It’s official! My amazing critique group is starting a virtual book club for kids. Participants will have a chance to ask the book’s author questions, win prizes, learn secrets behind the book-writing and book-publishing process, and participate in fun, interactive writing activities with the Rocket Cats. To accommodate the most readers, we’ve decided to… Read more »
Educators
Register for the Virtual Opossum Party for Schools!
My next book Opinions & Opossums is coming out May 2nd, and I’m excited to come together for a Virtual Launch Party with classrooms from around the country to celebrate! Together, we’ll play interactive writing games, tour my writing space, listen to me read aloud the beginning of the book, and have lots of time… Read more »
A 3-Part Video Series on Creative Writing
I’m excited to offer a 3-part video series on creative writing: “What to Write When You Don’t Know What to Write (And You Don’t Think You’re a Writer)” All ages of participants are welcome! I always tell students that if I can write, they can write — it’s just about breaking the process down into… Read more »
Back-to-School Giveaways & New Ways for Students to SPEAK UP
Octopus in Paperback! Plus: A HUGE GIVEAWAY! Later today the custom paperback edition of THE BENEFITS OF BEING AN OCTOPUS releases from the non-profit First Book for just $3.85! If your school or program qualifies as Title I, you’re eligible to shop on the First Book marketplace and get fabulous discounts like this one. Here’s… Read more »
#TeamOctopus Twitter Chat
#KidsNeedMentors
#KidsNeedBooks Is Evolving to #KidsNeedBooks AND #KidsNeedMentors! We’re thrilled that authors & educators are teaming up to help students learn to love reading & writing. Building relationship between authors and classrooms can be so powerful. Imagine a book delivery from an author in the fall, staying in touch throughout the school year (via postcards or… Read more »
#KidsNeedBooks Update
Wow! What an incredible past few weeks it’s been. Since I wrote my first post about #KidsNeedBooks, hundreds of books have gotten into kids’ hands thanks to the generosity of over 85 authors, and giveaways are still going on. Check out this great article in School Library Journal about the movement! We’re excited to keep… Read more »
#KidsNeedBooks
A few weeks ago, the brilliant Donalyn Miller published a #NerdyBookClub post that highlighted a simple but powerful truth: kids need books. I’m a former middle school teacher, so I know how many obstacles can stand in a teacher’s path, and how many teachers push forward anyway determined to support their students with whatever resources… Read more »