What makes you a crabby pants?

On Friday, I enjoyed sharing my book, Crabby Pants, with my daughter's first grade class. As a thank-you gift, the entire class wrote their own tales about what makes them crabby! Here is a sampling . . .

When my mom is crabby it makes me crabby. — Victoria

When I wont to go play with my frends when it is such a beautiful day out side, my Dad says I have to cleen up my room first. That macks me a Crabby Pants. — Gabe

I get crady when my big brother sneks my toys . . . and I get riley mad and get on my crady pants. — Caroline

When I can't go out side and ride my bike when it's a wonderfl day out I get crabby. I turn into Mr. Crabby Pants. — Legend

I played sccor at my house. My sister broke the roolls. I got crabby !!! — Sasha

Once I wanted to go in Maggi's room to tell her something. BUT SHE DIDN'T LET ME IN!. . . And that makes me a crabby pants. — Teddy

David got crabby because David's mom did not want him to play football. That's why it's time to get Crabby Again!!!!!!!! — David

I get crabby when my mom and dad make me eat my vegitbles, like carites, peas, and brocly. — Sky

One day after brekfist my little brother was raghawsing with me. . . That made me Crabby! — Ani

One day Ben was sleeping. But his mom and dad work him up. Then he gets crabby pants!!! — Ben

So what makes you crabby? Other crabby people? Not getting to enjoy beautiful weather? Having to eat healthy food? Or all of the above? Tell us in the comments.

My Mom

Yesterday I got to read a few books I wrote and talk about editing to my mom's kindergarten class. Since I was in the first kindergarten class my mom taught, it was an extra special day. After I read and answered some questions, I stayed and watched my mom in action. It was beyond amazing! The kids could read, do math equations, and write stories. I was in awe.

Yesterday I was proud to be an author. I was proud to be an editor. But I was most proud to say that Mrs. Oven is my mom.

The Happiest Day

The happiest day for me as an editor is when the books I've worked on for months finally see the light of day. Seeing the finished product after months of seeing a book in manuscript form is beyond thrilling, so you can imagine how giddy I was earlier this week when the first book in our Myth-O-Mania series, Nice Shot, Cupid!, landed on my desk. Cupid is a little bit ahead of the pack, but for good reason: Kate McMullan, the author of the Myth-O-Mania series, will be signing copies of the book next week at BEA. I haven't even seen proofs for the other seven books in the series yet — but Cupid is living proof that the books will come!

Book Expo America and other inspiration

I'm super excited to be off to Book Expo America next week. We'll be having exciting author signings (featuring Fran Manushkin, Kate McMullan, and Tony Hawk), and it's so thrilling to get to see what other publishers are up to. There are tons of other publishers in Minnesota, but rarely are so many book people together as in the Javits Center for BEA, and I find it really inspiring as a book maker, a reader, a writer, and a lover of all things pretty.

The new socially connected world is a great boon to those in the business of inspiration collection (which is, um, all of us). I collect and curate my own inspirations on Facebook and Pinterest and privately on Evernote--what about you? Where do you store inspiration? Where do you get it? How do you organize it? How do you know when you've found it?

Beth - managing editor

Super-Secret Project sees the light.

Hello friends,

Our super secret project is finally ready to see the light. The announcement and press release went out yesterday: Tony Hawk is working with us on a new book series! And I'm the lucky girl that gets to design the books, along with Brann Garvey.

But like every huge project, launching this series takes a village. I don't know anybody on our team that hasn't work on the project in one way or another. We are all invested and proud of what we have in store for you.

For those who haven't read the PW article check it out here.

If you missed the press release here.

Now I want to leave you all with a taste of what's coming from this series, because it's so awesome and has so many brilliant people working every detail.

Readers, never forget the village that built the Tony Hawk 900 Revolution in 2011! I hope you enjoy this new book series!