April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day. I used to work as a personal care assistant for young adults with autism, and that impacted my creation of Clover, the main character in Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten. She shares some characteristics with some kids on the spectrum—most notably her sensitivity to sensory input. (I share […]
National Cat Day Is Coming Up!
Finally, Clover Kitty’s day is coming–haha! She would like to knit and nap and perhaps do seesaws with her friend, Oliver. And she’d love to be part of your cat-themed storytime! Also, here’s a listing of cat-themed picture books, plus you’ll find a fabulous readaloud of Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten on my readaloud page. […]
A #Readaloud of CLOVER KITTY GOES TO KITTYGARTEN
Hey, teacher friends–here’s a super-cute readaloud of my latest picture book, CLOVER KITTY GOES TO KITTYGARTEN (Two Lions, illus by Hiroe Nakata). Ms J of Storytime with Ms J is such a wonderful storyteller! This story is awesome for discussions of friendship skills, anxiety, sensory sensitivity, and problem-solving. Enjoy!
Writing to an Author #ClassroomConnections
Last month, I got an amazing email from a kindergarten teacher in Belgium named Eleonora about my most recent picture book, Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten. She said that a friend recommended the book to her because: “(I’m autistic and very sensitive to sensory stimuli) and a kindergarten teacher. And I really, really loved it, […]
Back to School Printables #ClassroomConnections
This year, the phrase “back to school” is raising anxiety levels to a new high. I’m not even a teacher anymore, and my kids are grown, but even I’m feeling the pressure. (On a less dangerous level, it’s a rather nerve-wracking time to be a children’s writer, too, as getting our books to readers is […]
A Purrrrrfectly Cute Interview Over at Angie’s
Hey, guess what? Author Angie Quantrell interviewed me for her blog, and the post is live! It’s not too long and has pictures of donuts, treadmill desks, adorable kids, and did I mention donuts? And a bit about my writing process for Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten. I hope you’ll stop by and say hi! […]
Back to School with Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten #ClassroomConnections
It’s almost time for school to begin—in one form or another! As a kid, one of my favorite things about school was spending time in the library (these were the days before media centers!). I’m so sad that this year, many school districts facing financial hardship have laid off librarians and media specialists. I’ve worked […]
Puppet Play to Encourage Being a Good Friend
There are so many ways we can encourage kids to be good friends. And the actions that might be friendly to one child can feel totally overwhelming to another. In Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten, the other kitties aren’t really a squealing tornado of fangs and fur…but that’s how it feels to Clover. Check out […]
Use a Countdown Calendar to Ease Back-to-School Anxiety
[Guess what? Author/artist Lydia Lukidis is also featuring Clover Kitty on her blog today–with ANOTHER chance for a giveaway! Plus backstory and writing process info. You can check it out here!) Is your child anxious about starting school? (Or are you?!) Check out the cute countdown calendar I created to go with my new […]
My New Back to School Picture Book Is an Amazon First Reads Selection!
Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten (more here), in which an adorable but anxious kitty discovers kittygarten is just as bright, loud, and overwhelming as she fears, comes out August 1. Officially. Buuuuuut, it’s an Amazon First Reads pick, which means if you’re a Prime member, you can choose it as your free Kindle book this […]