It’s Labor Day Weekend which if you’re a teacher is a little like the long Sunday night before the start of a school week. It’s that last minute chance to reflect on the summer and deal with the flash of panic about what is still not done. While I did get a lot done this summer, there are so many things I wished I’d accomplished– so many books I wish I’d had the time to read! To that end, the books I chose today are those I’ve been “meaning to get to” or just can’t let slip away before I get overwhelmed with school (which actually started last week).
Shelf Awareness: Getting to know the neighbors
NEWS!!! Loyal readers know that I’m over the moon about the upcoming publication of my first picture book, THE GREAT HOLIDAY COOKIE FIGHT. The biggest news is that I finally have a PUBLICATION DATE!! Mark your calendars for the big book birthday on October 15, 2020! Yes, it’s over a year away, but I’m sure it will fly by!
In honor of my “due date,” I decided to make a trip to my local big box bookstore and check out just where that book is going to live. In other words, where does “Kyer” fall in the bookshelf? Who will my fellow K and L authors be? Today’s book reviews are all picture books which would be found directly before or directly after my book on the shelf. And they’re all lovely neighbors! Enjoy!
#WeNeedDiverseBooks: Picture Book Reviews, brave and fierce
My goal is to put out one batch of five picture reviews per month, spending the rest of my writing time on, well, actual writing (and sending out queries to agents and publishers). But when my son told me this morning “Mama, we should go to the bookstore so you can read more books!” how could I resist? My first goal with today’s batch was to choose only books which were NOT faced outward in the store, and I failed that by one, but that’s only because I couldn’t resist a book which, like my upcoming picture book, THE GREAT HOLIDAY COOKIE FIGHT, combines a story with a recipe. All five books are tied together by stories of diversity, acceptance and bravery of one kind or another, and in that way, it’s unfortunate they were not all “face out.”
Bring on Summer! June Picture Book Reviews
Father’s Day around our house often means an outing to the bookstore– I rarely buy my husband books because only he knows exactly which ones he’s looking for, and everyone in our family enjoys a good trip to browse new books. So, time for another crop of reviews! Some of today’s choices include father figures, some are just fun. Let’s explore!
Hooray for Anthropomorphism: May Picture Book Reviews
Wow, I had a hard time narrowing it down to five picture books for this month’s reviews– there were so many on the shelves that looked amazing– I’m going to try hard to get back in less than a month for my next reviews, because there are a LOT of great books out there! The title of today’s post is a nod to the fact that each of today’s books stars (ha! you’ll get it later!) non human characters with human emotions– from a star who is sad (see?) to some pieces of chalk on a mission, to forest animals on vacation– definitely some fun and fantasy!
Back at it: Picture Book Reviews
It’s tough to have a day job, be a mom AND write– don’t let anyone tell you it isn’t. It can be done, but there will always be times one of the balls in the air falls to the ground and you stumble around for a while until you get them back in the air again.
Since getting my picture book contract, I’ve been busy with a lot of writing-related tasks, but I’ve also been teaching full-time and balancing family tasks like parent-teacher conferences, choir practice, and getting estimates on our house renovation. You know, the usual.
But through it all, my mind is still filled with story ideas, snippets of poetry, insatiable curiosity about works I see on Twitter, etc. So, let’s get back at it and review some picture books, shall we?
This time the crop is inspired by a display in my local Barnes & Noble showing off 50 books your child should read before the age of 5. Many of them are books I read as a child, many more are books I’ve already reviewed (and loved), but were are a bunch I hadn’t read yet, so let’s go!
Give the gift of vulnerability this holiday.
Happy Holidays!! No matter what you celebrate this time of year, or even if you celebrate nothing at all, the month of December is stressful. My upcoming picture book celebrates a wide variety of traditions, but personally, I’m Christian, so my house is getting ready for Christmas. The religious season is Advent so we have a wreath and an Advent calendar, but it’s hard to get away from the pervasiveness of 24 hour Christmas music, decorations, etc. And to be honest, I don’t mind (so long as they wait until after Thanskgiving). I love the joy and excitement of this time of year– it’s worth the stress that comes with it.
One of my favorite traditions is my town’s annual “Festival 
of Lights” parade. My older son has been marching in it for the past 7 years, first as a cub scout and now as a boy scout. My husband, younger son, and I find a spot on the route to watch, usually in front of town hall where we’re close to the cider and the bathrooms in the Congregational church next door. My love for this small town tradition led me to write this song, “Small Town Christmas.” I’ve written songs for years but outside of the church setting (many are hymns), I don’t share them much. Even though I have years of choral experience, I love to sing, and I don’t get nervous in front of people, I’m sometimes self-conscious about the sound of my voice as a soloist. And recordings are so hard to get right, there’s always going to be something in there that makes me cringe.
So, my gift to you readers this year is the permission to be vulnerable. Put yourself out there even if you know you are going to make some mistakes. Make a craft for someone even if every stitch isn’t even. Bring that homemade pie to the party even if the crust is a little too brown. Put a hand-written note in your Christmas card even if your handwriting is awful. Letting yourself be imperfect is not a sign of laziness, but of bravery.
As for me, I’m going to share this song with you 
— there are a few spots I wish I had the post-production talent to fix, but it’s from the heart, right? The poem itself is below, and the YouTube video is embedded below it.
Enjoy, and Happy Holidays!
Small Town Christmas – A Maine Carol
Each year I turn on the Macy’s parade,
Rockettes and floats and balloons.
You might think I’d like to visit someday.
Not likely anytime soon!
REFRAIN:
I want a small town Christmas
with some greens on the door
‘Cause when I was a kid,
That’s what everyone did,
And I just couldn’t ask for more.
I’ll take our Festival any old year,
Lighting the trees in the park,
Half of the village lines sidewalks to cheer
Watching the other half march.
Park at the library, walk to the square,
Speakers blare “Jingle Bell Rock.”
Burst out in singing and no one will care,
They might join in round the block.
REFRAIN
Fire trucks, boy scouts, the school marching band,
Cider in front of town hall.
Little kids waving with wool-mittened hands,
Perched on the mossy stone wall.
Folks you find rude at the little league game,
At the parade are just fine.
Maybe tomorrow it’s back to the same,
Wish we could all stay this kind.
REFRAIN
December 4, 2018
“Big News”: The post everyone wants to write
There are a lot of milestones you might dream about in life — getting your first job, getting engaged, having a child, etc. For a writer, one of the biggest milestones of all is getting your first book contract.
After submitting manuscripts to agents and editors for over ten years (part-time…I do have a full time day job as a teacher and a parent to two kids after all!), I’m thrilled to announce that my debut picture book, THE GREAT HOLIDAY COOKIE FIGHT, will be published by Pelican Publishing Company. I don’t have a release date yet, but since it’s a book for the winter, a friend recently asked if it would be out in time for her Christmas shopping this year! If you know anything about the publishing industry, you’ll join me in a big laugh about THAT one! Long story short…I’ll let you know!
How to Make Friends and Influence People: PB Reviews
We’re back to school, folks! That means my book review posts may be slightly less frequent as I focus time on my teaching and steal away a bit for writing and submitting. However, I carved out a bit of time this weekend to read some fabulous new books– most out within the past few months! There’s a thread of similarity running through them as they all have to do with relationships, emotions and fitting in– highly appropriate themes for back to school! Enjoy!
I got this! Picture Book reviews for the insecure writer…
As a teacher, I head back to school Wednesday for faculty meetings and training. It’s been a great summer with lots of reading, writing and adventures with the kids from our annual “Summer Fun List.” I even spent time cleaning out the basement! While I adore teaching, it’s always hard to fit everything in once things kick off, so here’s another set of PB reviews before it’s truly crazy. In today’s batch I focused on books by authors who do NOT illustrate their own works. As it happens, these books also serve as some great mentor texts and inspiration. Seeing all those talented author-illustrator combos can sometimes be intimidating, but it’s not the only way to succeed. We’ve got this! Enjoy!
Schreibenfreude 