First Draft Episode #282: Matthew Burgess and Cátia Chien

Matthew Burgess and Cátia Chien, artist and illustrator respectively, of picture book The Bear and the Moon. Matthew is a poet, picture book author, and Assistant Professor at Brooklyn College. Catia is a visual artist, illustrator, and founder of A Thousand Worlds, a picture book directory that connects readers to beautiful picture books written and illustrated by BIPOC authors and illustrators.

This episode is sponsored by Revision Season, the seven-week, virtual master class in novel revision led by award-winning author Elana K. Arnold. The Winter 2021 session runs January 17 – March 4, with Week Zero work arriving January 10. Check out more details about Reivsion Season and sign up or Apply for 5 scholarships being offered through We need Diverse Books at www.elanakarnold.com.

Links and Topics Mentioned In This Episode

• Monica by Mauricio de Souza

• Cátia’s interview on PBS NewsHour

• Poet Frank O’Hara

• Poet John Ashbery, whose collection Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror won a Pulitzer Prize, among other accolades

• Teachers and Writers Collaborative

• Kate Sullivan, previously an editor at HMH and currently Senior Content Development Manager for New Leaf Literary & Media. She appears in the Track Changes podcast series (in Selling Your Book: Part 2 and Contracts).

• ArtCenter, the school where Cátia studied art and design

• Enormous Smallness: A Story of e e cummings by Matthew Burgess, illustrated by Kris Di Giacomo

• Drawing on Walls: A Story of Keith Haring by Matthew Burgess, illustrated by Josh Cochran

• Roald Dahl Boy (and its sequel, Going Solo)

• Make Meatballs Sing: The Life and Art of Sister Corita King by Matthew Burgess, illustrated by Kara Kramer

• Enchanted Lion Books

• The Brooklyn Museum Children’s Book Fair

• A Boy and a Jaguar, written by Alan Rabinowitz, illustrated by Cátia Chien

• The Truro Bear by Mary Oliver (poem)

• William Steig is the author and illustrator of the Caldecott-winning picture book Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, as well as Shrek!, Dominic, and Newberry Honor book Abel’s Island

• Smudge, the moon bear

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