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Debbie’s Blog

Welcome to my new blog, which now includes content from many of the blogs I’ve created over the years. You can now also access content via category from this one page instead of having to search for my individual blogs, which were scattered over various platforms and websites.

Sept. 22-28, 2013 is Banned Books Week

Banned Books Week is the national book community’s annual celebration of the freedom of read. The event was launched in 1982 in response to the surge in number of challenges to books in schools, libraries and bookstores. You can find a list of the 10 most challenged titles of 2012 on the Banned . . .




Interview: Lisa Dalrymple and Suzanne Del Rizzo on the making of SKINK ON THE BRINK (Fitzhenry & Whiteside)

Title: SKINK ON THE BRINK Author: Lisa Dalrymple – Illustrator: Suzanne Del Rizzo Publisher: Fitzhenry & Whiteside –  June 2013 I first heard about Skink On The Brink at a CANSCAIP meeting. Not only was the title intriguing, but I love the inspiring publication success story (details below). Lisa and Suzanne are popular children’s book presenters; their activity . . .






Happy International Dot Day!

International Dot Day is a celebration of creativity around the globe, inspired by Peter H. Reynolds’ book, The Dot. I was  invited to contribute to the Celebri-Dots gallery, and came up with the image above. To authors and illustrators: If you’re interested in contributing a Celebri-dot to help inspired young people, here’s more info.



Interview: Peggy Eddleman and SKY JUMPERS (Random House Children’s)

SKY JUMPERS – Author: Peggy Eddleman – Hardcover / 288 pages / Publication date: Sept. 24, 2013 from Random House Children’s Books. ISBN 0307981274. More info about the book on Goodreads. SKY JUMPERS by Peggy Eddleman is a fast-paced middle grade adventure with engaging characters and imaginative world-building. I was totally fascinated . . .




Quickie Survey Results: Have You Seen Young People Reading Ebooks?

I recently did a quickie poll on Twitter asking the following: Q. Have you seen a young person reading a book on a digital device in the past year? (where a “young person” is teenager or younger)? Approximately half of the respondents said yes: Some of the comments: “Have seen . . .