Anchors aweigh! LIFEBOAT 12, my debut middle grade novel-in-verse, is in bookstores NOW! In a *STARRED* review, SLJ says, "This stirring novel-in-verse based on a true story is an edge-of-your-seat survival tale, an extensively researched work of historical fiction, and an exemplar of the form."
Also new for 2018 is SHAKING THINGS UP: 14 Young Women Who Changed the World. Take a look at my interview with Mr. Schu and the book trailer here!
Wow! ADA'S VIOLIN was named an E.B. White Honor Book! Quite the honor indeed to be in the company of some of my favorite picture books from 2016. See photos below.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
I'm very pleased to annouce my newborn book—a picture book for expectant big brothers
and sisters. Due date: February 2015. It received a big welcome from Publishers Weekly
in a featured review!
To read the whole review, click here.
GREAT WAY TO START THE MONTH
Hope you'll join me and more than 50 other children's book
authors working their magic on November 1! For more
information, click here.
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TIME TO JUST SAY BOO!
Happy Halloween to one and all!
Boo spread.jpg
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Illustration from JUST SAY BOO by Jed Henry (HarperCollins)
THE BEST ILLUSTRATORS OF 2014
A highlight of the month was attending the Society of Illustrators
Original Art show where Lane Smith and Arnold Lobel were given
Lifetime Achievement Awards. I was lucky enough to interview
Arnold Lobel for a magazine many years ago. He is missed.
FALL IS HERE AND IT'S TIME FOR . . . BOOK FESTIVALS!
I look forward to these children's book events all year. First up:
Poster by my friend Dan Yaccarino!
Who else will be there? Check out the all-star lineup here.
Then next weekend, September 27, many of us get together
again for the Chappaqua Children's Book Festival, in
Chappaqua, NY. Click here to see the list of more than 80
favorite authors and illustrators reading and signing their books.
This is going to be fun!
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Poster by Matthew Van Fleet
SLIDING THROUGH SUMMER
Wow, where did the last two months go? July and August have been a rush of writing, revising (and revising and revising), looking at illustrations, traveling, and sailing. Highlights were sailing to Martha's Vineyard and a trip to Toronto where I got to visit my friends at Kids Can Press, publisher of THE TOOTH MOUSE and my new book TICKLY TOES. Every office should be this much fun!
NEW WORK AHEAD
Feeling excited and challenged as I work on my first nonfiction picture book. Immersed in research and busy setting up interviews right now. More news to come!
In the meantime, I'm thrilled to provide a sneak peek of my new baby board book called TICKLY TOES (see cover above), available August 1 from Kids Can Press. With pictures by French illustrator Barroux, this book is a celebration of baby's first playthings—her toes—and her first success—getting those toes into her mouth!
Kirkus says, the "rhymes beg to be read aloud as they speak directly to the baby in the story and to little listeners snuggled up for a bedtime story and perhaps a toe-tickling of their own. A lovely addition to the bedtime storybook shelf." For the full review, click here.
I'd love to come to your event! Click here to contact me about scheduling a visit to your school, library, bookstore or book festival.
Download my Author Visit Brochure to get detailed information about my school and library presentations, along with testimonials and pricing.
Download Here.
NCTE Annual Convention
"Developing Identity, Empathy, and
Community through Daily
Picture Book Read Alouds"
Chair & Presenter
Jillian Heise
Grand Ballroom B
George R. Brown
Convention Center
Houston, TX
NCSS Annual Conference
Featured Speaker 9-10am
Book signing 10-12pm
Hyatt Regency Chicago
151 E. Wacker Dr.
Chicago, IL
