Good News About Good Night Engines!

Just got word from HMHCo last week that Good Night Engines, my first picture book, will be re-released as Buenas Noches Motores/Good Night Engines, a bi-lingual board book. It will hit the stands on October 12, 2015, almost 12 years to the day since it first came out. I’m beginning to think this book is becoming “The Little Picture Book That Could” as it chugs up another hill and into bookstores, yet again! I can already think of several little friends who will be getting their very own signed copies for the holidays this year! Can you?

Here's the link for more info:

http://www.hmhco.com/shop/books/buenas-noches-motoresgood-night-engines-bilingual-board-book/9780544578449#

Cece Bell Interviewed on NPR's "All Things Considered"!

I'm pretty sure I've never known anyone who's been interviewed on NPR's "All Things Considered," but today, while driving around town, I almost jumped out of my skin when I heard that Cece Bell, who illustrated Bug Patrol, would be interviewed about her newest, critically acclaimed book, "El Deafo." Click the link to learn more about how she overcame her hearing impairment and became a superhero. And oh, run-don't walk to get yourself a copy of this genius book!


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My Q & A with Blogger Henry Herz

I recently spent some time chatting with Henry Herz over at Feed Your Head. Henry's got a bundle of interviews with other children's book authors that's sure to keep you entertained for hours. Take a peek here to learn more about my writing life!

https://henryherz.wordpress.com/2014/11/26/interview-with-picture-book-author-denise-mortensen/comment-page-1/#comment-2244

Smack Down at the Insect House-How I Battled My Fear of Bugs and Won (sort of)

I might have written a picture book about cute little bugs, but let me tell you how I really feel about them: THEY TERRIFY ME.

My phobic relationship with bugs started when I was just a toddler. We lived in a house with rock walls on both sides of the driveway. Those walls were gigantic bug meccas teeming with hairy, squiggly, writhing little monsters like pill bugs, earwigs, worms, spiders, beetles and ants. These miniature marauders made it their duty to harass and spook me on a daily basis. Once, a shaggy brown spider crawled out from the handlebar on my tricycle while I was riding it down a hill. Another time, a kamikaze beetle crashed into my hair and wouldn’t let go. I’m pretty sure that the earwigs, or clipper bugs, as we called them, had their vector beams trained on me because they were always lurking in my towel or my sheets.

Later on, those bugs on the rock walls provided instant bait for my brothers, who loved to chase me through the house with their wriggling prizes. One of my older brother’s favorite tricks was to de-leg a daddy long-leg spider and chase me with the still-squiggling round ball.

These harrowing early-life encounters with bugs have shaped me into the full-fledged bugaphobe that I am today.

So recently, while visiting New Orleans, the opportunity came up to visit the Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium.  I thought it would be about as much fun as a gum grafting appointment at the periodontist. Why would I pay good money to see a bunch of sinister little beasts?

Then I realized, this might be a good opportunity to confront my bug fear in a controlled environment. They would be behind glass and I could choose which ones to look at. There would be no surprise attacks. It would all be very clinical and clean.

And it was! Except for a heart-stopping encounter with a giant African millipede (imagine the squishing sound if you stomped on one of those-ewww!) looping around a volunteer’s hand, I kept my cool. The visit ended with a stroll through the Butterfly Garden, where I saw exquisite butterflies flitting around the room. The best part was, they were out in the open and they were behaving themselves. To me, this is step one towards making peace with my multi-legged friends AND my fear itself.

So, if you're not the squeamish type, have a look here at some of these amazing little creatures from my visit.  They might be small, but they are Mother Nature’s mighty little masterpieces (and they do make great characters for kids' books!).

Giant African Millipede

White-eyed Assassin Bug

Rare Blue Crawfish

Two-striped Walking Stick

Desert Hairy Scorpion

Walking Leaf

Dragon-headed Katydid (check out those teeth smiling for the camera!)

Lubber grasshopper

Black Widow Spider

Ox Beetle (female)

Ox Beetle (male)

Patent Leather Beetle

Meal Worms

Giant Prickly Stick

Emperor Scorpion

Orange-headed Cockroach

Beautiful Butterfly!

Chrysalises hatching

Hitching a ride!

Relaxing Koi Pond in the Butterfly House-a perfect way to end my visit!

Katy and The Big Snow: Classic Picture Book Review

By Virginia Lee Burton

HMH Books for Young Readers, (1974) $6.99 paperback

Age range: 4-8 years

It’s been snowing here for an eternity. I’m beginning to think I’ll never see the green grass again. Today’s latest snowstorm is the biggest one yet, with more than a foot and a coating of ice expected before it’s over. And while it’s magical to look at while it’s coming down, the thought of shoveling tons of snow makes my muscles quiver. I’d rather have a root canal.

So today, to pay tribute of all of those back-saving, snow-clearing vehicles and machines out there, I thought it would be fun to honor a classic, all-time favorite snow-day picture book in our house: Katy and the Big Snow, by Virginia Lee Burton. I've read it a million times to my kids and all of them, (especially my daughter Katie) loved it. Even if it never snows where you are, I think your kids will love this book too.

The plot goes like this: Katy is a big red bulldozer who repairs the roads of Geopolis during the summer. When a blizzard hits and the town trucks can’t clear the roads, Katy is taken out of storage and turned into a mighty snowplow. With her grit and determination, she saves the day by clearing the blocked roads throughout Geopolis. Ultimately, she saves lives and property and is honored for her hard work.

I love this book because Katy is a strong female character who never gives up in the face of adversity. She won't rest until her job is done. And while she uses her might to clear the streets of Geopolis, she also clears up any stereotypes about what girls can do. 

Burton’s illustrations are captivating. There are detailed maps that follow Katy’s winding course through town. You and your children will want to stop and trace your fingers over her path. 

Your kids will also love how Burton uses repetitive phrases such as, “ ‘Follow me,’ said Katie” that make reading this book fun and predictable.

So if you need a good excuse to delay shoveling (or, if you just want to read an enchanting book to your kids), grab a mug of hot chocolate, a blanket, a copy of Katy and the Big Snow, and cuddle up with your kiddos for one warm, fuzzy read.

Here's a link to some fun activities you might want to do!

http://www.pinterest.com/momof4kids/katy-and-the-big-snow/

Your Morning Giggle: Meet Angie, the Adorable Fetching Cat

In the morning when I write, I'm pretty much at the mercy of my cat, Angie. She dictates when and how much I write by periodically flopping on my lap or laying across my keyboard, essentially destroying what little focus I have. When she's really feeling feisty, she'll drop a pom pom (or in this case, a toy mouse) in my lap, leap to the floor and turn to look at me as if to say "Game ON!" Now really, who could resist a chance to play fetch, indoors, with a CAT? So, here's to you, Angie, for reminding me to write, live (and play) in the moment!

Perfect Picture Book Friday: The Relatives Came

Author: Cynthia Rylant

Illustrator: Stephen Gammell

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc. 1985

Genre: Fiction

Audience: Ages 3 and up

Theme: Family

Opening Sentence: “It was in the summer of the year when the relatives came.”

Synopsis: When the relatives come for a long visit, they bring carloads of food and armloads of hugs. It is a perfect reunion, where everyone eats, sleeps, plays and laughs together, forming deep, lasting bonds.

Of the thousands of books I’ve read to my five kids (over what seemed like a thousand years of bedtime stories) this was one of our all-time favorites. Cynthia Rylant’s words are spare and elegant, yet rich with imagery.  Stephen Gammell’s illustrations are downright hilarious, especially the spread that includes the many family members snoring and sleeping all over each other with the words, “It was different, going to sleep with all that new breathing in the house.” My kids could totally relate. My husband and I both come from insanely large families. Hence, any family gathering in our small house resulted in mass sleepovers, the likes of which are depicted on those two pages. My kids were always quick to point out the quirky resemblances to their own army of relatives. What sweet memories they have of all those nights with all that new breathing in our house.

I hope The Relatives Came brings as many smiles to your family as it did to mine.  Thank you, Cynthia Rylant and Stephen Gammell, for creating such a timeless, tender, perfect picture book.

Classroom Links/Activities:

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/relatives-came-family-read-along

http://www.liveoakmedia.com/client/guides/23240.pdf

For more perfect picture books, check out Susanna Leonard Hill’s fabulous list of recommended books here:

http://susannahill.blogspot.com/p/perfect-picture-books.html