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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.


Interview With Lauren McLaughlin, Mitzi Tulane Author

(Last updated: February 5, 2016) Before writing the MITZI TULANE, PRESCHOOL DETECTIVE picture books, Lauren McLaughlin worked as a screenwriter (Hypercube, Prisoner of Love, Specimen) and producer (American Psycho, Buffalo ’66, Vig, Stag, and others) in the film business and has also written several teen novels (Cycler, (Re)Cycler, and Scored). You can find out . . .



How Mitzi Tulane Was Created Part 2

Part 1 – Part 2 (Last updated May 31, 2016) Once author Lauren McLaughlin’s story was ready, Random House editor Maria Modugno sent Debbie Ridpath Ohi the manuscript. Before starting to sketch, Debbie read Lauren’s story many times: Next, Debbie began character sketches as well as figuring out how to best break up the text . . .



How Mitzi Tulane Was Created Part 1

Part 1 – Part 2 (Last updated May 17, 2016) First, you need to come up with a book idea. This is Lauren McLaughlin, the author of the Mitzi Tulane series: Lauren used to work in the film business as both a screenwriter and producer, and she is also the author of several teen novels.  . . .



Story behind the dedication page in MITZI TULANE, PRESCHOOL DETECTIVE

The first MITZI TULANE, PRESCHOOL DETECTIVE picture book launches next Tuesday from Random House Children’s! Here’s some insider info from the dedication page: mine is for my mom, who died of cancer when I was in my 20s. We didn’t have a ton of money when we were growing up, and Mom sewed . . .





Poetry for kids, poetry resources for teachers

Last year, I discovered that I’ve been pronouncing the “poem” incorrectly all my life (!!!). I was pronouncing it as ONE syllable, which made me use it incorrectly in a haiku. I’ve fixed it now as well as my pronunciation. I’ve updated the poem on my Poetry For Kids page, which includes . . .




#BookADay: RED, WHITE, AND BOOM! by Lee Wardlaw and Huy Voun Lee (Henry Holt)

#‎BookADay‬: RED, WHITE AND BOOM written by Lee Wardlaw, illustrated with amazing cut paper collage by Huy Voun Lee (Henry Holt). From a starred review in School Library Journal: “Independence Day is brought to jubilant life in this striking picture book…simple, rhyming language rich in sensory imagery…rich in texture and beautiful patterns, the . . .