Taschen vs. Tashi

This is Taschen, also known hamantaschen.  In our house, they are also known has huffinpuffins and clementitos, for reasons that make less than no sense.

And this is Tashi, star of a series of books by Anne and Barbard Feinberg and illustrated by Kim Gamble.  However, in our house he is called Tushy, for no reason other than we like to say it.

One is a set of tasty cookies.  One is a set of tasty tales.  Who will win?  Judge for yourself.

Ahoj from Prague!

As you know, our friend Chicken Butt! gets around.  Here are some photos from his recent trip to Prague!

Kisses to the fabulous Kiss family (and a big "dekuji!") for sending me these great shots of our fine feathered friend visiting Townhall Pardubice, St. Vitus Cathedral and the famous Charles Bridge.  Clearly a great time was had by all!

Are YOU planning a trip?  Consider the best travel companion of all:  Chicken Butt!  He's charming, quick with a joke, and highly portable.

Ms. Sabo's New Student

Every now and then, I get a letter from a kid or a teacher or a librarian, telling me nice things about my books.  Boy, can that make an author's day!  But sometimes, I get a truly outstanding letter.  In those cases, something extra-special is called for:

Now, I should clarify that the student on the RIGHT is not a new student.  In fact, Jacob is a graduate of Lori Sabo's first grade class, but he is such a fan that he visits often.  His favorite book when he was in first grade was - you know what? - Chicken Butt!  So, when I got Ms. Sabo's letter about her class, Jacob, and a certain book, I knew I needed to send a new student - the feathered guy seen in between Jacob and Ms. Sabo - to Ms. Sabo to make her classroom complete.

Thanks again for writing, Ms. Sabo, and please make your new student feel welcome!

And Jacob, guess what?  Chicken Butt's Back! will be out on April 1st.

PS = Ms. Sabo tells me that one of her current first graders took this picture.  Wow!  What a bunch of talented kids with great taste in literature she has there!

Mid-Atlantic SCBWI: Please vote Dotty!

Ahem!  For your 2011 Crystal Kite consideration, Mid-Atlantic SCBWI members, I give you DOTTY! 

Written by yours truly, illustrated by Julia Denos, published by Abrams, and eligible for this year's award.  Not to belabor the point, but I think it would be really cool if Dotty got some love here.  She's been a bloggers' darling all year, and has made friends with kids, teachers and librarians alike.  Don't take my word for it: ask (Planet) Esme Codell, 100 Scopes Notes, Seven Impossible Things, Fuse 8, and Bookie Woogie.  Plus many others including Teach Mama and The Happy Nappy Bookseller...  Dotty seems to make friends whereever she goes, I am thrilled to say... and if she's made a friend in you, thanks so much!

Voting for the 2011 Crystal Kite Member Choice Awards is going on now at SCBWI.org, so if by any chance you are a member please vote by follow these E-Z steps (the voting is not as easy to find as one might like):

1. Log in at SCBWI.org with your email address and password.

2. Click the link that says, "See what's going on in your region!" on your Member
Home Page.

3. Click on the "Crystal Kite" tab of your Regional Home Page, and browse through the titles and authors. You may also search for a specific book (say, DOTTY) or author (say, PERL, ERICA) in your Regional Division (IF YOUR REGION HAPPENS TO BE MID-ATLANTIC).

4. Click the "Vote" button next to DOTTY (filed under "D") for title, or search under "P" for Perl to find my titles published in 2010.

Please vote now!  The first round of voting continues until midnight (PST) on Monday, February 28, 2011. The top 5 vote-getters in each Regional Division will advance to the semi-final round of voting, which begins on Wednesday, March 2, 2011.