It’s not easy to write a picture book for young kids that tackles a tough subject in an age-appropriate way. And it’s even harder to do so while still being entertaining. NEW SHOES by Susan Lynn Meyer does all of that and more, and it does it so very beautifully. Publisher’s summary: Set in the South during the time of
I’m so happy about the recent accolades my books have received that I’ve decided to host not just one giveaway–but FOUR! To celebrate the fact that BE A CHANGEMAKER: HOW TO START SOMETHING THAT MATTERS was a finalist for the Cybils awards, I’ll be giving away a signed copy of the paperback edition on Goodreads, here: Goodreads Book Giveaway Be
Emmanuel’s Dream received its first starred review, and it’s from School Library Journal! They called the book, “a triumph.” And they also said, “This powerful and winning picture book tells the story of a young man overcoming the odds.” and “This uplifting account will resonate with readers and supplement global and cultural studies.” You can read the full review here! And, just for
Happy Valentine’s Day to teachers and teacher/librarians! I’ve never been very much into Valentine’s Day, but when Lynda Mullaly Hunt invited me to participate in this awesome book giveaway for teachers, I jumped at the chance! Authors do love teachers, and generally, teachers love books, so it’s a perfect opportunity for us to show a little love to those who
It’s always a treat to receive an email like this from a parent: Last night I read your book to my younger daughter.… She loved the book, and decided it was her new favorite and she wanted to take it to school when it was her student spotlight week. Today she and [her brother] were fighting over it in the
With the holidays right before, I must admit that the launch party day sort of snuck up on me. I was rushing to get everything ready, had to give up on some things that I wanted to do, and didn’t have as much time as I would’ve liked to prepare. Still, I think a great time was had by all.
I woke up this morning to news that Be a Changemaker made the list of finalists for the 2014 Children’s and Young Adult Blogger’s Literary Award, better known as the Cybils, in the Nonfiction for Young Adults category. What a way to kick off 2015! The nominations in this category were varied and impressive, and the books that made the finalist
As I’ve mentioned before, I love listening to podcasts. One of my favorites is The Artist Rolls. On The Artist Rolls, Sean and Jamie ask their creative guests to fill out a form loosely inspired by character sheets from role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons. They use these character sheets to help explore and discuss how each guest divides their
Last Friday, I had the great pleasure of participating in the Annual Holiday & Benefit Party at Parkplace Books, a lovely independent bookstore in Kirkland, WA. The event was festive and well attended, and I had the chance to talk with some of my favorite local authors as well as many of the customers who came in to see us. I also got
Many people have asked me what they can do to help promote my book. Many others have already helped in ways both big and small, and I’m grateful for each and every one. If you’ve ever wondered how to help an author friend, here are some quick, easy things you can do that will have a big impact. 1. If