Pre-Order New Construction Site Series Books!!!

ANNOUNCING!!! 🎉🎉🎉

TWO new books are coming this fall WITH LIMITED QUANTITIES. 😢 The Halloween lift-the-flap board book 🎃comes out August 30th. 🚜 “Farming” comes out November 15, VERY CLOSE TO THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON.

BOTH books can be preordered now! 🤗

Books Connect to Children's Play!

THIS!!!! 👉🏻 “My two year old loves books but he doesn’t like to sit there long enough to read them… HOWEVER something changed when I started to connect his books to his play.”

⬆️ Building literacy through play. 🙌🏻 Thank you SO MUCH to @allthingsyellowandbright for this post, these photos and for sharing these words of wisdom.

Thank you to Harvey's Tales

Huge shout out to Harvey’s Tales Books in Geneva, IL. A fantastic local independent book store, complete with en entire children’s book section, coffee/snack shop and two floors of books to delight all ages!!

If you are interested in getting a personalized copy of one of my books, please reach out to them and they will coordinate it! @harveystales can send personalized, signed copies of any of my titles — anywhere! Call them to order! 630-232-2991

Babies

Above a wreath on our front door, a sparrow built a nest and sat, graciously forgiving us for all the times we bolted out the front door, forgetting she was there — making her fly off until things quieted down. And now, finally… babies! ❤️

She's OK!

For the first time EVER, my sweet, old (almost 15) doggie was attacked by another dog. 😱 She was shaken up, but I think otherwise unscathed. 🙌🏻 Now, she seems to have forgotten all about it, and has resumed her favorite activity. 😴 I, however, am having a prolonged panic attack. 😭😩

Loved our old church

Our old church In the city was right across from Daley Plaza, so we'd walk through on the way back to our car. My kids (and MANY kids!) used the Picasso as a giant slide. On summer days, they's splash in the fountain — which was always bubbling after Easter, a sign that spring was near.

Moving to the 'burbs was the right thing for our family, but I have to admit, seeing this picture come up today, I felt a little ache for our old church — with a big, diverse congregation and an amazing gospel choir — for our old stomping grounds, and for these little boys, who (at 16 and 21) tower over me now.

Poor baby girl

Ok… we’re not keeping them. 👟👟 😂 But, if anyone has suggestions on how to give our sweet, old girl extra traction on the floors, please let me know. We’ve tried nail grips and pad stickers; nothing is helping much. 😢

Let's Chip in...

Ok, creative friends: Imagine that we all pitch in on this artists/writers retreat! Only €446,000! 9 bedrooms, 5 baths. Just shy of an (US) acre (so not an overwhelming amount of property.) An easy drive to Spain. Close enough to Paris, Italy, Switzerland.
Beautiful herringbone flooring, marble staircase (rare and stunning with its iron balustrades), wrought iron doors and a stunning veranda. New roof. (!)

The LOCATION
LAUTREC, TARN……
Lautrec ………no 15 on The Guardians top 20 most beautiful villages in France. Toulouse Lautrec’s family came from this medieval village. Marked by a cross at the top of a hill is where the castle once stood. Some ramparts remain, but the historic centre, with its half timbered house and covered market hall, is the main attraction, with a traditional market on Fridays.

Love this Review!!!

I LOVE this review from @kids.books.i.didnt.hate — EVEN MORE than I love their Instagram name (and I REALLY LOVE that Instagram name! 😂)
Do you have a little superhero lover? Allow me to suggest something that is equally exciting but features jobs that kids can actually have when they grow up.

Roto and Roy (2022)
Ages: 3+
Author: @sherririnker
Illustrator: @devas_t
Summary: “When a dangerous forest fire burns out of control, helicopter Roto and pilot Roy are ready to fly to the rescue! They’re braver than brave, tougher than tough, and nothing will stop this firefighting crew from completing their mission.” (From the publisher)

I like how the brightly colored illustrations seem to riff on superhero comics in texture and style, which makes these everyday heroes feel even more like superheroes. The illustrations also play neat perspective tricks that make the illustrations seem even more exciting.

I really like that Roto is written as female, it can be harder to find that in construction/vehicle books. The rhyme is tight, in Rinker’s signature style. I also enjoy that the book has lots of onomatopoeia (sound words), which are fun to say and fun for little ones to copy.

Multiple rereads have been requested already. Sherri Rinker also wrote the Revver the Speedway Squirrel chapter books, which I’ve featured previously.

@littlebrownyoungreaders