Posts about books I’m reading, book recommendations, illustrated book posts. Also see my Bookstagram!
Just finished Teresa Toten’s THE UNLIKELY HERO OF ROOM 13B. Wow, loved this book so much; it was one of those stories that made me laugh and cry at the same time. Wonderful voice. I also learned a lot about OCD. Highly recommended! I was also lucky enough to hear . . .
#BookADay: A HITCH AT THE FAIRMONT by Jim Averbeck, with very cool chapter heading comic illustrations by Nick Bertozzi. Fun and satisfying read with some great twists, and I loved the fact that young Jack is an artist. Advice for new illustrators and writers from Jim Averbeck from his interview on Kidlit411.com:”Grow a thick skin. . . .
Just finished WE WERE LIARS by Emily Lockhart. Totally lives up to the hype, I have to say. It’s a novel I definitely want to reread (if you’ve read the novel yourself, you know why). In hunting down interviews with the author, I was intrigued by the fact that Emily . . .
I just bought GO, SHAPES, GO!, a gorgeously illustrated early concept book with such a *fun* story, and it launched TODAY. I’ve been a fan of Denise Fleming‘s work ever since I saw Denise demonstrate her pulp painting process at the SCBWI Illustrator Intensives a few years ago. You can find out more . . .
Thanks to my sister for recommending this book to me. SUCH a good story. What made the book for me: the main character, Catherine. She is entirely believable, funny and flawed, and I fell in love with her right away. HIGHLY recommended. Here’s a great interview with Cynthia Lord about Rules on . . .
I’ve fallen a bit behind in my #BookADay posts because of my work schedule, but plan to catch up soon. Perfect for a relaxing Canada Day #BookADay: MISS MAPLE’S SEEDS by my friend Eliza Wheeler (Nancy Paulsen Books/Penguin, 2013). Eliza and I met when we were both picked for the 2010 SCBWI Illustration Mentorship . . .
Just finished reading SINCE YOU’VE BEEN GONE by Morgan Matson(Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, 2014). Loved this book, especially the main character, Emily. How I wish this book had been published years ago! I was very much like Emily when I was a teen: timid and insecure on my own, plus . . .
HOORAY FOR HAT is Brian Won‘s debut picture book, and was published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt earlier this year. Synopsis: “Elephant wakes up grumpy—until ding, dong! What’s in the surprise box at the front door? A hat! HOORAY FOR HAT! Elephant marches off to show Zebra, but Zebra is having a grumpy . . .
Today’s #BookADay: ONE WORD PEARL written by Nicole Groeneweg and illustrated by Hazel Mitchell (Charlesbridge, 2013). Synopsis: Pearl loves words. All kinds of words. Words make up songs, stories, poems . . . and what does a lover of words do? She collects them, of course! But one day, most of Pearl’s words are . . .
Just reread BOY + BOT, written by Ame Dyckman and illustrated by Dan Yaccarino (Knopf/Random House, 2012). Wonderfully entertaining story of friendship. On Goodreads – On Indiebound Synopsis: “One day, a boy and a robot meet in the woods. They play. They have fun. But when Bot gets switched off, Boy thinks he’s sick. The usual remedies—applesauce, reading . . .