Check out my interview on Julia Rothman's very awesome book site!
Many thanks to Julia for the great interview!
Friday, April 2, 2010
Interview on Book By Its Cover
Check out my interview on Julia Rothman's very awesome book site!
Many thanks to Julia for the great interview!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Library Love
The Secret Plan was lucky to have received a couple of really lovely reviews online. The library was one of my particular favorite places to be as a kid, so I get rather excited when librarians welcome and enjoy The Secret Plan!
Jennifer, the librarian of the Jean Little Library wrote:
"Just when I thought we couldn't possibly use any more bedtime stories....I discover a new one. One which we must, must, must have!
...This isn't just a soothing bedtime story, it's a story about the magical days of childhood, when just five more minutes is never enough and the simplest things are exciting and wonderful."
One by Tasha Saecker of the Menasha Public Library in Menasha, WI.
"...This is such a winning book. The four main characters are real scamps and their plans and the outcomes are deliciously naughty and very funny. I especially appreciated Milo blending in with the wallpaper by painting stripes on himself. Their disguise is equally funny with all of them working together. But it is the ending of the book that really makes it work. Instead of getting into any trouble in their late night escapade, they have a quiet time with books and a tea party in the attic. There is no parental outrage, no repercussions, just the immense pleasure of a late night with friends.
Sarcone-Roach’s art works very well here. Done in acrylic paint, the illustrations are rich, vivid and engaging. A lot of the humor here is visual, though the wry tone of voice of the text offers some of the laughs. The house that the animals share is wonderfully tippy and upright, filled with stairs. A great book to share for a bedtime story or a special late night read."
(You can read the whole review here.)
Thank you all for taking the time to read, review, (and like!) The Secret Plan.
Jennifer, the librarian of the Jean Little Library wrote:
"Just when I thought we couldn't possibly use any more bedtime stories....I discover a new one. One which we must, must, must have!
...This isn't just a soothing bedtime story, it's a story about the magical days of childhood, when just five more minutes is never enough and the simplest things are exciting and wonderful."
One by Tasha Saecker of the Menasha Public Library in Menasha, WI.
"...This is such a winning book. The four main characters are real scamps and their plans and the outcomes are deliciously naughty and very funny. I especially appreciated Milo blending in with the wallpaper by painting stripes on himself. Their disguise is equally funny with all of them working together. But it is the ending of the book that really makes it work. Instead of getting into any trouble in their late night escapade, they have a quiet time with books and a tea party in the attic. There is no parental outrage, no repercussions, just the immense pleasure of a late night with friends.
Sarcone-Roach’s art works very well here. Done in acrylic paint, the illustrations are rich, vivid and engaging. A lot of the humor here is visual, though the wry tone of voice of the text offers some of the laughs. The house that the animals share is wonderfully tippy and upright, filled with stairs. A great book to share for a bedtime story or a special late night read."
(You can read the whole review here.)
Thank you all for taking the time to read, review, (and like!) The Secret Plan.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
2010 UBIE Award!
Wow! The Secret Plan is the Favorite Picture Book of the Year at the University of Washington Bookstore! It's in excellent company - check out the adorable stuffed critters looming over their favorite novel of the year (and Newbery Award Winner) - Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me.
Thank you, University of Washington!
GO HUSKIES!!
Thank you, University of Washington!
GO HUSKIES!!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Booklist Review
"Harriet, Hildy, Henry, and Milo, three kittens and a baby elephant, want nothing more than to play uninterrupted. But various nuisances continue to sidetrack them. The biggest offender is bedtime, so the friends devise a secret plan to avoid it, which doesn’t quite work out as expected but is satisfying nonetheless. This is an enjoyable, inventive offering that incorporates single- and double-page spreads focused on the activity of the four friends, as well as comic-style acryllic illustrations that include crosssections of a townhouse that allow for multiple scenes to play out at the same time. In addition, speech bubbles that indicate parents calling for the young characters literally break into the text—and, consequently, the fun—and there is a certain conspiratorial amusement as the reader or listener is allowed in on the secret plan, as long as they “don’t tell.” Charming and genuinely funny, this will appeal to a wide audience."
- Booklist
- Booklist
Monday, November 23, 2009
Pink Me
A super cool review by Paula Willey of Pink Me:
"Milo the little elephant has great things going on with the kids next door, three kittens named Henry, Hildy, and Harriet. They make tin-can telephones. They build a house of cards, they play forts, and they dig for treasure. But JUST when they're about to uncover the chest full of loot, something intervenes. Something parental. Curses! Just when things are getting good, it's always lunch, or dinner, or even worse - BEDTIME.
They try everything to get around it. But hiding and sneaking aren't enough. They have to come up with a special secret plan. A plan that involves the fuzzy green monster feet from Milo's Halloween costume, and the cozy attic way upstairs.
This plot is VERY appealing to little kids. It has enough tension to keep them on the edge of their seats, but no actual consequences, as befitting a picture book. The details are adorable. The illustrations slyly extend the text, adding extra humor.
The design, especially the text layout, conspires with the other elements to give us tiptoeing, frustration, and being startled. It's almost concrete poetry.
The art, in its swishiness, somehow reminds me of Good Night, Gorilla
. The sweetness, and the bedtime-circumvention plot, is like that too. And when I compare a book to Good Night, Gorilla, that is some of the highest praise I know."
That's so cool! Goodnight Gorilla is one of my favorite books! Thank you Paula! And the lovely text layout and book design of The Secret Plan are due to the talented Melissa Nelson.
"Milo the little elephant has great things going on with the kids next door, three kittens named Henry, Hildy, and Harriet. They make tin-can telephones. They build a house of cards, they play forts, and they dig for treasure. But JUST when they're about to uncover the chest full of loot, something intervenes. Something parental. Curses! Just when things are getting good, it's always lunch, or dinner, or even worse - BEDTIME.
They try everything to get around it. But hiding and sneaking aren't enough. They have to come up with a special secret plan. A plan that involves the fuzzy green monster feet from Milo's Halloween costume, and the cozy attic way upstairs.
This plot is VERY appealing to little kids. It has enough tension to keep them on the edge of their seats, but no actual consequences, as befitting a picture book. The details are adorable. The illustrations slyly extend the text, adding extra humor.
The design, especially the text layout, conspires with the other elements to give us tiptoeing, frustration, and being startled. It's almost concrete poetry.
The art, in its swishiness, somehow reminds me of Good Night, Gorilla
. The sweetness, and the bedtime-circumvention plot, is like that too. And when I compare a book to Good Night, Gorilla, that is some of the highest praise I know."That's so cool! Goodnight Gorilla is one of my favorite books! Thank you Paula! And the lovely text layout and book design of The Secret Plan are due to the talented Melissa Nelson.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Nice Things
Strollerderby recommends the Secret Plan!
It also received a really nice mention by Jane of Bear Pond Books in Montpelier, Vermont!
It also received a really nice mention by Jane of Bear Pond Books in Montpelier, Vermont!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Book Launched!
Thanks to everyone who came to Hooray For Books for the launch party for The Secret Plan!
It was a great turn out and a lot of fun. I think the reading, drawing, signing, (and the cookies) went over well and a good time was had by all! Thanks to everyone who came from far and wide to celebrate the book with me. It was really wonderful to see some familiar faces.
Thanks to Trish Brown and everyone at Hooray For Books for a great event and to Mitchell Schneider and Adam Kesner for the excellent photography. And extra special thanks to my mom who threw a spectacular party!
Awesome elephant and cat cookies hot off the radiator from Mother's Macaroons!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Kiwi Magazine Recommends The Secret Plan
"Milo and Henry have devised the perfect plan to avoid going to bed. It’s fool proof! Well, it’s fool proof until they actually get so tired that they want to go to bed. The illustrations are delightfully playful, invigorating the text. Let’s hope the kids don’t get any ideas from this one!" - Kiwi Magazine
They're on to me! My devious bedtime overthrowing agenda is exposed!
Just kidding... Thank you Kiwi!
Monday, November 9, 2009
The Secret Plan Launch Party!
Come celebrate the launch of The Secret Plan this Saturday at 11:30 am at Hooray For Books in Alexandria, Virginia. I'll be reading, signing copies and there will be some party snacks!
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