Anokaberry listing here

" ...gobble down this fast read, enjoy the jokes and riddles, familiar situations
and interesting instructions for group games and paper-folding woven into the story."
- Kirkus Reviews

"a funny, warm story about friends, family, and finding your voice" - Lori Van Hoesen,
read entire review here

"Speaks volumes with its words and its pictures. This record of a diarist is
fun to read and recommended." -Curledup.com

"Lots of voice, humor, and pre-teen attitude shine through the pages in
Ellie's journal." -Grand Rapids Press

"There's never been a better time to indulge in a book that can offer
you cool pictures, great characters, a fun story, and a little redemption
on the side. A small pure gem."
-- Elizabeth Bird, Fuse # 8 Productions blog

"This book reminded me of Diary of a Wimpy Kid because of the sly humor
and funny pictures, so if you like Ellie McDoodle, try Diary of a Wimpy Kid next!"
-- Westwood Children's Dept blog

"YES! YES! YES! Ellie McDoodle: Have Pen, Will Travel by Ruth Barshaw
is just what I have been looking for!"
-- Read Read Read 5th grade teacher's blog

"As Ellie shares her frustrations, conflicts, fun and wildlife facts, readers
observe the valuable lessons that she learns about getting along with
others–even if they seem to be obnoxious relatives."
-- School Library Journal

"With fewer words and many pictures on each page than most books for this
age group, this is a delight."
-- Teens Read Too

"I am always on the lookout for great books to serve as models for kids' own
writers' notebooks. This is one I'll add to my collection."
A Year of Reading blog

"I loved that the text is full of both facts-- outdoorsy/nature type things--
and how tos--instructions for how to play games both indoor and outdoor.
But more importantly I love how Ellie's voice is captured."
-- Becky's Book Reviews

"Ruth McNally Barshaw's Ellie McDoodle: Have Pen, Will Travel is a fun example
of a new genre which we'd call "graphic novel" if only status-conscious comic
books hadn't already grabbed that moniker."
-- Oz and Ends blog

"The minimal text, sprightly illustrations, and plentiful action will appeal even to
kids who think they don't like to read. At the same time, the story offers a depth
of characterizations and plot development to satisfy more demanding readers."
-- Paula Morrow Making Writers Better

"As the vacation ends Ellie admits that she has had more fun than she'd expected
and, on a list of things she learned during the week, includes a nugget of wisdom:
'No girl is an island. We're all in this together. Might as well try to get along.'"
-- Publishers Weekly

"Realistically portrays the characters (even the adults!), giving readers much to
consider about the pros and cons of relationships, along with hilarious situations
and witty asides. There's also a mystery regarding some frogs, nuggets of facts
about creatures and plants in the wild, and a bit of spot-on preteen philosophy."
-- Kidsreads.com

"Ellie McDoodle is the Wimpy Kid, for girls."
-- Buckeye Bookworm blog

Ellie McDoodle News:

The Indy Star Online calls Ellie McDoodle a fun book, useful for reluctant
readers and for teaching children how to write, in an article about teaching.
Read the article here and on my site.

Detroit's Metro Parent interviewed me -- article by Patti Richards here on her site.

I have a new blog about the Ellie McDoodle book process

A second Ellie book is in development. Some details here. Stay tuned for more.  :)

Here's my ICL Chat on Humor: ICL website and also here and here's more on humor.

Lots of freebies uploaded to my site -- take a look around. There's tons of stuff here.

Ionia classroom visit

DeWitt Public Library

Ann Arbor - Humor Seminar (attending not presenting)

South Lyon's Bartlett Elementary classroom visit

MRA Conference, Detroit

Battle of the Books, Orion Twp

Mt. Hope Elementary

Swartz Creek: Elms Rd. Elementary

Colon Elementary School Read & Relax Rally

April

Attwood Elementary carnival: Caricatures time

May

Attwood Elementary Field Day features Ellie McDoodle as the theme!

Ann Arbor Book Festival Authors and Illustrators in Schools

Ann Arbor Book Festival

Camping with the 4th graders

June

Michigan Historical Museum Summer Camp for kids

Ellie McDoodle: New Kid in School release party at Schuler Books

July

Michigan Historical Museum Summer Camp for kids

Writer Retreat near Boston

MRA Summer Literature Conference, Bay City

August

Michigan Historical Museum Summer Camp for kids

Family reunion camp: More ideas for Ellie!  ;)

September

Kerrytown Book Fest

October

Grand Rapids Celebration of the Book

March 8 - Forest View Elementary School, Lansing -- this was fun!

March 21 -- Wexford Elementary School, Lansing -- great group!

March 28 --Michigan Library Association Spring Institute, Frankenmuth --
I loved this, rubbing elbows with so many librarians

April 5 -- Reading Rainbow contest judge for PBS/Detroit Public Television --
truly inspiring. Kids are capable of such creative and interesting writing.

Apri1 1-30 -- Work like crazy on my Ellie sequel, due May 1 to the publisher
-- Finished in mid-May, and the book's on schedule.

April 25 -- My illustrated table (photo here) auctioned on WKAR PBS fundraiser
website -- sold! To the Capital Area District Library! Wooo hooo!!!

April 26-27 -- Calvin College Youth Writing Festival - 2 graphic novel workshops
-- went very well! I enjoyed talking with teens about their work.

April 28 -- SCBWI - Mi conference and presentation in Grand Rapids --
tons of work, went well! I got to meet my agent in person, finally! And enjoyed
hanging out with her and the brilliant Stacy Cantor of Bloomsbury.

May 1 -- My local bookstore where I'll buy my book
-- even got a photo!

May 2 --Teacher Appreciation Night at Schuler Books, 6-9pm
-- met lots of teachers!

May 9, 6:30pm -- BOOK LAUNCH PARTY!! Attwood Elementary, Lansing ---
info here -- thank you!

May 12 -- Halfway Down the Stairs bookstore, Rochester MI cartoon workshop
-- fantastic turnout, great staff!

May 16 -- Reading Rainbow awards ceremony PBS and Detroit Public Television
-- I'm on TV! Great meeting young writers

May 17 -- Read the Calbery award books at Pattengill Middle School
-- great stuff , and inspiring to see what solid writing our next generation brings!

May 18 -- Averill Elementary School, Lansing -- what a friendly audience!

May 20 -- Ann Arbor Book Festival author illustrator panel, 2pm
-- So glad I did this

May 21, 3:30pm -- Lansing School District Calbery Awards assembly
-- I love meeting young authors

May 22-25 -- Camping with the fourth graders -- sketches here

June 1 -- Tappan Middle School author visit -- What a great school!

June 6 -- Tappan Middle School author visit -- Glad to return!

June 7, 8-10pm EST -- Institute of Children's Literature online chat about humor 
website --FUN!

June 28 -- Santa Fe, here I come!

July 25 -- Houghton Lake Library presentation (maybe Higgins Lake too)

August 30 -- Calbery presentation to Lansing teachers

Sept 15 -- Schuler Books Birthday Party Celebration! I'm a featured author  :)

Sept 18 -- Grand Ledge Neff Elementary School visit - Mrs. Gordon's class

Sept 27 -- Cover art for the second Ellie McDoodle book due

early Oct -- Ellie McDoodle art due for paperback edition

Oct 25 -- AAUW visit, Ann Arbor

Oct 25 -- Bach Elementary, 4th grade

Suddenly I am too busy to make comments...
These events went great. Ellie's doing well!

Nov. 3 -- Partners Book Distributing Open House - Holt, MI

Nov 7-- 6 Traits Writing Workshop presentation for teachers, www.resa.net, 9am-3pm

Nov 9 -- Kalamazoo Public Library Children's Lit seminar (attending, not presenting)

Nov. 11 -- Monroe County Library Book Fair: Writers on the River

Nov. 14 -- Haslett Public Library -- Cartooning workshop for Kids Book Week

Dec 2007 -- Revisions for second Ellie book due -- work like crazy for 4 months

Barnes & Noble, Northville - postponed