Several years ago, we were decorating our annual tree when I pulled out a box that was stored next to the ornaments. In it were our sons’ baby shoes. Instead of neatly wrapping them back up, I decided that they needed a new life, and hung them on the tree.
Later, I added my own little shoe, along with Ken’s. As it turns out, they make perfect decorations, and looking at them reminds me about babies and families and also about all the steps we each take between the seasons, about how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go.
Those shoes, along with the ornaments that we’ve collected over all these years together make our tree feel like our history together. So, we wrote this song to celebrate it, and now we’re passing it along to you, our kith and kin.
Not only do we have shoes, but over the past several years, my beloved friend and artist Joy Fisher Hein, has sent me a new “cat angel” each year. Here is one of my favorites.
This past summer, while participating in the Highlights Foundation Summer Institute at Chautauqua, I had the opportunity to chat with Caldecott-winning author/illustrator Eric Rohmann.
I think that some will say that Eric’s new book, Bone Dog, is perfect for Halloween, and they would be correct. But I think it’s perfect for any time of the year.
Here’s let’s hear about it from Eric himself:
Just a few notes, my homies . . . it’s not out of the realm for a picture book to have at its very heart the death of a beloved pet. But in so many cases, those books can often be heart-crushing. One of the things that sets Mr. Rohmann’s story apart is not only its straightforward nature, but its respect for the way that children cling to the notion of “forever.” I love that most about this book. And I also love the wordplay, the humor (“skeleton crew” anyone?), and the art is just right.
This is a story for all of us. It’s tender, a little scary, and funny, with the perfectest ending ever. Savor it.
Tami Lewis Brown dazzled the picture book world with her beautiful biography of Elinor Smith, Soar, Elinor!
And now, she has a brand new novel to her name, The Map of Me.
I’ve had the great privilege of working with Tami, both as a student at Vermont College of Fine Arts, and more recently as a colleague.
One thing’s for certain, Tami is a citizen of the world, so when I tried to track her down for a video interview, she was somewhere out there . . . flying, driving, sailing, riding (a horse, a camel, a lawnmower?). Let’s just say, she’s always on the move. The same could be said for her stories. They move in a way that makes them hard to put down.
So without further adieu, here’s a small snippet of The Map of Me.
A few years ago, I had the great pleasure of meeting Deborah Halverson at an SCBWI retreat in Indiana. One morning, we got up early and took a leisurely stroll through the beautiful woods of Brown County State Park. I remember being so impressed with her warmth, her humor, and her smarts.
At that time, Deborah was an assistant editor at Harcourt Brace, really just starting out in her bright new career. Since then, she’s gone on to write her own young adult novels…
…and…
Not only has Deborah embarked upon a successful career as an author, she’s also continued to work as a freelance editor, including managing and running her wonderful blog, “Dear Editor.”
All this on top of being the mom to triplet sons, Darin, Vance and Kirk!
And now, she’s cooked up something else, something that I guarantee will be of use to anyone who is interested in writing for young adults. Check it out!
This book is seriously good! And that’s not only because she invited yours truly to be a contributor . . . really . . . it’s not! In fact, there are a whole boatload of contributors, including a forward by my homie, M.T. Anderson.
To learn more, be sure to check out the other stops on Deborah’s blog tour:
“Dini has heard of hearts sinking. She has always thought that was an odd thing for hearts to do.”
Now that, my homies, is a line worth framing! And it’s only one of many terrific lines in Uma Krishnaswami’s newest novel, The Grand Plan to Fix Everything, with illustrations by Abigail Halpin. In fact, the whole story is a verbal feast of delicious,lively language. Here is storytelling that is food for the ears as well as sustenance for the heart.
It’s at turns funny, heartbreaking, and always jubilant.
When Dini’s mother receives a grant to work in a women’s clinic in Swapnagiri, India, Dini is crushed that she’ll have to leave her best friend Maddie behind in Tacoma, MD.
The only saving grace is that she might, might, might be able to come face to face with the inimitable Dolly Singh, Bollywood superstar.
But Dolly is missing, which has become something of a national crisis. In fact, there is missing in all corners of Dini’s life.
Here is Uma to talk about it all:
I am not the only one who loves this book. It has already received starred reviews from Kirkus and Publisher’s Weekly.
Don’t miss the downloadable activity kit as well, on Uma’s website.
Just like a Bollywood movie, there is a large cast, including non-human types like these guys:
No novel set in India could be authentic without a cab driver:
And here’s a photo of that red mail box that inspired Uma to include the India Postal Service in her story:
Uma is not the only gifted and talent person in her family. Her son Nikhil helped produce this brilliant trailer:
And look, look, listen, listen! There is also a GRAND GIVEAWAY.
Three lucky Grand Prize winners will each receive one copy of THE GRAND PLAN TO FIX EVERYTHING along with a starry assortment of bangles and trinkets that Dolly Singh, famous famous Bollywood movie star, would adore! An additional 3 runners-up will receive a copy of THE GRAND PLAN TO FIX EVERYTHING. To enter, send an e-mail to GrandPlanGiveaway@gmail.com. In the body of the e-mail, include your name, mailing address, and e-mail address (if you’re under 13, submit a parent’s name and e-mail address). One entry per person and prizes will only be shipped to US or Canadian addresses. Entries must be received by midnight (PDT) on 6/30/11. Winners will be selected in a random drawing on 7/1/11 and notified via email.
Just in case you missed the interview that I did with Uma about her most recent picture book, I’m posting it again for your viewing pleasure.
Before closing, I want to give a shout out to Uma’s blog, Writing With a Broken Tusk. If you didn’t notice in the video, Uma is one of the most thoughtful and resourceful folks I know. I’ve learned so much from reading her posts. She’s a citizen of the world. Check it out.
