Playwright. Journalist. Author. Yes, sometimes writing a book, especially for children, seems like an afterthought. Celebrities may have the one-time goal on their “bucket list.” Well-read supporters of children’s literature ooze with doubt and skepticism when encountering new authors.

However, multi-talented Rosemary Zibart has given her all to True Brit. The historical fiction has entered a second printing after winning honorable mention at the London Book Festival.

What’s good about children’s literature right now?

I believe there’s more talent in this country than ever before. Not just in children’s literature but poetry, film, art, theatre—I live in a very art-centric city, Santa Fe, and I am always amazed by the talent. The sheer variety is amazing. In children’s lit you see enormous diversity as well. Fantasy, gothic horror, biography, historical fiction, fiction … children are being exposed to a much wider gamut of experience and imagination.

The piece of the pie that I now write about is historical fiction. Twenty years ago, I discovered that four English girls came to Santa Fe in 1940 to escape the bombing in London and the fear (quite justified at the time) that Hitler might win. With that spark of inspiration, I created a fictional story that conveys what Santa Fe was like at that time: the mixture of cultures, classes, races. I also wanted to show the exhilaration of a 12-year old girl, Beatrice, who goes from a very restricted, privileged background to one which is much freer, more open, and requires nitty-gritty effort.

After writing about Beatrice, I came across a similar but very different story—Werner, a Jewish boy who travels on his own to New York City in 1939—again to escape Hitler. He endures a lot of difficulties but survives and triumphs. That story will be published later this year.

Since writing these two, people have told me many other stories of survival—not just during WWII — but in every generation. I’ve heard about Iranian children who came to the U.S. to escape persecution. Cuban teen who were forced to come to the United States to escape communism. These stories are often heartrending and yet it’s so important for young people to know about the struggle of their peers to find freedom and safety.

The hard part for talented artists of any kind is to survive the marketing process. The portal created by the few major trade publishers that remain is very slim. Also, as libraries are cut back in hours and buying power, the opportunities for authors to find readers diminishes. That hurts!!! Schools and school libraries which used to introduce millions of children to books have much less time and encouragement to spend time just reading. School days are crammed with other obligatory activities.

What can be improved about children’s literature?

I personally think that respect for books and libraries need to be increased. People believe (falsely) that they can find everything they need online. I do some research online when I’m researching facts. But in general, I find libraries far richer as sources of information about any subject. The huge investment schools make in computers and programming is understandable, as long as they simultaneously engender respect and enjoyment for books, for imagination, for authors, past and present, especially the ones who are working so hard to bring forth works of quality. I think what needs to be encouraged is the connection between good books and eager readers!!

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To learn more about the author and True Brit, please visit www.rosemaryzibart.com.

Author Jill Esbaum writes more than good picture books. She crafts star platforms.

Pick one of her titles to read aloud, and young listeners will give you all the glory. Her words. But you take the bows.

Jill, what’s right right now about children’s literature?

With the recent explosion of electronic reading options, fewer “real” books are being published every year. I’m convinced that’s a good thing. The books that make it through the process to turn up in bookstores and libraries will be deeper, richer, better than ever before.

What can be done to make that “good” better?

For writers, getting a picture book story accepted by a major publisher has never been easy. We have two options: throw in the towel or find a way to make a story (or nonfiction) irresistible. That doesn’t mean a story has to scream “look at me!” I heartily believe there’s still room for quiet books. But each book is going to have to stand out in some way—beautiful language or imagery, characters that feel touch-me real, humor, heart, or whatever it takes to make that story zing straight to a reader/listener’s heart.

With apologies to ‘60s singer, Donovan, we have to write books that blow their little minds.

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Jill Esbaum is the author of many picture books including the award-winning Ste-e-e-e-eamboat A-Comin’! (illus by Adam Rex). Her latest are Tom’s Tweet (illus. by Dan Santat) and Cherry Blossoms Say Spring, a nonfiction title from National Geographic Kids. She enjoys visiting schools and is a workshop facilitator at the University of Iowa Summer Writing Festival. In addition, she co-hosts the annual Whispering Woods Picture Book Writing Workshop. Jill and her husband live on a family farm in eastern Iowa. www.jillesbaum.com

Prospective authors of 2012, take note of the Simonetta Carr blueprint.

She writes what she LOVES. If you truly believe in a subject, chances are young readers will, too.

It’s that easy. Or, that hard.

Simonetta, what’s good right now about children’s literature?

I am writing children’s biographies about men and women who have shaped the history of Christian (and consequently Western) thought. It is an exciting project, because these types of books are just now rising to the standard of quality and objectivity we have been noticing in children’s biographies in general, and for this reason they are taken into greater consideration by the literary community.

What could be done to make that good better?

We can find encouragement in the overall improvements in this genre and continue to raise the standard, learning from each other.

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Simonetta Carr was born in Italy and has worked for years as teacher, literary translator, and freelance writer. A mother of eight, she is the author of the ongoing series of Christian Biographies for Young Readers published by Reformation Heritage Books (four titles in print so far) and of the YA historical fiction Weight of a Flame, published by P&R. A complete list of her books and other writings is on her blog (www.simonettacarr.com). Her biography John Owen was chosen as finalist in the 2011 San Diego Book Awards.

Some authors only create books. Alexis O’Neill has created opportunities. This author of four picture books has taught, consulted, and led, helping other authors, teachers and, most of all, children.

1. What’s good right now about children’s literature?

There has been an absolute explosion of phenomenal books for kids, beautifully produced, with many available on a variety of platforms, print and electronic. I never would have imagined when I was a kid that I might someday be reading a story on a telephone! So, to me, what’s really, really good is that stories are more accessible than ever to children at all economic levels.

2. What can make that “good” better?

Ah! But here’s the downside of that “explosion” of books. In this new democratization of publishing, anyone can produce a document and call it a book. Our country is bleeding from the loss of librarians, the very people who match young readers with just the right books and who know the difference between “literature” and, as Jane Yolen says, “litter-ature.”  We’re also reeling from mandates to teachers to eliminate reading aloud in the classroom as there’s “no time” for it.  When faced with so many titles, how does a kid find a well-written book without some kind of guidance?  Even adults have trouble wading through the dross of self-published, self-indulgent books (not to mention the unprofessionally illustrated ones), so how does a young reader find books of worth?

Here’s how we can help.

• Insist that every elementary school in your own district have a librarian permanently on staff.
• Educate ourselves and others on the differences between self-published books and books for children that have been produced by bona fide trade book publishers whose books go through the crucible of intense in-house scrutiny and a public review process.
• Invite “real” authors and illustrators to meet students in your schools to show not only the writing process, but to demonstrate how essential persistence is in creating and producing true literature.
• Read aloud every day. Good stories sing. Reading aloud allows us to share that experience communally, to delight in the sounds that tickle our ears and stay inside our hearts throughout our lives.

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Alexis O’Neill is the author of award-winning picture books about friendship including The Recess Queen, The Worst Best Friend, Loud Emily, and Estela’s Swap. Alexis teaches writing for the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program and is a Regional Advisor for the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators in California.  She was recently honored by the California Reading Association with the Dr. Marcus Foster Memorial Award “for making significant and outstanding contributions to reading throughout California.” A popular presenter, she visits students all over the country sharing with them, through lively interactive assemblies and writing workshops, strategies for writing and reading with their whole body. Visit her at www.alexisoneill.com