look--my brand new book coming in may!

She's at it again, that big sister telling you all about everything: this time it's helpful tips on finding the perfect job, how to conduct yourself in an interview, what to wear, what not to wear, etc. Needless to say, this is advice you may never have heard before--which of course makes it invaluable.

Pre-order your very own copy here.

the importance of reading to your babies

My little friend found a favorite certain children's Storybook and started reading it first to herself and then to all her babies. See how her babies are so well behaved and looking at the pictures and listening so carefully. Even as such a young age. I think they must have their listening ears on. (Plus she must be quite a compelling reader that they can even overcome even the disadvantage of being plastic).

The Cure To Swine Flu?

If you find yourself in CT, in New Canaan, at Elm Street Books at 2.30pm on Sat 16th... You're in LUCK! we will be curing Swine Flu ... I'll be reading How To Get Married... By Me, The Bride and the VERY TOPICAL (rumored to be The Cure to Swine Flu) Being A Pig Is Nice: a child's eye-view of manners. More information contact: kathleen@elmstreetbooks.com or here.

Tribeca Wednesday 13th

come along to B&N Tribeca at 11 am Wednesday 13th where I'll be reading from ... How To Get Married... By Me, The Bride. More here.

save the dates (MAY)

some happy events coming up. Come and learn all about:

• how to get hitched and put on the perfect wedding (whether you're only pretending or actually doing it in real life) in the "Stylish and Witty" (Publisher's Weekly) companion volume to the NYT Bestseller, How To Be A Baby... By Me, The Big Sister)
• how to behave in Being A Pig Is Nice: a child's eye-view of manners
• or just hear a story and get your book signed

Wednesday May 13th, 11 am Barnes and Noble, Tribeca Reading and signing How To Get Married... By Me, The Bride More here. Thursday May 14th, 7pm - 9pm Pink Olive Boutique, east village Reading and signing How To Get Married... By Me, The Bride  To register, please click here Saturday May 16th, 4pm Elm Street Books, New Canaan, CT Reading and signing How To Get Married... By Me, The Bride 

and Being A Pig Is Nice: a child's eye-view of manners. More information contact: kathleen@elmstreetbooks.com or check their website here Friday May 29th, 10.30 - 11am Jacob Javetts Center I'll be at the BEA Signing Table 19-Autographing Area, Jacob K. Javits Center, signing 150 copies of The Jesus Storybook Bible

"one of the funniest books of the year"

No, it's not just me saying it. Radio 4 said it. Honestly. And they know things. (Radio 4 is the high brow radio station of the UK--for the benefit of non-Brits) In FRONT ROW'S round up of the best books to give younger readers this Christmas, How To Be A Baby: by Me, The Big Sister was in the list! And that's when they said that thing about it being "one of the funniest books of the year" (sorry, did I already say that?) Listen here if you feel like a bit of Brit Radio... Front Row.

very funny

Recently, at an undisclosed facility, in a top secret location, an Expert tested out How To Be A Baby: By Me, The Big Sister. (He is, of course, Professor of Tinyness at Baby University in Teeny-Weeny-on-Thames.)

Here are the results.





His eloquence is stunning and scholars are unanimous: his argument is water-tight and irrefutable.

sue heap in the TIMES

Look. There she is. In the London Times no less! She's a genius, by the way. She's also the one who illustrated HOW TO BE A BABY and the soon to be released companion, HOW TO GET MARRIED: by Me, the Bride (as well as Handbag Friends). Best of all, she's a great friend. She also is extremely courageous and this article is about something she never speaks of: her brave struggles with rheumatoid arthritis. To read it, click here.

Bookseller Review

The wonderful Walker Books is publishing HOW TO BE A BABY in the UK (came out September 1st) and THE BOOKSELLER just gave it a rave review. To read it, click here (and go to page 28).

SNEAK PEAK of top secret new work...

... the bossy big sister narrator is at it again... and this time? Well it's HOW TO GET MARRIED: by Me, the Bride. (Ably assisted, of course, by that little baby--who at one point ends up wearing a moustache.) It's the companion to the New York Times Bestseller, HOW TO BE A BABY: by Me, the Big Sister and it's coming in March--just in time for spring. The publisher says: "Here is the perfect book for kids who play pretend and throw mock weddings, and also for grown-ups who are actual brides-to-be. " To learn more, have a laugh, or even pre-order your very own copy, click here.

Empire State Building lit in Yellow

If you look this week at the nighttime skyline in NYC, you may notice the Empire State Building is lit up in yellow.

Why? Mayor Michael Bloomberg has officially declared May 5–12 to be Project Sunshine Week (their logo is yellow like sunshine), in honor of the 10-year-old nonprofit organization that connects hospitalized children worldwide with visiting volunteers, celebrities and others. And one of the group’s new programs, the Project Sunshine Book Club, is who I worked with when I visited the Lincoln Hospital.

And there's an article all about it in Publisher's Weekly (plus a photo of How To Be A Baby: By Me, The Big Sister and me and Markell at the Lincoln Hospital) which you can read here.

Reading in Bryant Park

This coming Saturday, May 10th, Children's Book Week 2008 kicks off in New York's Bryant Park from 12-5pm. The National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Jon Scieszka will give the welcome and there'll be readings, activities, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Curious George and everyone!

PLUS... I'll be reading from the gloriously silly hysterically brilliantly incredibly outrageously enjoyable book of all time in the whole entire universe EVER: How To Be A Baby: By Me, The Big Sister. (Well, actually there are loads of other great books being read all day long by lots of supremely fabulous authors and illustrators.) If you're in the 'hood, stop by. We'd love to see you! I'm on at 4.30PM with a book signing afterwards.

more info at The Children's Book Council.

Project Sunshine: Lincoln Hospital

Last week, I had the privilege of visiting the children at Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx with Project Sunshine, a non-profit charity that sends volunteers to visit hospitalized children.

Needless to say, whatever I thought I was giving, I got back ten thousand fold. Thanks to my brilliant publisher (Random House) and editor (Anne Schwartz) and publicist (Noreen Marchisi) we were able to give away 70 books to these children. How cool is that?

They are a very brave group of children. What an honor. I got to chat with them in the wards and in the ICU and read to them and laugh with them. We read How To Be A Baby: By Me, The Big Sister and Handbag Friends and we sang The Handbag Song and watched the mini movie.

For more information or to volunteer for this great organization, click here.

I'm part of the Book Club. Here's how they describe it:
"The Project Sunshine Book Club brings distinguished children’s book authors, illustrators and celebrities into pediatric medical facilities to provide special reading events. The Book Club enables children to meet authors and illustrators, to expand their interest in literacy, and to share in the joy of reading by learning how books are created."

CCBC Choices List 2008

THIS JUST IN ... How To Be A Baby, By Me, The Big Sister has just been named a 2008 best of the year.

From the CCBC web site.
“The Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) is a unique examination, study and research library of the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The CCBC’s noncirculating collections include current, retrospective and historical books published for children and young adults. . . . A vital gathering place for books, ideas and expertise, the CCBC is committed to identifying excellent literature for children and adolescents and bringing this literature to the attention of those adults who have an academic, professional or career interest in connecting young readers with books.”

So there.

Notable Book of 2007!!!

WOO-HOOO! How To Be A Baby has been named a Notable Book of 2007: one of only six children's titles recognized by the NYT as best of the year! it's totally unbelievable but here it is in black and white Sunday New York Times Book Review.

baby jail

Connor and his sidekick, Melos, in Baby Jail after an attempt on The Laundry (the criminals were caught red-handed unfolding all the neatly folded clothes and towels)

I love the dog's expression. He looks to me like he is already planning a prison break. His full and fabulous name is: Melos Meatloaf Whitefang Goldosis Puppyoso (Melos for short). With a name like that no wonder he turned to a life of crime. 

Connor's mom has been kind enough to review HOW TO BE A BABY.  (This photo came about after reading the manual and learning from her favorite bit in the book: "Sometimes, if you are very naughty, you are put in prison".)  Check out her blog here where she is reviewing and giving away great books (including some of mine)!

it's awfully hard being a baby

here I am screaming and why is everyone else just smiling. who else would just smile when someone is screaming?

and why am I wearing such a horrible white wig with fake braids on? who put it on me? no one else is wearing one.

take it off

let me go

(it's a shame for babies. it really is. pictured, screaming, Baby Annabel and, smiling, the quadruplets. All of whom, of course, star in the authorative scholarly document on the subject HOW TO BE A BABY).

happy first orange shoes

here they are. they're mine. and they're orange. there are two of them. and they are brand new. and they are both of them each mine. they are good at kicking. these two shoes that are orange and mine. (Mr Griffin and his orange shoes.)

(we first met the unfortunate Mr Griffin in unhappier times, if you recall: in the first of our firsts — first peas, followed, just as unpleasantly, by first teeth. we are pleased to hear that things seem to be looking up for Mr Griffin. and we certainly hope it lasts — the eds.)

2007 NAPPA Gold Award

Wondrous happy news... HOW TO BE A BABY: by ME, the Big Sister won a gold. Hurrah!
here's what it says about itself on the site: "The National Parenting Publications Awards guide you to the best gift ideas for children all year round!" and "Now in its 17th year, NAPPA (National Parenting Publications Awards) is a well-known name in industries focused on children’s learning and entertainment. Full results were announced Nov. 1, 2007, in 40 regional parenting magazines across the country and online at Parenthood.com. This distinction recognizes the above titles as a standout among toys, books, DVDs, software & video games, music and spoken-word recordings available for children today." NAPPA website

it's best to be stinky

Here she is. The Baby. In what is possibly the nicest little stinker hallowteenieweenie i've ever seen in my entire life. I did tell you didn't I? It's a quite stunning way to conclude our "Latest Must Have Dressing Up Fashion Trends" series.

And what about the bag?

I want one. The bag, the costume, her inside it. (Yes, she's The Baby who belongs to the quadruplets we met on Friday in all their fabulous furryness and the quadruplets, of course, belong to Baby Annabelle, who we met previously doing a very good imitation of being a baby.