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Mariam Gates, author of Good Morning Yoga, selected these five family favorites.

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   10 Fat Turkeys by Tony Johnston & illustrated by Rich Deas “Looky!” says a silly turkey swinging from a vine. Gobble gobble wibble wobble. Whoops! Now there are nine.” Girls and boys will gobble up this hilarious counting story about ten goofy turkeys roller-skating on a fence, doing a noodle dance, and more! Give …

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The colder months in the Northern Hemisphere are upon us and it's reflected in this list of best selling picture books. As per usual, we've shared our hand selected titles of the most popular picture books.

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It's time to make some hot catnip cocoa and join Skippito Friskito in his newest adventure. Skippyjon Jones braves the snow, kisses, and tights to make his own "fuzzy tale." The songs are my favorite part, and there are plenty here to make this the perfect winter read-aloud. Books mentioned in this post Skippyjon Jones: [...]

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I’m back with another Wednesday series of interviews with published and unpublished illustrators whose work I admire. So prepare to be wowed by the skill and fascinated by their process and passions as we get a glimpse into their lives … Continue reading →

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Judy Schachner is the #1 New York Times best-selling author/illustrator of over twenty-three books for children including Bits & Pieces, the modern classic Skippyjon Jones series, Yo Vikings, The Grannyman and Willy and May. She has won many awards including the first E.B. White Read Aloud Award.

"When I create a character, I commit to that character."

The charming and funny, Judy Schachner, has the room cracking up, especially since she's being a bit of a rule breaker and doing everything Lin Oliver asked her not to. And we're loving it!

Judy will talk about thinking in pictures.

Judy got her start in illustration. Her first book was by Donna Jo Napoli and she illustrated a story about frogs. It was followed by What Shall I Dream? written by Laura McGee Kvasnosky. Then her publisher asked, "Judy, do you write?" After saying yes, she worried she'd be exposed as a liar.

Willy May was the first book she wrote and illustrated. After receiving some starred reviews, she started to believe she could write too.

If you asked her Judy what her favorite book was, she would say, Yo Vikings. It brought back childhood. One of the Judy's daughters wanted a viking ship, and believe it or not, her family ended up buying one.

Judy creates character bibles, getting to know her characters through images, ones she both finds and draws. Collaging and collecting, she has these books going all the time. It's all done intuitively, with no rhyme or reason. Judy shares with us a slide show of many of the pages that come from her character bibles. So very cool.

Character and dialogue comes first for Judy. Plot is more challenging. But doing the bibles helps her to solve all the problems with plot and place.

It's really amazing to see how Judy allows images and ideas to come to her, how she so freely allows herself to put them all together in interesting way. She gets them down on paper (in her character bible), and doesn't sensor herself, then let's it all go to work for her. It helps to inform her stories and clearly creates strong characters that feel original and charming.

Her process is fascinating and is even one writers could take to inform their stories and characters. Judy even suggests this process for those writing novels. "It can work for everybody."

What a treat to see pages from the character bible of her latest story about an OCD raccoon. Just wonderful.

The pages she creates become placeholders. If they don't end up in the book she's working on now, they might end up in another book.

"Become a collector of not just things but of experiences too."

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Two friends meet for lunch and say, What if? What if we have a writing festival for the girls of Little Flower Catholic High? What if we invite 20 authors, offer the girls a chance to learn and workshop , have Kate Walton give the keynote, invite Children's Book World to sell books, and (simply, but never simply) bring this whole publishing thing back to where it belongs: readers connecting with writers connecting with readers.

Book joy.

This, above, is the day that was at the Little Flower Teen Writing Festival. Kate Walton giving the keynote and thanking the tremendous Sister Kim (whose vision this was). Girls in the gym cradling newly bought books as if they were gemstones. The uber talented and radiantly positive girls of my two workshops; some of the props that got us writing; Judy Schachner and me; campus blossoms.

I began this day writing this poem for the girls as they adopt Going Over as a summer read. I spent the rest of it smiling. This, my friends, is what writing is about. Creating stories for, and spending time with, readers who have been given a love for books by a teacher whose heart is huge.

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By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: September 1, 2011

Here’s the scoop on the most popular destinations on The Children’s Book Review site, the most coveted new releases and bestsellers.

Back-to-School: Books About School

Best Halloween Books for Kids: Scary, Spooky, and Silly

20 Sites to Improve Your Child’s Literacy

Review: Scat by Carl Hiaasen

Where to Find Free eBooks for Children Online

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THE NEW RELEASES

The most coveted books that release this month:

Wonderstruck

by Brian Selznick

(Ages 9-12)

LEGO Star Wars Character Encyclopedia

by DK Publishing

(Ages 12 and up)

Every Thing On It

by Shel Silverstein

(Ages 8-11)

You Have to Stop This (Secret)

by Pseudonymous Bosch

(Ages 9-12)

The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories

by Dr. Seuss

(Ages 6-9)

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By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: August 10, 2011

It’s that time of the year again: school time! Whether it’s the first day of school or the first day of a new grade, there is always an adjustment period. Excited, nervous, or shy, reading books about school, or stories that revolve around the classroom, can be a great way to begin switching gears from the vacation mindset. In this book list, you’ll find picture books, chapter books for the early fluent and fluent readers, as well as a novel for young adults.

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Picture Books

Bailey

By Harry Bliss

Reading level: Ages 3-7

Hardcover: 32 pages

Publisher: Scholastic Press (August 1, 2011)

Source: Publisher

Add this book to your collection: Bailey

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Sea Monster’s First Day

By Kate Messner (Author), Andy Rash
(Illustrator)

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Hardcover: 36 pages

Publisher: Chronicle Books (June 22, 2011)

Add this book to your collection: Sea Monster’s First Day

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My Best Friend Is As Sharp As a Pencil: And Other Funny Classroom Portraits

By Hanoch Piven

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Hardcover: 40 pages

Publisher: Schwartz & Wade; 1 edition (May 11, 2010)

Source: Publisher

Add this book to your collection: My Best Friend Is As Sharp As a Pencil: And Other Funny Classroom Portraits

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