I had "The Bean" all to myself.

Judy Cox and illustrator Jeffrey Ebbeler

Cinco de Mouse-O! goes to Chicago

Frederick and Ishbu's first adventure!

The second book in The Tails of Frederick and Ishbu


Available in the Scholastic book order. Comes with a science kit!

Available in the See Saw book order.

Summer Reading

Blast Off to New Horizons

May 9, 2010

Tags: SCBWI, Oregon, children's authors, Nancy Attebury, Susan Blackaby, Anna K. Bloom, Scholastic, Kristine Brogno, Chronicle Books, Carmen T. Bernier-Grand, Alison Impey, Little Brown, Robin Koontz, Joan Gilbert Madsen, Michael Stearns, Upstart Crow Literary, Michele Torrey, Kate Sullivan, Poppy Books, PJ Petersen, Christy Webster, Random House Children's Books, writing conferences

This weekend, May 14--15, I'll be winging my way to Portland, Oregon to teach at the Oregon chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Spring Conference. The title of the conference is "Blast Off to New Horizons". To see who is speaking, I typed in the entire line-up of authors, editors, illustrators, agents, and art directors above--or you can visit the site at www.scbwior.com for a brochure.

My workshops will focus on the writing of picture books. Many people harbor the mistaken notion that because they are short, picture books are easy to write. Actually, because they are short, picture books are a challenging art form--like a miniature painting or a sonnet. There are rules! Learning the rules--and how to be creative within them--is at the heart of writing a successful picture book.

If you are an aspiring children's author, I hope you'll join me, and the rest of our illustrious crew, as you launch your writing career!

Selected Works

Chapter Book
Nora and the Texas Terror
Nora's rowdy cousin from Texas is coming to stay. Is Ellie as bad as Nora remembers?
Picture Book
Carmen Learns English
Spanish-speaking Carmen attends Kindergarten, and teaches her classmates lessons about language and determination.
Cinco de Mouse-O!
Join Mouse on a Mexican Fiesta!
Adventure
The Case of the Purloined Professor
A whirlwind adventure the rats will never forget!
Picture book
Pick a Pumpkin, Mrs. Millie!
TIME magazine Best Children's Books of 2009
Award Winners
ONE IS A FEAST FOR MOUSE
Anne Izard Storytellers' Choice Award 2009
PUPPY POWER
Children's Choices list 2009
Don't Be Silly, Mrs. Millie!
TIME magazine Best Children's Books of 2005
My Family Plays Music
Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award 2004
Weird Stories from the Lonesome Café
Nevada Young Readers Award 2002
Adventure/Mystery
The Tails of Frederick and Ishbu: The Mystery of the Burmese Bandicoot
Can two pet rats save the world? Book One in "The Tails of Frederick and Ishbu" Great read aloud!