Posts by Beth
Getting a Fresh Perspective
It’s been cold where I live — the sort of cold that gets into your bones (and makes them rattle, even when they’re well-padded, like mine. 😉 ) The church where I play the piano responded to the cold this week by holding the Sunday service in the basement. It’s toasty warm down there. But…
Read MoreMoving Forward — with learnings from a picture book
As I continue my year’s theme of moving forward, and continue to discover what that means for me, I’ve drawn some excellent learnings from a picture book. When I set myself toward a goal, no matter what that goal is, I tend to want to get to it as quickly as possible. When I make…
Read MoreThe Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips by Michael Morpurgo (MG)
Title: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips Author: Michael Morpurgo Publisher: London: HarperCollins, 2005. Genre: Middle Grade, fiction Audience Age: 9 – 12 years old Themes/topics: World War II, adventure, friendship
Read MoreA Word with Beth — Giving a Hoot about Who and Whom
No questions were submitted for this month’s Word with Beth, so I will have to wing it. I’ve called on the resident wise owl to assist me. After all, whooooo better to give a hoot about whooooo and whooooom than an owl? The use of ‘whom’ isn’t as common as it once was (rather like…
Read MorePerfect Snow — Perfect Picture Book Friday
Title: Perfect Snow Author/Illustrator: Barbara Reid Publisher: Toronto, ON: North Winds Press (Scholastic), 2009. Genre: Picture book, Fiction
Read MoreHow to Make a Picture Book — The Making of Bubblegum Princess: Part 1, Series Intro
I am delighted that Julie Gribble has agreed to do this series of blog posts on the process she went through in creating, publishing, and marketing her picture book, Bubblegum Princess, (written by Julie, illustrated by Lori Hanson). Julie’s background, as you can see from the brief post I did last month, is in film…
Read MoreCelebrating the Year of the Horse with Books about Horses
How else would a reader and a writer celebrate? There have been some cherished horses in my life, and most of them were the stuff of story. A few, like my grandfather’s prize Clydesdale, Prairie Prince, came alive for me in stories told to me by my parents, but most of the horses I knew…
Read MorePunxsutawney Phyllis — Opera Star!
My friend, the clever, creative, and fun-loving author Susanna Leonard Hill, has decided that we need a little fun in the midst of this wicked winter. Not only is Susanna all the adjectives aforementioned, but she is the creative spirit behind PUNXSUTAWNEY PHYLLIS, Girl Weather Prognosticator Extraordinaire. As you’ve probably noticed, it’s nearly Groundhog Day,…
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