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    The Children's Book Review

    My Writing and Reading Life with Laura Purdie Salas, Author of Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten

    Bianca SchulzeBy Bianca Schulze4 Mins Read Ages 4-8 Animal Books Author Interviews Picture Books
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    The Children’s Book Review

    A person smiling for the camera, Laura Purdie Salas

    Laura Purdie Salas is an award-winning author of more than 125 books for children, including her recent books Snowman – Cold = Puddle: Spring Equations, illustrated by Micha Archer, and Lion of the Sky: Haiku for All Seasons, illustrated by Mercè López. Her books have received such honors as Bank Street College of Education’s Best Books for Children, IRA Teachers’ Choice, the Minnesota Book Award, and NCTE Notable book. Laura went to kindergarten in Florida and now lives in Minnesota. She hates crowds and knows a good friend makes everything better.

    I write because…

    Books saved my life when I was a kid. I want to make books because they’re the most important thing I can contribute to.

    I read because…

    Books always help me either escape the world or fall in love with it even more.

    Book Clover Kitty Goes to KittygartenMy latest published book is…

    Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten (Two Lions, illustrated by Hiroe Nakata). Clover Kitty is overwhelmed by school, and she has to figure out some survival tools (including friendship).

    I wrote this book because…

    I wondered, What is the least scary thing I can think of, and can I make a character who’s scared of it? My answer: a pile of puppies (which morphed into kitties eventually).

    Best moment…

    Clover’s fur-flying hissy fit (brilliantly illustrated by Hiroe). Who hasn’t felt like that?

    My special place to write…

    I got a treadmill desk two years ago! Now I can walk, write, and look at trees and sky all at the same time.

    Necessary writing tool…

    I love a clean desk, a keyboard, and a cold drink. Bonus points for crashing waves and/or a donut.

    The person who has been my greatest writing inspiration is…

    I want my books to make readers feel the way Madeleine L’Engle’s books made me feel. And Lee Bennett Hopkins’ many poetry anthologies made me fall in love with poetry.

    Quote Laura Purdie Salas
    Currently reading…

    Tracking Pythons by Kate Messner. I’m rereading Dictionary for a Better World by Irene Latham and Charles Waters, and I read a picture book daily (hooray for curbside library service!).

    Favorite bookshop…

    Red Balloon Bookshop in St Paul, Minnesota—they’re amazing in their support of local authors and their love of kidlit.

    All-time favorite children’s book I didn’t write …

    An Island Grows by Lola Schaefer; God Bless the Gargoyles by Dav Pilkey; This Is Just to Say by Joyce Sidman…yikes, does anybody really answer with just one?

    Favorite illustrators…

    Ekua Holmes, Violeta Dabija, Kenard Pak

    A literary character I would like to vacation with…

    I’d love to travel with Vicky Austin from L’Engle’s books. She is passionate and full of heart and science, too. In fact, I might like to be her!

    When I’m not reading or writing…

    I am playing games, watching bake-offs on TV, and eating way too many donuts and other treats.

    Learn more about the author at www.laurasalas.com.

    —

    Book Clover Kitty Goes to KittygartenClover Kitty Goes to Kindergarten

    Written by Laura Purdie Salas

    Illustrated by Hiroe Nakata

    Publisher’s Synopsis: Clover Kitty does NOT want to go to kittygarten! Although she might like a friend to play with, kittygarten feels overwhelming for a sensory-sensitive kitty like Clover. And when she arrives, it is exactly as she fears: her classroom is too loud, the lights are too bright, and everyone comes too close. So Clover throws a fit…and decides to quit kittygarten. But when a classmate comes to check on her, she begins to reconsider. Maybe it’s time for Clover to give kittygarten another chance.…

    Illustration Kitty Goes to Kittygarten

    Ages 4-6 | Publisher: Two Lions | August 1, 2020 | ISBN-13: 978-1542042468

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    What to Read Next:

    1. Kaz Windness Talks About ‘Bitsy Bat, School Star’ and Autism
    2. Illustration Inspiration: Chris Van Dusen, Illustrator of If I Built a School
    3. Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham Discuss Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn
    4. How to Send Your Brother to Kindergarten | Dedicated Review

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Back-to-School Books About Kittens Cats Hiroe Nakata Kindergarten Laura Purdie Salas My Writing and Reading Life Picture Book School School Life
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    Previous ArticleJump on the Bump, by Glen A. Penrod | Dedicated Review
    Next Article Best Selling Picture Books | August 2020
    Bianca Schulze
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    Bianca Schulze is the founder of The Children’s Book Review. She is a reader, reviewer, mother and children’s book lover. She also has a decade’s worth of experience working with children in the great outdoors. Combined with her love of books and experience as a children’s specialist bookseller, the goal is to share her passion for children’s literature to grow readers. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, she now lives with her husband and three children near Boulder, Colorado.

    4 Comments

    1. Laura Purdie Salas on August 6, 2020 1:49 pm

      Thank you, Bianca! It was really fun to do this interview–although a couple of the questions were SO hard to answer…

      Reply
    2. Lauren Jones on August 7, 2020 11:33 pm

      I can relate! My son is about to be starting kindergarten but with the pandemic going on we are having to make arrangements for him to learn in a smaller classroom setting at a pre-K program (although it’s not really pre-K for the class he will be in) He has went through a lot of new changes and has a little anxiety about starting.

      Reply
    3. Anne Marie on August 21, 2020 1:21 pm

      I would love to read this with my granddaughter who is starting Kindergarten this year.

      Reply
    4. Bianca Schulze on September 10, 2020 12:10 pm

      Congratulations to these three lucky winners who will each be receiving a copy of Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten very soon:

      Maile C. (KS), Margo F. (CA) and Gina F. (LA)!

      Reply
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