Public Service Announcement #22
libraries are havens + picture book class in May + festival of books + DIY writing retreat
PSA: Libraries are Havens campaign
I’ve been spending a lot of time the last three months on a precious project with the children’s book creator collective Story Sunbirds. Our“Libraries are Havens” endeavor partners with IBBY, the International Board on Books for Young People. IBBY has many sections for writers and artists, as well as libraries for children, all over the world.
Two of those libraries, IBBY Palestine, were established in Gaza in 2008—they’ve been second homes for children ever since.
As of 2024, both libraries have been bombed. One is completely destroyed. The other is severely damaged. Everyone connected to the libraries is struggling to get food, water, clothing, and daily essentials for survival. So now, the children have lost both: their homes and their library.
The Story Sunbirds and IBBY are partnering to raise money for a LIBRARIES ARE HAVENS campaign to try to help deliver aid to the librarians, kids, and communities.
The last photos are of children doing library activities with one of the librarians now while displaced.
Please give if you are able or share. All the details, information, and donation portal are at IBBY.
This is our neat resource doc for download with meaningful activities to do with kids! And this is a video about the libraries featuring one of the librarian’s daughters.
The artwork for this campaign was created by Yasuko Toda.
Two weeks away: picture book class with writer’s digest!
Starting on May 15th, you’re invited to join my 6-week, self-paced class at Writer’s Digest University all about picture books! Videos, examples, YOUR manuscript-related writing activities with feedback, interactive office hours, + I offer a general critique to each student on their PB manuscript at the close.
Writing and Revising Your Picture Book: From Concept to Polished Project
Starts May 15! Info here!
This course will help you understand the “why,” “how,” and “what” of your story and develop a plan for next steps. As a picture book teacher, editor, and one-on-one mentor, my approach has been described as: “energizing, encouraging, productive, straightforward, fun, and confidence-building.” Please sign up if this interests you!
I really love this class and hope it might be a fit for you or a friend.
LA Times Festival of Books
It was super buoying to see the Festival of Books so crowded here in LA over the weekend and super sweet to have folks come say hi. Thanks to Arvida Book Co for having me—and so happy to get acquainted with the owner of Lido Village Books who’ll be carrying To Make as well!
Picked up one special picture book at the Haymarket booth: PRISONS MUST FALL written by Mariame Kaba and Jane Ball, illustrated by Olly Costello.
DIY writing retreat with a buddy in Topanga Canyon
Took five whole days away to focus on writing, reading, hiking, and sharing work (and everything else) with a dear soul. We hiked in the morning, wrote in our separate spaces during the day—with one hour of designated reading time—, then met up for readings and dinner at her place or out. What a gift to be away from the usual and change my too-speedy pace for a few days to dig in and…finish a big-leap project! (One more read-through this weekend, and that’s a wrap on this revision draft.)
Thank you for spending this time with me and for reading! I hope it served you as moments well spent. And please do tell a friend, leave a comment, or stay tuned for the next PSA from Danielle Davis.