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Here are some facts about me. Some of them would be considered biographically important. Others, not so much. I'll let you decide which are which! • I've published more than 100 books for children and young adults. Sometimes people marvel at that number, but I tell I'm not really that prolific, I'm just old. • Two of my books have been finalists for Minnesota Book Awards: Four to the Pole! : the American Women's Expedition to Antarctica (2002) and The LAST Day of Kindergarten (2012). (I'm hoping that I'll be up for another award in 2022.) • Here are some other awards: 2011 Bank Street's Best Children's Books of the Year (Share a Scare: Writing Your Own Scary Story); 2010 Distinguished Achievement Award from the Association of Educational Publishers (Writer's Toolbox Series), plus awards for older books from The American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Independent Book Publishers Association, and the Society of School Librarians International. • I was born in Mt. Lake, a town of about 2,000 in southwestern Minnesota. I grew up on a farm. My parents raised corn, soybeans, and cats. • I graduated from Mankato State University with a BA in English, thinking I'd go back for a master's degree within a few years. That was in 1986. In 2007 I finally earned that MFA, from Hamline University. • Most of my published work has been children's nonfiction, but I also like writing fiction, for both children and adults. One of my short stories won an award and was published in Mid-American Review. I've also published essays in Minnesota Parent and Child magazines. • We live in Prior Lake, which is a southern suburb of Minneapolis. "We" means me; my husband; a son and daughter (both teenagers); a beagle named Dorie; a Jack Russell terrier named Blossom; and two cats, Cyrus and Obi. (I would also like to pay tribute here to our late guinea pig, Freddie, who died in May 2012 at an advanced age. A little of his spirit lives on in the book Goodbye Jeepers: What to Expect When Your Pet Dies.) • I usually start a project by writing longhand, using my kids' partially used notebooks from school. Often the covers of my notebooks have stickers or rhinestones or the names of cute boys on them. As my children grow up, though, there are fewer notebooks to scavenge, and they aren't nearly as decorative. That makes me a little sad. • My best writing-related investment: a two-inch-thick thesaurus that I bought at a garage sale for a quarter, a quarter-century ago. What's funny is that I hardly ever use the synonyms that I look up—but going through the process lets me think of just the right word, all on my own. • Besides reading, my hobbies include gardening, cooking, and collecting weird things from thrift stores. Oh, and allowing the dogs to take me out for a walk almost every day. |
Baby Wants Mama Baby wants Mama In this fun picture book for babies and toddlers, another busy day has come to an end. Everyone in the family wants something. But what do they ALL want? Supper! The simple rhyming text, great for reading aloud, is paired with adorable watercolor, colored pencil and digital artwork. |
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| The LAST Day of Kindergarten illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa Marshall Cavendish Children, 2011 ages 4 to 6, ISBN 9780761458074 A little girl is sad that kindergarten is coming to an end. She wishes it were the first day again, when everything was exciting and new and there was such a fun year ahead. But then she realizes that graduating is exciting, too, and maybe first grade won’t be so bad after all! Awards & Recognition |
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| The Other Side of the Story series Picture Window Books, 2011 ages 4 to 8 Believe Me, Goldilocks Rocks! The Story of the Three Bears as told by Baby Bear OF COURSE you think Goldilocks was a brat who broke in and trashed our house. You don't know the other side of the story. Well, let me tell you... |
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| Life's Challenges series Picture Window Books, 2011 ages 4 to 8 Animal characters gently explore difficult situations, helping children deal with life’s tougher lessons. Sidebars offer important and empowering coping tips. Good-bye, Jeepers: Saying Good-bye to Uncle Joe: |
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| Writer's Toolbox series Picture Window Books, 2010 ages 7 to 9 Turn readers into writers! Each title carefully examines one or more genre-specific writing examples. Readers will discover the tools and techniques that writers use to create plays, poems, fairy tales, journals, picture books, and more. The books include a review list of key concepts, at least four exercises for getting started, and numerous writing tips. Action! Writing Your Own Play It’s All About You: Writing Your Own Journal Just the Facts: Writing Your Own Research Report Make Me Giggle: Writing Your Own Silly Story Once Upon a Time: Writing Your Own Fairy Tale Share a Scare: Writing Your Own Scary Story Show Me a Story: Writing Your Own Picture Book Sincerely Yours: Writing Your Own Letter Words, Wit, and Wonder: Writing Your Own Poem Awards & Recognition |
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| Ways to Say It series Picture Window Books, 2011 grades 2 to 4 Even if you're as sharp as a tack, the English language can be confusing! From ants in your pants to talking turkey, this silly and entertaining set will engage readers, while teaching them about various figures of speech. Awards & Recognition You're Toast and other Metaphors We Adore |
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| Ready! Set! Count! series illustrated by Ronnie Rooney Child’s World, 2010 ages 4 to 7 Ready, Set, Count! teaches readers numbers one through ten by exploring fictional towns based on each number. With colorful artwork, hilarious characters, and fun number games, these books make counting a blast! Six Town Seven Town Eight Town Ten Town |
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