Daniel

Miyares

Award Winning Children’s Author & Illustrator

Paper Boat Captain

Travels from: Kansas City, MO

“[V]isually stunning and emotionally rich. . . . [Big and Small and In-Between] is designed to inspire conversation and reflection about what is depicted on each page.” ― School Library Journal, starred review

Daniel Miyares is a critically acclaimed picture book author and illustrator. Some of his books include: Float, Night Out, That is My Dream, and Bring Me A Rock!. Daniel has been called “…a master of visual storytelling” by Jody Hewston of Kinderlit, and “…enchanting, versatile” by The New York Times. He believes that our stories have the power to connect us all. Daniel’s story currently takes place in Lenexa, KS with his wife, their two wonderful children, and a dog named Violet that gives them all a run for their money. His most recent books include the Newbery Honor Award Winner, The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams (March 2023) and Sometimes I Cry (September 2023).

Daniel's Featured Titles

Growing Picture Book Visual Literacy

Picture Books, Graphic Novels, and illustrated novels are rooted in visual storytelling. At their best, they strike a delicate but powerful balance between visuals and the written word. It’s what makes them such unique literary forms and why we can learn so much by decoding them. In this workshop we take a look at the structures and concepts that are the building blocks of these types of books. I believe that as our understanding of the visual language increases, so does our ability to understand an author’s intent in a nuanced way.

Who is this workshop for? For educators, bookmakers, students, or anyone who wants to grow their visual literacy through books.

Simple Story Building Project

In this workshop, Daniel walks students through the process of building the core of a strong and engaging picture book story. They create three sentences and three visuals to tell their story. We focus on answering the three biggest questions one needs to answer to make a compelling story: (1) who is this about and what is their problem? (2) what do they do about theat problem? and (3) how is their world different because of what they did? This is essentially the process he goes through with all of his books, just on a larger scale. This works for a variety of age groups.

Character Development Activity

Students use drawings to develop fictional characters and define who they are and what might be the beginning of their story. Daniel takes them through a progressive brainstorm to show how to build characters the reader can emotionally connect to.

Shape Animals

This is a fun exercise where Daniel takes students through simple basic shapes and turns them into a menagerie of imagined animals. The students are encouraged to rely on their imaginations to not draw what things are, but rather what things feel like.

Script It”

Daniel has students make a great backdrop to write their own stories while responding to his visual narrative. They focus more in-depth on the structure of a story and how words and images can play together to tell a compelling tale.

Larger Group Assemblies

Daniel tailors his assemblies and large group presentations to his audience, speaking on topics cush as how he started with an interest in art and storytelling as a child and how that led to a career as an author/illustrator; what an author/illustrator; does; the importance or reading and the essential building blocks of a story; his creative process, sketches to finished books; book readings; live interactive drawing/painting demonstrations, the final art product of which he leaves behind for the school.

“Lovely and life-affirming.” — Kirkus Reviews

“A visual pleasure.” — School Library Journal (STARRED REVIEW)

“Absolutely stunning.” — Ingram’s News & Reviews for the Youth Librarian

“A visual tale of a small moment made spectacular in the eyes of a child.” — Horn Book (STARRED REVIEW)

“Skilled draftsmanship and smart pacing distinguish Miyares’s visual storytelling…It’s a moment of childhood captured in multiple dimensions.” — Publishers Weekly

“This will likely become a repeat favorite, particularly for little ones still learning to read on their own.” — Booklist

Daniel’s Portfolio

Shop Daniel’s Artwork

Daniel’s News Posts

Honors, Awards & Recognition

Newbery Honor Award Winner
Best Book of the Year by NPR, Booklist, School Library Journal, Chicago Public Library, Evanston Public Library, Kirkus and Wall Street Journal
Texas Great Read choice, 2023
Goodreads Choice Award Nominee
ALA Notable Children’s Books
CCBC Choices (Cooperative Children’s Book Council)
Kansas NEA Reading Circle List Primary Title
NYPL 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee (IN)
Georgia Children’s Picture Book Award Finalist
Chickadee Award Nominee (ME)
Wisconsin State Reading Association’s Reading List
Society of Illustrators Original Art Show Silver Medal, 2016
Buckaroo Book Award Nominee (WY)
Kansas Notable Book
South Carolina Picture Book Award Nominee
MSTA Reading Circle List

Media clips

Publishers Weekly | Q & A with Daniel Miyares

Media Kit

By clicking the link below you will be directed to a Google Docs Folder
where you can download author photos and cover images.