Dear friends, It’s been a truly memorable few weeks. First, with my daughter’s engagement. Second, with the birth of my third grandchild. Third with the announcement of my 3-book deal with Harper Collins. And now TRUMAN winning not just one, but two major awards. I’m overcome with gratitude. But as you might expect, my excitement… Read more »
News
TRUMAN and PUP 681 are both finalists for the Colorado Book Award!
With all of the other headlines lately, I forgot to mention this. Both Pup 681 and Truman are finalists for the Colorado Book Award. Colorado Humanities and Center for the Book will announce the winners today at this virtual ceremony right here on Facebook Live. https://www.facebook.com/events/261107828598260/ Lucy Ruth Cummins, Ashley Crowley, and I couldn’t… Read more »
Low-Tech, At-Home Learning: Seeing the World Through Tortoise Glasses
When you change your point of view, your world grows. And that’s a beautiful thing. The following activity shows young readers what it might mean to walk in someone else’s shoes – or see from their glasses if you will – changing their perspective or point of view. It’s based on my book, Truman. And… Read more »
Low-Tech, At-Home Learning: Yukky and Yummy Plates!
When we think of at-home learning, we can’t forget the younger set. Here’s a simple activity I did with kindergartners who were cracking up over my book TOO PICKLEY! You don’t need to have the book in front of you to do the activity, but it’s obviously more fun if you do. And you can… Read more »
Low-Tech, At-Home Learning: Color a Bedtime Quilt
Hi friends, I’m so thrilled that teachers and librarians are re-discovering my book LIGHT UP THE NIGHT. Because while it’s certainly a cumulative verse bedtime book, it’s also an early social studies, science and geography lesson about earth, space and a kid’s sense of place. And, interestingly, the activity below is a math activity and… Read more »
Low-Tech At-Home Learning: Create a Playground Blueprint
When we’re stuck inside, there may be no better time to dream about the great outdoors – walks in the park, riding bikes, a game of tag … and what about that perfect playground? All through my book Busy Builders, Busy Week! young readers find clues as to what our animal characters are constructing. They… Read more »
Low-Tech At-Home Learning: Truman’s Obstacle Course
Students at Emerson Elementary in Elmhurst, IL – under the direction of awesome librarian Lauren Blanford – were the first to try this fun activity. And it’s a perfect STEAM project to try at home. While it’s based on my book Truman, illustrated by the amazing Lucy Ruth Cummins, you don’t need the book in… Read more »
Low-Tech At-Home Learning: Onomatopoeia Poems
Hi all, In the middle of this global crisis, parents, teachers, caregivers, librarians, publishers, authors and illustrators are all rising to the challenge of at-home learning. I’ve been trying to do my part by supplying links to my FREE Curriculum, Activity and Storytime Guides linked to learning standards for all my books. But I also… Read more »
TRUMAN is a Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book!
With the grand ALA award celebrations swiftly approaching (and yes, I’ll be rising early to tune into the live stream of excitement) other awards sometimes get overlooked. One of those is the Charlotte Zolotow Award – it is one of the only major awards given for picture book text. Here’s the description from the award… Read more »
Appearances 2020
New appearances are added daily! 2/6/20 CCIRA Denver 10:30-11:30 Noticings Wondering and Listerner-Led Read Alouds 2/7/20 CCIRA Denver RMC-SCBWI Panel 4:00 2/10/20 Willowbrook School Visit, Glenview, IL 2/11/20 Westcott School Visit, Northbrook, IL 2/23/20 … Read more »
My Books
