I've been struggling with a nonfiction biography about astronomer Nancy Grace Roman this year. Researching has been easy. I've even managed to have a telephone interview and a live interview with my subject, which is saying something considering she just turned 91 years old this past May.
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2014 was the first time I participated in Picture Book Idea Month, or PiBoIdMo. I resolved that for 30 days I would follow Tara Lazar's blog postings contributed by a different author or illustrator each day, leave a comment on the blog, and think of one picture book idea for every day, preferably associated with that day's blog. So what happened? How did I fare? I am glad to finally release this blog which I have been working on for quite some time. When you read it you'll see why it took that long. After the Audie Award finalists were announced in March I started listening to each title, and have only just finished today.
Happily, I enjoyed the majority of them and understand why they became finalists. Also, I love all the titles that eventually won their category. There are two books I did not include: one in which I was unable to obtain a copy, one I disliked due to the narrator (and subsequently did not finish), and one is included below that I did not listen to because it is #10 in a series, and I haven't read the preceding titles. I think those are the only omissions. Hopefully, you will find a title or two to recommend to youth, or to listen to yourself! Pinkalicious: Eggstraordinary Easter by Victoria Kann Being pink obsessed, a little girl goes wild when she is served pink cupcakes at a party, but when she eats one too many and actually turns pink, the little girl worries that her pink passion might have gotten a bit out of control--even for her! This sparkling picture book, filled with such favorites as pink bubble gum, pink peonies, pink cotton candy, and pink fairy princess dresses, celebrates all things pink while showing that being yourself is best of all. Pete the Cat: Big Easter Adventure by James Dean When Pete wakes up on Easter morning, he finds that the Easter Bunny needs his help! Read along to find out if Pete can help the Easter Bunny before Easter is over! This story comes complete with a poster, punch-out cards, and stickers. Duck & Goose, Here Comes the Easter Bunny! by Hills, Tad Duck & Goose are back! New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Tad Hills brings our favorite feathered friends out to celebrate spring in this sturdy board book. Duck & Goose have lots of ideas about how to find the Easter Bunny, but will they succeed? Preschoolers won't be able to resist this latest board book featuring Duck & Goose, lots of colorful eggs, and the Easter Bunny. Happy Easter, Mouse! (If You Give...) by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond Join Mouse from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie as he tries to figure out who's leaving Easter eggs all over his house! Here Comes the Easter Cat by Underwood, Deborah and Rueda, Claudia Why should the Easter Bunny get all the love? That's what Cat would like to know. So he decides to take over: He dons his sparkly suit, jumps on his Harley, and roars off into the night. But it turns out delivering Easter eggs is hard work. And it doesn't leave much time for naps (of which Cat has taken five--no, seven). So when a pooped-out Easter Bunny shows up, and with a treat for Cat, what will Cat do? His surprise solution will be stylish, smart, and even--yes--kind. |
I remember the excitement of visiting the public library as a child. The magic and suspense of reading favorites like The Velvet Room and The Secret Garden tugged at my imagination. Biographies of George Washington Carver and Betsy Ross allowed me to see the lives of those who came before me and to appreciate their accomplishments. Poetry collections like my favorite The Tall Book of Poems, which I took with me on sleepovers, introduced me to a range of poetry where I could consider how the placement and rhythm of words affected your mood – sometimes bouncy, other times melancholy. Plus, I really loved the way that book felt in my small hands. My goal in writing children’s books, I think, is an attempt to recreate those feelings, those early years of reading books where everything seemed possible.
I received an M.F.A. in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University and won the Karen and Philip Cushman Late Bloomer Award from SCBWI. I worked as a Children's Librarian for 20 years and still prefer to read books written for young people. I have two Cavapoo dogs named Prince Albert and Daisy Wu, and a black kitten named Mortimer. I am married and split time between homes with my husband Rod in Dayton, OH and in Cadiz, KY where we enjoy our pontoon boat on Lake Barkley.
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