March 26, 2024
A Practical Resource for #Kidlit Educators!
When fellow author—and @KidLitWorks promo group co-member—Sara Holly Ackerman asked me what could be most helpful for a TRICKY CHOPSTICKS feature by Picture Book Builders, I thought about what I had already shared for other interviews and reviews. I try to provide different nuggets of insight for each one, and an area I felt needed more attention was TRICKY CHOPSTICKS from an educator's viewpoint. Which happens to be (one of) Sara's specialties—if you check her background, you'll find that Sara is a master of pretty much EVERYTHING! In this unique Picture Book Builders post, Sara shares 4 key ways to use TRICKY CHOPSTICKS in the classroom: as an engaging read-aloud, for mentor text use, plus STEM learning, and social studies connections. Such a powerful guide, hope you find it useful if you're looking for new and cool classroom ideas!
March 22, 2024
Vivian Kirkfield's Perfect Picture Book Friday for TRICKY CHOPSTICKS!
I'm counting myself extra lucky to celebrate the Friday close of my debut picture book birthday week with a wonderful feature by Vivian Kirkfield! It's such an honor since she has an immensely busy schedule with not just her fantastic writing but her completely inspiring commitment to lifting up others in the #Kidlit community through her widespread mentorship and cool contests! Thank you Vivian for showing such wonderful care for TRICKY CHOPSTICKS launching this week, and for finding such fun chopsticks-related activities for curious and creative minds!
March 19, 2024
Happy Birthday TRICKY CHOPSTICKS!
What better way to celebrate my debut picture book birthday than to do a joint interview hosted by Debbie Ridpath Ohi with illustrator Fanny Liem, plus prep for my in-person launch party tonight (see post below for info!). Feeling all the feels, and so very grateful for everyone who has helped me reach this amazing, momentous milestone today! Thank you all!
March 4, 2024
Launching TRICKY CHOPSTICKS!
After what's felt like aaages of waiting, I can't believe the book birthday release date for my debut picture book TRICKY CHOPSTICKS is in two weeks. How did all this time speed by so fast?! My in-person launch will be at Brick & Mortar Books in Redmond, WA Tuesday March 19th, 2024 6-7pm PST (see event details at right and RSVP here). I also recorded a virtual launch with Storytime Sprint that will be available March 19-26, 2024 (click here to register before March 19th if you want to celebrate virtually with me this way and even earn chances for giveaway prizes). Thank you all for your amazing support!
February 20, 2024
Check Out These Writing Craft Posts!
It's such an honor for my writing to be featured in not just one, but two blog posts in a day! #PBParty Host Mindy Alyse Weiss shared an extensive blog post about How to Craft an Amazing Picture Book Query which shows the evolution of my original pitch to published blurb/summary for TRICKY CHOPSTICKS. Soon after, fellow KidLitWorks promo group members Gabriele Davis and Pamela Courtney shared a blog post about Crafting Strong Openings. Hope you find some useful tips in both!
February 14, 2024
Valentine's Special: An Interview with Julie Hauswirth!
It was so lovely interviewing with Julie Hauswirth and sharing more of the backstory for how TRICKY CHOPSTICKS came about and how I deal with challenges that come up in my publishing journey. Click here to read the interview, hope you like it!
February 6, 2024
Happy National Chopsticks Day!
What better way to celebrate National Chopsticks Day today than with a pair of super posts! First was a Six Questions feature with Mary Boone where I shared some backstory (plus a neat secret!) for TRICKY CHOPSTICKS. Next was an unboxing video for my author copies, with revised lyrics inspired by Run-DMC's "It's Tricky." Hope you enjoy both!
January 10, 2024
Spotted in Cortney's Picks at Changing Hands Bookstore!
One of the neatest things about indie bookstores is how they often write and share personal book recommendations. It was such a honor to see TRICKY CHOPSTICKS show up in Cortney's Picks at Changing Hands Bookstore in Arizona. Click here to read the recommendation and Cortney's full list of fabulous picks!
January 7, 2024
My Amazing Promo Group's Post for Tara Lazar's Storystorm 2024 Day 7: KidLit Works & the Power of How
We were so honored to have the opportunity to share a group contribution for Tara Lazar's incredible Storystorm series this year. If you want to hear how 9 of our stories came about and see our suggested "how"-themed prompts to help with story ideation and revision, click here to read our post on Tara Lazar's site!
December 27, 2023
Featured by The Horn Book in its Out of the Box Foodwise lists roundup!!
Wow, I love how The Horn Book captured TRICKY CHOPSTICKS spot-on in their fantastic writeup which showcases picture books that handle food in many different ways. Click here to read the full roundup...
December 6, 2023
Oooh... It's a Kirkus Review!
Such a dream! I'm starry-eyed excited that TRICKY CHOPSTICKS has a Kirkus review now, yay! And I love how the review captured so much that went into the creation of this book. Click here to read the review close-up...
November 20, 2023
Chat with Author Mariana Ríos Ramírez about TRICKY CHOPSTICKS + PB Study Buddy
I really enjoyed collaborating with Mariana Ríos Ramírez on her blog to chat in-depth about how both my debut picture book TRICKY CHOPSTICKS and my #PBStudyBuddy picture book review initiative came about! Click here to view the full post...
November 14, 2023
Inside the Mind of a PB Rising Stars Mentor
It was a huge honor to write for the #PBRisingStars Blog to share my experience as a mentor in this incredible program in both 2022 and 2023! Click here to view the full post...
June 20, 2023
Cover Reveal for TRICKY CHOPSTICKS!
Yayyy!!! I’m SO thrilled to share the 🤩COVER REVEAL🤩 for my debut picture book TRICKY CHOPSTICKS, illustrated by the fantabulous Fanny Liem—all made possible by Atheneum / Simon & Schuster!
Want to be one of the first readers on 3/19/24? A huge 😍 to YOU if you pre-order TRICKY CHOPSTICKS! Go to trickychopsticks.com for pre-order info (including author-signed copies + surprise swag via my local bookstore Brick & Mortar Books in Redmond, WA!) -or- if pre-ordering your usual way, see the special get-your-bookplate/swag form here.
🤩FOREVER thanks to my agent Alyssa Eisner Henkin for believing in my work & working with me to cultivate TRICKY CHOPSTICKS through to acceptance & publication ➕ an INFINITE THANK YOU to Kristie Choi, Reka Simonsen, and the @SimonKids team for making my dream come TRUE with TRICKY CHOPSTICKS! 😍
🤩🤩🤩 I can't thank Fanny Liem enough for bringing TRICKY CHOPSTICKS to life with all its humor and more. If you LOVE this cover, I can't WAIT for you to see all of Fanny's incredible art throughout! It is absolutely 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Thank you Fanny Liem!!! 🫶😍💖
😍 A super special SHOUTOUT to my most TRUSTED CPs Leila Boukarim, Patricia Oppenheim, Carrie Williford, Robin Sanders, Hannah Lapehn, DK Ryland, Josie Gawlowski, and Erin Matzen, who saw #TRICKYCHOPSTICKS from its very start. THANK YOU!!!
💖 Plus the most HEARTFELT gratitude to Mindy Alyse Weiss & #PBParty, Pam Calvert for your 🌟 mentorship via #PBChat by Justin Colón, @12x12Challenge, and countless confidantes in #KidLit who made a world of difference in my publishing journey (you know who you are!!!)💓
🥰 AND the greatest thanks of all to my WONDERFUL family for cheering me on at home no matter what: James, Mac & Jet 💖💓🫶
January 25, 2022
Woohoo!
My debut picture book TRICKY CHOPSTICKS [March 2024, Atheneum/Simon & Schuster] has been officially announced (see the Publisher's Weekly Children's Bookshelf listing). If you want to read more about how this book came about, please check out this #PBParty Success Story.
Kristie Choi and Reka Simonsen at Atheneum have bought world rights to Tricky Chopsticks, a picture book by debut author Sylvia Chen (l.), illustrated by Fanny Liem. In this story loosely inspired by Chen's childhood, a girl determined to hold her own in her family's annual chopsticks challenge creates a solution through STEAM trial and error to master those slippery, oh-so-tricky chopsticks. Publication is slated for spring 2024; Alyssa Eisner Henkin of Birch Path Literary represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the artist.
Want to add TRICKY CHOPSTICKS to your Goodreads want-to-read list? Click on the button below, then select the "Want to read" option. Thank you!
