Barbara Lowell's newest picture book is a biography of beloved cartoonist Charles Schultz. For Barbara, “writing books for children is a dream come true.” She’s been a reader since she was little. Barbara lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma with my husband and two terrific cats. She writes nonfiction and historical fiction picture books, nonfiction early readers, and nonfiction educational market books for reluctant readers. Welcome Barbara, thank-you so much for stopping by to talk abo

I've heard time and again that a picture book is a 50-50 partnership of the text and the illustrations. Often times the illustrator goes beyond the text or brings additional elements to the story. As I evaluate books, some as potential mentors, some for reviews, I am struck by the number I've recently found where the text, often very lyrical and beautiful, provides a framework, while the plot of the story exists in the illustrations. This week's #PPBF book is another such boo

Here is another of those, slightly longer, but no less delightful double posts. I met Simona in Italy, at the Bologna Children's Book Fair this year. I was immediately enthralled with her humor and so impressed by her illustrations. Here is how she describes herself: “I’m a potluck children's illustrator: half British, half Italian, half Swiss and more than a quarter French. I had a different career for many years, but art eventually lured me back to follow 'the road not take

Today I have the pleasure of featuring a debut picture book author, Bea Birdsong. Bea is a former teacher. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, son, and rescue dog named Bilbo. She spends her free time reading, traveling, and searching for hidden doors to other worlds. Her debut picture book, I Will Be Fierce, releases April 23rd. Welcome Bea, ME: Tell us a little about yourself. (Where/when do you write? How long have you been writing? How did you get started? What

I stumbled across this book at the 2019 ALA Midwinter Conference in Seattle. I couldn't wait until I found a "free" Friday to share this beautiful, touching book with you. So, I am doing an extra post for fun. Besides, the book released on April 2nd. If you liked Renato and the Lion by Barbara DiLorenzo, where a lion statute, that a boy has protected from the Nazi's, springs to life and carried him safely home and The Book Without a Story by Carolina Rabei, where the anthrop

The first improbable Rube Goldberg machine I remember seeing was in the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang movie. The "Breakfast Maker" was so enthralling and exciting. But if I'm honest, I have to admit that half the fun was watching the various mishaps that occurred with the machine. As the Rube Goldberg website notes: "Goldberg is a true success when it comes to making people laugh. He was able to draw fifty-plus years of invention comics during his lifetime. Each of those inventions

Sarah Aronson is an amazing author, writing across all genres of children’s literature. She has two young adult books, five middle grade books (four in her middle grade Wishlist series and Beyond Lucky), and a pop-up book picture book, The Princess and the Pea. Her second picture book, Just Like Rube Goldberg: The Incredible True Story of the Man Behind the Machines, released March 12th. Additionally, Sarah “loves working with other writers in one of her classes at the amazi

With the "Makers Movement," DIY and reclamation projects have experienced a surge in popularity. Add that to the ongoing environmental crisis and things our grandparents did out of necessity (canning, gardening, reusing/re-purposing) are becoming a trend. More people are interested in refurbishing items or creating new items from worn out things, becoming inventors, rather than merely consumers. Carter Higgins newest book developed from a sign she saw posted on a telephone po

Here's another of those promised, or was it threatened (?), double posts. So many great books are being released this Spring. This one is the debut picture book of B.J. Lee. B.J. Lee is a former librarian at The Boston Conservatory at Berklee. She is an award-winning poet, musician, and former piano teacher. She enjoys getting kids excited about the writing process using story, poetry, and music. She is also working on a verse novel. She lives in Florida with her husband and

Today, I get the amazing opportunity to interview Carter Higgins. Carter has worn a few hats. She is an Emmy-winning visual effects and motion graphics artist, an elementary school librarian, and the author of MG novel - A Rambler Steals Home (HMH) and two picture books from Chronicle Books: This is Not a Valentine (illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins) and Everything You Need For a Treehouse (illustrated by Emily Hughes). Her third picture book Bikes for Sale (illustrated by Zac