Hello Picture Book Builders peeps! Today we are taking a closer look at SLEEPY SNUGGLES, the gorgeous, cozy, sweet picture book by my good friend and critique partner, Diana Murray! It is illustrated by the fantastic Charles Santoso (whom I’ve also been a fan of for years, ever since my …
I couldn’t be more thrilled today to help my friend and critique partner Kelly Conroy celebrate the book birthday for her debut, YOU ARE MY EVERYTHING, illustrated by Abigail Hookham and published by Tiger Tales/Penguin Random House! Kelly and I met in 2019 when we (along with another CP and …
I’m so excited to celebrate the book birthday of the adorable rhymer, PIGS DIG A ROAD, written by Carrie Finison and illustrated by Brian Biggs! WhooHoo! My sons would have absolutely LOVED this book when they were little as they were OBSESSED with construction equipment and trucks. (Side note: for …
As most of you know by now, Katey Howes, an extraordinary author, poet, and human, very unexpectedly passed away last month. I’ve known Katey for several years and I was so very excited that we were going to be presenting together on a poetry panel at ALA in San Diego …
Oh, do I have a treat for you all today! Allow me to introduce the amazing Lisa Varchol Perron and her fantastic just-released non-fiction rhyming board book, TELL ME ABOUT SPACE, illustrated beautifully by Jennifer Falkner and published by Little Simon. Full disclosure: The reason I know that Lisa is amazing and that this book is fantastic is …
Hello, all! Jill very kindly invited me back to share a new book, Wonder Dogs!, and a Q&A with its very talented illustrator, Karen Obuhanych. The book, written in the voice of a small rescue mutt, is a celebration of the extraordinary talents of dogs—their agility, sniffing skills, search and …
Sometimes, there’s that person in your life who just gets you. Your BFF. Your bestie. Your boo. Maybe they’re someone you’ve known forever. Maybe you’ve only just met. You might love them platonically. Or romantically. They might live close by. Or far away. Eliza Wheeler and I — with some …
If you’re a picture book writer — aspiring or published — you’ve likely heard someone say: “Don’t write your story in rhyme. Editors say they don’t want that.” Then, arguments often ensue, with some people talking about how rhyme helps beginning readers learn to process language, and other people talking …
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what makes certain picture books a pleasure to read aloud. Not to that one book-loving child (who will probably listen to anything), but to a much tougher audience—like, say, the preschoolers who show up at a library or bookstore reading, who may range …
Johnny Mathis crooning The Christmas Song My mom’s Russian Tea Cake cookies The lumpy Santa’s face pillow that’s been propped atop my parents’ sofa every December as far back as I can remember. Those things are guaranteed to put me into a mellow Christmas mood. This year, I’m excited to add …