Hello friends! Left to right: Netflix is a Joke Festival at the Greek; William Shatner and Neil deGrasse Tyson in conversation, Millennials Are Killing Musicals: The Musical Happy May! I've been out and about a lot this month, from a comedy festival to seeing William Shatner and Neil deGrasse Tyson, and taking in a brand-new musical, Millennials Are Killing Musicals (which I highly recommend if you ever have a chance to see it). I think I'm ready for a break! On the picture book front… I have...
2 months ago • 4 min read
Hello friends! From left to right: Atop Seattle's Space Needle, volunteering for FIRST robotics with my dad (right), meeting a favorite author at LA Times Festival of Books Happy April! It's been a busy month, and I already feel like we're barreling toward the end of the school year. My family spent a lovely (and not too wet) spring break in Seattle and Olympic National Park (see above), and my Dad and I once again volunteered for our local FIRST robotics tournament, which is always a blast....
3 months ago • 3 min read
Hello friends! Jack Kirby exhibit at the Skirball Cultural Center, Read Across America in my BFF Lourdes's 5th grade, and Literacy & STEM night at my librarian buddy Erin's school. Happy summer! I mean, spring? But it's 91 degrees here in Southern California as I type. Gah. 🥵 It's been a month of school visits for me. It's such a joy to connect with young readers to discuss writing, book-making, and STEM at local schools. On the picture book front… I’ve been developing a new nonfiction idea,...
4 months ago • 3 min read
Hello friends! Whelp, I am just back from a long weekend in New Mexico followed by ABLA's Big Sur Children's Writers Workshop where I served as critique group mentor for two fabulous picture book groups. Photos below. Hiking in NM (on a broken ankle), Santa Fe!, at Big Sur with mentees The photo at left is just after I stepped off a large rock and fractured my ankle (the fibula, NOT the weight-bearing bone), but continued to hike on it. And then walk 3+ miles around Santa Fe including the...
5 months ago • 3 min read
Hello friends! Big news! My next book is out now--Telling It True: Writing Nonfiction Kids (and Teens) Want to Read. Telling It True is both a prequel and companion to Reimagining Your Nonfiction Picture Book. While Reimagining zooms in on revising nonfiction picture books, Telling It True zooms out. It walks you through the full process of finding strong nonfiction ideas, researching effectively, and drafting engaging, fact-based books, no matter the format, from picture books through YA,...
6 months ago • 2 min read
Hello friends! I hope you are building some time to rest and recharge into your December. I'll be off for almost three weeks, and I can't wait. Left to Right: D&D: The Twenty-Sided Tavern show, magic show at The Magic Castle in Hollywood, holiday stories with Deadpool and Wolverine at Disney In the meantime, I've been soaking in the season with lots of live performances, holiday movies, and a quick trip to Disneyland. Disney's holiday decorations are one of my favorite things (especially...
7 months ago • 2 min read
Hello friends! First, a bit of fun family news. On Oct. 28th, my husband made the historic first flight of the X-59, a prototype experimental aircraft designed to test whether we can make future aircraft quieter so we can (someday) fly supersonic across the U.S. I got to sit next to the control room and hear and watch everything. It was so cool! Check out the NASA video below. Post flight! Attending educators conferences From left to right: In the Little, Brown book at NCTE, signing books for...
8 months ago • 3 min read
Hello friends! Behind the scenes: Society of Experimental Test Pilots banquet at Disney; with fabulous friends at my B&N event; visiting our older son for Parent's Weekend at UC San Diego. First, a huge thank you for all the outpouring of support for This Is How You Know, illustrated by Cornelia Li. It was such a joy to see so many friends at my Barnes & Noble Story Time (center) as well as my LA County Library event where we made oobleck and did other STEAM activities. From the bottom of my...
9 months ago • 4 min read
Hello friends! Left to right: With fellow authors Dana Middleton and Nell Cross Beckerman; with young readers at story time at Once Upon a Time Bookstore in support of Science Saturday. As you have undoubtedly heard, my next picture book, This Is How You Know , illustrated by Cornelia Li, is out now from Little, Brown. I just hosted two events and have two more coming up. If you are local, I hope you'll join me. Signing and Storytime at Barnes & Noble - Palmdale at 11:30 a.m. October 4th....
10 months ago • 5 min read