| Raven Tree Press specializes in family oriented, | | | | that blend those types of Spanish most often used in |
| high-quality, bilingual (English-Spanish) children's picture | | | | the United States and try to blend the translation to suit |
| books with universal themes that can appeal to many | | | | this blend. Spanish in Spain and sometimes the Spanish |
| cultures. Their books have garnered rave reviews and | | | | in Latin America do not match the translation in our |
| won awards. Here to talk about the press is publisher | | | | books. We do offer our books for rights purchase so |
| Dawn Jeffers. Jeffers is also an accomplished | | | | that the publishers in those countries can retranslate |
| children's writer and author of the bilingual titles, | | | | for their market and then reprint the books for their |
| Vegetable Dreams and Beautiful Moon. | | | | needs. That is true for not only Spanish speaking |
| Thanks for being here today, Dawn. Tell us, how did | | | | countries, but any company that may want a dual |
| Raven Tree Press get started? | | | | language presentation. |
| The publisher knew a group of talented writers and | | | | What do you look for in a picture book manuscript? |
| artists in the Midwest. That pool of regional talent | | | | We look for a story that is easily illustratable. We look |
| helped launch the initial list. With the success of the | | | | for family oriented, universal storylines. We do not |
| books the talent pool spread through the US and now | | | | need culturally specific or multicultural stories as we |
| we proudly work with talent around the world. | | | | believe a good story is a good story in any language. In |
| Who is your primary audience? | | | | the editing process we lower the word count and |
| Our picture books are focused on children grades | | | | choose words that can be translated. |
| preschool third grade. Because our book are | | | | Do you accept unagented submissions? |
| co-released as bilingual books in English and Spanish | | | | Yes, but we always ask an writer or agent to view |
| the word count is traditionally low and the artwork | | | | our website before any submission. We want them to |
| must tell sub-stories for us. | | | | become familiar with our books and guidelines. It will |
| What genres do you publish and for what age group? | | | | save everyone time and resources. |
| We are a juvenile fiction publisher exclusively. We | | | | Are you looking for English/Spanish translators at this |
| have one series that blends fiction (postcards written | | | | time? |
| by a child) with non-fictions (facts and photos about | | | | We are not looking for translators. |
| specific locations in the United States). | | | | Sometimes the tone of a book is lost in a translation. |
| Is there a big market for bilingual books? | | | | What do you look for in a translator? |
| Children's books in general is a huge market and highly | | | | Tone is so important. In a children¹s book |
| competitive. We needed something to differentiate | | | | specifically we want the children to be educated and |
| ourselves and there were no high quality bilingual books | | | | entertained. We need translators that have had |
| in the market. We focused on keeping production | | | | experience translated creative writing and specifically |
| quality high, artwork beautiful and excellent translations. | | | | juvenile fiction. Those that portray the voice of the |
| These books can then be used in schools for | | | | characters in our books is critical to us. We also want |
| language learning in either language, in a bilingual home | | | | that sensitivity to blend discussed earlier and that is |
| where the parent may speak one language and the | | | | tricky sometimes. |
| child is learning a second in school, and by children and | | | | Is there anything else you'd like to tell our readers? |
| families that are curious about a second language. | | | | Please visit our website. We want writers, readers and |
| They can use a picture book in the learning as the | | | | translators to know who we are and what we |
| illustrations help to cue the words in many cases. We | | | | produce. If you have children, share one of our books |
| end every book with a keyword vocabulary list to aid | | | | with them and see them light up seeing a second |
| in learning. These books help make language learning | | | | language in the book. It is so interesting that children |
| fun. | | | | love to experience the new language when adults are |
| Are your books available in Spanish-speaking countries | | | | sometimes hesitant. |
| outside the US? | | | | Thanks for the interview, Dawn! |
| That has been a challenge for us. We have translators | | | | |