Here I Am!

 

After a blog break, I'm back on site. Here's the skinny:

1. I'm still writing! I have an adult memoir, a poetry collection, two YA novels, a middle grade, and the conclusion for Firstborn percolating, plus a myriad of board books. 

2. I'm looking for representation by an agency interested in giving voice to a disabled person focusing on literary works. 

3. I've left Twitter in the upheaval of the site. 

4. After fourteen years, I'm currently no longer posting reviews of board books at readertotz. Co-founder and writer Joan Holub and I still make a call for ALA to recognize the board/novelty book format in their annual awards with the Dorothy Kunhardt Award. 

5. I'm creating more visual art which I hope to share here soon. 

6. My mentoring with Stony Book University for their Children's Lit Fellows Creative Writing Program is on hiatus following Covid closures. 

7. Physically, scleral lenses for extreme dry eyes were not compatible with my Sjogren's. And a year on hydroxychloroquine for lupus has created nerve damage. I may post more specifics in the future in case it would help another person piece together their own protocol.  

8. I am a grandmother of two now! Celebrations!

9. Having been in the sacred space of walking a beloved through death a year ago, I continue to read widely and search for truth and the beauty all around.

That's my quick catch up. Thanks for stopping by in our busy season.

May your day be well, and your night be well! xox

readertotz is Awarded!

Many thanks to Guide to Online Schools for recognizing readertotz as one of the Best Children's Lit Blogs in the industry. Joan and I are honored!

Presented by Guide to Online Schools

Polyvore: readertotz

Lorie Ann Grover, 2010

Photototz: Call for Entries

Feel free to repost!

Joan and I are launching a segment called: Photototz over at readertotz! We are inviting all authors/illustrators to send a cover of their latest book AND a photo of when they were a tot. We'll stream these onto the blog and collect the entries in the sidebar. It should be fun!

If you'd like to participate, send your images to readertotzatclearwiredotnet Share a little baby smile and celebrate your recent release!

To get things going, here's mine. I'm a tot of 20 months. :~)

And if you are a parent or grandparent of a tot, feel free to send a photo of you reading together to the above address. We'll be happy to share it with our growing community!

Show us those baby faces, readertotz!

Thanks for the welcome for readertotz!

Just a quick note to thank everyone for the amazing reception for readertotz. It's been an awesome launch. From editors and agents, to librarians, moms, bloggers and publishers, the support has been so encouraging.

Special thanks to Ron Hogan for his post at GalleyCat, Little Willow for her constant help, and the rgz team of awesome. And thanks to my brother Dale for the logo!

Joan Holub and I now eagerly look forward to developing the site. Who knows? Maybe one day there will be an award for infant-toddler books. And we'll be grinning. Oh, we will!

readertotz Press Release!

For more information contact:

Sara Easterly, Publicist, sara@saraeasterly.com, 206-632-8588

READERGIRLZ EXPANDS WITH A NEW FRANCHISE: READERTOTZ

Celebrated author/illustrators Lorie Ann Grover and Joan Holub launch readertotz in an effort to recognize the infant-toddler book as a vital addition to children's literature.

December 2, 2008 (Seattle, Wash.) – readergirlz co-founder and author/illustrator Lorie Ann Grover and author/illustrator Joan Holub have just launched readertotz (http://readertotz.blogspot.com/), a unique board book blog that aims to raise awareness of the infant-toddler book as a significant format of children's literature.

While picture books, books for beginning readers, middle-grade novels and young-adult literature have been recognized with major awards such as the Caldecott, Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal, the Newbery, the Printz and the National Book Award, it is rare to find such esteem given to infant-toddler books—despite their importance in instilling a life-long love of books and reading in the youngest readers.

"Board books are certainly overlooked and misunderstood, and they serve such an important purpose in introducing babies and toddlers to books," said Rotem Moscovich, Associate Editor, Scholastic. "What they are, how they work (and taste). The board makes it possible for them to do it themselves, and also to feel comfortable with books."

Taking the lead from readergirlz, which boasts more than 8,000 members, readertotz will showcase high-quality literature. Lorie Ann Grover and Joan Holub will feature weekly blog posts that highlight the best contributions in the infant-toddler book arena and recommend monthly community service projects appropriate for families with young children to enjoy. Also included each month: an age-appropriate playlist and a recommended book for the older sibling.

"readertotz is our effort to raise the bar in board and novelty book literature," says Lorie Ann Grover. "We're challenging our colleagues to write great books for the youngest readers and encouraging the industry to publish those works. Eventually, we hope to work with the American Library Association to establish an award for infant-toddler books that's equivalent to the Caldecott and Theodor Geisel Award."

Lorie Ann Grover (http://lorieanngrover.blogspot.com/) has authored three young-adult novels and three board books. Joan Holub (http://www.joanholub.com/) is the author of more than 100 children's books, many of which she has also illustrated.

About readergirlz

readergirlz is the foremost online book community for teen girls, led by six critically acclaimed YA authors—Dia Calhoun (Avielle of Rhia), Holly Cupala (A Light That Never Goes Out) Lorie Ann Grover (On Pointe), Justina Chen Headley (Girl Overboard), Mitali Perkins (First Daughter: White House Rules), and Melissa Walker (the Violet series). readergirlz is the recipient of a 2007 James Patterson PageTurner Award and the Association for Library Services to Children, ALA, Great Web Sites Award.