Small Reads for Brighters Days
We’re coming up on July 4—the day the United States celebrates its independence. Lots of picture books also celebrate independence, since it’s a crucial journey kids embark on. This includes my newest photo picture book, Secrets of the Loon. In it, Moon Loon has to learn LOTS of skills to become independent! To extend the […]
When I sign my book Meet My Family for readers, I write the above phrase. And when I read it out loud to groups, I invite kids to look for an animal family in the book that has something in common with their own human family. It’s fun to see kids’ eyes open wide when […]
Looking for examples of great dads to share with young readers for Father’s Day? My new picture book Secrets of the Loon illustrates how both loon parents share all the responsibilities, from guarding the nest to giving hatchlings piggyback rides to feeding the chicks. You can expand the reading fun by partnering my title […]
A third-grade teacher emailed me last week to say she was using Snowman-Cold=Puddle to teach metaphors to her ENL students. She wondered if I could share anything with her. I did, and then I thought, this might be useful for other teachers, too! So, here’s what I told her. Thanks for your question! First off, […]
It is always a treat when a group of dedicated educators and readers choose your book for something and love it enough to create resources around it. I’m honored that the Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom program has selected A Leaf Can Be… as its May Book of the Month. And they made an awesome […]
It’s almost Earth Day! It’s a great time to pull out my Can Be… books, which all celebrate our planet. And if you want some book-related activities, go here to find links to teaching guides, activity sheets and more! The focus this year is on plastic pollution, so you might also look for Loree Griffin […]
Hello, Kidlitosphere! We’re up to Stop 6 on my Meet My Family blog tour! Today, thoughtful educator Catherine Flynn is sharing some writing her kindergartners did in response to Meet My Family. Wait until you see the book they made! Catherine is not only a super nice person, but she’s an empowering, passionate educator as […]
March 22 is World Water Day, and I hope you’ll consider sharing my book, Water Can Be…. It shares, in engaging rhyme and with gorgeous art by Violeta Dabija, the many important roles water plays in our world. Plus, I donate a percentage of my royalties to WaterAid, a fabulous water charity! Here’s my water […]
Happy Valentine’s Day! I love the nice review that Publishers Weekly gave Meet My Family! recently: In a tender celebration of family, more than 20 baby animals describe the ways the adults in their lives care for them. A baby beaver has lived in one home for all of its life, but an orangutan infant […]
Charles Drew, an African American doctor, was the director of the American Red Cross’ first blood collection program in 1941. That same year, the Red Cross announced it wouldn’t accept blood from African Americans. An outcry from many African Americans forced a change in the program, but the Red Cross kept blood from African Americans […]
