Every author visit is unique and special in one way or another. And every once in a while, I have an absolutely perfect experience while speaking to children; today was one of those magical days.

What constitutes an ideal author visit is:

1. A location that is easy to find
2. People at that location who are happy to help me unload the car
3. Friendly, welcoming program directors and teachers
4. Polite, happy children
5. Having good listeners in the audience
6. Seeing eyes light up as you speak
7. Being asked great questions by curious children
8. Having children in the group who are eager to tell me their stories
9. Lots of laughter
10. Observing the children getting into reading my autographed book
11. Taking great photos of the event
12. Being thanked on my way out
13. Leaving with the feeling that I am appreciated

A big thank you to Randy Kaiser, the camp counselors and all the wonderful campers for inviting me to visit!

How often is nearly every child listening this attentively?

The children are most interested in learning about the animals of Costa Rica

Autographing books for adorable children = pure joy!

The group of younger kids all showing off their autographed books

The group of older kids slightly embarrassed to be seen with a millipede

Thank you Randy Kaiser, a most friendly and welcoming park supervisor!

Today I had the pleasure of being the guest author at three camps sponsored by the City of Miramar, Florida. Let me start by saying that the recreation opportunities for children in Miramar are excellent. The facilities I went to are all beautiful, perfectly maintained and the staff is all so friendly. Together we sang, danced, laughed and learned all about what it takes to be an author and enjoyed learning about geography as well as some of the most fascinating animals in Costa Rica.

I’d like to thank Billy Neal, Jackie Martinez and all the program directors and counselors for welcoming me today.

The Miramar Youth Enrichment Center

This facility has a spectacular full-sized indoor basketball court, and I had a curious audience of both elementary and middle school campers.

Students at the Miramar Youth Enrichment Center were fascinated by Rhinoceros Beetles

I showed the children where Mongolia is on the map and told them about my daughter’s summer research project there.

Ansin Sports Complex

The Ansin Sports Complex is a most impressive facility with a state-of-the-art track and beautiful community service buildings.

The children asked me some fantastic questions like, “How did you get those illustrations in the book?”

You could hear a pin drop in this room as we all confessed that Lilly Badilly is not the only one who has fears. These were the best behaved students I’ve yet to meet.

Sunset Lakes Community Center

A lack of electricity did not stop us from having a great author visit. As soon as I got to the community center, the power failed and never came back on the entire time I was there. The room was dark so the counselors just opened the doors to let the sunlight flow in. Luckily I had batteries in my boom box, so we could listen to some Lilly Badilly music!

The students here kept wanting to hear my Lilly cartoon voice, so I indulged them.

The group listened carefully as I told them about the sobering geography literacy statistics in the USA and how important it is to have a great map of the world in their homes.

Today’s event surely made me appreciate the many safe summer programs we have in America to not only supervise and entertain, but also to educate. Thank you City of Miramar! I’d so love to visit again.

I was invited to be one of 14 visiting authors at April is for Authorss in Palm Beach County this past weekend. This is the first year the county has held this event. The venue was the beautiful new Palm Beach Gardens Community High School. It has a tremendously large and modern Media Center. There were several author panel discussions, and each author presented to visiting groups twice. Plus author Dr. Joan Kaywell, Professor of English at the University of South Florida, was the Key Note Speaker. I sat on a panel for picture Book Authors with  two talented authors, Beth Erland and Helen Ketterman. We discussed the writing and illustration process and educated the audience about the realities of publishing.

I met the friendliest most interesting fellow authors during the event, and it was fascinating to hear about their writing and publishing experiences. Kudos to event co-chairs Sue Slone and Helen Zientek for planning and organizing such a wonderful event. Thank you to all the volunteers and school staff, who were so helpful as well.

If you missed the event this year, be sure to attend next year!

Palm Beach Gardens High School Media Center

My book signing station

“Dear Author”  panel in the media center

Always nice for an author to see her name on a sign!

Introducing Lilly Badilly during my author presentation

Great to see Alina Orenstein, one of my favorite Palm Beach County Media Specialists!

Fellow author and most talented batik artist Beth Erland.

Event Co-Chairs Sue Slone (left) and Helen Zientek

We’re just 5 days away from Palm Beach County’s

April is for Authors Event!

Come out to Palm Beach Gardens High School on Saturday April 30 from 9am until 3 pm to meet authors, listen to author panels and just enjoy books!

I will be presenting twice in Lilly costume during the day at 10:30 and 1:30 and will sit on an author panel to discuss informational picture books at 12:30.

“Created by a group of dedicated Palm Beach County educators as a way for students to interact with their favorite authors, April is for Authors, will provide not only a valuable experience for the children, but also an opportunity for authors and illustrators to connect with their audience as well as key decision makers in the local literacy programs.”

We’ve been invited to take part in the literary festivities at Palm Beach’s Huge April is for Authors Event!

I’m also now listed on the Broward County Wesbite as part of the Cultural Division’s Arts and Education Directory. We’re booking author visits all the way through summer!

Media Specialist, Debra Divich, from Ramblewood Middle School in Coral Springs, gave her class an assignment; they were to try to book a school visit from an author.  One very determined student found me online and sent me an email to ask if I’d come to her school to speak to students about being an author. The students were extremely receptive, attentive and had the most clever questions for me. Asking constructive questions was part of each student’s grade for the day. What a brilliant assignment. Thank you Jael and Ms. Divich for having me. I love middle schoolers!

Today I had an author visit at The Quest Center in Hollywood, FL.  It is part of the Broward County School system. The Quest Center has a special pre-school for HeadStart students as well as a school for exceptional students with autism and intellectual disabilities through age 22.

We had some fun dancing and signing and made a whole bunch of paper bag turkeys for Thanksgiving.

I was impressed by how dedicated and patient the teachers are here. What a wonderful public resource for parents with limited income and special needs children.

I thank Tera Ivey, After Care Director, for inviting me to come.

I showed the students the watercolor pencils I used to paint the illustrations in my book

One of the Quest Center teachers shows off the turkey she helped one of the students make

Now that’s a whle lot of turkeys!

Tera Ivey, a most friendly After Care Director

My entire family will be at the Las Olas Art Festival on Saturday, October 23rd performing and selling books. Please stop and say hi! We will be sitting at a table right outside Flora Ottimer’s store at 713 East Las Olas Blvd. starting at 10 am.

32 years ago, I worked at Flora Ottimer, a beautiful children’s clothing store. They have been in business since 1945! Once you see this charming store, you’ll understand why. There’s no better place in South Florida to buy clothing for kids. I am returning to my favorite children’s clothing store after all these years to share my book with their loyal customers. To read my interview with the Flora Ottimer staff, click on the link below.

Click here to read the Flora Ottimer Interview and view a photo of me from 32 years ago!

We’ll see you there!

Any student who attends Liberty Park Elementary, a public school in Palm Beach County, is beyond fortunate! The teachers, librarians and administration are friendlier, more welcoming and more supportive of their school than I can possibly describe in words. You must simply experience it for yourself. Tonight I spoke to 3-5th graders and their parents about my book, and I was so impressed by the kindness and curiosity of all who attended.

The library at this school is modern, well stocked and just a happy welcoming place to be.  I love the emphasis this school places on reading in such a positive way. They make it fun, as reading should be. I felt pure joy as I watched kids getting excited about their new book purchases. And there’s nothing like listening to stories from elementary kids, resulting from my book presentation.

Special thanks to the Most Enthusiastic Language Arts Teacher, Michelina Oliva, Best Music Teacher on the Planet, Judy Christodulides and Nicest and Most Helpful Librarian, Renee Houck.

We had a fun time last night at the North Regional Broward College Library with an author visit and craft. This is by far one of the best children’s libraries I’ve ever visited! The book selction is huge, and the Children’s Library is so inviting. Myrna Steinberg started a craft and story program years ago here, and it has really taken off. The children were so well behaved and curious. And wow, they are knowledgeable about the rain forest! They learned about Lilly Badilly and the process of making and illustrating a book. After the program we made butterfly mobiles. It was a lot of fun, and I’d love to go back sometime for another visit!

A special thank you to Children’s Librarians Myrna and Michelle and to Tina Valant and Max, the Reading Dog for referring me!