SO MUCH SNOW by Hyunmin Park

My two-year-old niece is obsessed with my fifteen-year-old copy of Lauren Stringer’s book, Winter is the Warmest Season. On her last visit, she rubbed the wintry illustrations whispering snow, snow, snow until her love wore the endpapers right out of the binding. So in preparation for her next visit, I searched the library …

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A GRAND DAY with Jean Reidy!

A million kisses!Hugs! Hooray!Our grand day begins this way.Whether planting a garden, having a picnic, or baking, any day spent together is sure to be GRAND. This rhyming, warmhearted picture book celebrates the unique bond between grandparents and grandchildren in every kind of family. ~ A Grand Day flap copy …

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Dadaji’s Paintbrush— a heart-touching tale❤️

Maybe it’s the holidays? Waxing nostalgic? But this well-written, beautifully illustrated picture book brought me to tears. Dadaji’s Paintbrush written by Rashmi Sirdeshpande and illustrated by Ruchi Mhasane is a heart-touching, heartwarming, heart-felt, tug-at-my-heartstrings, picture book. Dadaji’s grandfather teaches him to paint. They use their fingers and flowers to create …

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A NEW BOOK TO ADD TO YOUR CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

If you’re looking for a family Christmas book to read out loud, there’s still time to find CHRISTMAS FAIRIES FOR OUMA, a new picture book by Lindsey McDivitt and Katarzyna Bukier that came out this year from Familius Books. The book is about Tessa, who wants to show her far-away …

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THE LITTLE HOUSE OF HOPE Giveaway!

Today I’m pleased to interview my longtime SCBWI friend, Terry Catasús Jennings, about her latest book, THE LITTLE HOUSE OF HOPE, published by Neal Porter Books and illustrated by Raúl Colón. The book received great reviews in a wide selection of publications including the New York Times. School Library Journal’s review concluded, “Colón’s trademark watercolor …

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NCTE Build Your Stack Recap

Last weekend I attended the annual convention of the National Council of Teachers of English in balmy Anaheim, CA. The last time the convention was in person was 2019, and it was great to see many author/illustrator friends again! The NCTE convention is a great way for authors and illustrators …

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