Hey PBC fans! I hope you and your fur babies have been well. The inspirations for Peanut, Butter, and Crackers—my own Charlie, Otis, and Buddy Barker—have been enjoying road trips in our camper van. We even got the chance to drive through the super bloom in Southern California in March. An awe-inspiring color event.
In PBC news, the first book in the series, PUPPY PROBLEMS, won this year’s Beverly Cleary Children’s Choice Award in April. Woohoo! Beverly Clearly was and remains an icon in children’s literature. And to make matters even cooler, hundreds of students voted for Puppy Problems to be given the prize. I am honored and touched that my book on friendship and acceptance resonated with these young readers.
Also, this year, thanks to children’s book publisher, Nosy Crow, even more children will be able to enjoy the mishaps and adventures of our favorite furry friends. That’s because Nosy Crow is publishing special editions of the graphic novel series for children in the United Kingdom to read. Yay! Plus, check out the new fun cover for PUPPY PROBLEMS! Not only do these editions have new covers but there are lots of extra fun things in these books, including a brand new 8-page comic story in each. It was great to get the chance to revisit these characters and expand their stories a little.
Peanut, Butter, and Crackers will also be participating in a social media campaign in June with Nosy Crow to promote empathy. Each book in the series discusses the importance of empathy, our ability to see and understand each other’s experiences. It’s a super power we should all build, and graphic novels are a great way to strengthen our empathy because they transport us to subjects we may never have delved into if it weren’t for the captivating drawings and the often deeply personal storylines. I hope to you see you on social media getting the word out on empathy.
In the meantime, as always, send in your photos of Peanut, Butter, and Crackers in the wild. We’d love to see them!