I have the great pleasure to introduce you to another debut author/illustrator, Sophie Gilmore. Sophie is an author and illustrator now living in Pisa, Italy. While making this book, she was living on a houseboat in London, England, and like the beasts in this story, she is happiest around water. And just like her beasts, she has a wicked sense of humor. Her debut picture book, Little Doctor and the Fearless Beast, releases March 15th. Welcome Sophie, thank you for taking the

Encouraging curiosity about the world, nature, and why things happen and providing space for the messy experiments and creative endeavors necessary to find the answers is a fun part of the job for parents and teachers. This is a story for the child who's ever wonder how certain things (a prism, glass of water, or a crystal) can make a rainbow on their wall when the light is right. As well as those curious about the moon. Aliana Reaches for the Moon Author: Laura Roettiger Ill

Debut author, Laura Roettiger, claims her "superpower is encouraging curiosity in children and letting them know she believes in them." Which obviously worked, as her three children are all employed in STEM related professions. Her debut book Aliana Reaches for the Moon, releases tomorrow. Thank you Laura for stopping by to talk with us. ME: Tell us a little about yourself. (Where/when do you write? How long have you been writing? How did you get started? What is your favorit

I couldn't help myself this week. I found two great picture books. So, I am doing two #PPBF posts this week. Ever find a book that you read over and over? Maybe so many times that it had to be taped together (or heaven forbid, a replacement found)? A book that you tried to sleep with, hugged to your chest, and cherished? Then this book is for you. Or, perhaps, could you be one who believes that everything talks? Someone who loved Toy Story and The Velveteen Rabbit. Maybe you

I love watching the birds and animals that frequent my yard. Last summer, year we were lucky to see babies of four woodpeckers (Pileated, Flicker, Downy, and Hairy), juncos, sparrows, wrens, and towhees. As for animals, we've heard baby coyotes learning to howl and occasionally seen fawns totter through. Most often we've watched baby rabbits and raccoons scramble around the yard. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), the majority of them do not make their homes in my yard; bu

I get the privilege to introduce you all to a relatively new, upcoming author/illustrator "from across the pond," Carolina Rabei. Carolina loved drawing “ever since she was very small." She's spent eight years studying Fine Art, attaining a BA in Graphic Design in Moldova, and then achieving a distinction in Children’s Book Illustration at the prestigious Cambridge School of Art in 2015. She's illustrated a four book series for author Walter De La Mare. Her second book, as th

Varsha Bajaj's story began in Mumbai, India. The books she read as a child by Enid Blyton, Carolyn Keene, and Mark Twain sparked an interest to travel and explore these strange distant worlds she and her sister found in these books. Arriving in the U.S. for grad school, she felt welcomed by the Mississippi river, as if she'd found an old friend. (Check out her web page for more about Mark Twain and her biography). I'd like to introduce you to Varsha. In addition to her sweet

Outgoing or shy, everyone has been on the outside looking in at some point; trying to figure out how they fit into the world, where their talents and interests lie, or how they can make a difference. It could be as a child discovering what activities they enjoy, a new graduate figuring out what to do next, or an adult changing careers or re-entering the workforce. Pat Zietlow Miller has done it again. Teaming up with Patrice Barton's lively and sweet illustrations, she's crea

Pat Zietlow Miller took time from her busy spring - two book launches (one this month, one in March) to spend a little time visiting with me. Did you know that Pat "started out as a newspaper reporter and wrote about everything from dartball and deer-hunting to diets and decoupage"? Now, Pat successfully writes "insurance information by day" and amazing "children’s books by night." Boy aren't we glad she does! I have to admit she is one of my favorite picture book authors. An

Growing up on Star Trek and Star Wars, I always wondered if there was life on other planets. And agreed with Carl Sagan (and Jodi Foster's character in Contact) that if there isn't other life, then there is an awful lot of wasted space. It's exciting when scientists find new planets, discover new facts about old favorites, and maybe, just possibly, find a planet that could support "life." But will that "life" be what we are used to, or something so amazing and fantastical tha