Going through old files reminded me how much fun it was living 11 years in sports-crazy Boston. The Celtics, Bruins, Red Sox and Patriots all won national championships while we were there. Riding the T into various sports venues was always a hoot with fans joining at every stop----such camaraderie.

The kiddo and I had our annual day-before-first-day-of-school trip to Lan Su Chinese Garden. Jasmine green tea, hibiscus tea, red bean moon cake and almond cookies for the stomach. Koi, water lilies, waterfalls and the most perfect quiet sanctuary for the soul.

Preorder EATING TO SAVE THE PLANET: HOW VEGANISM HELPS FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE at bit.ly/4mutIez. In bookstores August 26th!

On Tuesday, White House officials laid out detailed plans to eliminate Smithsonian exhibits that they determined represented “improper ideology." This heavy-handed revision of U.S. history has elicited comparisons among staffers to 1930s Germany. trib.al/ec7kBMG

While we celebrate yesterday’s win, we have to remember that the harmful impacts of this unconstitutional law continue. The judge rejected the state’s “government speech” argument, so they cannot just make orders to remove books they don’t like from on high. www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/12/o...

UNRESERVEDLY RECOMMENDED!

If you are thinking about buying EATING TO SAVE THE PLANET for yourself or as a gift, please consider pre-ordering your copy. Pre-orders are a tremendous boost for book sales for many reasons. How do you change the world for the better? You start small. You start with what is on your plate.

Thank you to Cierra Goodluck for this beautiful artwork celebrating my Sonoran Desert roots. IG: @discotwirlygirlycreations

At age 5 or 6 I embroidered this tea towel. I worked for hours & was quite proud of myself until I realized I had sewed it to the skirt I was wearing. It was no fun to scrap first attempts and begin again--an early lesson that creatives need to start over and revise--in writing as in embroidery.

First hollyhocks of the summer, which always make me think of PRISCILLA AND THE HOLLYHOCKS and Anna Alter's amazing paintings for our book. Before I researched this book I didn't even know what a hollyhock looked like. Now I will always have hollyhocks planted in our garden.

85% of my writing is done on my laptop but sometimes, I need to use paper and pen to get the visuals that work best so my mind can process what a revision needs. In this case, reworking structure and chapter order in my WIP (Scholastic fall, 2026 historical novel). Today, old school rules!

I feel like more needs to be made about what she actually said. Because holy shit.

250 years ago, Americans rejected the rule of a mad king. In two days, we’re taking to the streets again to say NO KINGS. 2,000 peaceful protests are planned in small towns and major cities across the country. Join your community on Saturday for #NoKings Day: www.nokings.org?SQF_SOURCE=i...

What a super fun, varied week as an author! 1) Lots of marketing work for EATING TO SAVE THE PLANET (this August). 2) Work on WORDS SPOKEN TRUE (2026 YA novel). 3) Proofs for the I'M GONNA PAINT paperback (this November). I love everything about the back cover text below.

It never gets old.

Unconscionable.

It's always a good day when one receives a good Kirkus review...

This evening I received the Eloise Jarvis McGraw Award for Children's Literature for I'M GONNA PAINT. I'm thankful for my family there to cheer me on and for fellow finalists @ lesliebarnardbooth.bsky.social, @deborahhopkinson.bsky.social and Dane Liu's support. (Check out all their books.)

Kidnapping. Capturing a person against their will without due process is called kidnapping. Transporting them to another country without due process is called human trafficking. A squalid extrajudicial prison for people found guilty of no crime is called a concentration camp.

"The most common justifications for censorship provided by complainants were false claims of illegal obscenity for minors; inclusion of LGBTQIA+ characters or themes; and covering topics of race, racism, equity, and social justice" - ALA OIF on the most challenged books of 2024 bit.ly/42rLOVL

It’s a month since the administration detained and disappeared a green card holder, a lawful permanent resident. We cannot allow this to be normalized or forgotten.

I am thrilled to announce that Junior Library Guild has selected EATING TO SAVE THE PLANET: HOW VEGANISM CAN HELP FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE as a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. This is a great start for EATING TO SAVE THE PLANET which will be published by Holiday House in August 2025.

I was nervous about marching today, never before having protested in a country where people have "been disappeared" off public streets by what feels like an authoritarian government. Spending a few hours with thousands of other like-minded people to show what democracy looks like gives me hope.

I'm grateful that our second-grader goes to a school where he's been learning about the civil rights movement, especially Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the March on Washington and Ruby Bridges. His summary of what he learned is going to be my guiding light for Saturday's "Hand's Off" march.

I was fortunate to see a Queen of the Night blooming cereus today for its short few hours of life.

While walking in Tucson...

Dane Liu and I at Portland's gorgeous new Literary Arts facility, celebrating our books as Oregon Book Awards finalists. (LAOLAO'S DUMPLINGS and I'M GONNA PAINT: RALPH FASANELLA, ARTIST OF THE PEOPLE)

ADD YOUR NAME: We will protect trans children: Trump can try to erase trans people, but we know they are beloved children of God act.faithfulamerica.org/sign/trans

PEN America's Most Frequently Banned Picture Books Center on Gay and Transgender People but Also World War II History, a Boy Mermaid and (Horrors!) a Goblin’s Rear End #BannedBooks #NotAHoax pen.org/press-releas...

Check out the books written by the other finalists for the Eloise Jarvitz McGraw Book Award in Children's Literature. I've ordered these four books to enjoy reading. @lesliebarnardbooth.bsky.social @deborahhopkinson.bsky.social @danelii.bsky.social

I just contacted my senators and urged them to oppose Pete Hegseth's nomination to lead the Defense Department. Trump's pick would undermine our national security. app.sosha.ai/s/UFIvxCS0