Kid Authors

Funny and totally true childhood biographies and full-color illustrations tell the tales from the challenging yet defining growing-up years of J. K. Rowling, Beverly Cleary, J. R. R. Tolkien, and 12 other great writers. Every great author started out as a kid. Before the best sellers, fan clubs, and beloved stories we know today, the world's most celebrated writers had regular-kid problems just like you. Sam Clemens (aka Mark Twain) loved to skip school and make mischief, with his best friend Tom, of course! A young J. R. R. Tolkien was bitten by a huge tarantula—or as he called it, “a spider as big as a dragon.” Toddler Zora Neale Hurston took her first steps when a wild hog entered her house and started chasing her! Kid Authors tells their stories and more—the diverse and inclusive cast that includes Roald Dahl, Beverly Cleary, J. K. Rowling, Jules Verne, Lewis Carroll, Stan Lee—through kid-friendly texts and full-color cartoon illustrations on nearly every page.

Funny and totally true childhood biographies and full-color illustrations tell the tales from the challenging yet defining growing-up years of great writers, artists, athletes, and presidents.

Packed full of inspirational articles from successful writers, illustrators and publishing experts, the Children's Writers' & Artists' Yearbook once again serves up the best independent advice to writers for children of all ages. Covering all aspects of the publishing process, across the full range of formats and genres, it will appeal to self-published writers as well as those seeking an agent-publisher or crowdfunded deal. Inside are up-to-date contact details for literary agents, publishers, prizes and grant-giving bodies, societies and creative organisations that support writers and illustrators. Universally recognised as the first port of call for all writers wanting to improve their work and their chances of getting published, this Yearbook contains an 'impressive raft of advice and notes on every aspect of the business' (Quentin Blake).

The Kid is the quickest draw in the West. Little does anyone know he isn’t real. A fast-paced, cleverly woven, witty middle grade western adventure. It's 1881 in Destiny, Colorado. Fourteen-year-old Henry Upton’s parents have died, and he’s trying to keep his three younger brothers together on the farm. Henry writes a story about The Kid, the fastest draw in the West, to keep people away from their parts. But his stories will soon put more than his family and the farm at risk. Meanwhile, Herbert might lose his job as an editor at Gunslinger Magazine in Philadelphia if he can't find out why the author of The Kid stories recently stopped sending them. The soft city slicker is headed out west to find the author. And Snake-Eye Sam has set his sights on The Kid, whom he thinks is real. Sam has evil in his heart and jealousy in his veins. Breaking out of prison to shoot down The Kid is about the only thing that can cure the itch running down Sam's spine. Three storylines—plus Gunslinger Magazine‘s The Kid stories—intertwine and come together just as Snake Eye Sam and Herbert both arrive in Destiny. On Main Street at high noon, a master plan is put in place at the same time that Henry and the Destiny sheriff get what they need to keep the Upton brothers together. Pull up for a tall frothy glass of sarsaparilla and enjoy this engaging and satisfying Western tale, full of quirky characters, snappy dialogue, and heart.

'A one-stop welcome to the world of publishing ... worth its weight in gold.' Smriti Halls Over the last two decades the Children's Writers' & Artists' Yearbook has become the indispensable guide to writing for children of all ages from pre-school to young adults. It is an essential item for any bookshelf, it includes advice, tips and inspiration for authors and illustrators working across all forms: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, screen, audio and theatre and magazines. It also covers the financial, contractual, and legal aspects of being a writer and illustrator. Its directory of 1,200 listings with contacts are updated yearly to provide the most up-to-date information across the media and publishing industry. It also includes over 50 articles by award-winning writers and illustrators covering all stages of the writing and illustration process from getting started, writing for different markets and genres, and preparing an illustration portfolio, through to submission to literary agents and publishers. Additional articles, free advice, events information and editorial services at www.writersandartists.co.uk

Despite the countless books and films devoted to him, Billy the Kid remains one of the most elusive figures of the Old West. Now, award-winning western historian Frederick Nolan has scoured the published literature to offer this well-rounded compendium on the life and times of William H. Bonney. The Billy the Kid Reader contains some of the best articles on the Kid—including gems no longer in print. From the first dime novel that appeared shortly after his death to the research of today’s historians, these writings bring Bonney’s life into sharp focus. Nolan highlights two distinct schools of Billy the Kid studies: works of popularizers who tended to exaggerate his historical role, and the findings of grassroots researchers who have reassessed our perceptions of the Kid. Dozens of illustrations enhance the text, illuminating the Kid’s career and notoriety. This collection shows that the life of William H. Bonney is not yet a closed book—far from it. Many versions of his life remain little more than unchallenged tradition. The Billy the Kid Reader puts that lengthy body of work in perspective and will satisfy seasoned Kid aficionados as well as first-time readers eager to learn more about the man and the legend.

Inspiring, relatable, and totally true biographies tell the childhood stories of a diverse group of trailblazers including Kamala Harris, Greta Thunberg, Ai Weiwei, Benazir Bhutto, Elliot Page, and John Lewis, along with 10 other powerful figures. Featuring kid-friendly text and full-color illustrations, Kid Trailblazers highlights contemporary figures who have led the way in government, social activism, environmental justice, and the arts. Middle-grade readers will learn how these figures got their start as kids just like them, with impactful stories and fun facts such as: • Angela Merkel once won a trip to Moscow, where she bought a Beatles album. • Stacey Abrams and her siblings played pretend as librarians for fun. • Al Gore lived in a hotel as a kid and liked to drop water balloons off the roof! Kid Trailblazers explores the childhood stories of leaders who have taken on the most pressing issues of our time by expressing themselves and challenging the world.

If you could have an adventure in London, where would you go? Curious kids will find plenty to see, learn, and explore in this fun and illustrated pick-your-own-path travel guide series! Would you hop on the Tube to visit Buckingham Palace, find a tasty lunch on Brick Lane, or pass the time with Big Ben? Create your own itinerary, choose which places to visit at the end of every page, and follow along with an adventurous girl and her two moms as they explore London. • Visit iconic sites like Big Ben, the British Library, Westminster Abbey, and the Globe Theatre. • Sample British favorites such as fish and chips and Afternoon Tea. • Hop on and hop off a double decker bus, dart through the Tube, or float along the River Thames. • See the London skyline with visits to the London Eye, the Tower Bridge, and St. Paul’s Cathedral. • Get to know the diversity of the city with visits to Chinatown and Brick Lane. Featuring playful illustrations, a diverse and lovable cast of characters, an invaluable resources section, and a fun foldout map, this book is an ingenious way for kids to take the lead while planning a vacation or learning about one of the largest cities in the world. Whether you’re an armchair traveler or a real-life tourist, the Little Kid, Big City series has everything you need to invent your own adventure! Coming in Spring 2022, Little Kid, Big City!: Paris