Hey, Coach! (and the Value of Trying Again)

0 Comments
/
One of the more challenging aspects of writing picture books…

Meeting Illustrators

One of the things I love most about writing picture books is…

Timing is Everything

I have two new picture books out this month, published a week…

One Family = Counting + Unity

One of the things I love about picture books is that they can…

Meet Kim Smith--and OVER THE RIVER & THROUGH THE WOOD Giveaway!

I really admire artistic talent (since I have so little myself),…

Celebrating the Right to Vote

1 Comment
/
When I think of non-fiction books with a distinctive voice, I…

Dog Adopts Man (and Other Role Reversals)

Manuscript feeling a bit stale? Need a fresh take on the ordinary?…

SCBWI Carolinas Conference September 2015

The SCBWI Carolinas chapter has another fabulous conference coming…

Learning from Llamas

0 Comments
/
Not sure how I missed Anna Dewdney's bestselling Llama Llama…

Zachariah OHora Interview and Book Giveaway

0 Comments
/
I've been a fan of Zach OHora's books ever since spotting one…

Queen of the Rollicking Read-Alouds

0 Comments
/
Karen Beaumont, one of my favorite picture book authors, has…

Twenty Year Anniversary and Book Giveaway

0 Comments
/
Twenty years ago this month I quit my job at UCLA to write children's…

Few Words, Plenty of Action

Author Margie Palatini is known for her lively, clever, and pun-filled…

Poetry for Picture Book Writers

Reading poetry—in particular, reading poetry aloud—can be…

You Byun and Little Baby Buttercup

To celebrate the publication of Little Baby Buttercup (Nancy…

On WHEN THE STORM COMES, Rabbit Holes and Very Rough Drafts

0 Comments
/
My office window looks out on a moss lawn bordered by azaleas,…

On Saving Old Drafts -- and TAKE YOUR PET TO SCHOOL DAY

2 Comments
/
Many years ago, I had what I thought was a great idea for a picture…

Stacy McAnulty & Planetary Humor (Plus Giveaway!)

0 Comments
/
Kids are natural scientists, yet somewhere along the way the…

Caroline Stutson and Blue Corn Soup

0 Comments
/
My friend Caroline Stutson—a gifted poet and talented storyteller—passed…

Navigating Step by Step through Your Picture Book

0 Comments
/
I recently taught a picture book writing webinar called "Strong…