READ FROM PICTURE BOOKS AND THINK
Moonbow is a newsletter about children’s literature.
Children’s Literature Essays, Author/Illustrator Interviews, Book Reviews, and Events
Welcome to Moonbow, a bimonthly (twice-a-month) publication for adults about children’s literature.
Moonbow is dedicated to the art of children’s literature and discusses why adults should take the form seriously (because they often don’t). It aims to open and broaden these texts to encourage adults to think deeply about children’s books and see new things in them. Children’s books—especially picture books—are a versatile form, collecting and remixing genres and ideas from other art forms like poetry, music, theater, dance, cinema, and other books. Still, they should have one main goal: to be enjoyed by children.
Of course adults can enjoy them, too (I’m one of those adults), but the priority should be making, recommending, and reading books to children that they actually want to read, not books with adult agendas or a sentimental, wistful affection for childhood.
Finding good books isn’t easy. There is a lot of bad art made for children (the same as for adults), and that’s okay, but the more we—the adults—discover, learn, and engage with the form, the better we will be at getting good (and sometimes great!) books into the hands of children.
Why become a paid subscriber?
Paying subscribers get total access to everything Moonbow publishes. That means:
Complete access to Moonbow’s literary criticism, reviews, and recommendations.
Exclusive access to book guides, video meet-ups, online courses, and merchandise (coming soon!).
The full archive of Moonbow’s articles, dating back to March 2022.
But more importantly, becoming a paid subscriber allows Moonbow to stick around! While it’s fun, it’s definitely not easy to dedicate hours to researching, writing, editing, and marketing this publication. So, if you enjoy Moonbow and want to support it, becoming a paid subscriber is the best way.
Moonbow has many amazing opportunities to grow and become a more robust platform for children’s books. By becoming a paid supporter, you’re helping make those dreams a reality.
The cost of membership is $5 per month or $50 per year.
If that’s not possible right now, please spread the word. Share Moonbow with a friend, a librarian, an educator, a bookstore, or anyone who loves kids’ books.
Thanks for helping Moonbow continue to explore this sophisticated, experimental, and imaginative art form.
Kindly,
Taylor Sterling
About the author
Taylor Sterling is a writer and creative director specializing in editorial direction, photo art direction, and visual research. For over a decade, she was the founder and creative director of the popular lifestyle publication Glitter Guide. She works with clients and studios on creative direction, copywriting, and digital media consulting—taking ideas from concept to production and assisting brands in strategizing and executing projects that enhance their digital presence. She is based in the San Francisco Bay Area. You can follow her on Instagram @ Taylor Sterling, where she posts pictures of old books.
Looking to get in touch? Email moonbow.books@substack.com
While you’re here, take a moment to explore some of Moonbow’s most popular articles:
“A thoughtful, beautiful personal essay…Taylor gets at something profound about the power of picture books to help us see through fresh eyes.”— Bruce Handy, literary critic & children’s book author
"As I've told you before, it's just wonderful and so important to have Moonbow there, sharing and responding to picture books in such an intelligent and complex way. I've been waiting for a voice like yours to come along for a long time!" —Claudia Zoe Bedrick, publisher, editor, and art director of Enchanted Lion Books
“I'm a fan of your newsletter and it was such a treat to see Dory in this one! I loved what you wrote!” —Abby Hanlon, author-illustrator of Dory Fantasmagory (Puppets, Pirates, & Poisoned Soup)
“I love the attention you are giving these often-overlooked objects! The research is phenomenal.” - Kate Humphreys, Oly Oly Oxen Free Books
“I’ve been working on a William Steig study. Reading all his books. Immersing myself in his world. And I find myself overwhelmed by how to capture everything I feel in a way that will make sense to other people. I hope whatever plops out will be half as amazing as Taylor Sterling’s post on Tomi Ungerer. Engaging and thought-provoking and organized in a way that honors the creator’s world--highly recommend!” — Rachel Wilson, At the Kid Table
“Every time I finish a new post, I'm delighted and intrigued by your thought process and your skill in bringing the reader along with you. I spend a lot of time thinking about children's books… and yet you regularly open my eyes to aspects of the art form and medium that I've never considered, which is so rare and so very valuable to me.”
“My thought while reading this was singular: you are too good for Substack. Don't get me wrong, I love Substack, obviously, but this work is a book.”—Sarah Miller, Can We Read?
