SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL Now at the SCBWI BookStop Site

SCBWI BookStop page for SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL

The SCBWI BookStop site launches today!  Find SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL on my SCBWI BookStop page! It is in the section of YA books. (Like many books written for adults, it crosses over to YA readers.)

Thanks to the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators for helping me to promote SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL, my memoir about growing up at North East Neighborhood House in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The site includes information about the book and links to my social media sites.  A button on the BookStop page allows you to go directly to Amazon to purchase SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL (paperback). The book is also available as an ebook on Amazon.

The promotion will be live on scbwi.org from October 15 through December 4, 2024. It is a perfect opportunity for holiday shoppers, including on Cyber Monday. Buy your copy today!

"Settlement House Girl is engaging, tracing Arnold’s growth from a young girl to an adult journeying into being a writer in her later life, but it’s also a valuable contribution to the social history of 20th-century America, offering urban history enthusiasts a wealth of information about the daily lives of families living in mid-century cities. The detailed accounts of Arnold's experiences provide a unique glimpse into the fabric of community life during this era, highlighting the interactions and shared experiences that defined the settlement house environment." BookLife/Publishers Weekly

FAMILY GALLERY at the Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C., Having Fun Viewing Art

Family Gallery at the Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C.

In the Family Gallery at the Phillips Collection museum of art in Washington, D.C., families are invited to interact with and respond to the art on the walls: Look, Imagine, Play Together. It is a place where art can be fun and intriguing for all ages.

Still life paintings.

In a group of paintings hung over the fireplace, we are asked “What is a Still Life Painting?” We see Gladiolus by Milton Avery, Eggplants by Sarah Baker, and Plums, Pears, Nuts and Knife by Georges Braque. Then “Why might an artist want to paint them?” Finally, “What would you include in your own still life? Why are these objects special to you?” 

On a low table in the corner of the room are pieces of paper and colored pencils that children can use to make their own art.

The Peaceable Kingdom, Edward Hicks

Around the room, paintings are hung at child height making them easily accessible. With The Peaceable Kingdom by Edward Hicks, we are asked several questions including “How many animals can you find?” and “What makes this painting look realistic? What makes it look imaginary?”

Coin de la Rue Medard, Paris, Lois Mailou Jones

When viewing Coin de la Rue Medard, Paris by Lois Mailou Jones, we are encouraged to use our five senses. “Find the two girls on the balcony.  … What do they see? What do they hear? What do they smell?” Perhaps one of the shops across the street is a bakery, and the girls smell the aroma of fresh bread. Even the smallest detail can tell us something about the scene and make the experience richer.

Deer in the Forest 1, Franz Marc

And viewers are asked “What is your favorite color?  How does it make you feel?” when looking at Franz Marc’s painting Deer in the Forest 1. The label for this painting tells us that yellow represents happiness and joy. 

My visit to the Phillips Collection was during a school day so there were no children present in the family gallery. But I can see how a visit would make a trip to the museum memorable, and instill a curiosity about other paintings throughout the building. Although the Family Gallery is intended for families with children, it can be enjoyed by everyone. It certainly was by me.

AUTHOR VISIT AT DAVIS ELEMENTARY, Grinnell, Iowa

I enjoyed my visit with the third and fourth graders at Davis School very much. Many thanks to librarian Allison Pease for arranging it! I was impressed by how well the students paid attention and by their enthusiastic response to my presentation. Before my visit they all got a handout, "Fun Facts about Caroline Arnold", which was a good way to get them prepared.

My visit to Grinnell was organized around the celebration of Edith Renfrow Smith and her family and the dedication of a new building named after her. Edith Renfrow Smith was the first Black woman to graduate from Grinnell College (1937) and at the sprightly age of 110, is the oldest living graduate. It was meaningful to me to know that Davis School is the same school that Edith Renfrow attended as a child. It was thrilling for me to get a chance to meet her at the celebration around the dedication of Renfrow Hall. I'm sure the kids at Davis enjoyed cheering for her as she passed by in the parade on Friday. My husband and I watched with a crowd of people downtown.

Last spring author Monique Shore read her book about Edith Renfrow, No One is Better Than You, to the students at Davis Elementary. I played a small part in the creation of the book, giving advice to Monique based on my experience as a children's book writer. I am honored to be acknowledged in the credits of the book. The book is available from the Pioneer Bookshop in Grinnell and from Amazon.