Kudos, Raves and Reviews
I WANNA IGUANA was a Children's Book-of-the-Month Club selection, as well as a Junior Library Guild selection. It was also chosen by Scholastic for its book club and as an audio book. In addition, I WANNA IGUANA was a 2005 IRA (International Reading Association) Notable Book, as well as a third-place finalist for the 2005-6 Florida Reading Association Children's Book Award. It was put on the 2005-6 Read-Aloud Books Too Good To Miss AIME (Indiana Library Federation) list and was one of five books selected for the 2006-7 Kinderklassic Award, created by the Prairie View North Library in Missouri. It was also one of 21 books selected for the 2005-6 Panther Paw Book Award in Dallas, Texas, and was a nominee for the 2007-8 California Young Reader Medal.
Other regional award nominations include:
Arkansas Diamond Primary Award2007; Colorado Children's Book Award2006-7; Georgia Picture Storybook Award 2006; Kentucky
Bluegrass Award;Maine Chickadee Award (2nd place!)2006-7; Maryland Black-eyed Susan Award 2006; Montana
Treasure State Award 2005; New Hampshire Ladybug Picture Book Award 2006-7; South Dakota Prairie Bud Award 2005-6; Texas
Mockingbird Award; Washington Children's Choice Award
Here are what some reviewers had to say about I WANNA IGUANA:
"A familiar domestic interchange, played out with broad comedy and mutual respect, too." - Kirkus Reviews"Sure to bring smiles to both parents and kids." - Children's Literature
"This tale is perfect for reader's-theater presentations and could also be used effectively as a writing prompt for older children. It will make even the most serious youngsters giggle." - School Library Journal"
A zany, funny story." - Children's Bookwatch, Reviewer's Choice.
"This story is told through letters with plenty of humor but it's the illustrations that will have your young reader laughing aloud." - Janis Campbell in the Detroit Free Press.
AWARD NOMINATIONS FOR "I WANNA NEW ROOM"
*Arkansas Diamond Primary Award - 2012-13
*Illinois Monarch Award - 2014
*Surrey Schools Picture Book of the Year - 2011-12
*SCBWI Crystal Kite Award - finalist
*#1 on the Children's Book of the Month Club for several weeks!
I WANNA GO HOME has been nominated for the 2016-17 Arkansas Diamond Primary Award and Ohio's Choose to Read
list for 2017-18! And MILES OF SMILES was nominated for the Blue Hen Book Award 2018!