DEAR TEXAS EVENT!

I was very excited to participate in DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) Texas this year! Knowing that their were authors all over the State celebrating literacy with book lovers was a very awesome thing! I was driving along and making great time while singing to the tunes on my iTunes playlist when ... it seems as if out of no where the TRAFFIC comes to a halt -- oh yeah -- it's Austin ... it always does that!  Thank goodness I left early enough! Almost to San Marcos!

Thank you Half Price Books on Bugg Lane in San Marcos for hosting the DEAR Texas Event!

Your store is amazing and sitting me in the children's section was like heavne ... I couldn't help but browse ... and purchase a few things!

 

 



This is Elijah -- one of the many kids who LOVES his new Muffin book!

 
 

Their children's section was amazing (left)

The POSTER in the window!

I saw it on my way out! (right)

DQ was calling my name all day!

Right across the street from the bookstore!

YUMMY Dinner

They only perk of Steven traveling so much is his hotel points!

A KING Suite .... I could live in here!

 

If you would like me to come to your school, library or literary event,

please feel free to contact me at thelifeofbud@aol.com

Thanks for supporting me!

 

Watch for my new book -- Red Goes To Kindergarten

which will release in May/June, 2015

 

 

 

DEAR Texas

DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) TEXAS will be taking place on Sunday, April 12, 2015 all across TEXAS!  I will be signing books at the HALF PRICE BOOKS in SAN MARCOS from 1pm - 4pm -- Come on out and VISIT!!!!

24 CITIES ... 30 BOOKSTORES ... 86 AUTHORS!!! 

HOW COOL IS THAT!!!!

 

FIND A BOOKSTORE or PARTICIPATING AUTHOR HERE

 

 

If you have any questions .... feel free to email me at thelifeofbud@aol.com or leave a comment here.

 

Many of the Texas Authors are able to come to schools for events and even have books available for book clubs!

Visit the TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF AUTHORS  for more information!

 

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I will also be visiting THE THINKERY in AUSTIN

On Monday, April 13 for a Members Only Event for the Baby Bloomers!

If you are in the Austin, TX area, click on the above link for more information on THE THINKERY

 

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I still have some dates available for Summer Camps

Please let me know if you would like to book a story time at your

pre-school, library, or church camp!

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review

Thanks Lisa for reviewing A Simpler Time for your web-site!!! 

Lisa's Kids' Book Reviews

Spring Break at the Cleburne Library

After two weeks of cold, ice, sleet, & snow in Texas ... I woke up this morning to THICK DENSE fog! But, was excited to pack up and get on the road to Cleburne!  I was invited by Ms. Jennifer, Children's Librarian at the Cleburne Public Library to come on out to do pre-school story time!

When I got there ... Ms. Jennifer had all my books set out on the table with Clover name-tags ready for the kids to fill out and wear!

Ready for the kids!

 

I read both Muffin books and had a wonderful time!  One new guess for why the little boy did not come back with a donut was that "he was magical!" I always love their guesses!!!

It was then COLORING time!

 

 

 

 What is in the corner?  Is it SOCK MONKEY?????

 

TA DA!!!!!!!

She added a SNOWMAN and a SUN to her illustration!!!!

 

 

There was a GREAT turnout and I had a wonderful time!

Thanks Jennifer and all the kids and parents that came out today to the Cleburne Library!

I hope you invite me back again!!!!

 

Thanks for sharing part of your Spring Break with me!

 

If you would like me to visit your library, day-care, or school, please email me at

thelifeofbud@aol.com

 

 

 

 

WORLD BOOK DAY - 2015

Want to know more about WORLD BOOK DAY -- CLICK HERE


Red Goes to Kindergarten is getting closer to releasing ... Just picked the cover and we'll be moving into FINAL production!  As soon as I know a release date, I will let you all know.  The contract for Daisy - A Life Cycle Series has been signed and returned to  my publisher ... can't wait to get this one started!!!! 

Come see me and hundreds of other vendors at the FUNKY FINDS event this Saturday (March 7) and Sunday (March 8) at the Will Rogers Memorial Center.  Also, I will be at the Cleburne Public Library in Cleburne, TX on Wednesday, March 11 at 11:00am.

 

Interested in ordering any of my children's book contact me at

thelifeofbud@aol.com

Today only -- March 5 -- all books are $4.00 with free shipping

 

 

Small Change to Make a BIG CHANGE

A couple weeks ago, my Kindergarten students started working on their rough drafts of their Water Fundraising Posters ... we first looked at Fundraising Posters on-line and the children discussed details and colors and how most posters had BIG, BRIGHT, BUBBLE letters! They were a bit hesitant and many said they thought this would be a HARD project!!!

After they were happy with their background picture rough draft, they chose a slogan to write on their poster ... they played with making bubble letters and practiced writing with markers.  On Monday we were ready to conquer our FINAL drafts ... a few children were absent so will have to make up this work during the week.

I popped on the classical music and the kids got their Poster Paper and they began to lightly sketch their background drawing. When they felt ready ... I pulled out the Water Colors and the kids began to paint .... It was wonderful to see their drawings coming to life!  We let the paintings dry and Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning, the children added their slogans ....

 Today the children got in 3 groups of 6 and we went to 1 fifth grade and 2 third grade classes.

Each group showcased a couple posters and then announced that tomorrow is WATER WEDNESDAY. (What is that you ask?)

They told the audience that they could dress down on Wednesday if they brought a $1.00 and donated it to the Kinder classes for our Water Filtration Fundraiser.

Each group also told the audiences that the filters cost $52.00 and last 10 years, when properly cared for.

Visit my school web-site if you'd like to see pictures of the kids presenting their posters!

Mrs. Eckroat's Kindergarten Class

 

MARCH EVENTS

Event season is ramping up ... here are a few upcoming events please share this information with any of your friends who you think may enjoy these events!

Funky Finds is a wonderful event and I enjoy being surrounded by so many talented crafters from all over Texas!  It truly is amazing ....

 

Saturday, March 7th -- 10am - 5pm

Sunday, March 8th -- 11am - 4pm



The 7th Annual Funky Finds Spring Fling is a
FREE 2-day family AND pet-friendly handmade shopping extravaganza.
Over 100 Artists, Crafters, Designers, Authors, & Food Makers
selling unique items that have been lovingly hand-crafted!

 

Find the event in the Small Exhibits Building at the Will Rogers Memorial Center.
The physical address is 3409 Burnett-Tandy Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76107.

 

These charities benefit from the Raffles ... and Pet Adoptions happen throughout the event!!

 

 

Here is the link to go to the Funky Finds Web-site to see a full list of vendors

2015 Funky Finds Spring Fling Event

 

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Wednesday, March 11th -- 11:00am - 11:30am

I will be facilitating story time for pre-schoolers at the

Cleburne Public Library

302 W. Henderson St.
Cleburne, TX 76033

 

Cleburne Public Library - Event Calendar

 

I hope you are able to join me at one of these events!

 

 

 

 

MEET Violet & RED!

I love the feeling I get when I have finished a book .... the next most EXCITING feeling is seeing the characters begin to emerge when my illustrator gets to work! The words begin to come to life and I see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

I would like to introduce to you all ... Violet and RED ....

These are the first character sketches I have received and can't wait to share more with you when I can!  Red Goes To Kindergarten will release in early Summer, 2015.

If you would like to make sure you receive a copy from the very first printing -- comment here or email me at thelifeofbud@aol.com 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT's in the corner? CAPTURED ON FILM!

Since 2008, I've done several interviews and many people have asked me where I get my inspiration for my books and for writing. When I answer that question, I say "LIFE".  I know that may sound strange ... but it is really true. I am fascinated at the things going on around me. There are days I have a hard time focusing because of all the things happening around me. I tell children my books are Realistic Fiction ... because the things in which I write about really happen ... but they aren't Non-Fiction.

I wasn't planning on writing a book about going to get Muffin ... it just happened. When we brought her home and she was so tiny and fragile, she'd lay on my lap and I started singing ... "I went to the store to buy a donut, but I came home with a Muffin".  Every time I said her name, she'd look at me and I swear she was smiling!

I thought it would be fun to write a series of Muffin books, but knew that that would be tough ... there are so many books about dogs and puppies ... but Muffin gave me another wonderful idea.  When she was teeny tiny she'd run to the corner of our backyard and bark at a tree that is in the neighbors backyard ... but she'd look up and bark ... for months we had no idea what she was barking at! One day, the mystery was solved!  And today ... just moments ago, I was able to capture it on film ....

I wasn't planning on a blog post this morning .... but then this happened!!!!

What's In the Corner? What Is That???

 

Muffin checking out that elusive character in What's In the Corner?



 

OKAY .... I'll move a little closer and devil them some more!!!!!

 Muffin teaching Shadow about the whole What's In the Corner thing ....

 A stare down!!!!! 

 Muffin HOWLING at her ....

Oh my goodness ... it's the BIG BRAVE CAT!!!!

Staples Education Site

For the past couple of years I have put in queries to HARO ... it is a cool way for an author to write snip-its for different publications - mostly on-line these days. I never had one chosen for publication!! At times I thought I should give up ... but every once in a while a query would grab my interest and I'd write away. When sending in your submission, it goes to a blind email -- you never know who will be reading it or who may be possibly publishing the piece! Recently, two of my submissions were accepted. Coincidentally, they were both for the same web-site ... here are the links to my portion of the work.  They are now up on the Staples Education Site .

The contributing writers pick and choose which parts of your work they will use!  I never knew Staples had an Education site, it's another great source for Teachers and Parents to check out!  Click on the links below to be taken to the site!

SNOW DAYS

Teachers - Make your Spring Break about YOU!

 

It is a beautiful, sunny day here in Texas ... and I wanted to share with you some exciting things happening in the greenhouse! I love digging in the dirt and the seeds, roots, & sprouts all amaze me!

I cut a piece of the poverty plant near school (the one where the Monarchs rested back in October!). The cut has growth and a good root system .... it is now repotted!

I can't believe how much growth it has ... I'm hoping that the greenhouse will help it flourish so that I can plant it in the corner of the backyard this spring ....  

 

SPROUTS!!!!!! Japanese Cherry Blossom, Tomato, Jalapeno and Saffron

 

 Repotted the Japanese Cherry Blossom!

Saffron

 

 Jalapenos .... YUM!!!!!!

Basil, Tomatos, and Francisco's resting place!

The stepping stone was made by one of my students last year!!!

Repotted two of the tomato plants ....

 

Spending an hour in the greenhouse is so relaxing ...

I'm running out of dried basil from 2 years ago .... I hope the basil in the greenhouse makes it!

 

 

 

 

Raindrops - UPDATED

 

What comes down ... must GO up!!!

As we continue learning the water cycle ...

The children EVAPORATED ... they cut up their pictures as they turned to VAPOR

 

 

 

 They returned up to the sky with the help of the wind and the warmth from the sun!

 

 Our Water Cycle

 

The Water Cycle .... goes round and round the vapor goes up

and the rain comes down ....

 

I hope you have enjoyed seeing this lesson

sometimes I'm amazed that these kids are just in KINDERGARTEN!!!!!!

I truly enjoy being and author and my day job is thoroughly rewarding! Being a Kindergarten teacher I see amazing changes and growth through the school year. Some children go from not knowing all their letters and sounds of letters to writing sentences and reading! It is really amazing!

We have been studying water and I hope some of you saw the movie of our water filtration systems.

To begin our lessons on the Water Cycle and a quick review of Water Filtration we completed a two day project. We watched The Magic School Bus - We All Over. If you are not familiar with it -- Ms. Frizzle transports her students into raindrops ... they evaporate, become clouds, move across the globe, fall as rain in an ocean, repeat the cycle, fall as rain into a puddle, repeat the cycle and then fall into a filtration system near their school where they are filter into clean water!

After the movie we discussed the Water Cycle and discussed our water filters again. Then the children said "it'd be cool if we could make something and be inside a raindrop!"  They talked about using butcher paper, construction paper, tape, pins .... it was fun listening to their ideas.  Finally it hit me ... I was planning on making waxed paper and corn syrup raindrop (the kids paint corn syrup on a waxed paper shaped raindrop) the corn syrup beads up and you place a 2nd raindrop on top and it sticks together and looks like water on the inside ... I said to the kids "what if I take your picture and put you inside this?"  They were very excited!  So today, Friday, January 16, I took their pictures in cool poses looking like characters from The Magic School Bus.  I printed the pictures, cut them out and laminated them.

On Fridays, the children do a FUN write in their writing journals.  Today I had them use the following prompt "If I was in a raindrop ... "

The children painted their corn syrup raindrop, I added their picture and TADA ... they were inside the raindrops!  I made a storm cloud, a lake and put everything up in the hallway ...

A really fun way to introduce the Water Cycle and really get the children INTO the project!