When I first heard about Laurie Ann Thompson’s latest picture book My Dog is the Best, I thought, “Brilliant! Simply brilliant!” – emphasis on the word “simply.” And the reviewers agree. “This simple, quiet story conveys the enduring bond between child and dog, with the added appeal of a joke that younger children just beginning… Read more »
Great Reads
2015 ALSC Book & Media Award Winners
Wondering what to read next? I’d start here! Congratulations to all the wonderful winners! John Newbery Medal The Crossover written by Kwame Alexander and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Newbery Honor Books El Deafo by Cece Bell, illustrated by Cece Bell and published by Amulet Books, an imprint of ABRAMS. Brown Girl Dreaming written by… Read more »
Conrad Wesselhoeft, Author of DIRT BIKES, DRONES AND OTHER WAYS TO FLY, Talks About Place.
When I read Conrad Wesselhoeft’s DIRT BIKES, DRONES AND OTHER WAYS TO FLY – if you haven’t read it, do it NOW – I had to know how my friend, fellow author, and Seattle dweller was able to pull off a New Mexico setting so spectacular, I felt like I was riding on the back… Read more »
How to Love a Squash: Pat Zietlow Miller on Finding the Universal Truth in a Picture Book
Think about your favorite picture books. Lyrical text. Gorgeous or whimsical art. Endings that make you smile, sigh or shriek with delight. And something else – satisfaction. A satisfaction that makes you want to read them again and again and again. But a brilliant rhythm won’t guarantee satisfaction. Nor will page after page of laugh-out-loud… Read more »
A Very Old Winnie the Pooh
A good friend who’s studying at Cambridge visited us over the Christmas holidays for a little skiing and relaxation. Then, a couple weeks later, we received this with his thank you note. I didn’t know that Milne was a student at Cambridge. As you can see, this was ONLY the 68th printing of the book…. Read more »
ALL THROUGH MY TOWN Book Release FUN!
ALL THROUGH MY TOWN is out today in bookstores and libraries throughout my town AND YOURS! “This adorable trip around town will be a big hit with any toddler who has ever been a passenger alongside a busy grownup with errands to run. With fun-packed illustrations for little ones to look at again and again and… Read more »
TOO PRINCESSY! tweet party and other easy ways to win!
Hooray! Today the TOO PRINCESSY! Board Book makes its royal debut. And to celebrate, I have 3 ways for you to win some super-cool prizes. 1. Tweet or retweet the following message exactly as it appears below: TOO PRINCESSY! board #bookbday RT anytime on 2/19 for a chance to win a book, bag and t-shirt…. Read more »
Pay it Forward Friday: Bridget Zinn’s POISON – Help Spread the Word!
A while back, you may remember my participation in the Bridget Zinn auction. It actually took the place of my Thanksgiving Picture Book Peek in 2010. Now I’m asking your help in an opportunity to contribute to Bridget’s beautiful legacy through her upcoming book release.Today, Bridget’s dear friend, writer and editor, Holly Westlund, is my… Read more »
How a Novelist Learned to Write Picture Books by Anna Staniszewski
My friend and agency mate, Anna Staniszewski‘s publishing success sounds a little like a fairy tale — hugely popular novels, sequels, prequels. WOW! Then, just like Jenny, the main character in her latest novel My Epic Fairy Tale Fail, Anna took on what seemed an impossible task … she wrote a picture book. So how… Read more »
Congratulations to all the ALA Youth Media Award Winners!
It’s so fun watching the live stream of the Youth Media Awards and listening to the hoopla from the crowd for these brilliant authors, illustrators and books. I feel lucky to have read so many already and excited to add so many distinguished titles to my to-read list. Here’s the press release: SEATTLE — The… Read more »
My Books
