New Books!

My two NEW books are now available:

(Please enjoying sharing the free activity sheets below)

Princess Kim and Too Much Truth   

Kim learned her lesson- she is never going to lie again! From now on she is only going to tell the truth- No matter what! Can someone tell TOO MUCH truth? Find out in this funny book about honesty and kindness.

 Published by Albert Whitman CO.  Hardcover.        

Free Activity Sheet 

 Rain Brings Frogs- A Little Book of Hope

A simple book with a big message of optimism, generosity and hope. Smile along with Nate as he sees the bright side of life.

Published by HarperCollins- Hardcover                       

Free Coloring Sheet

SLJ highlights Princess Kim

Today School Library Journal highlighted several favorites from Albert Whitman's new Spring 2011 books. Among them, my book "Princess Kim and Too Much Truth." In this  book I tried to explore the question " Can you ever tell TOO much truth?"  This is a funny story about honesty and kindness. 

" Kim’s the kind of kid I think we’ve all encountered before.  The one who feeling morally obligated, nay, compelled to set things right by reestablishing what is true and what is false in the universe.  The thing is, there’s truth and then there’s simply being mean."
Read the full review

Rain Brings Frogs... My New book

  Rain Brings Frogs- A Little Book of Hope 

will be publishing soon...

This a simple book with a big message of hope, tolerance, generosity and kindness.

In this book, Nate sees the bright side of life. When his mother says "I Hate Rain!" Nate says, "Rain Brings Frogs!" When his friend says,"Keep Out!"  Nate says, "Room for All." Nate is grateful for what he's got, is willing to share, and treats others with kindness. Nate helps us see the sun beyond the clouds. In the world of bullying, excess and intolerance...my goal, when creating this book,  was to share some hope...and sun.

I owe the idea to this book to my daughter Janine, who throughout her life has always managed to see the bright side of life despite her disabilities. She is my inspiration. I hope you will get to share my book with the children in your life, whether at home, in a classroom or a library. 

Rain Brings Frogs- A Little Book of Hope will be released on March 1st. I'd love to get your thoughts on my book. Please share my blog and help me spread the word. 

Thanks- Maryann

Published by HarperCollins

ISBN-978-0-06-196106-9

The Week in Children's Apps: December 23, 2010

The Week in Children's Apps: December 23, 2010


WA WHOOO! My APP made it in Publishers Weekly!

My Book Available in the ibookstore

For those of you who have an ipad (or itouch) or are giving someone special an ipad for Christmas, my book Princess Kim and the Lie That Grew was just released in the ibookstore. Google the title (not my name) as they have my last name spelled wrong. (That should be corrected soon.)  My book is one of several Albert Whitman & Co. titles that were chosen by Open Road Media (the developer) & Apple to appear in the ebook format. (Open Road Media has recently struck a deal with Albert Whitman to develop titles for the ebook format including their popular Boxcar kids series.)

The ebook and App industry is moving fast and I am working on getting more titles available in those formats.

Happy Holidays All!
Here's the link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/princess-k-i-m-lie-that-grew/id403155219?mt=11

Let's go sledding!

 
As winter approaches and snow is in the air, I was thinking about how I spent hours sledding with my brothers and sister and neighborhood friends. The above photo is of me and my big brother Carmen on our brand new sled. I tried to capture those childhood memories in my 1992 book "Ice Cold Birthday" only the "kids" in the illustration are myself, my husband and daughters. 
Going back to sledding as a kid... I come from Everett, Massachusetts outside of Boston, where we had no backyard to speak of...so being the creative (and crazy) kids we were, we sledded down a narrow "alley" between our house and the house next door. The alley ended on the street...(which by the way, was a bus route.) Before we began our sledding adventures we'd shovel a big mound of snow at the botton of the alley to stop the sleds before they went onto the street. (Sometimes nothing could stop those sleds!) It's amazing to think we survived those winter days being kids in the city. (I can't even believe our parents let us do that!) So to my brothers; Carmen, Ted and Stephen and sister Diane...and neighborhood friends including Karen & Rosanne ( who are still my best friends today!)...Let's go sledding! I'll meet you in the alley!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.

A Play in the Works!

I just received the proofs in the mail for "PRINCESS KIM And Too Much Truth". Looks great!!

The book is being printed now and will be published March 1, 2011. This book is the sequel to "Princess K.I. M and the Lie that Grew." Now-- here's the NEWS- I am working with a Producer and Music talent to transform these books into a Musical. We had our first "creative" brainstorming meeting yesterday and we are all very excited to see these books come to life on stage. I am hoping to give you a glimpse, through this blog,  into the creative process through script, music, lyrics and the production.

Stay tuned.