9-24-09 Dianne with PK-2 Hillsboro Elem, TN
Friends:
I have just returned from a whirlwind trip to Tennessee. I had an incredible time as the guest author at Hillsboro Elementary School in Hillsboro, Tennessee. The children were so excited to meet an author! Nancy Dickerson Dickinson, the librarian, was a wonderful hostess. She picked me up from the Nashville airport on Wednesday evening and then took me to dinner at O’Charley’s, where I had a delicious meal.
On Thursday morning, Nancy picked me up from my hotel and whisked me away to her school. The children were so enthusiastic. Nancy did a great job preparing them for my visit, sharing my books with them and telling them all about me.
I performed three shows, first seeing grades PK, 1 and 2. Next, I saw grades 3 through 5. Finally, I saw the kindergarteners, who came back from a field trip to the county fair.
9-24-09 Dianne performing for kindergarteners
I performed my new book, Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach, “Peanut Butter and Jelly Jam” song, and “The Ghost of Mable Gable.” We even had time for a little Q&A. The stories were a hit and the students had a ton of fun. Look at these happy faces!
9-24-09 Happy Hillsboro students
I also did book signings for all the students in each grade who bought books.
9-24-09 Dianne poses with 1st graders getting their books signed
I had a marvelous time at Hillsboro Elementary School!! I can’t wait to return… Here’s what Nancy had to say about me (she posted this to a librarians’ listserv, LM_net):
“I had the most amazing author visit this past Thursday, and I have to tell you all about it! New Orleans author/storyteller Dianne de Las Casas came to present at the annual conference of the Tennessee Assn. of School Librarians, and I had her come to my school on the day before the conference began. She was so wonderful to work with, and my students and teachers and I had the time of our lives. I don’t know when we’ve laughed together so much! Her new book from Pelican Publishing, Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach, is adorable. Great story and great illustrations. But, oh, when she tells it, it comes to life and is hilarious! She was also a fantastic presenter at our conference. We all had so much fun in her storytelling workshop and I’m sure we could have spent a whole day with her, learning great technique and having loads of fun! I was the hero of the school Thursday with both the kids and the teachers. Book fair money well spent!”
9-24-09 Dianne being squeezed by Hillsboro students
I am running out of stupendous adjectives to describe my visit to Hillsboro! Thank you, Nancy, the teachers, staff and students of Hillsboro Elementary. You are terrific, marvelous, cool, spectacular, and incredible! I <3 U and hope to return some day soon!
Until next time…
Warmly, Dianne
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
We had so much fun! We’re still singing “Madame Poulet” and talking about the ghost of Mable Gable. The whole weekend was so much fun! I really enjoyed getting to show you my hometown of Nashville. Thank you so much for coming to Tennessee!
Wow, looks fun. Some day I’ll get to go to a school. Mean while I’ll practice at library’s and day cares.