HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Nativities from around the world displayed in the Connecting Cultures Mobile Museum remind me of my own nativity collection, gathered over the years, often as we have traveled around the world. As we celebrate this holiday season with its message of joy, hope, peace and goodwill, we send best wishes to all of you for a very

HAPPY HOLIDAY

and

JOYOUS NEW YEAR!

WIGGLE AND WAGGLE VIDEO

Wiggle and Waggle sock puppets

Follow Wiggle and Waggle, two wormy best friends, through five wormy chapters as they dig in the dirt, work hard, and have fun swimming and singing.Click on the link to listen to Wiggle and Waggle singing and to find out more about their adventures in the garden. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm8pzXlU0Lw

Wiggle and Waggle stick puppets

 

A Visit to the Eltham Public Library near Melbourne, Australia

Eltham Library, a Yarra Plenty Regional Library, near Melbourne, Australia

As I often do when I travel, I like to stop in at the local library, meet the librarians and take a look at the books. Last week, when I was in Eltham, Australia (near Melbourne) I visited the Eltham Public Library, located in a park near the Yarra River near the center of town. I had a nice chat with the librarian at the desk and left my card for the children’s librarian, who was away for the day. On my way out, I enjoyed looking at the current art exhibit in the gallery at the entrance to the library.

Community Art Gallery, Eltham Public Library

WATCHING DESERT WILDLIFE, Now Available as a Kindle Book

WATCHING DESERT WILDLIFE is now available as an e-book on Amazon Kindle. It was originally published by Carolrhoda Books in 1994 and is out of print. The cover has been redesigned and the text and photos inside the book have been updated. WATCHING DESERT WILDLIFE is illustrated with photos taken by my husband, Arthur Arnold, taken on many visits to the deserts of California and Arizona as well as to the high deserts in the Great Basin, where we had the opportunity to observe the richness of desert life up close. I am happy to have WATCHING DESERT WILDLIFE now available to new readers as an e-book. You can read it with a Kindle app on various devices (I use my iPad) or on your computer.

After a sudden spring rain, the flowers of a giant saguaro cactus bloom. Beneath the hot sun, a lizard flicks its tail and dashes for the shade of an overhanging ledge. Although the desert may seem to be a barren and lifeless place, it is full of plants and animals that have adapted to its harsh environment. In this updated edition of Watching Desert Wildlife, readers go on a guided tour of desert life and explore the fascinating ways in which plant and animals have come to survive in some of North America's driest and hottest places.

A Visit to the Glen Waverly Library, near Melbourne, Australia

As I often do when I travel, I like to stop in at the local library, meet the librarians, take a look at the collection and share my recent books. Last week, when I was in Glen Waverly, Australia (near Melbourne) I visited the Glen Waverly Public Library, part of the Monash Public Library Service. A search of the computer catalogue showed that three of my books were already in the library system. I had a nice chat with the librarian at the desk and left my card for the children’s librarians, who were away for the day. On my way out, I saw a flyer for an up coming program–a Tri-lingual Storytime. Families with young children are invited to experience storytelling in three languages–at the same time! Readings of the book Shark in the Park by Nick Sharratt will occur in English, Italian and Chinese (Mandarin), followed by an activity. I wish I could be at the library next week for this fascinating event!

A WALK ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF is Now Available as a Kindle Book

A WALK ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF is now available as an e-book on Amazon Kindle. It was originally published by Carolrhoda Books in 1988 and is out of print. The cover has been redesigned and the text and photos inside the book have been updated. A WALK ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF is illustrated with photos taken by my husband, Arthur Arnold, taken on two trips to Australia that included visits to the Great Barrier Reef, where we had the opportunity to observe reef life up close both above and under the water. I am happy to have A WALK ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF now available to new readers as an e-book. You can read it with a Kindle app on various devices (I use my iPad) or on your computer.

The Great Barrier Reef extends in a chain for over 1,200 miles along the northeast coast of Australia. This living wall is formed by countless tiny animals, and it creates an environment that is home to creatures of amazing diversity. Many of the wonders of the reef are uncovered during low tide on the reef flat. In this revised edition of A WALK ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF author Caroline Arnold leads readers on a tour of discovery as she and photographer Arthur Arnold explore the structure of the reef and the habits of its various inhabitants--from the many species of coral, fish, crabs and giant clams, to the birds and turtles that live along the shore.

SCBWI Book Blast Ends Tomorrow! Visit while you can!

Thursday, November 30th is the last day for the SCBWI Book Blast. It is your last day to visit my page for Hatching Chicks in Room 6.
Many thanks to everyone who has stopped by and left a comment!

Kizzie Jones said on November 28, 2017:
What a terrific resource- especially for children who do not have the opportunity to hatch chicks at school! Congrats!

Lin Oliver said on November 28, 2017:
A wonderful book. Makes me want to sit on an egg or two.

Teresa Bateman said on November 25, 2017:
This is a truly beautiful book. We used to raise chicks every year in our kindergarten classes but that, along with many other great activities, has been replaced with "serious education." This book lets us show the students what they might have learned first-hand.

Mary Ann Fraser said on November 24, 2017:
What a fabulous book. It is ideal for use in the classroom. Congrats, Caroline.

Lane M Arnold said on October 25, 2017:
Hurray for this new book!

Melissa Stewart said on October 25, 2017:
What a great idea for a book! Clear text, great photos. Kids are going to love this.
Tim Canny said on October 18, 2017:
Simple but compelling idea for a book. I'm jealous of the kids in Room 6! Good luck with your BookStop!

Lucy Grimm said on October 18, 2017:
Wonderful story, Congrats!

Alexis O\'Neill said on October 17, 2017:
The photos in this book are fabulous! I also love the design, with a narrative plus expository pull-outs. Perfect to accompany chick-hatching classroom projects.
Judy Cox said on October 16, 2017:
Cute book! Looking forward to seeing you in Eureka!

Celebrating Nine Years at CAROLINE ARNOLD ART AND BOOKS

Baby Koala’s First Climb
Limited Edition Giclee Print, Signed and numbered.
Printed on archival paper. The art is 10 1/4 by 20 inches with a 1 inch white border.
The original illustration was created in cut paper collage for pages 12-13 of A Koala’s World, written and illustrated by Caroline Arnold, published by Picture Window Books, 2008.

Happy Thanksgiving! Today is the ninth anniversary of my first post on this blog, an announcement of my new art prints at Etsy.

I was inspired to create the blog after hearing a talk at the SCBWI LA Writer's Day. After a few posts I let the blog go dormant, but then in the fall of 2010 I revived it. Since then I have published nearly 500 posts--on average once a week, usually on a Wednesday. Each year the readership has grown, with a total number of pages viewed now at more than 150,000.
Thanks for visiting!
If you haven't signed up to receive the blog by email, consider it! It will be delivered each week to your mailbox.

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY: Connecting Cultures Mobile Museum, Los Angeles, CA

CCMM Spiritual Connections Display at RFK School Library, Los Angeles, CA

Last week I attended the annual open house of Connecting Cultures Mobile Museum (CCMM) at the Robert F. Kennedy School Library in Los Angeles.  CCMM is a program that brings rich displays of cultural objects from around the world to middle schools, with the goal of helping students understand the diversity in their own world so they can begin to appreciate themselves as participants in a global community.

Julia Goldman, CCMM Executive Director

Hundreds of objects are displayed (usually in the school library) with identifying signs color coded for each part of the world. Students are always delighted to find objects from their own country of origin. During the CCMM presentations, the students learn the stories behind some of the objects, their significance, and have the opportunity to handle some of them. The displays are organized around three themes: commercial, spiritual, and everyday connections.

Book and Puppets from India

The collection on display at the open house focused spiritual connections, with objects ranging from masks, books, clothing, and musical instruments that play a role in the various religions of the world. Among my favorites were the many masks on display, including one that I had donated.  Here are a few of the masks. Find out more about CCMM at their website.

African Masks

Spirit Wheel Mask, Alaska

Mask decorated with feathers, Brazil

Raven mask, Canada

CARNEGIE LIBRARY OF PITTSBURGH

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA

Last week, my daughter, Jennifer, was in Pittsburgh, and stopped in at the Carnegie Library. As she browsed the shelves she found several of my books. When I looked in the online catalogue, I was pleased to discover that the library has 125 of my books, 120 print books, and 5 e-books. I am always pleased to discover my books on the shelves of libraries knowing that through my books I am reaching the lives of children who check them out wanting to learn more about the world we live in.

Two of my books on the shelves of the library

The establishment of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh was forecast in a letter, November 25, 1881, from Andrew Carnegie to the Mayor of Pittsburgh, in which Mr. Carnegie offered to donate $250,000 for a free library, provided the City would agree to provide the land and maintain the annual funding for library operations. After additional consideration, Mr. Carnegie increased his charter investment to $1 million to build and equip a Main Library and five neighborhood branches, with the City of Pittsburgh agreeing to provide $40,000 for their ongoing support.
Founding public libraries became a personal philanthropic mission for Mr. Carnegie. To him, libraries were vital, non-luxury assets to be supported by public dollars. When finished, Mr. Carnegie established more than 2,500 libraries around the world. (From the library website.)

Fall Gala of the CLCSC featuring Steve Sheinkin, Los Angeles, CA

A week ago I attended the annual celebration of children's book authors and illustrators by the Children's Literature Council of Southern Calfornia, held this year at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles. As always it was a wonderful time see friends and to reconnect with teachers and librarians. After a delicious breakfast we proceeded to the auditorium to hear award winning author Steve Sheinkin give an inspiring keynote address followed by the presentation of awards.  This year's honorees are Jennifer Holm, Outstanding Work of Fiction, K.G. Campbell, Outstanding Picture Book, Nikki Grimes, Myra Cohn Livingston Award for Poetry, Nicola Yoon, Peggy Miller Award for Young Adult Literature, and Alyson Beecher and Alethea Allarey, Dorothy C. McKenzie Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Field of Children's Literature.
Thanks to the Fall Gala Committee and the Awards Committee for an excellent job!

At breakfast with LAPL librarian Marcia Melkonian

Eureka! Honor Award from CRA for Hatching Chicks in Room 6

Good news! Hatching Chicks in Room 6 has been named a Eureka! Honor book by the California Reading Association. The Eureka! award is for outstanding nonfiction. I am delighted to be on the list, which will go to teachers and librarians all over the state. The winners were announced at the fall meeting of the CRA. Thanks to all on the Eureka committee!

Reading in the Redwoods: HUMBOLDT COUNTY CHILDREN’S AUTHOR FESTIVAL, Eureka, CA

Theme art for "Reading in the Redwoods" at the Humboldt County Library, Eureka, CA

I am just home from the bi-annual Humboldt County Children’s Author Festival in Eureka, California, and it was as fabulous as ever. This was my sixth time to participate, and each time it gets better and better. The theme this year was Reading in the Redwoods.
The four day festival (October 18-21)  includes author visits to schools, a gala banquet, book signing at the library, and an exhibition of children’s book art at the Morris Graves Museum of Art. I had two pieces of original art from my book A Day and Night on the Prairie in the exhibit. On the opening day of the festival there is always a welcome reception for the authors and volunteers at the museum, a chance to meet the wonderful volunteers who organize the festival and to mingle with the other authors. This year there were 25 of us!

Artwork by students at Bridgeville School

Thursday and Friday are devoted to author visits in the schools and I had three wonderful school visits. The first was to Bridgeville School, a tiny (26 students grades K-8) school tucked in the hills of Humboldt County. I was greeted by students from the upper grades with a lovely poster and then did two presentations. Librarian Kathy Wolff had done a great job preparing the students. The wall of the library was decorated with student art inspired by my books. 

With librarian Sharron Jones at Hydesville School

I then went down the road to Hydesville School for a delicious lunch with the teachers and then two presentations in the multipurpose room where librarian Sharron Jones had made a lovely display of my books. My driver for the day was Ann Gunderson. (Ann grew up in Eureka and comes back every year to volunteer at the festival. It was great to spend time with her–several years ago I did an author visit at her school in Billings, Montana.)

Thursday evening at the festival is always a potluck dinner (yummy food provided by the many festival volunteers) followed by a Readers Theater performance by students from the arts high school in Arcata, who did a brilliant presentation of Kirby Larson’s book Hattie Big Sky. When they finished there wasn't a dry eye in the room.

Singing the Wiggle and Waggle song with K-2 students at Coastal Grove School

On Friday morning my driver, David Peterson, picked me up to take me to Coastal Grove School in Arcata where I did four presentations followed by lunch. Teacher Jenny Hales coordinated my visit and did a great job.
On Friday evening everyone gathered at Ingomar Club (the historic Carson mansion) for a gala dinner. Entertainment is from the authors–each of us gets three minutes at the podium--a challenge to decide what to say, but everyone manages to be very entertaining and different. In the end I did a reprise of the Wiggle and Waggle song, something I had done ten years ago at my very first banquet. As the second to last speaker I decided a sing-along was a good way to end.

With authors Nancy Coffelt and Linda Bourne at the library book signing

The final event of the Authors Festival is a book signing on Saturday at the beautiful county library. We all wear our festival t-shirts as we chat with visitors and autograph books.
I do many author events but nothing is quite like the Humboldt County festival. I can’t give enough thanks to all the people who put so many hours into planning and coordinating all the different moving parts. (The Festival website has a complete list of these amazing people and much more.) You all do a fantastic job! Thank you for making me a part of this unique and wonderful festival!

AUTHOR FESTIVAL ILLUSTRATOR EXHIBIT, 2017, Morris Graves Museum of Art, Eureka, CA

Original cut-paper illustration from A Day and Night on the Prairie, 9:00 p.m.

The Humboldt County Children’s Author Festival in Eureka, California, brings together authors, illustrators and book lovers for a very busy and fun four days.  Held every two years in October, the festival  includes author visits to schools, a gala banquet, book signing at the library, and an exhibition of children’s book art at the Morris Graves Museum of Art. I have been participating since 2007. This year I sent two pieces of original art from my book A Day and Night on the Prairie.

Original cut-paper illustration from A Day and Night on the Prairie, 6:00 a.m.

Many thanks to Lucy Quimby, one of the many devoted volunteers who organize the festival, for making arrangements for the show and to Jemima Harr at the museum for hanging the art. Copies of the illustrated books are also on display.The show went up in September and continues to the end of October.

Books by participating illustrators

On the opening day of the festival there is a welcome reception for the authors and volunteers at the museum and I always enjoy the chance to view the show and get a close-up look at the art of my fellow illustrators.

Morris Graves Museum of Art, Eureka, California

CELEBRATING LOCAL AUTHORS at the Mar Vista Library, Los Angeles, CA

Caroline Arnold and Susan Casey at the Mar Vista Library Local Author Celebration

Last Saturday, October 14th, I joined a dozen other authors at the Mar Vista Library in Los Angeles to celebrate the wealth of creative writers in our local community. (Although I don’t live in Mar Vista, I am only ten minutes away.) We sat with our books at tables in the library meeting room as people came by to chat and look at our books.

Eleanor "C-Pass" Jones and Gretchen Woelfle

Then. each of us had a turn to tell a little bit about ourselves and our lives as writers. We were a wonderfully diverse group ranging from children’s book authors, to comic book producers, to novelists, to poets, to biographers, cookbook and health writers, each with a fascinating and unique story to tell.

Verdel Flores, librarian, Mar Vista Public Library

I thank Verdel Flores, adult librarian at the Mar Vista Library for organizing this inaugural authors’ program. It was an honor and a pleasure to participate!

Authors at the celebration

Participating authors:
Adult books: Carol Davis, Melissa Guzzetta, Eleanor Jones, Lilly Padilla, Ramon Resa, M.D.
Young Adult books: Arthur J. Gonzalez, Jeremy Lasman
Children’s books: Caroline Arnold, Susan Casey, Aileen Leijten, Gretchen Woelfle
Publisher representatives: Monica Faulkner, Elyse Wietstock

SCBWI BookStop Web Page: HATCHING CHICKS IN ROOM 6

SCBWI BookStop has launched today! Come take a look, click to "like" and find out more about HATCHING CHICKS IN ROOM 6.

HATCHING CHICKS IN ROOM 6 will be featured for the next six weeks at the SCBWI BookStop site. SCBWI BookStop goes live to the public, Monday October 16, and runs through Thursday November 30. It features books published in 2017. With information about each book and links to related social media sites plus a direct link for purchasing the book, BookStop is designed to widen awareness and provide an opportunity for authors to promote their books.
Be sure to stop by my page and leave a comment!
The direct link to my BookStop page is https://www.scbwi.org/scbwibookstop-display/?id=476450
The URL for the SCBWI BookStop homepage is https://www.scbwi.org/scbwibookstop.

Mexico's Ancient City of Teotihuacan Exhibit at the De Young Museum, San Francisco

I can't wait to see the new exhibit at the De Young Museum in San Francisco about Teotihuacan, whose ruins lie just outside Mexico City, and is one of the most fascinating places I've ever visited. Opening September 30th, Teotihuacan: City of Water, City of Fire features never-before-seen archaeological discoveries and captivating artwork from one of the largest and most important cities of the ancient Americas. The exhibit will be up until February 11, 2018.
I am reminded of my visit to Teotihuacan twenty years ago, climbing the pyramids and exploring the ruins as I  researched my book City of the Gods: Mexico's Ancient City of Teotihuacan, which is illustrated with photos by Richard Hewett. You may be able to find the book in the library, or you can read it online. It is available as a Kindle book on Amazon.
Here is a wonderful video giving a preview of the exhibit at the De Young Museum:

CELEBRATING 150,000 VIEWS

As of today, this blog has been viewed more than 150,000 times! Thanks so much to all of you have stopped by and read my posts at Caroline Arnold Art and Books. I appreciate all your support. THANKS!

Book Signing at the ORANGE COUNTY CHILDREN'S BOOK FESTIVAL

In the SCBWI booth at the Orange County Children's Book Festival with author Henry Hertz

On Sunday, October 1, thousands of families thronged the campus of Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California, for the annual book festival. Dozens of white tents lined the walks and stages for performers and storytellers were strategically located.

Tents and books were everywhere!

I spent a busy hour at the SCBWI booth talking to children and their parents, giving away postcards, and signing books. I shared the table with author Henry Hertz, festively costumed in a pirate outfit to go with one of his books. It was a fun day. I enjoyed talking with Francesca Ruzackas and Ernesto Cisneros of the SoCal SCBWI in the booth and thank Francesca for coordinating the the signings in the booth.

Clifford the Big Red Dog was one of many performers who greeted guests at the festival

EASTER ISLAND is Now a Kindle Book

My book, EASTER ISLAND is now available as an e-book on Amazon Kindle. It was originally published by Clarion Books in 2000 and is out of print. The cover has been redesigned but the text and full color photos inside are the same as in the original book. EASTER ISLAND is illustrated with my own photos, taken on my visit to the island in 1996. I am happy to have EASTER ISLAND now available to new readers as an e-book. You can read it with a Kindle app on various devices (I use my iPad) or on your computer.

REVIEW
School Library Journal, starred review
Arnold provides a clear and concise look at the island and the many mysteries that surround it, detailing its early settlement, its people and resources, and the rise and fall of its rich and complex civilization. One of the most intriguing questions that remains unanswered is how the ancient Rapanui people carved and erected hundreds of giant stone statues found all over the island. The author carefully explains how scientists have theorized on the early history and how the decimation over time of the islands natural resources and its isolation from trade routes may have led to its decline in population. The book concludes with a quick look at the tourism that is renewing pride in the unique heritage of the few hundred remaining Rapanui people, as the island becomes a model open-air museum.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Although the purpose of the moai [giant statues] that seem to stand sentinel around the famous island is obviously the intriguing mystery here, Arnold sets the stone figures into cultural perspective, examining what archaeologists, anthropologists, missionaries, explorers, and descendants of island settlers have discovered concerning the Polynesians who carved them. In a dozen succinct chapters she surveys the land and its original topography, discusses legends about the earliest settlers, reconstructs how the moai were carved, moved, and placed, and speculates on how deforestation, overfarming, overhunting, clan warfare, and European-borne disease contributed to the decline of the island civilization.

Save the Date: Book signing at the Orange County Children’s Book Festival, Sunday, Oct 1

Please join me on Oct 1st, 2017, at The Orange County Children’s Book Festival located at The Orange Coast College where I will be signing books in the SCBWI SoCal booth between 11:30 and 12:30pm. The Festival is expected to draw 30,000+ people. Get there early and spend the day celebrating books and reading!

When: 


Sunday, October 1, 2017 from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM PDT

Where:

Orange Coast College
2701 Fairview Rd.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Driving Directions

FICTION versus NONFICTION: What Do Young Children Prefer?

One of my favorite writers, Melissa Stewart, has just published a terrific article on her blog, Celebrate Science, about the reading preferences of children in the primary grades. Not surprisingly, many, or in some cases, most, of the children prefer nonfiction, especially boys. She cites two studies that looked at children's book choices:

Correia, Marlene Ponte. “Fiction vs Informational Texts: Which Will Kindergartners Choose?”Young Children, 2011, p. 100-104. And,
Mohr, Kathleen A. J. “Children’s Choices for Recreational Reading: A Three-Part Investigation of Selection Preferences, Rationales, and Processes.” Journal of Literacy Research, 2006, p. 81-104.

It is great to see numbers supporting what a lot of teachers and librarians already know--that young children either prefer nonfiction (they want to find out more about the world we live in) or like it just as well as stories. Yet, there are too many adults who think that kids just want stories. Kids like both, and we need to make sure that they have the option to choose the books they prefer.

BEDTIME STORY JAM: Westwood Charter School, Los Angeles, CA

At Westwood Charter School ready for my Story Jam Presentation

On Friday evening I was one of ten authors participating in the Bedtime Story Jam at Westwood Charter Elementary School, one of the schools in my neighborhood. It was the culmination of their week-long library Book Fair. (Books supplied my Mrs. Nelson’s Book Fair company.) Children came to school in their pajamas and enjoyed milk and cookies before spending two sessions with their chosen authors. In my room, children sat on the rug in the front and parents sat on chairs in the back. I gave a slide presentation, finishing with the reading of my book Hatching Chicks in Room 6. At the end, children had a chance to ask questions and have their books autographed. I found it to be a very enjoyable evening and I thank Jenna Carlston and her hard-working book fair committee for the good organization and promotion of the event. And I particularly thank my host for the evening, Sara Sadrieh, who helped me set up, introduced me and made sure that everything went smoothly. At the end, we all had a chance to relax together in the library patio. Thank you Westwood School!

Sara and Jenna, in their Westwood Story Jam T-shirts

IMAGINE II, VIP Reception, dA Center for the Arts, Pomona, CA

At the IMAGINE II exhibit, underneath my art from A Day and Night in the Desert

On Saturday evening I attended the gala VIP reception for illustrators and librarians at the dA Center for the Arts in Pomona. As I arrived, the gallery was full of people looking at the illustrations on the wall, browsing books by the illustrators that were displayed on tables, munching appetizers, and getting ready for a presentation by local school children and later a puppet show.

Books by participating illustrators including my Day and Night Habitat series Lisze Bechtold's Buster the dog books

More than thirty Southern California children’s book illustrators are represented in the exhibit, but as I looked around the room, I couldn’t find the art that I had submitted. It turned out that it been tucked away after I delivered it and overlooked when the exhibit was hung. Luckily, the two pieces were found and are now hanging on the wall along with the other pieces of art. The show will be up until September 23. I encourage you to stop by and take a look.

Illustrators Joe Cepeda and Gina Capaldi

I thank Gina Capaldi of the SCBWI for all the hard work of putting the show together and to Margaret Aichele at the dA Center for the Arts for coordinating the exhibit. It was also great to see Judy Nelson of Mrs. Nelson's Books, who provided the books for sale at the event.

Lisze Bechtold and her illustrations

Where to see the exhibit (until September 23):
dA Center for the Arts
252 South Main Street
Pomona, CA 91766
Phone: 909-397-9716

Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 12pm to 4pm (til 9pm on Thursday)

Judy Nelson with her door, autographed by dozens of children's book writers and illustrators