Giveaway

Flying Solo as an Unaccompanied Author/Illustrator by Berrie Torgan-Randall (+ a Giveaway!)

Please welcome children’s book author/illustrator Berrie Torgan-Randall to Frog on a Blog! You may be familiar with the first book in her Bella & Blue early reader graphic novel series, Bella & Blue: Bella Meets Blue, which came out a few years ago by The Little Press. And, if you’re a fan, you’ll be thrilled to know that the second book in the series is due out in 2027. (Plus, you can win a copy of Bella & Blue: Bella Meets Blue by leaving a comment on this post!)

But today we’re celebrating Berrie’s debut picture book Just Ducky: A Friendship Takes Flight, which officially publishes on October 1, 2025, by Cardinal Rule Press. Berrie stopped by to talk a bit about the ups and downs of her publication journey as an unagented author/illustrator. If you’re a children’s book creative currently in query mode, this post is for you! Let’s hear from Berrie!

Flying Solo as an Unaccompanied Author/Illustrator

by Berrie Torgan-Randall

I have a big sister who is two years older than I am, and, since I wasn’t much of a talker, she declared that she would be my spokesperson for a good part of my childhood. To give you another glimpse into my childhood and personality, in elementary school, I preferred to stand in the shadows (a hard thing to do as a tall kid). The school subject where I did shine, however, was in the art room. I loved everything about art class—the burlap and glue collages, the linoleum prints, and the smell of the tempera paint. In pursuit of this passion, I went to art school where I took all sorts of fine arts classes.

After graduating from art school, I ended up working in a couple jobs that weren’t very creatively gratifying. I reconsidered my career options and remembered the joy of my time spent in the library. My mother is a librarian, and my sisters and I spent many hours exploring the children’s section of our local library. My mother moved a lot after my parents divorced. Fortunately, as a librarian, she was able to find a job wherever she moved to. Seeking job stability, I went to grad school to become an elementary school librarian. Being a librarian is my bread and butter, a profession that I love. However, my true passion is illustrating and writing children’s books. After my youngest child went to middle school, I had the opportunity to work on making my passion a reality.

In order to learn about the craft of writing and illustrating books for children, I joined and volunteered for SCBWI and attended numerous conferences, which started my long journey to publication. Along the way, I learned about the “three Ps” (Passion, Perseverance, and Patience).

I already had the passion part down with daily drawing and had heard from others that I would be more marketable if I was also an author. I wrote stories about my childhood, as well as memories based on my children’s trials and tribulations and the silly antics I remembered about students when I worked as a librarian.

Every time I attended a conference, I asked to meet with an agent. For the most part, the agents that I met were helpful, offering constructive criticisms about my portfolio and dummy books. In the years spent pursuing my dream, only one agent expressed interest in seeing more of my work. When I reached out to her after the conference, I heard crickets chirping (in other words silence on her end). Every time one of my author or illustrator friends found an agent, I had to tamp down my inner green-eyed monster and politely say congrats. I had heard that finding the right agent is a combination of timing and luck. I realized my early lack of success didn’t mean that I would never be picked up by an agent or that I should stop picking four leaf clovers; it just meant that I needed to keep trying. I had to remember the other two P’s: perseverance and patience.

I have had success flying solo without an agent with hard work and determination (passion). Every week, I make myself participate in a self-imposed ritual of “Marketing Monday” where I spend at least one morning researching agents, editors, and publishers and send submissions of my dummy books and portfolio samples. While researching publishers a few years ago, I came across a publisher who promotes creatives from New Jersey. The majority of my childhood was spent in a small New Jersey town across the river from Philadelphia. I thought I would give it a shot and write a query letter with a link to my portfolio. A couple months later, an email came, a phone call, and then a contract!

Another success story happened after I submitted the manuscript for my book Just Ducky during Cardinal Rule Press’s yearly open submission window. While meeting with a dear friend who helps me with my writing and editing, I got an email from Adam Blackman at CRP who let me know that my submission had been chosen out of over 1000 entries! As an extra bonus, I am CRP’s first ever author/illustrator. These small but mighty presses opened up doors for me, and I proudly became a published author.

My first-born daughter, who recently moved away from her nest of friends in Brooklyn to Sweden to attend grad school, wrote a weekly blog and included a quotation that says, “Do It Scared. Do It Weird. Do It Alone.” I relate to this quotation because it describes my journey to becoming a published author/illustrator. When I go into an interview with an agent, I go with hope (mixed with fear) in my heart that this agent will be the one who will offer me a contract. When this opportunity doesn’t happen I cry, get angry, and sulkingly remember it takes patience, perseverance, timing, and luck to find the right agent.

I have learned through experience that it’s best to go into a review with the right attitude. I choose to listen carefully, take everything in, absorb the suggestions as well as the criticisms, and then begin the process of making changes–it’s a marathon not a sprint. As the quotation literally suggests, it’s okay to be scared. I choose not to be intimidated by others (even the professionals I meet, the illustrators with stunning portfolios, and the authors who win prizes).

It’s also okay to be weird. Creative people are often considered weird. They don’t fit into a mold, and doing it weird is a sign of originality.

Finally, doing it alone isn’t the same as failing. Just keep speaking up for yourself, listening to what others have to say about your work, absorbing the feedback, and expressing what you want to express. There are no guarantees, but if you are following your passion, you are doing what you are meant to do–writing and/or illustrating books for children.

“Do It Scared. Do It Weird. Do It Alone.” Love this quote! Thanks, Berrie, for sharing your publication journey. I think we’ve all learned that with passion, perseverance, and patience, we can find success as children’s book authors and illustrators!

Berrie Torgan-Randall is an author/illustrator working from her home studio in Media, PA. Berrie’s illustrations have appeared in Ladybug Magazine, and her debut early reader graphic novel, Bella & Blue: Bella Meets Blue, was published by The Little Press Publishing in 2022. The second book in the Bella & Blue series is to launch in Spring 2027 titled Bella & Blue: Postcard from Paris. In addition, Berrie’s debut picture book Just Ducky: A Friendship Takes Flight is set to soar in October 2025, published by Cardinal Rule Press. Berrie is Cardinal Rule Press’s first author/illustrator.

Learn more about Berrie and her books by visiting:

Website: http://www.berrietr.com/

Instagram: blue.berrie 

Bluesky: @berrietr.bsky.social

Giveaway!

Berrie Torgan-Randall is generously offering a copy of her book Bella & Blue: Bella Meets Blue to one lucky winner. Just leave a comment on this post by October 7th. I’ll choose a winner at random and connect them with Berrie. This giveaway is open to US residents only. Good luck!

Interview Alert: Joyce Uglow (+ 2 Giveaways!)

I’m so excited to welcome picture book author, poet, and educator Joyce Uglow to Frog on a Blog! Joyce’s beautiful nonfiction picture book Stuck! The Story of La Brea Tar Pits published in March by Bushel & Peck Books and features gorgeous illustrations by Valerya Milovanova.

Joyce writes lyrical children’s literature about nature, science, and our planet, and her writing motto is “Be curious. Stay unwaveringly committed to seeking answers.” No doubt it’s that curiosity that led her to write about the La Brea Tar Pits, a subject that I, too, find fascinating. Let’s get right to Joyce’s incredible and thoughtful interview! Read to the end to find out how you can win either a signed copy of Stuck! The Story of La Brea Tar Pits or a picture book manuscript critique! (All text and images in this interview are copyrighted by the author or illustrator)

Congratulations on the publication of your fascinating new nonfiction picture book Stuck! The Story of La Brea Tar Pits! Tell us a bit about the book and what inspired it.

JU: Lauri, thank you so much for inviting me to Frog on a Blog to share my debut nonfiction picture book.

Stuck! The Story of La Brea Tar Pits is a lyrical origin story of the most active urban excavation site in the world. To those who’ve never been to LA, it is a surprise to find La Brea Tar Pits located in Hancock Park on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, CA. This is where asphalt still seeps to the surface from underground. It is more than a simple origin story of the animals getting stuck or pulled out as fossils, however.

Stuck! is really about staying aware, being curious, and finding ways to search for ponds without bubbles. And climate change…mega change in fact!  

I was immediately sucked in and taken aback by the incredible stories that got stuck in what is called “the tar” in English (or “la brea” in Spanish). I began my research by standing and staring at the massive exhibits in the museum at La Brea. Smilodon fatalis (A.K.A. Saber-toothed cat) captivated me. I knew I wanted to tell Smilodon’s story. I read research and newspaper articles online and books about the Tar Pits. I traveled back to LA and attended a workshop for educators. Learning a great deal along the way, I introduced myself to La Brea paleoecologist. Dr. Emily Lindsey and paleobotanist, Dr. Regan Dunn. They agreed to chat with me online via Zoom. In those conversations, I shared the text and preliminary artwork to ensure the accuracy.

La Brea Tar Pits holds the best record of Ice Age ecosystems anywhere on earth. Millions of fossils, encompassing everything from mammoth tusks and tree trunks to snake jaws and beetle wings, have been found in the La Brea Tar Pits. Over the past century, these fossils have led to some of the biggest discoveries in paleontology, giving scientists insight into the biology, behavior, and ultimate demise of some of prehistory’s most charismatic players. This includes evidence about the largest extinction event since the dinosaurs disappeared.

Valerya Milovanova’s illustrations are so detailed and dynamic. What were your thoughts when you saw the completed art for the first time?

JU: Valerya Milovanova’ artwork brings soft greens and blues to the black of the asphalt seeps and browns of the unearthed fossils. The story begins by showing Harlan’s Ground Sloth meandering for a drink. The tension is noticed in the first spread as unsuspecting sloth gets stuck.

I was given the opportunity to take a look at Valerya’s art at an early stage and twice more before our book went on to its first printing. I could not stop smiling. We made a couple of changes in the art. The spread below shows the museum’s fossil lab. In early art, the two scientists were men. I asked for a change to depict Dr. Emily Lindsey and Dr. Regan Dunn. I love it!

Why are picture books, particularly nonfiction picture books about animals and nature, important for children? And do you think your background as an educator affects your writing?

JU: Science is often pulled from the news and made into picture books. I find it fun to take intriguing information and pare it down into kid-relatable narration using lyrical language. I especially love writing about bees, trees, families, cave art, parks, rocks—anything that makes me ask questions. Truthfully, I remember my own childhood questions. I must have driven my parents and teachers bonkers. 🙂

Picture books are the perfect way to enrich school curriculum, provide discussion talking points for family vacations, and enjoy the beauty of our world. As an elementary classroom teacher, I used picture books to teach writing, add to our social studies and science lessons, and to enjoy.

Yes. Almost four decades with students definitely gives me a leg up on thinking like a kid and reacting like a teacher who teaches the kids in front of me. I believe in teaching the child rather than teaching the book.

Spoiler alert… In the final spread of Stuck!, a dragonfly soars above the city of LA in search of a spot to lay her eggs. She flies on rather than getting stuck in today’s stickiness in the park. In my author visits, I like to draw attention to curiosity and the importance of asking questions. But I also talk with kids about avoiding “sticky situations”. School counselors can use picture books to get kids talking in much the same way. You know, finding a pond without bubbles.

The hooks in Stuck! include: paleontology, paleoecology, paleobotany, fossils, Ice Age animals, climate change, environment, and, in general, STEM (science, technology, engineering, math). One of the coolest things I found in my research is that fossils contain records that can provide information for the future.

For example, La Brea researchers connected human-caused fires to the largest extinction event (Ice Age) since the dinosaurs disappeared. Humans coexisted alongside Ice Age megafauna for 2,000 years. Charcoal remains were found in Tar Pits fossils in the last 300 of those years. Hmmm… the drying, the warming, the loss of plant life with subsequent loss of herbivores and then carnivores, the fires… Stuck! is a book that connects everyday with Earth Day, National Fossil Day, and the impact of humans on the environment. Whether I am speaking to kids and adults at book stores, library story times, or schools, I connect Stuck! The Story of La Brea Tar Pits to caring for our planet. I hope that someday humans will reduce the use of plastic, plant and plan for the future. We have the knowledge. By acting responsibly, we can stay clear of ponds with sticky bubbles.

You’re also a poet. Do you write poetry for children or for adults? And would you share an excerpt from one of your poems?

JU: I’ll start my answer with some literacy research cuz that’s who I am too. 🙂

Reading one to three picture books to children per day over a year’s time is proven to enhance children’s quantity and quality of emotion vocabulary exposure. Picture books provide the opportunities for emotional literacy development that is needed for children’s capacity to construct and categorize their own and others’ emotional experiences. It also facilitates learning from others, enabling children to affectively align in peer interactions. “Picture books contain vocabulary that is more emotionally intense than models of child-directed speech, and picture books typically feature narratives containing emotional situations and opportunities for emotion talk.” (Source of the information above.) Poetry goes hand in hand with writing picture books.

I write kidlit poetry and love to condense my research findings into spare text for picture books.  

From mid-March to mid-April, Cindy Mackey, fellow picture book poet and I hosted a STUCK! Bumblebee Poetry and Illustration Challenge on Instagram, BlueSky, and SubStack. During the 35-day challenge, we sent out one-word prompts on Joyce’s Instagram and BlueSky and on Cindy’s Instagram and Cindy’s BlueSky. We encouraged readers to use the prompts to spark their own poetry and illustration creativity. Each word was pulled directly from the text of our lyrical picture books.

Hide and Seek in the Seeps uses a variation on the hide and seek poetry form. HERE is a link to my website where you can find all of the prompts and poetry form descriptions.

What other fascinating topics are you currently writing about?

JU: I have nonfiction picture books out on submission. I love to focus on our planet’s natural beauty and destinations where families can visit. In addition, I have a nonfiction picture book biography of an author-illustrator whose life was dedicated to art and inspiring kids to create their own art. This person is an important contributor to children’s literature. Her art had stories to tell.

Joyce Uglow has been asking questions and collecting words since an early age. Retired, she now writes picture books and poetry for children who are also intrigued by words and our wondrous world, books that educators, librarians, and kids tell each other about. She currently serves as SCBWI Wisconsin’s Co-Regional Advisor and in 2026 will take on mentees as a part of the Mighty Mentor in the Mighty KidLit platform. She is unwaveringly committed to sparking kids’ interests. Her mantra… elevate others & prioritize joy.

She enjoyed a wonderful 37-year career in schools, beginning as a teacher for students who needed that little something special in order to be successful with literacy. She was fortunate to have worked with students who taught her a great deal about being there for them. She, in fact, taught many, many kids to read through writing. Her experiences in classrooms and resource rooms, led her to the school office where she had the pleasure of serving as principal at Lyons (a K-4 building) and Dyer School (a 4-6 grade building). Both buildings housed public school Montessori programs as well as traditional and resource programs. Along with her career path, she got actively involved on the Board of Directors and conference planning for the Wisconsin State Reading Association (WSRA). Besides serving as WSRA president, one of her favorite volunteer positions had to do with the Young Authors Festivals. When she retired from her day job as principal, she put her mind to work on writing for children. It was a natural next career for her.

To learn more about Joyce and her books, visit her online:

Website: http://joyceuglowauthor.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jpuglow?utm_source=linktree_admin_share 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jpuglow/?hl=en 

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/jpuglow.bsky.social 

SubStack: https://substack.com/@jpuglow

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9178331-joyce-uglow  Pinterest          https://www.pinterest.com/jpuglow/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jpuglow/

2 GIVEAWAYS!

Folks, we have two fantastic giveaways today! Joyce is generously offering a signed copy of her fabulous book Stuck! The Story of La Brea Tar Pits to one lucky winner AND a picture book manuscript critique to another lucky winner. Just comment on this post by September 29th and mention if you’d like to be entered to win the book or the critique or either. I’ll choose two winners at random and connect them with Joyce. Good luck! (Book giveaway open to US residents only)

Six Tips for Hosting a Picture Book Tea Party by Laura Sassi (+ a Giveaway!)

Welcome multi-published picture book author and kidlit friend Laura Sassi! I’m so excited to help Laura celebrate the publication of her newest book Pumpkin Day for Boo and Belle, which was just released in July by Paraclete Press, and is the sweetest rhyming friendship story with the most adorable illustrations by artist Farah Shah!

Laura has visited Frog on a Blog before, which I love, and you can see her interview and other guest post Here and Here. Today, she’s stopped by to share Six Tips for Hosting a Picture Book Tea Party as well as more about her new book. Be sure to read to the end for a chance to win a copy of Pumpkin Day for Boo and Belle! Let’s hear from Laura! (All text and images are copyrighted by the author and illustrator.)

Six Tips for Hosting a Picture Book Tea Party

Thank you for having me as your guest, Lauri. There’s something magical about tea parties and picture books. Both are opportunities to connect with others through a shared experience and to enjoy special treats—for the belly and mind! With that sentiment, and in celebration of my new picture book Pumpkin Day for Boo and Belle (Paraclete Press, 2025), which revolves around a tea party, here’s a plan for collaborating with your kids to create an experience that celebrates both— a Picture Book Tea Party!

Tip One: Together with your child(ren), select the picture book you would like to feature at your Picture Book Tea Party. Consider choosing a book that touches on a holiday, occasion, or theme that coincides with the month the party will take place or with a special interest your child has (dinosaurs, princesses, etc).

Tip Two: Read your chosen book together, brainstorming as you go, what tea party decor might pair well with the book. This is a great opportunity for an older child to practice list making, or if your children are younger, they can verbally list the ideas while you write them. Ideas might include hanging decor and table decor, including napkins, place cards, and a centerpiece. For the most home-grown feeling tea party, have the kids make as many of these as possible! 

Tip Three: Again, inspired by the book, create a tea party menu. A tea party, in my opinion, should include a mix of sweet and savory treats, with fruit included, so that little ones aren’t just consuming sugar and butter. So, with your children, brainstorm what fruit or simple tea sandwich they think the characters in your chosen picture book might enjoy and include that on the menu. For the dessert-y item, consider making sugar cookies decorated to look like a character or object from the book, such as these pumpkin-shaped cookies that I brought to share at my book launch party with Pumpkin Day for Boo and Belle. You might also consider cupcakes or muffins, with home-made or printed toppers, like these from my book Love is Kind.

Tip Four: Make and send invitations to your Picture Book Tea Party. Part of the tea party fun is getting a fancy invitation in the mail. So, after making your list of invitees, create an invitation that includes the book cover and the words “You’re Invited to a Picture Book Tea Party featuring Title of Book” along with other pertinent details including the date, time, and location of your party. For extra fun, encourage guests to come in tea party attire or dressed up in a manner that fits the theme of the book. (Note: Someone once told me a good rule of thumb for the number of guests to match the approximate age of the children attending the party.)

Tip Five: Ahead of time, plan at least four activities to do at the tea party. Little ones love moving around and doing things, so, at your Picture Book Tea Party, I recommend planning two crafts and two games/movement activities. For the games/movement activities, I have found that doing book-themed variations of traditional childhood party games like Simon Says, for example, are always a hit. For the crafts, many picture books these days have free activity kits that the publisher has created to go with them. These often contain great crafts. Here, for example, is the activity kit that goes with Pumpkin Day for Boo and Belle.  https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0107/8889/6826/files/Pumpkin_Day_Activity_Guide_-_REV.pdf?v=1741280044 (Note: This activity kit actually includes plans for a Pumpkin Day tea party complete with games, crafts, and treat suggestions!)

Tip Six: Once you have all the above ready, create a party timeline so that when the guests arrive, everything is ready and you and your guests can just have fun! Here’s a sample timeline for a 60-minute party for preschoolers:

  • Guests arrive.
  • Do a welcome craft.
  • Read the story.
  • Play a book-themed game.
  • Serve the tea and treats.
  • Play another book-themed game.
  • Do a craft.
  • Read the story again, or have a couple extra that also fit the theme on hand as a calming way to end the party as children are getting picked up.
  • Say thank you for coming and good bye.

Thanks again, for having me as your guest, Lauri. I hope it results in many fun tea parties!

Laura Sassi is the author of multiple books for young children including the best-selling Goodnight, Ark, which was a 2015 Christian Book Award Finalist; My Tender Heart Devotions, which was a 2024 Christianity Today Book Award finalist, Faithful Feet, Love Is Kind, Happy Birthday Christmas Child and more. She writes daily from her home in Cranford, New Jersey and finds special joy in sharing messages of kindness, comfort and hope at school visits, church gatherings, and other events.

To learn more about Laura and her lovely books, visit:

http://laurasassitales.wordpress.com/

twitter.com/laurasassitales

https://www.facebook.com/LauraSassiTales

https://www.instagram.com/laurasassitales/

Giveaway

To win a copy of Pumpkin Day for Boo and Belle, generously provided by Paraclete Press, please leave a comment on this post by September 23rd. I’ll choose a winner at random and connect them with Laura. This giveaway is open to US residents only. Good luck!

Interview Alert: Leslie Eva Tayloe (+ a Giveaway!)

Please welcome picture book author Leslie Eva Tayloe to Frog on a Blog! When Leslie first reached out to me about her upcoming book Save the Trees, I knew I wanted to hear more because I love trees and I know she does too. And when I learned her story was about invasive vines overtaking trees, which is something that’s happened here in my town, too, I was more than happy to feature an interview with Leslie on my blog.

Let’s hear more from Leslie about Save the Trees, which has received a lot of advance praise! (Be sure to read to the end for a chance to win either a 30-minute Zoom book read and Q&A with a classroom OR a picture book manuscript critique from Leslie!)

Congratulations on the publication of your upcoming picture book Save the Trees, which officially publishes April 11, 2024, not long before Earth Day! Tell us about the story and what inspired it.

L.E.T.: I’m so glad to be here. Thank you so much.

Save the Trees is about a little boy named Ronnie. He loves trees. So when strange vines appear all over town on the trees, strangling them and making them fall over, he and his friend Leona pick, pull, and pluck the vines from the trees. But they need help, so Ronnie rallies community support to help save the trees!

This story was inspired by my partner, Michael, and I moving to a 74+ acre property. On our small farm, we have over 25 species of trees. We discovered invasive vines posed a threat to our native trees and plants. We conducted a lot of research and reached out to the local county’s agricultural office, inviting them to look at the invasive plants and vines on our property. To help solve our invasive plant problem, we picked, pulled, and plucked the vines and plants both from the trees and the ground. This is an ongoing effort every year, and can be very overwhelming, but we’ve saved many of our native trees and plants. Last year we planted over 200 native trees on our property.

Image from Save the Trees

Why do you feel this story was important to tell?

L.E.T.: This story is important to tell to educate kids and adults about the problem with invasive plant species and their impact on native plants and trees. The green vines climbing trees may be pretty to some people, but the vines will actually bring down a tree. Teachers can use this book as a starting point for hands-on activities like tree planting, gardening, or organizing a community project to combat invasive species. It’s important to instill a sense of environmental stewardship by encouraging kids and adults to take actions to protect and preserve trees in their communities. Also, it’s important to note that people should research the type of plants they are purchasing for their gardens, as many garden shops sell invasive plants, and if not taken care of, can spread to other gardens and open fields.

What route did you take to publish your book—traditional, hybrid, or self-publishing—and why?

L.E.T.: My first book, I’m Fishing with Pop-Pop Today (Austin Macauley Publishers, 2022), and Save the Trees (Brandylane, April 11, 2024), are both published by traditional publishers with a hybrid imprint. I heard from Austin Macauley Publishers fairly quickly after submitting in 2020. I did my research on the company, and I could afford the small hybrid cost, so I went for it. And it was the same with Brandylane Publishers. I wanted my story to be published, and I definitely wasn’t interested in self-publishing, so I signed. Both publishing companies are so different to work with that it was a huge learning experience. I have enjoyed working with both companies. I think some people get confused over hybrid vs. vanity. A legit hybrid publisher has a vested interest in the author and the book, and they are selective in what they publish. Whereas a vanity press publishes anything. I believe that both of my publishers have a vested interest in me as an author and my books.

My third book, Eduardo’s Attic Door, was written in 2021, and after two years of submitting it to publishers, Doodle and Peck Publishing picked up the story in 2023. Doodle and Peck Publishing is a straight traditional publisher—no hybrid. This was a dream of mine to have one of my stories traditionally published where I didn’t have to shell out any money! I’m very excited. Eduardo’s Attic Door releases this winter, 2024.

Advance praise (on back cover) for Save the Trees

How well do artist Lintang Pandu Pratiwi’s illustrations capture the message you express in your text?

L.E.T.: As part of the process of working with Brandylane Publishers, I selected Lintang as my illustrator. I reviewed other artists’ work and thought Lintang would do a great job. I wanted to make sure the illustrations captured invasives harming the trees and the struggle that the main character had with saving them. I’m very pleased with Lintang’s work. She did a beautiful job in capturing the message.

Please share tips on how people can get started helping trees in their own communities.

L.E.T.: There are many things that people can do to help save the trees:

  • Look in their own backyards and pick off the invasive vines that are growing on them, so they don’t spread.
  • Check out their local tree-planting events.
  • Join environmental organizations. Several of the endorsements I received for Save the Trees are from people who work for and enjoy nature.
  • Raise awareness of what invasive plants can do to native plants and trees.

Where can people go to connect with you or learn more about your books?

L.E.T.: You can learn more about me and my books at leslieevatayloe.com. Follow me on X: @LeslieTayloe and Instagram: @LeslieEvaTayloe.

Book trailer for Save the Trees:

My book is available through https://www.brandylanepublishers.com/product/save-the-trees/. And online at Barnes and Noble, Bookshop, and Amazon.

During the months of March and April, I will have many ways for people to help promote my new book. I hope they can join me in celebrating!

Each month, I interview an author on my website/blog and do a free book giveaway. If anyone is interested in a free book giveaway, they should subscribe to my newsletter.

GIVEAWAY!

Leslie is generously offering one lucky commenter a choice of either a free 30-minute Zoom book read and Q&A with a classroom OR a picture book manuscript critique (fictional story not over 800 words, no rhymes or poems). I will randomly choose a winner from those who comment on Leslie’s blog interview by March 15th and connect them with Leslie. Good luck!

Leslie Eva Tayloe is a children’s picture book author. Her inspiration for writing I’m Fishing with Pop-Pop Today (Austin Macauley Publishers, 2022), Save the Trees (Brandylane Publishers, April 11, 2024), and Eduardo’s Attic Door (Doodle and Peck Publishing, Winter 2024) came from her personal life experiences. Leslie also wrote an article for Children’s Book Insider, April 2023 Issue, titled, Marketing Group Helps Writers Collaborate for Success.

She’s a former analyst with the federal government and worked as a substitute teacher for elementary school-aged children. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Maryland. Leslie lives in Virginia with her partner, Michael, two cats, and a dog. She loves to fish on the Rappahannock River, read, take long walks with her black lab Frankie, and craft anything.

Interview Alert: Laura Roettiger (+ a Giveaway!)

Please welcome author Laura Roettiger back to Frog on a Blog! Laura’s been here several times. She reviewed a few picture books here in 2018, she wrote a guest post in 2019 about her debut picture book Aliana Reaches for the Moon, and I reviewed her debut that same year.

Today, it’s my extreme pleasure to feature an interview with Laura about her brand-new picture book An Accidental Hero: A Mostly True Wombat Story, which just published on February 12th by Eifrig Publishing. This adorable book, told in a “news report” style, stars a loveable and humble little wombat, a creature we don’t often see in picture books, along with a cast of other cute animals. Another great feature of the book are all of the factual elements that Laura expertly weaved into the story and included in the back matter about forest fires and about several of Australia’s unusual animals, many of which can’t be found any place else on Earth, like wombats, which, like their well-known koala cousins, are also marsupials!

Let’s hear more from Laura about An Accidental Hero: A Mostly True Wombat Story. And be sure to read to the end for information about how to win either a picture book manuscript critique or a 30-minute Ask Me Anything session from Laura!

Congratulations on the publication of your amazing new picture book An Accidental Hero: A Mostly True Wombat Story! Tell us about the story and what inspired it.

LR: Lauri, thank you so much for having me on your blog! Four years ago, one of the biggest international news stories was the devastating bushfires in New South Wales, Australia. Day after day, the news felt overwhelming, until I saw a story that showed rescuers found other animal species sheltering in wombat burrows. It was early 2020, before the global pandemic, and resulting shutdowns took front and center on everyone’s minds.

Why was this story important to tell?

LR: The bushfires were scary to see, and children were seeing daily reports of animals dying. As a teacher and now an author, my goal is finding a way to take a scary subject and make it manageable. How do we allow children to process the reality of bad things happening?

The cover of An Accidental Hero is really eye catching! How do you feel about Debbie Palen’s incredible illustrations?

LR: The cover, the color palette, and the illustrations are all fantastic. I know it’s unusual in publishing, but the editor wanted my input, so he set up Zoom meetings for the three of us. I had ideas, of course, so I made a few suggestions and some input early on in the process. You mentioned the cover, at one point, Debbie and I shared covers we liked based on color, layout, or other factors to get a sense of what she would create. It was fun to see how those ideas became the eye-catching cover of An Accidental Hero: A Mostly True Wombat Story. It was collaborative in the planning stages, and Debbie definitely brought her own ideas and talent to make the book what you see.

I enjoy seeing the photographs you post on social media of sunrises, the moon, and the outdoors. Tell us about your love of nature and how that translates to your picture book writing.

LR: Thank you, Lauri! I am fortunate to live in Colorado where it is beautiful, and I don’t have to go far to take great pictures. But, truthfully, I have a collection of photographs of roses that people love from my last visit to Evanston, IL. And, of course, people can see the moon or a sunrise wherever they are. I think it’s about stopping to admire the beauty, and I’ve been told I have “an eye” for photography. It’s my art. Just as Debbie creates art through illustration, I create art through photography. I think spending time outdoors is part of my writing process. Nature is always changing if you look closely.

Why do you feel picture books are important for children?

LR: Picture books are an excellent way for anyone, not just children, to be entertained, to learn, to have their imagination and curiosity sparked, and to have their world expanded.

How does your experience as a reading specialist help you as you write, and what are you working on now? More STEM picture books?

LR: My background as a reading specialist allows me to consider different audiences for my writing, and it helps me add different layers and themes in one story. It’s always fun when someone notices another layer I’ve woven in that’s subtle, but important, because I know it spoke to them as a reader. I’m currently working on a middle grade novel, and I always have picture books in the works. I have one picture book that’s newer. It’s a lyrical intergenerational story that I’m revising, and I hope the world loves it as much as I do.

GIVEAWAY!

Laura is generously giving away, to one person who comments on this blog post, their choice of either a picture book manuscript critique or a 30-minute Ask Me Anything session. Just comment on this post by Thursday, March 7th, for your chance to win. I’ll choose the winner at random and connect them with Laura. Good luck!

Laura Roettiger is a reading specialist and award-winning elementary teacher from Chicago, IL, who weaves her passion for STEM learning and fostering kindness into stories for children. Her roots in Chicago remain deep, but now her home and heart are firmly settled in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado with her Goldendoodle Charlie.

After moving to Colorado, Laura focused on writing for children, working in environmental education, and mentoring new teachers at a STEM school. She focuses her writing on characters demonstrating creativity and kindness. 

Her debut, Aliana Reaches for the Moon (Eifrig Publishing, 2019) combines science information with the story of a girl whose curiosity and patience pays off with the light of the full moon.

Her book, An Accidental Hero: A Mostly True Wombat Story (Eifrig Publishing, 2024), is based on events during the aftermath of Australian bushfires in 2019-2020. When Wombat sees the bushfires raging out of control, she learns that helping those in need of sanctuary in a time of crisis provides unexpected rewards.

Laura combines her enthusiasm for helping others with the knowledge and experience she’s gained along the way. This is most recently evidenced in her co-creating the promotion group https://picturebookgold.wixsite.com/website.

To connect with Laura or learn more about her books, please go to her website LauraRoettigerBooks.com or visit her on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laura.roettiger

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ljrwritenow

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18549873.Laura_Roettiger

Blog: https://lauraroettigerbooks.com/blog/

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/ljrwritenow.bsky.social

Interview Alert: Jennifer Raudenbush (+ a Giveaway!)

Please welcome children’s author and poet Jennifer Raudenbush to Frog on a Blog. Jennifer and I first crossed paths during a critique session on the online writing platform Inked Voices. I’m thrilled to have her with us today to talk about her beautiful debut picture book In the Palm of My Hand, which just released in March by Running Press Kids. Jennifer and I are both nature lovers, and clearly the natural world was a huge inspiration for her when she wrote the text of this expressive book. Let’s hear more from Jennifer about the book and what inspires her creativity. Be sure to read to the end to find out how you can win a signed copy of In the Palm of My Hand!

Congratulations on your lovely and poetic debut picture book In the Palm of My Hand! Please tell us a little bit about it and why this story was important for you to tell.

Thank you so much for having me on your blog today, Lauri!

In the Palm of My Hand, released by Running Press Kids, is about a child who takes a nature walk and discovers tiny things—like an acorn or a wildflower—hold big possibilities, big potential, just like he does. Ultimately, it delves into the big picture ideas of connection and self-esteem.

I hope it encourages little (and big) people to go outside and explore their corners of the world. To stop and notice. To savor. The book is a bit meditative and invites taking a rest from all the doing to just “be” for a while. When my son was younger, he was rambunctious, to say the least. Time in nature always calmed and focused him.

My goal with In the Palm of My Hand, a lyrical love letter to the natural world, is for readers to fall in love with both the beauty of words and the beauty of nature.

How did you feel when you held your new picture book for the very first time? Did Isabella Conti’s beautiful artwork blow you away?

It was a thrill to hold my debut for the first time! I call it “the heart of my heart,” and it reminded me of what it feels like for a new mom to have her child, her heart, walking around outside her body.

I’d gotten to see Isabella’s sketches along the way, but it did not prepare me for seeing the entire, amazing colorized version.  Especially in her landscapes, she captures nature’s wonder and awe. I love the way the text and pictures pair together to tell a stronger story and create depth of feeling.

Isabella also had a professionally produced video made showing how she painted the illustrations. Your readers can watch her 2 ½ minute video HERE (scroll down the page).

As a picture book and middle grade novel writer as well as a poet, what most inspires your creativity?

This is an easy one to answer! Nature. My husband, teenage son, and I are surrounded by eastern Pennsylvania woods, and I walk my Westie pup Mazy every day. But whenever we travel, all of nature inspires me.

Another big source of creativity for me is reading. I try to begin every morning by reading poetry. Later in the day, I’ll read both fiction (mostly middle grade) and writing craft books. I tend to binge picture books after a trip to the library or while browsing in a bookstore.

How does your experience as a Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist influence your picture book writing?

You’ve really done your homework, Lauri! While a Speech-Language Pathologist, I specialized in pediatrics because I loved children.  I definitely bring that love of children into my picture book writing. Also, I’ve always been smitten by words and language, which I both studied and used every day in that profession.

Why do you feel picture books are important?

For so many reasons! First, reading picture books forges a bond between parent, relative, teacher, or librarian and the child or children. This bond is special, meaningful, and deep. Reading together helps children learn vocabulary, story, and the sounds of words. It helps teach them to read, as they follow the words on the page. It develops in them a love of literacy. Finally, picture books, like all books, encourage compassion and understanding of other human beings through inhabiting other perspectives and understanding other viewpoints.

Please share some of your favorite picture book authors.

In the picture book space, my favorites include Beth Ferry, Carter Higgins, Joyce Sidman, Dianne White, and Pat Zietlow Miller. I tend to gravitate toward lyrical, poetic texts, because that’s my strength, but I also really enjoy humorous picture books.

What’s next for Jen Raudenbush? What projects are you working on right now?

I’m continuing to work on picture books, but I spend the bulk of my time writing middle grade novels. I’m currently revising my fourth (my third is on submission with editors). What I’m really excited about is taking my first verse novel class with Laura Shovan in May. I’ll be able to meld poetry with middle grade novels, and I can’t wait to tackle this new challenge!

Where can fans connect with you online?

Thanks for asking! I love connecting with people. The easiest way to reach me is through my Linktree HERE, where I have a fun newsletter your readers can sign up for. I’ll also list my links separately:

Website: jenraudenbush.com , Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads.

GIVEAWAY!

Jennifer is generously giving away a signed copy of In the Palm of My Hand to one lucky person who comments on this post! Just leave a comment by May 31st for your chance to win. I’ll choose a winner at random and connect them with Jennifer. This Giveaway is open to US residents only. Good luck!

Jennifer Raudenbush feels most alive when she’s creating stories, especially picture books, poetry, and middle grade novels. Jen lives with her husband and teenage son in eastern Pennsylvania, where its natural beauty provides endless inspiration. She has been published in Cricket children’s magazine, the 10.10 Poetry Anthology and Two Truths and a Fib Poetry Anthology. She is represented by Natascha Morris at The Tobias Literary Agency. IN THE PALM OF MY HAND, illustrated by Isabella Conti, Running Press Kids (Hachette), is Jen’s first published picture book.

Interview Alert: Nadia Ali (+ a Giveaway!)

It is my pleasure to welcome freelance writer and children’s book author Nadia Ali to Frog on a Blog. Her brand-new picture book Humphrey the Egg-Splorer officially released today! Just look at that fabulous cover by illustrator Valentí Gubianas! Nadia has several published books, including the recently-released four-book series Animal Societies, which feature animal families, homes, communication, and jobs.

I invited Nadia to share a little about the inspiration for Humphrey the Egg-Splorer and a bit about herself too. Read to the end for information on how you can win a copy of Humphrey the Egg-Splorer fromYeehoo Press. Let’s get to know Nadia!

Congratulations on your upcoming picture book Humphrey the Egg-splorer! Please tell us what inspired you to write it and a little bit about it.

Nadia: Thank you, Lauri. The inspiration came from Dan Santat’s After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Up Again), which got me thinking about Humpty in today’s world. I imagined Humpty to be a grandpa and his grandson Humphrey wanting to become a great egg-splorer like his grandpa. But with one big difference – he doesn’t want to have a great fall and so, discovers how to become stronger.

Valentí Gubianas’s illustrations in Humphrey the Egg-splorer are so colorful and cheery! What did you think when you saw the completed book for the first time?

Nadia: The completed book took my breath away! Valentí chose orange, red, and yellow, which made the illustrations vibrant and warm. Yeehoo Press utilized this by creating numerous double-paged spreads, creating a stunning visual impact.

You are a freelance writer who not only writes children’s books, but also books, magazine articles, and online content for adults. How did you begin your career as a writer and which do you like best, writing for kids or adults?

Nadia: I began writing as a greeting card writer in the days when that market was booming and have numerous cards to my name. From there, I branched out to writing for adults and found a niche in the travel and pet industry. I enjoy writing for both adults and kids as it challenges me in different ways. For adults, I learn about a topic in a structured informative way that transforms into an article. And, when writing for kids, they learn about a topic in an entertaining, fun way that evolves into a picture book story.

Why do you think picture books are important?

Nadia: Picture books encourage children’s literary, language, and vocabulary skills but also because they help with tough topics never discussed before, such as diversity, belonging, and anxiety.

Who are your favorite authors or illustrators?

Nadia: There are many that I admire. The legendary Beatrix Potter is a definite favorite, both an author and illustrator having created the much-loved character of Peter Rabbit. Hena Khan (author), Vashti Harrison (both), Raissa Figueroa (illustrator,) Hatem Aly (illustrator) and, of course, illustrator extraordinaire Valenti Gubianas for the wonderful job he did of bringing Humphrey to life!

Where can fans connect with you or find out more about your books online?

Nadia:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NadiaAwriter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NadiaAwriter/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nadiaawriter/

Website: https://nadia-ali.weebly.com/

Do you have any words of advice for aspiring picture book writers?

Nadia: Publishing a picture book by a traditional publisher takes time…lots of time! From the moment you get a yes to your submission to signing a contract, writing revisions, and holding the completed book in your hands – the whole process could span two years! So my words of advice is patiently persevere and be in no rush.

Giveaway!

Nadia and Yeehoo Press are generously giving away a copy of Humphrey the Egg-Splorer to one lucky person who comments on this blog post! Just leave a comment by April 22nd. I will choose a winner at random and connect them with Nadia. The giveaway is open to US residents only. Good luck!

Nadia Ali was born in London, UK, and currently resides in the Caribbean where she lives with her husband and has two married daughters. She enjoys writing features and articles which are published online and in magazines. As a children’s author, she writes fiction and nonfiction picture books. When she is not writing, she can be found in the kitchen whipping up a super sweet dessert.

More about Humphrey the Egg-splorer from Yeehoo Press:

A rollicking story that expands the famous tale of a fragile egg to a new story about bravery, creativity, and forging your own path.

Summary:

Eggs are fragile and bought specifically to be cracked. . . but what if they don’t want to be cracked and have their own ambitions and goals for life like becoming a great egg-splorer? Humphrey has long known the cautionary tale of his grandfather, Humpty Dumpty. Being an egg means he can easily slip and crack at any time . . . but what does that mean for his dreams of becoming an egg-splorer and going on grand adventures? But Humphrey is determined, and he’ll do whatever it takes to become a brave adventurer―even if that means putting himself through the fieriest trials to get there. Inspired by the beloved nursery rhyme, author Nadia Ali and artist Valentí Gubianas deliver a rollicking story that expands the famous tale of a fragile egg to a new story about bravery, creativity, and forging your own path.

Make Learning Fun with BUSY FEET by Marcia Berneger (+ a Giveaway!)

Please welcome multi-published children’s book author Marcia Berneger to Frog on a Blog. Marcia and I were in a critique group together once upon a time. I’m thrilled that she has a new picture book coming out this month, and I get to share it with you all right here!

As a retired elementary school teacher and now a grandmother, Marcia’s no stranger to the seemingly unending supply of energy that kids have, and her book Busy Feet captures the essence of that energy so perfectly through the activities of children’s (and a few animals’) feet, following them from home to playground to beach and back home again.

Along with Marcia’s rollicking rhyme and bold illustrations by Susanna Chapman that kids are sure to love, Busy Feet incorporates a surprise element–opposites–giving this super-fun story an extra layer of “teaching without teaching.” Marcia stopped by to share more about this engaging book.

People always ask, “Wow! Where’d you come up with that idea?” I’d love to answer that Busy Feet leapt into my head when we first found out my daughter-in-law was pregnant. Or even when Ori was born. However, truth be told, the text for Busy Feet predates Ori’s birth by five years. The very first Busy Feet manuscript was penned in July 2015. The original text for this book is almost identical to the final copy. One or two simple word substitutions and one additional verse are the only changes. But, what a difference the illustrations make. Susanna Chapman splashed bright, vivid colors onto every page. My favorite page? The very last one. The kids, and the dog, are settling down for the night and the boy is pulling the chain to shut the light—with his foot! Inspired!

So where did the idea for Busy Feet come from? I taught at the elementary level for thirty-four years. My last twenty were first and second grade. I also taught in a preschool. But, again, if I’m being truthful, I retired from public school in 2013, and didn’t start teaching the preschoolers until 2020. I did read a lot of picture books to my students throughout the years. That reading, and teaching basic concepts to young children, influenced all of my writing, helping me understand what children love about books and how best to write them.

Many of my picture book ideas are generated during what is now called Storystorm. This is Tara Lazar’s challenge to writers to think up 30 different picture book ideas during the month of January. I participated back in 2014 when it was held in November and was called Picture Book Idea Month (PiBoldMo). The idea for Busy Feet came from that list. It was a title in a list of 34 random story ideas. When I reviewed the list and saw the title, a verse just popped into my head.

Feet wake up

Time to play.

Happy feet,

Out all day.

You’ll probably notice this is a simple rhyming verse. No learning here whatsoever. But, being the teacher that I am (or was), I couldn’t let it go at that. Could I make up verses that rhymed perfectly, that had, say…antonyms?

And there you have it—a learning book without a boring lesson. I made a long list of opposites that could be included in the book. Then I checked my rhyming dictionary to make a list of words that rhymed and would go with my opposites. (There are a tremendous number of words that rhyme! It was a very long list.) THEN, I listed all the adjectives that could describe feet and yet another list of different activities kids’ feet might do. Once I’d done all this research and list-making, putting together the verses was actually pretty easy. The final product: a simple rhyming book of fun kid activities that happens to incorporate opposites. Teaching, without teaching!

And the best part… Ori just turned two, the perfect age for Busy Feet. I was so excited when I first read it to him! It’s designed to be interactive, so his feet swung up and down, his toes wiggled, we ran fast, then slow… so much fun!!

Busy Feet scurries into the world on February 14, 2023. Here’s a new verse to herald in its book birthday:

Busy feet

want to play.

Just in time

For Valentine’s Day!

Giveaway!

Marcia is generously giving away a signed copy of Busy Feet to one lucky person who comments on this blog post. Leave a comment by February 13th. I’ll choose a winner at random and connect them with Marcia. Winner must have a US mailing address. Good luck!

Marcia Berneger is an educator, speaker, and writer. She’s the author of three children’s books: a time travel chapter book, A Dreidel in Time: A New Twist on an Old Tale (Kar-Ben Publishing, 2019), and two picture books, Buster: The Little Garbage Truck (Sleeping Bear Press, 2015) and Busy Feet (Starry Forest Books, 2023).

A retired elementary school teacher of over 30 years, Marcia has developed many strategies for working with children of all ages and is passionate about writing stories that help children navigate their world. She’s available to share her expertise through live or virtual presentations.

In addition, as a Jewish author, Marcia is dedicated to highlighting the importance of diversity in publishing and children seeing themselves in the pages of the books they read. She often speaks about this topic and others for kidlit publications and organizations such as the Children’s Book Academy, the California School Library Association, the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI) and GilaGreenWrites.com.

Marcia lives in San Diego, California, with her husband. You can learn more about Marcia and her books at www.marciaberneger.com or by following her on Twitter @marciaberneger or Facebook at #marciaberneger.

Up Close and Personal With Susanna L. Hill and Betsy Snyder (+ a Giveaway!)

You can alpha-bet that I’m P-U-M-P-E-D to be a stop on the ALPHABEDTIME Blog Tour! As a matter of fact, Frog on a Blog is the final stop of the tour, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome author Susanna Hill and illustrator Betsy Snyder here to wrap things up in a super enjoyable way!

To visit the other blog tour stops, click the image above!

Make sure you read the whole post because there’re lots of goodies to explore, including Susanna and Betsy’s fun, informal interview; an adorable, printable craft project for use at home or school; an awesome example of one of Betsy’s sketches with the finished illustration; Susanna’s very first book ever; and, last but not least, a giveaway of their fabulous new book Alphabedtime! Let’s go!

This is the last stop on the ALPHABLOGTIME tour! If you’re just tuning in and want to know any of the “Creation of the Book” details about Susanna’s inspiration for the book, or how Betsy approached the monumental task of creating the art, please check back to some of the earlier stops on the tour, several of which covered those topics. If you’d like to know who instigated the Alpha-Mayhem, then By Word Of Beth is the stop for you! If you are looking for activities to go with the book, they can be found at Maria Marshall’s and Laura Sassi’s. For some delicious Alphabet Cookie recipes, Little Red Story Shed with Julie Abery is the place you want to go. All the links can be found at https://linktr.ee/alphabedtime. 

But here and now we’re going to get down to the nitty-gritty, the bare bones, the essential inner-workings, and give you a sneak peek at the up-close-and-personal! Just who are Susanna and Betsy?

Are you ready? Yes!

Favorite color? 

Betsy: Blue—the color that makes me think of the ocean, my happy place.

Susanna: Cornflower blue – so pretty!

What was the first book you ever wrote/illustrated and how old were you?

Betsy: I don’t remember the first “book”, but the first piece of art I remember illustrating as a child was one I titled The Invisible Lady With One Orange Leg (orange marker scribble on cardboard, age unknown). Clearly I was destined for greatness, ha!

Susanna: The Girl And The Witch (can you guess what it’s about? 🙂 ) I wrote it in 2nd grade. The decorative cover should make it clear why I do not illustrate my own books!

Favorite (bedtime) snack? 

Betsy: Buttery popcorn!

Susanna: I’m not a bedtime snacker, but for a regular snack, my favorite is a Snickers bar and Diet Coke (I know! Dreadful! But favorite means special occasion – not something I do often. Er, not too often…)

Favorite quote from a children’s book?

Betsy: “Real isn’t how you are made,” said the Skin Horse. “It’s a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.” – The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

Susanna: “It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both.” – E.B. White, last line of Charlotte’s Web

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Betsy: Either a dolphin trainer at SeaWorld, a soap opera writer, or an artist. 

Susanna: I wanted to drive a steam roller and put my baby on the seat next to me.

What are 3 things people might not know about you? (or people might be surprised to learn?)

Betsy:

1. I was born in North Carolina.

2. I love to ice skate.

3. My name fits perfectly into the Itsy Bity Spider song (sing it—the itsy Betsy Snyder went up the water spout…)

Susanna:

1. I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee (if Alabama means New York City and banjo means piano…but I’d have to be Pippi Longstocking to actually have a piano on my knee…)

2. I know all the words to the 1970s Big Red chewing gum commercial. Also, to the Oscar Mayer jingle. . . and the Dial jingle. . . As well as the theme songs to The Love Boat, Gilligan’s Island, The Brady Bunch. . . I could go on, but I don’t want to scare you TOO much! And I wasn’t even allowed to watch TV, except for PBS! (Of course, ask me for my ATM pin number and I have to look it up – there’s only so much real estate in the brain and mine is full of meaningless nonsense!)

3. I am a lot more comfortable with dogs and horses and cats than I am with people. I’m pretty sure I was one of those three animals in a past life because I love to bask in sun puddles. 🙂

Which characters in ALPHABEDTIME remind you most of your own children? 

Betsy: S’s affinity for sharks and U running around in his underwear remind me of my spirited 5 year-old son—he has a way of making bedtime wild.

M’s magic makes me think of my 8 year-old daughter—she went through a phase where she practiced her tricks and put on magic shows.

And T’s T-Rex stuffy and Triceratops helmet are a nod to both of my dinosaur-loving kids.

Susanna: Okay. In the interest of maintaining positive relationships with my now grown children, I will not attribute names or genders to any of my choices. 🙂 But I’d say D (the noisy musician), K (the entertaining clown-around), F (the feather-boa-wearing reader), W (the quiet, serious, nonfiction reader), and Z (the dog-loving baby) grew up in my house!

Favorite stuffy/lovey as a child?

Betsy: Mr. Bear, a big stuffed polar bear that my grandma gave me. He definitely became REAL to me.

Susanna: Pink blankie

Do you have a pet, or is there a pet you wish you had?

Betsy: My family and I have a 5-month-old golden retriever puppy-monster named Penny—we adore her fluffy cuteness but fear her puppy teeth. My kids also have 2 goldfish named Golden Sun and Strawberry that are surprisingly still alive since being won at Home Days in August.

Susanna: I have two rambunctious young rescue dogs who came from bad beginnings and are still learning that the world doesn’t have to be a scary place. Their names are Finn and Violet, and if you’re friends with me on Facebook, you’ve seen way more of them than you probably ever wanted to! I also have a spotted pony named Hoops who technically belongs to my daughter, but I have inherited her. Lucky me! 🙂

Favorite tip/advice?

Betsy: “You do you.” I adopted this phrase after I first heard a close friend use it years ago (thanks Melissa Wolf!). It’s great advice for kids, but also for artists and writers, don’t you think?

Susanna: If you stir coconut oil into your kale, it makes it easier to scrape into the trash… 🙂 Oh. Did you mean a writing tip or advice? How about this: the joy of being a writer is that you can do anything. The story is yours. You are in charge. You can write happy or sad, quiet or exciting, mysterious or funny. Whatever mood you’re in, whatever you need in the moment, you can make it happen. And if it’s doing something good for you, it will do something good for someone who reads it.

On a more book-related note, we thought it would be fun to show you one of Betsy’s sketches together with the finished art so you could see how it transformed.

And Betsy also made a craft to go with the book, which you can use at home or in the classroom. You saw it here first, folks! 

Craft!

Giveaway!

Was this a fabulous post or what? That’s a rhetorical question because of course it was fabulous! Thank you, Susanna and Betsy! But, just when you thought you couldn’t take any more fabulousness, you’ll have to hold onto something because we have a giveaway too!! The publisher, Nancy Paulsen Books, has generously offered a copy of Alphabedtime to one lucky person. To win a copy of Alphabedtime, leave a comment on this post. A winner will be chosen at random on Wednesday, November 30. Susanna will send a personalized signed bookplate to go with it if the winner desires. This giveaway is open to US residents only.

Susanna L. Hill is the author of three New York Times bestsellers, including Moon’s First Friends: One Giant Leap for Friendship, and the award-winning author of over twenty-five more books for children, including Punxsutawney Phyllis, Can’t Sleep Without Sheep, and the popular When Your Lion Needs a Bath series. Her books have been translated into French, Dutch, German, Japanese, Chinese, and Thai.

She does frequent school and library visits, teaches picture book writing, and has a popular picture book blog. Susanna lives in New York’s Mid-Hudson Valley where she practices the alphabet with her children and two rescue dogs. Find Susanna online at https://susannahill.com.

Author-illustrator Betsy Snyder’s smile-inducing art can be found on everything from social expressions products, board games, plush, decor, fabric, wallpaper, and of course—books!

Since making her publishing debut, Betsy has illustrated and/or authored over twenty books, earning recognition from groups including the Society of Illustrators, The New York Times, Scholastic Parent & Child Magazine, Indie Next List, the Cooperative Children’s Book Center and Please Touch Museum. Betsy lives in northeast Ohio, where she enjoys cozying up to doodle with her art-loving family, and venturing out to schools and libraries to encourage kids (and even grown-ups) to share their stories and chase their dreams. Learn more about Betsy and her books at www.betsysnyder.com.

Author/Illustrator Gabe Jensen Talks Art Process (+ win a pb manuscript critique!)

Please welcome children’s book author/illustrator Gabe Jensen to Frog on a Blog! Gabe stopped by to talk a bit about the art process he used when he created his book Neverwoof, which was just published this past September by Familius. This rollicking read-aloud has already garnered several positive reviews. I don’t know about you, but I love hearing about how artists create their art and why they choose the style that they do. Let’s hear from Gabe!

Gabe Jensen sharing Neverwoof.

For NEVERWOOF, I wanted to return to a simpler time in kids’ books when you could only print in two colors. And often those colors were clashing. I don’t remember as a kid ever thinking, “Great story, but the color theory was off” 🙂 . It also gave me a ready activity to do with classes: kids color with their two favorite crayons. I love the resulting images.

Kid’s two-color activity.

Normal 4-color printing has limits on certain colors — especially orange. So we printed this book with spot color where they can mix up any Pantone. It’s more expensive, but it means the book has an orange you won’t see in most titles. I don’t know if people pick up on that, but maybe subconsciously.

Gabe with spreads from Neverwoof.

When I was writing the book, my dad — the science fiction writer Terry Bisson — helped me with the text. My mom is a quilter with a wonderful sense of color, and we sat together to choose the exact orange and green.

One of Gabe’s mom’s quilts.
One of Gabe’s dad’s books.
Gabe says, “I really, really like green and orange.” 🙂

Working with the people at Familius was really great. They gave me a lot of creative latitude, and my editor/book designer Brooke Jorden contributed the debossing of the cover, which gives it that great tactile feel.

Thank you, Gabe! That was truly fascinating.

Giveaway Time!

Gabe has generously offered-to one lucky winner-a picture book manuscript critique! Just leave a comment on this blog post by April 15th for your chance to win. I’ll choose a winner at random and contact you with information on how to connect with Gabe. Share this blog post on any social media site and earn one extra entry per site, just let me know where you shared. Good luck!

Gabe first tried to publish a kids book at age 19 (Nightbringers is still looking for a home — anyone? 🙂 ). Since then, he’s worked on kid’s digital projects, like Jeff Kinney’s (Diary of a Wimpy Kid) site Poptropica, as a puzzle designer (Castlemouse, Lumosity), and an ad creative for clients like Coca-Cola. He has three kids, and lives in Berkeley, CA with a two-eyed Cyclops (false) and a one-eyed cat (true).

He’s currently working on his second book NOCTURNAL NICO, about a kid who tries to convince his parents he’s nocturnal so he can stay up late. Hmmm, how about purple and yellow?

Gabe says, “I love pics of pups reading Neverwoof! Send them to me at gabe@gabejensenbooks.com and I’ll post on social media.”

Find Gabe here:

https://gabejensenbooks.com/

Twitter

Instagram

The Spirit Of Giving (a giveaway)

Hello, all you lovely people out there. It’s the holiday season, and to help me–and you–get into the spirit, I’m giving away a signed copy of my book The Peddler’s Bed to one blog follower who comments on this post. Just say hi, hello, how’s it going, or any other greeting that strikes your fancy.

The Peddler’s Bed is all about giving, caring, generosity, and kindness, and is perfect for the holidays or any day. Can’t we all use a bit more kindness in our lives?

Just leave your comment by Sunday, December 5. A winner will be chosen at random. I’ll contact the winner for a U.S. mailing address and to whom they’d like the book signed.

Happy Holidays!

Image from The Peddler’s Bed/Copyright (c) 2015 Bong Redila

Interview Alert: Danielle Dufayet (+ a Book Birthday Celebration Giveaway!)

It is a huge pleasure to welcome picture book author Danielle Dufayet to Frog on a Blog. Danielle is the author of three gorgeous picture books, two published last year and one officially out today via Albert Whitman & Company publishers! Happy Book Birthday to Waiting Together!

As Danielle’s books are some of my recent favorites, I jumped at the chance to learn more about her through an interview.

What inspired you to write your brand-new picture book Waiting Together?

Danielle: Deborah Underwood, The Quiet Book. It was so interesting and fun to read about all the different ways a kid experiences silence throughout the day. It made me ask: what else do kids (universally) experience throughout the day? The answer was “waiting”. For kids, being quiet is not always easy -neither is being patient.

Do you, as an English and a Public Speaking teacher, feel that teaching informs or affects your writing in any way?

Danielle: Actually, it’s the other way around. I found that I enjoy writing books that help kids feel self-empowered. From that, I designed my own public speaking course which focuses on leadership and self-empowerment. I like to emphasize self-love and positive self-talk. Those themes come out whenever I am teaching kids, if I have the opportunity.

You have two other gorgeous picture books already out in the world. For those who may not be familiar, please tell us a little about You Are Your Strong and Fantastic You.

Danielle: You Are Your Strong is about using our own resources for handling our difficult emotions (sadness, anger, worry and fear) with breath, positive thinking, self-distraction, etc. Fantastic You is all about self-love and self-compassion and forgiveness. In essence, it’s about how to treat ourselves as if we were our own best friend.

Just like your other books, Waiting Together has an eye-catching cover! How excited were you to see it for the first time?

Danielle: I was so excited! I loved that it was of a boy and his dog -which circles back to the end of the book. I love my illustrator’s work, especially her children -such sweet faces! I am very lucky to have Srimalie Bassani as my illustrator.

You’re also an artist, and I’ve seen some of your amazing art on your website. Do you hope to one day illustrate picture books, either your own or other’s?

Danielle: Thank you for your kind words! I love to paint big, colorful paintings that uplift the viewer. I enjoy expressing love and light and joy in my work and hopefully that’s what it brings to the walls. Illustrating books and painting large works are two very different types of art, but, yes, one day I may be inspired to illustrate my own book. After all, I wanted to be a cartoonist when I was young.

Your books are uplifting and encouraging, perfect to share with the children we love anytime, but maybe even more so during difficult times. Do you have any advice for kids or adults who may be struggling right now?

Danielle: My advice is to take one day at a time and to NOT be so hard on yourself. Do the best you can. Make time for self-care. Do things that bring you joy, always get a good dose of sunshine, fresh air and physical activity, watch your thoughts, for they become “things”. Practice being loving and gentle and kind to yourself and everyone.

Where can people go to learn more about you and your books, or to connect with you online?

www.danielledufayetbooks.com

Danielle Dufayet, born in Yonkers, New York, now lives in sunny San Jose, California, where she writes children’s books and paints. She also teaches English and Public Speaking (Self-Empowerment) to grades K-12.

Danielle read her first picture book (Little Raccoon and the Thing in the Pool) when she was 18 whereupon she was blown away by its simplicity, timelessness and transformative power. That’s when she knew it was her calling.

Thirty five years and a Master’s Degree later, she finally made her dream come true with TWO books out in 2019 – one about inner strength and the other about self-love/compassion, and a third book, Waiting Together, September 1, 2020.

Hooray for a GIVEAWAY!

To celebrate its Book Birthday, Danielle is giving away a copy of her brand new picture book Waiting Together to one lucky reader! Just leave a comment on this post by September 15 to be entered to win. The winner will be chosen at random and notified via email. Giveaway available to U.S. residents only.

Author Carolyn Leiloglou Shares Her Library Love + A Giveaway!

Please welcome author Carolyn Leiloglou to Frog on a Blog! Carolyn’s debut picture book Library’s Most Wanted was just released in May by Pelican Publishing. As a public library employee for nearly thirteen years now, I’m a huge library supporter. During this uncertain time, with many libraries still closed, including my workplace, props go out to my coworkers for all the hard work they’ve done to bring library services to the community via digital means. Just because the building is closed, doesn’t mean the library’s commitment to the people it serves has been shut down.

But I’m not the only one who loves libraries. It’s clear that Carolyn loves them too! Let’s hear from her about how her library love has grown over the years.

I have a surprising admission. Even though I’m an author and my debut picture book, Library’s Most Wanted, is about libraries… I didn’t grow up a library patron.

I know, I know. You thought it was mandatory for all authors to spend their childhoods roaming the stacks at their local public library. It sounds very idyllic, but, alas, that was not my childhood.

I remember my mom taking me to the library once in fifth grade for a report on Vincent van Gogh. I’m sure we must have gone other times, but it was rare. More often, my mom would take us to a bookstore, allowing us to choose a book. I suppose that was easier than having to remember due dates or deal with library fines. As a mom of four book-misplacing kids, I can attest that it was likely cheaper.

But my relationship to the library changed in fourth grade. My classroom was right next to the school library, which we visited frequently. This was where I first found The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, which led to a lifelong love of fantasy. This was also the year I began writing my first novel, inspired by Redwall, one of my bookstore-trip selections.

It wasn’t until I had my own children that I became a regular library user. I’m fortunate to live in a large city that has a wonderful public library system. They are always trying to innovate and put together great programs, especially ones geared toward getting kids interested in reading and learning.

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So when I started taking my own young kids to the library, I discovered this wealth of wonderful picture books I never knew existed. I had always wanted to write, and I assumed I’d write fantasy novels. But now that I was reading one picture book after another to my children, something magical happened. I started to think I could write them too.

Of course. What parent hasn’t thought that? And like most parents who have tried to write their own picture books, my first attempts were clumsy at best.

But I kept having kids (four total), and I kept reading picture books. And my wonderful library, with its consistently updated collection, allowed me to absorb the essence of what a picture book should be.

In fact, while books on writing craft are helpful, there’s nothing that can compare to the education that reading and rereading hundreds of picture books can give.

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For years, we have had a library day—a day of the week where going to the library is part of our routine. We return books we’ve finished, pick up new books—I almost always have something on hold—and my kids roam the aisles, pulling random books off the shelves, looking for that next book that will capture their imagination.

And just like the library inspired me to write, I’ve seen that tendency sprout in my children. One of them writes daily. Another draws his own comics. The younger ones write stories and picture books. And because they’re constantly reading, they too, are getting an education in writing.

Right now—March 2020 when I’m writing this—we are living in an uncertain time. Because of the coronavirus outbreak, many libraries have temporarily closed their doors. But despite that, libraries continue to innovate as resources for their communities. Some libraries are offering no-contact, walk-up hold pick-ups. Others have abolished due dates and fines during this crisis. My own library has made it easier than ever to get a digital library card to check out audio and ebooks.

Having a public library is a gift that I don’t want to take for granted. Now more than ever.

Carolyn Leiloglou writes poems and stories for children which have been published in Clubhouse Jr., Ladybug, and Wildflowers. She is the author of the Noah Green Junior Zookeeper series, and her debut picture book, Library’s Most Wanted, released May 2020. You can find her on her blog, housefullofbookworms.com, where she reviews her favorite children’s books each month.

Hooray, it’s Giveaway time!

Carolyn Leiloglou and Pelican Publishing are giving away a copy of Library’s Most Wanted to one lucky commenter. Just leave a comment on this post by July 19, 2020 and you’ll be entered to win this beautiful picture book! A winner will be chosen randomly and notified on July 20, 2020. Contest open to U.S. residents only.

Summer Reading

Hey, everyone! Are you looking for something for your kids to do for the summer? Check your local library’s website. Summer Reading Programs are going on now, all around the United States, even if your library is closed, because a lot of it can be accessed online. Your kids can enjoy entertaining and educational programming, crafts, and storytimes, as well as earn prizes for all the books they read. Take a look!

New Children’s Book Publisher, BiblioKid Publishing, Gives Back to Education + a Giveaway!

Kid’s book author, Brooke Van Sickle, has just launched her own publishing house and it’s pretty remarkable. BiblioKid Publishing is the children’s book publisher that donates 50% of its profits back to help fund literacy programs at low-income schools.

Brooke sat down to discuss the inspiration behind this cause and to let us know more about what to expect from BiblioKid Publishing in 2020 and years to come. Read all about it below.

Tell us a little about BiblioKid Publishing.

BiblioKid Publishing is a children’s book publisher who donates 50% of its profits to help fund literacy and reading programs at low-income schools. Right now, that’s through two national charities, Pencils for Promise and First Book, but we will eventually venture into more local and individual school fundraising opportunities.

Because we’re a huge advocate for a love of reading and education, BiblioKid likes to focus on that same purpose in our books. Our picture books always include humor and heart for the reader, and if there’s a learning component or moral, that comes second. Our mission is to always bring a quality book that kids will love first.

What made you want to start this company?

I’ve always been a proponent of education because I believe it’s the axis that leads us to chase our dreams and become successful. However, it wasn’t until I was substitute teaching for inner-city schools that I realized the great need for kids to have access to books and feel empowered to want to read.

And with education being the first thing that tends to be cut from government budgets, it takes people giving to these places to help keep them funded. I wanted to be one of those to give back to education, particularly through reading initiatives, and this was the best way to do that. With a traditional publisher, my royalties would have been too minuscule to have that opportunity.

What can we expect first from BiblioKid Publishing?

Our first book sets sail on February 25th called Pirates Stuck at ‘C’. This alphabet picture book is about a crew of pirates that find the perfect island for a treasure hunt. (Or so they think!) But as they start searching, all sorts of mishaps happen.

Daryll’s in deep water, Killian’s tangled in kelp, and Larry’s got a lobster clamped to his toe. And none of the pirates are having any luck finding treasure.

It should be a fun read for kids and parents to read together. Plus, there’s a free classroom guide for teachers to incorporate the book into their lesson plan.

Do you have any other books coming in 2020 or after?

Yes! We just announced the next book, Humans In-Training, which comes out in June about a puppy named Buster who has to train his humans. The illustrator, Stephanie Vanderpol has been creating some amazing scenes for this story, so I’m really excited for everyone to see it.

And the final picture book in 2020 will come out in September called Together in Our Castle. This is a touching friendship story that will give you all the feels. Plus, we’ve already got a line-up in 2021 of 4 new picture books and plan to open it up to even more authors, too.

If an author wants to submit to you, how would they go about that?

Great question! On the site, there’s a tab with our submission requirements. We’re always looking for children’s book illustrators and should open up to authors by 2021. The best place to stay informed when submissions open up is through my email list. (Plus, you’ll get lots of tips on how to write and publish a kid’s book!) Get signed up here and I’ll even give you my free “How to Write a Kid’s Book” guide.

Thank you so much for reading. To learn more about BiblioKid Publishing, visit their website here. You can also pre-order the picture book Pirates Stuck at ‘C’ before it debuts on February 25th and 50% of the profits will be donated back to help fund low-income schools.

Brooke Van Sickle is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI) and Regional Webmaster for the Iowa-SCBWI region. She’s also a member of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) and Midwest Independent Publishers Association (MiPa).

PIRATES STUCK AT “C”, published by BiblioKid Publishing, is Brooke Van Sickle’s debut picture book. She also has 2 more books expected in 2020. When not writing her own books, Brooke teaches other aspiring writers how to write and publish kid’s books at www.journeytokidlit.com.

Learn more about her on her website www.brookevansickle.com and connect with her on social @authorbrookevs.

Time For A Giveaway!

Brooke Van Sickle is generously giving away a hardcover, signed copy of her debut picture book PIRATES STUCK AT “C” to one lucky person who comments on this post by February 29th! If you share this post on social media, let us know in the comments to earn an additional chance to win.

The winner will be chosen randomly. Open to U.S. residents only.

Picture Book Critique Fest 2019=An Amazing Opportunity!

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Are you a picture book writer? Or Illustrator? Would you like a chance to get your picture book manuscript or dummy critiqued by an industry professional: an experienced author, a professional illustrator, or a literary agent? If you answered YES! then you won’t want to miss Picture Book Critique Fest 2019, a one-time picture book critique giveaway, created by Brian Gehrlein, the brains behind the splendid site Picture Book Spotlight! Thirty-five winners will be selected and matched up with one of the thirty-five participating professionals (there are some big names here, folks) to receive a critique. This is an amazing opportunity! I’ll be applying; you should too. You only have until 9 AM CST on October 25th, so get going! Click the #PBCRITIQUEFEST logo above for more information.

Picture Books At The Library 200 (+ a Giveaway!)

I catalog hundreds of new picture books each year, and I read as many of them as I can. Unfortunately, I can’t review them all. But I can share them! Below are a few recent titles. (Summaries have been taken directly from the books whenever possible.) Check your local library or bookstore for availability.

Hey, Everybody! I can’t believe this is my 200th Picture Books At The Library post! Time flies when you’re reading picture books. 🙂

To celebrate this milestone, I’m giving away two books to one lucky winner: A copy of my book The Peddler’s Bed and winner’s choice of one of the books I’ve featured in today’s post. All you need to do is leave a comment on this post (and reside in the U.S.) and I’ll choose a winner at random on September 30. Be sure to follow this blog so that I’ll have access to your email address and can contact you if you win.

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RUBY FINDS A WORRY: Ruby has a worry, and it’s all she can think about, but when she meets a boy with a worry of his own, they both find a way to make their worries disappear.
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LIONEL AND THE LION’S SHARE: Lionel doesn’t like to share, but after he eats all of the cake at Chloe’s birthday party, he learns a valuable lesson about what it means to be a friend.
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DUCK!: When Duck runs around the farm shouting “Duck!” to all the other animals, they grow increasingly frustrated as they try to explain to Duck just which animal is which. Funny!
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MY GRANDMA AND ME: Whether it is down the hall to visit their friends or to the mosque during Ramadan or on a flight of fancy on a rocket ship, Mina and her grandmother are never far apart.
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HATS ARE NOT FOR CATS!: A patronizing, plaid-hat-wearing dog informs a cat that hats are only for dogs, but the cat, joined by others, dons a wide assortment of hats, proving, at last, that hats are for everyone. Rhyme
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SQUEAK!: A woodland mouse wakes up with a squeak, and his noise sets off a chain reaction of animals waking each other up.
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MY TINY PET: After moving to a tiny house, a young girl is forbidden to get a pet until she introduces her parents to microscopic tardigrades, also called water bears.

Don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win two books: The Peddler’s Bed, written by me, and a book of your choice from the titles listed in today’s post! I’ll choose a winner at random on September 30. Be sure to follow this blog so that I’ll have access to your email address and can contact you if you win. Good luck! (U.S. residents only)

LOVE IS KIND Blog Tour + Giveaway -AND Introducing Little Owl

I adore picture books that highlight the themes of love and kindness. That’s why it’s my great pleasure to be a stop on Laura Sassi’s LOVE IS KIND Blog Tour. Readers, this book is incredibly sweet (and I don’t mean because it includes a little something about a box of chocolates), and the ending (which I won’t give away) is darling. Speaking of darling, check out the cover of LOVE IS KIND, featuring Little Owl, the star of the book.

Love is kind cover

And, guess what? You get to meet Little Owl, the brand new story time puppet, right here on Frog on a Blog! Hello Little Owl!

Little Owl

Laura’s stopped by today to talk about how she uses puppets to enhance the story time experience and engage her young audience, and how you can too. Little Owl will soon be joining her on her author visits.

MEET LITTLE OWL: Using Puppets to Engage Young Readers

I started using puppets with the release of my very first book. Since a pair of skunks play an important role in that book, and thinking that my very youngest readers might not be familiar with the species, I thought having a pair of skunk puppets would be an engaging way to introduce the story. The former teacher (and crowd control freak) in me, also thought skunk puppets might be a friendly way to help young audiences settle down before and during the reading since, as you know, skunks are notorious for making a big stink if they get startled.

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Those skunks became such an integral part of author visits, that I decided to incorporate puppets into the author visits for every one of my books – skunks for GOODNIGHT ARK, a rooster for GOODNIGHT MANGER, a seal and mouse for DIVA DELORES AND THE OPERA HOUSE MOUSE, and now, for LOVE IS KIND, my newest release, a darling little owl.

Now, in celebration of sharing books with little ones, here are TEN tried-and-true tips for using puppets to enhance a story time experience.

Before the story time.

1. Pick a puppet that fits the book. The puppet you choose can either be a protagonist, like my seal, mouse and owl, or minor characters such as my skunks and rooster. The most important thing is that you have a good reason for picking that puppet – a reason that enhances your story time.  For example, the skunks are useful in introducing an important and fun subplot in GOODNIGHT, ARK.  (They are hiding under the bed in every spread until – at last – they make a big stink that’s important to the resolution of the story.) And that rooster, while very minor to GOODNIGHT, MANGER, becomes a fun and engaging way to introduce the concept of loud vs. quiet voices when putting a baby to bed.

Rooster

2. Play… and plan ahead of time! This is probably obvious, but it’s worth spending time in advance putting together a little stand-up routine for you and your puppet.  This is your chance to tap into your inner comedian.  The more you ham it up, the more the kids will love it! 

3. Practice your ventriloquist skills. There are two ways to use your puppet. Either you can just talk with it and it can shyly nod, react etc., OR you can have that puppet actually converse with you, or “cock-a-doodle-doo” as my rooster does and SING as that darling Diva Delores loves to do! If you decide to have them speak, then I’d recommend practicing your ventriloquist skills in front of a mirror ahead of time.

During the story time.

4. Use your puppets to break the ice. If you are a little shy, like me, then you’ll probably agree that mingling is easier with a buddy.  In that awkward “before the story time officially begins” period, I’ve discovered that EVERYBODY enjoys a little mingling with the author and her storytelling companion – especially when it’s a cute stuffed animal puppet.

5. Have your puppets help introduce the story.  This takes a little planning ahead of time (see step 2), but a short puppet routine is a great way to introduce the themes of your story, any special concepts, or just to get the kids excited.  For DIVA DELORES, for example, my seal puppet likes to sing for the audience so they can hear what opera sounds like. Then she invites them to join along in singing the refrain that appears on certain spreads in the book.  I haven’t finalized exactly what Little Owl is going to do before I read LOVE IS KIND, but it will surely have something to do with kindness and love.

Diva Delores

6. Have the children model for the puppets what “good listening” looks like before you read.  It’s amazing how eager young readers are to engage with the puppets, and I’ve discovered over time that little ones especially like the opportunity to model for my puppets what good listeners look like.  So, I have THEM show the puppets what it looks like to sit quietly with eyes on reader, ready to be read to. (I also use those skunks to my advantage (see intro)). 

7. Use your puppets to engage young readers in some post-reading ponderings. After my readings, I like for the kids to reflect with me on what the characters in the story learned and I’ve found that involving the puppets in the process is effective and popular. For example, after reading GOODNIGHT, MANGER we ponder what made the difference in getting Baby Jesus to sleep.  (The answer has to do with creating a quiet, peaceful atmosphere). Then, together, we see if we can teach our very NOISY rooster to do a quiet cock-a-doodle-doo.  If he learns well, we invite him to join as we sing a final lullaby to Baby Jesus. For LOVE IS KIND, I think I will have Little Owl help me select volunteers to share their post-reading thoughts by looking with me for participants who are showing kindness by being good listeners with each other during our post book chat.

8. Include your puppets in the story time farewell.  This can be very motivational if your audience is getting antsy because you can promise your young participants that if they hold on just a little longer, then they can pet and hug the visiting puppet!  They love this!  And I am just charmed by how many “I love yous” each puppet has so gently received over the last four years since I first started using puppets.

After the story time.

9. Have a puppet de-briefing session with yourself. After each story time, I find it helpful to evaluate what worked, what didn’t, and what I could do next time to make that puppet even more integral to my story time. For example, it wasn’t until I had done a few story times in that I decided to have my GOODNIGHT, ARK skunk puppets engage my audience in a little quiet “thumbs up” challenge.  But it worked so well, that now, at every GOODNIGHT, ARK story time, my skunk puppets challenge the audience to quietly put “thumbs up” as soon as they spot the skunks on each spread – which makes for a nice set up to the stinky climax! 

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10. Most important:  HAVE FUN!  Yes, let’s not forget this last important tip. If you are having fun, it will be contagious!

Thank you for having me, Lauri, and I hope my love for puppets inspires others to experiment with incorporating something new into their story times as well.

Hurrah for puppets! And what a fun post! I wonder if that monkey puppet is still around that I had when I was a kid. Hmm…

Folks, don’t forget to check out the other stops on the LOVE IS KIND tour. 

Love is KInd Blog Tour Schedule

Giveaway

ZonderKidz, the publisher of LOVE IS KIND, has generously agreed to give away a copy of the book to one U.S. blog reader. Just leave a comment here to be entered to win. A winner will be chosen at random on September 30. Be sure to follow Frog on a Blog so that I can contact you if you win.

Thank you Laura and ZonderKidz!

New Year=New Beginnings: December’s Winner

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Happy New Year, everyone! Today I announce the final winner in my year-long blog giveaway, a giveaway in which I endeavored to show my gratitude to my followers, fans, and friends for their support by spreading a bit of positivity in what seems, at times, an overwhelmingly negative world. When I started New Year=New Beginnings last January, I never dreamed the year would fly by in the blink of an eye. But here we are, in a brand new year! As I bring 2017’s giveaway to a close, my hope is that 2018 will prove to be a joyous year, filled with positive energy, for each one of you.

Let’s recap the past year and announce December’s winner!

January’s prize was a copy of my book The Peddler’s Bed.

February’s prize was an adorable plushie Curious George.

March’s prize was a set of Pilot’s pens, a Night Writer 2-pack with LED lights, perfect for writing in the dark, and a must have for writers or travelers.

April’s prize was winner’s choice of either a picture book manuscript critique (for writers) or a Personal Library Kit (for book lovers).

May’s prize was a set of two darling bookmarks: A Hippo and a Crocodile.

June’s prize was a Maurice Sendak Nutshell Library box set that includes four tiny classics: Alligators All Around, Chicken Soup With Rice, One Was Johnny, and Pierre.

July’s prize was a set of two music CDs by the amazing Emily Arrow: Storytime Singalong volumes 1 and 2!

August’s prize was a super cute, super fun novelty Writer’s Block Journal filled with 300 blank pages, ready and waiting for inspiration to hit!

September’s prize was a Dr. Seuss finger puppet set featuring three lovable characters from The Lorax (my favorite Dr. Seuss book)!

October’s prize was a stylish scarf designed to look like a library due date card.

November’s prize was a new copy of an old classic: Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, a picture book that pairs Robert Frost’s poetic text with Susan Jeffer’s dreamy illustrations.

Last but not least, December’s prize brought New Year=New Beginnings full circle: a signed copy of my book The Peddler’s Bed or, alternatively, a picture book manuscript critique from me.

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And the winner of December’s prize is…

Joan Leotta

Congratulations Joan! Please contact me by clicking HERE and let me know which prize you’d prefer.

It is with much appreciation to all who have read, followed, shared, liked or commented on my blog posts this past year that I bring this giveaway to a close. But, look for new content coming soon to Frog on a Blog, including more giveaways. Also, don’t forget to check back each week for the latest Picture Books At The Library post where I share new picture books. I’ll keep sharing; you keep reading! 🙂

New Year=New Beginnings: November’s Winner (plus December’s prize)

Back in January, I posted about a year-long giveaway called New Year=New Beginnings that I’m offering here on Frog on a Blog–a new prize each month for folks who comment on blog posts. With so much negative energy floating around in the world, I wanted to do something positive to show my gratitude to my followers, fans, and friends for their support.

It’s December! Where has this year gone?! It must have been the fastest year on record, at least in my record book. My year-long giveaway is almost over–just one more month to go. I’ve had so much fun doing this giveaway. I really like giving. Giving feels good! 🙂 I may offer the giveaway again in the future, or at least something similar.

Now let’s recap the year from January to November, announce November’s winner, and highlight December’s prize:

January’s prize was a copy of my book The Peddler’s Bed.

February’s prize was an adorable plushie Curious George.

March’s prize was a set of Pilot’s pens, a Night Writer 2-pack with LED lights, perfect for writing in the dark, and a must have for writers or travelers.

April’s prize was winner’s choice of either a picture book manuscript critique (for writers) or a Personal Library Kit (for book lovers).

May’s prize was a set of two darling bookmarks: A Hippo and a Crocodile.

June’s prize was a Maurice Sendak Nutshell Library box set that includes four tiny classics: Alligators All Around, Chicken Soup With Rice, One Was Johnny, and Pierre.

July’s prize was a set of two music CDs by the amazing Emily Arrow: Storytime Singalong volumes 1 and 2!

August’s prize was a super cute, super fun novelty Writer’s Block Journal filled with 300 blank pages, ready and waiting for inspiration to hit!

September’s prize was a Dr. Seuss finger puppet set featuring three lovable characters from The Lorax (my favorite Dr. Seuss book)!

October’s prize was a stylish scarf designed to look like a library due date card.

November’s prize was a new copy of an old classic: Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, a picture book that pairs Robert Frost’s poetic text with Susan Jeffer’s dreamy illustrations. Love this book!

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And the winner of November’s Prize is…

Vivian Kirkfield

Congratulations, Vivian! I will e-mail you for your mailing address. I hope you like this book as much as I do!

There is still one more chance to win this year (though the winner will be announced in early January)! 

For December’s giveaway prize, I am starting where I began, and offering a signed copy of my picture book The Peddler’s Bed. If you already have a copy, or would just prefer, I’m offering an alternative prize: a picture book manuscript critique from me.

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Comment on this post or any post during the month of December for a chance to win. For more information on how to qualify for prizes, click HERE.

*Due to contest/sweepstakes regulations in other countries, this giveaway is available to U.S. residents only. I’m very sorry fans and followers from other nations. I still appreciate you! All winners are chosen at random.

New Year=New Beginnings: October’s Winner (plus November’s prize)

Back in January, I posted about a year-long giveaway called New Year=New Beginnings that I’m offering here on Frog on a Blog–a new prize each month for folks who comment on blog posts. With so much negative energy floating around in the world, I wanted to do something positive to show my gratitude to my followers, fans, and friends for their support.

Yikes! It’s November! Where in the world did the year go? Time flies whether you’re having fun or not, it would seem (though I hope you’ve had some fun this year). And since we’re on the subject of time, how is it that a week seems to drag, but a month can zip by in the blink of an eye? It’s a time paradox that has always puzzled me. Oh well, back to the matter at hand. It’s TIME to recap January through October and announce the October prize winner. Then stick around to see November’s prize, which is one of my favorites of the year.

January’s prize was a copy of my book The Peddler’s Bed.

February’s prize was an adorable plushie Curious George.

March’s prize was a set of Pilot’s pens, a Night Writer 2-pack with LED lights, perfect for writing in the dark, and a must have for writers or travelers.

April’s prize was winner’s choice of either a picture book manuscript critique (for writers) or a Personal Library Kit (for book lovers).

May’s prize was a set of two darling bookmarks: A Hippo and a Crocodile.

June’s prize was a Maurice Sendak Nutshell Library box set that includes four tiny classics: Alligators All Around, Chicken Soup With Rice, One Was Johnny, and Pierre.

July’s prize was a set of two music CDs by the amazing Emily Arrow: Storytime Singalong volumes 1 and 2!

August’s prize was a super cute, super fun novelty Writer’s Block Journal filled with 300 blank pages, ready and waiting for inspiration to hit!

September’s prize was a Dr. Seuss finger puppet set featuring three lovable characters from The Lorax (my favorite Dr. Seuss book)!

October’s prize was a stylish scarf designed to look like a library due date card.

Scarf

And the winner of October’s prize is…

Sandra M.

Congratulations Sandra! I will e-mail you for a mailing address. Enjoy the scarf!

If you haven’t won a prize yet, there are still two more chances to win this year!

And even if you can’t win because you’ve won already or because you’re not a US resident, I still welcome your comments and appreciate your support of Frog on a Blog.

November’s prize is one of my favorites of the year. It’s a new copy of an old classic: Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

This beautiful picture book pairs poet Robert Frost’s lyrical text with illustrator Susan Jeffers’ exquisite art. Though not directly a Christmas book, it would fit in well with any holiday classic, or certainly any winter-themed picture book. Personally, I love it anytime of year. It’s gorgeous! I, of course, own a copy.

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Comment on this post or any post during the month of November for a chance to win. For more information on how to qualify for prizes, click HERE.

*Due to contest/sweepstakes regulations in other countries, this giveaway is available to U.S. residents only. I’m very sorry fans and followers from other nations. I still appreciate you! All winners are chosen at random.

New Year=New Beginnings: September’s Winner (plus October’s prize)

Back in January, I posted about a year-long giveaway called New Year=New Beginnings that I’m offering here on Frog on a Blog–a new prize each month for folks who comment on blog posts. With so much negative energy floating around in the world, I wanted to do something positive to show my gratitude to my followers, fans, and friends for their support.

I cannot believe how quickly this year has passed. It’s October! The holidays are right around the corner! Time is moving too fast for me these days, but at least I have the pleasure of announcing September’s prize winner and the October prize. First let’s recap January through September:

January’s prize was a copy of my book The Peddler’s Bed.

February’s prize was an adorable plushie Curious George.

March’s prize was a set of Pilot’s pens, a Night Writer 2-pack with LED lights, perfect for writing in the dark, and a must have for writers or travelers.

April’s prize was winner’s choice of either a picture book manuscript critique (for writers) or a Personal Library Kit (for book lovers).

May’s prize was a set of two darling bookmarks: A Hippo and a Crocodile.

June’s prize was a Maurice Sendak Nutshell Library box set that includes four tiny classics: Alligators All Around, Chicken Soup With Rice, One Was Johnny, and Pierre.

July’s prize was a set of two music CDs by the amazing Emily Arrow: Storytime Singalong volumes 1 and 2!

August’s prize was a super cute, super fun novelty Writer’s Block Journal filled with 300 blank pages, ready and waiting for inspiration to hit!

September’s prize was a Dr. Seuss finger puppet set featuring three lovable characters from The Lorax (my favorite Dr. Seuss book)!

Dr Lorax2

And the winner of September’s prize is…

Sheri Murphy

Congratulations Sheri! Please contact me with your mailing address by clicking HERE. The Lorax and his friends will soon be heading your way!

If you haven’t won a prize yet, there are still three more chances to win this year!

And even if you can’t win because you’ve won already or because you’re not a US resident, I still welcome your comments and appreciate your support of Frog on a Blog.

October’s prize is a splendid scarf designed to look like a library due date card. It’s not too heavy, so it’s perfect for the cooler temperatures of fall or just for looking stylish.

Scarf

Comment on this post or any post during the month of October for a chance to win. For more information on how to qualify for prizes, click HERE.

Due to contest/sweepstakes regulations in other countries, this giveaway is available to U.S. residents only. I’m very sorry fans and followers from other nations. I still appreciate you! All winners are chosen at random.

New Year=New Beginnings: August’s Winner (plus September’s prize)

Back in January, I posted about a year-long giveaway called New Year=New Beginnings that I’m offering here on Frog on a Blog–a new prize each month for folks who comment on blog posts. With so much negative energy floating around in the world, I wanted to do something positive to show my gratitude to my followers, fans, and friends for their support.

Let’s recap January through August and announce August’s winner!

January’s prize was a copy of my book The Peddler’s Bed.

February’s prize was an adorable plushie Curious George.

March’s prize was a set of Pilot’s pens, a Night Writer 2-pack with LED lights, perfect for writing in the dark, and a must have for writers or travelers.

April’s prize was winner’s choice of either a picture book manuscript critique (for writers) or a Personal Library Kit (for book lovers).

May’s prize was a set of two darling bookmarks: A Hippo and a Crocodile.

June’s prize was a Maurice Sendak Nutshell Library box set that includes four tiny classics: Alligators All Around, Chicken Soup With Rice, One Was Johnny, and Pierre.

July’s prize was a set of two music CDs by the amazing Emily Arrow: Storytime Singalong volumes 1 and 2!

August’s prize was a super cute, super fun novelty Writer’s Block Journal filled with 300 blank pages, ready and waiting for inspiration to hit!

And the winner of August’s prize is…

Susanna Leonard Hill

Congratulations Susanna! You know the drill, please contact me HERE with your address and your Writer’s Block journal will soon be on its way to you.

If you haven’t won a prize yet, there are still more chances to win this year!

And even if you can’t win because you’ve won already or because you’re not a US resident, I still welcome your comments and appreciate your support of Frog on a Blog.

September’s prize is a Dr. Seuss finger puppet set featuring three lovable characters from The Lorax (my favorite Dr. Seuss book)!

Comment on this post or any post during the month of September for a chance to win. For more information on how to qualify for prizes, click HERE.

Due to contest/sweepstakes regulations in other countries, this giveaway is available to U.S. residents only. I’m very sorry fans and followers from other nations. I still appreciate you! All winners are chosen at random.

New Year=New Beginnings: July’s Winner (plus August’s prize)

In January of this year, I posted about a year-long giveaway called New Year=New Beginnings that I’m offering here on Frog on a Blog–a new prize each month for folks who comment on blog posts. With so much negative energy floating around in the world, I wanted to do something positive to show my gratitude to my followers, fans, and friends for their support.

Let’s recap January through July and announce July’s winner!

January’s prize was a copy of my book The Peddler’s Bed.

February’s prize was an adorable plushie Curious George.

March’s prize was a set of Pilot’s pens, a Night Writer 2-pack with LED lights, perfect for writing in the dark, and a must have for writers or travelers.

April’s prize was winner’s choice of either a picture book manuscript critique (for writers) or a Personal Library Kit (for book lovers).

May’s prize was a set of two darling bookmarks: A Hippo and a Crocodile.

June’s prize was a Maurice Sendak Nutshell Library box set that includes four tiny classics: Alligators All Around, Chicken Soup With Rice, One Was Johnny, and Pierre.

July’s prize was a set of two music CDs by the amazing Emily Arrow: Storytime Singalong volumes 1 and 2! These CDs feature original music inspired by picture books.

And the winner of July’s prize is…

Patricia Tilton

Congratulations Patricia! Please contact me with your address by clicking HERE. Your CDs will soon be on their way to you!

If you haven’t won a prize yet, there are still more chances to win this year!

And even if you can’t win because you’ve won already or because you’re not a US resident, I still welcome your comments and appreciate your support of Frog on a Blog.

August’s Prize is this super cute, super fun novelty Writer’s Block Journal filled with 300 blank pages, ready and waiting for inspiration to hit!

Comment on this post or any post during the month of August for a chance to win. For more information on how to qualify for prizes, click HERE.

Due to contest/sweepstakes regulations in other countries, this giveaway is available to U.S. residents only. I’m very sorry fans and followers from other nations. I still appreciate you! All winners are chosen at random.

Halfway Point: New Year=New Beginnings (plus June’s Winner and July’s Prize)

In January of this year, I posted about a year-long giveaway called New Year=New Beginnings that I’m offering here on Frog on a Blog–a new prize each month for folks who comment on blog posts. With so much negative energy floating around in the world, I wanted to do something positive to show my gratitude to my followers, fans, and friends for their support.

I cannot believe the year is half over already! Where did the time go?! So far, I’ve given away five prizes, January through May, and have enjoyed every second of it. I love giving! 🙂 Before I announce the winner of prize #6 (June’s prize) I want to say thanks to everyone who’s stuck with me so far. I really appreciate it! I know I didn’t offer much original content for June for you all to comment on or share. I plan to change that for July. And I have already started with a guest post by Susanna Leonard Hill, which you can take a look at by clicking HERE.

Now, let’s recap the prizes I’ve given away so far and announce the winner of June’s prize!

January’s prize was a copy of my book The Peddler’s Bed.

February’s prize was an adorable plushie Curious George.

March’s prize was a set of Pilot’s pens, a Night Writer 2-pack with LED lights, perfect for writing in the dark, and a must have for writers or travelers.

April’s prize was winner’s choice of either a picture book manuscript critique (for writers) or a Personal Library Kit (for book lovers).

May’s prize was a set of two darling bookmarks: A Hippo and a Crocodile.

June’s prize was a Maurice Sendak Nutshell Library box set that includes four tiny classics: Alligators All Around, Chicken Soup With Rice, One Was Johnny, and Pierre.

And the winner of June’s prize is…

Krissy (Massey)

Congratulations, Krissy! Please contact me with your address by clicking HERE. Your Nutshell Library will be on its way to you very soon.

If you haven’t won a prize yet, there are still six more chances to win this year! Check out July’s fabulous prize! And even if you can’t win because you’ve won already or because you’re not a US resident, I still welcome your comments and appreciate your support of Frog on a Blog.

July’s prize is a set of two music CDs by the amazing Emily Arrow: Storytime Singalong volumes 1 and 2! These CDs feature original music inspired by picture books. So cool!

Comment on this post or any post during the month of July for your chance to win. For more information on how to qualify for prizes, click HERE.

Due to contest/sweepstakes regulations in other countries, this giveaway is available to U.S. residents only. I’m very sorry fans and followers from other nations. I still appreciate you! All winners are chosen at random.

When Your Books Go On A Blog Tour (plus a Giveaway)

BlogTourBanner (2)

It’s been a while since I’ve participated in a book blog tour. That’s why I’m extra excited to be a part of the amazing Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog tour celebration of her TWO brand new children’s books WHEN YOUR ELEPHANT HAS THE SNIFFLES and WHEN YOUR LION NEEDS A BATH! Take a look at the covers; could they be any cuter?!

I wanted to know how Susanna created her “When Your” series. Her blog tour offered the perfect opportunity to find out! Susanna, the page is yours!

Hello Everyone!

Thank you so much for joining the When Your Books Blog Tour fun!
Lauri thought it would be interesting to talk about writing a series today, since that’s something a lot of us haven’t attempted.
So let’s talk! 🙂

It may surprise you to know that I did not set out to write a series!
Nope.
The WHEN YOUR… books began with a case of the hiccups. (Mine 🙂 )
I don’t know about you, but in my household of 5 kids we have plenty of hiccup remedies…none of them particularly successful, mind you, but all of them guaranteed to induce silliness.

So on the day I got the hiccups, I started thinking about those ridiculous remedies – chasing, tickling, laughing, breath-holding, scaring, drinking backwards etc. – and I suddenly had an idea for a story: When Your [child/animal/something?] Has The Hiccups!

I sat down to write – my goal to produce that one single story.
But as you writers all know, the mind works in mysterious ways, and creativity begets creativity.

I wrote the hiccup story, but before I was even finished with it, I started thinking about sniffles…and baths…and haircuts… 🙂
“Hmmm…,” I said to the dogs who were asleep under my feet. “I wonder if I have more than one book here…!”
The dogs (shockingly) did not reply, but I felt I was onto something.
I knew something about series, obviously. We’ve all read them. But what I was used to thinking of as a series were things like Fancy Nancy – several books that feature the same familiar character in varied situations.
That was not what I had.

So I had to think a little about exactly what makes a series.
Clearly, there has to be an element of coherence – something to hold the stories together even without that familiar main character.
In the case of the WHEN YOUR… books that element of coherence is theme.
Every book in the series addresses “things kids sometimes find unpleasant.”
Baths.
Sniffles.
Haircuts.
Bedtime.
Hiccups.
Etc… 🙂
I would not write a story for this series about how much fun someone’s birthday is – that would not fit!
A common theme is important and helpful, but since the characters change from book to book, I knew I needed more than that.

As I moved from writing the hiccup book to writing the sniffles book, I deliberately incorporated several things:

1. A similar tone and voice.
All the books feature an unseen narrator who offers advice.
The overall tone of the books is humorous.
2. A similar objective.
All of the books are instructional – they tell you how to do something.
3. An animal character who is particularly well-suited (in a kind of backwards way) to the situation – e.g. a lion who needs a bath (because cats hate water) or an elephant with the sniffles (because what could be worse than sniffles with a nose like that?!)
4. A child who is in charge.
5. No adults.
6. An ending where, without realizing it or objecting to it, the child ends up doing whatever s/he was trying to get the animal to do 🙂

Because the stories are about things kids sometimes find unpleasant, I wanted to inject humor, hoping to make those objectionable things seem a little more palatable.

And because these objectionable situations are things kids often have to be coerced into, I wanted the child character to be the one in control (since kids tend to lack that in real life! 🙂 ) and I didn’t want any adults.

As a result, even though each story features a different child, a different animal, and a different situation, they have a cohesiveness that holds them together and makes them feel like a matched set even though each story is just as capable of standing on its own.

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Text copyright © 2017 by Susanna Leonard Hill
Illustration copyright © 2017 by Daniel Wiseman
Used by permission of Little Simon

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Text copyright © 2017 by Susanna Leonard Hill
Illustration copyright © 2017 by Daniel Wiseman
Used by permission of Little Simon

I hope that gives you a little idea of one way you might go about writing a series. If you have questions, feel free to ask in the comments and I will do my best to answer in a timely fashion. 🙂

Thanks again for joining the blog tour fun, and I hope you’ll enjoy the books if you get a chance to read them!

And thank you so much, Lauri, for having me here today and for so kindly hosting this stop on the blog tour!

It was my pleasure, Susanna! You’ve given us all a mini lesson on writing a picture book series. Awesome! 

And as if things couldn’t get any better, Susanna is generously offering one signed copy of each book, WHEN YOUR ELEPHANT HAS THE SNIFFLES and WHEN YOUR LION NEEDS A BATH, to one lucky winner.

To win, all you have to do is share your favorite book series in the comments!

A winner will be chosen at random and will receive their books after July 12.

Let’s keep the blog tour fun going! Be sure to visit the rest of the stops on the tour. The schedule is posted below. And don’t forget to visit Susanna’s blog for the “When Your Books Go On A Blog Tour” kickoff post. You may discover more chances to win fabulous prizes. Click Here!

Blog Tour Schedule (1)

Don’t forget to share this post using #whenyourbooks!  Every time you post with #whenyourbooks you get an entry in the end-of-tour raffle for a Special Prize!

Click Here to find out more!