Enjoy the wanderlust, serenity, and camraderie of your animal loves, your treasured friends: old, new, virtual and in between. Hoping to hear good news on all fronts come summer. Safe and happy travels and writing, Joanna. Remember it is beautiful here in summer.

Safe & happy travels!

Have a great summer!

Lovely blog-following peeps, As I do every summer, I shall be taking July and August off from my usual blogging schedule. This is for two reasons: firstly, a break always enables me to return refreshed and re-inspired to blogging, an activity … Continue reading →

While I was visiting my author friend Marcie Colleen in San Diego this April, we popped into Warwick’s Bookstore in La Jolla to support Luciana who was signing books as the illustrator of WHOSE HANDS ARE THESE? by another friend, … Continue reading →

I connected online with Carrie (aka C G Watson) not just because she is another cool YA author, which she is, but because of a sense of simpatico, which I believe is totally transmissible online. It wasn’t just the cute … Continue reading →

One of the goals of my blog is to review and recommend books, artwork and artists from around the globe. I am delighted to have my first Indonesian illustrator on Miss Marple’s Musings today. [JM] Illustrator or author/illustrator? If the latter, … Continue reading →

Title: TAD and DAD Author & Illustrator: David Ezra Stein Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books, 2015 Themes: Father/son relationships, frogs & tadpoles, sleeping Ages: 3-7 Opening: My dad has big, buggy eyes,                                       … Continue reading →

Title: Lily and Dunkin Author: Donna Gephart Publisher: Delacorte Press, May 2016 Ages: 10-14 Themes: Transgender children, manic depression, bipolarity, mental illness, bullying 352 pages Opening: Girl Lily Jo is not my name. Yet. But I am working on that. That’s why I am in the closet. Literally in my mom’s walk-in closet … Continue reading →

Title: Trapped, A Whale’s Rescue Author: Robert Burleigh Illustrator: Wendell Minor Publisher: Charlesbridge, 2015 Ages: 4-8 Themes: endangered species, fishing nets, conservation, marine life, humpback whales, animal rescue, California Opening: The huge humpback whale dips and dives. Her sleek black sides shimmering, she spy hops, lob tails, flashes her flukes. Synopsis: In the icy waters near … Continue reading →

I have many author and illustrator friends on social media, in the thousands, but some stand out not only for their artistic skill but for their character. Kevan is not only an artist with a deep connection and understanding of … Continue reading →

Title: Gator Dad Author & Illustrator: Brian Lies Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, May 2016 Themes: Father/child relationships, alligators Ages: 3-5 Opening: Come on—let’s go.                                                   … Continue reading →

I am so very happy to welcome back Sylvia Liu onto Miss Marple’s Musings as part of the blog tour for her debut picture book, A MORNING WITH GRANDPA. This manuscript won the 2013 Lee and Low New Voices Award … Continue reading →

Title: National Geographic Kids National Park Guides U.S.A Written by: Sarah Wassener Flynn and Julie Beer Published by: National Geographic Kids, 2016 Themes: national parks in the USA, sights, activities, trips, conservation Ages: 7- adult Opening: In the last hundred years, life in the Unites States has changed a lot, … Continue reading →

Title: I Am J Written by: Cris Beam Published by: Little Brown, 2011 Themes/Topics: Diversity, LGBTQIA, transgender teens, coming of age, New York, cutting, friendship, emotional problems Suitable for ages: 14+ Opening: J could smell the hostility, the pretense, the utter fake-ness of it all before they even climbed the … Continue reading →

I had another book scheduled for today, but as I am staying with one of my writing buddies and she introduced me to a delightful biography of a tree-loving woman here in San Diego, I couldn’t pass up the chance … Continue reading →

I have been interviewing members of our kid lit community for about four years now, chalking up well over a hundred interviews, and I never tire of them. It has given me a wonderful opportunity to connect with people I … Continue reading →

Title: The Knowing Book Author: Rebecca Kai Dotlich Illustrator: Matthew Cordell Publisher: Boyds Mills Press, 2016 Themes: Enjoying the journey, discovery, what we can know, what we don’t know Ages: 7-11 Opening: Before you forget …look up. Synopsis: Inspiring and wise, this story begins and ends with the sky that is always above you. In … Continue reading →

  April is National Poetry month so to spice up my interviews I decided to talk to internationally renowned poet and anthologist, Lee Bennett Hopkins.  In 1989 he received the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion for “outstanding contributions to the field of children’s … Continue reading →

Title: Little Bitty Friends Author: Elizabeth McPike Illustrator: Patrice Barton Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for YOung Readers, February, 2016 Themes: spring, small animals, rhyme Ages: 0-2 Genre: concept picture book Opening: (first two spreads) Little bitty steps marching one, two, three, Little furry caterpillar, tickle, tickle, knee. Synopsis: Sharing strawberries with a wee mouse, stretching up skyward … Continue reading →

The first SKIPPYJON JONES was published in 2001, the year I became a  children’s librarian. I credit this cheeky kitty and its creator, at least in part, with me falling in love again with children’s literature and becoming a writer. … Continue reading →

Title: A Dog Wearing Shoes Author & Illustrator: Sangmi Ko Publisher: Schwarz & Wade Books, New York, 2015 Themes: empathy, loss, grief, dog adoption Ages: 3-7 Opening: One day, mimi was on her way home from grandpa and grandma when suddenly… Synopsis: Mini and her mom spot a stray dog in the road … Continue reading →

Title: Dumplin’, Go Big or Go Home Written by: Julie Murphy Published by: Balzer & Bray, 2015 Ages: 12+ Themes: Overweight people, bullying, self acceptance, beauty pageants, diversity, friendship, high school dating, Texas Opening: All the best things in my life have started with a Dolly … Continue reading →

Title: The Thing About Yetis Author & Illustrator: Vin Vogel Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2015 Themes: winter, yetis, summer Ages: 3-5 Opening: The thing about yetis is that yetis love winter Synopsis: Everyone knows yetis love winter. They love snowball fights and hot chocolate and sledding. But even yetis … Continue reading →

I have know Santi for a while online through our wonderful 12×12 community and I was very fortunate to meet him finally at the fabulous 12×12 5th anniversary party in New York last month. We bonded over literary cocktails, as … Continue reading →