Books are my life. One of my adorable children does not like books. Let's call him.... Jack. Jack does not like reading.

We try, oh how we try, to find books he will like to read. We are occasionally successful- he loves the Stone Rabbit books by Eric Craddock

and the 3-2-3 Detective Agency book I mentioned last week

and the Down Girl And Sit books by Lucy Nolan

and he LOVED Knights Of The Lunch Table by Frank Cammuso

but we read every day here at our house. These books do not an entire summer of reading make! So we keep looking....

Yesterday was a VOILA! day. We found a book Jack LOVED. Oh, how I love those days.

If you have a kid like my kid Jack, and you want him to look like this:


THAT'S the book to buy. Jarrett J. Krosoczka's new graphic novel series Lunch Lady.

I gotta go back to Book World and buy the second one now- because I LOVE that smile :)

Ya'll know I don't do anything YA. But I couldn't resist this little Create-Your-Own YA Cover Challenge going on over at 100 Scope Notes (one of the best blogs around).

Two words: VERY FUN! I think I'd like a new career...


You can go to the gallery of covers to see the ones that have been submitted so far.

Here is my son Henry's, which I think is amazing, by the way:


And now, go on... I know you wanna make your own...

:)

I'm usually shouting around here about the latest funny picture book. It's no secret I adore humor in kids' books, especially the zany, laugh-out-loud kind. Give me nonsense or give me death! Ha, yeah, too much, you're right...

I do think that humor is a great way to get children's attention, but if you don't use humor, you better be a darn good storyteller.

And Shutta Crum is a darn good storyteller.


Thunder-Boomer! is Shutta's latest book. It's about a sudden summer thunderstorm on a farm and it makes for a mesmerizing read. The illustrations are a perfect match for the text. The overall design of the book creates an interesting commingling of the two, and adds fun sounds and visual interest which just add another delightful layer to the book. The language is lovely and Shutta's ability to find small details to make the story real is just terrific. I wish I could write like her.

I'm far from a capable book reviewer, but School Library Journal and Kirkus and the Horn Book all gave it starred reviews- they kinda know what they're doing. Or you can go see what Pink Me or Kids Lit has to say about it- they know kids' books! Or you can just take my enthusiastic word for it and go buy it and see for yourself. Lovely, lovely book.

:)

I just sent the dedication for my next book, Over At The Castle, to my editor. Fun :)

I saw a peek on Kelly Murphy's website at what the cover for it might look like (?! Is it? Is it? I don't know! But I love it!)

I tried to remember yesterday how the second-to-last verse of the book goes. And I couldn't remember exactly-ha!! It's been months since I did my final edits (and almost four years since I originally wrote it!) so I have it put away. I don't want to get tired of it before it comes out- I want it to be fresh and exciting again by then.

I know I complain a lot about the GLACIAL SLOWNESS of this industry, but I really do love all the tiny, little steps a manuscript takes on its way to becoming a book :)

Lily is reading

and she is loving it.

Henry is reading


and loving it. Hmmm. Well, at least his last few reads were, uh, better choices.

Like the one I'm reading, which he suggested-



which is EXCELLENT so far! The writing is WOW. I think this book is going to get it's own post when I'm done with it.

Jack is reading (and LOVING! thank you Fiona Robinson (who needs a website so I can link to it and also send you fan e-mail!)):

Those last two are Abrams books. They really put out some mighty fine books, yes they do. I'm proud to be published by them.

Yay for summer reading!

:)

Yay! I can finally shout some good news I've been dying to share:

The lovely Julia Denos, who you can learn about

here

and here

and here

and here, (I'm not a stalker, really, I'm just excited...)

has signed on to illustrate my forthcoming book,
I Had A Favorite Dress, with Abrams!

It took my editor and art director quite a while to find just the right illustrator for this project and I believe her art is the perfect fit. Thanks Maggie and Chad!

Julia's art is so beautiful- I can't believe how incredibly lucky my little book is! Now, not only will it be a fun read-aloud, it will be gorgeous to look at too. I can't wait to see what she does with it...

:)

The introvert in me loves "meeting" people online. It's just so much easier.

Then, sometimes, when I "meet" people who I think I'd really actually like to get to know and hang out with, the 5% of me that is extroverted says, "Dang! I wish I didn't just know this person online!"

Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen is one of those such people :)

We've e-mailed a few times. I've read some of her books. She has an awesome website with lots of good stuff on it.

And we share an editor! Sudipta has a great interview with her here.

AND, she just started blogging. And she's funny! What more do you need to know?

:)

Remember Doctor Ted?



Oh, Doctor Ted was awesome. I love dry, deadpan humor! And he was just SO adorable. That book is fun fun fun to read aloud.

But look- what's this?!





Wait a minute... comes out in September???! Geesh. That's a long time to wait... If I catch something on fire around here, will he come sooner?!!

:)

Tammi Sauer is pulling out all the stops for her latest book (what's weird is that even though "pulling out all the stops" is a cliche and I know how to use it, I don't even know what it "means"... hmmm) but I digress as usual. Back to my original thought...


Chicken Dance! Have you read it?

I have, thankyouverymuch. And it's F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S. Hilarious (even Kirkus says so!). And Elvis-themed. What more can you ask for, you ask...? Well, I'll tell you:

Elvis is on Twitter. Twitter!! This means he is more technologically advanced than I am- who would have thought...?

Sterling Publishing is Chicken Dancing on YouTube. I'm still trying to figure out which one is MY editor there so I can compliment her on her moves :)

Chicken Dance is in Kirkus. And they were nice! You can read the review at B&N.com

Chicken Dance has its own website! You can even download wallpapers and a template for rock-star sunglasses. Cooler than cool.

And the illustrator, Dan Santat, got some very deserving Seven-Imp love- the *BEST* kind!!

If you know me, chances are you know Tammi too- the children's books world is a small one :) BUT, if you don't know Tammi, you can get to know her here. Or here. Or just take my word for it- Tammi is going places. Wait a minute- she already IS places- she's everywhere!

I'll be honest though.... all this amazing promotion she's doing? Makes ME tired- I need a nap- ha!

:)

I am, aren't I?

I have a tendency to want to think up these Important Posts with over-arching themes and big-picture tie-ins, but then I have trouble finding the time to write them. So then I don't post- I should be writing BOOKS instead. And I don't just like to always link to other people's posts- I do like to have something original to say, and chances are you've seen the other post already anyway by the time I get to it. And often I'll see a new book coming out, but my instinct is to try to do a big "new books on the horizon" post with tons of books listed and linked, so I save it, but then I have trouble finding the time to do that too.

And also, my blog reader is SOOOOO clogged with other people's long, thoughtful blog posts which I WANT to read, and WILL read, eventually, but that I have trouble finding the time to read!

And all this made me really think about the whole blogging thing in general, leading to even fewer posts- ha!

Basically, my road to hell is gridlocked with good intentions :) And then my blog sits idle. Which is the opposite of what it's supposed to be, which is both a frequently-updated corollary to my website and a means of communicating with everyone I know all at once when I have no time to do it individually. Laziness, in a nutshell, but whatever.

SO. I'm trying to change! Short posts. More frequency. Less Self-Important Pontificating (except for, apparently, this post- ha!) Quick thoughts, random ideas, interesting-looking books, cool links and yes, regular old links to other blogs and news thrown in the mix. With the occasional long, self-indulgent post. Hopefully all book-related... enh, who am I kidding, everything in my life is book-related...

:)

It's been crazy around here lately with lots of life complications, so it was kind of a quiet day, which isn't all that bad.

Today I:

-had lunch at my favorite restaurant with my favorite people- my family. It was delicious.

-opened gifts- all things I wanted and/or picked out for myself- ha! How can you go wrong?

-had a Dairy Queen Oreo Blizzard. They are so good.

-*finished* my revision- WHOOP!! I think it's done- will have to let it sit a few days and revisit before I send it off to my agent, but I think it's good to go :) Oh my GOSH do I want to sell THIS book. To this editor. At this publisher. Badly. Oh so badly.

-watched my kids run through the sprinklers.

-learned today is also Nikola Tesla's birthday. I know he is an Important Science Person (for something Electrical-Looking... see the Google logo of the day) of Some Sort, but of what kind I do not know (or likely understand). I know of him because there is an 80's metal band named after him- ha!

-started reading a new book- one of the ones for my Lazy Person's Reading Group! I am such an over-achiever.

-showed my kids a VINYL record and played it for them. Yes, I'm old. The funniest part was the bewildered looks on their faces when I told them they couldn't jump around on the floor while it played- ha!! Now they think I'm old AND crazy. Enh, maybe I am.

-read 2 favorite picture books to my three kids at bedtime- The Best Pet Of All by David LaRochelle and Diary Of A Wombat by Jackie French. Perfection. If you know me, you know this was my favorite part of the day.

:)

If you have read the book Dying To Meet You: 43 Old Cemetery Road by Kate and M. Sarah Klise, you will LOVE the review of it Travis has posted over at 100 Scope Notes.



I just finished the book two days ago and enjoyed it tremendously (one of the main characters is an old curmudgeonly writer! like me!) so when I saw the review, I squealed just a little bit. Scope's reviews are getting increasingly creative and I'm loving them! Fun to read, they are.

However, if you haven't read this lovely little chapter book, but you click over anyway and like the review, I KNOW you'll like the book- so give it a spin!

:)

I don't know Jacqui Robbins personally. But we've become online friends and one of these days our paths will cross in Real Life and I will be able to tell her, in person, how much I enjoy her blog. It's hilarious!

Which is kind of weird, and I'll tell you why. I read her blog and struck up this online friendship before I'd ever read her book The New Girl...And Me. Our library didn't have it. And by the time I got it on inter-library loan, I was already won over by her wacky sense of humor and wild perspective on writing and life. So when I first read her book, I was expecting over-the-top hilarity- and I didn't get it. Her book was not what I expected at all! It's a sweet story, though not overly-so, and unique, and RIDICULOUSLY well-written, with subtle humor, which just isn't what I was ready for.

Since then, I've discovered other writers who don't write books like their personality suggests they would and I think I'm no longer thrown by it when it happens- but that's what I think of when Jacqui Robbins comes to mind. Which she did today, because it's her Release Day for her next book!

I haven't got my copy yet, but I can't wait to read it!! Congrats Jacqui!

:)

I have a reluctant reader in my house.

Do you have a reluctant reader in your house?

If you do, HERE is a great post for you! Wow, lots of smart advice and savvy suggestions in there....

:)

If you're reading my blog, chances are you are either related to me (Hi Henry!) or you are involved in writing for children in some way.

If you fall in the related-to-me camp, sorry, this post isn't for you. Go run through the sprinklers and come back next time :)

And if you fall in the children's writing camp, I bet you already read the Editorial Anonymous blog. But I'm going to shout it out just in case you've been living in a cave- it is practical, informative and more often than not laugh-out-loud hilarious. I just wish I knew who he/she was so I could submit my work to him/her- I rather think we'd get along like peas and carrots.

Oh, and for those of you keeping track, I'm post-published, but pre-best-seller-list. HA!!

:)

I had the most lovely day yesterday!

Leslie Helakoski, a fellow Michigan children's book author, was way up here in my neck of the state and we got together to chat. Talking about children's books with people who KNOW children's books is not an everyday thing for me- there are not a lot of people in the business who live near me to "talk shop". Just about everyone I know in the industry I have to keep up with online or at conferences.

So when Leslie did her old "I'm in the U.P." shout-out, boy was I happy! We shared some, er, cold beverages, and chatted and laughed and I had, as I said, the most lovely time. Thanks for visiting, Leslie!! Come back SOON!

I also realized, since we only talked about a fraction of a fraction of the things I wanted to discuss with such a knowledged member of my profession, that given an endless supply of TIME, I could still fill it up completely with talking children's books. I'm saying, if I had like WEEKS, I could still fill every minute. I never run out of things to discuss re: children's books.

Never.

Gosh, I love my job :)