Linda Ashman is our April author for the 2021 Author Study Challenge. Linda Ashman has been publishing books for a while and you can literally have a stack of her books on your lap or shelf. I do.
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LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 2021 AUTHOR STUDY CHALLENGE
Meet Linda Ashman
My love of Linda Ashman started with RAIN! Have you read this one? It’s illustrated by Christian Robinson so I mentioned it in his February Author Study Post as well. It tells the story of a sweet little boy and a grumpy old man and a rainstorm.
What impressed me most was how much story was told with so few words. That’s definitely a style that I’m drawn to. I also love books where the illustrations feel as important as the words. Together they tell a story that the words on their own could not. RAIN! is a great example.
On Linda Ashman’s website she generously shares her wisdom with want-to-be-writers like me. This wisdom includes her submission of RAIN! which is a fascinating example of using the controversial illustrator note.
That is maybe more than you wanted to know….but that is how I discovered Linda Ashman. From there I discovered that stack of books I mentioned.
Learn more about Linda Ashman on her site: LindaAshman.com
Linda Ashman’s books are warm and lively and funny. They seem to believe in the good of people and the ability of people to change their minds. Below are my favorites…
Picture Books by Linda Ashman Begging to be Read Aloud
Linda Ashman has written a huge number of books. Below I’ve rounded up some favorites and a sampling of different kinds of books – bedtime books, newest books, books for different ages, etc. For her full list of titles, pop over to her website where you can get a peek inside each.
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Ways to Welcome
by Linda Ashman
illustrated by Joey Chou
This is Linda Ashman’s most recent book. Full of diverse characters and situations, this book gives practical ways that we can help others feel welcome. How can you make the world a little better? Here are some beautifully written and cheerfully illustrated ways to show kindness in every day situations. Such a warm, timely, heartfilled story.
When the Storm Comes
by Linda Ashman
Taeeun Yoo
I love this book. It talks about before, during and after a storm with poetic language. I like the creative pairing of what humans do and what animals do to prepare, endure, and rise above strong weather.
Just Another Morning
by Linda Ashman
illustrated by Claudio Munoz
Full of imagination. A perfect pairing of words and illustrations. A little boy wakes up and causes all the normal mischief. Told with rhyming text and an excellent understanding of a child’s perspective, this is so much fun to read aloud.
My Daddy and Me
by Linda Ashman
illustrated by Jane Massey
It’s a daddy – baby day. This sweet story goes from the early morning hours to a tuck in at bedtime. A variety of different dads and babies are pictured in the illustrations. This is a great story for babies and toddlers.
Take Your Pet to School Day
by Linda Ashman
pictures by Suzanne Kaufman
For one day only the kids are invited to bring your pets to school. As you can imagine, it’s a bit of a disaster. This is such a fun book. So much humor in the text and illustrations as the pets of all shapes and sizes cause mayhem.
To The Beach
by Linda Ashman
illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
A family is headed to the beach but they remember they have forgotten something. They turn around to get it and head out again only to remember they’ve forgotten something else. A hilarious believable family adventure that will have you laughing out loud.
Creaky Old House
by Linda Ashman
illustrated by Michael Chesworth
This is the story of a big family in an old creaky house that they love. Unfortunately, the door knob is broken and that leads to all sorts of comical renovations…or does it? Silly big family fun told in rhyme.
Ella Who?
by Linda Ashman
illustrated by Sara Sanchez
This is such a cute, funny book and one of my absolute favorites. We discovered this one during one of our moves when I was looking for picture books about moving. In this one a little girl discovers an elephant. Her family is busy moving and misunderstands her. It’s a humorous tale of miscommunications and unusual friendship.
Henry Wants More!
by Linda Ashman
illustrated by Brooke Boynton Hughes
Have a toddler or preschooler who wears you out a bit? They will doubtless see themselves in Henry who always wants “more!” More chasing, more bouncing, more fun with his whole exhausted family.
Hey, Coach!
by Linda Ashman
illustrations by Kim Smith
This is a such a fun book for kids who play sports. It follows a soccer team across a season with funny dialogue, lots of action and silliness added in the illustrations. This is one of my kids’ favorites.
Castles, Caves, and Honeycombs
by Linda Ashman
illustrated by Lauren Stringer
A book about different kinds of homes. I love this one for having a conversation with a group of kids or one on your lap. Who calls each of these places a home? Best for preschoolers and up – simply for the knowledge needed for that conversation. The text is brief and reads like a poem.
No Dogs Allowed!
by Linda Ashman
illustrated by Kristin Sorra
This is the sparsest text of all of her books thus far. It is a nearly wordless book about a restaurant owner who turns away a dog and then a whole parade of animals until he has no guest left. I love the gentle silliness and the heartwarming change to the main character.
Starry Safari
by Linda Ashman
illustrated by Jeff Mack
If your toddler or preschooler loves safari animals, then this is the bedtime story for you. A rhyming, rollicking adventure with lots of animal sounds and a tuck into bed at the end.
Samantha On a Roll
by Linda Ashman
illustrated by Christine Devenier
A little girl is eager to try her roller skates but her mom is too busy to help her. Instead of waiting she decides to try on her own and quite an adventure results.
Rub-a-Dub Sub
by Linda Ashman
illustrated by Jeff Mack
A cute, imaginative under the water story. Quick pace. Short sentences. Rhyming text and lots of fun ocean animals. This is a fun bath time story for toddlers and preschoolers.
You May Also Like: 10+ Picture Books That Will Actually Get Your Kids Ready for Bed
Rain!
by Linda Ashman
illustrated by Christian Robinson
As I described above, this is my first and still favorite of her books. It’s silly but poignant. At it’s heart it’s a reminder that perspective is everything, but that’s wrapped in a playful, amusing package.
Shop Linda Ashman Books at BookShop
to Support Independent Bookstores
Author Study Activities
Playing with the books you read, writing and creating based on what you read, imitating an author’s style or aspects of their work is part of the fun of author studies. The options are unlimited. Here are some activity ideas to go with some of our favorite Linda Ashman books to get you started.
Activities for Specific Books
- Take Your Pet to School Day:
Have a take your pet to school day or bring your pet to the library day with real or stuffed animal friends. - Castles, Caves, and Honeycombs:
A well rounded, fun collection of ideas to go with this book from Linda Ashman’s website. - Rain
Here’s a handout from Linda Ashman’s website with several fun ideas to go along with this book.
Writing / Reading Activity
- Explore Rhyme. A lot of Linda Ashman’s books rhyme so it’s a good time to pull out your rhyming activities. If you want some ideas, This Reading Mama is one of my favorite spots for inspiration.
Click Here to Get the Preschool Author Study Pack
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