Traveling overseas for a college education is a truly transformative experience. A dream come true for many international students, it opens doors to an entirely new world of education and offers an incredible, life-changing perspective on other countries, cultures, and ways of thinking. However, studying abroad is not without its challenges. One of the most…
Beautiful Noise: The Music of John Cage Book Launch
I always enjoy going to Lisa Rogers’ book events. I didn’t realize that I was slightly familiar with John Cage, the subject of her most recent picture book, Beautiful Noise: The Music of John Cage, illustrated by Il Sung Na. At her book launch at Wellesley Books, I learned that he was a kind of…
10 Diverse Picture Books about Gardens, Community, and Kindness
Please welcome my guest author, Erin Dealey! Her list includes diverse picture books about gardens, community, and kindness, all wonderful things to consider this winter. Her newest book is Just Flowers, and it releases on March 15, 2024, just in time for spring! Now is a good time to dream about gardens, especially for me…
Food for the Future: How to Grow Shitake Mushrooms
I have a mushroom farm set in Mexico in my picture book, Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World. The location was deliberate. The illustrator, Robert Sae-Heng grew up in Mexico and his family had a mushroom farm! What an incredible coincidence! Have you ever wondered how to grow mushrooms? Most commercial mushrooms…
50+ Great DIVERSE Early Chapter Books
I’m excited to be judging first-round Cybils this year in the categories of Easy Readers and Early Chapter Books. There were over 50 entrants for Early Chapter Books this year and we just finished picking the shortlist. Now, round 2 judges will take over to pick the final winners — 1 in each category! There…
My Art for the Aquent Talent Show 2023
I made a video of my watercolor paintings for my company’s virtual show. This is the long version. I submitted a shorter version that is half the length. I started watercolor painting as a form of mental health therapy back in 1995. I enjoy it so much that I’ve been taking art classes ever since….
76 Great Diverse Graphic Novels for Kids and Teens
Graphic novels are my secret weapon to get any kid reading. My recent discovery is that there are also multicultural, diverse, and inclusive graphic novels that bring kids into different perspectives like what it’s like to have hearing loss or go through a civil war. Graphic novels also let us experience new worlds, both present,…