PLANTING A GARDEN IN ROOM 4

Seeds planted in rows in the Room 4 garden box.

For a number of years I have worked with kindergarten teacher Mrs. Best and her kindergarten class in Room 6 at Haynes Charter School in Los Angeles as a volunteer in her classroom. We did three books together, HATCHING CHICKS IN ROOM 6, BUTTERFLIES IN ROOM 6, and PLANTING A GARDEN IN ROOM 6. Mrs. Best is now in Room 4 and has a new batch of kindergarteners. 

Last week I helped the Room 4 children plant this year's school garden. We planted peas, lettuce, beets, spinach, radishes and beans. With luck and water and plenty of sunshine the children will be able to harvest the vegetables and make a salad by the end of the school year. While they wait for the seeds to grow, they are learning the parts of a plant--roots, stem, leaves, flower. 

HOORAY! It’s Publication Day for BUTTERFLIES IN ROOM 6

HOORAY! Today is the official publication day for BUTTERFLIES IN ROOM 6, my new book about a kindergarten class raising painted lady butterflies. BUTTERFLIES IN ROOM 6 follows a class of kindergartners as they raise butterflies--from tiny eggs, to caterpillars, to chrysalises, to beautiful butterflies, before releasing them in the school garden. 
I thank all the people at Charlesbridge Publishing who helped make this such a terrific book–my wonderful editor Alyssa Pusey, Susan, Joyce and Sarah for the book design, Yolanda, Karen, Julie, Diane, Cathy and everyone else who contributed to making this such a special book.
I couldn’t have written BUTTERFLIES IN ROOM 6 without the help of Jennifer Best and her kindergarten students at Haynes Charter for Enriched Studies in Los Angeles, California. I thank them for welcoming me into their classroom and for sharing the wonder of metamorphosis with me. Their excitement was contagious as they watched the caterpillars transform into beautiful butterflies. I am also grateful to the children’s parents and the school principal, Barbara Meade, for their enthusiastic support.
It was great to work with Jennifer Best again. Two years ago I followed her class as they hatched eggs and learned about the life cycle of chickens. That experience became my book HATCHING CHICKS IN ROOM 6. Now we have a sequel! I am excited that it is now available to the public. Look for it at your favorite bookstore or online.

BUTTERFLIES IN ROOM 6

Author: Caroline Arnold Photographs by Caroline Arnold Age: 3-7 years Pages: 40 Publisher:Charlesbridge Publishing, 2019 ISBN: ( Hardcover ): 9781580897358 ISBN ( e-book ): 9781632897671

Author Visit to Haynes Charter School in Tribute to Amy Werner

Books donated to the Haynes School Library in Memory of Amy Werner

Amy Werner, a teacher/librarian who lived and worked in Los Angeles, California, created Melody of Words, a yearly community festival that connected local students with local authors and illustrators.  Over the years I participated in many Melody of Words festivals and have fond memories of Amy.  She was a tireless promoter of the value of books and reading.

Amy was also an active member of California Readers, which supports authors and illustrators connecting with schools.  Amy recently passed away and many donations were made in her memory to California Readers. As a tribute to Amy, California Readers is using those donations to sponsor author visits to schools in the area of Los Angeles where Amy lived and worked (the West Valley) and to make a gift of the author’s books to the school.  On Monday, I had an excellent visit to Haynes Charter School, where I spoke to children in kindergarten through fifth grade.  They were an enthusiastic audience and asked excellent questions. I thank Amy Werner's family and California Readers for coordinating this tribute to her memory and for helping make my visit to Haynes School a special day.