My publisher, Henry Holt asked me to be part of their blog, Year of the Book. They asked me to discuss my writing process in general and my upcoming book, Birdy’s Smile Book. So at the beginning of each month for the next 4 months (2 posts already made) I’m going to make my entries. If you’d like to take a look, here are posts I did for February and March:
Bloggin’ About Birdy
March 16th, 2010Teacher Day in Petoskey, MI
November 9th, 2009
I recently spoke at a bookstore in Petoskey, MI, where I was asked to speak to a group of teachers about my books and how to use them in the classroom. We had some technical difficulties and I was unable to show them my Powerpoint presentation so I’m posting many ideas here so they (and anyone who’s interested!) can see it after all. Most of the ideas have come from some very creative teachers across the country. Each book title is listed below so just click on it to see specific ideas for that book. Click on any photo to enlarge it.
I also have more ideas on my website under “SCHOOL STUFF” and other entries on this “NEWS” page (scroll down and on the right side, look under “categories” to find activities for each book).
The Scrambled States of America
Grandpa Gazillion’s Number Yard
Arnie the…Pumpkin?
October 20th, 2009
This is SO CUTE! I just got an email from two fans of Arnie’s, Maloki and Lorelei, who made an Arnie the Doughnut PUMPKIN!!! Oh, and I was told by some very reliable sources that it was Lorelei’s idea to make the Arnie the Doughnut pumpkin but Maloki picked out all the supplies that they used! Great job, you guys — I love it!!! See more pics and how they did it here:
Me and My Animal Friends
October 15th, 2009
My latest book is called Me and My Animal Friends (September 2009), by Ralph Covert of Ralph’s World. I was so excited when my editor, Christy Ottaviano, asked me if I’d be interested in illustrating it because I’ve been a HUGE fan of Ralph’s music for years (read more here).
Watch Ralph singing Me and My Animal Friends! I especially love watching all the kids dancing. It reminds me of the Christmas play rehearsal scene in the Charlie Brown Christmas Special — there’s even a set of twins, too!
Springtime at York Elementary!
October 14th, 2009I visited York Elementary in Retsof, NY last May and WOW, what an INCREDIBLE day it was! Julie Crowell is the new librarian there and this was the first author visit she organized. Not only did she do an excellent job of preparing the kids about my books but she went above and beyond, with the help of the art teacher, Brandy Lundfelt, by having them do some projects based on my books. (read more here)
Little Miss Vanika
October 14th, 2009Last spring I was in Rochester, NY doing school visits. I met so many great kids there but wanted to share some photos of a young girl I met named Vanika who said she was a big fan of my books. She was so sweet and gave me an entire book of jokes she made up especially for me and drawings to go with them. It meant so much to me that she would take the time to do that.
Keep up the good work, Vanika, and thank you again!
Annett O’Hara — Art Teacher Extraordinairre-a!
March 14th, 2009It’s always so much fun to visit a school and see students’ art
projects based on my books! I was especially blown away when
I visited McCarter Elementary School in Topeka, KS and saw what
the art teacher, Annett O’Hara, had done with her students.
Read more…
A Big “THANK YOU” to the Hunters Bend Hound Dogs!
March 12th, 2009WOW, WOW, WOW!!! The students at Hunters Bend Elementary in Franklin, TN, chose The Scrambled States of America Talent Show as the 2009 winner of their “Houndicott” Award! THANK YOU SO MUCH, HOUND DOGS!!! I could not be more honored and Uncle Sam is just busting at his stripey seams with happiness. Thank you again and again!!!! And again!
Marley and…My Books
March 5th, 2009Travis Jonker, one of the librarians at Baker Elementary in Wayland, MI (he has a great book blog, 100 Scope Notes) invited me to spend the day there talking to the K-2nd Graders. We had a lot of fun! The kids had the halls decorated with otters and donuts that they had drawn. And one teacher, Mrs. Donaldson, had pictures of her students reading my books to her dog, Marley (a labradoodle). He read Open Wide: Tooth School Inside, The Scrambled States of America, The Scrambled States of America Talent Show and Arnie the Doughnut.
He really seemed to enjoy Do Unto Otters.
But wait…what’s this?
Is that?….
it IS!….it’s a CHEEZ-IT! Marley wasn’t interested in my books at all — he
was just eye-ing the CHEEZ-ITS the kids were holding! Welllll, I guess I
can’t blame him…I respond the same way to peanut M&M’s.
Writer’s Block and Savion Glover
March 1st, 2009Recently at a school visit a little boy asked me if I’d ever gotten “writer’s block”. I told him YES and I thought I’d share my experience here because I really struggled with it and the way I got past it was very unexpected.
