I dedicated A GRAND DAY to my grandmother who lived with us while I was growing up – Nonna Fortuna. Her name was perfect because I felt so very fortunate to have her in my life. She was a gardener and a gatekeeper. She read to me even though she barely spoke English. She knit… Read more »
On a Personal Note
A Sneak Peek at A GRAND DAY!
My upcoming picture book, A GRAND DAY (from Samantha Cotterill, Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster and me!) celebrating the special bond between grandchildren and grandparents in every kind of family, comes out on July 5th. I can’t wait. And while I’ve not yet received my author copies, I have had some lovely sneak peeks at… Read more »
Hooray! GROUP HUG is out today!
Hooray! GROUP HUG is out today from Macmillan/Henry Holt/Godwin Books, Joey Chou and me! Kirkus Reviews calls it “a captivating winner.” Publishers Weekly says it “radiate(s) a sense of unalloyed communal joy.” And School Library Journal calls it an “excellent storytelling experience.” If you’d like a copy for yourself or a young reader in your life, buying options are right here: IndieBound Barnes &… Read more »
It’s a grand day for GRAND DAY!
You all know how obsessed I am with my grandkids! That’s why my latest book deal is a dream come true! As a matter of fact, when I first began to brainstorm the story, my third grandchild had just been born and I had recently learned that my fourth was on the way. I’ve drawn… Read more »
Engaging the Picture Book Crowd
Whether it’s through quiet, cuddle time, conversation or comic relief, engaging the picture book crowd is a delightful task. I like to tell young readers that when we read a picture book, we don’t just decipher the words. We talk about it. We explore it. We discover it. We relate to it. We might move… Read more »
Busy Builders, Busy Week! Book Bash Day 3
Welcome, friends, to Day 3 of my BUSY BUILDERS, BUSY WEEK! Book Bash. In my latest book, each day of the week features a colorful cast of animal characters and a different construction activity as the digging, dumping and ‘dozing lead up to one stupendous surprise! So, it seemed only fitting that for a days-of-the-week… Read more »
In the Hands of a Great Librarian …
FUN = Attending a “Things That Go” story time at the amazing Koelbel Public Library and watching the hilarious and energetic librarian, Lori Noreen, bring ALL THROUGH MY TOWN – and many more wonderful picture books – to life. Thank you, Lori, for letting me spy on your greatness! … 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 »
Clear the Clutter to Open Up Creativity
Whether it’s the clutter on your desk, the clutter in your fridge or the clutter in your mind, clutter equals stress. And stress and clutter take up valuable creative brain space and creative energy. A great exercise for transitioning into the new year is to take care of your non-creative business so that you can… Read more »
Much Joy This Holiday Season
Sorry, I’ve been a little distracted the last few weeks. And here’s why. My lovely granddaughter was born.So while my blog has been a little empty, my heart has been very, VERY full.I’ll be back on the blog next week! Wishing you all many blessings in the New Year!Jean
