Wombats Coming Soon
Wombat himself, illustrated by Charles Santoso–just a snippet of the lovely, lovely art for this book
Today I’m looking forward to the day when (about a year from now; we in the publishing business live in the future a lot) my picture book Wombat Underground will be published. This is a book close to my heart; it holds so much of my feelings about both the natural world and the nature of humanity–essentially, when we’re frightened and alone, do we welcome in strangers who are also frightened and alone? Do we shelter each other, or do we drive each other way?
(Yeah, it’s not just about wombats)
But it is also a charming and exciting story about a wombat and a bushfire, and it’s just…I’m really proud of it. I can’t wait for the day when you all get to see it too.
Read MoreIllustration Competition
Astra Publishing is running a competition for illustrators–a great way for artists to get your work in front of editors and art directors as well as, perhaps, win a bit of prize money.
Picture book art is such a rich and fascinating form of visual expression–I know I don’t understand as much about it as illustrators and designers do, but I love the complexity of it, the way a good illustrator will capture character and interaction and action and emotion, at the same time moving the reader’s eye deeper into the book, and of course remembering to avoid the gutter! When done well, it sweeps the reader along so easily that it can be hard to remember to slow down and appreciate the detail and the skill. Illustrators, I salute you!
Read MoreSpring Poem
Thanks to FotoRieth from Pixabay for the lovely image!
It’s a cold, gloomy, rainy, SNOWY spring day up here in Maine…but it did give me a bit of inspiration for a spring poem, which I thought I’d share with you.
Party Dresses
Spring throws a party
and everyone’s going,
everyone’s wearing their best.
Daffodils nod their new golden bonnets.
Hyacinths brush up their purple-prink frills.
Tulips sashay in their deep crimson ballgowns.
Pansies slip on their soft velvet shoes.
Even the rain has been invited,
shaking her long silver hair.
Spring throws a party,
and everyone’s going.What about you?
Come too!
Read More
Things Not To Do
Let them read!
A middler schooler I happen to know was picking out a book from her school library the other day. The staff member frowned at it, announced to the room that it had rather mature themes, and then handed it to her after all.
Just…don’t.
If a book isn’t right for middle schoolers, don’t have it in the library. If a book is in the library and a student chooses it, don’t criticize it and embarrass her in front of all her classmates.
(The book was, by the way, entirely appropriate.)
I hear from educators all the time how important it is for kids to develop a love of reading. And then I hear about things like this.
Here are a few thoughts, from someone who may not be an educator or a librarian or a literacy specialist, but from someone who does care about books and kids.
Don’t tell kids they are reading the wrong books. Don’t criticize their taste, even if their taste runs to series fiction or fantasy or graphic novels or any of the other books we adults like to sneer at. Reading is reading. Reading books that you adore is the absolutely best way (perhaps the only way?) to develop a true love for the printed word.
Don’t shut up the library or severely limit its hours and then complain that kids aren’t reading.
Don’t refuse to allow them any class time to read and then complain that they don’t prioritize reading.
Don’t give them tedious reading logs to fill out, making reading a painful chore.
Don’t act embarrassed or uncomfortable when kids in the throes of adolescence want to read about (gasp!) sexuality.
Don’t tell them when and what and how to read.
Just don’t.
Read MoreAstra International Picture Book Writing Contest
Open to all writers, published or unpublished, for picture book manuscripts of 1000 words or less. Contest deadline April 30, 2021. Find out more here!
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What I’ve Been Reading
This excellent graphic novel is so painful, tender, sweet, funny, bitter, exasperating, and satisfying that it’s tough to describe it in a brief paragraph. Suffice to say, it’s exactly like love and friendship in the most emotionally intense time our our lives–high school.
Required reading for all who’ve survived first love and all who’ve managed to get themselves out of a relationship that was taking them someplace and making them into someone they didn’t want to be.
Read MoreNew Chapter Book
I’ve just finished draft five of a new chapter book that might be ready to send to my agent soon….I hope so, anyway.
This is one of my favorite scenes:
Read More“What did Mr. Cleary say to you in the office after lunch recess?” Emily asked anxiously as they walked down the hallway.
“A lot about rules. Don’t all these rules get in the way of the education?” Rani asked.
Maybe a little bit, Emily thought. But she didn’t think she should say so.
“I could probably manage either the rules or the education,” Rani went on thoughtfully. “But not both.”
Sarah 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