March 20th to 26th was National Poison Prevention Week, and Safe Kids Indiana marked the event by offering a virtual story time of POISON ALERT! MY TIPS TO AVOID DANGER ZONES AT HOME. Check out the story time HERE, and stay after for important tips on how to be safe around poisonous critters like Gila monsters and coral snakes. (Yipes!)

Thank you to Safe Kids Indiana for helping children make healthy choices!

In November, the Cleveland Cavaliers gave the gift of reading to lots of lucky students at Denison Elementary. Every student got to pick new books at the Cavs Mobile Book Fair, and one of the books offered was ELLIE ULTRA. Click here to read more about the event for happy readers and big-hearted leaders.

Thank you to the Cavaliers for championing literacy and helping imaginations soar! 

Are you in the habit of staying healthy? My Healthy Habits, a series I wrote for Lerner/Millbrook Press, has been released in a format for younger readers. It's called Health Smarts (Early Bird Stories™). The series includes six books that teach you how to feel good and stay safe. Click on the book for more info!

Summer is officially here. Yay! It's a great time to take a trip and enjoy somewhere new, no matter if that place is a plane ride away or down the block. In THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS IN ILLINOIS, Mia and Sam travel to many places around the Prairie State. Along the way, they learn interesting things and have all kinds of fun. You can read about their exciting journey by clicking HERE. 

Think about somewhere that you have visited. What did you like most about it? Download the activity below to share your favorite memories from there.

The merriest of holidays to you! I'm sure you're taking time to read every day, and I'm so proud of you for doing that. It makes your brainpower stronger, you know. That's why I'd like to give you a special gift. It's something all readers need: a bookmark!

To get your very own Ellie Ultra bookmark, click on the links to download the images below. And keep reading!

Happy Summer, Ellie Ultra fans!

Now that school is out, how are you using your brainpower? Are you reading books? Writing stories? Making extra-ordinary things? If you want to give your brain a turbo-charged boost, click on the activity below to create your very own superhero! 

Get creating, and have FUN! 

Recently, I visited young authors at a local school and got the chance to hear some of their stories. WOW! I was amazed by their talent. It's only a matter of time before their books start popping up on library shelves. 

It was also beyond awesome to see how much the school appreciates its creative students. Every author (and illustrator!) is celebrated with charisma and encouragement. No doubt it means the world to them! 

Book Riot compiled a list of the best children's books for healthy living, and CHOOSE GOOD FOOD! MY EATING TIPS is included. To see the full list, click HERE. You can also click on the cover below to learn about the fantastic food facts inside the book.

Today marked the 32nd annual Children's Book Fair in Chicago, where readers of all ages came to celebrate stories. It was beyond inspiring! I signed copies of two titles from ELLIE ULTRA and met so many fans of our super girl. The books were graciously sponsored by generous local businesses.

Hugs go out to Ellie's readers, plus my heartfelt appreciation to those who give kids the power to read!

Back in April, the Cleveland Cavaliers used MOVE YOUR BODY!: MY EXERCISE TIPS for an exciting event at Spring Hill Elementary School. More details from the NBA are HERE, plus lots of cool photos of the festivities. (Sneak a peek at some of the photos below.) Go bookworms and the Cavaliers!