Swing and Sway

I have created three children's picture books and I have presented three workshops for the University of Greensburg's annual Children's Literature conference. I'm doing the math and think that it's time to get started on my next project if I'm going to make it back to see the Fred Roger Center that is right around the corner. How could I have been there on three occasions and only now just learned of the resource just around the corner. Facebook is wonderful for teaching me all sorts of things I didn't know!!

Children's Lit Conference

Dateline University of Greensburg -- outside of Pittsburgh. Look at this amazing group of presenters for this years conference for teachers, librarians and lovers of books! A picture perfect spring day to be out on the campus exploring gazebos together. Can you find me among the dignitaries?? One clue: look for stripes and polka-dots!

I have some of the most interesting conversations in elevators and ladies restrooms regarding my choice of apparel. When I explain that I'm dressed as the illustrations I created for my first picture book, I am inevitably asked to go on further about my work. Honest-to-goodness. One time my attire resulted in a conversation that went on at length, resulting in that same first book of mine, "You're Wonderful" receiving inclusion in a national magazine article on picture books from fabric illustrations. You never know once the ice is broken, where a conversation might lead. I always joke that my fashion line is coming out next. The children always respond with enthusiasm to my whimsy, knowing something out-of-the-ordinary is about to happen and that's just the way I like it!!

My New Year's resolution is to work very hard to get to hear at least a portion of the speakers presenting when I'm on the road. I'm very thrilled to announce that I was able to listen in for more than a mere smidgen of THE Jim Aylesworth's morning keynote. MEMORABLE! He spoke. He sang. He did character voices. He plays instruments. He has a whole catalog of sound effects. The man is a marvel with the sound effect. He especially adores loud sound effects. He spoke about the need to keep young boys lured to books during their formative, early learning-to-read development. His solution? NOISE!! Lots of noise and sound effects -- the occasional burp or other mention of body parts etc, all during reading with surprises that jump out and startle and keep ya on your toes. His presentation was peppered with examples from his decades in the classroom as teacher -- which inspired many of his books, stories and poems.

He has written 35 books, has Ohio roots [Miami University] and I'll wave at him when I present at Concordia's annual back-to-school conference next month, 'cuz he lives right around the corner from the campus. There I hope I can arrange my day to listen in on THE Lilian Katz keynote! (I once shared a taxi with her at a NAEYC event, but now I digress.) Anyhow, loved Jim's work. LOVED it!! Inspiring. That's the two of us with his newest project, his rendition of the folk tale "The Mitten." He asked the gathered audience to have their students do a comparison study with the famous Jan Brett version and get back to him with the response.

The final picture is another fellow 'self-published-author-with-passion', Julie Bisi. She is launching a non-profit adventure involving literacy, young children, morals and often mathematics. How's that for an intriguing mixture? She's used my work in her program. I'll post the pictures she's shared in a subsequent post. It was fun to get caught up on each our adventures. We have each begun the process of learning our way around LinkedIN and pledge to encourage each other in that forum, too.

Clever in the Cafeteria

We're having autograph sessions in the cafeteria.
Up close & personal.
Time for hugs.
CHEESE!!

Dr. Suess' Birthday in PA

So way-back-when, we left Lorain County in Ohio (up near Cleveland) after a whole lot of hugging which concluded our evening of fun, family concert. Then dear sweet hubby Allen packed it all into the pick-em-up-truck and off we went heading east, toward the greater Pittsburgh area. How brilliant of Southwest Airlines, to allow you to swap out your tickets and rearrange travel plans, should you need to extend your tour across the midwest. I felt just like one of their commercials. Their mentality of flexibility allowed for this 'extra' day of fun to unfold. [YEAH, SouthWest Airlines!!]

We arrived in Ford City in time for a few wink'ems, blink'ems and click your heels..... I'm walking into the local elementary for an authors visit......... drumroll: ON DR. SUESS' BIRTHDAY -- as part of 'Read Across America Week.' These first pictures are of the morning kindergartners, the vast majority wearing traditional red and their custom made Cat-in-the-Hats.

Let the fun continue!!

Senior Yearbook Montage

Warm spring day. College campus. Digital camera. Too-much-time-on-our-hands. Don't you just love the photo montage in the movie where they pose all the different outfits that are possible selections for the upcoming event, be it prom or wedding? Well we had all of the ingredients necessary for a hilarious afternoon. These are only five of the several, several dozen possible choices. Fortunately everyone else was preoccupied with some sort of responsibility or other -- so the two of us were left to our own devices. Sarah thought maybe there was a possible image for a future album J-card. In any case, our posing and repositioning had us both in stitches and the only one who wondered what we were up to was the custodian cleaning up after the break yummies. Some shenanigans are just too good to keep to yourself.

***I don't remember when I last wrote here about my ever-growing, ever-evolving pink scarf. I know that I had it in Louisiana right before my surgery. In a nutshell. I bought a pink scarf at the dollar store that had big looped-i-loos of yarn. Then at my first conference presentation following my first Breast Cancer diagnosis & surgery, I asked the gals to tie on a ribbon to help me 'decorate' it. Anyhow. Apparently I said something to the effect of "tie it on with a prayer or a blessing or a wish." [Allen was there, so he knows and told me so.] Anyhow, someone in Whitewater WI had the brilliant idea to WRITE their prayer, blessing or wish upon their ribbon. Well that led to others writing out their encouragement. It grew & grew & grew that first waltz thru cancer-land. I used to read it over & over & over. Then I kinda got readjusted to life and put it away, actually forgetting where I put it -- when I wanted it for a Komen walk. Eventually I found it again. Just in time for my second diagnosis. So this year it's been to Louisiana & Richmond, VA & Baltimore & Pittsburgh and Columbus OH. I've taken to reading it all over again.

Some write scripture passages. Others write mini-prayers. Some add insightful quotes or tidbits. Some are personal jokes. Others are references to my work. Some reference the place or date. A few leave their email addresses and say email me anytime. One had a phone number. A ribbon added in Pittsburgh by a fellow quilter says, "When life goes to pieces, make a beautiful quilt."

One of the recent ribbon addition says: "You are changing the world, one song at a time." That one really made me pause & take stock. Made me decide to put on my big girl panties and appreciate all of my blessings, all over again. The encouragement you have offered upon a ribbon has held me up, has held me together for over three years now. The ribbons are a testament of a shared faith, of the power of women, of the strength we share in our community of educators. It is one part yearning for a cure, one part wishing me into acceptance, one part art project, one part therapy. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. This weekend is my fourth year to walk in a spring Komen event. I'll wear my scarf. I'll be thinking how fortunate I am. And I'll be thanking you!

Book Signing: D. Clement

There are so many avenues for the receiving of feedback when on this amazing journey. I love getting emails from folks who have just "seen" me for the first time. Now I have FB for fan exclamations, complete with pictures on occasion. There's the glow in a teeny preschooler, who starts squealing with glee when they're given permission to jump. There's passing a mature first-grader in the crowded elementary hallway that says, "I remember you from last year!!" There's the waving hand that DEMANDS recognition and a kingergartner who blurts out mid-song, "We-sing-your-song-at-my-church!" as though it's one long word of enthusiasm. There's the having your adult daughter drive you to a conference in another state........ but there is just something all together unique and affirming about a book signing on a college campus. Signing your books in the presence of a Caldecott winner signing hers, just send chills of affirmation thru my body. What a great day in the neighborhood. Being an author/illustrator is one thing, but signing your books for new admirers is on a whole 'nother level. Sometimes I just have to squeeze my lips together really tight, so my eyes don't start leaking.

Cross the Midline!!

(****Binney4: Here's the evidence that I'm wearing my new arm sleeve. Gauntlet next. One step at a time.)

So Many Ideas..............

.............. so little time. I think that it should be illegal to have workshops for educators in only hour long increments. I have so much to share and frequently have the luxury of time to do so. When faced with a 60 minute format: YE GADS!! What to do?? One solution is to start twelve minutes early, as the majority of the participants were already there at that point. That before-we-get-started time is always my traditional Q & A period, as there is seriously never enough time to build that into the workshop. So fair warning to all future participants, come armed with your questions for before we get started.

On the positive side. I ADORE presenting where the technology is built into the room ahead of time. It is so very cool indeed to have the projector projecting from the ceiling onto a full screen. College campus, library, I'm always in awe of having a facility that is built for projection.

And on the SUPER positive side: that's Linda the Librarian who popped up to help me with the page turning duties. [I seriously LOVE seeing the illustrations of my book enlarged to fill the whole screen!! Kudos.]

"Glad I'm at School"

Always a big hit: choreography.

I use that term very loosely, when it comes to children.

Move. Move. Then MOVE some more!!

Patterns. Crossing the mid-line. Affirmation.

It's all here. It's all fun. It's all engaging!

Let's get this workshop launched.

U of Pitt @ Greensburg

We made it together. My daughter Sarah "volunteered" to chauffeur me to Pittsburgh for their annual Children's Literature Conference. I think that she may have been somewhat motivated by the opportunity to get out of the house (without any children in tow), as much as to contribute to the ease of my traveling..... but, whatever the motivation, we were two gals loose on the highway, looking for a University. With my navigating and her behind the wheel, it was a cinch. These are my participants for the morning's break-out on 'expanding' the use of my picture books when working with students. These participants are a slightly different mix for me. Many are librarians, others are elementary teachers, some reading tutors & coaches, and a few looking to learn more about self-publishing. It was a truly mixed group with a variety of backgrounds and that always makes it interesting for me. Still we have to get this party started and "Whoop it up."