Celebrating two new picture books

Shutta Crum & Nicola Rooney

On June 3rd at Nicola's Books, we heard Shutta Crum explain how she went about writing a nearly-wordless book, and how much thought went into conveying how the toddler-size problems built to a climax--a hat over the eyes, a crab crawling into a bucket, a seagull, a sippy cup, and a big wave. It added up to Uh-Oh!, her new book with art by Patrice Barton.

I explained how Nicola was a part in the genesis of my new book--I had fun writing Sheep Phone It In as part of a tribute to her store in the Black Dog & Leventhal anthology My Bookstore. (Sheep and a smartphone--what could go wrong?) That story led to my editor at HMH suggesting Sheep Go to Sleep. The story is just out, with dreamy art by Margot Apple. And Nicola herself introduced us. Thanks to all the folks who made this quite a party.

Book Party at Nicola's

You're invited to a book party for Shutta Crum's picture book Uh-Oh!, about two toddlers at the beach, and my Sheep Go to Sleep. We will be reading and signing, and we'll have starfish cookies to go with the beach book, and apples-oats-&-sugar-lump cookies (something the sheep made after they went trick-or-treating). Sheep's-milk cheese, too. Nicola's Books, 2513 Jackson Ave, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103, at 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 3.

An Open Book

Founding Director Dara LaPorte of An Open Book Foundation introduces Baaab and me to kindergartners at Roscoe R. Nix Elementary in Silver Spring.

Baaab looks forward to handing out copies of Sheep in a Jeep to the kindergartners.

Reading Specialist Mrs. West with me and Mrs. Greene's kindergarten

Last week I had the privilege of visiting classes at Roscoe R. Nix Elementary in Silver Spring, Maryland, with Janet Zwick and Dara LaPorte of An Open Book Foundation. The foundation is dedicated to bringing books to kids in the greater Washington, D.C. area. They and the schools do the all-important work of getting the kids ready to meet an author, so the audience is focused on the program. They also give each child an autographed book to keep, as well as sets of books for the classrooms. Baaab and I loved meeting the Nix students!

Gaithersburg Book Festival

Erin Hagar and Laura Bowers staff the SCBWI tent.

Sheep and goats together--I got to meet Erica Perl, shown here with her new book Goatilocks and the Three Bears.

Newbery medalist Kwame Alexander gets ready to speak about The Crossover.

Mary Norris autographs Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen.

Mary Quattlebaum and Erin Hagar at the SCBWI tent.

With Mayor Jud Ashman, founder of the festival, at the author party

Mikki Knudsen toasts the festival and celebrates her latest book, Marilyn's Monster.

 A few photos from the Gaithersburg Book Festival...

Sheep are baaaack!

Sheep Go to Sleep is now in stores. Their newest adventure has the flock trying to settle down, but they get spooked by nighttime noises. When a trusty collie comes by, he figures out what each sheep needs to feel sleepy:
The tired sheep begins to snore.
One asleep! How many more?
It's a countdown until they all nod off--even the collie.

Booklist says, "The endearing colored-pencil illustrations portray the animals’ emotions with clarity and wit. Besides offering a low-key introduction to counting and subtraction, this amiable picture book is just right for bedtime reading."

Upcoming Events

All the stuffed sheep in my house are waiting for the release of Sheep Go to Sleep May 5.

 

 

A busy March Is Reading Month has given way to April's National Poetry Month, and May will have the sheep on the go. If you're in southeast Michigan, come to the Monroe County Library's Children's Author Meet & Greet at the Frenchtown-Dixie Branch,  2881 Nadeau, Monroe, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, with book signings and more. Among the authors will be Jim Benton of Dear Dumb Diary, Debbie Diesen of The Pout-Pout Fish, Cynthia Furlong Reynolds of S Is for Star, and me.

On May 5, Sheep Go to Sleep will be out, and the sheep will celebrate--until they start to snooze, of course.

In Maryland on May 16, they will be wide awake to greet mid-Atlantic readers at the Gaithersburg Book Festival, which features a strong line-up of authors for young people, including Kevin O'Malley, Robert Sabuda, Marissa Moss, and Newbery winners Phyllis Reynolds Naylor and Kwame Alexander. Political titles are also a  special strength, with David Axelrod and Clarence Page among the speakers. The sheep hope to see you there.

ReaderKidZ

The sheep woke up to a turn in the spotlight today--Debbie Gonzales's ReaderKidZ site is recommending their upcoming adventure, Sheep Go to Sleep. They are all excited, and so is their friend the collie. Thanks, Debbie, for all you do on ReaderKidZ.

A bunch of sheep snuggle up with a bedtime story.