We live in a time when we are confronted by the complexities of race and racial identity. The deaths of Black men at the hands of police officers has challenged our collective consciousness. Recent events have left me simultaneously heartbroken for the tragedies the Black community has endured for so long, yet optimistic that we […]
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Book Review: The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Kadir Nelson
“This is for the unforgettable…and the ones who survived…and the ones who didn’t.”…“This is for the undefeated. This is for you. And you. And you. This is for us.”(from The Undefeated) The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander with illustrations by Kadir Nelson, is a powerful reading experience that highlights for children the history of African-Americans and the […]
Read MoreBreaking Barriers; Inspiring Others: Author Julia Alvarez
In early November, I had the opportunity to hear Dominican-American author Julia Alvarez (say Hoo-lia!) speak about her life and books. Julia was in Denver to celebrate her book In the Time of the Butterflies, which had been chosen as the “Big Read” for the Denver Community for 2019. Since her first novel, How the […]
Read MoreRevisiting Misty of Chincoteague
This summer I went to a writing retreat (at the beach home of my friend and critique partner, Susan) on the pleasant shores of Delaware. The house was just north of Chincoteague and Assateague, the setting of my all-time favorite book from my elementary years, Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry. I hadn’t thought about the […]
Read MorePicture Book Biographies
Picture book biographies are one of the hottest trends in children’s book publishing. From mathematicians to ancient astronomers to obscure inventors, picture books are bringing inspiration and understanding about how real people impact the world in which they live. My published works are early reader biographies, so I have experienced researching and writing about people […]
Read MoreA Blizzard of Ideas: Storystorm, 2019
I was in the doldrums. It was the end of December and I had just completed my most recent writing project. My writing life stretched out in front of me. What, I wondered, would I write next? I had half-formed ideas for the picture books I wanted to write. The ideas were best when I […]
Read MoreThe Journey from Idea to Publication: Writing “Explorations in Science”
I am pleased to announce the publication of Explorations in Science: Independent Extension Projects for Gifted and High Ability Students. The book will help teachers differentiate instruction in their classrooms for their advanced learners. A companion volume, Explorations in Social Studies,is due out in January. Gifted education was my specialty during my teaching career. I […]
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Lunch with Author Lois Lowry
I recently had the opportunity to have lunch with Lois Lowry … along with 1,184 other participants in the 2018 Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Summer Conference in Los Angeles. For me, it was the highlight of the conference. For this lunchtime conversation, the 81 year-old author was seated in an oversized […]
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Plug-Ins, Widgets and Jet Packs
Okay. I get it now. There’s more to being a writer in the 21st century than just writing. If you really wanna make it, you gotta have your “online presence,” your “author platform,” a fancy-schmancy website and up-to-date, clever blog. You need to identify your “target market” and “target audience” and be “discoverable” by current […]
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Writer’s Block…
It is a perfect day for writing. I have characters impatient to move forward, ready to endure things getting a little worse before they get better. My plot is waiting to advance and my characters are growing and changing, all according to the outline that I hammered out months ago. Two people I created are […]
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