Confidence is one of the most important skills a child can develop—and it plays a huge role in learning to read. For children ages 4–8, confidence often determines whether reading feels exciting or overwhelming. That’s where picture books come in. Picture books aren’t just tools for learning letters and sounds. They help children see themselves … Read more
I always love featuring books that entertain and educate … and when they are written by one of my dear kid lit friends, that makes it even more enjoyable! Author Liliana Tommasini and I met at Miriam Laundry’s Believe Conference in Canada last fall … and what a wonderful event for picture book authors. When … Read more
Fall means it is time for brilliant colored leaves in shades of red, orange, yellow, and purple. It’s time for the sweet and warm smell of cinnamon, pumpkin spice, and hot apple cider. And pumpkins, bright orange pumpkins in all sizes. For me, it is also time for a fall refresh for this blog! Hello, … Read more
Whether you’re just starting out or deep into your publishing journey, one of the most powerful tools in your writing toolkit is read picture books like a picture book author. It’s not just about enjoying the story — it’s about analyzing structure, language, pacing, and illustration interplay. In my last post I challenged you to read … Read more
Last weekend I had the pleasure of participating in a library author event for picture book and teen local authors. It went seamlessly because I like preparing for a library event. Want to know my secrets? Keep reading. In person author events are wonderful. I enjoy meeting parents, teachers, children and other authors. I love … Read more
Let’s be honest, picture book critiques are hard. Whether you are giving the critique or receiving a critique. Over the last few years I have participated in several critique groups. Some groups were a good match and others, not so much. The critiques however, were always respectful and useful. I have just joined a new … Read more
I am celebrating Little Free Library Week by sharing my books. Copies of Gertie Saves the Day and Two Wins for Wiley were added to my local Little Free Library. I sign each copy and add a note. Sometimes, I get an email from a child who has just read my book. It is a … Read more
I was invited to be on a radio show recently. Naturally, I was very excited because being invited is a big deal. To say things did not go as planned would be an understatement. I was as disappointed as a Kansas City Chiefs fan. This would have been an excellent opportunity to talk about my … Read more
With Valentine’s Day this week, I thought I would write a love letter to picture book writers. Picture books have always been a part of my life. When I was not reading them to my third grade students, I read them to my daughters and now I am reading picture books to my grandchildren. Is … Read more
This year World Read Aloud Day (WRAD) will be on February 5, 2025. It is an annual celebration bringing attention to the importance of sharing stories by challenging participants to grab a book, find an audience, and read-aloud! Reading aloud to children is a fun way to connect with them and inspire their love for literature … Read more
