Another Not What I Expected author has a new book out -- I'm psyched to tell you about Jacqueline Jules' new picture book (her 14th!) called No English . Okay, I'll let the Washington Post tell you instead . . .


Picture Books for a Snowy Day
By Elizabeth Ward
Sunday, January 6, 2008; Page BW12



Rounding out the roster is No English (Mitten Press, $17.95; ages 4-8), a lovely story of a cross-cultural friendship by Jacqueline Jules, an Arlington resident and Fairfax elementary school librarian. Diane, a second grader, is a bit miffed by Blanca, the new girl from Argentina who's allowed to draw during spelling and says nothing but "No English. Espanol." But Diane is a nice girl at heart and soon has second thoughts, figuring out that words aren't always needed to communicate. When a dim substitute teacher sends both girls to the principal for drawing and giggling in class, the friendship is cemented.


Maybe now it will snow so we'll have an excuse to curl up with this wonderful new book.

(BRAVO, JACKIE!)

Also, Donya and I received this lovely thank you for putting Not What I Expected together . . .

Thank you so much for the wonderful anthology. I absolutely love it! At the last minute in August, I ended up applying for and getting a ½ time teaching job here. I agonized for days about taking it, and felt guilty for leaving my kids. The day your book arrived in the mail, I had just come from school where we had a scheduling conflict

(deleted scenes from child/mom/work/home conflicts -- just imagine something from a movie!)

and was sure I made the wrong decision to go back to work. Then I got your book, and it was so comforting to hear stories from other mothers, and to recall all of the challenges that we had already survived. It was such a positive ending to what had been one of my most challenging days as a mother. Thank you!



*****yeah we love hearing that!

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