Linda Ashman

Articles posted by Linda Ashman

It’s Only Stanley by Jon Agee

I volunteer as a School Reading Partner through my local school district. My job? Reading one-on-one each week with two first graders I’ll call Eva and Nick. Although the program provides reading materials, the selection is limited. So each Friday, I bring in a big bag of books hoping some …

Meet Baabwaa & Wooliam

Introducing characters can be tricky. What do we want readers to know about them? And how do we reveal these traits? In Baabwaa & Wooliam, author David Elliott takes the direct approach. He begins the book by introducing each character in turn, accompanied by Melissa Sweet‘s dignified portraits (click on …

WILLIAM WAKES UP Interview + Giveaway!

As Jill reminded us in a recent post, this business can be tough. Rejection. Disappointing sales. Occasional unkind reviews that evoke this Taylor Swift song. So it’s extra important to celebrate the good stuff. Like, say, the arrival of new books! In fact, today just happens to be the pub …

A ROUND OF ROBINS and Katie Hesterman Interview (plus Giveaway!)

So, the holiday hubbub has passed, and we’re in that long wintry stretch that has many of us yearning for spring. Yes, it’s still a few months away, but today’s book—A ROUND OF ROBINS by Katie Hesterman—offers a lovely dose of springtime to help tide us over. MORE good news: …

In Praise of Louise DeSalvo—and Slow Writing (plus Giveaway)

Recently, while skimming the New York Times obituary section, I was sad to see a name I recognized: Louise DeSalvo, author of numerous memoirs, essays, fiction and writing books. Although I didn’t know Louise, I’ve admired her from afar. Her book The Art of Slow Writing is one of my favorite …

Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise

Back in September, I led a workshop called “Writing the Rollicking Read-Aloud” at the Carolinas SCBWI conference. To prepare for it, I brought home stacks of recent-ish picture books, trying to figure out which ones to feature in my presentation. Although half the two-hour session focused on writing in rhyme, …

Time for a Scary Story! (And a Cozy Giveaway!)

Hey, it’s almost Halloween! That calls for a scary story. But not TOO scary. Luckily, I’ve got the perfect book: I Want to be in a Scary Story by Sean Taylor, illustrated by Jean Jullien (Candlewick, 2017). Why is it so perfect? Because Little Monster wants to be in exactly that …

Chatting with Jessixa and Aaron Bagley about VINCENT COMES HOME and more (+ Giveaway!)

I know we have many fans of Jessixa Bagley’s books around here (see this post and this one), so I’m thrilled to have Jessixa and her husband and collaborator Aaron Bagley visit us to chat about their recent book Vincent Comes Home (Roaring Brook Press)—and, well, lots of other good …

I’M SAD: Michael Ian Black and Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Remember the book I’m Bored from a few years ago? You know, the one by Michael Ian Black and Debbie Ridpath Ohi in which a young girl, who is bored, tries to prove to a potato, also bored, that kids are not boring. Despite all her creative efforts—spinning, singing, pretending she’s …

Smitten with ALMA and Her Magical Name

I love lists. They make me feel more organized than I actually am. So I’m going to dive right in with eight things I love about Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal: Alma! Just look at her—that sweet face, those adorable pants. The book’s premise, which …

Author: Linda Ashman