PreS-Gr 2—In her author's note, Lambert describes how closely this story parallels the experience of her own adopted daughters. She was inspired to write it after overhearing how baffled they were by a stranger asking if they were "real sisters." Tadgell's lively watercolors depict Tayja, an African American girl of about seven, and Mia, a white preschooler with curly dark hair, who laugh at the absurdity of such a question. As they play, they imagine themselves as hiking princesses climbing up and down mountains, but when Mia says, "Let's pretend we are sisters," Tayja says, "No, Mia, we don't have to pretend that. We are sisters. Real sisters." Mia happily recalls how Tayja welcomed her to the family and shared her stuffed lion. They both relive how the judge let them bang his gavel when Mia's adoption was finalized, and concluded that they understood about adoption. Their happy faces and whimsical game of make-believe will engage young readers, and children who live in families touched by adoption will likely find the underlying message positive and affirming. Revealed in the last few pages is yet another way this family could be considered different—there are two mothers. Momma's reaction to the woman in the grocery store who asks if they are "real" sisters is a simple, direct statement: "Of course they are!" The girls are secure in their knowledge that they are part of a real, loving family with both Momma and Mommy. VERDICT This is an appealing story, recommended for general purchase, especially where Patricia Polacco's In Our Mother's House and Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell's And Tango Makes Three are popular.—Deborah Vose, Highlands Elementary School, Braintree, MA

I'll be at the Barnes & Noble Saturday June 18th for a Bookfair & Fundraiser!

• Saturday, June 18 from 10 a.m.–12 p.m. Author/Illustrator Book Signings
AC Gaughen, Stacy DeKeyser, Karen Day, Donna Mae, MarcyKate Connolly,
Sharron Kahn Luttrell, Kim Harrington and Anna Staniszewski

• Saturday, June 18 from 12-1 p.m. Story Time/Craft with Picture Book author
Donna Mae, author of The Wooly Adventures of Purl and Marshmallows Galore

• Saturday, June 18 from 1 p.m.–3 p.m. Author/Illustrator Book Signings
Josh Funk, Melissa Stewart, Jane Kohuth, Nicole Tadgell, Heather Lang, Frank
Dormer, Jean Taft and Susan Lynn Meyer

http://www.odysseybks.com/event/megan-dowd-lambert-nicole-tadgell-real-sisters-pretend

Megan Dowd Lambert & Nicole Tadgell, Real Sisters Pretend

Event: Megan Dowd Lambert & Nicole Tadgell, Real Sisters Pretend
When: Saturday, May 28, 11:00 am
Where: The Odyssey Bookshop

The Odyssey Bookshop is thrilled to welcome local author Megan Dowd Lambert and illustrator Nicole Tadgell back to the store for their new picturebook, Real Sisters Pretend. This warm, engaging story, which unfolds entirely through the conversation of two adopted sisters, was inspired by the author’s own daughters, whom she overheard talking about how adoption made them “real sisters” even though they have different birth parents and do not look alike. Event attendees will enjoy snacks and a storytime and are encouraged to add drawings of their own families on a mural to be displayed at the Odyssey. 

Special thanks to my friend Terry Farish for posting this lovely piece:

http://www.terryfarish.com/blog

Getting reviewed is awesome, and good reviews are even better!

‘First Peas to the Table’ named Foundation for Agriculture’s Book of the Year!  by the American Farm Bureau.

Jan. 10, 2016 - The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture presented its ninth annual Book of the Year award to Susan Grigsby for "First Peas to the Table." In this lighthearted story, a little girl, Maya, and her classmates learn about gardens and peas, as well as Thomas Jefferson's garden at Monticello.

Grigsby, who lives in St. Louis, Missouri, is the author of three picture books, as well as poetry. She teaches creative writing in schools, museums and nature centers, often integrating the lessons with science, social studies and art.

"I am so happy that, thanks to this recognition from the American Farm Bureau Foundation For Agriculture, more children will have access to 'First Peas to the Table,'" said Grigsby. "I sometimes help students set up their own school gardens and am always inspired by the sense of wonder that develops as the children discover the infinite number of variables involved in turning one tiny seed into a plant that can feed a family."

"After reading the agricultural-related correspondence and journals of Thomas Jefferson, I was struck by the passion that he and others had in regards to experimenting to figure out which plants, previously grown on other continents, would grow best in each of the diverse environments spread across the country," she continued. "I wrote the book to celebrate how every gardener, young and old, learns through experimentation, through failures and success and with a joy for the wonders of nature."

The Book of the Year award springs from the Foundation's effort to identify accurate ag books, a collection of nearly 500 books for children, teenagers and adults that accurately cover agricultural topics. Book of the Year selections are educational, help to create positive public perceptions about agriculture, inspire readers to learn more and touch their readers' lives, as well as tell the farmer's story. The accurate ag books database is available at: http://www.agfoundation.org/recommended-pubs.

To accompany the "First Peas to the Table" book, the Foundation has created an educator's guide and a School Garden Ag Mag. Again this year, the Foundation is offering a Spanish text version of the Ag Mag.
In honor of  Grigsby's recognition and the host city of the American Farm Bureau Federation's 97th Annual Convention, the book's publisher, Albert Whitman, has generously donated 100 copies of "First Peas to the Table" to the Orange County library system. In addition, the Foundation is donating $1,000 to the library system.

 

It's November! Happy book birthday to my newest picture book:
My Cancer Days by Courtney Filigenzi
Published by the American Cancer Society. ISBN 978-1604430912

Helping children with cancer cope with their illness, this illustrated book approaches their emotions from diagnosis through treatment in a way that they can easily understand and can help describe what they are feeling. In the story, a young girl uses color to express her full range of emotions as she undergoes cancer treatment. Some days she's sad, some days she's happy, and other days she's scared or angry. The girl comes to realize that these ups and downs are perfectly normal for her situation. The book assures children with cancer that they are not alone, and helps them understand that it's okay to let out their feelings.

There's a beautiful interview of the author by Stacy Simon on the American Cancer society's website  here, and a video as well here.

This book was an amazing experience for me. Special thanks go to Danielle Perron and David Hagan of Why Me, for taking the time to talk with me and let me be involved in experiencing the lives of children and families in cancer treatment.

Dr. Naheed Usmani and the graduate students of UMass Memorial, and Child Life services were also very helpful. I can only hope my small part provides a bit of help and understanding for kids, friends and families.

The most wonderful thing I experienced was how overwhelmingly positive the kids were. Kids are amazing. They have the ability to develop acceptance quickly, and they live with such grace and joy.

I also made some coloring pages! Click here!

Neviyah was the perfect model!

A visit to the New England Aquarium was excellent inspiration!

I used a limited color palette for each of her "days". This day is blue.

I felt that keeping the watercolor especially loose worked well. I love how the light from the balloon tints her face and hands.

Rough pencil sketch for a wraparound cover.

Sisters

Inspirational Photo for Sisters art

Here are some downloadable coloring pages for kids (and grownups, too!)

Coming up soon - A Visit to the Susan B. Anthony House in Rochester, NY.
Sunday, April 26 2-4pm.

https://susanbanthonyhouse.org/blog/anthony-museum-to-host-illustrator-nicole-tadgell/

On Saturday, March 14, I was at the beautiful Pequot Library in CT!

Today I'll be in Southport, CT at the Pequot Library! It's going to be quite an awesome day, they have so may great things - even Irish Step Dancers! http://pequotlibrary.org/

I'll be at the Pequot Library in CT, from 2-3:30! Looking forward to sharing Friends for Freedom!

http://www.pequotlibrary.org/index.php/children/children-upcoming-events

African-American Interest Young Readers Titles, 2014–2015

Nichole...Nicole...Nickie...Nicky...Nikki?

The spelling of my name–- both my given name and nickname – has been shaped over my lifetime, much to my amusement.

Apparently I've taken liberties with the spelling of my own name since the beginning. "Nichole" was written on the birth certificate by the nurse, who thought of course Nicole had an H. My mother passionately disagreed, and worked for 10 years to have this corrected.

I came across old letters such as this one while working on preserving old family items by scanning. Clearly shows Dad spelled my name this way.