We are so excited to have Robin Hall join us today to share information about Activism Picture Books!
Robin Hall holds an MFA in the Writing for Children and Young Adults program at Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her debut picture book, THE LITTLEST WEAVER, will release Fall 2023 from Familius, distributed by Abrams Publishing.
She believes we are all born with an innate need to create, whether it be the best bread on the planet, a cozy quilt to keep our loved ones warm, or words on a page.
She teaches creative writing to children, yoga to all ages, and lives in North Carolina on a tiny farm with one husband, five children, four dogs, three weaving looms, and too many chickens to count.
Today I’m excited to talk about my debut picture book that released earlier this month. The Littlest Weaver is about Laurel, the littlest weaver, who sees a need in her community and responds.
Laurel feels a call to action and works to make a difference after a sad, displaced man moves to Laurel’s small Appalachian town. She recognizes loss in him, the same loss she experienced when she lost her mother. Even though she is small, Laurel understands cloudy days, pain, and the slow process of healing.
As Jen Krarr says, the main character of an activism picture book needs “a personal connection to the … cause that is at the heart of the story. This character’s journey is fueled by a cause they care about deeply.” Because Laurel suffered loss, she is the right person to help the sad man heal.
Even though the sad man initially turns her away, Laurel keeps finding different ways to help, from preparing and planting a garden to bringing fresh eggs and cleaning the cobwebs in his windows.
The most powerful thing Laurel does is use her gift of weaving. She realizes the man doesn’t need a happy story rug (her family specialty), but one that recognizes and honors his loss to help with the healing process. Laurel designs and weaves the rug with her father. I don’t want to spoil it here, so you’ll have to check out The Littlest Weaver for the big reveal.
My hope is that readers will see that even if they feel small and alone, they, like the littlest weaver, can make a big difference in their community.
