President's Day Activities with Farmer George Plants a Nation, part 2
Washington as a ScientistAsk students what it means to be a scientist. Make a list of the qualifications of a scientist as they understand it. They might say, “Conducting experiments, going to college,...
View ArticleResponding to Copy Editor's Comments - don't be snarky!
It's that time of year again - when I'm up to my nostrils with school visits, preparing for conferences, and trying to work on a new project - when a manuscript comes back from the copy editor. My...
View ArticleBalancing Writing With Life - or - Why I haven't written a post in 4 months
Just in case anyone out there wondered why I haven't written anything since April 1st, it is because my husband was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Double-Hit Lymphoma, which threw us into...
View ArticleThe Nonfiction Minute
Get on the ground floor of the next big thing in nonfiction! THE NONFICTION MINUTE is a website where teachers will find a new short nonfiction article written by one of dozens of award-winning...
View ArticleNonfiction for New Folks
Jump start your writing career with nonfiction! Sign up for Nonfiction for New Folks conference in Fredericksburg, TX on October 9-12th. What else are you doing on Columbus day weekend? I will be there...
View ArticleWriting Exercise - fleshing out emotions
I have the pleasure of being the nonfiction editor for the Oak Orchard Review, an online regional literary magazine. Saturday, we hosted a reading and open mic night when local writers, young and old,...
View ArticleNo Dead Ends
Several years ago when I was writing Bacteria and Viruses for Lerner, I came across a small mention of a doctor who fooled the Nazis with a fake typhus epidemic. I filed that slip of paper away and...
View ArticleQ & A on Rebecca G. Aguilar's Blog
Last month, Rebecca Aguilar asked me a few questions about my writing for her blog. I encourage you to check it out at http://rebeccagaguilar.com/2014/peggythomas.html
View ArticleMissed Time?
Missed Timeby Ha JinMy notebook has remained blank for monthsthanks to the light you showeraround me. I have no usefor my pen, which lieslanguorously without grief.Nothing is better than to livea...
View ArticleJuvenile Nonfiction on the Rise
I don't usually care about the industry numbers that come out each year ranking book sales, because I always know my category - children's nonfiction - will be mentioned somewhere in the last...
View ArticleA Clean Desk
I always start the new year off by cleaning my office. It isn't a nod to feng shui and good karma for the next 12 months. It's to put away the wrapping paper, receipts, shopping bags, and boxes of...
View ArticleBook Giveaway for President's Day
.goodreadsGiveawayWidget { color: #555; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; background: white; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget img {...
View ArticleAward-winning Nonfiction
This time of year is always exciting for children's authors. We get to find out which of our favorite books have won awards. For us nonfiction writers, the biggie is ALA's Robert F. Sibert Award for...
View ArticleChildren's Bookstore
It's a real thrill (but rare) to see my books in an actual, physical bookstore, so I take my kicks where I can get them. I saw an ad for the Children's Bookstore and their online book fairs in SLJ, and...
View ArticleMelissa Stewart on Expository Nonfiction
Check out Melissa Stewart's article about Expository Nonfiction (love the way she describes this name)...
View ArticleHappy Birthday Thomas!
Today is Thomas Jefferson's birthday, Celebrate with a Nonfiction Minute!Learn how he became a smuggler and grew America's economy.This Nonfiction Minute is a preview of my newest book Thomas Jefferson...
View ArticleOnly ONE! -- What's Up With That?
A few months ago I gave myself the gift of Publishers Weekly. It's my attempt at being more professional, more in touch with the business. It always comes before noon, and I manage to plow through most...
View ArticleHow to Be Your Own Primary Research Source
A month ago I made a rash decision. To shave my head to raise money for Roswell Park Cancer Institute. "Bald For Bucks" sounded fun at the time (my husband was going to do it too), and I definitely...
View ArticleSocial Anxiety
If you are like me and haven't had company to the house in months, or you cringe at the thought of going out on a Tuesday night, then check out this article by A. K. Whitney, on The Write Life. She...
View Article
More Pages to Explore .....