Writing and Illustrating is magic. Don't forget you are making things appear out of thin air. ~ June Smalls June Smalls writes books that are funny, educational, odd, and entertaining. Living in Virginia with the Hubby, The Kid, and an ever-growing number of animals June writes whenever and wherever possible. Hungry to always keep learning, and just plain hungry a lot of the time, June loves zoos, aquariums, museums, nature, and food. She's the author of: Odd Animal ABC’s (20

I remember when our neighborhood was being built. My kids were little and one of our fun activities was go "peeking" and watch as the rough outlines became houses. We'd try to guess which rooms would be where. It was a lot of fun to see the wiring and plumbing that ordinarily hides behind the walls. While generally we can't wander through a skyscraper under construction, many of us have watched one being built. This week's #PPBF choice gives readers a close-up glimpse of this

The Soaring 20’s High Flying Picture Book Debuts is a group of authors and illustrators hailing from California to New York (and Canada!), who’ve joined together to help promote their 2020 debut picture books. Be sure to visit their website to “discover picture book talent on the rise.” Their website includes “behind-the-scenes posts about how these books were made; resources for using these books in your classroom or library; places you can meet these talented authors and il

“I’ve always maintained that more can be said or felt in eight or 10 lines than sometimes in an entire novel.” ~ Lee Bennett Hopkins The award-winning poet and anthologist, Lee Bennett Hopkins, published more than 100 anthologies of poetry for children over a half-century. He considered it his mission in life to get poetry into the hands of children. In one of his last anthologies, Lee compiled fourteen poems about various construction people who "collaborate to create a high

I sincerely doubt there is anyone alive (now or ever) who hasn't made some mistake, at some point in their lives. After all, as Alexander Pope said, "To err is human." Take a moment and think of the last mistake you made. Was it a teeny-tiny oops, a very minor mistake that didn't affect things very much? Too big a squirt of shampoo or perhaps too enthusiastic a rinse of a dish that soaked the counter? Or was it perhaps a gigantic, immense mistake, one that had significant con

Most recently, I have taken up aerial silks and you can find me flying through the air at my local circus gym. ~ Lisa Robinson Lisa is a psychiatrist who works with children, teens, and adults and a children's book author. She has an MFA in Creative Writing for Young People from Lesley University. She lives in the Boston area with her family and three cats. When she's not working or writing she's flying through the air with her daughters on aerial silks at her local circus st

First, I'd like to announce that the winner of Whoo-ku Haiku by Maria Gianferrari. is David McMullin! Now on to this week's #PPBF selection. I absolutely fell in love with the creative geniuses of Margery Cuyler and Will Terry in Bonaparte Falls Apart. Where the most adorable little skeleton is afraid of attending school because of his propensity to lose his bones. It contained lots of word play, endearing illustrations, and an unusual resolution - Bonaparte's friends solved

Today I have the pleasure to introduce you to four authors from the STEAM Team 2020 - who joined together to celebrate and help promote their books releasing this year. I do hope you enjoy this peek at some great books and fascinating creatives. "STEAM Team 2020 is a group of authors who have a Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math book releasing in 2020. It includes fiction & nonfiction, as well as trade & educational books.” Welcome everyone, Tell us a little abou

The Picture Book Buzz - Joint Interview w/Margery Cuyler & Will Terry

The subject of this week's Perfect Picture Book Friday pick is near and dear to my heart. Anyone who knows me, knows I love animals and nature. And that I have a particular fondness for birds. I have been a bird watcher and amateur scientist, for more years than I care to acknowledge; actively participating in The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Feeder Watch citizen science project and the Great Backyard Bird Count. So, it is no surprise that I adore Maria Gianferrari's Hawk Ris