Category: Book & Writing Thoughts

I’m Late for National Umbrella Day, but…

[PS for Pre Script? Please see Rose Capelli’s wonderful review of Finding Family here.] Okay, I admit I missed National Umbrella Day on February 10. But it’s never too late to celebrate. Here’s the book trailer for my forthcoming board book, Puddle Song! I adore that giant rainbow umbrella on

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Walking Grandma Home

Hi, Educators! Usually on Wednesdays, I share something related to one of my books and how you can use it in your classroom or library. This week, though, I want to share about a new picture book by someone else–the lovely Nancy Bo Flood. Nature and compassion are the two

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SEL Finding Family

Finding Family Is Not ONLY a STEM Book

This piece first appeared in my January 2023 Small Reads e‑letter for educators. Subscribe here. On March 7, my first 2023 book will come out: Finding Family: The Duckling Raised by Loons. Because it’s nonfiction, the publisher (Lerner Books) will probably emphasize the science aspect when it markets the book.

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Oooh, It’s a Book Trailer!

I’ve got three books coming out in March, and I can’t wait to share them with you! Here’s the first one, coming out March 7 with Millbrook/Lerner. It’s a STEM book, but so much more, too! (More on that next week.) The book trailer goes live today! Lerner’s sharing the

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from We Belong (Carolrhoda, 2022). Text by Laura Purdie Salas. Art by Carlos Vèlez Aguilera.

The Great Kindness Challenge

January 23–27 is the Great Kindness Challenge, and I hope you’ll read this beautiful article from Bookology about the kind of change this can inspire at your school. You don’t have to go all hard core, of course. Start small if you’re feeling overwhelmed. Maybe a simple bingo card or

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Happy Holidays, Teachers!

Classroom teachers, librarians, media specialists, volunteers, home schoolers, tutors, and educators of all kinds, I hope you are finding some well-deserved rest and joy during this busy time. As the old year spins into the new, please know that your work is so important, and I’m grateful for you. Classroom

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Picture Books for Units on Family

Well, I had planned to share this book because I saw that National Family Week is coming up next month, but as I read more, I realized that that’s just a conservative political campaign of intolerance. Forget that! I hope in your own unit on family, you focus on diversity

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A Thankful Poem and Writing Activity

Teachers, I’ve got two things for you today. First, here’s a terrific YourClassical Storytime called “Lurkey Is Lost.” It’s a fun take on the “draw a turkey using an outline of your hand” activity. Make sure to have plenty of crayons ready and paper for everyone! Second, it’s the perfect

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