Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Scraps Book by Lois Ehlert

The Scraps Book—Notes from a Colorful Life by Lois Ehlert. Beach lane books (Imprint of Simon & Shuster), New York, NY 2014.  In 2013 I had the privilege of meeting Lois Ehlert at the Sheboygan Children’s Book Festival. I had … Continue reading

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My Bus a Great Introduction to Math

My Bus by Byron Barton. Greenwillow Books, New York, NY 2014 My Bus might just be the best book that “teaches” Math for the youngest child. Joe drives his bus to town. At his first stop, he picks up one … Continue reading

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Once I Ate a Pie–A Picture Book for Dog Lovers of All Ages

Once I Ate a Pie, by Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan Charest; illustrated by Katy Schneider. Harper Collins, New York, 2006.  Dog lovers young and old will delight in these expressive canines that Schneider’s paintings so expertly depict.  There’s Mr. … Continue reading

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Dog and Bear Books Model The Meaning of Friendship

Dog and Bear,Three to Get Ready by Laura Vaccaro Seeger. A Neal Porter Book, Roaring Brook Press, New York, NY 2009.  Three to Get Ready is the third book in the delightful Dog and Bear series that began with Two … Continue reading

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Mira in the Present Tense a modern “Are you there, God?…”

Mira in the Present Tense by Sita Brahmachari. Albert Whitman & Company, Chicago, IL 2013. Originally published in 2011 in the UK by Macmillan Children’s Books as Artichoke Hearts.  Mira Levenson is turning twelve and she’s worried about her grandmother … Continue reading

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Doll Bones a Suspenseful Tale of Mystery and Growing Up

Doll Bones, by Holly Black. A Margaret K. McElderry Books, Simon and Schuster New York, NY, 2013.  “He wondered whether growing up was learning that most stories turned out to be lies.” In Holly Black’s Newbery Honor book, Zachary Barlow struggles … Continue reading

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If I Ever Get Out of Here, a novel of friendship, race and The Beatles

If I Ever Get Out of Here by Eric Gansworth, an Arthur A. Levine Book, Scholastic Inc., 2013. New York, NY. How do you find friends when you’re a Native American, surrounded by white kids in an accelerated program? Lewis … Continue reading

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My Creative Process Blog Tour

I’d like to thank award-winning author, Kashmira Sheth, for inviting me to participate in the Writing Process Blog Tour. I have read several of her books so am hard pressed to name a favorite but Keeping Corner, the emotionally gripping … Continue reading

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What the Moon Said: A Sensitive Portrayal of Depression Era Life

What the Moon Said by Gayle Rosengren G.P. Putnam’s Sons, New York, NY, 2014 Esther wonders if Ma really loves her. Her best friend, Shirley, gets lots of hugs and smiles from her mother. But Esther’s mother seems to love … Continue reading

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I recently interviewed Sandy Brehl, the author of Odin’s Promise, A Novel of Norway. (Published by Crispin Books, an imprint of Crickhollow Books, Milwaukee WI 2014) We spoke via Skype. SGL: You say that Odin’s Promise started as a picture … Continue reading

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