M.J. Meets Ben
Our fans start reading young. Pictured here is M.J. who is meeting her new literary pal, Ben. Ben will be a steady and lifelong friend to M.J. through the power of reading. Thank you, Ben and thank you M.J.!
Stinky House Guest.
As the weather turns cold, summer-loving creatures start hiding themselves away in warm places to take naps. This skunk heard a rumor that Nana Quimby was accepting house guests. Uh-oh, Nana! Watch out for that skunk!
Heat Wave.
This week Nana Quimby hired a monkey to mow the lawn because it has been too hot for her to be out in the sun doing yard work. And besides, the monkey seems to enjoy the extra spending cash! 
Young Fan.
A young fan reads “Too Many Frogs” while waiting for his food to arrive at Deb’s Diner in Waldoboro, Maine.
A hippopotamus in the house?!?
This hippopotamus thinks Nana Quimby’s hat makes a perfect pillow for sitting on. Uh-oh!
The ongoing adventures of Nana Quimby!
Nana Quimby is once again having some animal trouble. We’ll keep you updated with pictures as the situation develops…
Interview by Peg Glisson
“When I reached Ann Hassett, she was at her desk in a small K-8 school in Maine, easing back into the opening of the school year…” To read the rest of this interview, click here!
And in other exciting news, this review of “Come Back Ben” is from School Library Journal:
“PreS-Gr 1–This terrific beginning reader is imaginative, funny, and charming. The text is predictable and accessible, and the cut-paper and ink art matches it perfectly. Children will want to read this one again and again. A must-have for both classrooms and libraries.–Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VAα(c) Copyright 2013.”
“Come Back, Ben” gets a Kirkus starred review!
We are happy to share that our latest book, “Come Back, Ben”, which was released earlier this month, has received a Kirkus starred review.
“This excellent early reader will send new readers’ confidence soaring.
Ben had a balloon,” begins the spare text, accompanied by a picture rendered in cut paper and ink showing Ben holding a red balloon aloft. The next spread shows only the lower portion of Ben’s body at the top of the page as his sister, standing on the ground below him, says, “Bye, Ben.” Ensuing pages show Ben soaring higher and higher up into the sky as first a window, then bees, a tree, a kite, a big hill, rain and a rainbow all call out, “Come back, Ben.” The repetitive text will reinforce new readers’ engagement, while Ben’s consistent smile (a simple, small u shape) provides reassurance that he is untroubled by his ascent into the sky—even when he reaches a smiling moon who says, “Hi, Ben.” Ben collects moon rocks in his pockets, and their weight triggers his descent back to Earth, past all of the things that called to him as he rose up to the heavens. When he returns to his home, art on the penultimate spread shows Ben waving from his window, “Bye, balloon,” he calls, but the balloon is absent from the page. A supremely satisfying page-turn shows Ben’s sister sailing upward while holding onto the balloon’s string. “Bye, Ben,” she calls.
Behind the scenes of “Too Many Frogs”
Drawing a frog is harder than you would think. They’re all folded legs and arms and googly eyes.
But drawing millions of frogs turned out to be fun.
Sketches of all the characters are drawn until they seem just right.
Each illustration is drawn over and over. Whoever invented erasers was on to something.
Nana Quimby and I spent a lot of time in her kitchen. She baked a cake. I painted frogs.
Have you ever been told that pickles are made from frogs? They are not.
