Princesses are all the rage when it comes to books for girls. And while I don’t have anything against princesses, I don’t think every girl dreams of being one. (Being treated like royalty, yes, but not actually being a princess!) Truth be told, I don’t remember having princess dreams. I do remember wanting to be… Read more »
children’s books
Exploring Emotion with “No Fits, Nilson!”
No Fits, Nilson! by Zachariah Ohora is the story of Amelia and her larger-than-life gorilla, Nilson, who is prone to some larger-than-life temper tantrums when things don’t go his way. Inspired by Ohora’s experiences with his own young children, it’s a wonderful exploration of emotion that reminds us that sometimes we can all use some… Read more »
Why Do I Do This? . . . Writing for Kids
Over the past month, I’ve had the opportunity to attend two different conferences. The SCBWI Ohio North Conference in Cleveland and the Rutgers University Council on Children’s Literature One-on-One Plus Conference in New Jersey. At both conferences, the question was raised: “Why Do We Do This?” The “this” being write for children. Contrary to what… Read more »
Fun In Your Fridge: Adventures with “Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast”
One of the awesome new additions to the picture book world has got to be “Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast” by Josh Funk. As I read the book, I kept thinking, “Man! I wish I had thought of this!” I mean, who doesn’t love pancakes and french toast? In this deliciously good tale,… Read more »
“Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla” — A Full Circle Journey
Title: Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla Author: Katherine Applegate Illustrator: G. Brian Karas Publisher: Clarion Books Year: 2014 Word Count: 566 A few years ago I read the middle grade novel The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. I couldn’t help but fall in love with Ivan, the… Read more »
