Welcome to the Kidlit Kitchen!
Greetings, fellow kidlit enthusiasts! I'm Ryan Bani Tahmaseb, and I'm excited to extend a warm welcome to the Kidlit Kitchen, a virtual space where we can come together, swap stories, and savor the delightfully creative world of children’s literature.
In this cozy corner of the internet, you'll also get to know a bit about me. I wear many hats—dad, husband, learning coach, curriculum developer, and kidlit author. In my role as a learning coach, I support students in honing their writing, reading, and executive functioning skills. Additionally, I offer creative writing mentorships to children, teens, and young adults, which, as you can probably guess, is incredibly fun and rewarding.
One of the hats I wear with particular pride is that of a father to a neurodivergent child. Our little one is “twice-exceptional”—he’s gifted and has ADHD. This experience has fueled my passion for working with neurodivergent kids and teens, inspiring me to not only support them through my work as a learning coach, but also to advocate for them through my writing and public work. So discussions about neurodivergence will likely surface here in the context of reading and writing children’s literature.
My professional journey has also involved teaching English and school librarianship, both of which have greatly shaped the way I think about reading and writing as well as the ways I interact with children and teens.
Recently, my family and I embarked on a new adventure, trading the hustle and bustle of the greater Boston area for the relative calm of southern Maine. The move has brought me immense joy, especially as I now find myself very close to the sea (cue the picturesque beach photo).
Southern Maine, October 2023
While I do miss much about working in the classroom and school library, this change has opened up more opportunities for me to immerse myself in writing and coaching and engaging more with the vibrant kidlit community.
So, what's cooking here in the Kidlit Kitchen?
It's a gathering place, a spot to connect with fellow creators before and after the demands of our busy days.
Picture it as a warm kitchen where you can see and discuss what kidlit creators are brewing up.
It's also a place to share the recipes for good books. Accordingly, I thought I’d also share just a few of the books I’ve read and loved recently, both of the kidlit and adult variety:
The Bridge by Eva Lindström —This weird picture book is a masterclass on subtle humor, tension between words and images, and ambiguous endings.
Duck, Death, and the Tulip by Wolf Erlbruch — A strange, tender, and minimalist picture book about—you guessed it!—dying. But it’s also about living. And beauty. And perspective.
Differently Wired: A Parent’s Guide to Raising an Atypical Child with Confidence and Hope by Deborah Reber — I have never resonated with a parenting book as I have with this one. And I’ve read a lot of them. For parents of kids with ADHD, ASD, giftedness, sensory issues, learning disabilities, anxiety, and more.
In the comments below, I’d love to know if you’ve read any of these. I’d also love to hear your recommendations. Please do share. I take book recommendations seriously—they’re kind of like a love language for me.
I want to assure you that while I'll be thoughtful about what I write and share here in the Kitchen, perfection is not the goal. If I were to strive for the perfect post or flawless interview questions, odds are they might never see the light of day.
So, I hope you’ll join me in embracing the beautiful messiness that comes along with creative ventures like this. I'm delighted you're here—grab a seat, make yourself comfortable, and please bring your creativity to the conversation!
Just one quick thing before I go: Check out my new store! I just stocked it with my video tutorial, "Crafting Picture Book Magic in a Weekend: Your Quick Guide to Creating a Captivating First Draft," created specifically for beginners. And for a limited time, it's available at a discounted price.
Alright friends, let's make this space a hub of inspiration and support! I can't wait to hear about what you’re up to.
Ryan Bani Tahmaseb is a learning coach, curriculum developer, and author. His debut picture book, Rostam’s Picture-Day Pusteen, will be published by Charlesbridge in summer 2024, and his first professional book for educators, The 21st Century School Library, was published in 2021 by John Catt Educational. His writing has also appeared in publications such as Education Week and the Carolina Quarterly. He lives in Southern Maine with his wife and two young children.
OTHER KITCHEN CONVERSATIONS:
Welcome, Kidlit Kitchen readers! Today, I’m serving up an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the making of DOWN THE HOLE, one of my favorite picture books from 2023. Join me as I chat with author Scott Slater and illustrator Adam Ming, the dynamic duo behind this hilarious tale. From the inception of the story to the details of its illustrations, get ready to explore the journey of bringing this fantastic book to life.