Announcing: the American Writers Museum!

Big news! (And I mean really big.) In a few weeks — May 16th to be exact — the American Writers Museum opens in Chicago. That’s right. The first national museum featuring American writers and their works is making its home in the windy city. Talk about a must-see museum! So when AWM Program Director, Allison Sansone, recently invited me to visit, I jumped at the chance. Hope you enjoy this sneak peek of the museum.

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Who What Where? Who Done It? (and giveaway winner announced!)

  When in doubt, ask a librarian. I was chatting with my librarian friend, Sara, and asking about book shapes. I’m at that beginning stage with my next picture book and I wanted her thoughts on how different shapes work on the shelf. Sara mentioned that small books often get pushed …

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My Busy Green Garden, Author Interview + a Giveaway!

What first drew me to My Busy Green Garden (Tilbury House Publishers), by author Terry Pierce and illustrator Carol Schwartz, was its colorful cover. On it were some of my favorite flowers – daisies, lilies, a purple coneflower. Oh, wait. There were insects, too? A praying mantis, a honeybee, a …

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Under the sea…

Narwhal, Unicorn of the Sea by Ben Clanton is a marvel. An undersea romp with confidence and joy and a little bit of absurdity.   The opening line, “NARWHAL IS REALLY AWESOME,” pretty much nails this terrific little book.  It contains short tales, natural history facts, and even a song …

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Book Release: OUT OF SCHOOL AND INTO NATURE (+Book Giveaway!)

Today I’m excited to introduce Anna Comstock, the pioneering scientist featured in my newest book — OUT OF SCHOOL AND INTO NATURE (Illus. by Jessica Lanan.) Anna was an important role model who boldly changed the “rules” of her day by proving that women could be researchers, scientists, and even …

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