4 years ago. Main requirement is I heard them as standalone entities, apart from whatever album they wound up on. I almost never found out about them while listening to the radio, much less in dance clubs. But “Ballerman” compilations of songs young Germans trinken bier to on ski vacations? Sure!

Me and my teen daughter rocking out on Friday! This is a new song about neurodivergence, but we have a whole album we recorded starting during the pandemic, when she was 12! open.spotify.com/track/5QSVBN...

Show me proof you’ve donated at least $25 to an org that supports a need in the community, for ex: Food pantry Shelter Bail fund Abortion access Tribal support and I'll send you a copy of Rat Fair! (Take a peek here but pls don't support Amazon if possible) 2/3 www.amazon.com/Rat-Fair-Lea...

Official Heartdrum teacher guides are created by Indigenous educators. Scroll to view: www.harpercollins.com/pages/childr... @harperstacks.bsky.social @epicreads.bsky.social @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social #KidLit #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth

I just got my set of the stitched badges I designed for the Bucks County Free Library summer reading program this year! I sketched them in Procreate on my iPad, then created the final designs in Adobe illustrator. The library sent them to a manufacturer to be stitched. #libraries 📚 #reading #library

Happy Halloween!

Someone sold his music collection!

Need some fun #STEM and book-themed printable activities? Git ‘em on my website, along with educator-designed teaching guides! www.lalenalab.com/illustration...

How to draw Ana from Friends Beyond Measure: A Story Told with Infographics (HarperKIDS) - with a shout out to my first drawing teacher #edemberley ! @hownowbooking.bsky.social

Sketching the awesome marvels in a mystic locale. Early mornings are the best! #etretat #normandy #monet

Jumping for joy (and embarrassing my teenager) over my first author school visit of the new school year! More info: www.lalenalab.com/authorvisits... @hownowbooking.bsky.social

Doodling on recent trips! This house in Lavenham, England is said to have inspired the old nursery rhyme. Check out the story of the “crooked men” who live there now: @crookedhouselavenham #kidlitart

The Books and Bees Festival was such a joy! Thanks for inviting me, Bee Cave Public Library!

This poor fella was at a school visit in WA. It’s OK! Not all books are for everyone. Not sure if the story hit too close to home, or if he was just having a bad day. I did my best to ask him about the things he does like, and he calmed down. Kids are so full of surprises and their own stories.💕

I’m thrilled to take part in this charming book festival on Saturday: the Books and Bees Festival at Bee Cave Public Library! www.booksandbeesfestival.com #booksandbees

Thank you Zilker Elementary for bringing me out to read and draw with your spectacular [email protected] #authorvisits

A skunky postcard for a loved one. Drawing for other people helps me keep in practice, and keeping good art routines. #kidlitart #skunk

Had a lovely author visit at North Beach Elementary in Seattle this week! Thank you, Seattle Public Schools!

Birthday postcard for my grandbaby, who loves Minnie Mouse:

Really looking forward to taking part in this!

Just a little doodle to send Dad.

For anyone who has decided someone is NOT your valentine, here is my NYC band’s (closest thing to a) hit. I am very proud of it! youtu.be/9L2FLVqCQtM?...

Teachers! A TX school librarian and CA @earlymathproject have done a lot of work for you designing lesson plans ready to use with your students. Links: go to www.LalenaLab.com —> Illustration/Books —> Activity Pages

I loved my week visiting with students in Round Rock ISD! Their Armadillo Reading List this year includes Friends Beyond Measure, and a librarian created amazing lesson plans that anyone can use. Links to those and more resources here: www.lalenalab.com/illustration... #schoollibrarian

A li’l diagram on how to re-thread a drawstring! (To “My Domesticated Beast” by The Color Guard) #lifehacks #diagram #infographics #dataviz

Spilled 5800 words re: reborn top 40, pop-diva precedents, doomed metal, live music dying except in pubs, criticism in critical condition, landslides that aren't, avant-garde continents, wars against expertise, bad news beefs, obedience in advance, what AI has to say, & my 150 favorite 2024 albums.

Every year I decorate my tree with props I created for The Wonder Pets. Here are the pieces of some of the characters from The Wonder Pets Save the Nutcracker! We photographed them and then cut them into “puppeting” pieces in Adobe Photoshop, to animate in AfterEffects. 🎄

Best #Music #Journalism of 2024- see my article for Rock & Roll Globe incl work by @chuckeddytor.bsky.social @cushac.bsky.social @suzy.bsky.social @jeremygordon.bsky.social @jillmapes.bsky.social @sndrsng.bsky.social @chrisstanton27.bsky.social & more rockandrollglobe.com/music-journa...

A graphic novel holiday gift guide from Kids Comics Unite! kidscomicsunite.com/2024-holiday...

Why do I always crave chocolate immediately after lunch?! 🍫

Thanks Northside ISD for the opportunity to work with hundreds of San Antonio students! We read and drew charts and feelings based on my Texas 2x2 book Friends Beyond Measure. More on visits here: www.lalenalab.com/authorvisits... #childrensauthor #schoollibrarian #rexas2x2 #elementary #stem #sel

For some reason I love making activity sheets for kids. In fact when I WAS a kid I loved creating word search puzzles, anagrams, and mad libs along with silly cartoons. Anyway, my teenage daughter inadvertently walked in at just the right time here:

Dot-to-dot with animals native to the United States, just added to my TeachersPayTeachers store!

Teachers, parents, homeschoolers: You can get my new Halloween coloring printable FREE on www.LalenaLab.com and TeachersPayTeachers! 🎃