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, …
In Prince and Pirate, by Charlotte Gunnufson, illustrated by Mike Lowery, two completely different fish, one a prince, the other a pirate (thus the name of the book,) living in their own private domains (fishbowls) are scooped up by some greater force from above (with a net) and plopped into …
Hey, folks! Here’s a challenge for you: Write an alphabet book. Use just one or two words per page, starting with an A-word on the first page and proceeding through the alphabet till the final Z-word on the last. Make it appealing to kids just learning their alphabet, full …
Hello again! As an author and an illustrator, I really enjoy studying how different illustrators work – what makes what they do, or how they tell a story, great. Isabelle Arsenault is an award winning author/illustrator who’s work is immediately recognizable as hers. It’s very different from my own, and …
Big treat on Picture Book Builders today! The fabulous, non-fiction queen, April Pulley Sayre, is joining us to share a few details about her upcoming book, FULL OF FALL, releasing from Beach Lane Books next month. The book also includes gorgeous photographs taken by the multi-talented April. I’ve been a …
Typically, I like to share books that are new to the scene, but, in case you have never read the oh-so-scrumpious Carnivores, written by Aaron Reynolds and illustrated by Dan Santat, I decided to do a short and sweet post about it. Description from the publisher, Chronicle Books: The lion …
It’s raining, it’s pouring in Sam Usher’s glorious new picture book appropriately titled “Rain”. I had it in the back of my mind for a while to post about it just because I’m dying to scream out to all of you, “HOW DOES SOMEONE PAINT WATER LIKE THAT?????”, but I …
I know. I KNOW. It feels like summer vacation just started. You’ve barely cleaned out your kid’s backpack from this past year. You still have friends’ graduation parties to attend. You haven’t even taken a vacation. But the calendar does not lie, my friend. Now that July 4 has passed …