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I recently received this email from Korea: To Karen, Hello, I’m a teacher at a Korean elementary school. While reading ‘four feet, two sandles’ I wondered if there was a Ukrainian and Polish version of that book. Please let me know when you know that. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, While Four Feet Two Sandals, about two refugee girls in a refugee camp in Pakistan, is published in several languages I had to respond that there are no translations of this book in Ukrainian or Polish. How small our world [...]

I got my copies! It's not too early to start planning for your beach read.  And now it's in paperback. Illustrated by Floyd Cooper who sadly passed away this last July.  A great loss to the children's book world.  He brought his magic to A Beach Tail and I am honored. See his many wonderful books here:  http://www.floydcooper.com And no need to wait for warmer weather.  Read and take a beach adventure now!

Who doesn't love a winter walk in the snow with a good book? Put on your boots, snowshoes or skies, bundle up and take the dog.  Head on over to Big Horn Park in Vail Colorado for the story walk and read A Thousand White Butterflies sponsored by the Vail Public Library.  Enjoy activities along the way.  Enjoy nature. https://vaillibrary.com/storywalk/ Vail too far away?  Check out your local library or independent bookstore  for a copy.   Curl up with some hot chocolate. And READ! Enjoy!

Category: Best Picture Books for School Age Children CCBC Choices is the annual best-of-the-year list of the Cooperative Children’s Book Center of the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The fully annotated Choices document will be available as a pdf by early March, 2022. The Choices 2022 books will also be in the CCBC-recommended books database by early March. This announcement.  Something to warm my heart and soul on a gray, cold winter day.  A day like Jessica and I imaged for Isabella when we were writing A Thousand White Butterflies. [...]

It happens that I saw an announcement for an essay contest.  Imagine a Day Without Water. It happens to be a national campaign: Imagine a Day Without Water is a national education campaign that brings together diverse stakeholders to highlight how water is essential, invaluable, and in need of investment.   It happens I have lived in places where clean water is difficult to find.  Around the world and here in the US.    Imagine! It happens that clean water is a subject I am very interested in. It happens I am collaborating [...]

Looking for an activity with family in 2022?  How about a book and movie night?  Disney's Encanto an animated Colombian tale of magical realism explores themes of family and immigration and the special powers in each of us. A Thousand White Butterflies coauthored by Jessica Betancourt Perez and yours truly is a story of a Colombian immigrant, family and friendship. The movie offers details of life in Colombia: flora, fauna, food and fashion.  A good way to extend "Butterflies".  The music by Lin-Manuel Miranda adds to the Colombian vibe.  The characters of all [...]