CONNECTING CULTURES MOBILE MUSEUM: Explore Diversity, See Similarities

Connecting Cultures Mobile Museum exhibit panels

Imagine a museum jam packed with hundreds of objects from all over the world that comes to you at your school library! That’s what the Connecting Cultures Mobile Museum in Southern California does. Bringing its exhibits to middle schools in the greater Los Angeles area, sixth, seventh and eighth graders have the opportunity to learn about cultures around the world and find connections to their own cultural roots. Every object is labeled with its name, country of origin, and color-coded to its region of the world.

CCMM Reception in the RFK Community Schools Library

A week ago I attended a reception for CCMM supporters at RFK Community Schools in Los Angeles. The spacious library was an ideal place for the exhibit panels and tables of “hands-on” objects that students can examine close-up. Founder and President Valerie Lezin gave a short presentation and then we were invited to enjoy an array of delicious international snacks.

Baskets I collected on my trip to Uganda many years ago

I have been a supporter of CCMM for many years, donating objects that I have collected in my various journeys around the world. It is a pleasure to see them as part of the exhibits and to know that they are having a second life helping to inspire young people about our cultural heritage.

Mexican platter and weavings from Central America collected by my family

The mission of CCMM is to inspire understanding and respect for cultural diversity by exploring global arts and artifacts. Currently, CCMM reaches between 16,000 and 20,000 students each year! The students who have the CCMM visit their school are lucky to have this opportunity to enjoy and appreciate this rich resource.
 Find out more about the Connecting Cultures Mobile Museum at http://connectingcultures.us/about/

Objects connected to writing and trade

AUTHOR VISITS in PORTERVILLE, CA: Week 2

Signing books at West Putnam School, Porterville, CA

Last week was my second round of author visits in the elementary schools of Porterville, California. Porterville is a small city on the eastern edge of  California’s Central Valley and sits at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains, not far from several National Parks. During the weekend between my two weeks of visits, I treated myself to a trip to Yosemite National Park, returning in time to visit my first school of the week.

October 24: Vandalia Elementary School

With Reading Teacher Rebecca Ortiz

My host at Vandalia Elementary School, Rebecca Ortiz, did a great job of organizing my schedule and the book sale and autographing. In advance of my visit, the library had purchased a number of my books so the students could read them. I always appreciate it when the students can become familiar with some of my books before my visit. We had a full schedule with a separate assembly just for kindergarten students which meant we had time to read A Zebra’s World and go on a “Lion Hunt”.

October 25: West Putnam Elementary School

With Mrs. Perez and Reading Teacher Julianne Buckley

On Tuesday my host at West Putnam was Julianne Buckley with the help of her excellent aide, Mrs. Perez, and again I had very enthusiastic audiences with good questions. Here too I was able to meet separately with the kindergarteners. At lunchtime I had a chance to chat with teachers and Julianne provided a delicious lunch from Panera.

October 26: Olive Street School

With Reading Teacher Judy Bedell

On Wednesday, at Olive Street School, I was greeted by the reading teacher Judy Bedell and the principal, Mr. Nunez, who helped me set up my computer for my PowerPoint slide show so I could use the school’s projection system which was better than my projector for the large screen. A special treat of the day was having lunch with selected fourth, fifth and sixth grade students who had the opportunity to ask me questions about writing and books. Jason Pommier, the Public Information Officer of Porterville USD came to take photos. I thank Judy Bedell for all her hard work organizing the day, for providing me with delicious hot soup for lunch, for pulling my books around in her wagon, and for the special treat basket she gave me to take home.

October 27: Roche Avenue School

With Reading Teacher Amanda Avila and Principal Patricia Jorgensen

My host on Thursday was reading teacher Amanda Avila at Roche Avenue School and the day included three assemblies and book signing. Roche is the smallest school in the Porterville USD with only two classes per grade and this helped to make my presentations more personal. I thank Amanda Avila for all her hard work in organizing the day and coordinating the book signing and Principal Patricia Jorgensen for her great introductions at each assembly. The three of us had a delicious and relaxing lunch at Jenny Lynn's Restaurant not far from the school.

October 28: Santa Fe School

With reading teacher Beatriz Hackett

At Sante Fe School my two short assemblies were squeezed into their very busy schedule. I thank my host, reading teacher Beatriz Hackett for organizing the day and school Program Manager, Eric Ortega for helping set up the audio and visuals. After the assemblies I did book signing in the library. Then it was time for me to return home to Los Angeles after a very full and rewarding two weeks visiting all ten of the elementary schools in Porterville, California!

AUTHOR VISITS in PORTERVILLE, CA: Week 1

Signing books, Belleville School, Porterville, CA

For two weeks I did author visits in Porterville, California, at ten wonderful elementary schools. The students and teachers have been very enthusiastic and responsive at the assemblies and the reading teachers, who have been my hosts and coordinators at each school, have done a fantastic job of organizing each day.  Here, in chronological order are some of the highlights of my visits.

Monday, October 17, Monte Vista School.

With reading teacher Ruth Shirk

I began the week at Monte Vista School where I did two assemblies followed by book signing in the library. Then there was a delicious potluck lunch in the staff room and more book signing. I thank Ruth Shirk for organizing the day and for coordinating my trip to Porterville.

Tuesday, October 18, Belleview School

With reading teacher Michelle Davis

At Belleview School I did two assemblies followed by “book signing parties” in Michelle Davis’ classroom, and then visited several of the kindergarten classrooms. The principal, Crystal Milinich and assistant principal, Jolene Robles, took me out for a very tasty lunch at the Oak Pit Steakhouse.

Wednesday, October 19, Westfield School.

With reading teacher Candance Castillo

Both Wednesday and Thursday of this week were minimum days because of parent conferences so my assemblies had to fit into the morning before lunch. Candance Castillo made sure that everything ran smoothly. I then got to meet with the teachers during their lunch.

Thursday, October 20, John J. Doyle School.

With reading teacher Andrew Lopez

Even though it was a minimum day, we managed to have three assemblies at Doyle. I thank Andrew Lopez for helping to make everything run efficiently so that we could make every minute count.

Friday, October 21, Los Robles School.
The week ended with a visit to Los Robles School with two assemblies, a delicious potluck lunch provided by the school staff, and book signing in Shelby Curry’s classroom. Shelby did a terrific job of organizing the day and I thank parent Melody Burkhart for being on hand to help with set-up, book sales and helping make things ran smoothly. It was a great end to a very successful week!

With parent Melody Burkhart and Reading Teacher Shelby Curry

Panda Walking Print at Etsy

Illustration "A Panda Walking" from A Panda's World

Check out my giclee prints at my Etsy gallery! A Panda Walking is just one of many prints and cards available. Here is the description:

PRINT from original cut paper collage art created for "A Panda's World" (Picture Window Books, 2006.) Perfect for decorating a child's room! Or, for anyone who loves animals.

TITLE: "PANDA WALKING" limited edition fine art prints:# 1 of 50

SIZE: Image is 6.5"x10" with a 1" white border to allow for framing. It will slip into any store-bought 9"x12" frame for easy display. Other sizes available.

HATCHING CHICKS IN ROOM 6: Coming January 10, 2017!

I am delighted to have an advanced copy of my new book Hatching Chicks in Room 6 (Charlesbridge, 2017.) I think it looks terrific!  (It is already available for pre-order on Amazon.) Stay tuned for more about the book after the official publication date, January 10, 2017.

HATCHING CHICKS IN ROOM 6
Author: Caroline Arnold
Photographs by Caroline Arnold
Age: 3-7 years
Pages: 40
Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing, 2017 (available January 10, 2017)
ISBN: ( Hardcover ): 9781580897358

From the flap:
In 21 days, chicks will hatch in Room 6! A hen laid the eggs. Mrs. Best brought them to school and put them in an incubator. Soon the chicks will PECK, PUSH, and POP! right out of their shells. The kindergarteners are counting down to hatching day. When it happens, they'll be ready.

Follow a classroom of kindergartners as they participate in a popular activity: hatching chicks. Readers learn about the life cycle of a chicken, incubating eggs, watching them hatch, and raising the chicks until they are old enough to return to the chicken coop.

Simple text and close-up photographs tell the story. Back matter includes answers to questions about chicks, chick vocabulary, links to chicks online and further reading about chicks.

AMAZON CENTRAL AUTHOR PAGE

I have recently updated my Author Page on Amazon Central and have a new link www.amazon.com/author/carolinearnold . You can find all my books–both print and digital–that are available at Amazon on the page, as well as a short bio and links to my blogs and videos. Enjoy!

CELEBRATING 100,000 PAGE VIEWS of Caroline Arnold Art and Books

Today passed the marker for 100,000 page views of this blog! Hooray! Thanks to all of you have been reading my posts these last few years! I appreciate it very much.  I began regular posting in January 2010 and the viewership has steadily increased since then with a surge in the last few months. While the majority of readers come from the United States, I am pleased to know via the Blogger Stats that it is being read in other countries all over the world as well. I plan to continue posting news of my art and writing events and hope you will continue to enjoy reading Caroline Arnold Art and Books!