Newsletter

January Doldrums?

18-Jan-2009

Greetings and Salutations!

Do you have the January doldrums, too?

This is the time of the year that I like the least. All of the excitement of December is over--the colors, lights, music, fragrances, and tastes. In my part of the country, we are suffering through a temperature inversion, caused by a cold layer of air trapped beneath a warm layer. That means it is cold and gray where I live, but sunny and warmer in the mountains. It can stay gray for weeks, without a single sun break. And to top it off, we've had days of freezing fog so I can't get outside! Brrrr! If I were a bear, I'd spend this month hibernating.

I've found the best way to fight the winter doldrums is to learn something new. I've taken up knitting on a round knitting loom. I hope none of my relatives are reading this as they can all expect to get hats for Christmas next year. This type of knitting is fun because I've actually been able to finish projects. I've never had any luck with yarn before. I can't knit, and although I know how to crochet a granny square, I still haven't finished the afghan I started 35 years ago! The loom allows me to play with the bright colors of the yarn, and still finish something useful in under a week.

I've been hard at work on the revisions for the second book in the Tales of Frederick and Ishbu, "THE CASE OF THE PURLOINED PROFESSOR". I've seen the cover art and it is amazing.

"PUPPY POWER" is now available in paperback from Holiday House. Look for it in your favorite bookstore!

Stay warm, eat right, and learn something new!

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!