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From the time I was born, I wanted three things: a dog, a horse, and to be a writer. I grew up in an apartment on the upper east side of Manhattan with my parents, two brothers, one sister, and an assortment of cats. My dad felt (quite rightly) that it was no place for a large dog, and I didn't want a small one (neither did the cats!) so, no dog. Given his stance on the dog issue, you can imagine how he felt about a horse in a New York City apartment, so no horse either. Is it any surprise that one of my favorite books growing up was The Horse On The Roof? At age three, in all my worldly wisdom, I decided on a career driving a steam roller. Later, I considered careers in fire fighting, baby-sitting, horse training, and veterinary medicine. After college and graduate school I actually did have a career teaching children with learning disabilities. But through it all, I wanted to write. As a child, I lay on the kitchen floor with paper and crayons and asked my mom how to spell things. She was very patient! I wrote my first book in 2nd Grade. It was called The Girl and The Witch (can you guess what it was about?). I still have it, and read it frequently on school visits. I wrote innumerable horse stories, and many additions to the Nancy Drew series which, fortunately for my writing career, were never published! I tried my hand at poetry in 6th grade with an epic poem called The Gods and Goddesses of Olympus which, much to my embarrassment, my dad sent to every known living relative. I'm not sure if I still have that one--I'm kind of hoping it's lost! At long last, in January of 2001, I got the phone call every aspiring writer dreams of. Little Simon wanted to publish one of my stories. The House That Mack Built (Little Simon 2002) was my first published book. It is a rhyming story with pop-up construction vehicles that I wrote for my son, whose interest in heavy equipment is clearly genetic. Today I live in New York's beautiful Mid-Hudson Valley with my husband, children, and TWO beloved family dogs. I mention, because it's something I feel strongly about, that they are both rescue dogs of the Heinz-57 variety and in spite of (or perhaps because of) their indeterminate breeding, they are the best dogs ever! |
| April Fool, Phyllis! illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler Holiday House, 2011 ages 5 and up, ISBN 978-0823422708 It might be April Fools' Day, but Punxsutawney Phyllis knows that winter isn t over yet. Her infallible instincts tell her that a blizzard is brewing. Too bad no one will believe her. Luckily Phyllis uses a combination of common sense and uncommon abilities to lead the April Fools' Day treasure hunters back to safety when the storm comes on quickly. Once again Phyllis gets the last laugh in this buoyant holiday tale. Numerous teacher resources are available for this title. |
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| Can't Sleep Without Sheep illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka Walker Children's Books, 2010 ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0802720665 Whenever Ava can't sleep, she counts sheep. But Ava takes so long to fall asleep, it's the sheep that are getting tired--until they finally quit! The sheep promise to find a replacement that Ava can count on, but it might not be as easy as they thought. In this hilarious take on a familiar bedtime ritual, readers will be charmed by Ava and her fluffy friends. Numerous teacher resources are available for this title. Awards & Recognition |
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| Freight Train Trip! A Lift-the-Flap Adventure illustrated by Ana Martin Larranaga Little Simon, 2009 ages toddler to preschool, ISBN 978-1416978336 Take a ride on a freight train with the engineer. Look inside the freight cars, open and close the crossing gates, turn the signal lights red or green, and switch the track with Switchman Jack just in time to avoid trouble! What a great ride, and every page has fun things to do! Awards & Recognition |
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| Airplane Flight! A Lift-the-Flap Adventure illustrated by Ana Martin Larranaga Little Simon, 2009 ages toddler to preschool, ISBN 978-1416978329 Take a ride on an airplane with Captain Bright and Copilot Snow. Open and close the wing flaps, help the ground crew direct the plane, make the airplane take off, and watch the radar screen for any sign of trouble! It's an exciting flight and every page has something fun to do! Awards & Recognition |
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| Not Yet, Rose illustrated by Nicole Rutten Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2009 ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0802853264 As Rose anxiously awaits the birth of her family's new baby, she isn't sure what to expect about her new role as big sister. She isn't sure whether she wants a baby brother or a baby sister. Actually, she isn't sure she wants a new baby at all! But when the new baby arrives, suddenly everything seems just right. Numerous teacher resources are available for this title. Awards & Recognition |
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| No Sword Fighting In The House illustrated by True Kelly Holiday House, 2007 ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0823419166 Mom is pretty clear about the rules, but Arthur and Lance have a way of bending them....Now, Arthur and Lance are in trouble. They were sword fighting in the house. Arthur has a new idea. They can ride their cows. They can joust outside! But, oh no! What is that cow doing in Mom's flowers? Numerous teacher resources are available for this title. Awards & Recognition |
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| Punxsutawney Phyllis illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler Holiday House, 2005 ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0823418725 When groundhog Phyllis grows up, she wants to be Punxsutawney Phil, the official weather forecaster on Groundhog Day. Unfortunately, as her family points out, Punxsutawney Phil has never been a girl. Phyllis knows she can do the job, though, and when she wakes on February 2, and recognizes the signs of an early spring that her old uncle Phil misses, everyone realizes her dreams aren't so farfetched. Numerous teacher resources are available for this title. Awards & Recognition |
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| Taxi! illustrated by SI International Little Simon, 2005 ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-1416902546 Part of the Matchbox License Plate series, Taxi! follows a cab through the course of a busy day, showing how different parts of the cab come in handy for different jobs. Book includes a Matchbox checker cab. |
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| The House That Mack Built illustrated by Ken Wilson-Max Little Simon, 2002 ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0689848131 Part of the Preschool Pop-Ups series, this book uses the classic cumulative tale to showcase the machines and people required to erect a home ("This is the cement mixer churning around/ That poured the foundation into the ground"). Pop-up construction vehicles in bright yellows and reds form the centerpiece of the full-bleed spreads printed on sturdy laminated cardboard pages. Teacher resources are available for this title. |
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Copyright 2002- Children's Literature Network. |
