Jean Reidy's Blog, page 21

Pay it Forward Friday: Terrific Teacher/Librarian Book Giveaway!

Here's an easy way to pay it forward to your favorite teacher or librarian.

Simply enter his/her name in the comment section below anytime from midnight to midnight (Mountain Time) on Friday March 8th and he/she will be entered to win an autographed copy of
ALL THROUGH MY TOWN for a classroom or library.

Names entered before or after March 8th will not be considered.

Then check back on Saturday March 9th to see if your favorite teacher or librarian is the lucky winner!

Let's spread that teacher/librarian love!

ALL THROUGH MY TOWN Picture Book Peek 3/11/13!

ALL THROUGH MY TOWN  is out in bookstores and libraries throughout my town AND YOURS!

“This adorable trip around town will be a big hit with any toddler who has ever been a passenger alongside a busy grownup with errands to run. With fun-packed illustrations for little ones to look at again and again and a surprise ending that causes instant giggles, this book definitely earns a spot on the ‘favorites’ shelf.”  Kids' Indie Next List

Now that's something to celebrate!

So for all my writer friends out there I'm holding anALL THROUGH MY TOWN PICTURE BOOK PEEKMONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013 Win a free critique of a selected picture book manuscript.  
Here's how it works:
Sign up for a critique by entering your picture book WORKING TITLE in the comment section of this blog post anytime (midnight to midnight Mountain Time) on March 11th. Titles submitted before or after March 11th will not be considered.

I'll throw all the submitted titles into a hat and pick 1 for critique.

Keep in mind:
* Manuscripts must be 1000 words or less.

* I accept only fiction.

* Please understand that I'm not an editor and will not be providing line-editing of your work. My critique will be comprised of suggestions for improving your manuscript. So please send me your most polished piece.

* The critique winner must e-mail me his/her manuscript as a Word attachment within 48 hours of the announcement . Manuscripts will be kept completely confidential. When I receive the manuscript, I'll let the author know when to expect my critique.

* As with any art form, likes and dislikes are subjective. Please understand that my critiques are only one reader's/writer's opinion. It's always wise to seek feedback from a few different readers. If my ideas resonate with you, they're yours to use. If you disagree, I encourage you to compare my comments with those of other readers. But in the end, it's your book. Stay true to your vision.

I look forward to reading your work.
Jean

ALL THROUGH MY TOWN Book Release FUN!

ALL THROUGH MY TOWN  is out today in bookstores and libraries throughout my town AND YOURS!

“This adorable trip around town will be a big hit with any toddler who has ever been a passenger alongside a busy grownup with errands to run. With fun-packed illustrations for little ones to look at again and again and a surprise ending that causes instant giggles, this book definitely earns a spot on the ‘favorites’ shelf.”  Kids' Indie Next List

I'm celebrating, and I hope you'll join me. Here's how:
* Tweet or retweet the following message as written below for a chance to win an autographed book, bag and t-shirt!

ALL THROUGH MY TOWN #bookbday. RT anytime on 3/5 for a chance to win a bag, book and t-shirt. http://ow.ly/imyWc #towningaround 
* Learn more about my amazing illustrator Leo Timmers and explore his incredible artwork via his online portfolio. 

* Read the wonderful ALL THROUGH MY TOWN reviews . They made me blush.

* Then stop by  Jennifer Bertman's Creative Spaces blog, where I'll take you on a tour "all through my" work space. You'll also get a peek into my creative process - fancy way of saying my manic mindstorm.
* From now until 3/31/13 enter to win one of  3 autographed copies of ALL THROUGH MY TOWN on Goodreads. Easy peasy!
* Check out my awesome Teacher's Curriculum and Activity Guide linked to learning standards. Whether you're a teacher, librarian, child care provider or a parent, you'll find creative activities for fun and learning that reach beyond the book.

* Pay it forward with my ALL THROUGH MY TOWN: Terrific Teacher/Librarian Contest coming this Friday, March 8th, right here on my blog. Stop by on Friday to enter the name of your favorite teacher or librarian for a chance to win him/her an autographed copy of the book.
* Are you a picture book writer? Polish up your manuscript and stop back here next Monday March 11th for an ALL THROUGH MY TOWN Picture Book Peek -a chance to win a free critique of your picture book manuscript.

* Mark your calendar for my ALL THROUGH MY TOWN UPCOMING APPEARANCES including my 

Family Fun Night Book Release Party at The Tattered Cover Highlands Ranch on April 26th with games, treats and prizes!
* Finally, if you'd like to buy your own copy of ALL THROUGH MY TOWN, you'll find it at your favorite bookstore or these online locations. BARNES & NOBLE AMAZON INDIEBOUND And if you e-mail me, I'll send you personalized autographed book stickers for all your purchased copies.
Thanks for stopping by and have a great rest of the week! 
Jean

Appearances All Through My Town ... and Yours!

In addition to my Skype and school visits, I'll be reading, signing and celebrating all my books - including my latest book ALL THROUGH MY TOWN at:

April 2 - Mountains and Plains Bookseller Association S pring Meeting
Author Meet and Greet at the Boulder Bookstore
Boulder, Colorado

April 19-22 - International Reading Association Annual Convention
San Antonio, TX
Sunday April 21st
3:30-4:30: podcast with Emily Manning, of Chatting About Books
Monday April 22nd
9:00 A.M. Teachers’ Choices symposium, followed by autographing in the Bloomsbury booth
2:00-3:00 P.M. autographing at the Anderson’s Bookstore booth

April 26 - Tattered Cover Family Fun Night   6:30-7:30
9315 Dorchester Street 
Highlands Ranch, CO 
Bring your kids for reading, signing, games, treats and PRIZES!

May 3-5 - Big Sur in the Rockies 
Faculty Member
A writers workshop for writers who have a finished or partially finished manuscript that needs critiquing, revisions, editorial help and guidance. Our workshop provides tools needed to prepare one’s work for publication. Writers meet and work closely with faculty members throughout the weekend, from agents to editors to authors.

TOO PRINCESSY! tweet party and other easy ways to win!

Hooray! Today the TOO PRINCESSY! Board Book makes its royal debut. And to celebrate, I have 3 ways for you to win some super-cool prizes.

1. Tweet or retweet the following message exactly as it appears below:

TOO PRINCESSY! board #bookbday RT anytime on 2/19 for a chance to win a book, bag and t-shirt. http://ow.ly/hQrh5 #tiarafail

2. Enter my Goodreads giveaway anytime between now and 3/1/13 for a chance to win one of two autographed TOO PRINCESSY! board books.

3. Come on over to my TOO PRINCESSY! Boredom Buster Blog where you can conquer cabin fever one idea at a time. Submit an idea of your own to be entered to win a $100 gift card and other prizes.

Thanks for stopping by!

ALL THROUGH MY TOWN - The Reviews Are In!

And I'm loving 'em!

"Richard Scarry has some competition in this effort, which follows a toddler-age bunny and his mother around town on their errands. Filled with verbs that end in –ing, the rhythmic verses form a nice cadence and challenge readers to spot the characters that are performing each action. “Pancakes flipping. / Cutting, clipping. / Tossing, fetching, / bending, stretching. // Brushing, shaving. / Good-bye waving— / my town in the morn.” The bunny, usually in his pram, and his mother are easy to spot on each page as they watch the kids in the schoolyard, stare pop-eyed at the rescue vehicles converging to put out a burning sausage, mail a letter, visit a hospital patient, read a book outside the library and take the bus, among other things. Once they get home, in a scene reminiscent of Kevin Lewis and Daniel Kirk’s Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo (1999), the living room floor displays a very familiar scene. The acrylic illustrations are bright and busy, full of details to spot, animals to identify and things to find and count. Similar animal characters to Timmers’ Who is Driving? (2007) populate this outing, their huge eyes dominating their giant heads, while tiny legs protrude from below stylish outfits, all adding to their charming appeal. Neatly encapsulates the three-ring circus that is a little tyke’s world and gives children an opportunity to practice all kinds of skills." Kirkus

"A mother rabbit takes her baby for a walk in a buggy. The eventful trip begins early in the morning, and they pass a garden, shops, the train station, and a school yard. They stop for breakfast, mail a letter, visit someone in a hospital, and read a story outside a library. The rhyming text bounces along with an abundance of action words. Reidy’s playfulness is somewhat similar to her style in Too Pickley! (2010) and Too Purpley! (2010, both Bloomsbury). Timmers’s fun, double-page acrylics creatively illustrate the vocabulary: “Pancakes flipping,” a fire hydrant “spraying,” an ambulance “dashing,” and the pictures have lots of humorous details for youngsters to spot, like a snake balancing a cupcake on its back and a giraffe skipping rope. This spirited picture book is as much fun to browse through as it is to read, and it could spark classroom discussions about neighborhoods and community workers." School Library Journal

"A rabbit toddler surveys the bustle and occasional comic chaos of his beloved town from the vantage point of a buggy being pushed by his mother. Timmers’s (The Magical Life of Mr. Renny) work possesses the exaggerated goofiness and hipster-retro edge of contemporary animation, and he revels in riffing on Reidy’s (Too Princessy!) simple, cataloguelike rhymes ('Shopping, sacking,/ sorting, stacking—/ rows so nice and neat./ School bells ringing./ Reading, singing,/ friends to meet and greet'). The bright, saturated acrylic environments are densely and vibrantly populated with animal characters in an expansive variety of roles (a guitar-playing gorilla teacher, an ursine tourist in a Hawaiian shirt, a crocodile short-order cook flipping flapjacks); their energy, both potential and unleashed, and their eager, saucerlike eyes convey a sense of carpe diem bordering on manic. With spreads jam-packed with detail and event—as the action moves from home to bustling sidewalks, past traffic jams and into the hospital (for a visit) and the library—it’s an undeniable feast for the eyes." Publishers Weekly

ALL THROUGH MY TOWN releases on March 5th!!

Pay it Forward Friday: Bridget Zinn's POISON - Help Spread the Word!

A while back, you may remember my participation in the Bridget Zinn auction. It actually took the place of my Thanksgiving Picture Book Peek in 2010. Now I'm asking your help in an opportunity to contribute to Bridget's beautiful legacy through her upcoming book release.

Today, Bridget's dear friend, writer and editor,  Holly Westlund,  is my guest, explaining how you can help.

Hello, friends.

Some of you (maybe even many of you) may have known Bridget Zinn. She was very active in the kid lit world, and especially well-known in Madison and Portland. She was a very dear part of the children's book community, and sadly died of cancer not too long after she sold her book, Poison, to Disney/Hyperion. She was only 33, but she lived a vibrant life full of laughter and love (for books, cats, friends, and so many other things). Those of us who knew her even a little bit still miss her. And we'd really like to help Poison be a success.

Poison releases on March 12, just a short month from now. If you would like to help Bridget's family and friends promote Poison , take a look at her website, here: http://www.bridgetzinn.com/help/index.php. We are also accepting any and all ideas you might have for getting the word out there.

There will be a book release party in Portland, OR, on March 16 at A Children's Place Bookstore, 6pm, with several local authors signing special copies of Poison in Bridget's honor. (If you will be in town and would like to sign, please RSVP to event(at)bridgetzinn.com by February 17, so we can be sure to have a few copies of your books on the shelf, as well.) If you'll be in town, we'd love to have you come. If you're interested in ordering signed copies, please contact A Children's Place before or after the event. (http://www.achildrensplacebookstore.com/) If you'd like to host a similar signing in your town, we'd be very honored. I know there's one in the planning works in Texas, at the moment.

I've read the ARC, and I can guarantee that it's a ton of fun. It sounds just like Bridget, and is a clever mix of subterfuge, romance, and action that might happen if you crossed The Thief with The Princess Bride. It'll have a pretty broad readership appeal, with the action/adventure/cleverness that middle school readers love, and the sweet/clever romance that teens enjoy. I can't wait until I get to start handing this book to kids.

Thank you so much for your help!

Holly

TOO PRINCESSY! Picture Book Peek 2/11/13!

This month, "the princess" is making her royal appearance once again in bookstores and libraries  everywhere when the TOO PRINCESSY! Board Book hits the shelves.

"This high-energy outing sends a clear message: sometimes the simplest toy is the best one." Publishers Weekly

"... kids will want re-reads."  
Kirkus

Now that's something to celebrate!

So  for all my writer friends out there I'm holding aTOO PRINCESSY! PICTURE BOOK PEEK
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013 Win a free critique of a selected picture book manuscript.  
Here's how it works:
Sign up for a critique by entering your picture book WORKING TITLE in the comment section of this blog post anytime (midnight to midnight Mountain Time) on February 11th. Titles submitted before or after February 11th will not be considered.

I'll throw all the submitted titles into a hat and pick 1 for critique.

Keep in mind:
* Manuscripts must be 1000 words or less.

* I accept only fiction.

* Please understand that I'm not an editor and will not be providing line-editing of your work. My critique will be comprised of suggestions for improving your manuscript. So please send me your most polished piece.

* The critique winner must e-mail me his/her manuscript as a Word attachment within 48 hours of the announcement . Manuscripts will be kept completely confidential. When I receive the manuscript, I'll let the author know when to expect my critique.

* As with any art form, likes and dislikes are entirely subjective. Please understand that my critiques are only one reader's/writer's opinion. It's always wise to seek feedback from a few different readers. If my ideas resonate with you, they're yours to use. If you disagree, I encourage you to compare my comments with those of other readers. But in the end, it's your book. Stay true to your vision.

I look forward to reading your work.
Jean

P.S. And don't forget to check out  TOO PRINCESSY! in board book coming later this monthand the TOO PRINCESSY BOREDOM BUSTER BLOG where you can find loads of cabin-fever creativity for kids AND a chance to win prize!

How a Novelist Learned to Write Picture Books by Anna Staniszewski

My friend and agency mate, Anna Staniszewski's publishing success sounds a little like a fairy tale -- hugely popular novels, sequels, prequels. WOW! Then, just like Jenny, the main character in her latest novel My Epic Fairy Tale Fail, Anna took on what seemed an impossible task ... she wrote a picture book.

So how did she make the transition? Brilliantly ... with a few lessons she learned from novel writing ... that all picture book writers need to know.

Now, take it away, Anna!

How a Novelist Learned to Write Picture Books
by Anna Staniszewsk

For years, I considered myself to be strictly a novel writer. I thought I was far too wordy to write picture books, and besides, I never had any good picture book ideas. I mean I had ideas, but they were TERRIBLE.

But over the years, something strange happened. In writing novels, I learned to:

-Focus focus focus and cut cut cut!
-Choose active verbs and interesting nouns. (My thesaurus and I are now best friends.)
-Make each scene active and give the story forward momentum.
-Make the ending tie into the beginning.



Why look at that. In my efforts to improve my novels, I’d trained myself to do many of the things that are required when writing picture books.

Okay, so now I knew how to write a picture book, but I still didn’t have any good ideas. Then one day, as I was getting ready to walk the dog and she was squeaking her furry head off to try to hurry me along, I said: “Calm down, dogosaurus. We’re going.” And there it was. An idea.

Of course, an idea is not a story. It took me about a year and many revisions (with help from my agent and my critique partners) to get the manuscript to where it needed to be. And amazingly, Dogosaurus Rex found a home at Henry Holt and is scheduled to be published in 2014. Finally, my years of inadvertently training myself as a picture book writer had paid off!

These days, while I still think myself primarily as a novelist, I’m getting more comfortable with my picture book identity. And I have to say, I love working on picture books. They’re a challenge that I really enjoy. Who knew there was hope for a former rambling writer with terrible ideas?

About Anna:
Born in Poland and raised in the United States, Anna Staniszewski grew up loving stories in both Polish and English. She was named the 2006-2007 Writer-in-Residence at the Boston Public Library and a winner of the 2009 PEN New England Susan P. Bloom Discovery Award. Currently, Anna lives outside of Boston with her husband and their adopted black Labrador, Emma.
 
When she’s not writing, Anna spends her time teaching, reading, and challenging unicorns to games of hopscotch. Her first novel, My Very UnFairy Tale Life, was released by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky in November 2011. The sequel, My Epic Fairy Tale Fail, is coming on March 1, 2013. Visit her at www.annastan.com.

About her latest book:  
Jenny has finally accepted her life of magic and mayhem as savior of fairy tale kingdoms, but that doesn't mean the job's any easier. Her new mission is to travel to the Land of Tales to defeat an evil witch and complete three Impossible Tasks. Throw in some school friends, a bumbling knight, a rhyming troll, and a giant bird, and happily ever after starts looking far far away. But with her parents' fate on the line, this is one happy ending Jenny is determined to deliver.

Watch the book trailer for more FAIL fun! 

Now it's your turn to chime in. What lessons have you learned from one genre of your writing that inform or inspire your others?

Visit Your Favorite Authors at CCIRA Feb. 6th - 9th!

So many awesome author and illustrator friends will be presenting and/or signing books at the Colorado Council International Reading Association Conference next week 2/6-2/9. And I'm getting SUPER excited to catch up with these literacy heroes!

Chris Barton
Leslie Clark
Carmela LaVigna Coyle
Melanie Crowder
Julie Danneberg
Lindsay Eland
Ellen Javernick
Jeanne Kaufman
Claudia Cangilla McAdam
Pam Mingle
Jeannie Mobley
Ann Nagda
Linda Osmundson
Nancy Oswald
Marjorie Blain Parker
Kathleen Pelley
Donald Samson
Todd Tuell
Denise Vega
Nicole Weaver
and ...
ME!

Whom did I miss? E-mail me and I'll add you to my list.

And if you're a picture book lover, check out my Session #268 
"What's Love Got To Do With It? 
The Picture Book's Link to Literacy."We'll explore beloved picture books, give away gobs of door prizes and have some fun with those treasures we all adore - books, reading and literacy.

I hope to see you there!