An Icon

Today we celebrate the birthday of an icon. Like many great women (Cher, Madonna, etc), she goes by just one name—Barbie. On this very day in 1959, Barbara Millicent Roberts was born. You may love her or hate her (I love her and am very happy to play Barbies with my girls), but you can't argue with her icon status. I must point out that she's had about a billion careers, but she's never been a book editor. I guess even Barbie can't handle the book world.

Happy Birthday, Barbie!

My first Barbie was Peaches & Cream. My sisters were jealous because she had bent arms and their Barbies didn't.

You CAN go home again!

You know that saying, “You can’t go home again.” It isn’t true. You can go home, and when you do, people will welcome you with open arms.

Last Friday, I had the pleasure visiting my former elementary school in Howard, South Dakota. Thanks to a large addition, the school was about twice as big as it was when I attended, yet the hallways and some of the classrooms seemed smaller. (Isn’t it funny how places seem smaller just because you are bigger?)

I read to the kindergarten, first-grade, and second-grade classes, sharing my picture books Crabby Pants and Eleanore Won’t Share. They were wonderful and attentive listeners, Even though I spend my workdays thinking about children and their reading, it isn’t often I get to witness it. Until you hear a group of kids laugh at something you have written, you just never know if the joke really works. I am happy to say that I heard a few laughs on Friday, and saw many smiles.

The first graders all had questions ready for me.

Thanks to all the little Howard Tigers who listened so nicely, to the teachers who made room in their schedules, and to Mrs. Ulrich, the librarian who organized it all. Also, thank you to the familiar faces who came out to a book signing after school. It is all of you that make me proud to say Howard is my hometown.

Happy National Grammar Day!!!

It’s that time of year again. Time for my favorite holiday: National Grammar Day. You might find it hard to believe that there are people who actually enjoy and celebrate this holiday, but there are. They are editors, and I am not embarrassed to be one of them. Case in point, this is an actual email exchange (which I still have saved) that took place last year on National Grammar Day between my managing editor Beth and myself:

Beth: It’s National Grammar Day! Anyone have a nerdy grammar thing to add — a favorite punctuation mark, etc. (Haha! Don’t you guys have one too??) Let me know.

Me: Probably commas in compound sentences. Which is super nerdy. Or hyphens between compound adjectives. On another note, things that are incorrectly hyphenated are my biggest pet peeve. Aka, “The 40 Year-Old Virgin.” Which leads me to a question I’ve been meaning to ask you for days: Should “Hot Tub Time Machine” be hyphenated? I feel like it’s extra nerdy of me to have been pondering that for days.

Beth: We are SOUL MATES. I think Hot-Tub Time Machine . . . right???

Me: EXACTLY!!!

Now that I’ve shared some embarrassing grammar tidbits with you, what are your favorite grammar rules? (On that note, I hereby give you permission to correct someone’s incorrect grammar today . . . after all, it IS National Grammar Day!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gWwah7ROsE

Happy Read Across America Day!

Today is Read Across America Day as well as Dr. Seuss's birthday. The perfect day to grab your hat and read with the Cat!

Pledge to read aloud (to your classroom, child, younger sibling, or anyone!) here.

Is it Spring Yet?

It's been a rough winter, and sometimes it feels like we are stuck in Narnia with only one season on repeat. I know that spring will come eventually, but it's difficult to keep things in perspective when all you can see are piles of white outside of your door. Are there signs of spring where you are? Please share them with us desperate Minnesotans!