VIRTUAL SCHOOL VISIT at Ladera Stars Academy, Thousand Oaks, CA

Last Friday I had an enjoyable visit online with Julie Nerland’s kindergarten class at Ladera Stars Academy in Thousand Oaks, California. The kids were very enthusiastic and very responsive. Julie and I struggled a bit with the technology (she never figured out how to get her camera to work so I never got to see the children) but the important part was that the kids could see me and I could hear them. I learned that they recently hatched chicken eggs in their classroom and would soon be adding the chicks to the school flock. Every day children at the school feed the chickens and collect eggs. Because of the kindergarteners’ interest in chickens I focused my presentation mainly on my book HATCHING CHICKS IN ROOM 6 and other books about birds. (We discussed that chickens are birds, and like all birds, chickens lay eggs and have feathers.) I also shared my book A ZEBRA’S WORLD and showed them how they can make their own cut paper art using the downloadableinstructions at my website. We finished by singing the Wiggle and Waggle song, which I acted out with my sock puppets.

I thank Kristen Bott Nordstrom for making my visit possible and for arranging the details. She purchased the author visit for her school at a fund raiser for victims of the recent terrible fires in Los Angeles and Altadena. I was happy to contribute the author visit to the cause.

Note: I am accustomed to using Zoom for virtual author visits to schools. However, this school no longer has Zoom available on their school computers, so we were using GoogleMeets, a platform that neither the teachers nor I had much familiarity with. We made it work but it would have been better if the classroom camera had been connected. Next time!

A ZEBRA'S WORLD Reviewed at the Epic Book Society

I was pleased to discover a review of my book A Zebra's World included at the blog at the Epic Book Society featuring 25 Exciting Books About Zebras for Kids.

From the Epic Book Society blog:

Children love Zebras because of their uniqueness. There is no other animal in the world that has the same pattern as the stripey zebra.

This makes them the perfect animal hero in a children’s book because they teach children to celebrate differences and that being unique can be beautiful.

If your child loves zebras or you’re looking for books about zebras to teach your kids about diversity, then you’ve come to the right place. These are the best zebra books for children of all ages, from chapter books to board books for toddlers.

So when you’re ready, go take a look!

Review of A Zebra's World on the Epic Book Society blog:

A Zebras World follows a young zebra as it takes its first steps in this new world. The story follows the zebra as it grows up in Africa, in both an interesting and stimulating way.

Keeping the zebra theme of black and white, the story is accompanied by black and white illustrations, which help tell the tales of these amazing animals.

This zebra picture book is an exciting view into the first year of a zebra’s life and teaches children about their natural home and some other animals they share their home with.

A ZEBRA'S WORLD is available on Amazon as Kindle book.

Learn more about the book at my website.

CURLICUE SNAKES, CUT PAPER AND MORE, Art Projects Inspired by My Books

On my recent trip to the Humboldt County Children's Author Festival, I was delighted to discover how my books had inspired art in the classroom. At Ambrosini School in Fortuna, California, I saw that each class had chosen a different book. Their artwork was displayed in the multipurpose room where I gave my presentation. One child even made a portrait of me!  Here are some of the projects:

WIGGLE AND WAGGLE

One class made colorful Wiggle and Waggle worms.

A DAY AND NIGHT IN THE FOREST

Several classes used cut paper to create day and night scenes.

A DAY AND NIGHT ON THE PRAIRIE

A row of paper curlicue snakes, inspired by the garter snake in the book, hung from a ledge. Click for directions to make curlicue snakes. 

A ZEBRA'S WORLD

Watercolor paintings depicted zebras on the African plain. 

KEEPER OF THE LIGHT: Juliet Fish Nichols Fights the San Francisco Fog

A first grade class drew pictures and assembled them to make a mural of Juliet Nichols ringing the giant lighthouse bell in the fog.

For more ideas for projects to do in connection with my books go to the Fifty Nifty Projects and Activities page at my website.

VIRTUAL AUTHOR VISIT at Verdugo Woodland School, Glendale, CA

When Mammoths Walked the Earth, Japanese and English editions

Last Tuesday I had a terrific virtual visit with the first and second graders at Verdugo Woodland School in Glendale, California, including two classes in their Japanese dual language program. I shared my book WHEN MAMMOTHS WALKED THE EARTH, which has been translated into Japanese, and my mammoth tooth--an exact copy of a real fossil tooth. 

Like elephants, mammoths had very large teeth, all of them molars and ideal for chewing the leaves, grass and other plant foods that they ate. 

 

 

We talked about birds and feathers and spread out our arms to measure our wingspans. I also read my book A ZEBRA'S WORLD and demonstrated how I make the cut paper art illustrations. At the end, the students had the chance to ask me questions. 

A Guide Dog Puppy, English and Japanese editions

Many thanks to the Assistance League of Glendale for sponsoring my visit.

AUTHOR VISIT to WPC Preschool, Los Angeles, CA

Two weeks ago I made my annual visit to the Westwood Presbyterian Preschool in Los Angeles, California, making two presentations–one to the three-year-old classes and one to the four-year-old classes. With the three-year-olds I read A Zebra’s World and we went on a “Lion Hunt” together. I also read Wiggle and Waggle while one of the teachers wore my Wiggle and Waggle sock puppets and acted out the story as I read. With both groups of children I shared my new book, Butterflies in Room 6. In a week, they will be getting their own caterpillars and raising their own butterflies, just like the children in my book. Then they will let them go.

It has become a tradition that I always end my visit with the four-year-olds by reading The Terrible Hodag and the Animal Catchers. Each time I come to the description of the Hodag, the children join me to chant that the Hodag has the “Head of an OX, Feet of a BEAR, Back of a DINOSAUR, and the Tail of an ALLIGATOR.” As the story ends, the children are all relieved to learn that the animal catchers go back to the city without the Hodag, and that the Hodag continues to live in the forest. “It is his home, and where he belongs.”

READING TAKES YOU EVERYWHERE: Author Visit at Encino/Tarzana Library for Summer Reading Program

Encino/Tarzana Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library

Yesterday afternoon I spent a wonderful hour with kids and their parents at the Encino/Tarzana Public Library in Los Angeles giving a presentation as part of the LAPL summer reading program for kids. The theme this year is “Reading Takes You Everywhere” and my books are a perfect example of all the different places you can go when you read about animals. We started with a virtual trip to Africa as I read A Zebra’s World and we all did a Lion Hunt together. We then talked about birds and I measured the kids wingspans. The kids also helped me sing the Wiggle and Waggle song, along with my Wiggle and Waggle sock puppets.

With Star Volunteer, Masha. A STAR Volunteer Reader is a volunteer who reads books and tells stories with children at their local library. They serve as positive role models for children. They commit 2 hours per week for at least 6 months.

During my visit I enjoyed meeting Jennifer, the new head librarian, as well as one of the teen volunteers who helped with my program, and a devoted Star reading volunteer who works with kids at the library every week. I thank Shokoufeh Moghta, the children’s librarian, for inviting me to the library and organizing the event. From the enthusiastic participation of the kids and good questions at the end, I know the afternoon was enjoyed by all!

Project: ZEBRA ART with PAPER PLATES

Paper Plate Zebra Mask

On one of my recent school author visits, the room where I was presenting was decorated with charming zebra masks made from paper plates. The project had been inspired by my book A Zebra’s World. I could see that the children had looked carefully at my illustrations to make the zebra’s  markings. They used black construction paper for the nose and mouth and the mane. Stripes on the face were added with black marker. Ears were cut from tan paper and glued to the back of the plate. Googly eyes were added for the final effect. Every zebra was different, just as they are in the wild. This is a fun project to do with younger elementary school students.

A Zebra's World, based on the 2006 book with the same title but now with a shorter text and sturdier pages, brings the story of a zebra's first year to younger readers. Follow the black and white stripes of the young zebra as she grows up in Africa. A readable and lively text provides a close-up look at these black and white animals in this "anything but black and white" book. Cut paper illustrations help tell the tales of these amazing animals and the world in which they live.This picture book follows a baby zebra from birth on the grasslands of Africa through the first year of its life. 

LA’s BEST Young Author’s Program at San Pascual School, Los Angeles

Two weeks ago I spent a delightful hour with a group of very enthusiastic young authors in kindergarten and first grade at San Pascual Elementary School in Los Angeles who are participating in the LA’s BEST after school young author program. They had just completed their “I Am...” books and were beginning to work on books about a person they admired. I read my book A Zebra’s World and we went on a “Lion Hunt.” I also read Wiggle and Waggle and then the students colored their own Wiggle and Waggle pictures using a creative mix of colors. At the end of the hour I read A Polar Bear’s World while  three students acted out the story wearing my polar bear masks. Finally, we had a question period and talked about our favorite animals. It was a fun afternoon!

LA’s BEST visit to Young Authors at Grant Elementary School, Los Angeles, CA

Coloring rain forest animals

Two weeks ago I spent an hour with a group of very enthusiastic young authors in kindergarten and first grade at Grant Elementary School in Los Angeles who are participating in the LA’s BEST after school young author program. I had a chance to see some of their “I Am...” books which they had just completed and their notebooks for a new project, “An ABC Christmas.” Each student read one sentence for me from the ABC book. For the letter “B” one student wrote, “I like Christmas bells.” Then I read to them from my books A Zebra’s World, Wiggle and Waggle, and A Day and Night in the Rain Forest. At the end of the hour the children colored their own pictures of a toucan and monkeys in the rain forest. I was pleased to see how excited they were about learning about animals. It was a fun and full afternoon.

Page from an "I Am...." book

READING ACROSS THE UNIVERSE at the Humboldt County Author Festival, Eureka, CA

Signing books at the Humboldt County Library

Last week I participated once again in the wonderful Humboldt County Author’s Festival in Eureka, California. http://www.authorfest.org/ The theme this year was Reading Across the Universe. This was my fifth time at the author festival, and each time it gets better and better. For forty years the Author Festival Committee has been bringing authors–this year there were 23 of us--every two years for two days of visits to schools and a day of book signing at the beautiful Humboldt County Public Library. 

Authors at the Ingomar Club wearing our Across the Universe Bug-eye Glasses

In addition, there was a welcoming reception on Wednesday evening at the Morris Graves Museum of Art; a potluck dinner on Thursday evening with space ship table decorations made by local students and a wonderful dramatization of some of our stories by high school students; and on Friday evening a gala banquet, held this year at the Ingomar Club (the historic Carson Mansion) overlooking the harbor.

At North Coast Learning Academy

My first school visit was at North Coast Academy in Eureka where I spoke to three enthusiastic groups of children in grades kindergarten through grade eight. Before my visit the children had read a variety of my books (provided by the county library) and the wall of the room was decorated with wonderful artwork ranging from worms in the garden inspired by my book Wiggle and Waggle and paper plate zebra masks inspired by A Zebra’s World to drawings of sharks and the Taj Mahal. I was pleased with the good response to my presentations and the good questions. And I thank the parents and teachers for the delicious lunch!

At Kneeland School

My second day of school visits was at Kneeland School, reached by a beautiful drive up a winding road into the mountains above Eureka. Children have been attending this school since 1880! This year the 25 students range from kindergarten to seventh grade. I spent the first hour with the lower grades, where everyone had a chance to use my Wiggle and Waggle sock puppets to act out the story, and then, after recess, I presented to the upper grades. Everyone in the school had created cut paper art, inspired by my book A Day and Night in the Forest. Two people had even made porcupines–cutting out lots of quills! We all had a delicious lunch of homemade soup. 

"Worms in Dirt" dessert

Dessert, in keeping with the Wiggle and Waggle theme, was worms in dirt--actually brownie chunks with gummy worms. The students at Kneeland know a lot about real worms and have their very own worm bin. On a daily basis lunch scraps are contributed to the worm bin to be made into compost.

As always, I thoroughly enjoyed the author festival and thank the hard working committee for making it all possible. I also want to thank my drivers who ferried me around so expertly: Ann Wieland, who gave three of us a wonderful scenic tour of the coast on our way to the hotel from the airport; Stella Hawkins, who took me to North Coast Learning Academy on Thursday; and Byrd Lochtie, who drove me to Kneeland on Friday and then graciously took me for a visit to the Sequoia Park Zoo in the afternoon. I also thank Eureka Books who coordinated the Saturday book sale at the library. The Humboldt County Author’s Festival is truly a community effort and a very special event for everyone involved. Thank you all!

Across the Universe cakes for the Banquet

Author Visit at Havens School, Piedmont, CA

Wiggle and Waggle Sock Puppets

A week ago I visited Havens Elementary School in Piedmont, California, and spoke to children in kindergarten through second grade. I enjoyed my visit very much. The kids were enthusiastic and asked good questions. With the kindergarten and T-K students I shared my book A Zebra’s World and then we went on a “Lion Hunt” together. I also read the first chapter of my book Wiggle and Waggle and had the children join me and my Wiggle and Waggle sock puppets singing the “Digging Song”.  I thank librarian Laura Remer for organizing the day, arranging the book sale, and making sure that everything ran smoothly–and for arranging to get a remote for the computer so I could advance my slides easily. I'm glad that retired librarian Barbara Flores was able to join us for my first session and lunch. It was her chance meeting with my son at a block party that initiated the arrangements for my visit.

SCRATCH BOARD ART: Perfect for Black and White Animals and Other Subjects Too

Scratch board is the perfect medium for drawing pictures of black and white animals such as zebras and penguins, or for creating dramatic effects with any subject.  Using a sharp instrument to draw on the dark surface, the black layer is removed, revealing white underneath.

On one of my school visits I saw amazing scratch board artwork made by the children after reading my books A Zebra’s World and A Penguin’s World.  They had also done drawings from A Koala's World and A Kangaroo's World. Scratch board is also a great medium for depicting animals that are primarily active at night. You can buy scratch board at an art store, or you can create your own by coloring with crayon on heavy paper and than painting over it with India ink.  Scratch board comes in white or with colors underneath the black.

Radical Changes in the Editing Process: Santa Barbara Breakfast With the Authors

Greg Trine, Joan Graham, Heidi Gill, Susan Casey, Valerie Hobbs, Alexis O'Neill, Sherry Shahan, Mel Gilden, Sara Kras, Marianne Richmond, Caroline Arnold, Robin Mellom, Amy Koss

Last Saturday I participated, along with thirteen other authors, in the 62nd annual Breakfast with the Authors sponsored by the Santa Barbara County Office of Education.  After time to mingle and chat and eat a delicious breakfast we each had the opportunity to address the question:  What is the most radical change you have made to your manuscript in the editing and rewriting processes?

For me, the answer was easy.  It was the conversion of my 24 page nonfiction picture book A Panda’s World (PictureWindow Books, 2006) to a 20 page board book.  First of all, the page sizes were shrunk from 11 by 11 inches, to 8 by 8 inches. (The illustrations remain the same, except smaller.) Then all the front matter (information about panda size, weight, etc.) was eliminated along with three pages of back matter (map, fun facts, glossary, etc.).  Then, the text on each page spread had to be shortened from two paragraphs to about two sentences! That's a radical change! And, the sidebars with fun facts were also eliminated. What was left were the essentials of the story.  Net result: a new book perfectly suited for a parent to read to a young child or for a beginning reader to read alone.  The board book edition of A Panda’s World will be published in February 2015, along with three other titles from the same series–A Penguin’s World, A Zebra’s World and A Polar Bear’s World.  I am delighted to have the new board book versions of these books, which make the stories available to a whole new audience.

The morning’s program also included a panel of teen readers who responded to anonymous first pages.  It was fascinating to hear their opinions and find out how they identified with the characters in the stories.
Thanks so much to Rose, Matt, Fred and Doris for all the hard work to organize the breakfast.  It is always a pleasure to participate!

A WARMER WORLD, Now in Korean

I recently received a copy of my book A WARMER WORLD translated into Korean.  I am always thrilled to see my books translated into other languages and often surprised to discover that what takes so many letters to write in English can be expressed more succinctly in another language.  Over the years a number of my books have been translated into other languages. Except for The Skeletal System (El Sistema Oseo), which is available from Lerner Publications, and A Zebra's World (El Mundo de las Cebras) available from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt School Publishers, the foreign language editions are available only in the countries where they have been published.

 

Spanish

The Skeletal System (Lerner, 2007, hardback and paperback)

A Zebra's World is available in Spanish as El Mundo de las Cebras (ISBN 978-0-547-13232-7) from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt School Publishers.

Korean

A Warmer World (BIR/MINUMSA Publishing Group, Korea)
Birds Nature's Magnificent Flying Machines (Gilbut Children's Publishing Company, Korea)

Super Swimmers (Sigongsa Company Ltd., Korea)

Wiggle and Waggle (Hemingway, Korea) 

Japanese

A Guide Dog Puppy Grows Up (Japan UNI Agency, Inc., Tokyo)
When Mammoths Walked the Earth (Shinjusha Ltd., Tokyo, 2005)