First Draft Episode #299: Jon Klassen

Jon Klassen, Caldecott Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of the I Want My Hat Back series, is back with a book he wrote and illustrated: The Rock From the Sky.

And by Revision Season, the seven-week virtual master class in novel revision led by award-winning author Elana K. Arnold. The Spring 2021 course will run from May 9 to June 26 and Enrollment opens April 1st! Learn more at ElanaKArnold.com.

Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode:

• Hear Jon’s first First Draft interview here

• Marla Frazee, two-time Caldecott Honor-winning author and illustrator of The Boss Baby, A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever, All the World, and many more. She joins us to talk about the Farmer series: The Farmer and the Clown, The Farmer and the Monkey, and The Farmer and the Circus. Hear her First Draft interview here.

• George Saunder’s most recent book: A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life

• Samuel Beckett, Irish novelist, playwright, short story writer, theatre director, poet, and literary translator, most widely known for his play, Waiting for Godot. Sarah Boxer wrote about Jon’s new book for the New York Times with the headline, “klassen-the-rock-from-the-sky.html">Jon Klassen Meets Samuel Beckett in a Hilariously Dark Picture Book.”

• Mac Barnett is a New York Times bestselling author of books for children, including many books illustrated by Jon, like Caldecott-Honor books Extra Yarn and Sam and Dave Dig a Hole, and the Shapes trilogy: Triangle, Square, and Circle.

• Carson Ellis, author and illustrator of Caldecott Honor book Du Iz Tak?, bestselling picture books Home, and many more visited First Draft to talk about In the Half Room. Listen to her FIrst Draft interview here.

🎙️ Enjoy this episode? Check out…

• Matthew Burgess and Cátia Chien, artist and illustrator respectively, of picture book The Bear and the Moon.

• Oliver Jeffers, visual artist, illustrator of The Day the Crayons Quit, and author and illustrator of How to Catch a Star, The Fate of Fausto, and Here We Are visited First Draft to talk about his newest picture book, What We’ll Build. Listen to his First Draft interview here.

• Matt de la Peña, author of seven critically acclaimed young adult novels including Mexican Whiteboy and Newbery Medal–winning author of Last Stop on Market Street talks about his newest collaboration with illustrator Christian Robinson, Milo Imagines the World. Listen to his First Draft interview here.

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Have a question about writing or creativity for Sarah Enni or her guests to answer? To leave a voicemail, call (818) 533-1998 or send an email to mailbag@firstdraftpod.com !

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