It was so fun to meet Susan Tan at her author event at Newtonville Books. Her latest book, Cilla Lee-Jenkins: This Book Is A Classic is a hilarious middle grade book about a mixed protagonist with a big personality. In this book, she is now a big sister and is excited to be participating…
Author: Pragmatic Mom
The Story Behind ALL ARE WELCOME
Please welcome my guest author today, illustrator Suzanne Kaufman, who talks about her inspiration for All Are Welcome in response to President Trump’s travel ban. She wanted to do something positive, so she offered her skills as an illustrator to create a poster and the book was born of this effort. All Are Welcome by Alexandra…
#DiverseKidLit Linky Time!
Welcome to #DiverseKidLit ! Please join us in sharing your diverse children’s book links and resources, as well as visiting other links to find great suggestions and recommendations. What Is #DiverseKidLit? Diverse Children’s Books is a book-sharing meme designed to promote the reading and writing of children’s books that feature diverse characters. This community embraces all kinds of…
My Daughter’s Nordic Ski Season (2017-2018)
I sometimes use my blog as a digital scrapbook for my kids. I hope that someday when they have kids, they will be able to find cherished memories online via my blog. I’m chronicling my daughter’s Nordic Ski season here today. She started Nordic Skiing (cross country) as a freshman in high school at Newton…
When Your College Roommate Is President of American University
I’m so proud of my college roommate, Sylvia Mathews Burwell. She has the most impressive resume of anyone that I know: Rhodes Scholar, McKinsey Consultant, Deputy Chief of Staff for President Clinton, Gates Foundation Executive, U.S. Secretary for Health and Human Services for President Obama. Here are a few things that are surprising. She never…
My Honest Review of TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE & 2 Book Giveaway
My son read Two Truths and a Lie: It’s Alive but I think he was too old at age 12 to enjoy it. I think this book series sweet spot is reluctant boy readers (like my son) at grades 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. My son is typical of the reluctant elementary school boy reader. He reads about a year above grade…
Visiting School of Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC)
After our trip to the west coast to visit art schools, my daughter was on the fence about her second choice school. Rhode Island School of Design, where she did two summers of their pre-college program was her first choice, but very competitive to get into. I decided to squeeze in a trip to Chicago…







