Small Reads for Brighters Days
I have lots of wonderful teacher friends, and at the beginning of the year, many of them focus on building community in their classrooms and libraries. If you’re looking to build community, inclusiveness, and friendship skills, consider sharing two of my books, Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten and We Belong. Clover Kitty is especially relevant […]
It’s officially back-to-school time, at least according to all the school supplies I see on shelves everywhere. (Of course, by that logic, Halloween is in early September, but whatever.) Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten is all about that back-to-school anxiety that some kids feel. If you click the graphic above, you’ll find mazes, stick puppets, […]
Howdy, friends. This never posted last week, and in the busy-ness of moving, I didn’t realize it. So–ta da! Check out this amazing new profession readaloud production of Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten! Just click below to watch, or click here to go to its YourClassical Storytime page, where you can scroll down and watch […]
April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day. I used to work as a personal care assistant for young adults with autism, and that impacted my creation of Clover, the main character in Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten. She shares some characteristics with some kids on the spectrum—most notably her sensitivity to sensory input. (I share […]
Finally, Clover Kitty’s day is coming–haha! She would like to knit and nap and perhaps do seesaws with her friend, Oliver. And she’d love to be part of your cat-themed storytime! Also, here’s a listing of cat-themed picture books, plus you’ll find a fabulous readaloud of Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten on my readaloud page. […]
Last month, I got an amazing email from a kindergarten teacher in Belgium named Eleonora about my most recent picture book, Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten. She said that a friend recommended the book to her because: “(I’m autistic and very sensitive to sensory stimuli) and a kindergarten teacher. And I really, really loved it, […]
This year, the phrase “back to school” is raising anxiety levels to a new high. I’m not even a teacher anymore, and my kids are grown, but even I’m feeling the pressure. (On a less dangerous level, it’s a rather nerve-wracking time to be a children’s writer, too, as getting our books to readers is […]
It’s almost time for school to begin—in one form or another! As a kid, one of my favorite things about school was spending time in the library (these were the days before media centers!). I’m so sad that this year, many school districts facing financial hardship have laid off librarians and media specialists. I’ve worked […]
There are so many ways we can encourage kids to be good friends. And the actions that might be friendly to one child can feel totally overwhelming to another. In Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten, the other kitties aren’t really a squealing tornado of fangs and fur…but that’s how it feels to Clover. Check out […]
[Guess what? Author/artist Lydia Lukidis is also featuring Clover Kitty on her blog today–with ANOTHER chance for a giveaway! Plus backstory and writing process info. You can check it out here!) Is your child anxious about starting school? (Or are you?!) Check out the cute countdown calendar I created to go with my new […]
