ZOOM VISIT WITH KINDERGARTENERS in Redlands, CA

This morning I had a wonderful virtual visit with Mrs. Huynh’s kindergarten class in Redlands, California. The children have planted a garden and my visit was an opportunity for them to share their gardening project with me and for me to share my new book PLANTING A GARDEN IN ROOM 6 with them.

In two weeks Mrs. Huynh and I will meet in person at the Charlotte Huck Children's Literature Festival in Redlands as we do a joint presentation featuring PLANTING A GARDEN IN ROOM 6 and the hands-on gardening experiences of the children in Mrs. Huynh’s class. We will also share highlights of my virtual visit to her class.

My visit began with me reading the first story in WIGGLE AND WAGGLE, a book inspired by my own gardening experience. They children joined in with their Wiggle and Waggle stick puppets as I read the story and sang the song. I loved their enthusiasm.

I also shared my Peter Rabbit miniature garden, showing it close-up with my computer camera. The kids were delighted to see all the tiny plants and gardening tools.

Then after reading PLANTING A GARDEN IN ROOM 6 aloud and a time for questions, Mrs. Huynh and the children went outside and gave me a tour of their garden boxes where they had planted lettuce, carrots, beans, radishes and other vegetables. It looks like all the plants are off to a good start. They should be able to harvest the first radishes in about a month and some of the other plants too.

At the end of my visit I had time to share my book A ZEBRA’S WORLD. I was pleased to learn that it is part of the curriculum and the children had already read it. I showed them how I made the illustrations for the book. A simpler version makes a great art project for kids. Here's a link to my blog post about doing the zebra art project with Mrs. Best's students at Haynes School. Zebra Stripes Art Project at Haynes School, Los Angeles, CA The template and directions for "Putting Stripes on the Zebra" can be downloaded from my website (the link is in the blog post.) I'm always amazed at how each child makes their zebra unique.

I hope that someday I will be able to visit Mrs. Huynh’s class in person!

 

ALASKA: Conference Talk and Projects with Children

View of Valdez Harbor from the Conference Center

At the end of March I went to Alaska to speak at the Alaska Library Association conference in Valdez and to do two library programs.  It was an exciting week with breathtaking scenery, a late winter snowstorm, meeting librarians from all over Alaska, and doing some fun activities with kids.  At the conference I gave a presentation called Think Outside the Book: Projects and Activities that Reinforce Reading in which I highlighted various ways books like mine can be used as jumping off places for other activities.  These include writing projects such as animal pyramid poems, art projects, miniature and life-size models, watching wildlife on live video cams on the web, and more.  A list of links to all the projects can be downloaded from my website. I thank Carol Race from the Juneau Library for organizing my book signing at the conference and the conference organizers for making everything run smoothly.

Wiggle and Waggle puppets, Wasilla

After the conference I went to Anchorage--a spectacular ride (7 hours) over the pass and through beautiful snow covered mountain valleys. One morning I did a story-time presentation at the Wasilla Public Library (about an hour’s drive from Anchorage) to a group of lively pre-schoolers.  The focus of the program was my Wiggle and Waggle book.  The children helped act out the story with my sock puppets, sang the song with me, and participated in the story.  Then they each made their own stick puppets to take home. Click here to download the Wiggle and Waggle activities.  Thanks to Sara Saxton for coordinating my visit and for cutting out all the Wiggles and Waggles!

Zebra art, Loussac Library, Anchorage

Later that day I did an after school program at the Loussac Library in Anchorage which included a craft project, Put Stripes on the Zebra.  As always, I was amazed at the children’s creativity both in the arrangement of stripes on the zebras and in adding elements to the background.  Some put in trees and clouds and suns, others added flowers, and one boy added a cart and a helmet for the zebra!  I thank Linda Klein for coordinating the program and assembling all the craft materials, Mary Crosby for her assistance helping to make everything run smoothly, and Sherry Douglas for making it possible.  I also did some sightseeing in Anchorage, visiting the Alaska Museum and the Science and Nature Museum.  Altogether, it was an exciting trip!

Video: Put Stripes on the Zebra Art Project

Last spring I taped a television program for the local PBS station (KLCS) for series called Homework Hotline. The programs are linked to the LAUSD schools and teach various lessons after school. My program featured creating a piece of cut paper art using similar techniques that I use in my illustrations. The program is called "Put the Stripes on the Zebra" and promotes both A Zebra's World and the other titles in the series. The project is really meant for elementary school age children, even though the kids helping to demonstrate it on the program are in high school. This was a VERY low budget program. No rehearsals, no editing. What you get is what goes on air! All things considered, I think it turned out quite well. The program was broadcast on April 22nd, and will be rebroadcast at intervals throughout the year. It is available to teachers in LAUSD for use in their classrooms. Anyone can purchase a DVD of the program by calling KLCS (213-241-4007)
The program has also been put on YouTube. Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBSoJHTfNTg&feature=relatedThere are three 9 minute segments. When you finish the first you'll see a link to the second.
Being on television was an interesting experience. Perhaps it will help sell a few books!