In late December, I completed work on a nonfiction project and found myself feeling a bit drained. Maybe from my creative efforts, maybe from the swirling stresses and emotions caused by a very difficult 2020....

Today is the official “book birthday” of Good Night, Little Engine! A year or so ago, Grosset & Dunlap contacted me about writing a rhyming bedtime story featuring the Little Engine. The book would be part of the publisher’s...

I am thrilled to reveal the wonderful cover created by illustrator Geraldine Rodriguez for KINDERGARTEN HAT, my upcoming picture book. KINDERGARTEN HAT will be published by Little Bee Books on May 26th! The “seed” for...

When I visit schools, I like to share with kids that my book-writing process is often lengthy. I emphasize the role of revision in all good writing—and that revision takes time but is fun. However,...

If you’re writing fiction, you don’t have to worry about facts, right? Not necessarily. For some strange reason, if an author doesn’t create and maintain a smooth interface between make believe and real facts, a...

Crazy Questions Children’s writers ponder all sorts of crazy questions and often go to great lengths to find out the answers. I love sharing weird facts, hopefully fostering innate wonder and a desire to read...