Whew! What a month! My youngest turned 3. The flu swept the house. An old-ish assignment rose from the dead. I visited an archive!
This month also marked my first Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators conference, with Cheryl Klein's master class in picture book making as the highlight of the conference for me. If you are interested in writing for kids, check out her amazing book Magic Words. (Also, because I cannot help myself with book recommendations, she referenced two new-to-me picture books that have quickly become family faves. Check them out here and here.)
For the Discerning & Literary Child
Found a copy of Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren at our library's book sale.
Also at SCBWI: Dan Santat shared background on his latest, After the Fall, a riff on the classic Humpty Dumpty. (It's a story about overcoming anxiety.)
Llama Llama! Single mama?
History has its eyes on her.
Asides, Ideas, Miscellany
The mystery of Michelle. (And her portrait.)
A book publicist / author therapist talks success: "what it looks like to each of us is actually radically different from person to person."
When the coin laundry becomes the $5-per-cup-coffee shop: Ann Friedman talks gentrification in L.A.
"In the age of Google, the hardest information to find is local." Enter libraries.
The kids are alright. (OK, they're resilient, organized, brilliant, and have been doing this for awhile now (Really.)
The Parkland students have had the benefit of a high-quality education steeped in the humanities, drama, debate, and journalism, writes Dahlia Lithwick in Slate. They were "spring-loaded" for this moment.
How to teach art to kids, by Mark Rothko.
The Strong Towns podcast because walkability, affordability, and livability (in the suburbs!) have been on my mind lately.
Ronja, the Robber's Daughter with my kindergartener. It's a Studio Ghibli production of the classic story from the author of Pippi Longstocking. We both love it. (Also, every newsletter should have two Astrid Lindgren references.)
“The true luxuries are silence and time.” - Fanny Auger
Thoughts? Ideas? Recommendations? I love connecting with fellow readers, writers, parents, and humans. Please drop me a line!
New here? Peruse the archive of letters right here or join below for monthly-ish news and notes.
r.p.
