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Join me for Book Bites for Kids, LIVE on blogtalkradio this afternoon at 2:00 central time when my guest will be children’s author Kristie Smith.

We’ll talk about her new book Learning Braille with Dots and Dottie: Dottie and Dots See Animal Spots.

Learn more about Kristie Smith and her books at her website.

Today’s guest on Book Bites for Kids was LeFerna Arnold-Walch, author of The Secret of Yahweh!

Listen to the recorded show here on blogtalkradio. Listen to Book Bites for Kids, LIVE on blogtalkradio every weekday afternoon at 2:00 CENTRAL time.

Listen to Book Bites for Kids, LIVE on blogtalkradio this afternoon at 2:00 Central time when my guest will be Deborah Hopkinson and Carmela D’Amico. Call in at 1-646-716-9239 to ask Deborah or Carmela a question during the live show, or just make a comment.

Carmela D’Amico is the author of the Ella the Elephant series. Throughout childhood she made up stories about characters she had invented, a pastime she still enjoys. Currently she is exploring other imaginary characters but hopes to return to Ella someday. Before writing for children she freelanced for local newspapers, wrote short fiction for adults and turned out the occasional poem. When not writing, she can be found playing Scrabble or the piano, taking a road trip or making lentil soup. She lives in rainy Seattle with her husband Steve and their daughter, Olivia.

Carmela and Steven offer full-day and half-day interactive illustration and writing workshops and presentations for students in grades K-6.

Deborah Hopkinson is the author of picture books, short fiction, and nonfiction. Her award-winning works include Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt, winner of the 1994 International Reading association Award; A Band of Angels, an ALA Notable, winner of the Golden Kite Award, and Jane Addams award honor book; Under the Quilt of Night, winner of the Washington State Book Award, Bluebird Summer, a Golden Kite Award Honor Book, and Girl Wonder, winner of the Great Lakes Book Award and a 2004 Jane Addams Award honor book.

Deborah’s nonfiction works include Shutting out the Sky, Life in the Tenements of New York 1880-1924 , an NCTE Orbis Pictus award and Jane Addams Award honor book, an IRA Teachers’ Choice, and a James Madison Award Honor Book.

Her 2006 book, Sky Boys, How They Built the Empire State Building, was an ALA Notable and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor book, while Up Before Daybreak, Cotton and People in America, won a Carter G. Woodson Award and was an ALA Notable book as well. Her most recent book, Sweet Land of Liberty, was named an IRA Teachers Choice, a Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People 2008 and a starred selection on the Bank Street College of Education’s Best Children’s Books of the Year list for 2008.

Apples to Oregon won the Golden Kite Award and Spur Storytelling Award and was also an ALA Notable book. The book is a feature selection of Oregon Reads, in honor of the 150th anniversary of the State of Oregon in 2009. Both Apples to Oregon and a middle grade novel, Into the Firestorm, A Novel of San Francisco, 1906, are featured on the Oregon Battle of the Books list for 2008-09.

Her new book, Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek, a Junior Library Guild Selection, will be published in 2008. Forthcoming picture books include such as Home on the Range, John A. Lomax and His Cowboy Songs (2009) The Humblebee Hunter (2009), Keep On! The Story of Matthew Henson (2009) and Stagecoach Sal (2010.)

A three-time Oregon Book Award finalist, Deborah received a bachelor’s degree in English at the University of Massachusetts and holds a master’s degree in Asian Studies from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. A frequent presenter at conferences and schools, she lives near Portland, Oregon.

Wow! Look who’s coming to Book Bites for Kids, LIVE on blogtalkradio this afternoon at 2:00 Central time:

BONNY BECKER
Bonny likes a bit of chaos and lots of time to think and dream. One of her earliest dreams—to be a writer—came true. She has a degree in Psychology and a degree in English/Creative Writing. Bonny has worked picking fruit, making ski goggles, waitressing, as a store clerk, substitute teacher, hotel maid, typist, photographer, journalist, editor and corporate communications manager. It took a long time for her dream of writing books to come true, but it’s been worth the wait. Her books include: An Ant’s Day Off, Just a Minute, My Brother, The Robot, On Her Way, The Christmas Crocodile, Tickly Prickly, Holbrook and her latest release, A Visitor for Bear.

Bonny ‘s author presentations will excite and inspire students in grades K-6. From picture book readings to discussing what it means to be an author, and leading picture book making workshops, Bonny’s interactive presentations will delight.

KIRBY LARSON
Kirby’s grade school teachers often complained that she spent too much time reading and not enough time on homework. Books were her best friends growing up but she never imagined someone like her could become a writer. What she loves best about writing is that she is always learning something new. That may be why Kirby has tackled a variety of genres from picture books to chapter books to novels.

One of her favorite quotes is from Russell Hoban’s A Mouse and His Child: “You’ve got to take those daring leaps or you’re nowhere.” Starting from scratch with each new book is one of the most daring leaps Kirby can imagine taking, and she hopes to be taking such leaps on the page until she is 99!

Kirby’s portfolio includes the 2007 Newbery Honor Award book, Hattie Big Sky (Delacorte); and Junior Library Guild and IndieBound Next List selection, Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival, (Walker), co-written with her good friend, Mary Nethery and illustrated by New Orleans resident, Jean Cassels. She is at work on a middle-grade historical novel, as well as a second nonfiction picture book with Mary.

Kirby has lived her entire life in Washington State, acquiring two degrees, two children and one husband along the way. When she is not reading, writing or speaking about writing, she is gardening, traveling or drinking lattes with friends.

Join me for Book Bites for Kids, this afternoon at 2:00 central time, LIVE on blogtalkradio, when my guest will be Corinne Isaak, author of Unique Monique: Moki Time.