Early Reader

This Is Neil Armstrong

Posted by Sarah L. Thomson on Jan 17, 2020 in American History, Early Reader, Nonfiction | 0 comments

New year, new project! I’m gearing up for work on a biography of Neil Armstrong, the first human to set foot on the moon.

So far, my favorite quote is not “That’s one small step for man…” but actually comes from his sister, June: “He never did anything wrong. He was Mr. Goody Two-shoes, if there ever was one.”

You can fly fighter jets and fight in a war and blast off into out space and walk on the actual moon, but I’m telling you, you’ll never get respect from your little sister.

Plesiosaurs!

Posted by Sarah L. Thomson on Nov 2, 2016 in Ancient Animals, Early Reader, Illustration | 0 comments

Didn’t illustrator Andrew Plant do a stunning job with these fabulous prehistoric aquatic beasties?

It’s always a good day when proofs arrive! Suddenly that collection of sketches and artwork and facts and sentences and “did we put that page break in the right place” anxiety is–a book! An actual book that actual people will actually read! Very, totally exciting.

Amazing Whales–Amazing Book Report!

Posted by Sarah L. Thomson on Oct 20, 2016 in Book: Amazing Animals, Early Reader, Nonfiction | 0 comments

This charming second-grader did a video book report on Amazing Whales. Love her command of her topic and her self-possession on camera. Nicely done!

The Best Moment

Posted by Sarah L. Thomson on Feb 6, 2015 in Ancient Animals, Book: Inside of a Dog, Early Reader, Nonfiction, Writing Process | 0 comments

This week I sent a first draft of an adaptation(Inside of a Dog, about the science of animal behavior) off to one editor and a first draft of an early reader (Ancient Animals: Plesiosaurs) off to a second.

There are many good moments in the life of a writer. Getting the first bound book in the mail. Reading a good review. Connecting with a reader and seeing that your book really mattered to her. But I tell you, the finest, finest moment of all is when a draft that you’ve been working on for months is suddenly, with the tap of the SEND key, SOMEBODY ELSE’S PROBLEM for a while.

Aaaaaaaah.