I’ve got a brand new website, thanks to the amazing Websy Daisy Web Design! Feel free to click on the menu tabs above if you’d like to check out each page. Talented Jenny Medford did a wonderful job and it all turned out to be just the way I wanted the site to look. She’s… Read more »
children’s books
Celebrating Books!
Have you ever been to an author fair or book launch? Not only are they a lot of fun, but it’s a great way to show support for authors, illustrators, and book makers. Even if you’re not able to buy a book that day, or perhaps you’ve already preordered the book that’s being showcased, your… Read more »
2024 Picture Books
I thought I’d round up some brand new picture books that caught my eye, as well as my heart. First up, make sure you don’t miss The Little Red Chair. It won’t be released for another month, but lucky for you, you can preorder it right now from just about any bookstore or online site…. Read more »
The Pleasures of Paper-Cutting
From my first homemade paper doll to fancy detailed illustrations, I have always loved paper-cutting. There’s something about sharp scissors snipping through crisp paper. There are so many amazing traditions of this craft from around the world. To name a few, Jianzhi is the Chinese craft, Papel Picado is Mexican, Scherenschnitt is the word for… Read more »
New Picture Books featuring Animal Characters
I requested three brand new books for review and realized in hindsight that all have animals as main characters. I love animal characters. And I love how animals in picture books can live through scary or rough situations while leaving a little bit of emotional distance from the small children enjoying their stories. Besides, don’t… Read more »
New Picture Books for 2022!
Time to catch up on some picture books I’ve recently reviewed. Thanks to Candlewick Press for sharing these first three newly released (or nearly released!) books with me for an early sneak peek and in turn, a heads-up for my readers, too. FIRSTS AND LASTS: THE CHANGING SEASONS is written by Leda Schubert and is… Read more »
2022 ALA Youth Media Awards
Everyone’s been talking about the latest American Library Association awards for last year’s children’s books. It’s a great honor for authors and illustrators to show an ALA award sticker on their books. From the announcement date on, sales skyrocket. Here are some of the highlights. Winner of the 2022 Newbery Medal is The Last Cuentista,… Read more »
Strawbery Banke Fall Festival
Strawbery Banke is a 10 acre outdoor living history museum located at 14 Hancock Street in Portsmouth, NH. This restored colonial village is worth checking out. The historic houses are staffed and open for touring May 1 through October 31, from 10 am to 5 pm. They are also open for special events throughout the… Read more »
School Library Journal Day of Dialog
I’ve been remiss in keeping up this blog over the past few months, but rather than make excuses, suffice it to say, I’ve been busy and it’s great to be back. There have been several awesome events lately that I’d like to share with you. First up, SLJ Day of Dialog was held at the… Read more »
Rolling into the New Year
Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Yes? How are you doing with that? Many people start off with the best intentions, but then find it too difficult to carry through on everything. Yvonne Ventresca shares some great tips for achieving your goals here. OR, maybe it’s time to join a writing group. Marianne Knowles shares… Read more »
