You could say Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen have become a pretty well known team in the picture book world, aaaand I think many will agree that’s for pretty good reasons. One of those reasons is for me is Extra Yarn. It felt like something I would have enjoyed as …
This past Saturday I attended a fabulous conference — the annual SCBWI Prairie Writer’s and Illustrator’s Day at Harper College in Palatine, IL. (Okay, I might be slightly biased because I’m on the conference planning committee, but all the attendees I spoke with were thrilled with the event!) The theme …
This post does not feature a book. It stars a bridesmaid dress. (Keep reading for the takeaway.) 🙂 Back in June, I posted this on Facebook: In under an hour, my bridesmaid Heidi sent a collage to me in the comments. I thought it was too good not to share, …
Happy Halloween, everyone! I love Halloween. But I was not going to let the date of my post dictate the book I chose. I had two others in mind when I got my hands on How To Make Friends With A Ghost, by Rebecca Green. Right away I was drawn to …
When my kids were little, one of the picture books they particularly loved was Nancy Carson’s Loud-Mouth George & the Sixth-Grade Bully. As I turned pages, getting closer and closer to the moment the bully got his comeuppance, they’d be leaning into me, practically clapping, gleefully anticipating that page turn. …
Hello, all! I’m thrilled to have Stephanie Lurie, Editor-at-Large at Disney-Hyperion, here to chat with us today. Stephanie has had a long and illustrious career in children’s publishing, working with some of the biggest names in the business (as you’ll see below). I’ve been lucky enough to work with Steph …
Dan Santat is a master storyteller. I know. I’ve witnessed it first hand…well, through skype. You see, I’ve had the privilege to work (and learn) along side Dan over the past 6 or so years since we first met. And what an incredible privilege that is. I’ve seen him sculpt …
Would you mind if this post starts on a personal note? I hope it’s okay — because here goes. This morning (Monday) I attended the funeral of my dear friend Mary Dunn. I met Mary 18 years ago. She was the instructor of a writing class I took at our …
Mwah-ha-ha-ha-ha. I have a spooktacular treat for all of you boys and ghouls. Sue Lowell Gallion was kind enough to stop by Picture Book Builders and share her latest picture book, Pug & Pig Trick-or-Treat, the adorable follow-up to the equally adorable Pug Meets Pig. This, by the way, is …
This beautiful book had me smiling the whole way through with surprise after surprise. Of course a book about the man who loved books and children enough to change the publishing world forever would appeal to me from the get go. But this one went above and beyond with both …