School buses have been an inspiration for lots of picture books over the years. Just peruse any children’s library and you’ll find stories about nervous
Author: Keri Demers
Keri lives in Topsfield, MA with her husband, two daughters, and a pesky little Bichon named Buddy. She's worked in the field of Elementary Education for twenty-one years, both as a classroom teacher and as a Reading Specialist/Literacy Coach, which is her current role. Her two favorite activities in life are teaching kids and writing for kids. She's pre-published but thrilled to have finally finished the first draft of her first novel (Contemporary YA)! She's dabbled in writing picture books as well but quickly found that writing four hundred words across thirty-two pages was harder than writing an entire 50,000-word novel. She's not giving up on picture books just yet, though. Keri's a member of SCBWI and two local critique groups.
Herve Tullet’s Newest Picture Book: “Dot! Scribble! Go!” is a Must-Buy Book for Kids on the Nice List this Holiday Season!
Renowned French multi-disciplinary artist, performer, illustrator and children’s author, Herve Tullet, is a true creative genius. Amongst his many artistic talents, he’s written more than 80 books for children which have been translated into more than 30 languages.
Where to Begin with “Back to School” Picture Books?
Morning alarms are set once again. Backpacks burst with new notebooks and freshly sharpened pencils. School buses buzz around town. “First day of school” photos
A Touching Story of Sibling Conflict and Understanding in a Recently Released Picture Book: Terrible Horses
Don’t let the title fool you. Terrible Horses by Raymond Antrobus, illustrated by Ken Wilson-Max (Candlewick, 2024) is a terrific new picture book, described by
Two New Hilarious and Interactive Stories for Kids by Drew Daywalt and Donna Lambo-Weidner
Funny picture books. That’s my jam. As an Elementary Literacy Coach, I read a lot of picture books to kiddos and I recognize an adorable,
Was it a great debut picture book author I interviewed? Yes. Yes, it was!
I love me some wordplay and Laura Bontje’s debut picture book Was It a Cat I Saw? (Amicus, March 2024) does not disappoint. The clever
Just One Pebble: Interview with Picture Book Author Dianna Wilson Sirkovski
Just One Pebble is the inspirational story of how nine-year-old Braeden Mannering started a non-profit organization called Brae’s Brown Bags in an effort to end hunger. Dianna Wilson Sirkovski came across Braedan’s story on (link to website) and says, “The story reached out and wrapped its fingers around my heart.”
Novel Review: Perchance to Dream by Debut Author Tamara Belko
In Perchance to Dream, debut YA author Tamara Belko seamlessly intertwines dual points of view, one in verse and one in prose, to tell a coming-of-age story about loss and second chances.
Writing YA? Stressing Over Structure? Check Out Jessica Brody’s New Book: Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel, The Ultimate Guide to Writing a YA Bestseller
Let’s warm up with a True or False Pop Quiz about Story Structure:
THE LOUD LIBRARIAN: Written by Jenna Beatrice and Illustrated by Erika Lynne Jones
Everyone knows that all CAPS = yelling. So, yes, I AM, in fact, yelling the title of Jenna Beatrice’s debut picture book THE LOUD LIBRARIAN at the top of my lungs. Please don’t shush me because this book (2023, Atheneum/Simon & Schuster) is just too darn cute to keep quiet about!
Q: What do you get when you cross a tennis ball with some prairie dogs? A: An award-winning picture book recipe. (Obviously!)
I don’t know about you, but I see a regular, old, green tennis ball in that dog’s mouth. Author/Illustrator Janet Stevens, on the other hand, saw a mysterious green, fuzzy object from the POV of a prairie dog. And when this mysterious object rolled down a prairie dog tunnel, it caused mayhem amongst prairie dogs far and wide.
Library Girl: How NANCY PEARL Became America’s Most Celebrated Librarian by Karen Henry Clark
Library Girl (May 2022, Penguin Random House, Sasquatch Books) is an incredibly inspiring, well-crafted, true tale of unsung heroine Nancy Pearl and her lifelong commitment
Keep Calm and Ask a Librarian!
Over the past few years, in my role as an Elementary Literacy Coach, I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Tinamarie Sheckells, the most amazing Elementary Librarian a School District could ever hope for. She is kind, brilliant, humble, and possesses a wealth of information (which you will see for yourself!)
Meet the Fords: A Family You Won’t Soon Forget
On the night of that child’s 4th birthday in March 2015, they looked their mother straight in the eye (still wearing their favorite Elsa gown from the day’s birthday festivities) and proudly declared, “Mom, I’m not a boy. I’m a girl. In my heart and in my brain.”
WRITERS' RUMPUS 