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 »
Thoughts from my Books
A Beautiful Kirkus Review for A GRAND DAY!
Friends, please bear with me and my braggy posts for just a little longer because I still have two more picture books coming out this year! And A GRAND DAY, which comes out on 7/5 from SimonKIDS, Samantha Cotterill and me, just got this beautiful review!! Yay!!! Kirkus Reviews – thank you so VERY much!… Read more »
Build Community with SYLVIE and Spider Cider Tea!
You may have noticed throughout SYLVIE that a tea set plays a very important role in the story. There’s a teacup on the cover and a tea set in several of the book’s illustrations. Can you find them all? And if you turn to the very last page and look closely, you’ll see that Sylvie… Read more »
Introducing SYLVIE!
I’m thrilled to introduce you to my latest picture book! “Sylvie hung on a silvery thread from the rusty underside of a fire escape. And though it was dark and damp and disturbingly close to the dumpster, that hideout was home to Sylvie because, you see, not everyone appreciates a spider who calls attention to herself.” From the… Read more »
A Glowing GROUP HUG Review from Across the Pond!
I was thrilled when GROUP HUG was sold by the Macmillan sub-rights team for publication in the UK by Scallywag Press. And now readers the world over are enjoying this sweet story of friendship and inclusivity. So, I’m especially excited that Books for Keeps, the UK’s leading children’s book magazine, discovered it too … and… Read more »
GROUP HUG – A Perfect Valentine’s Day Gift!
Are you looking for a fresh & fun Valentine’s Day gift or storytime read? How about GROUP HUG from Macmillan/Henry Holt/Godwin Books, Joey Chou and me? Through a forest of friendly animals, our latest picture book encourages kindness and the contagious happiness that hugs can bring. Just add kisses! “This sweetly endearing charmer, highlighting kindness,… Read more »
Foreign Rights Deals for Two Favorites!
It’s extra fun when wonderful things happen to backlist picture books! ALL THROUGH MY TOWN and BUSY BUILDERS, BUSY WEEK! will now be published in China, thanks to the awesome foreign rights team at Bloomsbury! Hooray! If you’d like to find out more about these two books or purchase copies, check out these book pages:… Read more »
Three New Picture Books in 2022!
Happy New Year, friends! While this first week of 2022 has already seen its fair share of bad news, I wanted to share some good news that puts a smile on my face and that I hope will do the same for you. I have three new picture books coming out in 2022! The first… Read more »
School Library Journal Loves GROUP HUG!
And I’m loving their review! Thank you School Library Journal! “A group hug begins when one very kind slug hugs a lonely beetle. A mouse then stumbles onto the scene, and the hug expands; skunk, squirrel, and beaver follow, and so the comfort of a hug is shared with every animal that feels frustrated, down, misunderstood,… Read more »
GROUP HUG Instagram Book Tour!
I’m thrilled that GROUP HUG will be making its way through all of these awesome readers and reviewers! I hope you’ll follow along! If you’d like a copy for yourself or a young reader in your life, buying options are right here: IndieBound Barnes & Noble Amazon Hugs all around! Jean
My Books
