David LaRochelle on Cats, Cows & Creativity (Plus a Giveaway!)

I’ve admired David LaRochelle’s books for many years, ever since reading The Best Pet of All, a clever twist on the kid-wants-dog tale. Then there’s It’s a Tiger!, which has to be one of the best read-alouds of all time. (Really. Check it out.)  So I’m thrilled that David agreed to …

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The Case for Loving

Been to the movies lately? Then maybe, like me, you’ve seen the trailer for Loving, a soon-to-be-released film about Mildred and Richard Loving, the Virginia couple jailed for their interracial marriage in 1958. The preview shows several disturbing scenes and menacing encounters, including a chilling middle-of-the-night arrest. Watching the trailer prompted …

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Anika Denise talks Monster Trucks (plus Giveaway!)

We’ve had all sorts of good news around PBB lately, and I’m thrilled to keep it going. Today, author Anika Denise is here to chat about her new book, Monster Trucks (HarperCollins), illustrated by Nate Wragg (who we all know, of course, from the wonderful Elwood Bigfoot written by our own Jill Esbaum). Publishers Weekly gave …

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Thank You and Good Night: In Praise of Classic Bedtime Stories

Our son Jackson graduated from high school on Saturday. Cause for celebration, yes, but it also has me feeling a bit nostalgic. I love, respect and admire this young man who towers over me, and love that we can have adult conversations about all sorts of things—from news headlines to …

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Little Jumbo Cheers Up Dad (& the rest of us)

So, to follow up on Eliza’s last post about appealing anthropomorphic characters, have y’all met Little Jumbo? If not, get your hands on a copy of How to Cheer Up Dad by Fred Koehler (Dial, 2014). What’s so appealing about the little guy? For starters, he’s a bit naughty. Personally, I like …

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