spring events in and around la
I hope you’ll come see me at some spring events in and around Los Angeles.
I’ll be part of LA’s Yarn Crawl, the LA Times Festival of Books, and LitFest Pasadena!
nashville’s her bookshop w/ emily arrow!
I was lucky enough to visit Nashville over the weekend and have an event at Her Bookshop while I was there. Plus my friend, the one and only Emily Arrow, joined me to sing the Zinnia and the Bees song!
Our pom poms and yarn bombed hair (see the last photo) were perfect for a chilly Saturday morning storytime.
And if you want to make your own simple pom pom, the instructions are right here.
Until next time, Nashville!
zinnia and the bees at reading to kids!
It was a joy to share Zinnia and the Bees at one of my favorite places over the weekend, Reading to Kids!
I’ve written about this organization before here if you’d like to learn more about a wonderful volunteer opportunity one Saturday morning a month in Los Angeles. It’s a chance to read and craft with kids at eight schools in the city, to instill a love of reading, to connect to and encourage students through discussion and conversation and crafting, and to give each participant a free book to take home with them.
Big thanks to the affiliated teachers and to R2K for choosing my book as a read aloud! Here are some pics of the morning—I got to collaborate with one of my favorite volunteer friends. Hearing him read aloud from the story was a huge gift.
zinnia and the bees video
I made a short video about Zinnia and the Bees for teachers or librarians (or anyone!) to show to students in order to give them a sense of the story. Plus, there’s a show and tell!
Come see!
thank you!!
A huge thanks to everyone who snapped and shared a photo of Zinnia and the Bees in 2017! And to everyone who read it, reviewed it online, checked it out from a library, or got it into the hands of a kid reader, which is the very best gift—THANK YOU!
Best wishes & happy reading in 2018!
school visits in 2018
I had my first school visit here in Los Angeles, thanks to Skylight Books!
And I’m currently scheduling more for 2018! If you’re a teacher or librarian (or know one), I’d love to hear from you!
All the details are right here.
powell’s books and book riot mentions
I was delighted to see Zinnia and the Bees appear in two special places this December.
It was on Powell’s Books Staff Picks of Best Kids’ Books of 2017!
And it was in Book Riot’s Middle Grade Gift Giving Guide, too—woo hoo!
zinnia and the bees yarn bombed jars
I adore kidlit crafts, so of course I’m thrilled about this recent project that corresponds to my own book, Zinnia and the Bees!
My dear friend Bonnie at Thirsty for Tea created some yarn bombed jars since Zinnia is a yarn bomber! Check out this super creative idea.
Great as a cool-weather project, for keeping drinks warm, and wouldn’t they make perfect DIY holiday gifts, too? Now, let’s put some honey in our tea and hunker down for some winter reading.
See Bonnie’s full post with instructions and more lovely pictures here.
small business saturday / indies first
Very happy to be appearing at a small business/indie bookstore on Small Business Saturday/Indies First.
Saturday, November 25th, I’ll be at Once Upon a Storybook in Tustin, Orange County at 11am, and I hope to see you there!
skype and school visits!
I’m now scheduling free 20 minute Skype or Google Hangout author visits with classrooms that have read Zinnia and the Bees for winter 2017-2018 and beyond!
Plus, I’m scheduling in person school visits for late winter and spring 2018 and beyond!
If you’re a teacher or librarian or book club leader, I do hope you’ll get in touch.
