One reason why I add foreign phrases to my picture books is to welcome readers into a new world or mindset, or to acknowledge the mindset they may already share. (It’s easy to forget that millions of U.S. citizens, for…
I just got an email from my niece who works with troubled youth in Pennsylvania. She described trying to help 13 and 14 year olds who are “totally illiterate.” My only challenge in responding was limiting my list of immediate…
Last week, in the wake of two back-to-back bilingual family night talks–each very well attended–I understood something that politicians must know instinctively. Namely, when addressing large audiences of widely divergent backgrounds, it’s necessary to speak in easy-to-digest terms. Not quite…
One day after Thanksgiving, as I resist the urge to fight the crowds of Black Friday and procure an operational DVD player, I feel THANKS for my work encouraging young people to read. Specifically, I feel THANKS for my recent…
This past weekend, I was privileged to speak at the Inland Empire Branch of the International Dyslexia Association. My first step in preparing was to familiarize myself with the basics of dyslexia: a neurologically-based learning disability that can affect word…
Attention jazz fans, lovers of insects and, specifically, musical flies who buzz around in tuxedos. Happy New Year! A hope you’ve had a groovin’ winter break. Start your 2014 in rhythm with this offer from Rafflecopter. A copy of Jazz…