The past two weeks have brought some scary stories to our news cycle. With fears of coronavirus and a terrible tornado stunning Nashville, your children may be feeling worried and nervous. How can we talk to children about scary news? I think this one tip can be very helpful: Let children lead your discussion. Assess… Read more »
Posts By: Andi Long
Top Book Picks for Inspiring Courage
In a sometimes scary world, picture books can help inspire courage. Here are some of my favourites for all kinds of fears: whether you’re afraid of the dark or afraid of making mistakes, whether you need to face a big, scary thing or you’re trying to be brave enough for a fun challenge, these books… Read more »
A Dozen Books for Love Day
We love books of the heart, especially this time of year. To celebrate Love Day, we’ve put together our top dozen love-themed books to share with the ones you love. How about a picture book instead of a greeting card for Valentine’s Day? Here are a few we love and recommend. The Runaway Bunny “If… Read more »
A Decade of Books
As I was thinking about the past decade I thought I’d just look back at the books that came out in the last 10 years. I’m blown away by how fortunate and blessed I have been that my agent, my editors and publishers and illustrators believed in the stories and helped bring them out into… Read more »
The Power of One
How do you help children know they are important? How do you teach them that they have a voice and that they matter? One way, of course, is by showing them through story. One of the biggest lessons children (and their grown-ups) can learn is the importance of the power of one. One person, no… Read more »
Some Favourite Christmas Picture Books
Do you love Christmas stories as much as I do? What is it about a story? It’s a feeling, an image you can return to, year after year, when you’re little and when you’re grown. A picture book is a place to connect with the ones you love, to dream about years past or years… Read more »
Slowing Down and Looking Up
This time of year it’s as if the trees are shining beacons of light, dancing, waving their arms all about, desperately trying to catch our attention. Inviting us to slow down. To stop and look up. Reminding us to be where we are. Right here. Right now. The writer, Dallas Willard, was once asked what… Read more »
Living a Life of Radical Amazement
“Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement…get up in the morning and look at the world in a way that takes nothing for granted. Everything is phenomenal; everything is incredible; never treat life casually. To be spiritual is to be amazed.” –Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel This quote has been bouncing around in… Read more »
The One Indispensable Tool to Rely On Each Day
I love going behind the scenes and seeing the studio of an illustrator, or the desk of a writer, don’t you? I recently posted a behind the scenes of my own desk. These tiny pencils. One child calls his tiny pencils, “Legendary Pencils.” So that’s what they are from now on: my Legendary Pencils. What… Read more »
Some of My Favorite Writing Books
If you love to write, I imagine you love to read. And reading about writing? Well that’s my cup of tea (along with an actual cup of tea, of course). Here are some of my favorite books about writing to help inspire your own projects. Bird by Bird by Ann Lamott Acclaimed bestselling author Ann… Read more »