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  • I AM ONE by Susan Verde, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds

    By Beth | September 19, 2020

    The wonderful and creative Susan Verde and Peter H. Reynolds, who have brought us such books as The Museum, I Am Yoga, and I Am Peace, among others, have collaborated on another inspiring book — and I think this may be their best yet! In the wake of the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, many…

  • KidLit Distancing Socials — THE place to be on Tuesday evenings

    By Beth | September 15, 2020

    Since March 2020, when we all had to retreat to our homes and could no longer meet in person, the wonderful Laura Backes Bard and Jon Bard of the Children’s Book Insider have been hosting weekly online meetups for writers and illustrators called KidLit Distancing Socials. NOTE: As of summer 2021, they are now known…

  • EVERYWHERE BOOK FEST, May 1&2

    By Beth | April 24, 2020

    I want to alert everyone to the fabulous event coming up ONLINE on May 1 and 2 — it’s free, and features amazing book people — authors and illustrators of picture books, middle grade novels, and young adult novels. It’s just what we need in this time when we’re all staying home, staying safe, but…

  • Donna Martin and her HISTORY’S MYSTERIES — author interview

    By Beth | January 15, 2020

    Today I’m delighted to feature my dear friend, Donna L. Martin. Donna and I have been online friends for years, and I’ve been following her progress as a writer with joy and admiration. Thank you, Donna, for agreeing to this interview. First of all, I want to congratulate you on your newest venture, HISTORY’S MYSTERIES.…

  • Lydia Lukidis, author of NO BEARS ALLOWED — interview

    By Beth | September 23, 2019

    I’m very happy to welcome Lydia Lukidis to my blog today! Thanks for participating in this interview, Lydia. For those of you who don’t know Lydia, she has several books published – mainly as work-for-hire projects – and recently her first “all hers” picture book came out. We’re celebrating that book today! NO BEARS ALLOWED…

  • Post-Launch Interview with Debut Picture Book Author, ASHLEY FRANKLIN!

    By Beth | July 25, 2019

    My dear online friend, Ashley Franklin, recently launched her debut picture book, NOT QUITE SNOW WHITE, illustrated by Ebony Glenn, and it’s now available, delighting and empowering young readers everywhere. Here’s a link to the publisher’s website. I’m grateful to have been watching the preparations for this launch, and to have been retweeting my fingers…

  • It’s VALENTINY Time! Susanna Hill’s Pretty Much World Famous Valentine Contest, 2019 edition!

    By Beth | February 13, 2019

    Yes, it’s time once again for one of Susanna Hill’s Pretty Much World Famous and Totally Amazing writing contests — THE VALENTINY CONTEST! The rules are simple. Write a Valentine story for kids, no more than 214 words (2/14. Duh.) in which someone feels guilty. And so, without further ado (or adon’t) I present my…

  • FIERCE: WOMEN WHO SHAPED CANADA by Lisa Dalrymple — MG

    By Beth | February 10, 2019

    I’ve just started reading this, and had to come to my blog to urge you to find it and read it too. From the blurb on the back cover, “Meet 10 remarkable women you’ve probably never heard of. They battled bears and cougars, traversed mountains and extreme terrain, endured hardship during wartime and challenged ideas…

  • LOVE LIKE SKY by Leslie C. Youngblood (MG)

    By Beth | December 26, 2018

    This is another book that I’m just setting down long enough to post about it, then going right back to reading. It is moving and real. I was immediately drawn to G-baby (Georgie), the main character, who is trying so hard to get used to being part of a “blended-up” family. She’s torn between a…

  • Julie Hedlund’s 12 Days of Christmas for Writers 2018 Edition!

    By Beth | December 20, 2018

    Woohooooooo! Julie Hedlund has just announced the 2018 edition of her fabulous 12 Days of Christmas for Writers. If you read my post on Monday, you’ll know I’ve been pacing around with my fingers crossed, eagerly awaiting this announcement. To find out more and to sign up, go to this link: 12 Days of Christmas…

  • The Importance of Taking Stock and Setting Goals in a Writer’s Life

    By Beth | December 17, 2018

    In this brief time before the end of the current year and the beginning of the New Year, I like to pause and look back over what I have achieved – and what I haven’t achieved – and what I want to do in the coming year. I do this in a variety of ways.…

  • MERCI SUAREZ CHANGES GEARS by Meg Medina (MG)

    By Beth | December 11, 2018

    Just a few pages in, I can already tell this book is going to be excellent. Author’s website Publishers Weekly review Horn Book Review