Newsletter

Happy Groundhog Day!

23-Jan-2008

Groundhog Day is only two weeks away. It's my husband's favorite holiday. "No presents to buy, no cards to send, no decorations to hang, no special foods to prepare," he says. Actually, we both like Groundhog Day because it means we're in the home stretch to spring.

I wrote my picture book "Go to Sleep, Groundhog!" while teaching Kindergarten. Every year at the end of January, I'd have my class predict whether the groundhog would see his shadow or not. Each child wrote their name on a paper sun or cloud and stuck it in the appropriate column on a chart. Then we used the chart for all sorts of math activities--comparisons, simple arithmetic problems--things like that. It was great fun, and I wanted a story to go with it. At that time, there weren't many groundhog books. Now however there are so many choices! Groundhog Day is hip!

I now have a page up on www.goodreads.com a networking site for people who love books. You can see what I'm reading and my reviews, and comment or add your own page. It looks like a fun site for bibliophiles.

Best,
Judy

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!