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Autism Speaks School Tool

Helping a Child on the Autism Spectrum Transition to a New School

March 30, 2021 No Comments

“Helping a Child on the Autism Spectrum Transition to a New School” originally appeared at freespiritpublishingblog.com. Copyright © 2020 by Free Spirit Publishing. All rights reserved. Summer is over—as a parent, you can breathe a sigh of relief. No more hearing “I’m bored!” every day. But if you’re a parent of a child on the autism spectrum, that sigh of relief is often accompanied by a feeling of “What will go wrong?” Even when you’re proud and excited, you also feel worried, protective, and sad. Recently, Tonya* (names have been changed throughout to protect privacy), a mother of a son with autism, said to Dr. Elizabeth Reeve: “Just when I

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Octopus by Brian Biggs

Meet Biker and Book Illustrator Brian Biggs

March 28, 2021 No Comments

Here’s the scoop on Brian Biggs, an artist, a children’s book illustrator, and an avid biker. He illustrated my picture book Bike & Trike. He’s a colorful character, like the ones he draws. I loved interviewing him and learning more about his rides and creative side. How many miles did you bike last year? I rode 2,650 miles on my bikes in 2020. Which is about average for me, since 2014. I broke my ankle on December 12, 2020, while riding and didn’t ride again until March 2021, so it could have been more! What was your favorite bike when you were a kid? And now? My favorite bike as

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grandmother Glenda Greve, 1944

Why I Write

March 16, 2021 2 Comments

My friend and colleague asked me a simple question: Why do you write? I paused—for a lonnnnng time. The easy answer was, “It’s my job. Also, writing makes me happy.” But that only touched the surface. Sometimes, writing makes me very unhappy because I can’t seem to put into words—the right words—what I’m really trying to say. Writing helps me feel a mix of joy, frustration, anger, delight, sadness, and gratitude. Underneath all that, writing fuels a sense of connection. My maternal grandmother was a published poet. Not a famous one but a dedicated one. I never got to know her as well as I would have liked because she

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The Small Walt Trucks

A Trio of Trucks

January 7, 2021 No Comments

One of the best moments as a children’s book author is seeing the illustrations created by an artist who has taken your words and made them into something much bigger. When that happened for my story Small Walt, I was surprised and delighted to see Walt and his world come to life on the page (by illustrator Marc Rosenthal). Finally, my story seemed “real.” Then came other fun surprises: a trio of three-dimensional versions of Walt and his crew, thanks to a talented builder, Scott Gerry. Small Walt has grown into three books—and Scott has now built three characters from scratch in his Minneapolis garage. I wanted to write about

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poster - the art of Small Walt

A Conversation Between Author Elizabeth Verdick & Illustrator Marc Rosenthal

December 21, 2020 No Comments

As a picture book author, I get a little bit of an insider’s view of how children’s books are put together—but just a peek. Authors and illustrators work separately, with the publisher, editor, and designer as the go-between. So, for all these years of working with Marc, I’ve never actually had the pleasure of meeting him in person. I thought it would be fun to interview him about his work as an artist. I wanted that insider’s view so I could share it with you. Elizabeth: I’ve always wondered what your studio looked like. Can you describe it? Marc: My studio is on the third floor of our house in

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Stress Can Really Get on Your Nerves

You Write Books with … Messages?

December 20, 2020 No Comments

“You Write Books with … Messages?” originally appeared in Bookology Magazine. Copyright © 2020 by Winding Oak LLC. All rights reserved. Yes. Yes I do. Sure, I know there’s a whole school of thought that says “sharing a message” in a children’s book is something to avoid. That children will learn more, feel more, by reading books—stories—that evoke an emotional response and increase empathy through strong characterization and vivid language. Yes. Yes that’s true. But.… Sometimes children, and the adults raising and teaching them, need straightforward tools that address social and emotional challenges and milestones. Nonfiction books can fit that purpose. Especially if they’re created with certain age groups in mind. Let’s

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Worries Are Not Forever

Worries Are Not Forever: How to Recognize and Soothe Anxiety in Young Children

December 13, 2020 No Comments

“Worries Are Not Forever: How to Recognize and Soothe Anxiety in Young Children” originally appeared at freespiritpublishingblog.com. Copyright © 2020 by Free Spirit Publishing. All rights reserved. When I tell parents and teachers the title of my new children’s book, Worries Are Not Forever, they often say something like, “I need that immediately” or “Do you have one for adults too?” They laugh a little when they say that, but the underlying meaning is clear: We’re experiencing greater stress in our society, and this stress affects children of all ages—and their families. The Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics notes that anxiety is rising among America’s young people. The study

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Too Much Whining While Waiting

Too Much Whining While Waiting? Tips to Foster Patience in Children

December 6, 2020 No Comments

“Too Much Whining While Waiting? Tips to Foster Patience in Children” originally appeared at freespiritpublishingblog.com. Copyright © 2020 by Free Spirit Publishing. All rights reserved. Do you know Veruca Salt? She’s the spoiled, impatient young girl from Roald Dahl’s children’s book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which was made into the classic Willy Wonka movie. Veruca is terribly demanding: “Hey, Mummy! . . . I’ve decided I want a squirrel. Get me one of those squirrels!” In the movie, she sings, “Don’t care how—I want it nowwwww!” If Veruca is denied, she shouts, stomps, and complains. The words delayed gratification aren’t in her vocabulary. Waiting and being patient are learned

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Washing hands

This Is the Way We Wash Our Hands …

November 29, 2020 No Comments

“This Is the Way We Wash Our Hands …” originally appeared at freespiritpublishingblog.com. Copyright © 2020 by Free Spirit Publishing. All rights reserved. Jimmy Fallon’s new song is helping Americans tune in to the importance of fighting viruses: “Wash your hands, wash your hands, do not touch your face.” He strums his guitar, crooning that if we follow these guidelines, “Then the world would be a better place.” He wrote the song for his young daughters and shared it with millions of followers, hoping that through humor a serious message will spread. Fallon isn’t the only celebrity getting the word out about handwashing. A Gloria Gaynor TikTok focuses on the

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Peep Leap

Skinny Dip with Elizabeth Verdick

November 22, 2020 No Comments

“Skinny Dip with Elizabeth Verdick” originally appeared in Bookology Magazine. Copyright © 2020 by Winding Oak LLC. All rights reserved. Q. What keeps you up at night? A. Reading much, much too late! Q. What is your proudest career moment? A. In 2005 I won the Henry Bergh Award, which honors books that recognize the need to treat animals with kindness and caring (for my book Tails Are Not for Pulling). I got to stand on a stage in New Orleans with Norman Bridwell, author/illustrator of the Clifford books. I couldn’t believe I was in the same room with him. Plus, he was just as nice as I’d imagined he’d be.

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