Sometimes, people tell me they’ve always had an idea for a picture book. And, sometimes, when they tell me what their idea is — A toothbrush that joins forces with some dental floss to fight crime! An explanation of why all children are special told in the style of Geoffrey …
Penny Parker Klostermann hit it big with her sparkling debut, 2015’s There Was An Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight (Random House, illus by Ben Mantle). Now she’s tackled an original and funny mash-up story that stirs together fairytales and a guy whose fondest desire is to be a chef. …
(Ed: WARNING: This is another self-serving/indulgent post.) I found this on my porch late yesterday afternoon…What could it be? Oh yeah, author’s copies of my new book… I’d COMPLETELY forgotten all about this. Totally skipped my mind. Hadn’t thought about it since I turned the final art edits …
I’ve long admired Laura Purdie Salas’s poetry and picture books. I’m also kind of moon-nutty. So after reading Laura’s latest—If You Were the Moon (Lerner 2017)—I was eager to have her visit us here at PBB. And, look—here she is! AND there’s a giveaway! As always, to win a copy …
This week I’d like to share with you, The Gold Leaf, by Kirsten Hall and Matthew Forsythe. A truly beautiful book! There are a number of things I appreciate about this book, such as the use of color with the gold leafing inside this book – but that was last …
Exciting news! My picture book biography about Jane Addams, DANGEROUS JANE (illustrated by Alice Ratterree) releases from Peachtree Publishers September 1st — just in time for Jane’s birthday on September 6th! So I’d like to celebrate Ms. Addams by sharing a bit of my research, interviewing illustrator Alice Ratterree, and offering a …
Honk! Honk! Honk! Zoe Waring and I have a book that will be vrooming onto the scene on August 15. Truck, Truck, Goose! stars a silly goose who, unbeknownst to him, causes one terrific truck traffic jam during his quest to have the perfect picnic in a nearby roundabout. This, …
Everywhere, Wonder written by Matthew Swanson and illustrated by Robbi Behr surprised me in a wonderful way. The story begins by addressing the reader, “I have a story to share. It is a little gift from me to you.” We set off on our imaginative journey. At first we are …
I visited Nerd Camp Michigan this summer — a gathering of teachers, librarians, writers and artists — where I had the great good fortune to see an advance copy of a book by Carter Higgins and Lucy Ruth Cummins called THIS IS NOT A VALENTINE. The book doesn’t release until …
A friend recently introduced me to Phyllis Root’s new book, ANYWHERE FARM (Candlewick, illustrated by G. Brian Karas). The farming/gardening side of me rejoiced to see another book of the “plant a seed” variety, and, from the very first page, the writer side of me happily absorbed Ms. Root’s cheerful, …