Just got the layout for Doug-Dennis and the Flyaway Fib as it will appear in Australia and New Zealand. Scholastic Australia gave Doug a dazzling new daytime cover. Which is appropriate, because if he's flying through the night sky in America, it'd be daytime down under.

Wink.

I posted a few more pictures of Australian Doug up at the Doug blog.

My friend Catherine Murray invited me to do a reading at All-Saints school in Hoboken before school let out. The humongous space multiplied my voice a bajillion times, that coupled with the giggles, questions and wiggly kids made for a very loud reading indeed.

More pics @ Doug's blog.

The semi-deep south is about to get BAH'd.

I gave a stack of stickers to Jill Moore, who makes Square Books in Oxford Miss one of the most magical book shops anywhere. She promptly pasted one onto her guitar case. Who knows where the rest will end up. I would personally love to see one attached to a tumbler of sweet tea, glued to the top of the broccoli rice casserole at Ajax diner and stuck to a side of Memphis ribs.

Check the rest of my Oxford trip @ Doug's blog.

I took Doug on a trip as far south as I've ever been and it was totally awesome. Square Books in Oxford Miss is one heck of a cool book store. They boast an absolute crazy selection of books on the shelf and a few of the finest children's book folk on the planet behind the counter.

It was hotter than beans down there, the food was greasy-great and I met tons of fantastic people. The only unpleasant part was watching the US World Cup campaign come to a crash halt.

For proof that I was really there and not making any of this up, check my non-photoshopped, totally authentic pit stain. Aw yeah. For more proof, visit Doug's blog.

Just finished this illustration for amazing new parenting blog
Red Pill Parents. The blog is all about presenting an honest take on smart issues. Doug appreciates all that honesty.

Word on the street is they may make a limited edition shirt out of the illustration. Limited to three. One for me and one for each of the two founders. But hey, if it ends up making a major fashion statement, maybe they'll do a huge run and everybody from sea to shining sea will want one.

Howdy!

As part of Durham North Carolina's Read Across America,
I read at the Primrose School in
Brier Creek and it was just about the warmest welcome anyone could have ever asked for. Everything from the giant thank-you cards to the big welcome signs to the plate of veggies and tons of Primrose gifts were as
kind as could be.

I had a blast and you guys really
made my day special.

More pictures @ the Doug-Dennis blog.

Had a big book debut back in my favorite town not too long ago
(Chapel Hill). Tarheel country gave Doug-Dennis a very warm welcome
via an incredible new indie bookstore called Flyleaf.

They printed tons of little Dougs and tied them to big yellow helium balloons - literally bringing his fat yellow fib to life. During the reading, kids raised their balloons as Doug-Dennis rose through the air and lowered them again as he floated back down to earth.

Also, it was Easter and I was
competing with the Easter Bunny cookie decorating contest. A couple of kind hearted guys and gals actually brought me some very festive, totally yummy cookies. God bless them.

More pics @ the Doug-Dennis blog.

The fam and I kicked the day off with one of the most incredible coffees in recent memory - I mean it seriously made my morning - rich, thick, full flavor goodness - at Cafe Pedlar and then meandered on over to BookCourt for an 11AM reading.

What a fantastic bookstore! A leather couch was on hand for listeners relaxing pleasure, a skylight brightened our time together and colorful books surrounded us at every turn. My son only tried to eat one or two of them.

A big thanks to Alan, Arjen, Pete, Jessica and everyone else who turned out - including my editor (ducking out from a nearby brunch) and my agent (ducking out from a Brooklyn Heights apartment on a Sunday morning).

More pics @ the Doug-Dennis blog.

A friend gave a bunch of Doug stickers to her nephew, who promptly turned himself into a Doug-Dennis Power Ranger Robo Voltron.

Had the chance to read at my old elementary school a few weeks ago. It would have been super surreal, but they redesigned the entire school from top to bottom and I hardly recognized it. At least the humongous library at the epicenter of the school was still the same. Another picture from this day is up at Doug's Blog.