2012 Best Books of the Year

Yesterday I was thrilled to discover that Joe and Sparky, Superstars! made the Bankstreet College 2012 Best Children's Books of the Year list. Hooray! I'm happy to be in such great company. Congratulations to all!

Talent Shows and Toast

On Monday, I had the pleasure of meeting the amazing students of Guiteras Elementary School in Bristol, Rhode Island. I visited grades K-3 as part of their Reading Week celebration.

During our brainstorming sessions, the students were bursting with imaginative storylines and characters. Then they brilliantly performed the talent show scene from Joe and Sparky, Superstars! We had a pizza party, and we discussed Bigfoot and told knock-knock jokes. And a nice young gentleman named Henry brought me the best gift ever--toast! He gave me TOAST! La! Happiness.

Thanks to Superstar Librarian Nicole Galipeau for all of her help!

Here are some photos of our big day:

Stretching like a giraffe

Brainstorming story ideas. Start with what you love.

Showstopper! The kindergartners perform the talent show scene from Joe and Sparky, Superstars!

Toodle-dee-doo! Our talented band

Thank you, Henry! :)

Happy Reading Week!

April 8 - 14 is National Library Week. Children across the country are turning off their televisions and reading good books.

I'll be celebrating this week by visiting the Super Readers of these schools:

Monday, April 9: Guiteras School, Bristol, RI

Thursday, April 12: Sowams School, Barrington, RI

Friday, April 13: Barbieri Elementary School, Framingham, MA

What are you reading this week?