How do you feel about banned books? I’m pretty opposed to banning books. I don’t think every book should be read, but I don’t think anything good can come of trying to ban books. In fact, I have a lovely coffee mug from Book Riot via Quarterly featuring the titles of banned books. I’ve heard… Read more »
Books for Kids
Creative science writing
Creative science writing, not exactly science fiction but fiction based in fact, is one of my favorite kinds of writing. Recently I finished a fun story about a worm who saves a compost pile. Lots of creative science writing in that tale. And earlier this year my middle son asked me to write a story… Read more »
Tomboys or Sissies: Which do you want?
“I’m pretty sure my daughter will be a tomboy,” my friend, father of a nine-month old girl, proudly announced. I automatically smiled, because I think my friends would describe me as more tomboy than girly-girl. My sons are often surprised when I wear a dress. Because girly-girls wear dresses, right? But then I started thinking… Read more »
Writing Your Truth
Back in February, I attended the SCWBI Winter Conference. When people in my critique group, or other writers that I know online ask me how I felt about the conference, I answer that I felt both elated and deflated. I learned a lot, but I was also reminded that I had a lot more to… Read more »
Using Sight Words in Your Children’s Writing
If you’re planning to write for children, especially early readers, you need to be familiar with sight words. Sight words are a group of several hundred words that make up the majority of words used in children’s literature. New readers need to be able to recognize sight words by sight because many of them cannot… Read more »
Fun Food for Your Picky Preschooler
I know it’s tough to to the parent of a picky preschooler. They are not at the age when you can reason with them and their tastes change so quickly, it can feel so frustrating. But there’s another way to approach the challenge: make it fun. I was so lucky to visit a Bright Horizons… Read more »
Favorite Bedtime Books
I recently joined the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators and my first few meetings have me thinking about my favorite bedtime books. I have a quite a few. In fact many of my favorite bedtime books have no words! But instead of making a list of which books I love, I am actually… Read more »
Tricks For Picky Eaters – Why they don’t work
Parents, if there is one piece advice I wish you would follow it’s this: Tricks for picky eaters don’t work. My picky eater recently discovered he likes fresh spinach with ranch dressing. He won’t take it cooked on pizza or mixed in with pasta, but if I set aside a few fresh leaves on his… Read more »
Skinny Pete’s Kitchen growing among family friendly restaurants in Pittsburgh
Who’s hungry? Join me at Skinny Pete’s in Avalon for Farm to Family, a fantastic new option and from one of the truly family friendly restaurants in Pittsburgh. Parents, grandparents and kids can come together to enjoy a special meal in a relaxed fun atmosphere. Kids get to create their own meal while adults can… Read more »
Is my child eating right?
As a parent, I often wonder, ‘is my child eating right?’ Is my 8 year-old getting enough calcium? Is my 5 year-old getting enough fruits and vegetables? Is my 3 year-old getting enough protein? In our house, I’m not exactly worried about the amount of food they eat. They eat a lot. But are they… Read more »