You can find the phrase "my amazing critique group" all over my blog and my socials! The truth is, even if I never signed a book deal, my writing journey would have been one of the best things I've done in the last several years because of the connections I've made with my critique group. In fact, one of the most important pieces of advice I can give to new writers is to be part of a critique group! Rewind. WHAT EVEN IS a critique group?! So glad you asked :) A critique group

"I'm booooooored," If you have kids who can talk, you've heard this before. I distinctly remember my own parents' reactions when I would say this as a kid. My Mom would give me 3 ideas of things to do (2 of which always included some sort of cleaning), and if I didn't like her ideas, I had to come up with my own. Smart lady.... My Dad, a man with a degree in psychology, would happily remind me of the developmental benefits of boredom... "Being bored now will make you more cre

So far, my updates have been heavy on publishing news, with a sprinkle of my personal life thrown in. This time we're doing it the other way around. In publishing news, I'm excitedly counting down the months as my debut picture book transforms from a Word document that I've revised a million times to a real-life book that I can read, share, hold, and hug! We've signed with the talented Nabi Ali as our illustrator, and seeing the initial sketches was such a thrill! In persona

Hello Lovely Educators! It's that time of the year... spring fever is here, and we're counting down the days even harder than the students! Why not spruce up your lesson plans with an engaging and educational science-themed read-aloud? I'm feeling myself drawn to the growing, budding, blooming trees this spring, so here are a few STEAMy tree books to get you outside... How to Draw a Tree written by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Colleen Muske Use this book for: a delightful

Here is a list of nonprofit organizations that promote literacy, and access to the literature of others To support organizations that promote literacy for children and adults, consider these: Room To Read - An international organization that provides literacy instruction, child-friendly libraries , and local language children's books to under-resourced communities. This organization receives 4/4 stars from CharityNavigator.com . The Immigrant Learning Center - Among oth

Don't Trust Fish written by Neil Sharpson and illustrated by Dan Santat This. Book. Is. Hilarious . Read it to yourself. Read it to your kids. Your nieces and nephews. Your neighbors. Your eighty-year-old uncle. The lady on the bus. Whoever. Then bring it to school and read it to your students. Why? Because you need to have MORE FUN in your classroom! I recently listened to a podcast by Mel Robbins about how important FUN is . I'm now on a mission to have more fun in every a

This is NOT A Sleepy Bear Book by Brian Gehrlein and illustrated by Jennifer Harney " The classic “bear hibernation” story is turned on its head in this hilarious read-aloud full of surprises, perfect for a cozy winter read and story time year-round!" -Hachette Book Group website Another hilarious book from Brian Gehrlein hit shelves this month and it's a total bedtime story hit. It's perfect for the chilly months, perfect for snuggles, and perfect for laughs. Plus, the illu

In my fall publishing update , I explained why it takes so long (years!) for picture books to be published. What is an eager author to do in the "waiting time?" If you're writing a picture book, but not illustrating, you count down the days until your amazing illustrator signs onto your project! If you tuned in back in Winter '25 - plans have changed since then! My publisher is currently in talks with a super-talented artist for this story... and I hope I can officially shar

Those Darn Squirrels by Adam Rubin illustrated by Daniel Salmieri "From the bestselling creators of Dragons Love Tacos comes the story of what happens when a grumpy old man and some mischievous squirrels match wits—with hilarious results. Little ones and grown-ups will giggle through multiple reads of Those Darn Squirrels!" - Harper Colllins website At almost 15 years old, it's safe to call this story an "oldie but a goodie." Maybe even a great-y. Why do kids (and adults) st

My Words Flew Away Like Birds written by Debora Pearson, Illustrated by Shrija Jain "A poetically told immigration story that fosters...

The Book That Almost Rhymed - written by Omar Abed and illustrated by Hatem Aly "Every great adventure needs a hero—or two! This playful...

My Teacher Is a Monster by Peter Brown Bobby has a big problem at school. Her name is Ms. Kirby. "She’s loud, she yells, and if you...

Saying goodbye to summer is sooo hard, but a family camping trip to the Cape Henlopen Beach was the perfect way to end the season. We...