All News

California Book Talks in September 2026

Posted: September 10, 2026 at 7:21 PM in All News Children's Books
It’s back to school for many and back to the San Francisco Bay Area for me in September! If you are in the area, please join me for STONE BY STONE reading, signing and Q&A: - Wednesday, September 16, 4 pm. Copperfield's Books. Petaluma - Saturday, September 19, 5 pm. Books, Inc. Laurel Village. San … [Read More]

Stone by Stone in August 2026

Posted: August 20, 2026 at 2:39 PM in All News Children's Books
It’s been a busy month with the release of STONE BY STONE: book talks, rock activities, and lots of articles and reviews featuring STONE BY STONE. Here are just a few: The Heart of a Story Starts with a Spark What Did You Discover This Summer? Unlock the Secret Story Hidden Inside Every Rock Drawing … [Read More]

Celebrate Earth Day Everyday

Posted: April 22, 2026 at 3:17 PM in All News
Reading a book outside—under a tree or by a stream—is a great way to celebrate the Earth. If you’re looking for your next read, checkout the 2026 Green Earth Book Award Long List. Also this month we celebrate poetry with NCTE’s 2026 Notable Children’s Poetry Books. Note the books that celebrate the Earth in poetic … [Read More]

The Blue Jays that Grew a Forest

Posted: September 5, 2025 at 12:06 PM in All News Children's Books
THE BLUE JAYS THAT GREW A FOREST invites you to take a closer look at the bird world all around you with author Lynn Street’s lyrical language and eye-opening observations. Blue jays’ hunger for acorns helps oak trees scatter their seeds, making it possible for forests to flourish. But wait, it’s not just observations; Street … [Read More]

Books Travel the World

Posted: July 14, 2025 at 3:03 PM in All News Children's Books
Joan Schoettler’s BOOKS TRAVEL THE WORLD celebrates librarians, books, and the kids who benefit from both! Around the world——no matter the obstacles——librarians make sure we can all access the books we need. “Book lovers cross seas. They trek up narrow trails, down steep, rocky paths, over swift rivers, and through dark forests. They journey by … [Read More]

The Fire of Stars

Posted: September 5, 2024 at 3:26 PM in All News
Early fall is a great time to get outdoors at night and enjoy star gazing. The big dipper has shown brightly the past few weeks. We also enjoyed a super blue moon for several nights in August. THE FIRE OF STARS: THE LIFE AND BRILLIANCE OF THE WOMAN WHO DISCOVERED WHAT STARS ARE MADE OF … [Read More]

New Picture Book!

Posted: April 17, 2024 at 9:31 PM in All News
Della Farrell at Holiday House has acquired world rights to Stone by Stone: A Rock’s Journey Through Time by Melissa Koch, illustrated by Victoria Tentler-Krylov. This nonfiction picture book takes readers on a journey through the world’s stone structures, revealing their geological and sociological significance. Publication is set for spring 2026; Laurel Symonds while at … [Read More]

Body Image

Posted: April 15, 2024 at 11:10 AM in All News
While I’m usually thinking of bodies of water or landscapes, the last eight months I’ve been thinking, talking, and teaching about our own body images. In other words, how we view our human bodies. As we grow and age, our bodies change. Some changes we welcome, others we resist. At the same time, we are … [Read More]

Water Poetry

Posted: July 25, 2023 at 4:34 PM in All News
    Long, hot summer days spent splashing in the sprinkler, drinking icy lemonade and taking a dip in the swimming pool. Water. My favorite part of summer. I love how water feels cool and refreshing as it slides down your throat or on your skin when you dive deep, emerge, and then let the … [Read More]

Outside In

Posted: April 12, 2023 at 9:53 PM in All News
Spring is a time we go outside to enjoy nature: it’s not too hot nor too cold no matter where we live. And there’s a lot going on in the spring too: new flowers budding, birds singing, and all sorts of animals awakening.  It’s a great time to reconnect with the outside that’s been waiting … [Read More]