A wondrous walk

I just took the most wondrous walk with our dog, Coach. For the past two days, we've received sleet and frozen rain-although, I was secretly glad because I get to sit by the fire and read and write guilt-free. Today, I knew I had to get Coach out for some exercise, so I put on my boots and took him on a walk through the 100-Acre Wood. This is my favorite path to take, because it's along this beautiful wooded path with a quaint wooden bridge.

As we walked, I studied the trees. They seemed pretty normal, even drab, with their brown bark and stark, leafless branches. I knew the ice had coated the trees, so if I looked closely, they looked a little wet. It was easy to pass them by, hustling along on the cold morning.

But when I reached the end of the path, I turned around and started towards home. What a wondrous sight waited for me. The same, drab, brown trees now sparkled and shone with a million diamond lights. I was now walking into the sun, and it dazzled and reflected off the icy trees, so that I felt I was in a different land. It was like each tree was a sparkler in a firework display. Truly, I was so overwhelmed with the beauty, that I stopped to say a prayer right then and there, thanking God for His amazing creativity.

As I continued the walk, I began to think that the trees were a lot like people. We pass them and don't take much notice. But if we turn around. If we look at them in a different way, we are amazed at how glorious they are. One turn. One new way of looking. What was once a dull brown tree is now a rare thing of beauty. What beautiful God-given gifts lay inside of people that we never even imagine?

Sure the walk home was harder. I was walking directly into the arctic wind, blowing and biting at my face. But, oh, it was so worth it to see the trees sparkling in the sunlight. My goal this Lenten season is to try to walk the harder way and see the different side of people. I think it will be a wondrous walk, indeed.

Loving the Chronicles of Narnia

I have loved the Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis for years. I gave the entire set to my daughter when she was probably in the 4th grade. I read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe outloud to her and my husband, and we all marveled at this incredible story. Then she ventured forth on her own with the rest of the books. But after finishing each and every one, she'd run to my room, flop on the bed, and say, "Mom! You've got to read this book! You've just got to!" Oh, the joy and excitement of sharing a book!

I don't think I can put into words how moving this series has been for me. I saved the books for just the right time- a time when I needed the joy, or the healing, or the wonderful buoyant fantasy of the series. The books were like apples ripening on a tree, and I would pick them to savor and enjoy when I needed them most.

I finished the last of the series, The Last Battle, and I was simply overwhelmed by it. It's a rare and mighty thing when a book affects you so immensely. I felt different, changed. I had an understanding of heaven and God's love that was new, and different, and enlightened. What a gift C. S. Lewis has given to all of us in this series!

If you're looking for a book that will change your world, pick up The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Even though it's the second book in the series, it is the touchstone upon which the series is built. Then go back, read the first book, and all the books that follow. And fall in love with them.

Happy reading, everyone!

Murray the mouse is interviewed

Murray the mouse from Perfect Soup was interviewed by Fuzz, the wonderful possum from the Cork and Fuzz series by Dori Chaconas. It was a nose-to-nose interview!

Check it out here:

http://dorichaconas.com/Nose%20to%20Nose%20Current.htm#Lisa_Moser

Smithsonian magazine

Hi All,
What a great Christmas gift! I found that Perfect Soup made the Holiday Gift Guide for the Smithsonian Magazine. And the best part? My best friend, Sara Akin, had her book, Three Scoops and a Fig featured, too! How cool is that?

Here's the link if you want to check it out:
http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/food/2010/11/30/holiday-gift-guide-new-childrens-books-about-food/

New book announcement: Squirrel's Fun Day

Hooray! Hooray! Hooray! I just signed the contract for my book Squirrel's Fun Day with Candlewick Press. This will be the sequel to Squirrel's World, and the wonderful Valerie Gorbachev will do the illustrations, again.

I absolutely love writing about this character, and so I feel overwhelmingly blessed to be able to add the next book in Squirrel's adventures.

Hope everyone is staying cozy and warm. And I wish everyone the brightest, merriest Christmas. May God's peace envelope you and bring you great joy.

Love,
Lisa

I'm very excited about the upcoming story time and book signing for Perfect Soup.

Join me Saturday, November 20th at 10:30 a.m.

The Next Chapter Bookshop

10976 N. Port Washington Rd.

Mequon, WI 52405

I'll be presenting and signing with my best friend, Sara Akin, who also has a wonderful book out called Three Scoops and a Fig.

Children and adults will love it as we'll do a few craft activities, read some stories, and eat delicious gelato. Then take time to browse the beautiful Next Chapter Bookshop. It's an extraordinary book store and the people are absolutely, positively wonderful!

Hope to see you on Sat., Nov. 20th!

Wishing everyone happy friendships and warm soup!

Perfect Soup

Great news! My new picture book Perfect Soup (illus. Ben Mantle, Random House) was released today. I'm so excited because I absolutely love how this book turned out.

Murray the mouse likes everything perfect- especially his soup. So when Murray discovers he's missing a carrot for Perfect Soup, he sets out to get one. But getting a carrot isn't as easy as it seems. The farmer wants him to haul wood. The horse wants bells to feel fancy, and that's just the beginning of the list Murray must fulfill. Just when things are bleakest, Snowman gives him a gift without asking for anything in return, and Murray discovers that friendship is much more important than perfection.

Ben Mantle did an extraordinary job with the illustrations, adding exquisite color and detail on every page. Every single time I read it-and I've read it a lot, believe me-I find something new and exciting in the pictures. One time, I'll follow the little bird throughout the story. Another time, I looked at how Murray's hat mimics his mood-enthusiastic, downtrodden, and surprised. I love to look inside the houses to see what kinds of things are in Murray's kitchen, Mrs. Wooly's teapot-shaped house, and so much more. Every turning of the page is an illustrated treasure.

I feel such gratitude for all the blessings that come with each book- the joy of writing it, the tremendous appreciation for the artist and illustrations, my wonderful, wonderful editor, the bookstores and libraries who will put it on their shelves, and the children and adults who will read it and hopefully laugh along with it. I thank God and Jesus for this dream come true!

Happy Reading All!