A Life Lived in Stories
Four hundred and fifty books.
Poetry. Nonfiction. Realism. Fantasy and fables. Anything that told a story, that connected writer and reader, that spun a thread of information, emotion, hope and entertainment and moral choice, between two minds and hearts.
It feels like a pillar somewhere has fallen, and the world is a little less steady than it was.
Thank you, Jane Yolen, and farewell.
Read MoreNew York Times Best Illustrated Books of 2024
Enjoy, revel, smile, and feel your emotions blossom as you check out the best illustrated books of the year as picked by the New York Times. This art is funny, poignant, adorable, and just plain irresistible.
(I used to live in New York…going to this exhibition is one of the things I miss. And the chilIquiles at Zarela’s.)
Read MoreLibraryCon Live! 2024
Oh my sainted aunt, I am so excited to receive an invite for School Library Journal‘s LibraryCon Live! I’ll be on a fantasy panel talking about my upcoming book, The Griffin’s Boy, on November 14th.
This book was a dearly beloved manuscript that spent ten years (yes, an entire decade) in a drawer because no editor anywhere found it remotely interesting, to my bafflement–it has a baby griffin and a miniature dragon in it; how could anybody be less than enchanted? To have it finally find a home with Peachtree book is balm to my soul, and to be able to talk about it on a panel with other fantasy writers–it just makes me giddy.
Life Advice from a 96-Year-Old
This is a video well worth watching, not least for the speaker’s understanding of her 100th decade as a way to relive her childhood–or more specifically, to live the childhood she wishes she had had. “I’m having my second childhood now, my happy childhood,” she says. “I had a miserable childhood. I did not enjoy being a child….So I have fun now. I’m enjoying my childhood, finally.”
I love the idea that we are not limited to the childhoods we actually had. That we can revisit that intense, passionate, fresh, joyful and rage-filled and awe-filled time, as we wish. That we can do it better, if we want to.
And children’s literature gives us a gateway to do that. Those of us who had lonely childhoods can read about life-changing best friendships. Those of us who were (oh, perhaps) a bit bored can read about wild adventures. Those of us who felt powerless or helpless can find stories of undaunted heroes.
Childhood never leaves us, or rather, we never leave it. Maybe, as the speaker of this video suggests, we grow not away from our childhoods, but toward them–if we’re lucky, coming full circle.
Read MoreSarah L. Thomson
A children’s book author publishing award-winning nonfiction, poetry, picture books and novels including…
“Thomson focuses on newfound connection, magic, and suspense to conjure a fast-paced, heartwarming mystery. Thomson’s world is populated by resourceful protagonists, fanciful creatures, and quirky supporting characters.”
—Publishers Weekly