K is for Kindergarten #tbt Show and Tell –part 4

Thursday, June 15th, 2017

Welcome to Show and Tell, where your fan favorites and #kidlit authors & illustrators share their kindergarten pictures and a kinder memory each #tbt.

This week’s sweet Kinder grew up to be Early Childhood Education professor and

picture book author

JaNay Brown-Wood.

 

JaNay is the author of IMANI’S MOON, illustrated by Hazel Mitchell (Charlesbridge).

Her newest picture book will be released with Charlesbridge this August:

GRANDMA’S TINY HOUSE: A Counting Story

illustrated by Priscilla Burris.

A *Publisher’s Weekly, STARRED REVIEW*

“A warmhearted tribute to the messy joys of a big, impromptu gathering.”

KIRKUS says:

“Grandma’s lucky to have all these family members, and young readers are even luckier to be invited to this wonderful family gathering.”

JaNay’s Kindergarten memory is about her IMAGINARY FRIEND:

I’ve always had a BIG imagination. Even way back in Kindergarten. I remember having an imaginary friend whose hand I would hold, and the two of us would run around the playground and go on elaborate adventures together. And we’d always have so much fun together! Good times!

PARENTS: Does your little one have an Imaginary Friend? Who knows? Maybe that vivid imagination will be the start of a picture book career some day!

Thank you, JaNay, for sharing your Kindergarten Show and Tell.

To learn more about JaNay, go to janaybrownwood.com 

BONUS NEWS for those who are still reading this post (Thanks!) :

BOOK GIVEAWAY starts June 22 on Goodreads!

***I’m giving away a SIGNED COPY of K IS FOR KINDERGARTEN***

(To be released August 15th–60 days and counting!!!)

(Sleeping Bear Press/ illus. Joseph Cowman)

Check back next week to meet the kindergartner who would grow up to be

my wonderful Sleeping Bear editor, Sarah Rockett! 

 

K is for Kindergarten #tbt Show and Tell –part 3

Thursday, June 8th, 2017

Welcome to Show and Tell, where your fan favorites and #kidlit authors & illustrators share their kindergarten pictures and a kinder memory each #tbt.

This week’s Kinder grew up to be picture book author and musician

Tim McCanna. 

Tim is the author of BITTY BOT, WATERSONG,

and his recent release:

BARNYARD BOOGIE

with illustrations by Allison Black (Abrams Appleseed).

School Library Journal recently called it, “A great title for toddlers and preschoolers; even babies would love the funny sounds. A definite purchase for any size children’s collection.”

Tim’s kindergarten memory is about the BEST BIRTHDAY PARTY EVER:

I had an amazing birthday party when I was in Kindergarten! It was very traditional with games like Pin the Tail On the Donkey, a big cake with cowboys on it, and I was surrounded by all my closest friends. My mother, however, remembers it a little differently.

Her heart was in the right place—she invited every single kid in the class of 25. She had all kinds of activities planned, including an idea where she hid jigsaw puzzle pieces around the house for us to find and then put together. But, she only had my older step-sister to assist with the event, and no parents stuck around to help. I hear that it was an exhausting few hours managing so many kids. And months later, we were still finding puzzle pieces around the house.

Soon after, a family friend told Mom to only invite a number of guests equal to the age of the child. That may be good advice, but from my 6-year-old perspective, it was the biggest and best birthday ever.

Ah, yes–with Kindergarten comes the etiquette (and pressure) of Birthday party invitations. Thank you to all the parents who made our childhood dreams come true–and never left anyone out! 

Thanks also to Tim, for sharing your Kindergarten Show and Tell.

LIMITED OFFER:

Tim is offering a picture book manuscript critique to benefit the San Francisco Writer’s Conference and EveryLibrary.org.

Here’s the LINK. Deadline 6/11/17.

To learn more about Tim, go to TimMcCanna.com.

I can’t wait for his next book: JACK B. NINJA (illus. by Stephen Savage, Fall 2017/ Cartwheel Books/ Scholastic),

Speaking of waiting, 67 days to go until August 15th, the release date for K IS FOR KINDERGARTEN, illustrated by Joseph Cowman (Sleeping Bear Press)!

**Book Giveaway info to come!

Check back next week to meet the kindergartner who would grow up to be

picture book author JaNay Brown-Wood

(IMANI’S MOON; GRANDMA’S TINY HOUSE).

K is for Kindergarten: #tbt Show and Tell

Thursday, June 1st, 2017

Ever wonder what your fan favorites

and #kidlit authors & illustrators were like as kids?

Welcome to Show and Tell, where we’ll share their kindergarten pictures and a memory of  kindergarten days each #tbt.

Antoinette Portis  “…aka The Sun Is In My Eyes.” (I have more than a few squinting pictures, myself! Do you?)

Today’s Kindergarten Show and Tell is from award-winning author/illustrator

Antoinette Portis,

whose books include WAIT!,  BEST FRINTS IN THE UNIVERSE,

 

NOT A BOX, and more.

She attended Alexander Hamilton Elementary School in Pasadena, CA.

Here is her Kinder memory: 

I was the oldest kid in my family and there was no one to give me the skinny on Kindergarten. So I went off to the big school with trepidation. It was: Oh no, not another place where I have to figure out not to get into trouble.

One day near the beginning of the year, I got caught in the rain walking the two blocks to school. I was late and sopping wet when I stepped into the classroom and expected to get bawled out and sent to the Principal’s office for committing this crime. Instead the teacher took me by the hand, led me over to the sink and dried me off with wads of paper towels. That act of kindness changed my mind about how school was going to go.  Plus, I found out I loved show and tell.

Antoinette’s newest book, NOW,

will release with Neal Porter Books/Roaring Brook Press in July:

“Repetition of the simple sentence structure makes for a perfect read-along as the author creates a lovely rhythm layered with meaning … Text and art enhance each other, both like an East Asian sumi-e painting: deceivingly simple but highly sophisticated, every mark with meaning and purpose. Portis perfectly captures how children experience the world, the immediacy and magic of it all; exuberant and quiet, simple and complex, and extremely satisfying.” – KIRKUS (starred)

“Portis (Best Frints in the Whole Universe) writes in the voice of a girl who knows what it means to live in the moment … (she) invites children to ask themselves what gives them joy, making it clear that favorite things needn’t be logical, and can be simple, silly, and fleeting.” – PW

Thank you, Antoinette, for sharing your Kindergarten Show and Tell.

To learn more about Antoinette Portis go to antoinetteportis.com. 

Do you know an almost Kindergartner who’s feeling a bit nervous about the first day?

Maybe Antoinette’s Kinder memory –and her teacher’s lovely act of kindness– will ease the anxiety, or help to start a conversation about Kindergarten jitters.

Shameless plug: My new book, K IS FOR KINDERGARTEN, illustrated by Joseph Cowman (Sleeping Bear Press) has a page about jitters too.

I can’t wait for you to see it! 

74 days to go–August 15th to be exact! (But who’s counting?)

**Book Giveaway info to come!

Next up: Part 3 of Show and Tell. Meet the kindergartner who would grow up to be author Tim McCanna (WATERSONG, BITTY BOT–and his newest: BARNYARD BOOGIE).

 

K is for Kindergarten –#kidlit pals Show and Tell

Friday, May 26th, 2017

Ever wonder what your favorite authors and illustrators were like as kids? This new blog series will share kindergarten pictures of #kidlit pals, along with a memory of their kindergarten days.

Here’s the first–and pretty adorable–

Kinder photo from author/illustrator Gianna Marino:

Gianna aka Mickey

Gianna’s memory:

When I was in kindergarten I was too shy to speak to anyone. If I was brave enough to say anything, it was to remind people to call me “Mickey.”

Gianna’s latest picture book, SPLOTCH (Viking Books for Young Readers)

–about a boy, his dead pet fish, and his well-intentioned mother (!)–

just hit the shelves:

Spot-on kid-humor and splashy illustrations are a signature of Gianna Marino’s work. The perfect follow-up to I Am the Mountain Mouse and Night Animals, SPLOTCH will not disappoint!

“…The work is amusing, making light of a possibly upsetting scenario while simultaneously giving credit to the wit and cunning of children…
The gouache and pencil illustrations are spot on.” –SLJ

“The illustrations focus on the child’s emotions, the mother’s deviousness, and the cat’s observations as a series of robust, colorful fish come through the bowl.  Pair with Goldfish Ghost, by Lemony Snicket…” –BOOKLIST

To learn more about Gianna Marino go to GiannaMarino.com.

Who knows?

If you have a shy Kindergartner in your family, maybe your “Mickey” is busy imagining future picture books and wonderful character friends of her very own!

Thank you to Gianna for sharing her Kindergarten Show and Tell.

***

Next up: Click here to meet the kindergartner who would become the award-winning author/illustrator of WAIT!, BEST FRINTS IN THE UNIVERSE, NOT A BOX, and more– including her upcoming NOW:

Antoinette Portis 

And since you’re still reading (Thanks!) my new picture book,

K IS FOR KINDERGARTEN,

illustrated by Joseph Cowman, will release with Sleeping Bear Press in

80 days.

August 15th to be exact! (But who’s counting?)

**Book Giveaway info to come!

Second Graders Accept Writing Challenge!

Saturday, April 29th, 2017

Goldie Locks Has Chicken Pox #erindealey

Mrs. Hicks’ 2nd graders from Mt. View Elementary, in Corvallis OR, accepted my writing challenge!

Behold their sequels to GOLDIE LOCKS HAS CHICKEN POX:

I love them ALL, but the rhymed ones really tickled me. Here are a few excerpts–which pieced together make quite a fun story!

illustration by Rylan

Brother Locks has chicken pox from head to toe.

Goldie recovered, as we know.

by Abby

“Brother has chicken pox?”

Goldie Locks was truly shocked…

Jack be Nimble came to play.

Brother said, “Go AWAY!”

by Mirielle

illustration by Ariella

[Goldie] –Little Red wants to play.

Today’s the right day.

by Lilly

Jack and Jill came down the hill

with a pale

Mother said,”…We took his temperature.

It went off the scale!”

by Mirielle

illustration by Phoebe

Then Bo Peep went looking for her sheep

and she saw what happened to brother.

She said, “Don’t let it spread to another

especially Mother!”

by Scarlett

The Doc came down the clock.

Then we saw the spots

on Mother’s face.

by Abby and Scarlett

[The doctor said,] “I know the cure.

You should get cheese and muffins and vinegar.”

by Abby

illustration by Brynne

Bing pop floot

they were gone.

The End!

by Abby

Awesome job, my writing friends. Congratulations to all!