Nancy Raines Day

At the Abrams lunch with my editor, Susan Van Metre, and my daughter, Meghan, a children's librarian

The high point of ALA for me was Abrams picture book luncheon at a lovely historic home. Got to show On a Windy Night to some super librarians from all over, along with fellow Abrams authors Erica Perl, Daniel Kirk, Tameka Brown, Cheryl Willis Hudson, and S.D. Nelson. I enjoyed my two signings at the Abrams booth as well.

Also want to give a shout-out to Mary Ann Hoberman, U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate, who gave a great poetry workshop and signed her latest book there. I was lucky enough to have her as a neighbor in my growing-up years, and her work has been a life-long inspiration to me.

Much of what I’m writing now has an environmental theme, and I work in a bookstore as well. One of my missions is connecting kids with nature through books. Here are some standout nature titles from other authors:

For very young kids, nothing beats In My Nest. The original in this adorable board book by Sara Gillingham and Lorena Siminovitch has now been joined by In My Pond, In My Den, In My Tree, In My Flower, and In My Meadow. For more on this, see my post on the “Interesting Nonfiction for Kids” blog.

Picture book readers will love Kevin Henkes’ newest wonder,  My Garden. This story, full of imagination, is definitely fiction. But it may spur kids to get out there and try their hand at gardening!

Plant Secrets by Emily Goodman and illustrated by Phyllis Limbacher Tildes offers a different—and beautiful—nonfiction take on plants from seed to flower to fruit.

Older elementary kids will be fascinated by How the World Works: A Hands-On Guide to Our Amazing Planet by Christian Dorian and Beverly Young. Tabs, wheels, flaps, and absorbing graphics make basic life and earth science come alive.

In honor of National Library Week, I interviewed my daughter, Meghan Day, a children’s librarian at the public library in Irvington, New York.  Before that, she spent three years as an editor at Holiday House.

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What’s your favorite thing about your job as a children’s librarian?

Connecting kids with great books! It’s rewarding seeing the younger ones get so excited about coming to storytime, and I love the challenge of matching the older ones with the perfect books for their level and interests.

What are some of your favorite books to share, old and new, from picture book to YA novel?

Tough one! Some of my childhood favorites that spoke to me when I was younger, and are probably responsible for my love of reading, are Maurice Sendak’s wonderfully bizarre In the Night Kitchen, Arnold Lobel’s charming Frog and Toad easy reader series, A. A. Milne’s delightful Winnie the Pooh books, Ellen Raskin’s page-turning mystery The Westing Game, E. L. Konigsburg’s unforgettable From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, and the awesomely creepy books of Lois Duncan (especially Summer of Fear and Stranger with My Face).

Among my new favorites to share with kids, and, let’s be honest, enjoy myself, are Peter McCarty’s adorably clever Jeremy Draws a Monster (I’d also like to give a shout out to any picture books from Amy Krouse Rosenthal–funny!–and Carin Berger–gorgeous and sweet!), the endearing and humorous Elephant and Piggie beginning readers by Mo Willems, the perfect-to-read-aloud Toys Go Out and its equally winning sequel Toy Dance Party by Emily Jenkins, pretty much anything by Mary Amato, Rebecca Stead’s incredible When You Reach Me (so happy it won the Newbery, I’ve been talking it up to kids since it came out), and the intensely gripping Hunger Games series by Suzzanne Collins (I’m holding my breath for the final book in the trilogy to come out this August!). Phew. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The good news is, old or new, there’s really no shortage of awesome books to share.

How can children’s writers help their local libraries?

With all the budgetary cuts or threats of cuts happening these days, writing letters to the editor of your local newspaper about the importance of libraries would be a huge help. Also, write your senators about any pending library aid bills–let them know how important libraries are to your community. Support your library with your presence, attending programs and checking out materials. And, last but not least, it’s always a good idea to develop a relationship with your children’s librarian to talk about other ways to support the library with your time and talents. Who knows, it could lead collaborating on a children’s program!

I’ll be signing my new book, On a Windy Night, at the American Library Association conference in Washington, D.C., at the end of June! Come see me at the Abrams booth on Friday, June 25 between 5:30 and 6:30 or Saturday, June 26 from 11:00 noon.

Counting down to the launch of my latest picture book On a Windy Night, a wonderfully spooky picture book coming from Abrams this fall, just in time for Halloween. For a preview of illustrator’s George Bates’ awesome cover design, see talented art director Chad W. Beckerman’s blog here.

Flamingo yoga at the Savannah Children’s Book Festival, Nov. 14th

My website is under development. Meanwhile, can’t wait to share with you news of recent events.

Nov. 24–School visit to Waccamaw Elementary in Pawleys Island, SC.

Dec. 5–Signing of Flamingo’s First Chirstmas at the Lord of Life Lutheran in St. Simons Island, GA.

Dec. 12–Storytime and signing of Flamingo’s First Christmas at Barnes & Noble in Savannah, GA.