About the Author

Loreen Leedy has been writing and illustrating picture books since she was 25 years old. Her innovative list of over thirty books includes Seeing Symmetry, which The Horn Book called excellent, and The Great Graph Contest, which School Library Journal called exciting and energetic in a starred review. She lives in central Florida with her husband Andrew Schuerger, who is a scientist.

Reviews

Gr 2-4-In this companion to Messages in the Mailbox (1991) and The Furry News (1990, both Holiday), Leedy focuses on the creation of a book from start to finish. In an easy-to-follow format, she lays out the basics of producing a fiction or nonfiction book, offering practical suggestions and clever ideas that will encourage kids to pick up a pen or pencil and start writing. Following the writing process fairly closely, from brainstorming ideas to binding the book, she takes readers through a step-by-step formula that almost guarantees a successful product. With pages that include discussions of lettering and artwork, this title becomes more than just a "how-to" book; it is a jumping-off point for all kinds of projects. Both teachers and students will find helpful hints here. Lively, colorful illustrations expand and interpret the text, keeping kids entranced with an ever-evolving process. It's difficult not to get caught up in the excitement generated by this creation.-Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Prospective young authors get a step-by-step guide (with an inviting design similar to the author's Follow the Money) in Look at My Book: How Kids Can Write & Illustrate Terrific Books by Loreen Leedy. Beginning with brainstorming ideas and research tips for aspiring writers, Leedy suggests ways of inventing characters, writing and revising text, and experimenting with different styles of artwork. The spreads brim with examples of possible settings, formats and layouts for books, while encouraging the audience to develop their own ideas. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

"It's difficult not to get caught up in the excitement generated by this creation."