It’s been eight months since my last blog post. What happened?

Actually quite a bit.   I wrote two books. One was a middle grade novel: Small as an Elephant, about an eleven-year-old boy who is abandoned in Acadia National Park and attempts to travel on his own back to Boston (forthcoming from Candlewick Press, spring 2011). 

The other is a professional book titled No More “I’m Done”: Fostering Independent Writers in the Primary Classroom (forthcoming from Stenhouse in February). I am so proud of this book! It’s the compilation of twenty years of teaching writing. In addition to helping primary teachers establish a writer’s workshop where students are motivated and engaged, it provides a full year of mini-lessons. Check out this cover:

 

 

 

Don’t you love it?

The book has inspired me to send out a weekly newsletter: Monday Mini-Lesson. Beginning in January, I will provide writing lessons for teachers in grades K-3. Email if you’d like to be added to the Monday Mini-Lesson mailing list.

 

 

In other news, I have a new Andy Shane out: Andy Shane and the Barn Sale Mystery. I am so partial to this book. Andy mistakenly sells Granny Webb’s binoculars and has to track them down. Here is one list he and Dolores comprises:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can you guess who has them? This story is written in the tradition of O’Henry’s Gift of the Magi.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally, Winnie Dancing On Her Own has won an Earphone Award from Audiofile Magazine! Read the whole review here. I listened to this recording on my way to pick up my son from the airport (two kids in college now, impossible!) and couldn’t stop laughing – except when I was crying. It is a wonderfully produced; Laura Hamilton is truly an amazing reader. 

Now that we’re both caught up, I promise to blog more regularly.  Email me!  I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to as well.