Dessi and Ky Go Poof Book Review and Author Interview

The Storyteller Squad’s very own – Candice Pedraza Yamnitz – released her second book TODAY! This time, she ventures into a realm of children’s literature as an author and illustrator with Dessi and Ky Go Poof. Below you with find my personal book review, as well as a behind-the-scenes interview with Candice.

Book Blurb:

On a blustery and wet May day in Chicago, Dessi and Ky get transported to a tropical island where wicked pirates have turned the islanders into birds.

Now it’s up to them to work together, defeat the pirates, locate a treasure, and find their way home again – with a little help from a magical crayon.

My Goodreads Review:

After reading this book, your kids will never look at a crayon the same again! And the introduction to simple Spanish vocabulary will delight young learners—appealing to a diverse audience.

This book would make an excellent family read-aloud as themes of “choose your attitude” and trusting siblings abound as you cheer on this brother/sister duo.

If your early readers like fantasy chapter books like Magic Treehouse, The Kingdom of Wrenly, and The Secrets of Droon, then they will love Dessi and Ky Go Poof! Perfect for early readers ages 5-10.

Keep reading to learn more about Candice Pedraza Yamnitz and her endeavors as an author and illustrator!

Your first published book, Unbetrothed, was a Young Adult book. Why did you make the jump into children’s literature?

I’m an avid young adult fiction reader because I love coming-of-age stories. When I started writing, I was a youth group leader, and writing young adult stories was a natural extension of what was going on in my life.

And now, my children are reading longer books, and I wanted to write stories for my children. Dessi and Ky Go Poof was written for my children to enjoy.

Where did you find your inspiration for Dessi and Ky Go Poof? Do you have more books planned with these characters?

My inspiration for this book comes from reading to my easily distracted children. They love magical adventures with talking animals, dinosaurs, and pirates. I have a sequel written and a third book outlined. On top of that, I have another chapter book series that’s inspired by my childhood.

The illustrations you created for this book are so fun! Can you tell us more about that process for other aspiring illustrators?

Well, I started illustrating years ago with a free program. I currently use ClipStudio Paint and a digital pen I bought on Amazon. I choose what to illustrate by what needs clarification, like dinosaurs, and by what sparks in my mind. I sketched some of these years ago when I was still writing the story.

I suggest young writers go on YouTube and learn the mechanics of illustrating characters and animals. Practice sketching on paper, practice on the computer, and keep producing new art. Practice is the only way to get better.

What do you enjoy the most about writing children’s literature? And what did you find the most challenging?

I love writing entire plot arcs with room for details. I love the cliffhanger and question endings that mark chapter books and seeing kids want to flip the page to see what happens next. The most challenging part is sifting through to make sure the message is consistent. The first draft of a story is my imagination processing the story. I edit to make sure my reader gets the right message.

What other up-and-coming projects do you have in the works? Where can people find you online to follow along on your author journey?

I have another chapter book about a little girl who feels friendless and writes to a mouse princess. I have another three YA novels. One is on submission with publishers and is a Christian dystopian. The book I am drafting is the sequel to Unbetrothed. The last YA novel is about a family with a special ability to capture memories.

If you’d like to keep up with me, you can sign up for my author newsletter which can be found on my website http://candiceyamnitz.com

You can also follow me on my Instagram account: www.instagram.com/candiceyamnitz

Lastly, if you want more YA book recommendations and reviews, I have a special newsletter that I send out monthly. Sign-up here: https://www.subscribepage.com/cpyyabooklist

Final Thoughts:

**We are so proud of Candice, and we hope you will join us in supporting her! To purchase a copy of Dessi and Ky Go Poof please visit Amazon -or- Barnes & Noble

**Please also post a review of this book at Goodreads, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble. Reviews help book buyers make purchase decisions. Share photos/reviews of Dessi and Ky Go Poof on your social media accounts, links of where to purchase the book, or even share this article! If you love books, then share about the books you love! Every little bit helps authors reach a wider audience.

*Thank you for joining us we celebrate another great book from our Storyteller Squad authors!