Kidlit Interview with Awesome Tonja Drecker | Galaxy-Boy Delivery

Kidlit author of Music Boxes-Dancing, Tonja Drecker is here at All Ages of Geek to talk all about her life as a writer, who her support team is, her blog Bookworm for Kids and kidlit reviews, and what type of books she believes need to be published far more in the kidlit world.

As a kidlit author who loves to share her passion for reading with kids, Tonja’s “Bookworm for Kids” is full of fun and informative articles about, well, books for children.

On her blog, you can find book reviews, recommendations for great reads, and even giveaways to help you get even more out of the books you love. One of the things that makes Tonja’s blog special is the reviews are written in a way that is easy for kids to understand. Reviews are also unbiased and stay true to her love of reading.

If you love to read, or just want to find out more about great books for kids, be sure to check out “Bookworm for Kids”. It’s a great kidlit resource for young readers and their parents, and is sure to have something for everyone.

A reminder to readers that the authors and illustrators we interview give advice mainly for kids but the stories they tell her can inspire anyone! Make sure you support Tonja Drecker by leaving reviews on Goodreads or Amazon and also by following on social media.

What makes your work different?

Oh wow…with so many books printed every month (literally tens of thousands), I’ll admit that I find this one so hard to answer! But I do hope the imagination drives my stories more than message, since I find it important to have reading as ‘fun’. Also, after spending over 20 years in Europe, I try to keep a sense of international diversity. There, hearing other languages isn’t seldom, and it adds so much color and life to tale possibilities.

Who is your support team for your work?

My family. Especially my kids (although they aren’t heavy readers) are constantly pushing me on.

Where do you usually work? Home studio? Study room? Cafe?

I do have a writing office at home, but I almost always find myself at my dining room table, since one of my kids is homeschooled, and I hate giving them the impression that I’m closing myself off in my own room.

List 3 books that inspire you!

I don’t even know where to start with this one. I almost never read a book more than once and hit around 375 books a year. So, no idea.

What are some worlds you’d like to explore in fiction?

Historical locations and scenes, which most people have never heard of. For example, the Etruscan tunnels or disappeared islands from legends. But I’d go anywhere a story leads.

What’s your favorite tool to create with? Pencil? Digital? Typewriter? Computer?

I start with a notebook and pencil when the first ideas hit and to get the story going. Then, it’s computer until I do a print-out for editing purposes. I also love to hang the storyline and highlights on the wall, since the visual aspect can be so helpful.

How do you create characters?

Those just pop up, and then, I mold from there. I try to work out a rough idea of what they are like and get a good picture of them in my head, but they often bring themselves to life.

What types of stories do you want more or (of?) personally?

Fun ones, which let kids simply dive into a world without political agendas. Also, more books for boys would be great, since there seem to be many more female leads out there right now. Also sports and fun nonfiction are awesome…I always headed to the nonfiction section of the library first, as do my own kids.

What was your first picture book, comic, etc?

The Pokey Little Puppy.

Who inspired you as a kid? What did you want to be when you grew up?

One of my aunts, although I very rarely saw her. And I wanted to be a marine biologist…but that changed when I learned in college what that truly meant. And I get seasick.

What can All Ages of Geek do more for the kidlit world?

Just keep shouting things out…especially in the kidlit world, at least in the way of bloggers, podcasts, and such, isn’t nearly as much represented as the one for adults.

What do you think about All Ages of Geek?

I love what you guys do! It’s so inviting…looks amazing…and packed with energy. Plus, you have a wide variety.

Who do you think we should interview next?

Marko Kitti, the author of the Jasper Jinx series. He writes such fun books and has already had them published in over a dozen languages.

Any creators you want to give a special shout out to?

There are so many, I don’t know where to start. That’s one of the problems of being a kidlit reviewer for over ten years…my loved-author list is huge.

Where can people find your work online?

https://www.bookwormforkids.com/

After reading this interview with the amazing Tonja Drecker we have a few tips for you and your kids about kidlit reviews! Writing a book review can be a fun and exciting way for kids to share their thoughts and opinions about books they’ve read. It can also help kids improve their writing skills get a big confident booster in their ability to do research and express their opinions. Which is a plus! Whether it’s a one star or five star review your kids write, here are a few tips to help kids get started on writing a book review blog:

Start by choosing a book that you enjoy. It’s so much easier to write a review for books you are passionate about. Or flip this tip and write a review about a book your didn’t really enjoy and what can improve.
Take some time to think. Ask yourself these questions. What did you like about it? What didn’t you like? What was your favorite part?
Make an outline of your review. Bullet point by bullet point. List by list. This can help you organize your thoughts. Get some cute notebooks for your outline too!
Draw some pictures for your blog! A way to make your reviews stand out when you share them with authors is by drawing pictures. Doodle the character in a book, or utilize the space on your blog with an illustration to express more context.
Don’t forget to proofread. Make sure to check your review for spelling and grammar mistakes before publishing it.
Read other websites’ reviews to get inspired. Here are some of the most popular!
- Goodreads: Goodreads is a social networking site for book lovers. Users can create a profile, rate and review books, and connect with other readers.
- Amazon: Amazon is one of the largest online retailers in the world, and it allows users to write reviews of the products they have purchased. This includes books.
- Barnes & Noble: Barnes & Noble is a popular bookstore chain that also has an online platform where users can write reviews of books.
- LibraryThing: LibraryThing is a social networking site for book lovers that allows users to catalog and review their books.
- Booklist Online: Booklist Online is a database of book reviews that is published by the American Library Association. It is a great resource for finding book reviews written by professional critics.
- Kirkus Reviews: Kirkus Reviews is a magazine that publishes book reviews written by professional critics. It is a respected source for book reviews, and many authors and publishers use it to promote their books.
- School Library Journal: School Library Journal is a magazine that is specifically geared towards school librarians. It publishes book reviews and other resources for librarians to use in selecting books for their collections.