My publisher, Pelican Publishing, has just informed me that The Sandal Artist is now an Accelerated Reading Program Selection
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Good news for The Sandal Artist!
Good news for the Sandal Artist.
My publisher, Pelican Publishing, has just informed me that The Sandal Artist is now an Accelerated Reading Program Selection
My publisher, Pelican Publishing, has just informed me that The Sandal Artist is now an Accelerated Reading Program Selection
Friday, May 25, 2012
Sandal Artist Book Launch
We had a great turn-out for The Sandal Artist book launch at The Tattered Cover.
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| Lois (illustrator) and me |
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| lots of books to sign! |
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| Lois's son - aka ROBERTO! |
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| Lois shows us her live models |
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| Lois shows us ANNA the beggar woman |
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| The model for Roberto |
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| Taking a Journey with The Sandal Artist |
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| Me - waxing poetic about story as journey! |
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| More books to sign! |
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| THE CAKE! |
Thanks to all those who came to join in the celebration and hear about an artist, a cobbler,and a pair of sandals - a way of telling people that - "Everyone you meet is shining like the sun!"
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Raj is basking in the limelight this week!
Last week was Children's Book Week, and a good week for Raj!
Not only was he the winner of the 2012 CAL Awards, but he also made the Bank Street Best Children's Books of the year.
Here's to books that make us all "burn bright" like Raj
Monday, May 7, 2012
River of Words -Award Ceremony
I was one of the judges for the Colorado Humanities River of Words Contest, and will be participating in the Award Ceremony this Thursday, May 10th - 2:00pm- 5:00pm - Denver Public Library, 10 W. 14th Avenue Parkway.
"Adult books maintain lives, children's books change lives." Jane Yolen.
Anyone who doubts this statement by Yolen, just has to read some of these letters from young readers to authors - then they will see for themselves how great literature can indeed change lives. Great stories will always make hearts bigger and better, and will help children see a glimmer of hope or a glimpse of joy simmering there beneath the sometimes sad surfaces of our lives.
Children's Book Week!
This is Children's Book Week - a very good week to have my book launch for The Sandal Artist. My illustrator,Lois Rosio Sprague and I will be giving a presentation at Tattered Cover (LoDoEvents Room ) on May 12th 3:pm -5:pm.
And earlier that morning, I will be participating in :
And earlier that morning, I will be participating in :
Children's Book Week Group Reading
May 12 2012 10:30 am
 Highlands Ranch: Our guest authors include: Kathleen Pelley, Linda Osmundson, Cathy Morrison, Jean Reidy, Jeanne Kaufman, and Alexandra SiyIn honor of Children's Book Week 2012, the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators join us in presenting a picture book writers' and illustrators' group reading. |
Location:
- 9315 Dorchester Street, Denver, CO 80129
- Come join us if you can!
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Tumwater Hill Elementary School Visit
Here's what Kim Howard wrote about my visit in the district newsletter
SCOTTISH AUTHOR, KATHLEEN PELLEY PRESENTED AT TUMWATER HILL ELEMENTARY THIS WEEK
On Tuesday I visited Tumwater Hill Elementary to see children’s author Kathleen Pelley deliver a magical presentation to fourth graders. Organized by THE teacher Kim McCloud, who applied for a Fulbright alumni scholar grant, Kathleen spent two days presenting to many classes at the school. In one hour she shared inspirations from her childhood in Scotland, the value of writing, whether or not you become a writer, the 5 inspirations of writing, and positive and encouraging life lessons and philosophy, as well as a few key Latin words. What a treat! The students were very engaged and asked lots of great questions.
SCOTTISH AUTHOR, KATHLEEN PELLEY PRESENTED AT TUMWATER HILL ELEMENTARY THIS WEEK
On Tuesday I visited Tumwater Hill Elementary to see children’s author Kathleen Pelley deliver a magical presentation to fourth graders. Organized by THE teacher Kim McCloud, who applied for a Fulbright alumni scholar grant, Kathleen spent two days presenting to many classes at the school. In one hour she shared inspirations from her childhood in Scotland, the value of writing, whether or not you become a writer, the 5 inspirations of writing, and positive and encouraging life lessons and philosophy, as well as a few key Latin words. What a treat! The students were very engaged and asked lots of great questions.
An author's "dream" school visit
Now and then we authors experience what I like to call a "DREAM" school visit. My recent visit to Tumwater Hill Elementary in Olympia, Washington, was one such "DREAM" school.
When I drove up to the school building, there was a Scottish flag flapping in the breeze to welcome me, and of course, since it was Olympia, Washington, it was already a soggy, cloudy day, just like Scotland.
The lovely Kim McCloud, who had spent many months arranging this visit was there to greet me with a hug and smile and a wee piece of Scottish heather to pin to my name tag.
All the children and staff had read all my books BEFORE my visit. All around the school there were posters, artwork, letters, creative writing pieces,"kindness" crowns from my Giant King Book, paintings inspired by The Sandal Artist, Tiger masks from Raj the Bookstore Tiger, and Scottish flags flapping!
The children had prepared wise and thoughtful questions BEFOREHAND.
A member of the school district came to see one of my presentations and wrote about it in the district newsletter. The Principal attended many of the presentations and went out of his way to welcome me and show his appreciation for my visit. The parents and teachers were invited to come to an evening session that I did on "Nurturing a Passion for Stories." The children listened attentively and were actively engaged and enthusiastic throughout.They offered delightful, funny comments such as the one little fellow who told me, ever so earnestly, as I ended my presentation, "I'm really going to miss you when you go!"
Every single class arrived on time, and were polite and curious and seemed to love learning. There were NO interruptions for bathroom breaks or trips to the water cooler. They had an author's lunch for me with a selected group of students, and the volunteer parents and teachers used a Scottish theme complete with tartan tablecloth and miniature Scottish flags.
All the teachers had prepared their students by making use of the activity guides for each of my books, and then posting all the childrens' work around the school, and each teacher made a point of coming up to me after my presentation to thank me and tell me how much they appreciated me being there to talk to their students.
All these preparations not only made me feel like a rock star, but far more importantly, it allowed the students and the teachers to take away so much more from my presentations - they were already familiar with the characters and themes of my books, and so it was easy for them to follow up with other activities and discussions after I left. In other words, it wasn't just a chance for students to meet a real live author, it was also an opportunity for teachers, students, and parents to come together as a community and celebrate the power of books and stories to make us all "burn bright" in our particular and unique way! It truly "nurtured a PASSION for stories in this community - a passion that will help their children to live life more gladly, compassionately, and creatively!
What an amazing school community! What a "DREAM" school!
A thousand thanks to Kim McCloud who wrote the grant to make this possible! You do indeed "shine like the sun!"
When I drove up to the school building, there was a Scottish flag flapping in the breeze to welcome me, and of course, since it was Olympia, Washington, it was already a soggy, cloudy day, just like Scotland.
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| Scottish Flag at Tumwater Hill Elementary flapping a Welcome Wave! |
The lovely Kim McCloud, who had spent many months arranging this visit was there to greet me with a hug and smile and a wee piece of Scottish heather to pin to my name tag.
 |
| Scottish Flags decorating the Front Office! |
All the children and staff had read all my books BEFORE my visit. All around the school there were posters, artwork, letters, creative writing pieces,"kindness" crowns from my Giant King Book, paintings inspired by The Sandal Artist, Tiger masks from Raj the Bookstore Tiger, and Scottish flags flapping!
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| Display of my books at the Entrance to the School |
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| Letters from the children |
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| Kindness crowns from The Giant King |
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| More Kindness crowns |
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| Kim McCloud's First Grade Class |
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| In the Library after our RAJ session |
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| Lunch with "the author" |
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| Lunch with "the author" |
All the teachers had prepared their students by making use of the activity guides for each of my books, and then posting all the childrens' work around the school, and each teacher made a point of coming up to me after my presentation to thank me and tell me how much they appreciated me being there to talk to their students.
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| Seeing like Roberto in The Sandal Artist |
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| Finding Grace and Beauty from The Sandal Artist |
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| Inspired by RAJ |
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| RAJ Writings! |
All these preparations not only made me feel like a rock star, but far more importantly, it allowed the students and the teachers to take away so much more from my presentations - they were already familiar with the characters and themes of my books, and so it was easy for them to follow up with other activities and discussions after I left. In other words, it wasn't just a chance for students to meet a real live author, it was also an opportunity for teachers, students, and parents to come together as a community and celebrate the power of books and stories to make us all "burn bright" in our particular and unique way! It truly "nurtured a PASSION for stories in this community - a passion that will help their children to live life more gladly, compassionately, and creatively!
What an amazing school community! What a "DREAM" school!
A thousand thanks to Kim McCloud who wrote the grant to make this possible! You do indeed "shine like the sun!"
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