January is not the month for books that feel like homework. It is cold. It gets dark early. Kids are tired from being back in school. This is the season when many middle-grade readers naturally gravitate toward stories that feel familiar, steady, and comforting. Not boring. Just safe enough to sink into. These are the […]
Want to simplify holiday gift-giving? One idea is to give each child four gifts: something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read. We have five suggestions for something to read that will delight your middle grader. The Tower at the End of Time by Amy Sparkes (ages 9-11) Book […]
I don’t know about you, but all of this extra time at home has been great for my spring cleaning! The one thing that always seems to get out of hand in my home are my bookshelves (you can never have too many books, right?). If you’re in need of a major bookshelf reorganization, here […]
One of the most fun and most difficult parts of being a writer is finding your next story. Sometimes a bestselling idea will hit you out of nowhere, but more often than not you have to go out into the world and seek inspiration. But where do you go? And how do you do it? […]
Chances are, your kids’ Christmas/holiday gift lists consist of toys and technology (iPads seem to be one of the biggest hits), but what about putting a relatively cheap, simple, and thoughtful gift under the tree that your children can cherish their entire lives? Giving books as presents will help your kids to see books as […]
You can call me old school, but I don’t do the e-reading thing. I like to sit down with a book in my hands, flip through the pages, write in the margins, and keep all the screens at bay even if for just a few hours. Reading, to me, is an escape from the world. […]