hotTEAs of Children’s Literature: Ethan Long

December 17, 2015September 25, 2017 ~ jama ~ 11 Comments

Ethan Long is an internationally recognized children’s book author with over 70 titles to his credit, including the Geisel Award-winning Up, Tall and High, Chamelia and the New Kid in Class, and Tickle the Duck! He is also the creator of Tasty Time with Zefronk, which currently airs worldwide on the Disney Channel. Ethan lives in Orlando, Florida, with his wife and three children.

☕ CUPPA OF CHOICE: Tea is good. Coffee is ok if you put cream and sugar in it. But hot chocolate made from scratch…mmm. One heaping tablespoon of Hershey’s Cacao Special Dark and one and a half tablespoons of sugar, and of course, hot, hot water or milk.

☕ HOT OFF THE PRESSES: Fright Club (Bloomsbury, August 2015), Ms. Spell (Holiday House, July 2015); In, Over and On the Farm (Putnam’s, August 2015), and Good Night! (Abrams Appleseed, September 2015). Forthcoming: Thank You! (Abrams Appleseed, January 2016), Lion & Tiger & Bear: Tag! You’re It! (Abrams, March 2016).

☕ FAVE FOODIE CHILDREN’S BOOK: Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola (Prentice Hall, 1975).

☕ Visit Ethan Long’s Official Website

☕☕ JUST ONE MORE SIP: Book Trailers for In, Over and On the Farm + Ms. Spell!

☕ ☕ ☕ CAN’T GET ENOUGH: Watch an episode of Tasty Time with ZeFronk — Ze Pancakes!

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hotTEAs of Children’s Literature: Elisha Cooper

December 10, 2015September 25, 2017 ~ jama ~ 14 Comments

I write and illustrate children’s books, and other books. I live in Greenwich Village with my family, though I spend a lot of time in Brooklyn, writing in cafes and drinking too much coffee. (Pictured here with my espresso machine and our lazy barista.)

☕ CUPPA OF CHOICE: Stumptown, Hair Bender beans. My morning Cortado.

☕ HOT OFF THE PRESS: 8: An Animal Alphabet (Orchard Books, 2015).

☕ FAVE FOODIE CHILDREN’S BOOK(s): Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey (Puffin, 2002), or, In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak (HarperCollins, 1996).

☕☕ Visit Elisha Cooper’s Official Website

☕☕☕ JUST ONE MORE SIP: Check out Elisha’s Facebook Author Page for very cool behind-the-scenes tidbits about 8: An Animal Alphabet.

☕☕☕☕ CAN’T GET ENOUGH: Elisha discusses the genesis of 8: An Animal Alphabet and shares wonderful pics and sketches at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.

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[a most aromatic review] Miracle on 133rd Street by Sonia Manzano and Marjorie Priceman

December 8, 2015September 9, 2017 ~ jama ~ 15 Comments

Mmmmmm! There’s nothing like the tantalizing aroma of a brand new picture book to put me in a happy holiday mood. Even better when it’s been cooked up by two immensely talented women — multiple Emmy award winner Sonia Manzano and two-time Caldecott Honor recipient Marjorie Priceman.

Miracle on 133rd Street (Atheneum, 2015) contains just the right ingredients for a satisfying, heartwarming read: family, friends, neighbors, sharing, a little bit of magic, music, and even a mustached pizza chef!

Most important, this story is about the power of food — to soothe the savage breast, bring people together, and beget joy.

The food in question is a roast. A BIG roast. One that’s too big to fit in the oven. It’s Christmas Eve and Mami is beside herself. She’s also homesick for Puerto Rico, where she could have easily cooked the roast outside. Jokingly, young José says what they need is a big pizza oven. Papi thinks that’s actually a good idea, so they put the roast in a big box to take it to Regular Ray’s Pizzeria.

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hotTEAs of Children’s Literature: Aaron Reynolds

December 3, 2015September 25, 2017 ~ jama ~ 12 Comments

Aaron Reynolds is the New York Times bestselling author of loads of kids books like NERDY BIRDY, CARNIVORES, and the Caldecott-Honor winner CREEPY CARROTS. He regularly makes time for school visits, where his silly, hilarious, and hands-on presentations mesmerize kids and teachers alike. Aaron lives in Chicago.

☕ CUPPA OF CHOICE: Butterbeer. Have you had the official stuff at Harry Potter World in Florida? It’s insanely good. It should require a prescription.

☕ HOT OFF THE PRESS: Nerdy Birdy, illustrated by Matt Davies (Roaring Brook Press, September 2015). Forthcoming: President Squid, illustrated by Sara Varon (Chronicle Books, March 1, 2016).

☕ FAVE FOODIE CHILDREN’S BOOK: I’m a big fan right now of Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast by Josh Funk and Brendan Kearney (Sterling, 2015).

☕ Visit Aaron Reynolds’s Official Website

☕☕ JUST ONE MORE SIP: Check out my tasty interview with Aaron about CARNIVORES!

☕ ☕ ☕ CAN’T GET ENOUGH: Cool and interesting interview about Nerdy Birdy. Is it just me, or does the interviewer, Becky Anderson, resemble Vicki Lawrence from the Carol Burnett Show? Same lovely smile 🙂

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hotTEAs of Children’s Literature: Iza Trapani

November 19, 2015September 25, 2017 ~ jama ~ 36 Comments

When I immigrated to America from Poland at age seven, I learned English with the help of a Mother Goose collection. Little did I know that someday I would extend many of those nursery rhymes and have a successful career as a children’s book author and illustrator. I am currently at work on my 26th book.

☕ CUPPA OF CHOICE: I drink all kinds of teas. Lately, I’ve been enjoying hot cinnamon spice from Harney & Sons. It’s lightly sweet and zesTEA :-). Looks like Teddy would like some too. Should I offer him a cup?

☕ HOT OFF THE PRESS: Old King Cole (Charlesbridge, August 2015). Forthcoming: Gabe and Goon (Charlesbridge, July 2016).

☕ FAVE FOODIE CHILDREN’S BOOK(s): Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens (Harcourt, 1995), Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss (Random House, 2002), Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper (FSG, 2005), and Split Pea Soup (from the George and Martha stories) by James Marshall (HMH, 1974).

☕ Visit Iza Trapani’s Official Website and blog, In and Out of My Studio.

☕☕ JUST ONE MORE SIP: Old King Cole Book Trailer !

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☕☕☕ CAN’T GET ENOUGH: Iza’s Twinkle Twinkle Little Star read by ESA Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti aboard the International Space Station!! Far out and too cool. 🙂