October 2009

Dawes School Residency Day 3 – Wednesday, October 29, 2009

by dlcasas on October 29, 2009

10-29-09 Students from Ms. Swanson's 1st grade TWI class dancing Zydeco

10-29-09 Students from Ms. Swanson's 1st grade TWI class dancing Zydeco

Friends:

Today was my third day at Dawes School. It was a wonderful day that started out in Ms. Swanson’s 1st grade TWI (Two Way Immersion) class. This was my second visit to the class so I told the story of “Sody Sallyraytus” and then explored Zydeco music through the use of scarves. Finally, we ended with a fun drama exercise in role playing. The students welcomed me enthusiastically into their class once again and we had a fantastic time.

My next period was free so I chilled in the library with Ms. Jicha. After that, I visited Ms. Weatherby and Ms. Gibert’s Kindergarten class. What a lovely group of children! Ms. Weatherby and Ms. Gibert were so sweet! I was offered a juice and an animal cracker snack. The children loved The Cajun Cornbread Boy and exploring jazz music through scarves. They were awesome!

10-29-09 Dianne telling story of The Cajun Cornbread Boy to Ms. Weathersby and Ms. Gibert's Kindergarten class

10-29-09 Dianne telling story of The Cajun Cornbread Boy to Ms. Weathersby and Ms. Gibert's Kindergarten class

Finally, I visited Ms. Alvarez’s class for the second time. Again, the students loved the story and scarf activities. They were a very responsive and fun group to work with.

10-29-09 Dianne dancing Zydeco with student in Ms. Alvarez's class

10-29-09 Dianne dancing Zydeco with student in Ms. Alvarez's class

After school, my friend, Juliet, and I,went to dinner and theater in downtown Chicago.

10-29-09 Downtown Chicago crossing the river

10-29-09 Downtown Chicago crossing the river

We ate at a fabulous restaurant called Sunda on Illnois street in the North River area. The Pan Asian food was absolutely divine. The executive chef, Rodelio Aglibot, is the brother of a friend of mine from high school, Ruby! Juliet and I were treated like royalty and had a phenomenal dinner. After dinner, we saw Jersey Boys, a marvelous Broadway play with a stellar cast and great music by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. We had so much fun!!

On our way home, we saw this huge spider attacking the side of a house!

10-29-09 Arachnophobia

10-29-09 Arachnophobia

It was another perfect day in Evanston and Chicago! I look forward to tomorrow – I have two Scared Silly assemblies at Dawes School. It will be a blast.

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Dawes School Residency Day 2; Tuesday, October 27, 2009

by dlcasas on October 28, 2009

10-27-09 Mr. Puentes' Kindergarten TWI Class

10-27-09 Mr. Puentes' Kindergarten TWI Class

Friends:

Today was my second day at Dawes School for my K-2 arts residency. My first class was Mr. Puentes’ Kindergarten TWI (Two Way Immersion) class. I told the story The Cajun Cornbread Boy and then we did creative movement to jazz music with scarves. The students, teachers, and I had such a wonderful time together. Muchas gracias, Sr. Puentes, para todo!

Next, I visited Ms. Hamilton’s 1st graders for the second time. I told the story of Sody Sallyraytus and then we danced two-step to Zydeco music. Afterwards, the students did amazing individual partner role playing work.

10-27-09 Ms. Hamilton's 1st graders dance Zydeco

10-27-09 Ms. Hamilton's 1st graders dance Zydeco

Next, it was on to Ms. Whisler’s 2nd grade TWI class. We had a great time with the storytelling and they loved second lining around the room to jazz.

10-27-09 Ms. Whisler's 2nd grade TWI class second-lines

10-27-09 Ms. Whisler's 2nd grade TWI class second-lines

After lunch, I visited Ms. Alvarez’s class. The loved the storytelling and had a ton of fun! Even Ms. Alvarez joined in!

10-27-09 Ms. Alvarez's 2nd grade class

10-27-09 Ms. Alvarez's 2nd grade class

My last class of the day was in the library with Ms. Wilcinski’s Kindergarten class. The children listened to a new story, Sody Sallyraytus, and had fun participating.

10-27-09 Ms. Wilcinski's Kindergarten class listens to Sody Sallyraytus

10-27-09 Ms. Wilcinski's Kindergarten class listens to Sody Sallyraytus

After the story, I did some role playing scarf exercises with them. Ms. Jicha, the school librarian, joined in, playing a monkey! So cute!

10-27-09 Ms. Jicha the Librarian role plays a monkey with Ms. Wilcinski's Kindergarten class

10-27-09 Ms. Jicha the Librarian role plays a monkey with Ms. Wilcinski's Kindergarten class

Again, it was a great day at Dawes! After school, my friends, Sadarri and Amber Saskill came in from Wisconsin and took me to dinner. We ate at Barcelona Tapas restaurant. The food was fabulous but the friendship and laughter was even better! I can’t believe I forgot to take a picture of the three of us! Amber took a picture of me in my diva leopard boots! These boots are made for rockin! Rargh!

10-27-09 The diva leopard boots at Barcelona Tapas Evanston

10-27-09 The diva leopard boots at Barcelona Tapas Evanston

Too bad one of the heels broke and it was my first time wearing the shoes! Ugh. Fortunately, the restaurant came to my rescue and Duck taped the heel together temporarily so I could walk. It was black Duck tape! LOL

Fabulous day!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Residency at Dawes School Day 1 – Monday, October 26, 2009

by dlcasas on October 26, 2009

10-26-09 Welcome to Dawes

10-26-09 Welcome to Dawes

Friends:

Today was my first day at Dawes School in Evanston, Illinois, where I am the storytelling/author in residence for grades K through 2. The visit was arranged by my good friend and Dawes parent, Juliet Bond, and the Dawes Librarian, Sue Jicha. Sue was such a sweetheart, facilitating my visit and making sure everything ran smoothly. Ms. Bradley, the principal, greeted me first thing in the morning, making me feel welcome at Dawes.

10-26-09 Dianne in the Dawes Library

10-26-09 Dianne in the Dawes Library

My first class was Ms. Wilcinski’s kindergarten class. They were a sweet group of children and I had fun telling The Cajun Cornbread Boy and doing creative movement with scarves and jazz music.

10-26-09 Ms. Wilcinski's Kindergarten

10-26-09 Ms. Wilcinski's Kindergarten

Next, I went to Ms. Hamilton’s 1st grade classroom. They were sitting quietly and ready for me to start when I came in. We had a blast and the students really enjoyed the activity.

10-26-09 Ms. Hamilton's 1st grade

10-26-09 Ms. Hamilton's 1st grade

Then it was off to Ms. Shleker’s 2nd grade class. This group of energetic children were so participatory in my story and had a great time with the scarf activity. I found out that Ms. Shleker was involved in theater and she loved my jazz music. :) We had such a fun time!

10-26-09 Ms. Schleker's 2nd grade

10-26-09 Ms. Schleker's 2nd grade

After lunch, I visited Ms. Sovich’s 2nd grade class. Ms. Sovich is a singer and knew all the songs I played on the Jazz for Kids CD. I was so impressed. The students had a great time with the story as well as the music activity.

10-26-09 Ms. Sovich's 2nd grade

10-26-09 Ms. Sovich's 2nd grade

My last class was with Ms. Swanson’s 1st grade TWI (Two Way Immersion) class. the students are immersed in a Spanish language curriculum. I had the opportunity to speak some Spanish and the children were so much fun.

10-26-09 Telling a story in Ms. Swanson's TWI 1st grade

10-26-09 Telling a story in Ms. Swanson's TWI 1st grade

It was a wonderful first day. The teachers were so warm and welcoming and the students were very well-behaved and enthusiastic. I am totally looking forward to tomorrow!

10-26-09 Turtle Art at Dawes School

10-26-09 Turtle Art at Dawes School

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Autumn in Evanston, Illinois; Sunday, October 25, 2009

by dlcasas on October 25, 2009

10-25-09 Framed by Fall

10-25-09 Framed by Fall

Friends:

I flew to Chicago this morning and my good friend and fellow author, Juliet Bond, picked me up from the airport. I am staying with Juliet this week as I perform a week-long arts-in-education residency for grades K-2 at Dawes School. After a delicious breakfast, Juliet gave me a tour through Evanston, where she lives, and the surrounding area. I am in love with the Fall foliage: gorgeous green, glittering gold, shimmering orange, and rusty red-tipped trees line the avenues.

10-25-09 Tree-lined avenue

10-25-09 Tree-lined avenue

It was so beautiful today too. The weather was in the 60s and it was breezy, not windy. The view of the lake from an overlook was stunning.

10-25-09 Tree lined avenue

10-25-09 Tree lined avenue

Here, fun Juliet sashays her way through the day. LOL

10-25-09 Juliet sashays

10-25-09 Juliet sashays

This is a beautiful Ba’hai Temple near Juliet’s house.

10-25-09 Ba'hai Temple juxtaposed against the cloud-crocheted sky

10-25-09 Ba'hai Temple juxtaposed against the cloud-crocheted sky

This is Juliet’s house. I sleep in the East Wing.

10-25-09 Juliet's dream house

10-25-09 Juliet's dream house

Just kidding. Juliet, her husband Kevin, and their three children, Jacob (12), Lilly (9), and Casey (5), live in this house adorned with cool Halloween decorations.

10-25-09 Juliet's house

10-25-09 Juliet's house

After a nice refreshing nap, I dined with the Bonds. Juliet cooked up a tasty pasta dinner with a Greek salad. Appetizers consisted of a cheese plate with apples and crackers. Yum!

10-25-09 Dinner with the Bonds

10-25-09 Dinner with the Bonds

While I was napping, they added more Halloween decor to the front yard. Cool and creepy!

10-25-09 Creepy dead baby and tombstones

10-25-09 Creepy dead baby and tombstones

Love the ghosts! Boo!

10-25-09 Mostly Ghostly

10-25-09 Mostly Ghostly

Check out these pumpkin heads…

10-25-09 Pumpkin heads

10-25-09 Pumpkin heads

And finally, a happy couple welcomes you into the Bonds’ home.

10-25-09 The happy couple

10-25-09 The happy couple

I look forward to my week with the Bond family. Thank you, Lilly and Casey, for loaning me your room! It’s just perfect. Thank you, Jacob, for all your help! And thank you to Juliet and Kevin, for opening your home to me. Hugs!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Terror on the Teche in New Iberia, LA; Saturday, October 24, 2009

by dlcasas on October 25, 2009

10-24-09 Dianne, Eliana & Fan

10-24-09 Dianne, Eliana & Fan

Friends:

I had the pleasure of being the storyteller at Terror on the Teche at the Shadows on the Teche Plantation in New Iberia, Louisiana. The event was sponsored by the Iberia Parish Library. Shadows on the Teche is an old plantation with its own graveyard! The spooky tales were on the grounds of the plantation. Too cool!

10-24-09 The audience at Terror on the Teche

10-24-09 The audience at Terror on the Teche

I had a blast telling funny, spooky and creepy ghost stories. I was so excited to see my friend, Cheryl Robichaux and her little princess, Savannah. I met Cheryl’s husband and his children too. What a beautiful family! Savannah and Caroline came on stage to help me with some magic… “Bloop! I’m awesome!” (Those were the magic words that Caroline and the audience came up with. Too funny!)

10-24-09 Dianne on stage doing magic with Savannah and Caroline

10-24-09 Dianne on stage doing magic with Savannah and Caroline

Eliana, my 9 year old daughter, ran around, taking pictures. It was so dark and difficult to get really good pictures with my digital camera but here’s one of me telling a spooky story. Thank you so much, Eliana! You are wonderful and Mommy loves you!

10-24-09 Telling a spooky story

10-24-09 Telling a spooky story

It was such a fun event and I can’t wait to do it again! Here is a picture of me and Eliana with Kristy Rose and Gail Garcia with the Iberia Parish Library. Gail is the director of the library system. They are such a marvelous team and afterwards, we ate at Duffy’s, a 50s diner in New Iberia with delicious diner dishes!

10-24-09 Kristy Rose, Dianne de Las Casas, Gail Garcia & Eliana

10-24-09 Kristy Rose, Dianne de Las Casas, Gail Garcia & Eliana

Before we left the grounds, Eliana said I had to take a picture of the graveyard. And what is that spooky orb in the picture? A ghost? Who knows…

10-24-09 The Graveyard at Shadows on the Teche Plantation

10-24-09 The Graveyard at Shadows on the Teche Plantation

Eliana and I loved our brief but fun visit to New Iberia. Afterwards, I had to head back to New Orleans to catch a 6:15am flight to Chicago. Thank you to Gail, Kristy, Cheryl, Acadiana Lifestyles magazine, and everyone who came to Terror on the Teche. Have a spooktacular Halloween!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Sneak Peek of Mama’s Bayou; Saturday, October 24, 2009

by dlcasas on October 25, 2009

10-24-09 Nearly finished artwork for Mama's Bayou book

10-24-09 Nearly finished artwork for Mama's Bayou book

Friends:

I had the pleasure of visiting my friend, Holly Stone-Barker, and her family in Zachary, Louisiana. Holly is the illustrator for my next book, Mama’s Bayou, which will be out in Spring 2010. First, we had lunch at Sammy’s, a restaurant in Zachary. Eliana and I ate with Holly, her children: Stephen and Ella, her sister: Heather, and her mom. Lunch was delicious!

10-24-09 Stephen, Eliana and Ella

10-24-09 Stephen, Eliana and Ella

I love Holly’s family. They are so much fun. We shopped at a little boutique called Persnickety, where I found my favorite Tyler candles and a gorgeous new apron for Eliana. Afterwards, Eliana and I went to Holly’s house for a tour of her studio in the converted attic. A wonderful space! Here’s a picture of me and Holly.

10-24-09 Dianne de Las Casas and Holly Stone-Barker

10-24-09 Dianne de Las Casas and Holly Stone-Barker

Our picture book, Mama’s Bayou, published by Pelican Publishing will be out in Spring 2010. Holly works in cut paper and collage and the illustrations are stunning. Although the final artwork was not yet finished, Holly gave me a sneak peek. OMG! Look at these snakes! Each of the scales are individually cut out.

10-24-09 Snakes in Mama's Bayou

10-24-09 Snakes in Mama's Bayou

Breathtaking is the word the comes to mind. Here is a picture of the crawfish in the book.

10-24-09 Crawish in Mama's Bayou

10-24-09 Crawish in Mama's Bayou

Check out this cool catfish! Wow!

10-24-09 Catfish in Mama's Bayou

10-24-09 Catfish in Mama's Bayou

The book, a tribute to the symphony of sounds in the bayou, highlights a number of bayou mamas and their babies as well as the vegetation of the swamp. Here is a “symphony” page.

10-24-09 Symphony page in Mama's Bayou

10-24-09 Symphony page in Mama's Bayou

I am so lucky to be able to work with Holly. Mama’s Bayou is going to be a stunning book and I can’t wait for you to see it! Before Eliana and I left to tell stories at Terror on the Teche in New Iberia, we had to take a picture in front of Holly’s cool Jack-O-Goblin.

10-24-09 Dianne and Eliana in Holly's house

10-24-09 Dianne and Eliana in Holly's house

Thank you, Holly, for the lovely tour of your studio and the sneak peek at the art for Mama’s Bayou. We are all excited about the book and your phenomenal artwork!!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Monster Mash at West Baton Rouge Parish Library; Friday, October 23, 2009

by dlcasas on October 23, 2009

10-23-09 Diva Witch Dianne & Judy Boyce as Max from Where the Wild Things Are

10-23-09 Diva Witch Dianne & Judy Boyce as Max from Where the Wild Things Are

Friends:

Tonight, I had a spooktacular time at the West Baton Rouge Parish Library. Eliana, my 9 year old daughter accompanied me. She’s such an adorable little witch!

10-23-09 Eliana the Adorable Witch

10-23-09 Eliana the Adorable Witch

The Monster Mash is an annual tradition at the West Baton Rouge Parish Library. Judy Boyce, the Youth Services Coordinator, asked me to participate this year. The Halloween festivities start at the West Baton Rouge Museum with a trick or treat. Then the trick or treaters, following the fire truck, parade to the library a few blocks away.

10-23-09 The Grand Monster Mash Parade

10-23-09 The Grand Monster Mash Parade

Eliana and I rode in the library van. Originally, we were supposed to ride in a convertible but the weather was too chilly. One of the firemen took a picture with me. I only knew him as “Big Daddy” because that’s what was on his t-shirt. LOL

10-23-09 Dianne & Big Daddy Fireman

10-23-09 Dianne & Big Daddy Fireman

After the parade, everyone went into the library for a cozy spooky storytelling session. It was so much fun.

10-23-09 Telling a spooky story

10-23-09 Telling a spooky story

I even had the children participate with me, dancing and shaking dem bones! A special thank you to Eliana, who took all the performance pictures.

10-23-09 Dianne & kids shaking dem bones

10-23-09 Dianne & kids shaking dem bones

It was a terror-ific time and I loved spooking in the stacks… Thank you to West Baton Rouge Parish Library — Beth, Judy and Jim. You guys rock! And thank you to all the trick or treaters who came to the event. It was monstrously marvelous!

10-23-09 Dianne the Diva Witch

10-23-09 Dianne the Diva Witch

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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The Louisiana Book Festival; Saturday, October 17, 2009

by dlcasas on October 20, 2009

10-17-09 LA Book Festival - "Float like a ghost down low...."

Friends:

What a whirlwind week it has been! I returned from California at 1am on Saturday morning and performed at the Louisiana Book Festival in Baton Rouge at 2pm. First, I performed in the Storytelling Tent, telling The Cajun Cornbread Boy, singing “Shake Dem Bones,” an original song, and telling “The House That Witchy Built,” an original story. I had a great crowd. Both children and grownups alike participated in the show! :)

10-17-09 LA Book Festival - Even dads participate!

10-17-09 LA Book Festival - Even dads participate!

I got to see old friends and even make new ones!

10-17-09 LA Book Festival - Dianne with a fan

10-17-09 LA Book Festival - Dianne with a fan

After my show, I signed books in the Barnes & Noble Jr. tent. It was nonstop busy. Several fans and friends bought my books. Yay!

10-17-09 LA Book Festival - Dianne signing books in the Barnes & Noble Jr. tent

10-17-09 LA Book Festival - Dianne signing books in the Barnes & Noble Jr. tent

My oldest daughter, Soleil, goes to LSU in Baton Rouge so she spent the day with us! Eliana was so excited to see her big sister again…

10-17-09 LA Book Festival - Eliana & Soleil

10-17-09 LA Book Festival - Eliana & Soleil

One of my dearest fans, Aly Guidry, who is now a beautiful 12 year old young lady, came to see me perform and even had the courage to wear Madame Poulet on her head. You rock, Aly!! I <3 U, girl!

10-17-09 LA Book Festival - Aly and Dianne

10-17-09 LA Book Festival - Aly and Dianne

After signing in the B&N tent, it was time to sign at the Pelican Publishing Table in another tent. Again, it was busy and VERY windy. The wind knocked down one of the poles that held up the tent. The tent did NOT collapse but it was a scary moment!

10-17-09 LA Book Festival - Dianne signing books at the Pelican Publishing table

10-17-09 LA Book Festival - Dianne signing books at the Pelican Publishing table

I can’t believe how quickly time passed. After my last signing, it was time to go… but not before taking a picture of Wonder Woman!!

10-17-09 LA Book Festival - Eliana is Wonder Woman!

10-17-09 LA Book Festival - Eliana is Wonder Woman!

The book festival was a blast. I look forward to next year!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Visiting Lemoore, CA; Thursday, October 15, 2009

by dlcasas on October 20, 2009

0-15-09 The Hanford Sentinel newspaper box advertises article about Dianne de Las Casas & Karleen Good

0-15-09 The Hanford Sentinel newspaper box advertises article about Dianne de Las Casas & Karleen Good

Friends:

On Thursday, I spent one more day in Lemoore, California, visiting friends. First, it was lunch with Robert Goddard, my Akers classmate and Lemoore High School classmate. I met Robert at Reyna’s, a Mexican restaurant that serves delicious food, located in downtown Lemoore. It was an opportunity for us to catch up and for me to sign books for his children, Sierra and Jack.

10-15-09 Dianne de Las Casas & Robert Goddard had a farewell lunch

10-15-09 Dianne de Las Casas & Robert Goddard had a farewell lunch

After lunch, I went to Lemoore High School and saw my high school counselor, Wey Wyrick, who still works there! Ms. Wyrick has been at LHS for 40 years!! She wrote the nicest scholarship letter of recommendation for me and it meant so much to me that I kept it after all these years.

0-15-09 Wey Wyrick, High School Counselor, & Dianne de Las Casas

0-15-09 Wey Wyrick, High School Counselor, & Dianne de Las Casas

Ms. Wyrick took me on a tour of LHS. Some parts of the campus remain the same, some have drastically changed. You know what hasn’t changed? My high school history, teacher, Mr. Nunez! I had a very lovely visit with him after school. Mr. Nunez has been at LHS for 47 years! Simply astounding. He was one of my favorite teachers in high school. I learned so much from him and he really emphasized the importance of writing and writing well.

10-15-09 Dianne de Las Casas & Anthony Nunez, History Teacher

10-15-09 Dianne de Las Casas & Anthony Nunez, History Teacher

After visiting LHS, I had to see Mrs. Good one more time before leaving Lemoore. After all, I don’t get to Lemoore that often!! We had a wonderful chat yet again and then it was time for me to leave…

But before I close out this blog post, check out this picture. Wey Wyrick, my high school counselor, had a photo of me in a collage of senior picture photos framed on the wall. When I discovered my picture, I felt like I had been inducted into the Hall of Fame!! :) So here is my 18 year old self… beautiful, young, and ready for the world… (with 80s hair!) LOL

10-15-09 Dianne's high school senior picture on Wey Wyrick's wall

10-15-09 Dianne's high school senior picture on Wey Wyrick's wall

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Akers Elementary Visit, NAS Lemoore, CA; Wednesday, October 14, 2009

by dlcasas on October 20, 2009

10-14-09 Akers Elementary

10-14-09 Akers Elementary

Friends:

I am so excited to tell you about my visit to this school. Akers Elementary is the school where I attended junior high – 7th and 8th grades. It is here that I had class with my favorite teacher of all time, Karleen Good, my junior high language arts teacher.

10-13-09 Mrs. Karleen Good & Dianne de Las Casas

10-13-09 Mrs. Karleen Good & Dianne de Las Casas

The visit was arranged by Peggie Anderson, Akers’ librarian and a wonderfully sweet woman who ensured my visit was nothing short of perfection. I was first taken to the cafeteria, where I spotted this cool sign on the front of the stage, made by the fourth graders. Wow!

10-14-09 Welcome Sign in front of stage in Cafetorium

10-14-09 Welcome Sign in front of stage in Cafetorium

I was introduced to Mike Sweeney, the principal, who welcomed me to Akers. It was surreal, being there for the first time since I graduated from the school nearly 26 years ago! The cafeteria had not changed – the smell nearly took my breath away, not because it was a bad smell, but because it sent me backwards in time to my 7th grade self!

Dianne de Las Casas in Junior High

Dianne de Las Casas in Junior High

There were signs all over the school, welcoming me. This one is for book orders.

10-14-09 Book Order Sign

10-14-09 Book Order Sign

Then there was the GINORMOUS sign in the library – it was once hanging outside but it had to be moved because of the wet weather.

10-14-09 Dianne in front of HUGE sign in the library

10-14-09 Dianne in front of HUGE sign in the library

I did several assemblies for PK through 8 grades. It felt so good, being able to come back and share with the students who were sitting in the very seats I once sat in! The special quality about Akers is that all the students are military dependents. They are the children of a parent or parents who serve in the armed forces. My father was in the Navy and NAS Lemoore, where Akers is located, is the largest Naval base in the United States.

10-14-09 Performing for 6-8th grades

10-14-09 Performing for 6-8th grades

Earlier that morning, I woke up hoarse and in a panic. How could I lose my voice on such an important day?! Not only was I visiting my alma mater, I was also dedicating my book Scared Silly: 25 Tales to Tickle and Thrill to my junior high English teacher, Mrs. Good. Fortunately, I was able to get through my shows and the students really enjoyed themselves.

10-14-09 The lower grades watch Dianne perform

10-14-09 The lower grades watch Dianne perform

For lunch, I was treated to a potluck. All the teachers took the time to make the most delicious dishes… There was even a welcome greeting in the Teacher’s Lounge for me!! How cool is that? (I’d never been allowed in the Akers Teachers Lounge before… LOL) I felt so special (and FULL)!

10-14-09 Welcome Sign in the Teacher's Lounge

10-14-09 Welcome Sign in the Teacher's Lounge

I even had a special visitor. Robert Goddard is a friend and a former classmate. We went to junior high and high school together and Robert thinks the world of Mrs. Good. He still lives in Lemoore and now has children of his own. Funny how Time grows us all up…

10-14-09 Robert Goddard, an Akers classmate, watches my last show

10-14-09 Robert Goddard, an Akers classmate, watches my last show

I even got to visit with some 4th grade classes. Such great kids with astute questions! A very special thank you to all the 4th graders for the lovely signs, especially the one in the cafeteria and the cool GINORMOUS handprint sign in the library. You guys rock!

After my assemblies were over, I headed back to my hotel to freshen up. Akers held a very special dinner, serving chicken in honor of Madame Poulet and cornbread in honor of the Cajun Cornbread Boy. But this dinner was really about honoring Mrs. Good and dedicating my book to her. I did a short slide show and then told a couple of stories. Afterwards, I signed books. Unfortunately, in the excitement of the evening, I forgot to have someone take pictures of this auspicious event. But here is a photo of the incredible newspaper article that appeared in the local paper, The Sentinel.

10-14-09 Newspaper article in The Sentinel

10-14-09 Newspaper article in The Sentinel

I did get a picture with one of my adorable fans from Akers, Conrad. What a cutie! I also met some of the wonderful parents of the Akers students. Thank you so much for your support!

10-14-09 Conrad & Dianne at the Akers Dinner honoring Mrs. Good

10-14-09 Conrad & Dianne at the Akers Dinner honoring Mrs. Good

Akers was absolutely amazing. Thank you so much to Peggie Anderson, Karleen Good, Mike Sweeney, the teachers, the office staff, the cafeteria staff, and the students of Akers Elementary. It was a phenomenal visit – definitely a high in my career as an author! I hope to return again!!

10-14-09 Signs in the Library

10-14-09 Signs in the Library

Here’s to you, Karleen Good, for being such a life-changing woman, for caring enough to dedicate thirty years of your life to teaching. You planted a seed. It grew. It blossomed. Enjoy its fruit!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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