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As I study memoirs, it’s fascinating to see those that come in different formats.  Kristen Mai Giang’s LAST FLIGHT is a picture book recounting her family’s flight from Saigon in 1975.  The title itself is fascinating as the family was read more »

2022 Wilde Award Winners

Award Winners for Babies and Toddlers . Most engaging board book Books Most Likely to Get You Baby Kisses   Best Hug Compendium Ever     Best book for texture-singing combo   Jolliest character return for babies     Best read more »

2021 Best Books: 25th Wilde Awards for Longer Books

Here’s an upbeat look at the pandemic….writers have been busy! There have been an amazing number of superb novels published. Early Novels (Ages 6-10)   Jo Jo Makoons: The Used-to-Be Best Friend, Dawn Quigley  (Heartdrums,HarperCollins) Seven-year-old Jo Jo wants a read more »

2021 Best Books: 25th Wilde Awards for Picture Books

A quarter of a century? And as I prepare for my last Wilde Awards Live, I’m amazed at the number of remarkable picture books that have entered the world in 2021! In a year when so many families seek connection, read more »

Best books of 2021 for kids, young adults and families tell stories about ourselves

My superb editor, Jessica Banov, interviewed me and published this lovely article on  NOVEMBER 12, 2021. You can read the article here and see the splendid graphics she laid out (that I can’t copy well) at this link: https://www.newsobserver.com/living/article255661376.html#storylink=cpy   read more »

Books for Lauren and Alex’s Baby Boy

I’ve been conspiring with my dear sister-in-law, Kris Obaranec, to put organize a baby book shower for our adored niece and nephew, Lauren and Alex, who are expecting a baby boy in April.  To do so I’ve culled my Wilde read more »

2020 Wilde Awards for Longer Books

Here are the 24th annual Wilde Awards for Longer books.  They are divided into age/reading levels and within those, the books are sequenced based on developmental levels. Early Novels Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet, Zanib Mian (Putnam) The first in read more »

2020 Wilde Awards for Picture Books

This is the 24th year of Wilde Awards and if ever there was a need for the perfect book, it’s been in 2020. Here is a list of picture books that encourage connection, conversation and delight. For Babies & Toddlers read more »

First Virtual Wilde Awards Live

A week ago I had the wonderful experience of presenting many of my favorite books at the 2020 Wilde Awards “Live” virtually at Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill. Once again, I miraculously talked 50 favorite books in an hour!  If read more »

Sneak Peek 2020 Wilde Awards

  This Wednesday, November 18th, at 6pm I will be revealing the 2020 Wilde Awards.  That means, once again, I will do the impossible– talk almost 50 fabulous new books for babies to young adults within an hour.  Here’s the read more »