4th January Katie Davis 5th January Lynne Cherry

I am really enjoying being on school holidays at home because it means I have had some time to do lots of blog reading, browse online bookshops and just generally ponder, read and contemplate teaching ideas. While catching up with Happy Birthday Author and Children's Book Almanac I read about some authors whose birthdays I have missed while putting together my own calendar for library displays and lessons.

1. 4th January Katie Davis

This American author/illustrator certainly has presence. Just look at her website and interviews. She has lots to say about children's books and is very supportive of what teachers do with books. She has started a podcast Brain Burps About Books. I did not know anything about her but after a bit of quick research see that we have books of hers in our library. I love Little Chicken's Big Day and I use Kindergarten Rocks! with my preschool classes before they go off to their Kindergarten orientation sessions.

2. 4th January Robert Burleigh

He too, is an American author with an amazing website. He has written so many wonderful picture books it is hard to single one out. I like his biographies and I have taken a new look at many of these lately because we have decided to put together a special display/area in our library for biographies. Many parents commented last year on how much they have enjoyed reading them with their children because they feel they are also learning along with their child. Other books of his that teachers and children find fascinating are The Earth From the Air For Children and The Future of the Earth with Yann Arthus-Bertrand's amazing photographs which he adapted for children.

3. 5th January Lynne Cherry (1952)

She too is an author who teaches children to respect their environment and the planet they live on. She is well known for The Great Kapok Tree and A River Ran Wild, but at the end of last year Year 2 teachers and children had the chance to explore her new book How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Climate: Scientists and Kids Explore Global Warming. Her website has information and videos to add to this.