K.D. McCrite

My Grandma

My grandmother was an old lady when I was born. I’m sure we all believe our grandmothers are ancient and always have been. Mine was in her seventies by the time I entered the world. Like the grandmother in Confessions of April Grace, Grandma wore handmade, floral-print, cotton dresses. Every morning after she was dressed, she put on an overall apron, a soft cardigan, and she never failed to tuck a colorful, cotton hankie into the sleeve. 

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Joyce Magnin

Why I Love Middle-Grade Literature

I love middle-grade literature, and I am thrilled to be able to write this new column for CFOM. Now don’t get me wrong, I enjoy reading and writing grown-up books also, but there is something special about middle-grade literature. Middle-grade books are for nine- to twelve-year-olds (third to sixth grade). But like so many things in life and literature, these parameters are not etched in the Everlasting Gobstopper of children’s literature rulebook.

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Samuel L. Collins

Bunny and Me

When Aunt Cheryl gave me a stuffed bunny on my second birthday, little did she know it would change my life. Due to the limitations of my young brain, the best name I could then imagine was Bunny. Standing five inches tall, Bunny was tan, soft, and seven inches long from his little paws to his cute, cotton-ball tail. Despite his predictable name, he became my everything. Wherever Samuel Collins went...

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Jason Lethcoe

Do What You Love...Love What You Do

A week ago I had the pleasure of meeting my favorite author. Ray Bradbury is a master of science fiction, and reading his stories was a big part of my childhood. For those who aren’t familiar with his work, he wrote exciting books like The Martian Chronicles, Dandelion Wine, Fahrenheit 451, and many others. His stories range from fantastic to creepy and are guaranteed to keep a young boy up all night reading with a flashlight under the covers!

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