This week, I picked up Lola Schaefer’s picture book, Frankie Stein, (illustrated by Kevan Atteberry) – what a wonderful twist on the usual Halloween fare! Frankie’s proud parents are delighted when Frankie arrives in the world on a “bright, sunny day,” but “Oh, my,” his mother exclaims, “He’s…cute.” And he truly is! Not to be [...]
One of the great things about Halloween is the many fun books I get to share with my students. For some (not so strange, I guess!) reason, I have two overflowing GIANT storage tubs of books for the month of October. Two favorites that I read this month: Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman, Illustrated by [...]
A writing friend shared this quote from Einstein and reminded me of the way I am connected to others, depend on others, find meaning in others. I am grateful for those “crossed paths.” Each has a part in who I am and who I will become. Excerpt from You and Your Fellow Man by Albert [...]
Tonight, I didn’t get to my desk until after 8 pm. Last night, it was even later. After a full day, it’s easy to excuse myself from writing by saying that I just don’t have the energy. That I can’t think well at night. That I’m kidding myself when I believe that if I just [...]
Sometimes gems of inspiration come when you least expect them. Last night’s Chinese-take-out-so-we-could-watch-the-vice-presidential-debate brought another reminder with implications for both my teaching and writing lives. In today’s standards-based, high-pressured, “no-child-left-behind” environment, it’s easy to let the constraints of time and curriculum overwhelm my teaching day. The fact remains that there’s a bookload of “hard-core” curriculum [...]
I've lived and traveled around the world, but now make my home in California.
By day, I teach; evenings and many weekends, I write.
My teaching, reading, and writing eventually led to a Master's degree in Language and Literacy and, later, an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts.
My first picture book, BLUE ON BLUE, is forthcoming from Beach Lane Books (Simon and Schuster).