What's in the bag? Do you know any young pet detectives who could help me solve a magical mystery? I've been gathering props and breaking out the vocal exercises all in preparation for events and storytimes across Ontario for IF I HAD A GRYPHON. Come join me (and maybe a magical creature or two) on … Continue reading IF I HAD A GRYPHON: EVENTS!
Category: Spectacular Illustrations
Giveaway: If I Had a Gryphon
We are a month away from the release of my first picture book, If I Had a Gryphon (Tundra Books, February 9/16). In this primer on magical pet care, Sam deliberates the pros and cons of raising a series of fantastic beasts, including unicorns, gryphons, krakens, hippogriffs and many more! Here are what people are saying … Continue reading Giveaway: If I Had a Gryphon
My Favourite Books of 2015
Every time I start a year in review list I am overwhelmed by the number of amazing books out there. I always intend to pick one or two books per category but it is much, much too difficult. What follows is a mere sliver of the fabulous books I read and loved this year, which … Continue reading My Favourite Books of 2015
Middle Grade Monday: The Story of Diva and Flea Review
I picked up the charming The Story of Diva and Flea from Book Culture while acting out my Kathleen Kelly fantasies in New York. It had been on my list for awhile (because Mo Willems) but with Paris so front-of-mind it felt particularly poignant. At its heart, this story is about making new friends, and how those … Continue reading Middle Grade Monday: The Story of Diva and Flea Review
Middle Grade Monday: The Doldrums
I dare you to look through this book without a) gasping b) petting the cover and c) calling over your friends or colleagues so they can also gasp and pet the cover. Of course it is the untenable thing-the story-that counts, but when the package is this deluxe, it certainly doesn't hurt. Luckily Nicholas Gannon's … Continue reading Middle Grade Monday: The Doldrums
The Art of Noticing: Sidewalk Flowers Review
As a kid I used to pick Dandelions, purple clover and Queen Anne's Lace and bring them home to be put in a vase and displayed on the kitchen table. I did not understand the difference between a weed and a flower. It's all a matter of perspective; one person's weed is another person's flower. … Continue reading The Art of Noticing: Sidewalk Flowers Review
Skate Like a Girl: Roller Girl Review
There is a surge in middle grade graphic novels featuring female protagonists that I am totally into. Some of these books are memoirs ( Smile, Sisters, and El Deafo) and others are fiction (Drama, Chiggers, or This One Summer). Fiction or non-fiction, they are all fabulous, and now there is a new kid on the block … Continue reading Skate Like a Girl: Roller Girl Review
