Throckmorton S. Monkey, one of the main characters in The Secrets of Eastcliff-by-the-Sea, is a red-heeled sock monkey. Do you know the history behind these easily-recognizable stuffed animals? Did you know that Rockford, Illinois calls itself the Home of the Sock Monkey? That’s because John Nelson, a Swedish immigrant to America, patented a sock-knitting machine… Read More
Tango, my beloved dog who passed on last year, the model for one of the main characters in Tango: The Tale of an Island Dog, was a Yorkshire Terrier. Do you know much about this breed? Do you realize that it has been a popular pet since Victorian times, first being recognized by the American… Read More
Here are five books for middle grade readers that I’ve read and enjoyed recently: 1. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll with illustrations by Camille Rose Garcia (Published by Collins Design, an imprint of HarperCollins, 2010) 2. The Question of Miracles by Elana K. Arnold (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015) 3. On My Honor by Marion Dane… Read More
Tango is traveling by boat on the ocean with his person, Marcellina, and her boyfriend Diego when Tango is washed overboard! In the months that follow, his fondest wish is to find his way home to Marcellina. He does everything within his power to make that wish come true. He has a lot of help… Read More
In the Teachers’ Guide for Tango: The Tale of an Island Dog, I’ve suggested that you develop a script for Chapter 34—“A Fair Fight”—and act out the scene. Start the scene at the point that Beau hears a voice call into the night: You’ll find good dialogue to work with and it’s a tense scene,… Read More