Happy New Year!

With 2011 drawing to an end, I want to say Happy New Year....

....and...

....thank you all for reading my little corner of the blog universe....

....and for helping to support my work and get my books (and all books) into the hands of young readers.

So....I toast blog readers and teachers and librarians and bookstore owners and writers and readers and parents.

A Year in a Minute (or Two)

The Chick Palace has arrived!

Here it is!!

Ho Ho Ho

Wishing y'all peace, joy, hope, happiness, health, cheer, beer, and all things good.

See you next year!

You know it's winter in New England....

....when you see this sign on the door of a school.

Things I Love Thursday

This little painting in the style of the Florida Highwaymen.

Read this book

I'm a sucker for Southern books.

Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood is Southern through and through.

But so much more:

an important story about race, friendships, small town life, and sisterly love.

Augusta Scattergood has drawn on real-life events to create her memorable debut novel.

A writer to watch, to read, to enjoy.

Available January 1!

Read this book.

Bookends

What writer doesn't love bookends?

Since, I'm married to a handyman, I love these.

Read this book

The day after Christmas, when you're through eating and opening gifts and all that stuff....

....and are relaxed by the fire....

....go to Barnes and Noble Nook First

....and buy....

...The Chick Palace...

....by Leslie Davis Guccione.

(available exclusively through Barnes and Noble beginning Dec. 26)

Three Dilemmas

Two Friends

One Deserted Tree House

during a simmering summer on Lake Allamucy


Don't have a Nook? You can download the Nook app to your computer.

Toot toot

Tooting a little horn for The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester and The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis.

Both are on ALSC's (Association for Library Service to Children) Great Early Elementary Reads list.

Toot toot

Tree is up!

Ready for Santa

Tis the season to be jolly.

The O'Connors are ready.

Things I Love Thursday

Coffee Crisp Candy Bars

I love Texans

Look what one of my favorite Texas librarians, Angela Sides, gave me!

It's made from an okra pod.

How cool is that?

A great book blog

Check out this blog by school librarian and author, Shelley Sommer.

And, um, this particular post is, um, particularly nice!

I can relate

Thanks to Bookshelf Blog

Coast to coast and back again

One day this week, I was visiting a school on the opposite coast. (They are on the West Coast. I am on the East Coast.)



Then I was at a school here in New England that made me feel so welcome. They posted this sign on every door and up and down the halls.

In case you were wondering

This clock really does set itself!

Power was out today. Clock all set!

Things I Love Thursday

These little Christmas ornaments that were my grandmother's.
They are porcelain bells.

I love kids

From a school report by a fan:

Barbara O'Connor is a speaker at conferences all around the World. One of Barbara's books is called A Dog on His Own.


Um, I really hope this kid got a good grade on that report, but, um, Mary Jane Auch wrote A Dog on His Own. Just sayin....

School Library Journal Best Books of 2011

Here they are!

Macmillan Newsletter

The December newsletter from Macmillan Children's Publishing is up!

Great news for my BFF

Leslie Guccione's fabulous novel, The Chick Palace, is a December 26 launch title for Barnes and Noble's Nook First.

Look for it on December 26!!

Go, Gucci!

The 4:00 Book Hook

A super newsletter published by a group of super writers.

"...aimed at people who share books with kids: parents, homeschoolers, teachers, librarians, grandparents."

The December/January issue offers some great gift-giving suggestions (including a couple from Yours Truly).

Poor Matty

My grumpy little guy had a tooth pulled.

He is not a happy camper.

Dear Barbara O'Connor

Dear Barbara O'Connor:

What do you do when you're not writing? I want to know to see if authors like you do normal things.

I love kids.

Things I Love Thursday

This vintage drying rack I scored at an antique fair.