This September, a memo and an executive order were sent by the president, ordering the heads of all executive departments and agencies to “cease and desist” from engaging in “any training” related to critical race theory or white privilege, and commanding federal agencies to stop “divisive un-American propaganda training sessions.” As I and others such […]
Category Archives: Author Posts
October
08
On Being American: An Author’s Thoughts On The White House’s Attempt to Curb “Un-American” Conversations by Padma Venkatraman
posted by donalynm
October
07
The Mouse Who Loved Poetry by Marcella Pixley
posted by CBethM
When I was a very little girl, my hero was a small grey mouse named Frederick. Frederick was a picture book mouse. His author had a wonderful, alliterative name that I loved to say out loud. Leo Lionni. Leo Lionni. The syllables were like a yodel that called my tongue to flicker. Every night, I […]
October
06
Love and Friendship by Mike Jung
posted by donalynm
In April 2013 my friend Julie Solleder, who I’d known back in high school as Julie Forte, passed away suddenly from a fast-moving case of leukemia. I hadn’t seen Julie in decades, but around the time I signed my first book contract she was one of the few people I’d known in high school to […]
October
05
Is the Podcast Mightier Than the Book? by Sheela Chari
posted by CBethM
This year, walking outdoors has been my exercise, my solace, my home away from home. When I walk, I always bring my headphones. It’s me, nature, and a good podcast. Podcasts are audio files you can download from the Internet onto your computer or mobile device such as a smartphone. They can be on […]
October
04
WE CAN’T ALL AFFORD GOOD TOILET PAPER: WHY YOU AND YOUR STUDENTS NEED TO READ STORIES ABOUT KIDS WHO STRUGGLE FINANCIALLY by Donna Gephart
posted by CBethM
Growing up in a tiny row house in Northeast Philadelphia with my single, working mom, my older sister and I couldn’t afford reduced-price lunch tickets at school. They cost 40 cents a piece. So every Friday, we stood in line to be handed a strip of five bright orange tickets, which entitled us to free […]
October
04
Where Are the Introverts–in Your Books and in Your Classroom by Donna Gephart
posted by donalynm
Are you an introvert or an extrovert? Or something in between? An ambivert? Before researching for my book, Abby, Tried and True, I’d have told you I’m an extrovert with a sprinkle of introvert thrown in for good measure. Was I ever wrong! After reading articles and watching Susan Cain’s wildly popular 2012 TedTalk, The […]
October
02
Cover Reveal of Don’t Call Me Fuzzybutt! by Robin Newman
posted by CBethM
When I tuned in to watch the first presidential debate with millions of other Americans, I listened in horror as the two candidates berated one another with some of the most unpresidential words I had ever heard. And all that was running through my mind was, what kind of impact will this have on our […]
September
25
Cover Reveal: Taking Up Space by Alyson Gerber
posted by donalynm
To my readers— In these unprecedented times, when space and access to food is limited and comparative suffering is prevalent, my hope is that Taking Up Space will help readers recognize how much they matter and see that if something negative is taking up space in their minds, even if there isn’t a name for […]
September
24
Investigating Beyond the Book with Fiction and Facts by David A. Kelly
posted by CBethM
Did you hear about the first major league baseball team to hire a group of dogs? One of the great things about writing the Ballpark Mysteries chapter book series is that I get to visit, and research, baseball stadiums and teams. Heck, I even get to expense my hot dogs and pretzels (and perhaps a […]
September
22
Book Trailer Reveal: SWISH! THE SLAM-DUNKING, ALLEY-OOPING, HIGH-FLYING HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS by Don Tate (illustrator) and Suzanne Slade (author)
posted by CBethM
Three years. That’s how long it took me (Suzanne) to gather the courage to start writing Swish!: The Slam-Dunking, Alley-Ooping, High-Flying Harlem Globetrotters. There was never any doubt I wanted to write it. I’ve been a huge Globetrotter fan as long as I can remember. Plus (little-known fact), the team began […]
