Apr
1
2016

What I’ve Been Reading (March 2016) – BIOGRAPHIES!

I’ve been researching picture book biographies for two new stories I’m working on. I find it such an exciting format for kids to learn about important people in our world. The shorter word count of a picture book can draw in reluctant readers and the illustrations add another layer of interest and understanding. A blurb I found on the Random House website perfectly sums up the picture book biography:

Screen Shot 2016-04-01 at 8.22.52 PM

Here are some of the beautifully written and illustrated picture book biographies that I read during the month of March.

Early Elementary (5-8 years) & Middle Grade (8-12 years):

1074650811872351.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_0670016527.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_0375845615.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_0811860639.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_51kj6kPHswL._SX454_BO1,204,203,200_1596433078.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_0395861624.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_0374348103.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_1596439483.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_054787507X.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_148140637X.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_1419714651.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_0374399085.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_080753188X.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_0375867120.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_0805090495.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_0786807679.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_

 Happy Reading!
Mar
20
2016

Scholastic Book Talk – Last Stop on Market Street

Look what Scholastic Booktalk I got this time! Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena; the Newbery winner this year! The designated books will get a QR code attached to them in the school library. When the code is scanned by a student using a smartphone, ipad, etc., the book talk video will pop-up on their screen and give them a summary of the book. Pretty cool, right?

Screen Shot 2016-04-17 at 10.31.28 PM

Mar
1
2016

What I’ve Been Reading (Feb 2016)

Here are some of the wonderful books I read in February that you should check-out. I just finished reading Newbery winner Sarah, Plain and Tall with some my students. Aren’t I lucky that I get to read children’s books as part of my job? Happy reading, everyone!

Babies and Toddlers (0-2 years) & Preschool (3-5 years):

0763650226.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_1459802489.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_1402771193.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_0385372337.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_0786836504.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_

Preschool (3-5 years) & Early Elementary (5-8 years):

1467752142.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_0374371334.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_0789461633.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_

Early Elementary (5-8 years):

1423116712.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_0763663174.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_

Middle Grade (8-12 years):

0064402053.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_

Feb
9
2016

Valentiny Contest 2016

Last October, I entered children’s author and blogger Susanna Leonard Hill’s popular “Halloweensie” contest. She has decided to keep the fun going for Valentine’s Day with the first ever “Valentiny” contest. The rules: write a Valentine’s story for children that is 214 words or less and includes someone who is grumpy. Here is my entry:

Monster Love 
By Susanne Whitehouse
(185 words)

I HATE LOVE.
Chocolate with gooey centers?
Sickening!
Fancy flower arrangements?
Sneeze bombs!
Frilly paper heart cards?
Ridiculous!
Love is disgusting.
Love is horrendous.
Love is for losers.
If I got chocolates, I would mash them into one gigantic cannonball and catapult them into a lake.
If I got flowers, I would rip-off all the petals and bury them stems-up in the mud.
If I got a Valentine’s Day card, I would whip it up in the blender and drink it for breakfast.
That’s right. Love stinks.
I HATE LOVE.
Especially on Valentine’s Day. Who came up with such a stupid holiday? Why do we need a whole day to celebrate love. Yuck!
Ding dong!
Why…what’s this?
Special delivery for me?
Chocolates, flowers AND a Valentine’s Day card?
No one has given me these things before.
Maybe I’ll try one tiny bite of chocolate.
Mmmmm!
And these flowers would really brighten up the room.
What does this card say? “Will You Be My Valentine?”
How…how thoughtful. Sniff, sniff.
Maybe love isn’t so bad after all.
I HATE kind of like LOVE.

happy-monster-clipart-Meagan_11113ValentineCLIPART_6www.clipartpanda.com

Check out Susanna’s blog and the rest of the entries here.

Feb
1
2016

What I’ve Been Reading (January 2016)

We got a TON of snow this month and I was able to read a TON of books. Here are a few that I’d recommend.

Preschool (3-5 years) and up:

0805064826.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_

Preschool (3-5 years) & Early Elementary (5-8 years):

0316226149.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_1442435828.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_1442450711.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_0385370067.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_1627791256.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_0374300526.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_Middle Grade (8-12 years):

5121t+va+ZL._SX335_BO1,204,203,200_

Young Adult+ (14+ years):

0307931889.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_

Jan
22
2016

Bread, Milk, Toilet Paper and…Library Books!

An EPIC snow storm is upon us here in Virginia and there’s a mad scramble for all the essentials. Photos have been shared on the web of grocery store shelves that are wiped clean. People are going crazy!


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The kids and I took a trip to our public library to stock up on some other snow day essentials: books! I was thrilled to see that the library was packed with people with the same idea. Really, what’s better than curling up by a warm fire with a book in your hands while the snow falls down outside?

I already had thirty-nine (!) children’s books checked out from the library, but I grabbed eighteen more. I want to be totally prepared for this potentially record breaking storm! IMG_2553

Bread? Check!
Milk? Check!
Toilet paper? Check!
Library books? Check, check, check!!!

Are you prepared? 🙂

Jan
17
2016

My Own Library Shelf!

How do you know you check-out A LOT of library books?

When you go to pick-up your reserved books
and you can’t find them under the designated “W” section for Whitehouse
so you have to ask the librarian where your books are
and she says when you have too many books…

they put them on a different shelf down at the bottom!

IMG_2478

 

So technically not my “own” library shelf, but it made me feel kind of special. 🙂

Jan
11
2016

2016 Newbery and Caldecott Winners (psst…this is BIG!)

The John Newbery Medal and Randolph Caldecott Medal winners, along with the Honor books, have been announced. And let me tell you, this year is BIG. A picture book was awarded the top honor for writing! For me as a picture book writer, this is like my team winning the Super Bowl. Go team!

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena is only the second picture book to win the Newbery in it’s ninety-four year history. However, it really is the first “traditional” picture book, because A Visit to William Blake’s Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers (Newbery 1982) was a collection of poems with illustrations.

John Newbery Medal
awarded for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature
(this one’s for the authors!)

0399257748.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_

 

 

Winner: Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena

 

 

 

 

 

0803740816.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_

 

 

 

 

Honor: The War that Saved my Life by Kimberly Brusker Bradley

 

 

 

 

 

 

0803740166.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_

 

 

 

Honor: Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

 

 

 

 

0439874025.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_

 

 

 

 

 

Honor: Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Randolph Caldecott Medal
awarded for the most distinguished American picture book for children
(this one’s for the illustrators!)

0316324906.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_

 

Winner: Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear illustrated by Sophie Blackall (written by Lindsay Mattick)
 
1419714651.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_

 

 

 

 

 

Honor: Trombone Shorty illustrated by Bryan Collier (written by Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews)

 

 

0062368435.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_

 

 

 

Honor: Waiting illustrated and written by Kevin Henkes

 

 

0763665312.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Honor:  Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement illustrated by Ekua Holmes (written by Carole Boston Waterford)

 

0399257748.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_

 

 

Honor: Last Stop on Market Street illustrated by Christian Robinson (written by Matt de la Pena)