Martha Freeman

Writes funny books for kids

"A Bus for Us" is the Book for Us

“A Bus for Us,” written and illustrated by Suzanne Bloom, is the 2013 selection of the One Book, Every Young Child project. Now in its eighth year, the Pennsylvania initiative promotes ...

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Cats on the Move

The French publisher is calling it “Cats on the Move” (my rough translation), but the U.S. title was “The Trouble with Babies.” In it, protagonist Holly, who has just moved from one San Francisco neighborhood to another ...

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Scary? Yes, But That's the Point

Neil Gaiman wrote “Coraline,” the only book that ever gave my daughter Rosa nightmares.

Rosa is pretty tough, so it was with trepidation that I opened his 2009 Newbery winner, “The Graveyard Book,” and read:

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Lucky Cap

A fast-moving read for fourth grade and up is Patrick Jennings’ “Lucky Cap,” just out in paperback. The summer before Enzo starts middle school, his dad

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The Case of the Grim Grown-Up

Some people never want to grow up.

Many people see growing up as grim necessity.

And a few – but not many -- think the whole growing up deal is pretty good.

That's what I learned when I asked fans....

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Warning: This Review Mentions Clint Eastwood

Jon Klassen is an unassuming Canadian-born illustrator who claims he never wrote anything other than emails until his controversial picturebook bestseller, “I Want My Hat Back” (reviewed in May 2010). Now he's gone and won the Caldecott medal for "This Is Not My Hat."

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First Kids Mysteries

My First Kids mysteries are narrated by Cameron Parks, 10-year-old daughter of the first woman president of the United States. They also feature her little sister, Tessa (who is a drama queen), and her cousin Nate (who knows everything).

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A perfect book for animal lovers

Spring has sprung in Hilary McKay’s new chapter book, and in the park where Lulu’s third-grade class goes on Tuesday after swim class “…every tree was exploding like a firework with bright green leaves. Every flower bed blazed with tulips and daffodils. ”

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Lois Kazakoff's Holiday Fruit Bread

By popular request, here is the recipe for the fruit bread I have been making for the past (ahem-eh-mmm) years.

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Warm Reads for Winter

Climate change or not, winter will arrive on time this year, along with its particular sorrows (like getting cold) and joys (like warming up again). Let's consider three books perfect for the season.

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Kids Wanna Know

One of my favorite questions from my recent school visit to Altoona, Pennsylvania, was this from a fourth grader: Were you born when the Titanic sailed in 1858?

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Lovable New Halloween Books

If you’re looking for a child-friendly treat that is healthier than candy, you should consider one of these outstanding stories...

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Top Question Students Ask

The top question young readers ask an author is actually one of the hardest to answer: Where do you get your ideas? Why is that question so tough? For me, I think it's because I often don't know. Take, for example, my beginner book, "Mrs. Wow Never Wanted a Cow." Where did I get the idea? Well,one day it occurred to me...

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Two Plots that Went Terribly Awry

I am trying to write a picturebook today, but somehow I can't get my plots to work out. Read on for two that went wrong.

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Five Things I've Learned So Far from My Impending Move

  1. If someone gives or lends you a key, label it immediately.

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