From the moment the reader opens this book, she will know that Jeanette Rankin was a hard worker. As a teenager, Jeannette was someone who was as quick to help a hurt horse as she was to help her mother care for her six younger siblings. She was a "take-charge" girl.REVIEWJeannette grew up in Montana, but… Continue reading A TAKE-CHARGE GIRL Blazes Her Way To Congress: The Story of Jeannette Rankin. A REVIEW, 2 INTERVIEWS, and a GIVEAWAY
Margriet Ruurs was the author expert in the recent issue of Talking Story on "Libraries Without Walls." She has published a plethora of nonfiction picture books so I decided to ask her a few more questions. Here are her answers as well as a chance to win one of her award-winning books, My School in the… Continue reading A CONVERSATION WITH MARGRIET RUURS and a GIVEAWAY
I always enjoy supporting my fellow SCBWI-Carolinas writers, particularly those who live in Charlotte. Today I'm bringing you Chrystal D. Giles' debut novel, TAKE BACK THE BLOCK (2021: Random House Books for Young Readers).REVIEWI spent the morning of my eleventh birthday carrying a sign that read WE WERE HERE FIRST.How do you like that for a dynamic… Continue reading TAKE BACK THE BLOCK: A MIDDLE GRADE REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY
If you've been following my blog for a while, you may remember my post on Shannon Hitchcock's book, Saving Grandaddy's Stories. I'm happy to share two more books that Shannon has written about unsung Appalachian artists. I love these books so much that I'm saving one for my granddaughter who I'm teaching to sew. The illustrator… Continue reading 2 Picture Books by Shannon Hitchcock, 1 Giveaway
Last May I reviewed Annette Whipple's fourth book in the "Truth About Series," RIBBIT! Reycraft Books has just released the fifth book in the series, MEOW! I'm delighted to share some snippets and a brief interview with author, Annette Whipple. REVIEWIn keeping with the kid-friendly format that Annette began with SCURRY! The Truth About Spiders, MEOW! answers the… Continue reading MEOW! The Truth About Cats a STEM Picture Book Review, Mini-Author Interview, and Giveaway!
Every once in a while you read a book and feel the passion that the author brings to the topic. That is the way EVICTED! (Calkins Creek, 2022) struck me. This upper-level narrative nonfiction will be a welcome addition to classrooms when studying African American history and civil rights. I have featured both the author, Alice Faye Duncan, and the illustrator, Charly… Continue reading EVICTED! The Struggle for the Right to Vote: A Middle Grade Picture Book Review, A Giveaway, PLUS MORE!
Dorothy Price and I go way back. We were members of the Charlotte SCBWI critique group I don't know how many years ago! I was delighted to share her debut picture book, Nana's Favorite Things, and today I'm happy to share her new chapter book series, JALEN'S BIG CITY LIFE (Capstone: August 2022). The bright, lively illustrations are… Continue reading JALEN'S BIG CITY LIFE: Four Chapter Books, an Author Interview, and a Giveaway
Along with the many fine books that Sleeping Bear Press publishes, they also have a line of alphabet books. Two years ago I reviewed H is for Honey and T is for Thor and today I'm bringing you a new title, F is for Feathers: A Bird Alphabet. I have featured both the author, Helen Wilbur, and the illustrator,… Continue reading F is for Feathers: An Informational Picture Book Review and Giveaway
Yes. Phantasmagoric is really a word. Go look it up! But, just make sure you come back here afterward. It's a hard word to pronounce. But the story is well worth the tongue-twisting effort. Beth Anderson's newest picture book is everything that Franz Gsellmann's fantastic world machine was: Creative! Imaginative! and full of Discovery! REVIEWFranz was a very curious… Continue reading Franz's Phantasmagorical Machine: A Picture Book Biography, Author Interview with Beth Anderson, and Giveaway
North Carolina picture book author, Shana Keller, is no newcomer to my blog. Some of you may remember Bread for Words, Tick Tock Banneker's Clock, or Fly, Firefly--her three other engaging books published by Sleeping Bear Press. Her fourth book, Peach Pit Parade is illustrated by Margeaux Lucas. The soft tones Ms. Lucas used speak of Polly's love… Continue reading THE PEACH PIT PARADE: A World War I Story. An Historical Fiction Picture Book Review and Giveaway