SLJ invites teachers to use Huff & Puff

Exploring Cut Outs. Gather a collection of titles that use cut-outs / die-cut in their illustrations. Include titles such as Laura Vaccaro Seeger’s First the Egg and Lemons are Not Red, Petr Horacek’s Choo Choo, Claudia Rueda’s Huff & Puff, and Lizi Boyd’s Inside Outside. Read through the titles together, discussing what purposes the cut out serve and how they enhance the meaning of each book. Next provide students with a variety of art materials and invite them to play with using cut outs to tell a story or to explain a concept. School Library Journal

A SLJ starred review for Hungry Bunny

«“A first choice for libraries.” –School Library Journal, starred review

This interactive adventure invites readers to assist a very hungry Bunny with a “tummy rumble” as he gathers apples to take home. Large font instructions in colorfully contrasting red text plead with children to “shake” apples and “blow” leaves from a tree, while a helpful attached ribbon of a scarf allows readers to “grab,” “place,” “hold,” and eventually “make a bridge” while assisting Bunny. The way home is filled with additional instructions, propelling Bunny’s wagon faster as children tilt, rock, and turn the book to move him along toward home—just in time to pop through a hole and add apples to Mom’s homemade pie. The simplicity of cartoon images enhanced by graphite pencil shading with minimal use of bold color allows the easy identification of Bunny’s actions, expressions, and important objects on the page. Text separated on facing pages emphasizes action words and invites readers to follow Bunny’s activity through turning ¬pages. VERDICT This engaging title encourages listening, identification of events in the story, and interactivity. A first choice for libraries.

Nice invitation from a talented young girl

The Power of Girl is a brave and wonderful project from teenage student Lily Riccio. She created this platform to help girls like her become inspired or have the confidence to pursue their passion. Congratulations to Lily for this project!

Pez Linterna interview

Very happy to be sharing this interview with dear Colombian Children's Books authors Jairo Buitrago, Francisco Montaña and Pilar Lozano. And congrats to Freddy Gonçalves and to his Pez Linterna project.

Bunny Slopes is an Anna Dewdney Honor book

 Bunny Slopes is one of 2nd Annual Anna Dewdney Read Together Award this year. This award is given annually to a picture book that is both a superb read-aloud and also sparks compassion, empathy, and connection. The award commemorates the life and work of author/illustrator Anna Dewdney, and celebrates her commitment to reading with young children and putting books into as many little hands as possible.

Talking curiosity with Marie Louise Gay

On Friday we'll be talking about Curiosity with talented Canadian picture book author Marie-Louise Gay, as part of the Bogota Book fair events.

La Hora del Cuento bookstore
6pm

It looks like Bunny is having fun at the Bologna Bookfair

An illustration from my book Hungry Bunny, generously displayed at the Chronicle Books stand in Bologna.