The Toad Who Told Lies

My first story was “The Toad Who Told Lies,” which I wrote and illustrated at age six and later lost in a flood. I’ve now re-created and re-imagined it. Read it with a sentimental introduction, or just jump into the story. Since it’s all graphical I also have a text-only version.

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Boys love owls!

I really enjoyed this essay by Charles Baxter which, besides making me laugh until I teared up, put into words what I have thought of reviews, particularly of children’s literature. “Boys will love this book! Boys love owls!” a review will say (in Baxter’s terms). Obviously I am interested in reviews, because they bear on [...]

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The Hairy-Nosed Otter of Borneo

You may have… and by “may have,” I mean “better have, if you know what I mean,” heard that they recently spotted a hairy-nosed otter in Borneo. These remarkable probiscally-folliated mammalian piscivores of Asia were, until recently, believed to be extinct, but like my own childhood aspirations, have soldiered on despite daunting odds. Now you [...]

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You Stupid Darkness!

Peanuts had some brilliant moments in its long life. This is one of them. It’s one I remember when I am grousing about something outside my control. I can turn my mood around by saying “you stupid darkness!” out loud, then laughing at myself. This one and, in fact, the entire Peanuts series are online, for [...]

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Limericks!

Limericks are one of the great popular poetic forms, and I’m going to compose some for The Twin Cities Limerick Contest. I don’t know if you have to be a Twin Citian to enter, but encourage all eligible parties to do their best! Or do their verse! As a footnote, let me add… rather pedantically… [...]

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A Mixed-Up File

I posted over on the Mixed-Up Files blog today, which I share with passel of other middle grade authors. One of the authors I recommend has dropped by already; let’s see who else does. Meanwhile, you are working very hard on your Paikus to send me, right? Right? Writing a paiku Is what you (yes [...]

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Three Links for a Friday

The round-robin interview with baseball authors continues at The Happy Nappy Bookseller‘s blog. In my efforts to keep the public aware of the stupidity of doing as my hero does in Mamba Point, here is a story about the high cost of keeping poisonous snakes as pets, even when nobody gets bit.  I don’t like just [...]

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Mushrooms

One thing I’ve learned from my latest book is that mushrooms are really interesting. Whudathunkit? There are seriously more interesting fungi fun facts than I can even cram into the book. They are among the largest and oldest living organisms on earth, and are deeply intertwined with folklore and culinary traditions all over the world. [...]

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Around the Blogosphere

I am excited for the giveaway later, and Elwyn has been practicing nervously. I think he’s going to do just great. In the meantime, I am watching the Vikings play the Giants (now up by 10! Skol!), so if you need to kill time while you wait, here are some good things to read. One of [...]

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Awessssssome Snake photos (and a bonus owl)

A reader alerted me to this very cool gallery of snake photos. And by “a reader,” I mean, “my wife.” http://www.thisblogrules.com/2009/12/amazing-photographs-of-snakes-like_16.html She also directed me to this video, which she found via the same neatorama blog. This is one of the coolest videos I’ve ever seen, even if it doesn’t have anything to do with [...]

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