Challah Day! It’s Challah Day! I get to share this book today! Sorry, I can’t help it — the fabulous rhyme and meter in this new book has me so excited (and I just can’t hide it!). Challah Day!, written by Charlotte Offsay, illustrated by Jason Kirschner, and published by …
SARA: This week I transitioned from a career in early childhood education to life as a school librarian. Two New Years by Richard Ho and Lynn Scurfield is one of the first books I put on order in my new role. It’s a beautiful story of a multicultural family celebrating …
Hello, Picture Book Builders people. To celebrate the start of a brand new school year, my friend and critique partner, Catherine Bailey, thought we could use a back-to-school book around here. As usual, that smartypants pal of mine is RIGHT. Please welcome Catherine and her thoughts on a book that …
HIDING, written and illustrated by Kate Pugsley is subtitled, “A Story About Finding Quiet in a Busy World”. There was something captivating and refreshing about this seemingly ‘simple’ book. I put that word in semi-quotes because we all know that ‘simple’ does not mean ‘easy’, and is never really ‘simple’ …
My author friend Linda Skeers is always on the lookout for great nonfiction picture books, and when she brought this one to our Whispering Woods Picture Book Retreat/Workshop last month, I liked it so much I had to buy my own copy. How often does that happen? Not often. But …
I am a sucker for art supplies. Like most artists I know, I’m a coveter, a collector, a hoarder of them. Every time I am drawn into an art supply store I am mesmerized. Overwhelmed by a feeling of “must have.” I am beckoned by pencils and paints and papers. …
Happy summer, Everyone! When Jill handed out the blog schedule and I saw that had been assigned Aug. 15th, I was like: “Why does that date seem SO familiar?!” And then I realized: it’s the 1-year birthday of BRAINSTORM!, my debut book, illustrated by Kate Kronreif! Talk about time flying! …
It’s mid-August and I am ignoring all the back to school ads urging me to buy notebooks in bulk, and the social media photos of friends’ children decked out in first day smiles and shiny, oversized backpacks. School doesn’t start until after Labor Day here and I am still deep …
Oh, people. Who doesn’t enjoy a day at the playground with a good friend? You Go First, written by Ariel Bernstein and illustrated by Marc Rosenthal, stars two good friends, Cat and Duck, who discover a brand new slide on the playground. Duck can’t wait to try it out. And …
Charming and unexpected, Most Marshmallows, by Rowboat Watkins, is a sweetly delicious delight. Its superpower is its brilliantly executed absurdity. “Most marshmallows don’t grow on trees, or come from storks, or even Mars.” The story continues to list things that most marshmallows really do do, which are ordinary tasks and …