Witch Hazel

To celebrate National Picture Book Month, I hope you’ll join me for my LIVE “Bookshelf Blindspots” videos every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at noon CST, where I’ll introduce you to a picture book that I LOVE — because it’s creative, beautiful, meaningful, funny… or any/all of the above. 😊 These will be books that are flying under the radar — either bc they are backlist and have been “forgotten” about or never really (imo!) have gotten the recognition they deserve.

I hope you love them as much as I do! 📚 ❤️

Comment and follow me! We are choosing one person each week to receive ALL of the books I discuss that week (and I just might enclose one of mine as well. 😉)

Instagram Live at 12PM every Mon, Wed and Fri of Every week of Novmember!

November is Picture Book Month, and this year, I've set a goal to shine a light on the books I'm calling “Bookshelf Blindspots!” From the quiet hidden gems that I think have been overlooked or under appreciated, to the backlist beauties that slipped your mind, I'll be spending November celebrating these terrific books (and maybe giving you some ideas for those holiday lists, too).

So join me when I go live on Instagram, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 12PM CST all month long, when I'll share a Bookshelf Blindspot pick. At the end of each week, I'll choose one lucky follower who comments on the video to win the books I discussed (US Only Please).

AND: If you have suggestions for a book you’d like me to feature, please let me know in the comments!

Chines Lantern Flowers

I ran around the yard cutting flowers before last night’s first hard frost. These are the final blooms of the year (plus a few orange roses from the grocery store!). It’s a bit of a hodgepodge, but I didn’t want to leave anything pretty behind. It’s summer’s last kiss goodbye, and this summer girl is already counting the days until spring. 😢

———-
For those of you who inquired, the Chinese lantern flowers and “pumpkins on a stick” are both from seeds, and then dried. I grow them for fall floral arrangements and decorating.

#midwestgardens #gardening #gardeningmom #flowers #flowergardens #goodbyesummer #fall #autumn #winteriscomjng #october #summergirl

Agility Wonder!

In case you need a break from the serious stuff: Our puppy is nine months old. What she lacks in her ability to aim 🤦🏻‍♀️, she makes up for with agility and enthusiasm. 😂

Hispanic Heritage Month

he book tour put me a little behind on recommending some of my favorite picture books and middle-grade reads for Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month...but here they are! If you haven't shared these wonderful stories with your children or students, I hope you'll explore some of these unforgettable stories.

Picture Books:
Green Is A Chile Pepper
All The Way To Havana
Carmela Full of Wishes
Be Bold! Be Brave!
Dreamers
Alma — And How She Got Her Name

Middle Grade Books:
Merci Suarez Changes Gears
Each Tiny Spark
Esperanza Rising

Let Freedom Read

Over the past two weeks on tour, I've been visiting elementary schools to read my books for the kids. It's not lost on me that these readings--among my absolutely favorite things to do--have happened during banned books week. When we read to kids, we open their minds to new experiences, validate their feelings, build connections, and introduce new ways to look at the world. When books are kept out of their hands with bans, children's worlds get just a little bit smaller.

People are always surprised to learn that some of our most cherished children's stories have been, at some point, banned or challenged. I've rounded up a few of my all time favorite, and most surprising, banned books for kids.

Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh was banned in several states for encouraging bad behavior.

Where the Wild Things are by Maurice Sendak has been banned and challenged as being too dark.

Drum Dream Girl and Voice of Freedom have been banned and challenged for representing diverse perspecives.

The Bridge to Terabithia is one of the most frequently banned and challenged books in the United States for its alleged use of inappropriate language, religion and themes about death.

I hope you'll introduce the kids in your life to these if they haven't discovered them already. To learn more about #bannedbooksweek and #letfreedomreadday (that's today) visit bannedbooksweek.org.

Thanks to @watchungbooksellers for creating this great banned books display for young readers to discover.

Amazon's Pick of the Month!

I'm so excited to share that CONSTRUCTION SITE: TAKING FLIGHT has been selected as an Amazon Editor's Pick for Children 3-5. If you haven't had the chance I hope you'll check it out, and pop by sherririnker.com to see all of my remaining tour dates!

So Sweet

Our puppy @ 8 months. My family has been sending me photos of her while I’m on the road, with mentions of how depressed and clingy she is while I’m away.

Bring Your Child's Favorite Books to Life Through Play!

Bring your child’s favorite book to life through play!

✈️ We brought the newest book in the construction site series by @sherririnker & @agfordart “Construction Site: Taking Flight!” to life through play! I set up some activities that went along with the book for Brady to explore when he got home from school and it was a perfect way for him to transition back home & decompress. Add a snack and it’s a sure win!

🚧 In the book, the construction team is expanding the small airport, so I dumped some kinetic sand & diggers in one bin & used some blue play scarves and taped an activity sheet under a clear insert for him to draw on using our @kwikstixpaint & also
found a small, wooden plane on @amazon from @melissaanddoug toys for him to paint & decorate.

🛩️ Comment “activity pack” below and I will dm it to you 😊 it includes fun companion activities like word searches, matching the new airport crew members to their name & the window seat picture shown here (he drew a horse). You can find the book in my Amazon storefront & linked in my stories. Check out the entire series!

In an Airplan Near You!

As someone who flies pretty regularly, I was delighted when a friend found me looking back at her from the pages of @United's Hemispheres magazine. With just a few more days until I take to the friendly skies for the book tour, we chatted about what I learned about airports while writing Construction Site: Taking Flight, indie bookstores, and my most memorable trips. I'll see you all soon!

Check Out on Instagram

With just a few weeks to go before Construction Site: Taking Flight hits stores, I'm excited to be able to offer a free SIGNED and PERSONALIZED copy to 10 lucky winners!

To enter, make sure to follow my account, like this post, and tag 2 friends in the comments. How easy is that?