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Animated films from CalArts, SVA, Academy of Art and Chapman have earned 2015 Student Academy Awards.

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Which one of my books will be on the New York Times Bestseller List on Sunday, 9/13?

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Thank you, Chicago Tribune, for the lovely review of The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School!

I'm off on an adventure this morning, one that will absolutely stoke my dreams. What are you doing to feed your dreams this month?

Ready....

Today's advice: You won't do it, unless you dream it first.

Set...

Today's prompt: There are two parts to this one. Indulge yourself and write for more than fifteen minutes!

Part 1: What crazy, ridiculous huge life-changing thing would you do if you were guaranteed it would be successful?

Part 2: What crazy, ridiculous huge life-changing thing would your character do if s/he were guaranteed it would be successful? What fear is holding her/him back from trying? Show the tension between the character's dream and fear in a scene with a person who brings out the worst in your character.

Scribble...Scribble....Scribble!

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I am happy to announce the debut of my newest book, The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes To School, a very silly picture book with astounding illustrations by Ard Hoyt:



This is how my publisher describes it: "Mom and Dad Fleefenbacher think their daughter Zoe's hair is wild and beautiful. And for her kindergarten teacher, Zoe's vivacious tresses were a comfort. But Zoe's about to start first grade, and her new teacher doesn't fool around....
"School has rules," she says. "No wild hair in my class!"
So what are Zoe and her free-spirited hair going to do now?
With exuberance and humor to spare, Laurie Halse Anderson and Ard Hoyt, the New York Times bestselling author and illustrator, tease up a terrific tale of hairy hijinks, classroom chaos, and the importance of teachers and students learning to work together."

Kirkus calls it "a well-coiffed winner"!

And here's a quick review from Market Block Books in my Dad's old stomping ground, Troy, NY.

I have been rather absent from the blogosphere of late. Has anyone else seen blog reviews for Zoe?

I'll give you the background about the writing of the book next week. The publication process of this one is itself worthy of a book.

(Yes, it is something of a relief to be able to talk about a silly picture book.)

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Author: Lynne Jonell
Rating:
Reading Level: 4th - 6th grade

Pages: 352
Publisher: Henry Holt
Edition: Hardcover, 2007

It's impressive how Jonell manages to inform the readers of all characters' personalities, feelings, and actions without ever straying away from Emmy's perspective: readers only know what she sees, hears, and thinks. The outlandish circumstances with all the super(magical?)-powers of the rodents are accompanied by a gentle tale of friendship, longing for parental love, and the essence of stable families. I mentally applauded the several jabs at the absurdity of the over-scheduling of our children.

The illustration with the flip-book margin of Rat falling and Emmy catching him ceases being a gimmick when it visually sums up the spirit of the story: "Don't worry. We're friends. I will catch you if you fall."

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