I Like Banned Books... and I Cannot Lie! (plus a giveaway!)

I like banned books... and I cannot lie.  I also like big butts.

Butts are funny.  They make kids laugh.  But some people don't like big butts.   Some people give THE THREE NINJA PIGS a one-star review on Goodreads and write comments like, "I purchased this book for my classroom, but after reading it, I have decided it isn't appropriate for young children. I don't appreciate that it has the word 'butt' in it."

Well, those people are not going to like many of my other books either, because nearly every story I write has the word butt, or some synonym for butt, in it!

So in honor of Banned Books Week (and big butts!), I am giving away a signed copy of THE THREE NINJA PIGS.

Just leave a comment to be entered.  Winner will be selected on Sept 27, at 10:00 PM EST.

NINJA RED RIDING HOOD- What the Kids Had to Say

The first NINJA RED RIDING HOOD reviews are in!  They are not from Kirkus.  They're not from PW. They are from an awesome bunch of third graders who live in Alberta, Canada.  This class got an F&G (an unbound review copy) and quickly realized that the wolf is the same one who appeared in THE THREE NINJA PIGS.

Here are their comments:

"The author used great juicy words!" - Mason

"This is seriously one of the best books I've ever read.  The author needs to make more of these!" - Nolan

"The page where Red Riding Hood comes out of her cape and becomes a ninja is the best surprise!" - Dyson

"I can't believe it ended that way!  A wolf has to eat meat!" - Gabby

"I think the illustrator was really smart.  He used the same animals from the end of the Three Ninja Pigs at the beginning of Ninja Red Riding Hood." 

"I wonder what the next Ninja book will be?  Goldininja?" - Gage

"Dan Santat has a great imagination.  But I wonder why the wolf wasn't fatter in the The Three Ninja Pigs?" - Carter

"I still think that Wolf's ninja teacher is Red Riding Hood's Grandma."  -  Jenna

"The best part was when the Wolf was 'achin' for bacon'!" - Arland

Note: No children were offered bribes in exchange for favorable feedback.

Ki-ya!  

Spring has Sprung- MAPLE Giveaway!

We are only 13 hours out of winter and... I already feel a lighter spring in my step!   So, I decided to celebrate.  Remember, how I accidentally pre-ordered MAPLE twice?

Well, I am giving away my duplicate copy of this charming book by Lori Nichols!   Just leave a comment to enter.

For a second entry, comment on my Facebook post.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

When Maple is tiny, her parents plant a maple tree in her honor.  She and her tree grow up together, and even though a tree doesn't always make an ideal playmate, it doesn't mind when Maple is in the mood to be loud--- which is often.  Then Maple becomes a big sister, and finds that babies have their loud days, too. Fortunately, Maple and her beloved tree know just what the baby needs.

Winner will be chosen, Sunday, March 23rd at 8:00 PM EST.

The 2013 Picture Book Oscars

And the awards go to...


BEST MALE CHARACTER

Nilson in NO FITS, NILSON!

BEST FEMALE CHARACTER

Ol' Mama in OL' MAMA SQUIRREL

BEST MALE SUPPORTING CHARACTER

The great white shark in CARNIVORES

BEST FEMALE SUPPORTING CHARACTER

The third pig in THE THREE LITTLE PIGS AND THE SOMEWHAT BAD WOLF

BEST CHARACTER IN A NON-SPEAKING ROLE

Bernice in SOPHIE'S SQUASH

BEST FULL CAST ENSEMBLE

Zack, Gracie, Manfred, Mookie, Mojo, the store manager, and all the other monsters in THE MONSTORE

BEST FACIAL EXPRESSIONS

Narrator of PICTURE DAY PERFECTION

BEST COSTUMES

TEA PARTY RULES





BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

RIBBIT!

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

OPEN THIS LITTLE BOOK

And finally....

BEST PICTURE BOOK

OLLIE AND CLAIRE