Review of BUTTERFLIES IN ROOM 6 in Grinnell Magazine

I am pleased to have the following review of Butterflies in Room 6 in the Winter 2020 issue of Grinnell Magazine.

Butterflies in Room 6

For children ages 4–8, Butterflies in Room 6 (Charlesbridge, 2019) by Caroline Scheaffer Arnold ’66 follows a kindergarten class as they raise butterflies — from a tiny egg, to caterpillar, to chrysalis, and finally to the emergence of the adult butterfly. The children’s enthusiasm was contagious as they learned about butterflies and had the thrill of releasing them outdoors and watching them fly into the neighborhood.

National Geographics and an Urban Native Plant Garden at Esperanza School in Los Angeles

A week ago my 43 years of National Geographic magazines found a new home! Mrs. Oasay, a wonderful 5th grade teacher at Esperanza Elementary School in Los Angeles, is going to use them with her students. For many years I used the National Geographics for my research and I'm thrilled they are now getting a new life! Thanks so much to Principal Brad Rumble for helping to arrange this!

With Mrs. Oasay, Brad Rumble and Student with my boxes of National Geographics

After I delivered my National Geographic magazines at Esperanza, Brad took me on a tour of the school including the beautiful renovated library and the amazing natural garden filled with native plants, birds and other wildlife.

Principle Brad Rumble in the Esperanza School Garden

Bees were buzzing and a pair of doves was foraging in the plants along the path. Brad told me that two species of hummingbirds have been observed feeding on the flowers and that many other species have been seen and recorded by the children. The garden is an oasis in the heart of the city and a place where students can have hands on interaction with the natural world. This living laboratory is a wonderful asset to the school and to the neighborhood.
To find out more about how the garden project has impacted the whole school and the surrounding neighborhood, read Brad Rumble's excellent article Planting the Seeds of Change.

Hatching Chicks in Room 6 in Grinnell Magazine

My summer issue of Grinnell Magazine just arrived and it includes an announcement of my book Hatching Chicks in Room 6 in its Artist's and Scholars section--books and creative works by alumni of Grinnell College.
Thanks Grinnell!

The cover of the magazine features George Drake '56, one of Grinnell's outstanding presidents, among his many other roles at the college. We heard him speak at the 2017 50th Reunion of the Class of 1967.