Here are some helpful resources for writers and illustrators:

M.O. Yuksel's passion for writing stems from the fact that she's constantly learning new things and loves to share them with the world. As a lifelong learner and writer, she highly recommends the following wonderful resources to help further craft.

Websites:

• Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (highly recommend becoming a member and attending SCBWI conferences): https://www.scbwi.org/
• Highlights Foundation (The best place on earth for creatives! And they offer scholarships. Yay!): https://www.highlightsfoundation.org/
• Children's Book Academy (with the fabulous Dr. Mira Reisberg): http://www.childrensbookacademy.com/
• 12x12 Picture Book Challenge (challenge yourself to write a picture book a month within a supportive online community): http://12x12challenge.com/
• Sub It Club (everything you ever wanted to know about submissions): https://subitclub.com/
• Writing, Illustrating, and Publishing Children's Books: The Purple Crayon (the indomitable Harold Underdown's website) : http://www.underdown.org/
• We Need Diverse Books (Yes, we do! Here's a great organization with resources for diverse authors): diversebooks.org/resources/resources-for-writers/
• Kidlit411 (ideal for all of your kidlit needs): www.kidlit411.com/

Fellowships:

• Here's an exciting new initiative - Highlights Foundation Diversity Fellowship in Children's Literature: www.highlightsfoundation.org/diversity-fellowship/

Books:

• The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
• Writing Picture Books by Ann Whitford Paul
• On Writing by Stephen King
• Save the Cat by Blake Snyder
• Magic Words by Cheryl Klein
• Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
• Real Revision by Kate Messner
• Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
• Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstorm by Leonard S. Marcus
• This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett

Podcasts:

Here's a list of great podcasts to listen to on your long commutes, while cooking, and possibly mountain climbing... Enjoy!

• The Yarn by Travis Jonker and Colby Sharp itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-yarn/id1028877816?mt=2&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
• All the Wonders www.allthewonders.com/category/podcasts/
• The Children's Book Podcast by Matthew C. Winner https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-childrens-book-podcast/id817756935?mt=2
• Literaticast by Jennifer Laughran itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/literaticast/id1261036909?mt=2
• The Porchlight by Bethany Hegedus itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-porchlight/id1136102338?mt=2
• Into the Words - A Kidlit Craft Podcast - Highlights Foundation www.highlightsfoundation.org/into-the-words-podcast/
• Fuse 8 n' Kate soundcloud.com/user-745466600
• 88 Cups of Tea 88cupsoftea.com/
• Writerly writerlypodcast.com/
• Writing for Children www.stitcher.com/podcast/brain-burps-about-books/writing-for-children
• The Manuscript Academy manuscriptacademy.com/podcasting
• Kidlit Women  podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kidlit-women-podcast/id1409426534
• How Do You Write www.stitcher.com/podcast/rachael-herron/how-do-you-write
• Kidlit These Days bookriot.com/listen/shows/kidlit-these-days/
• Magic Lessons with Elizabeth Gilbert podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/magic-lessons-with-elizabeth-gilbert/id1138081319
• PubCrawl podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pubcrawl-podcast/id1043927749
• Shipping & Handling podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shipping-handling/id953575150
• The Nerdy Bookcast podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nerdy-bookcast/id1152602297

Picture Books:

#Ownvoices Muslim Picture Books:

If you would like to read recent #ownvoices Muslim picture books (2015 – 2020), here's a list of some great ones:

The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad with S.K. Ali, illustrated by Hatem Aly
Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, illustrated by Luisa Uribe
Not Quite Snow White by Ashley Franklin, illustrated by Ebony Glenn
Mommy’s Khimar by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, illustrated by Ebony Glenn
Muslim Girls Rise by Saira Mir, illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel
Lailah’s Lunchbox by Reem Faruqi, illustrated by Lea Lyon
Under My Hijab by Hena Khan, illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel
Like the Moon Loves the Sky by Hena Khan, illustrated by Saffa Khan
Crescent Moons and Pointed Minarets: A Muslim Book of Shapes by Hena Khan, illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini
The Gift of Ramadan by Rabiah York Lumbard, Illustrated by Laura K. Horton
The Arabic Quilt: An Immigrant Story by Aya Khalil and Anait Semirdzhyan
Malala’s Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai, illustrated by Kerascoet
Bilal Cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed, illustrated by Anoosha Syed
In My Mosque by M.O. Yuksel, illustrated by Hatem Aly
Halal Hot Dogs by Susannah Aziz, illustrated by Parwinder Singh
Amira’s Picture Day by Reem Faruqi, illustrated by Fahmida Azim
One Wish: How Fatima al-Fihri Built the World’s Oldest University by M.O. Yuksel, illustrated by Mariam Quraishi (Coming 2022)

For more wonderful picture books coming out in 2021 and beyond, click here to see what M.O. Yuksel's Picture Book Playground friends are up to.


More books and resources coming soon...