.ca/Columnists/Kid-Li...

Happy 2017! This month and next, I’m spotlighting middle-grade (MG) novels -- stories written for readers who are generally within the 7 to 12-year-old age range.

I’ve written one MG novel (Island Horse), I’m working on a new one, and I’ve critiqued dozens of them. Why do I love MG so much?

http://open-book.ca/Columnists/Kid-Li...

I recently was a guest on Deborah Kalb's blog and enjoyed answering her questions about writing picture books and other genres. Read her Q and A here: <"http://deborahkalbbooks.blogspot.ca/2...

http://open-book.ca/Columnists/New-Fa...