June 1, 2010
Hooray for summer! I know it’s not officially here yet, but today looks gloriously bright and feels deliciously warm. I’m ready for sunshine and adventure!
My most exciting news is the arrival of Waiting Out the Storm, my new rhyming picture book, illustrated by Susan Gaber and published by Candlewick Press. In a starred review, Booklist called it “lovely to look at and pleasing to listen to . . . just right for reading aloud on a rainy day.” Kirkus called it “a poetic portrait of a young girl and her mother coming in from the rain.” The Washington Post said, “The graceful rhythm of these rhyming lines aptly mimics the steady patter of rain on the roof, and Susan Gaber's textured acrylic illustrations evoke the roiling movement of the clouds, the supple motion of branches bending to the wind, and the pungent smell of rain-soaked earth.” I’m thrilled with the responses to this book, and I hope you enjoy it, too!
I’ve had a busy spring of school visits and other speaking events. Here’s where I’ve been:
• Canterbury Elementary School, Greendale, Wisconsin
• Highland View Elementary School, Greendale, Wisconsin
• College Park Elementary School, Greendale, Wisconsin
• Illinois Reading Council (with my TeachingAuthors.com co-bloggers), Springfield, Illinois
• Pine River Elementary School, Merrill, Wisconsin
• Jefferson Elementary School, Merrill, Wisconsin
• Kate Goodrich Elementary School, Merrill, Wisconsin
• Books & Company (Wisconsin Children’s Author Event), Oconomowoc, WI
• Marshall Early Learning Center, Marshall, Wisconsin
• Winneconne Elementary School, Winneconne, Wisconsin
• South Milwaukee Public Library (Children's Book Week Celebration), South Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Hello and huge thanks to everyone who organized these events, ensured that they ran smoothly, and made them so much fun! I had a wonderful time!
Here’s where I’ll be this summer:
• June 14-18: "The Building Blocks of Children's Literature" course, Write by the Lake Writer's Workshop and Retreat, Madison, Wisconsin
• June 19: Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books, Waukesha, Wisconsin
• August 6: Children's Literacy Festival, Concordia College, Mequon, Wisconsin
Other events are still in the planning stages. Watch my web site (www.joannmacken.com) for more announcements.
Over the summer, I’ll be working on a manuscript version of Write a Poem Step by Step, the poetry writing workshop I present in schools. I’m excited about adding new poems written by students in this year’s workshops, and I'm glad to see this idea taking shape in print! I’m also hoping to fit in some camping and a few canoe trips between summer classes. The garden is calling me! Enjoy your summer!
Best wishes,
JoAnn
P.S. I’m planning fall author visits now. Mention this newsletter when you schedule an event, and I’ll bring along a copy of Waiting Out the Storm to autograph for you!
