SCHOOL VISITS at the Humboldt County Children's Author Festival, Eureka, CA

Last week was the Humboldt County Children's Author Festival in beautiful Eureka, California. I was one of twenty-four participating authors and during the first two days of the festival we visited more than fifty schools throughout Humboldt County. Our volunteer drivers brought us to a wide variety of schools, big and small, some in Eureka and Arcata, some located in tiny rural communities. 

I visited three schools--two on Thursday and one on Friday. On Thursday I went to Big Lagoon Elementary and Orick Elementary--taking a beautiful drive up the coast--encountering two herds of elk on the way. 

Big Lagoon has a total of twelve students. The younger children were very enthusiastic and full of questions and comments. The older students in were also attentive and very interested in the writing and publishing process. I thank the principal, Christy Ng, and the teachers for sharing my books ahead of time and preparing the students.

At Orick School, which has nine students, there were more elk on the playground than students! It was fun having lunch with the kids and getting to know them and the teachers. I enjoyed the personal way I was able to share my books with them. And I appreciated their charming penguin drawings that were inspired by my book A Penguin’s World.  I thank the principal Justin Wallace for coordinating my visit.

Orick School is at the edge of Redwood National Park. After my visit, my driver and I took a short detour for a walk through beautiful Ladybird Johnson Grove before returning to Eureka.

On the second day of author visits at the Author Festival I visited Coast Redwood Montessori School, tucked in the dunes of Humboldt Bay. I loved the enthusiasm of the students and their great questions. I thank librarian Tess Yinger for preparing the students for my visit. During the break before lunch, the children proudly showed me the extensive school garden. 

I then followed the path to the top of the dunes for a spectacular view of the ocean on one side and the bay on the other.

I have been participating in the Humboldt County Children's Author Festival since 2007. Every year I go to great schools, each with its own personality. I thank everyone on the Festival committee for doing such a great job of coordinating all of the author visits.

HUMBOLDT COUNTY CHILDREN'S AUTHOR FESTIVAL: Celebrating 50 Years!

Celebrating 50 years of the Humboldt County Children's Author Festival

I'm just back from Eureka, California, and the incomparable Humboldt County Children's Author Festival--celebrating its 50th year! It is an honor to have been part of the celebration—three days with author visits in the schools, a gala banquet, and book signing in the Humboldt County Library. I was one of twenty-four authors, together visiting more than fifty schools throughout Humboldt County--all organized by the dedicated Author Festival Committee. No other author festival has such wide community support and such amazing volunteers.  

Morris Graves Museum, Youth Gallery Exhibit. Illustrations from my books, A Day and Night on the Prairie and A Day and Night in the Desert, on the right.

At the Morris Graves Museum of Art, Eureka, CA.

The first event was a reception at the beautiful Morris Graves Museum of Art (formerly a Carnegie Library). Prints of two of my illustrations were on exhibit in the youth art gallery along with art by other participating author/illustrators.

Big Lagoon Elementary School

Orick Elementary School

I have been coming to this biannual festival since 2007, and every time I go to terrific schools-some big, some small, many of them rural. This year was no exception. I loved my visits at Big Lagoon and Orick schools with their small number of students and the chance to interact personally with the kids. 

Welcome sign at Coast Redwood Montesori School

And the students at Coast Redwood Montessori were great too. I loved the question from one of the students, "Are you going to write a book about us?" Who knows? Ideas for new books are everywhere.

In the dunes behind Coast Redwood Montessori School.

Coast Redwood school is tucked in the dunes on the peninsula between the ocean and Humboldt Bay. During the break before lunch with the students at Coast Redwood I had a chance to walk in the dunes. What a fantastic view! 

Marina, Eureka, CA.

On Friday afternoon the authors had free time. Some took the opportunity to do the Sky Walk in the redwoods at the Sequoia Park Zoo, an activity I enjoyed on my last visit to Eureka; this time I did a self-guided walking tour of Eureka’s historic downtown, with its buildings from the turn of the last century when Humboldt Bay was a major port along the California coast.

All the authors at the banquet.

On Friday evening everyone assembled for a gala banquet at the new Sequoia Conference Center, in a large room filled with festive decorations. Delicious birthday cakes (see photo above) were provided by Ramon's Bakery. The highlight of the evening was the program in which each author gave a three-minute talk.

At the Humboldt County Library.

Humboldt County Library.

The last event of the festival was the book signing at the library on Saturday, when from 10am to 2pm the authors had the chance to meet the public and autograph books. Profits from the book sales help to support the festival. 

History of the Children's Author Festival at the Humboldt County Library.

Upstairs at the library was a wonderful exhibit of the history of the author festival with a display of posters, T-shirts, a quilt, and other memorabilia from the past. 

So many people work hard to coordinate all the details of the author festival and make sure everything operates smoothly and on schedule. I thank everyone on the committee for inviting me to be part of the Humboldt County Children's Author Festival once again. And I thank all the volunteers for everything they do to make this festival special. It was an honor to be part of the celebration of the 50th year of the Humboldt County Children’s Author Festival. Here's to many more!

ART SHOW: Morris Graves Museum of Art, Eureka, CA

Children's book illustrations on exhibit at the Morris Graves Museum, Eureka, CA.

I'm just back from Eureka, California, and the incomparable Humboldt County Children's Author Festival--celebrating its 50th year! The first event was a reception at the beautiful Morris Graves Art Museum (formerly a Carnegie Library).

With giclee prints of illustrations from my books A Day and Night on the Prairie (Capstone 2015) (top), and A Day and Night in the Desert (Capstone, 2015) (bottom)

Prints of two of my illustrations were on exhibit in the Youth Gallery along with art by other participating author/illustrators. Many thanks to Lucy Quinby for coordinating the show!

In front of the Morris Graves Museum of Art.

The building, once the town library, is on the National Register of Historic Places.

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.

With thanks to Librarian Allison Pease for sharing these photos of "Measuring Your Wingspan," a favorite activity in which students can find out what bird they could be if they could fly. Most third graders are red tailed hawks.