I had a real treat today at Springdale Park Elementary School. I did science writing workshops with their fourth graders (with such a warm welcome, thanks to Ms. Neal and Ms. Steigerwalt!). In between, I got to sit in on a class as they worked on writing books about the Westward Expansion. Katie Steigerwalt is … Continue reading Great Visit at Springdale Park Elementary
One of the best parts of working on Dog Science Unleashed was getting to work with the extremely talented Matthew Rakola at our photo shoot. Not only is he an excellent photographer in general, but he specializes in photos of kids doing science--and he digs into the science until he understands what the concepts are, … Continue reading Matthew Rakola, Photographer Extraordinaire
I had to have a medical procedure a couple of weeks ago that has had me on my back and unable to write. One morning the doorbell rang, and to my surprise, I had a lovely vase of flowers from the team at National Geographic (I'm sure it was really my amazing editor Kate Hale. … Continue reading Beneficent Blooms
I had a fantastic visit at Greystone Elementary this week, where media specialist Julie Richey puts on an amazing FULL WEEK of author and illustrator visits. What a gift to her students!
I had a wonderful visit at Riverchase Elementary School today. The students were wonderful, and their garden, STEM lab and media center are amazing! They welcomed me with this super-fun bulletin board. I've never been greeted by Yoda before!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERgU-3AerlA The family is staying at Willet Ponds Farm in NC right now--it's an amazing mountain getaway, with the added plus that you get to "help" with farm chores. I don't think I have ever seen a more delighted look on boy munchkin's face than when he was carrying a bundle of hay to the … Continue reading A Phalanx of Ducks
The girl munchkin is always proud to identify gneiss. She looks for the characteristic striping. Gneiss is metamorphic, and the stripes form when intense heat and pressure--deep in the earth--turn granite or diorite into a sort of putty. The minerals are able to move a little, and sort themselves out into layers of like-minded (or … Continue reading how gneiss
...And almost a dozen local (and local-ish) children's authors and illustrators will be signing books at the Wonderful Little Shop of Stories, this Sunday, March 13 from 2 to 4. See the whole lineup here!
Once Upon a Science Book 