Pam Webb

a writer's journey as a reader

Archive for the tag “picture books”

14 Aug 2026
6 Comments

A Bubbly August


One of joys of writing for children is researching different topics. I’ve gained greatly from my need to provide verisimilitude to my stories such as life as a homesteader during Idaho’s gold rush days, habits of nocturnal animals, the life and times of dragonflies. My favorite research is for my recent project. I concocted a premise combining a short mystery with simple household science experiments. One of those experiments involves bubbles. I am a huge fan of bubbles.

Whenever I visited my granddaughter, I always brought along bubbles. I included that aspect in my picture book Someday We Will and illustrator Wendy Leach caught the joy of bubble blowing quite well.

Store bought bubbles are handy and dandy, but I have heard of tales that super-duper bubbles are possible. This was undoubtedly going to take some research.

I explored a variety of recipes on a multitude of sites. I discovered there is a definite camp of adding glycerin over sugar to obtain longer-lasting bubbles. I don’t keep glycerin on hand, but enough sugar (for my hummingbird nectar recipe) to concoct a batch of my own super-duper bubbles. While the debate goes on about glycerin versus sugar as an additive, it is fairly much decided that Dawn Dish Soap is the best base for the bubble potion. Not sure why, but it’s our brand of choice for dishes, so that saved a trip to the store.

The results?

Wow!

The bubbles truly do last longer. They are also shinier with an iridescent rainbow sheen.

When I need a quick break from typing up stories, I often go in the backyard and take a bubble break. I’ve tried out a few different wands and my favorite at the moment is the rings off of my bulk mouthwash. It’s a three-ringer and two of the rings fit in my bubble bucket, with the third as a handle. Plump bubbles are a result.

IIIItIMy science sleuth wants to know why bubbles blow out round, even when the wand is a different shape, such as a square. I had to research for that answer as well.

Do you know why? Hint: there is a connection to water bugs.

Hope you find some bubble time. You are never too old to enjoy a bubble session.

Posted in reflections and tagged , , , , , ,
15 Sep 2025
4 Comments

Hats Off to Socks


National Sock Day isn’t celebrated until December 4th but I have reason to celebrate today.

Before I share my sock jubilation here some interesting sock bits:

  • The word “sock” is derived from the Latin soccus, a loose-fitting slipper Roman actors wore. 
  • Once upon a time socks were considered a status symbol.
  • China’s Datang district is known as “Sock City,” since it contributes about 40% of the world’s socks. 
  • The first socks were probably animal skins wrapped a person’s foot.
  • Wearing socks can contribute to warming the body and can produce more restful sleep.
  • A pair of 1,600 old split-toe red wool socks were exacted from 19th century burial grounds near ancient Egypt. The socks are made from red wool and have split toes for wearing with sandals.
  • The average four person family can lose up to 60 socks a year.
  • Because you have always wondered: socks should match the shoe or pants color and it’s suggested the sock color should be at least one shade darker. But what’s the point of argyle socks if they aren’t for the world to see?

As for my sock news?

I beat back the percentage and found a lost sock—a brand new black sock, mind you. It only took 9 months. It wasn’t in the washer or the dryer or the hamper or mixed up in another clothes basket.

Nope.

Pulling on a pair of pants not worn since January I detected an anomaly in the pant leg. Yup. That sock had been playing hide and seek so long it must have gone into hibernation.

Perhaps I will write a picture book story about socks playing hide and seek.

Actually I wrote a PB about the importance of how a pair of special socks can brighten up a person’s day.

Here’s an illustration sample:

Dad socks

Hoping your lost socks make an appearance and get ready to celebrate socks in December.

Posted in reflections and tagged , , ,
17 Apr 2025
10 Comments

Springing Forth with Writerly Updates


In an effort to match the energy and joy of the season I’m springing into action in terms of my writing.

Book Signing
If you live in or around Spokane Valley, Washington you can catch me at the Barnes and Noble store on Saturday, April 19th from 11 am to 3 pm.

Yes, I will be signing my picture book Someday We Will.

It’s been an amazing five years since it was published in 2020–right when COVID locked down schools, libraries, and bookstores, which kind of kiboshed that whirlwind in person book tour originally hoped for.

Celebrating Five Years!

Since then Barnes and Noble and my local library have provided lovely support. This will be my third signing with Barnes and Noble and I’ve done a few storytime sessions with the library.

And thanks for your support! Readers of this blog have purchased Someday We Will through online sources. I still offer the deal of sending you a personalized bookplate. Just provide some details: where and when you bought the book, your address, and the message and I will send out a bookplate to you.

Projects
The winter months kept me inside writing new stories and revising others. I also discovered a knack for collage and began illustrating some of my picture book manuscripts. Here are a couple of samples:

I also decided to create a separate page that highlighted completed manuscripts–a menu, so to speak–in case agents, editors, or publishers decide to stop by for a visit. Feel free to browse at my new page link:
Project Pitches.

Of course not all my time is spent writing. Spring is here which means I’m outside more than inside. Yardwork, walking, biking, reading, and just plain sitting in the sun dozing in the sunshine. Winter is way too long and I am so enraptured the days are longer and warmer AND sunnier!

How are you springing forth this joyous season?

Posted in authors, reflections and tagged , , , , , , , ,
08 Apr 2024
7 Comments

An anniversary is eclipsed…


Today’s focus is on the eclipse, which for some didn’t register as an event because of a)not being in the path of ta-dah or b)dealing with cloudy skies. There is also c)there was an eclipse?

For me the event of focus today was the four year anniversary of my debut picture book Someday We Will.

Yup, four years ago Beaming Books brought out my book in the beginning of April having postponed its publication from the previous fall. FYI: Grandparents Day is the first Sunday in September.

Instead of fall, the idea was Mother’s Day and the summer months of vacations when families visit. Good plan except four years ago about this time the pandemic showed up closing schools, libraries, bookstores, all those places where I might have personally promoted my book. A virtual book launch does not quite have the same impact.

Since then I have tried to make up for lost time and have done some story times with the library and have done a couple of bookstore appearances.

If you have yet to check out Someday We Will I hope you will. It’s a dandy little book for sharing just how special those family visits are, especially the grandparent ones.

As for the eclipse event? I hope your experience was satisfying. I ended tidying up the garage in hopes the clouds would part. They didn’t, but the garage looks better.

The perfect gift for grandparents as well as grandchildren anticipating a visit
Posted in authors, celebrations, children, Family, Nature, Reading, reflections and tagged , ,
19 Oct 2022
6 Comments

Bookstop Time!


The Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) promotes children’s books, writers, and illustrators through their Bookstop campaign. From October 20 through December 5th people can peruse scads of great children’s literature here.

I will be running Bookstop posts on Instagram periodically. Pass the word!

A great gift choice for those anticipating a visit from special people like grandparents!

And here is a book trailer.

If you missed purchasing the book for Grandparents Day back on September 11th, then get your holiday shopping done early by ordering from Beaming Books or your favorite online shop site.

Posted in reflections and tagged , , ,
09 Oct 2022
2 Comments

Book Giveaway: SLEEPY HAPPY CABY CUDDLES by Mike Allegra


Book Giveaway: SLEEPY HAPPY CABY CUDDLES by Mike Allegra

https://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2022/10/09/book-giveaway-sleepy-happy-caby-cuddles-by-mike-allegra/
— Read on kathytemean.wordpress.com/2022/10/09/book-giveaway-sleepy-happy-caby-cuddles-by-mike-allegra/

Posted in Animals, authors, publishers, reflections and tagged , , ,
07 Apr 2022
11 Comments

Book Birthday Two


Two Years Today!

Two years ago on April 7th, Someday We Will debuted ready to greet the world with its message of the joy that comes with anticipating a visit with those we love, especially visits with grandparents.

Two years ago was also the start of the pandemic. Schools, businesses, transportation, borders, so much shut down as the world learned how to cope with Covid.

Not the most advantageous time to promote a debut picture book. Ironically enough (although one librarian deemed it prescient) the book’s focus is on the joy of coming together after being separated.

Covid was not on my mind when I submitted the book for publication to Beaming Books two years earlier.My thoughts were on the joy experienced whenever I visit my granddaughter.

Separation has taken on deeper meaning with Covid. There is more involved, more considerations when planning a visit. “Someday we will…”and “Someday is here!” has more personal meaning these days.

With libraries and bookstores open once again to in-person events, I look forward to making the rounds and promoting Someday We Will.

In these past two years have you had your someday turn into today? I hope so! That moment of being reunited with a loved one is not just for grandparents and grandchildren.

In the meantime I’ve been busy writing and submitting other stories and look forward to sharing more book birthdays with you.

Looking to order the book?

Looking for reviews? Goodreads

Posted in authors, Books, celebrations, children, publishers, reflections and tagged , , , , ,
17 Jun 2021
9 Comments

Story Time!


After a year of shutting down most public programs, our local library is opening up one of their most popular programs: Story time. The best part is I’m going to lead off a summer’s worth of local author reads. If you are in the neighborhood be sure to drop by!

Someday is here!
Posted in authors, children, Libraries, Reading, reflections and tagged , ,
22 Dec 2020
9 Comments

All in the Name


In my exploration of ways to promote my book, Someday We Will, I discovered the website TeachingBooks. Their opening statement says it well:

“TeachingBooks strives to enrich everyone’s experience reading children’s and young adult books with our original and curated literary resources.”

They feature hundreds of kid lit authors and provide study guides and other resources for teachers and students. I immediately signed up and created my own author page. After all, who wouldn’t want to be in the company of authors like Eric Carle, Madeleine L’Engle, Lois Duncan, Walter Dean Myers and other notables?

TeachingBooks
Like kid lit? Check out this site.
Read more…
Posted in authors, Books, children, publishers, reflections and tagged , , , ,
17 Oct 2020
4 Comments

BOOKSTOP IS HERE!


Find me on #SCBWIBookStop! From now until November 30, you can check out my book Someday We Will here 👉 SCBWI BookStop. Thanks for supporting your #kidlit community! 
#SCBWIBookStop is a great place to find a new book to love. Go to 👉 BookStop
Posted in reflections, writers and tagged , ,

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