When I was in grade school, I hated rope-climbing day in gym class. I was skinny and gawky and uncoordinated, so I’d hang desperately two feet off the ground while my more athletic classmates reached the ceiling with ease. I didn’t think I was strong. In Jen Hill’s and my …
When you finish reading this post, go straight to Carolyn Crimi’s website, if you will, and take a look at her books, books, books! LOTS of them will be familiar to you, including her Golden Kite winner that many (like me) consider a PERFECT book, There Might Be Lobsters. When …
As a child I remember having an affinity for bugs. At least certain species of bugs. Ladybugs, roly-poly bugs, fireflies, etc. I don’t remember having any particular fear of bugs, other than some “bugs” I would never encounter living in the Pacific Northwest—scorpions and tarantulas. I really wasn’t even that …
Meet Chloe. She’s the new baby in our house. (Well, at about 8 months, more like a big, goofy teenager, but an eager to please baby, nonetheless.) Anyone who knows me knows I’m dotty for doggies, so I couldn’t wait to check out Annette Whipple’s newest nonfiction title, WOOF, THE …
Christina Soontornvat, a two-time Newbery Honor-winning author, is here to tell us about the creation of THE RAMBLE SHAMBLE CHILDREN! Written by Christina and illustrated by Lauren Castillo, this sweet picture book received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Horn Book, and School Library Journal. From School Library Journal: “No need …
If you think you’ve seen a plethora of picture books featuring trees lately, you would not be wrong. Both fiction and nonfiction tree books have been sprouting up everywhere. This makes me super happy because I love trees. I even named my dog Tupelo. He gravitates toward water — especially …
Psst! Tammi here. Do I have a (doggy) treat for you! My pal Janee Trasler and her pup Pixie Belle are filling in for me this month. Please welcome Janee and PIxie Belle! Thank you, Tammi, for inviting me to write a guest post. You know what, Picture Book Builders? …
This is one of those random, doesn’t-quite-fit-the-usual-PBB-blog-mold, posts. Full disclosure, I have been on vacation. And I am so darn excited to get to say that— especially after this past year and however many months, that we have all endured and suffered through. I called our trip, “The Great Reinhardt …
I like picture books. I also like libraries. So, it stands to reason that I’d really like a picture book about a library. And, I do like DEAR LIBRARIAN, a new book by Lydia Sigwarth and Romina Galotta from Farrar Straus Giroux. It’s based on Lydia’s childhood and the time …
Don’t worry. I’m not going to interview myself. Or these two characters. I used OUTSIDE THE BOX in my post title because it was this book’s acceptance … …that sparked this year-long feature. (If you’re new to PBB, I’m chatting each month with a picture book creator who’s also writing …