AUTHOR VISIT AT ESPERANZA SCHOOL: Hands-On Science in the Natural Habitat School Garden

Principal Rumble with students in the Esperanza School Natural Habitat Garden.

Located at the edge of downtown Los Angeles, Esperanza Elementary School seems like a surprising place to find a natural habitat garden filled with California native plants. It is home to a variety of insects, birds and other wildlife. For the students at the school it is an opportunity for hands-on science as they observe the cycle of life through the seasons.

Welcome sign for my visit.

Since my first visit to Esperanza School in 2018 and getting a tour of their natural habitat garden I have been going back almost every year to meet with students and find out how the garden has been growing. Last week I met with third-grade students and their teacher Elizabeth Williams. We began in the library where I did a presentation about my books and what it is like to be an author. I was impressed by the students’ enthusiastic response and by their knowledge of the natural world. When I asked if they knew the word for animals that are active during the daytime, they knew that it was “diurnal”. Nighttime animals are "nocturnal".

Teacher, Mrs. Williams; librarian; Principal, Brad Rumble, in the school library.

After the presentation we all went on a tour of the habitat, led by Mrs. Williams and by Principal Brad Rumble. Recent rains had promoted new growth and spring wildflowers were beginning to bloom. Huge patches of lupins were sprouting everywhere. 

These bright red blooms are a favorite flower for hummingbirds. Below, lupin sprouts on the ground.

Mr. Rumble, an avid birdwatcher, has turned the students into expert bird watchers too. On our visit they spotted a number of species, including a pair of house finches. In class the students are learning to distinguish the differences between Anna’s hummingbird and the Rufous hummingbird. They told me that more than 80 species of birds have been identified in the garden.

Student discovering a small clump of wild grapes.

It is always a treat for me to visit Esperanza. It is a delight to see the students learning about the natural world and becoming young scientists. I thank them for sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm with me. And I thank Brad Rumble for his leadership at the school and in the community.  

The Schoolyard Habitat Program is sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation.

The Esperanza garden is a National Wildlife Federation certified Wildlife Habitat. The property provides the four basic habitat elements needed for wildlife to thrive: food, water, cover and places to raise young.

STAND UP FOR SCIENCE: We Need STEM and STEAM! March in Los Angeles 2025

Last Friday I joined hundreds of other card-carrying demonstrators at the Federal Building in West Los Angeles to protest the cuts being made to NIH and other federal institutions. This was one of dozens of demonstrations held in cities across the United States. My card, saved from the March for Science in Washington, D.C. in 2017, had two sides:

On the front: 

STEM and STEAM. 

Today's KIDS --Tomorrow's SCIENTISTS! 

Children's Book Writers March for Science.

On the back:

SUPPORT SCIENCE EDUCATION

Grades K-12 and Beyond

We need to preserve robust science education in our schools and universities. Today’s kids are the leaders of the future. Knowledge is power!

Support STEM and STEAM!

READERS' COMMENTS ABOUT SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL

Nothing makes an author happier than to hear from readers how much they liked their book. I am gratified by the good response I continue to get from readers of my book SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL: Growing Up in the 1950s at North East Neighborhood House, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Some of the comments are from friends and classmates, but many are from people I have never met. Some grew up in Northeast Minneapolis like I did, but many grew up elsewhere but share similar experiences. Here are just a few of the comments:

North East Neighborhood House

Your book allowed me to relive precious moments of my childhood. I loved every word and didn’t want it to end.

Your early life experiences, although unique from the Settlement House aspect, mirror many of our own--a stamp collection, a Schwinn bike, a Brownie camera, June Allyson paper dolls, the corner store for sweet treats and the freedom we had to just hop on our bikes and go anywhere.

I loved all the photos!

Another glowing facet of the book is that her parents' dedication as social workers is beyond admirable.

Throughout the book I was struck by the riches to be discovered in the memories of a modest life.

I learned so much about you—but also about the Settlement House!

I can relate to playing outside until the streetlights came on, shopping at a small neighborhood grocery store, ice skating on an outdoor rink in the park…

As I read, there were many eureka moments…. And of course the skating—all day long—entirely on our own—no parents hovering to make sure we didn’t fall.

For me, Camp Bovey provided father figures, learning to appreciate nature, camping, canoeing, and swimming…

I too am a Hodagger!

The Hodag, mascot of Camp Bovey (formerly Camp Hodag).

AUTHOR VISIT AT LA CRESCENTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, Glendale, CA

Authors and Illustrators Day at La Crescenta School, Glendale, CA.

On Monday, February 24th, I had a good visit at La Crescenta Elementary School in Glendale, California for Authors and Illustrators Day. The day was sponsored by the Glendale Assistance League, who not only brought in the authors for the day and gave each teacher a copy of one of our books, but also gave a generous check to the school for the purchase of books for the library. I was one of four authors visiting classrooms--Tao Nyeu, Joe Cepeda and Tracy Holczer were the others. I gave presentations to first and second grade students.

Entrance to La Crescenta School.

I was pleased by the good response to my presentation by the students and teachers. We started with my book A Zebra’s World, followed by a discussion of my cut-paper art illustration process. We measured wingspans in connection with Hatching Chicks in Room 6, and sang along with Wiggle and Waggle.

After sharing my book Planting a Garden in Room 6 I was pleased to learn that there was an extensive school garden--one just for butterflies! The children especially liked my new book My Friend From Outer Space, enthusiastically helping to count down from 10 before shouting, BLAST OFF!

Special thanks go to Linelle Vicenti and Kathy Blyth for coordinating everything and making sure the day ran smoothly! I also thank all the Glendale Assistance League volunteers who helped--introducing me in the classrooms, helping out with the book signing, and bringing the delicious snacks and lunch. Many thanks to the Glendale Assistance League for another successful Authors and Illustrators Day! 

Butterfly garden, with plants for attracting butterflies.

Vegetable and herb garden.

 

MEMORIES OF MY CONDOR BOOK, Photo at the Los Angeles Zoo

L-R: Los Angeles Zoo Director, Betty White, Caroline Arnold, GLAZA President, Michael Wallace. At the Los Angeles Zoo, 1993.

In 1993 I published my book ON THE BRINK OFEXTINCTION: The California Condor, illustrated with photos by Michael Wallace, then the director of the condor recovery program at the Los Angeles Zoo. At the time, fewer than one hundred condors remained in the wild. The only hope to increase their numbers was to raise them in captivity and then release them into the wild. My book chronicles that process. Today there are more than five hundred flying free in the wild!

My friend Brenda Scott Royce, editor of Zoo Magazine, recently shared this photo with me that she discovered in their photo archive. In it I am celebrating the publication of the book with Mike Wallace, zoo supporter Betty White, the President of GLAZA, and the zoo director. It brought back many memories of that project. The book has long been out of print, but you can still find it in libraries. Condors are magnificent birds, with the widest wingspan—more than nine feet!—of any land based bird in North America. If you are lucky, you might see one soaring high over the mountains, forests, and coast of California, or perhaps over the Grand Canyon in Arizona and other places where they have been reintroduced into their historic territory. 

On the Brink of Extinction: The California Condor (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1993)

THANK YOU LETTERS from students at Big Lagoon School, Trinidad, CA

I am always delighted to receive thank you letters from students after I do an author visit at a school. In October I visited Big Lagoon School in Trinidad, California, as part of the bi-annual Humboldt County Children’s Author Festival. After my visit the children in Ms. Rebecca’s class wrote letters and created illustrations to tell me how much they enjoyed my visit. Just a few of the comments: “Thank you for coming. It was fun.” “I like that you enjoy writing about animals.” “I liked when we did our wingspan.” “I hope you come again.”

I’m glad the children had a good time during my visit. Perhaps some of them will become authors one day!

CHILDREN'S BOOKS FOR ALTADENA: Vroman's Book Drive to Help Children and Families Affected by the Wildfires

A week ago I brought a number of my books to Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena as a contribution to the book drive for children and families of Altadena who have been affected by the recent terrible wildfires. Vroman's is partnering with Children's Books for Altadena. I could see by the number of huge boxes of books already collected that many people have contributed. I know the books will go to good use. I was happy to help.