Censorship
Thank you, Bonny Eagle School Board, for taking a stand against censorship and making sure kids will still be able to check out It’s Perfectly Normal!
A few takeaways in case you do not get a chance to read the whole article:
It’s Perfectly Normal is one of the most straightforward, nonjudgmental, accessible books about puberty and sexuality out there. It’s constantly praised and recommended for this age group.
It’s Perfectly Normal was not required reading or assigned in any class. It was just there, on the library shelf.
There was already a mechanism in place where parents could request that their kids be prevented from checking this book out. (I don’t like that, but it was there.) That didn’t satisfy this particular group of parents. They wanted to be sure that no kid could read this book. And while we’re on this topic, why does parental control only ever go one way? As a parent as well as an author, what if I want this kind of book available to my child? Do I not have any rights in that regard?
And finally, It’s Perfectly Normal for kids who are going through adolescence to want to read about adolescence, and it’s admirable for them to reach out and learn more about what’s happening to them. We should support that, not try to shut it down!
(And one extra point–I now really want to read Genderqueer, also under threat of censorship. Censors, take note–we most want to read what you try to take away.)
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Wombat Outside
I’m thrilled to say that Wombat has gotten reviewed in Outside Magazine! Long ago, it was a dream of mine to one day write for Outside. Since then I’ve realized that I’m in no way athletic enough for that to ever happen. So my grumpy Wombat has made it inside the pages of Outside instead of me–and I could not be happier!
Read More“With a solid dose of drama and danger, as well as explanations at the end of the book about fires and Australian wildlife, this story presents a real-life example of how communities, both wild and human, are more resilient when they work together.”
Happy Book Birthday to Wombat
Wombat Underground is on sale this week! And as a book birthday present, a stunning STARRED review from Shelf Awareness:
In an emotionally strong picture book based on natural science, a wombat generously opens his home to other Australian creatures fleeing from a bushfire. Thomson’s dramatic, terse language quickly communicates the serious situation. Santoso’s digital illustrations are striking and tense, making the life-or-death situation the animals face painfully clear. . . .Wombat Underground will likely engender discussion about animals in such precarious situations, but also about how people can protect others (human and animal) in times of danger.
They also called me “prolific” (thanks! I think? One could be a prolific writer of bad prose, I guess, but I am choosing to take it as a compliment) so overall this review thrills me to my toes.
So glad to know what Wombat is out in the world and finding his way to the readers who love him!
Read MoreHappy Holidays
One of my holidays gifts was the recent news that WOMBAT UNDERGROUND will have a French edition. With the help of Google Translate, I have learned that the French word for “wombat” is “le wombat.”
This fills me with delight.
May the dark of winter bring you restful nights, and may the slowly returning light bring us all into a new year where hope continues to bloom–perhaps in unexpected places. And where even grumpy wombats can do a surprising amount of good.
Read MoreSarah L. Thomson
A children’s book author publishing award-winning nonfiction, poetry, picture books and novels including…
“Readers will treasure the blossoming friendship between opposites in this whimsically illustrated tale. Short chapters and plenty of action make for an accessible and appealing reading experience. . . . Touching and inspiring.”
—Kirkus Reviews