Linda Ashman

children's book author, mom, wife, animal lover, gardener, vegetarian . . .

HONORS
& REVIEWS


Bill Martin, Jr. Award Nominee 2004 (Kansas Reading Association)
JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD Selection

CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE MONTH CLUB Selection

CHILD MAGAZINE featured book

NEVADA YOUNG READER AWARD Finalist, 2004

2007 TEXAS READING CLUB SELECTION


"A pint-sized Jacques Cousteau plunges down into the ocean depths in an orange submarine to explore its treasures. All will appreciate being asked along for this enchanting ride." Publishers Weekly

"Vivid illustrations, bubbly verse, and the surprise ending make this imaginative voyage as fun as it is educational." Julie Yates Walton, CHILD Magazine

"Poetic text is lively with enough alliteration to encourage repeated recitation. An amusing and equally enlightening companion to Ashman's previous Castles, Caves, and Honeycombs." Kirkus Reviews

"This cheery voyage makes exuberant reading aloud, both pre- and post-bath time." Booklist

"This imaginative bath-time book excels at blending story and pictures." School Library Journal


HARCOURT BOOKS
Find Authors

RUB-A-DUB SUB

View it on Google Books here.

From RUB-A-DUB SUB. Illustrations copyright 2003 by Jeff Mack. With permission of Harcourt, Inc.

Author's Note


Sinking in my submarine,
my sub (glub glub) marine.

Diving with a silky seal.
Darting by a dancing eel.

Peering through a kelpy haze
at rainbow fish and manta rays.

Waving to a whiskered shrimp.
Floating by a blowfish-blimp.


All the research I'd done for an ill-fated undersea poetry collection came to good use with this book. It began with just one line that kept going through my head. But nothing else came, so I gave up and put it aside. When I took it out again a year later, the rest of the story just followed -- probably the quickest book I've written (not counting the year it sat in my drawer!).

I love Jeff Mack's vibrant paintings for this book, so full of energy and childlike wonder at this amazing undersea world. And I was thrilled when Jeff agreed to do STARRY SAFARI, a companion adventure, which Harcourt published in 2005.

Teaching Themes: ocean life, submarines, imagination, and stories in rhyme. For lesson ideas, visit the Natural Resources Defense Council's Kids Make Waves website, and the NCTE/​IRA Read-Write-Think lesson on ocean life and alliteration. Find printable activity sheets at Jeff Mack's website and more suggestions below:

This is a DOC file. SUB Teaching Ideas (49.5KB)

LINDA'S BOOKS:

Brand New!
"A memorable first skate by an irresistible imp." Starred review, KIRKUS
"Ashman's concept is both sophisticated and delightful." KIRKUS
In Print
"Ashman's poetic portraits are packed with lots of tasty assonance and alliteration." Starred Review, PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"Quirky, sarcastic, and rather educational, too." BOOKLIST
"A 10 on the "aw"-inspiring scale." PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"Beautifully crafted and satisfying." Starred Review, BOOKLIST
"A family outing gone hilariously awry." BOOKLIST
A "lovely reverie on the joys of being alive and being loved." Starred Review, PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"Kids will love the colorful paintings while parents will appreciate that it's chock full of facts about the Centennial State." VAIL DAILY
An "enchanting ride." PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"As pithy and clever as Ogden Nash at his best." Starred Review, KIRKUS
"A splendid bedtime fantasy." KIRKUS
Other Titles
"A rip-roaring, exciting excursion." SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
"A hilarious look at the world through the sharp eyes and nose of a dog." SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE
"This one's a keeper." SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
"The clever, rhyming text bounces along with perfect cadence." SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
"Youngsters will find nothing but comfort in these pages." KIRKUS
"Vibrant, playful text . . . excellent for storytimes." SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
"A lighthearted look at bad behavior." KIRKUS
"A riotous adventure." HORN BOOK MAGAZINE
"Ashman captures the non-stop action in rollicking rhyme." KIRKUS
A "captivating collaboration." Starred Review, KIRKUS
Wagmore is "a charming, gentle hero." KIRKUS REVIEWS