In Search of Sasquatch by Kelly Milner Halls Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (October 25, 1011) 64 pages, ages 9 and up When I was a kid, one of my favorite books was BIGFOOT: MAN, MONSTER, OR MYTH? by Carrie Carmichael (Raintree, 1977). I’ve always been an animal lover, and I loved the possibility that there was one (or more?) out there clever enough to
Still trying to come up with some resolutions for the new year? Or would you prefer having one or two that are more pleasure than pain? Well, in the spirit of …I’ve got just the thing for you! Read more nonfiction for kids! There are two challenges out there right now to help you do just that… and share the fruits of your
The Cybils’ Nonfiction Picture Book panel for round one, which I was thrilled to be a part of this year, recently finished our deliberations. The panelists were: Fiona Bayrock (blogging at Books and ‘Rocks) Janssen Bradshaw (blogging at Everyday Reading) Susan Murray (blogging at From Tots to Teens) Cathy Potter (blogging at The Nonfiction Detectives) Jennifer Wharton (blogging at Jean
Bring On the Birds written and illustrated by Susan Stockdale Peachtree Publishers (February 1, 2011) 32 pages, ages 4 and up This is one of my favorite books of all the nominations in the Cybils Nonfiction Picture Book category this year, and I just can’t get over how absolutely perfect it is. The poetic text is a simple but elegant rhyme with spot on
Amazing Kitchen Chemistry Projects You Can Make Yourself by Cynthia Light Brown (Author) Nomad Press (May 1, 2008) 122 pages Ages: 9–12 From the publisher’s web page: “In Amazing Kitchen Chemistry Projects You Can Build Yourself, kids ages 9 and up will experiment with kitchen materials to discover chemistry. Readers will learn about atoms, molecules, solids, liquids, gases, polymers, the periodic table, the important
Picture Yourself Writing Poetry: Using Photos to Inspire Writing by Laura Purdie Salas Capstone Press, August 2011 32 pages Ages: 8 and up This title is one of the Picture Yourself Writing ____: Using Photos to Inspire Writing series, and it’s quite effective—it inspired me to write! Not only does it demonstrate how one can use images to get ideas for poems, it also
I have a confession to make. I’ve never been much of a journaler, my creativity has always been bursty, and I have never in my life had anything resembling a daily writing habit. But I really need one. “Need” is the right word, too. I almost wrote “should,” but that isn’t quite correct. It’s 1:30 p.m., and I’ve accomplished next to nothing so far
Only the Mountains Do Not Move: A Maasai Story of Culture and Conservation by Jan Reynolds Lee & Low Books, September 01, 2011 40 pages Grades 3–4 I’ve always been fascinated by the Maasai, so I was pleased to see this book about their culture written for children, and this book didn’t disappoint. Straightforward text is combined with Maasai proverbs and beautiful photography
I had such a great time at SCBWI Western Washington’s Weekend on the Water retreat this year. Nestled in a cozy lodge-style resort on the Hood Canal, 49 other writers and I had the privilege of learning from superstars Arthur A. Levine and Linda Sue Park. I wanted to capture and share just a few of the nuggets of wisdom
Author Jean Reidy’s new picture book, LIGHT UP THE NIGHT (Hyperion, October 2011) was inspired by her connections to Uganda and its children, many of whom have been displace due to past civil war or orphaned by AIDS. To celebrate the release of the book and honor those children, she is holding an online auction to benefit literacy in Africa and