I love the poetry anthologies compiled by Lee Bennet Hopkins, such as School People and Construction People, illustrated by Ellen Shi and A Bunch of Punctuation, illustrated by Serge Bloch. He had such an amazing ability to gather spectacular poets around fun and sometimes surprising topics. He loved writing poetry for kids and it shows in his amazing body of work and in this newest touching and playful ode to kids and their pets. It is gorgeous and lovingly written. It is a book to treasure. Bless Our Pets Editor/Author: Lee Bennett Hopkins Illustrator: Lita Judge Publisher: Eerdmans, Willia ..read more

Henry Herz writes fiction and creative nonfiction for children. His children's short stories have appeared in Highlights for Children, Ladybug Magazine, and elsewhere. He’s the author of 11 picture books, including I Am Smoke, illustrated by Mercè López (2021), Two Pirates + One Robot, illustrated by Shiho Pate (2019), Good Egg And Bad Apple, illustrated by Luke Graber (2018), How The Squid Got Two Long Arms, Illustrated by Luke Graber (2018), Alice's Magic Garden, illustrated by Natalie Hoopes (2018), Cap'n Rex & His Clever Crew, illustrated by Benjamin Schipper (2017), When You Gi ..read more

"I’ve always maintained that more can be said or felt in eight or 10 lines than sometimes in an entire novel.” ~ Lee Bennett Hopkins In one of his last anthologies, Lee compiled fourteen poems about our special animal companions. "From puppies to mice to turtles to ponies, this endearing anthology expresses children’s gratitude for creatures big and small." Photo © Charles Egita One of his final collections, it was finshed after he died August 8, 2019. This post is a tribute to Lee from some of the poets of Bless Our Pets: Poems of Gratitude for our Animal Friends, which published April 16t ..read more

I loved Cathy Ballou Mealey's first two books When a Tree Grows and Sloth and Squirrel in a Pickle and was excited to read this one. And not just because it features a favorite camping treat, though that certainly didn't hurt. I am delighted to share with you this week's #PPBF choice, a humorous, touching, rhyming picture book combining generosity and gooey s'mores. Make More S'mores Author: Cathy Ballou Mealey Illustrator: Ariel Landy Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press Ages: 5-8 Fiction Themes: Friendship, rhyme, animals, taking things in stride, and kindness. Synopsis: Roscoe has his campfire ..read more

Whether you're here to support the STEAM Team authors, curiosity, or because you love nonfiction books, I hope you read to the end because you'll discover some amazing authors and super spectacular books! Today I have the pleasure to introduce you to five authors from the STEAM Team Books – a group of authors who joined together to celebrate and help promote their STEAM books. I hope you enjoy this peek at these delightful books and fascinating creatives. "STEAM Team Books is a group of authors who have a STEM/STEAM book releasing in 2023. It includes fiction & nonfiction, trade or educa ..read more

Zainab Khan is a writer born in Singapore who went to school in different parts of the world including the American and British schools in Saudi Arabia. She’s a spreader of light and in order to spread light, she is donating a part of her proceeds to GIVELIGHT.ORG. This organization cares for and educates orphans in thirteen different countries including the U.S. After getting her BA from Boston University, she taught elementary school. Years later, she ran my own preschool program. The best part of her day was telling her students stories. That is when Zainab knew she wanted to be a writer ..read more

Cathy Ballou Mealey has roasted marshmallows, pickled cucumbers, and written picture books, but also worked in college administration and teaching.  When not writing, Cathy volunteers for organizations supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders.   For basic information on Cathy, see our earlier interview (here) and (here). Cathy is the author of Sloth and Squirrel in a Pickle, illustrated by Kelly Collier (2021) and When A Tree Grows, illustrated by Kasia Nowowiejska (2019). Ariel Landy is an illustrator and educator from New York ..read more

I am so excited to share this book with you all. It was released in the UK on April 4th. Although it's not in the states (yet) it is available as an eBook. And you can get their equally funny first book with this bumbling, clueless knight and his trusty horse, Here Be Dragons, from your favorite bookseller while you wait. This is a wonderfully humorous book - a romping cross between Jacques Clouseau and Monty Python. Here Be Giants Author: Susannah Lloyd Illustrator: Paddy Donnelly Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books/Quarto Ages: 3-6 Fiction Themes: Humor, knights, giant, and adventu ..read more

Andrew Hacket is a writer, second-grade teacher, and father of three. He is “inspired by nature, children, and all of the wonders yet to be imagined.” Andrew recognizes that being a kid is hard and he writes to create ways for kids to see themselves in stories and characters, to accept and overcome their insecurities, or to escape for just a little while through the power of their imaginations. He and his family live in Massachusetts. His debut picture book, Ollie, the Acorn, and the Mighty Idea, was released on April 9th.   Welcome Andrew, it’s nice to meet you! Hi Maria, it is w ..read more

Oh my gosh, I thought the book was hilarious- a romping cross between Jacques Clouseau and Monty Python. But these two really cracked me up throughout our entire interview! Paddy Donnelly is an award-winning Irish author and illustrator of picture books. Now living in Belgium, he works in a range of illustration styles and his debut author illustrated picture book, The Vanishing Lake, won the Gold Medal in the Picture Books category of the Independent Publisher Book Awards 2021. He was nominated for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal for his picture book with Jeanne Willis - Hom. He wishes ..read more