Come on a Story Safarai with Joyce Hostetter! If you've followed my blog for awhile, then you are not new to my friend and mentor, Joyce Hostetter. I have learned so much from Joyce over the twenty years that I've known her, that I'm happy she will be leading the next Write2Ignite virtual Master Class.… Continue reading Unlock Your Writing Potential with Joyce Hostetter
Fellow writers frequently ask me what I am doing to market Half-Truths. I have learned a lot from podcasts and blogs on this topic, but since becoming the volunteer publicist for my publisher, Monarch Educational Services, I now have hands-on experience publicizing books. Since Half-Truths doesn't come out until April, it's too early to say… Continue reading Nine Tips on How to be Your Own Publicist
Talking Story is live! Here is your chance to not only win LET'S BUILD A TRAIN or PRAIRIE BOY but also A GRAND IDEA by Megan Hoyt and NICK AND TESLA by Bob Pflugfelder.You can access the newsletter here. Read Megan Hoyt's backstory for her picture book about Grand Central Station, find other book recommendations, and discover… Continue reading "BUILDING" BOOKS + 4 Giveaways
Did I hook you with that title? Did you think this blog post was going to be about how to create a picture book? Homonyms can be clever--and difficult for English language learners! In this case, I'm using "building" as an adjective. The spring issue of Talking Story is coming out next week and Rebecca Wheeler… Continue reading Building Picture Books
As promised last week, I'm back again with another marvelous poetry book by Charles Ghigna. But this time, it's not just one poem It is one hundred and one! THE FATHER GOOSE TREASURY OF POETRY (Schiffer Books: 2023) is divided into seven sections. There is one section for each season, plus "Home," "Animals," and "Poetry." In… Continue reading THE FATHER GOOSE TREASURY OF POETRY: A Review and Giveaway Through Talking Story
Every once in awhile in my "career" as a picture book reviewer, I come across a book and I ask myself, "Why didn't I think of this?" BRAINSTORM! written by Rebecca Gardyn Levington and illustrated by Kate Kronreif is one of those books. From the title, to the puns, poetry, and figurative language on every page--there… Continue reading BRAINSTORM! A Word Play Picture Book + A Giveaway
Sometimes authors stumble upon their stories. And even though that story takes time to write, that initial connection remains strong when the book is brought into the world. As you'll read in the book journey below, that was the case for Carolyn Fraiser's debut STEM picture book, MOON TREE: The Story of One Extraordinary Tree (Reycraft Books,… Continue reading MOON TREE: The Story of One Extraordinary Tree– A Review, Book Journey, and Giveaway
If this is not a title and cover that will grab your attention--I'm not sure what will!Sophia Gholz is no stranger to my blog. I have reviewed BUG ON THE RUG; JACK HORNER, DINOSAUR HUNTER; and THE BOY WHO GREW A FOREST. But I must say, A HISTORY OF TOILET PAPER (Running Press Kids, 2022) is different from all of her other books.… Continue reading A HISTORY OF TOILET PAPER (AND OTHER POTTY TOOLS): A Review and 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
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!