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 »
reading
BUSY BUILDERS, BUSY WEEK! Blog Tour Schedule
I’m thrilled to be featured on so many fabulous teacher, librarian and mommy blogs over the next two weeks. I hope you can stop by to say “hi” and to read reviews, news and interviews. Mon, Aug 22 Cracking the Cover https://www.crackingthecover.com/ Tues, Aug 23 Literary Hoots http://www.literaryhoots.com/ Wed, Aug 24 NC Teacher Stuff http://ncteacherstuff.blogspot.com/… 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 »
Tuesday for Teachers: “Time In” and “Time Out” Corners
One of the greatest pleasures of my school Skype visits is meeting amazing teachers. Susie Gruben, a first Grade teacher at Strawberry Park Elementary School in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, is one such teacher. Take a look at how she used one simple picture book to touch on 8 – you heard me, 8! – academic… Read more »
Noticings and Wonderings: The Best Questions a Parent or Teacher Could Ask While Reading Aloud.
Guest Post by Boni Hamilton One of my best memories of childhood happened at a family friend’s country farmhouse during an unexpected snowstorm that stranded us. Imagine seven kids, chattering and giggling, snuggled together in a single bedroom. Either of my parents could have squelched the noise with a look, but our friends’ parents –… Read more »
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 »
Tuesdays for Teachers: “TOO” Cool Copycat Writing
Imitation may be the highest form of flattery, but it’s also a darn good writing tool. I call it “copycat” writing. Educators call it using a “mentor text.” If you’ve read my book LIGHT UP THE NIGHT, you realize that it was patterned after the classic THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT. The structure of the… Read more »
Appearances 2015
1/30/15 Seminole Trails Elementary, West Palm Beach, FL, Skype school visit 2/05/15 Colorado Council International Reading Association Conference, SCBWI Booth, 4-6 P.M. 2/10/15 Institute for Early Learning, Alexandria, VA, Skype conference presentation 2/20/15 Abilene Elementary, Valley Center, KS, Skype School Visit 3/3/15 Overdale Elementary, Louisville, KY, Skype School Visit 3/26/15 … Read more »
Tuesdays for Teachers: The Author Q & A Video
In late 2014, a school contacted me about a week long literacy event it was hosting this month. Originally, organizers hoped to schedule virtual author visits throughout the week to go along with the program. But when scheduling became a nightmare, they came up with another idea. The Video Q&A! Classrooms brainstormed questions about books… Read more »
My Books
