“Story is the vehicle we use to make sense of our lives in a world that often defies logic.”
– Jim Trelease
Time to start the year with new resolutions to read aloud together! Whether you’re new to reading aloud as a family or classroom, or looking to add new chapter books to your read aloud list, here are my thoughts on the books my own family has read together recently, to spark ideas of your own!
Publishing is a daunting industry. To be a writer is one thing – to pursue publication, something else altogether. From endlessly researching agents and editors to writing queries and blurbs and bios, the path to publication can be in itself a full time job.
That’s why it’s such a welcome kindness when an opportunity like #PBParty comes along.
One of the most important skills a children’s writer can hone is their ability to catch ideas. Without an idea to write about, we don’t have much of a job. So where do we find them?
The answer for most of us is … everywhere!
Happy Birthday to Me! 
What’s better than World Read Aloud Day? A World Read Aloud Day that falls on my birthday! Join me on Facebook in the week leading up to it for some of my favorite
As a child, one Christmas my parents gifted me the book Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters, and as I held that book in my hands, something in me knew it was special. I don’t know that I had ever seen such a truly beautiful book.
Another year participating in the incomparable Tara Lazar’s Storystorm writing challenge – 30 ideas in 31 days, surrounded by inspiring authors and community support. Feel free (literally, it’s free!) to join me, at Tara’s site
Who even was I back in January 2020? Can any of us remember back that far, to a time before we experienced this past year? I certainly can’t.
Year number who knows participating in Tara Lazar’s story idea generating writing challenge! New name, same great inspiration.
Holy Cinderella Story, Batman!
If you’re an author, you’ve heard of the Imposter Syndrome. It’s where in any room filled with other authors, you feel like you’re the one who snuck in under the radar – the one who’s not quite qualified, whose work doesn’t quite’count’ for one reason or another, who isn’t a ‘real’ author in one way or another.
For the past two years, I have participated in an online writing community called 12 x 12.
Entry for Susanna Leonard Hill’s “Halloweensie” story contest. Requirements: 100 words or less, and must include any form of the words dark, haunt, and costume.
Today I have the honor of sharing a picture book pitch on the wonderful Susanna Hill’s blog as a part of her “Would You Read It Wednesday” series of posts.
I love school visits as an author. I loved them as a student, so of course they’re one of my favorite things to do now that I have my own name on a couple of books! To have an author come and speak, listen to your thoughts and ideas, and personalize a book just to you …
As a former (and always!) teacher, Read Across America Day already sings to my heart – millions of teachers, parents, and kids focused on reading great books and talking about them. What could be better??
I didn’t realize until I really started writing as a career, though, how much Dr Seuss’ work means to me as well. When