The Best Part

I love the entire process of creating a book, from the research to the writing and revising. But maybe the best part is when I can hold my new books in my hand. There's nothing like the satisfaction of knowing all the hours you've put into something—all those moments when you thought it would never be what you wanted it to be—have created something even more than you could have imagined.

Here are my latest releases, including new books in the Peoples of North America and Amazing Animals series, as well as a new series, called Disaster for All Time:

School Visit, Pulaski, Wisconsin (Or, When My Heart Melted)

5 days. 2 schools. 1,000+ students. 30 presentations.

I enjoyed an exhausting but wonderful week visiting Glenbrook and Sunnyside Elementary schools in Pulaski, Wisconsin. As always, I loved sharing my experiences as an author and teaching students about the process of researching, writing, and revising a book, but my favorite part of the visit was the inspiration these young creatives gave me. Check out these amazing books and letters they wrote for me.

One even dedicated his book to me. And another wrote, "When I was just 7 years old, I started to read your books. I thinked, hey, I want to be a writer. I'd always wanted to meet you and it finally came true." 

This right here? It's exactly why I do what I do!

School Visit: Arcadia, WI

The 3.5-hour drive to Arcadia, Wisconsin, was worth it for the chance to visit with these enthusiastic students! Check out all those raised hands! That's because these kids know that they're all writers, too.

And these brave volunteers helped us learn about the difference between fiction and nonfiction--it's not the topic, it's whether it's true or made up. Like the spiffy costumes I made? Believe it or not, I am not a professional costume designer. You can tell some of them are thinking, "What am I supposed to be?" But they were good sports about it!

To learn more about setting up a visit for your school, check out my Author Visits page or contact me.

School Visit: Oshkosh, Wisconsin

It appears that between writing and visiting schools, I've neglected to keep this spot updated. So to remedy that, here are some pictures from my latest school visit. I had the opportunity to spend two days at Perry Tipler Middle School and ALPs charter school in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Talk about your fun and engaged middle school students! We had a blast! I was so busy talking with students I forgot to take pictures, but fortunately an extraordinary teacher (thanks Mrs. Cottrell) came to my rescue and sent me these. I never realized how many funny faces I make while I speak!

Online Visit with Georgia School

I recently had the opportunity to do a video visit with second graders from Glyndale Elementary in Georgia. I had a great time (even if I was jealous that it was warm with no snow there)! The kids asked great questions, and we were even able to play a game across the miles. Afterward, the Golden Isles News included an article about the visit. You can read more about it here: http://goldenisles.news/news/local_news/author-speaks-to-glyndale-elementary-students-through-video-chat/article_d096454a-f649-5646-b904-c568721cbdde.html. I was especially touched by teacher Dianne Rawls-Griffin's comment that she hopes the visit will "be something [the students] remember for the rest of their lives." Wow, what a privilege to talk with these young students. And I hope I've inpsired them to: Keep Reading. Keep Writing.

Coming Soon ...

Notice anything different about these covers? French translations coming soon!

 

 

Great Review: School Library Journal

So excited about this great review for my latest series, Peoples of North America.

Wow: Apollo Space Program

Wow! A man who worked on the Apollo space program saw my book about the moon landing listed in his local newspaper and contacted me. It turns out he was an Engineering Psychologist and worked on the Abort Guidance System (to be used in case the Primary Guidance and Navigation System failed). I sent a copy of my book to a school he volunteers for, and he read it to the fifth grade students there. I'm honored.

School Visit: St. Paul's, Onalaska

What a treat! I got to visit my own children's school, St. Paul's in Onalaska, Wisconsin, last week. The visit was extra-special, since we'll be moving to the other side of the state in a couple weeks. We'll miss everyone here so much, but it was great to have a chance to visit before we leave.

The little guy next to me (in the cowboy vest) is my very own kiddo, Titus.

Tidbit Tuesday: Ada Lovelace

Woohoo! I always love the beginning of new projects, when I get to learn all kinds of new stuff! Lately, I've been researching some amazing women in science and math, including Ada Lovelace. Ever heard of her? Here are just a few things you should know about her:

• Ada Lovelace is credited with creating the first computer program - more than 100 years before the first computer was ever built! Her program was designed for a computing machine called the Analytical Engine that was designed by Charles Babbage but never built.
• Ada was the daughter of Lord Byron, a famous English poet. But her father left when Ada was only a month old. Ada's mother worried that she might turn out to be artistic like her father. So she decided to educate Ada in one of her favorite subjects - mathematics - instead.
• When Ada published notes on the Analytical Engine, she used her initials instead of her name, since it was not considered proper for women to publish academic articles.
• In the 1970s, the U.S. Department of Defense created a computer language named Ada, in her honor.

How about you? Tell me what you've learned today, and I'll enter you in a drawing to win a signed copy of one of my books!

These Kids Write: Zoe D.

Here are two more entries from Zoe D. First, some great facts about dolphins, one of my favorite animals!

Dolphins eat fish. A baby dolphin is called a calf. Dolphins are great swimmers by moving their tails up and down. Dolphins are mammals. Dolphins live in oceans in New York and Florida and California too. And dolphins get along with humans. Dolphins are afraid of killer whales and sharks and humans too. And they love you too.

And here is Zoe's piece about foxes.

Foxes eat mice. A baby fox is called a kit. A fox lives in Africa and South Africa too. Foxes can be pets too. They can be killed by coyotes. There are red fox and orange and arctic fox. And I love foxes forever and forever.

fox-in-hunting-wallpapers-free-picture on free pictures

Thanks for some more great work, Zoe! Don't forget, kids, if you want to publish your own writing on my site (fiction or nonfiction), send it to me here. Be sure to let me know that you want it published. You can tell me a little about yourself, too, if you'd like. Plus, I'll enter you in a drawing to win a signed copy of one of my books.

Author Visits: Ripon and Muskego, Wisconsin

Finished out the school year with two great visits. The first was to Ripon, Wisconsin, where I had a chance to talk to the first grade students of my mom's best friend (who has known me since I was a baby) before she retired. Another great group of kids! And I had a chance to read the nonfiction books they had written about animals. Some had even written books about the same animals I've written about!

We had to adjust the Muskego visit by a day due to a water pump problem that closed the school the day I was supposed to visit. Fortunately, we were visiting family, so it was easy to reschedule (and I spent the day off with my family at the park!). And the visit was worth the wait. The kids in Muskego were great - engaged and attentive, even though it was almost the last day of school!

   

   

I always love when kids stick around afterward to chat and ask more questions! Nothing better than talking books and writing with kids!

Author Visit: Holmen, Wisconsin

Wow! I had a great time visiting four elementary schools in Holmen, Wisconsin, last month. This visit was extra-special for me because Holmen is only a few miles from where I live. I told the kids to stop and say "hi" to me if they see me around, and what do you know--a few days later, we were out for my youngest daughter's birthday, and a student did! I felt like a rock star!

Best comment from students: "You inspired me." That's what it's all about!

Here I'm reading from my Centipedes book. If I look a little creeped out, it's because centipedes are not my favorite creatures. But I wrote it--and read it--for the kids!

One of my favorite parts is answering kids' questions: "Why did you become a writer?" (I love books, writing, reading, all of it!), "What's your favorite color?" (purple), and even "How old are you?" (35)