Better than a Goldfish

Lions to the Rescue wins a Selah Award! . . . When I was a kid, I won a goldfish at a carnival. The fish was swimming in circles in a small, round bowl surrounded by other goldfish swimming in circles in small, round bowls. The goal was to toss a ping pong ball into this segregated school of fish and hope the ping pong ball would somehow defy physics and actually stick a landing on the surface of the water in one of the bowls.

Read More

Cyber Monday book deal! Half off a whole book :)

tree street kids series

Hello, everyone, this is a quick note to let you know that the four books in my Tree Street Kids series for young readers (8-12) is 50% off today only, Monday, Nov. 28, at Moody Publishers. Here’s the direct link to get the special pricing. The series makes a great gift for kids and their […]

Read More

Meet the “Master of Sketchery,” an interview with Aedan Peterson

Wondering who created the delightful covers and interior illustrations of the Tree Street Kids series? It’s Aedan Peterson! I’ve loved working with Aedan and know you’ll enjoy hearing more about his art, his process, and an exciting new project you and your family will love!

Read More

A special invite for my blog readers

I wondered: How could I bring my blog followers, Instagram friends, and Tree Street Kids readers together in one space to serve you all better…AND escape the whims of the social media algorithm gods? The answer…

Read More

Free Tree Street Kids devo for anxious kids

Life Lessons for Anxious Kids by Amanda Cleary Eastep

Are your kids feeling as anxious as you are these days? This past year, maybe like no other, has been a test of…well…everything. My kids are grown now, and I can only imagine what 2020+ has been like for parents of young children. Oddly enough, my children’s book Jack vs. the Tornado, which released April […]

Read More

Frog and Toad . . . and Grace

Arnold Lobel, the author of the classic Frog and Toad books said this, and I love it . . . To be making books for children is to be in a sort of state of grace. He explained that writing children’s books allowed him the freedom and pleasure of being an adult but also the […]

Read More

Tales of a Fifth Grade Reader

middle grade book

Mr. A rarely smiled and his dress shoes—as black and shiny as his slicked down hair—squeaked. I think I saw him smile once. A little. I don’t remember. He was quiet like me. I do remember the five-shelf classroom library he stocked with books just for the fifth and sixth graders who shared the same room all day long.

Read More