Welcome! So glad you’re here. Snoop around and stay a while. This is the Frog on a Dime Summer Open House. I’ve swept the porch, put the plumpest pillows on the swing and poured a chilled glass of refreshing lip-puckering strawberry lemonade–just for you!
Win 2 copies!
This year’s Summer Open House giveaway is extra special. The winner will receive not one, but two copies of THE BIG BOOK OF BARF. One autographed copy will be yours to keep (or give to your favorite young reader). The second copy is for you to donate to your local public library or elementary school media center.
Here’s how to enter:
Share a childhood library memory in the comment section for this post. Easy peasy!
Enter by noon on Saturday, July 12.
My little firecrackers, it seems only fair that I share an early library memory of my own. I recall being in Mrs. Server’s kindergarten classroom. On our designated “Library Day,” we’d line up to walk the long window-lined hallway, past the principal’s office, through the school lobby and over to the right where we, a row of little kinderducks, would file into our Blackman Elementary School library.
I remember low book stacks, only two or three shelves high, running perpendicular to the wall of windows that looked out on the school yard. It was a quiet place, a warm room, filled with the potpourri only a collection of aging books can create. We were each given a dark brown “paddle” made of pressed wood. This we would use as a place marker once we’d pulled the book of our choice–our choice!–from the shelves.
From Day One, I was enchanted by Hans Christian Anderson’s Thumbelina. I’d pull it from the shelf, replace it with my paddle, and take the book to one of the library’s tables to devour the beauty of the book’s illustrations (with my eyes only!) At the close of our all-too-short library time, I’d have to return Thumbelina to her shelf . . . until next week when Mrs. Server would announce “Library Day!”. And I couldn’t wait see her again (Thumbelina, that is).
What do you remember?
Share your early library memory for a chance to win TWO copies of THE BIG BOOK OF BARF. Enter by July 12.
CONGRATULATIONS to Danielle Hammelef! You’re the winner of the Summer Open House giveaway! You’ll receive two copies of THE BIG BOOK OF BARF. I’m happy to personalize one for you AND one for your favorite local library or school media center! Thank you so much for sharing your library memory with all of us. Happy summering to you!
The library is like a candy store where everything is free. ~ Jamie Ford
On this 12th birthday, I’m hoppy to dole out a dozen reasons I’m grateful for Frog on a Dime:
I’m grateful-grateful-grateful for all of you, my little twinkling tadpoles.
I’m grateful for your kind comments and encouragement. You’ve kept me hopping (versus hobbling) forward.
I’m grateful for the companionship this little blog provides. (Confession: I was trembly-terrified when it came time to publish my very first post. What if no one notices?)
I’m grateful for this space to capture random sparks of imagination, ruminations and images.
I’m grateful to Darcy Pattison, a wise children’s author and publisher. Darcy emphasized the importance of obtaining a domain name and establishing an online presence to protect against invisibility. And I did it.
I’m grateful to illustrator extraordinaire Matt Faulkner for the amphibitastic image of Frog on a Dime (as proudly displayed above).
I’m grateful for the opportunity to encourage you along your winding, wondrous creative journeys.
I’m grateful for this stockpile of memories to revisit and the way it reveals (at least some) progress.
I’m grateful for this connection with readers, librarians, teachers, and other such brilliant bibliophiles.
I’m grateful to authors and illustrators who welcome interviews, and I’m thankful I get to promote their work.
I’m grateful to offer you a giveaway in celebration of Frog on a Dime’s 12th birthday!
Giveaway details . . .
Enter to win an autographed copy of THE BIG BOOK OF BARF. BONUS: a complimentary barf bag (sporting googly eyes!)
Leave a comment about what you’re grateful for (e.g., new friendships, writing breakthroughs, experiences you’re looking forward to like a workshop or conference, a new technique you’ve learned or resource you’ve discovered or whatever makes you thankful).
Post the comment here or on Facebook.
HOP TO IT! Your entry must be posted by 12 (noon) on 12/20.
Oh, and if you like, go ahead and share this giveaway news with a friend. And aren’t you kind.
Onward to Lucky Year 13! Ever forward, my little sparklers! We will continue to keep each other encouraged in 2025.
The year I turned twelve, I learned that what I said and what I did mattered. ~ Lauren Wolk, Wolf Hollow
Congratulations to Danielle Hammelef! You’ve won an autographed copy of THE BIG BOOK OF BARF, plus the bonus BARF BAG! I’ll send it your way as soon as the book officially hurls into the world on January 28! Many thanks to everyone who participated. I am grateful for you!
Congratulations to Elizabeth Sundling–winner of the WHEN THE RAIN CAME DOWN! Please use the Comment page to provide your mailing address and Frog on a Dime will be hoppy to send you your prize! Many thanks to everyone who entered and for all of your kind comments for Leslie.
Enter to win your very own copy of Leslie’s NEW picture book from Macmillan Books–WHEN THE RAIN CAME DOWN–a beautiful heart-warmer, illustrated by Keisha Morris, about community rising up when the rain comes down. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post by noon on Friday, May 24.
**********
Okay, my little Forget Me Nots, now let’s jump into our guest post. Take it away, Leslie!
“The first art director I ever spoke to about my work asked me this question: If you could only do one thing, would it be to write or to illustrate? I was annoyed. Couldn’t I do both? ‘KEEP WORKING ON IT,’ he said. I know he was trying to get me to focus on one thing at a time. Trying to do two things well, can take longer, of course. But I wanted to do both.
“The first manuscript I sold was called THE SMUSHY BUS. The publisher wanted someone else to illustrate. They were looking for a project for Salvadore Murdocca, the well-established illustrator of THE MAGIC TREEHOUSE BOOKS. He was a known name and I was not. So I agreed and was sure I would illustrate my next book. Meanwhile, I would KEEP WORKING on it.
“The next art I created was for BIG CHICKENS. But . . . it had no emotion, no character. Another well-established illustrator, Henry Cole, got the nod for this project. I agreed. Just look at how much character these chickens have!
“A few books later I wrote WOOLBUR. I was sure I was ready to illustrate. But no. The publisher was insistent that someone else do the art. It was a big publisher and the only offer I got. I ultimately agreed.
“I next wrote FAIR COW and that same publisher was interested BUT . . . again, they wanted someone else to illustrate. I paused.
Should I pass up this chance to have the book come out with a big publisher?
Should I allow someone else to do the art or should I keep trying?
Should I stick to one thing like that long ago AD suggested?
“While I was pondering, I set up a critique with an award-winning illustrator. I told him about the offer and asked his advice. Without hesitation, he said he would let someone else do the art. I was crushed. I felt like giving up. But . . . I kept working.
“I asked for and received lots of advice. Friend and well-known illustrator, Matt Faulkner, helped me focus on character: ‘Is this an Eva Gabor pig or a Phyllis Diller pig?’
“Illustrator Lori Eslick reminded me to paint for myself. I painted more and worried less. Ultimately, I sent FAIR COW out to a small press with new art and . . . the publisher loved it.
“Since then, I’ve illustrated 5 of my 17 titles. Sometimes editors want a different style for a project. Sometimes I agree and sometimes I do not. I still have to work at it.
“I have two projects out this spring, one I’ve illustrated and one I have not. The first is GATOR’S BIG MOUTH, where three alligators face the big bad winds of a hurricane. I had a lot of fun writing AND illustrating this one.
“And WHEN THE RAIN CAME DOWN, written by me and illustrated by Keisha Morris–a beautiful heart-warmer about community rising up when the rain comes down.
“I saw that illustrator who crushed my spirit a few years after he dismissed my work. He complimented my current work and asked to see more. He didn’t remember his earlier comment and certainly had no idea how hard what he’d said hit me. Some feedback can give you hope and some can drop-kick you into working harder. Maybe it has taken me longer to reach my dream of being an author/illustrator than if I’d focused on one thing. But maybe I got where I needed to be right on time.”
Leslie, thank you so much for your transparency. Your story is inspiring and your picture books are treasures for young (and not so young!) readers. We look forward to many more books written AND illustrated by you!
I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way—things I had no words for. ~ Georgia O’Keeffe
My little blueberry scones, it’s been far-too, much-too, too-too loooong since Frog on a Dime has hopped into your inbox. Technical torments have slowed me down. BUT THEN, (hark!) just yesterday, a shiny, newborn computer was delivered. HURRAH!!!! Now, I have ear-poppingly high hopes to be back in the blog writing business again soon.
Before summer melts into glorious autumn, I want to welcome you to my annual open house. By “open house,” I mean, come as you are, snoop around this site, see what’s new (at least to you!) and soak up all the encouragement your heart can hold.
If you’ll be kind enough to leave a comment on this post (or any of my posts, really), you’ll automatically be entered into a So Long Summer Open House Surprise Package Giveaway. Since it’s a “surprise,” you can’t exactly be privy to the particulars, but rest most assured I will do my best to make sure the lucky prize winner is delighted, amused, inspired and encouraged by this special prize package. I hope you’ll enter. If you care to leave two (different) comments, you can double your chances.
To enter, please leave your comment(s) by noon (Eastern Time) on Friday, September 22–the day we say so long to Summer. (I’m a fan of fall, so bring on the autumnal equinox. It’s fine by me!) I’ll announce the winner on the first day of fall! (I wish every season started that way!)
Can’t wait to hear from you, my buttered pumpkin muffins!
Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. ~ Albert Camus
Many thanks to everyone who hopped by to celebrate Frog on a Dime’s 10th Anniversary.
Special congratulations to lucky giveaway winner — Pam Patterson! Be watching your mail box for an extra special, tintastic package packed especially for you!
My heart is filled with gratitude and joy because of the kindness and encouragement all of you have given me. You make me look forward to the year to come.
Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.
DYK the traditional 10th anniversary gift is tin? You know, the stuff used to make green beans cans and Dorothy Gale’s heartless friend. I know. It surprised me too.
Then I did a little digging about what makes tin so special. Turns out, tin has a lot going for it.
Tin is pliable, flexible and adaptable. G’head—Roll it! Spin it! Extrude it!
Tin protects other metals like steel from corrosion and boat bottoms from barnacles. (I mean, who wants bottom barnacles?)
Tin may be weak on its own, but it can be tintastic when it is alloyed with other metals in materials like bronze and pewter.
And you know what, my little sugar crystals? You and I are a lot like tin. We creatives need to adapt and be flexible in order to learn, grow and develop our skills.
By offering empathy and encouragement to one another, we help to protect one another from the corrosion of disabling discouragement.
And when we “alloy” ourselves (work together), our strength is multiplied. How is that not tin-tastic?
[BONUS info: One other way we’re like tin—did you know when a bar of tin is bent, it makes a crackling “cry”? Who knew metal could get emo? We can all relate to that when we’re hunched over in despair or disappointment.]
My wee tin cups of tenderness, I cannot thank you enough for your TEN years of you being you-ness. Your encouragement, participation, comments, willingness to be my guest from time to time, and kind words have made my life sweeter by tenfold. To thank you, I’m offering my finest giveaway in a decade.
Enter to win an extra special, one-of–a-kind 10th anniversary memento designed to serve as a source of encouragement. I’ll include extra goodies too—like a coupon for critique of up to TEN pages of your work. To enter, leave a comment on this post by Friday, December 16/10:10 p.m. (EST).
When I left Queen’s, my future seemed to stretch out before me like a straight road. I thought I could see along it for many a milestone. Now there is a bend in it. I don’t know what lies around the bend, but I am going to believe that the best does. It has a fascination of its own, that bend, Marilla. I wonder how the road beyond it goes – what there is of green glory and soft, checkered light and shadows – what new landscapes – what new beauties – what curves and hills and valleys farther on. ~ L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
Driving through Ohio in an old Pontiac, a young girl’s parents stop suddenly when they spot something growing in a ditch by the side of the road…watercress!
With an old paper bag and some rusty scissors, the whole family wades into the muck to collect as much of the muddy, snail-covered plant as they can.
At first, it’s embarrassing. Why can’t her family get food at the grocery store?
But when her mother shares the story of her family’s life in China, the girl learns to appreciate the fresh food they foraged.
Together, they make a new memory of watercress in this tender storyinspired by the author’s childhood memories and illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist Jason Chin.
(Description source: Jacket flap, WATERCRESS by Andrea Wang)
Author Andrea Wang
Here we are, Thanksgiving Week, and I am feeling so grateful for time to chat with my extra special guest–Andrea Wang!
Andrea is the award-winning author of The Nian Monster (APALA Honor, PW starred review) and Magic Ramen: The Story of Momofuku Ando (JLG Gold Standard Selection, Sakura Medal, Freeman Book Award Honor, SLJ starred review). She has two books releasing in 2021: Watercress (JLG Gold Standard Selection, starred reviews from Kirkus, SLJ, PW, Horn Book); and The Many Meanings of Meilan, her debut middle grade novel. Her work explores culture, creative thinking, and identity. She is also the author of seven nonfiction titles for the library and school market. Andrea holds an M.S. in Environmental Science and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing for Young People. She lives in the Denver area with her family.
Welcome, Andrea. Thank you for stopping by Frog on a Dime. I’m so excited! Let’s hop right in and talk about your latest picture book WATERCRESS . . .
I see you dedicated WATERCRESS in memory of your parents and described them as “immigrants and inspirations.” In what way did they inspire you?
It takes an enormous amount of courage to give up everyone and everything you’ve ever known to go live in a place where you don’t speak the language, all in pursuit of a better life for yourself and your family. Finally understanding the hardships and sacrifices my parents made inspired me to not only pursue my dream of writing, but also to be vulnerable and emotionally honest in my writing.
That’s beautiful.
What do you feel is gained when parents and grandparents open up to their children/grandchildren about family history and memories?
I talk about this in my Author’s Note, so I thought I’d share that part of it here: “…it’s important, too, for children to understand their family history. Perhaps if I had known about the hardships they had faced, I would have been more compassionate as a child. Maybe I would have felt more empathy and less anger. More pride in my heritage and less shame. Memories have the power to inform, to inspire, and to heal.”
Those are great insights, Andrea. Thank you.
What do you hope young readers take away? What about parents? Teachers?
I hope all readers see that, no matter where you are from or how you identify, we all share a common humanity. You may not be a child of immigrants or have had to pick food from the wild, but everyone has felt embarrassment, shame, and the feeling of not belonging. The emotions in WATERCRESS are universal. We need to be kinder to each other, to reach for understanding rather than react out of ignorance.
No surprise, next I’d like to ask a few questions on behalf of my fellow writers, okay?
How long after you wrote WATERCRESS did you feel ready to share it with anyone?
In its current form, I think I shared the manuscript with a few critique partners right after I wrote it. Mostly, I wanted to get their feedback about what they thought it was–just a poem, or could it be a picture book? They thought I should send it to my agent immediately, so that’s what I did. But it took me about eight years to write this version of WATERCRESS and I did share those previous versions with critique partners, so it was an iterative process, like writing always is.
I’m so glad you persevered–and that you listened to your critique partners!
Published by Neal Porter Books/Holiday House ISBN-13: 978-0-8234-4624-7
What was your approach to this autobiographical story compared to previous manuscripts?
I don’t know that I’d call it an “approach,” because that sounds like I went into this project with a plan and that’s not how it was at all. The first version of this story was in the form of a personal essay for adults, which I thought would be a good format since I was using my own memories as material. But that piece didn’t really work, so I rewrote it years later as a fictional picture book. That version was from a 3rd person POV and it was better, but too long and lacking an emotional heart. Several more years later, I found the perfect mentor text (A DIFFERENT POND by Bao Phi and illustrated by Thi Bui) and revised the manuscript again, returning to 1st person POV and paring away every single word that felt extraneous, so that it came out in free verse.
Your use of spare text meant you needed to lean on the illustrator, Jason Chin, to communicate for you at times, including one of the story’s most poignant scenes. That’s a challenge for many picture book writers. How did you reach to that level of trust?
While I was writing this free-verse version of Watercress, I honestly wasn’t thinking about the illustrator or the illustrations at all. I was writing for myself, and I knew exactly what I meant by each line. I did consciously add a couple of clues (“Mom never talks about her China family,” and “Mom never told us what happened to him.”) leading up to that scene you’re referring to, so the reader is primed for the reveal. I also went back and made sure that every description in the text conveyed character, emotion, and/or setting that was necessary to the story. Everything else got pared away. I would advise PB writers to write illustration notes in their first drafts, then go back to each note and ask if it’s really necessary to the story. Does it add depth to a character, convey emotion, or establish atmosphere? Would the story and the reader suffer if the information was omitted? If not, then delete! If yes, then try to work the information into the text using vivid verbs, metaphors, and adjectives. I always aim to not have any illustration notes in my manuscripts.
Thank you, Andrea. If I’m ever brave enough to attempt another picture book, I’m going to follow your brilliant advice!
And now, one last question, this time for my curious foodie friends . . .
Do you prepare watercress now for your family?
In WATERCRESS, the family eats the vegetable stir-fried, which is how I prefer it. I don’t follow a formal recipe since it’s so simple, but this is how I make it:
Stir-fried Watercress
1-2 tsp cooking oil
1 bunch fresh watercress, rinsed and drained
1 clove garlic, sliced
salt
toasted sesame seeds for garnish (optional)
In a wok or large frying pan, heat the oil over medium-high to high heat. Add garlic and stir quickly with a spatula.
After a few seconds, add the watercress and continue stirring for 1-2 minutes, until the watercress has changed color and the stems are tender.
If the bottom of the wok runs dry, a couple of tablespoons of water can be added to keep the vegetables from scorching.
Add salt to taste and transfer to a serving dish.
Sprinkle with sesame seeds and enjoy!
Andrea, thank you so much. It’s been a delight and an honor to have you as a guest today.
A Bonus Thanksgiving Surprise! Win a Copy of WATERCRESS!
As an expression of thanks, Frog on a Dime invites you to enter for a chance to win your very own personalized copy of WATERCRESS, signed by both Andrea Wang and Caldecott honoree Jason Chin.
TO ENTER, simply leave a comment below.
The names of THREE lucky winners will be drawn at Noon on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 25.
The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon. ~ Paulo Coelho
Oh what a pleasure it is to proclaim the winner of this year’s Summer Open House giveaway drawing.
Congratulations go to Lori McElrath-Eslick! You will receive your very own, one of a kind doodle, personalized with your initials or those of someone you love.
Please send me a message with your preference and mailing address, and I will get to doodling!
Heartfelt thanks go to everyone who entered the drawing. Your comments and kindness are most appreciated. I will think of you as I doodle more curlicues, spirals and paisley patterns. I hope you will doodle away the summer too!
Doodle by Vicky Lorencen
Bees do have a smell, you know, and if they don’t they should, for their feet are dusted with spices from a million flowers. ~ Ray Bradbury
December birthdays can be bummers for some, I suppose. But Frog on a Dime is fine with a sidebar birthday. It’s still fun to celebrate! And the best part, my darling dangling participles? The best part is the birthday giveaway! This year’s prize package is filled with all manner of goodies sure to solicit “Oh, wow!”s from the lucky recipient.
Might that lucky duck be you?
Meet Mister Moses Frenchpress
To enter Frog on a Dime’s 7th Birthday Celebration giveaway, leave a comment with this blog post (or with the Facebook post). Your comment MUST INCLUDE your favorite (or least favorite) 7-letter word.
The day for the drawing giveaway is Lucky Friday, December 13 at 6 p.m. (Eastern Time). Can’t wait!
I grabbed a pile of dust, and holding it up, foolishly asked for as many birthdays as the grains of dust, I forgot to ask that they be years of youth. ~ Ovid
Welcome to Frog on a Dime 