PARP Night in Lindenhurst, NY...Reading is our superpower!

READING IS OUR SUPERPOWER!!!

                 Sharing my love for reading and writing with the students at                      Harding Avenue Elementary School, Lindenhurst, LI, NY. 

PARP book reading and signing at Timber Point Elementary School, East Islip on 2/1/17

 

Lou Fancher and Steve Johnson - Talented Illustrators

Blue Marlin Publications, 2013, illustrators, Lou Fancher and Steve Johnson

I recently attended a luncheon at the Children's Book Council, at which I enjoyed listening to Sarah Harrison Smith, children's book editor at the New York Times, discuss what interests her the most when considering which children's books to review. Ilustrations. "So often, I want to know more about the illustrations, how they were done, the media used, etc. I'd really like to learn more about that process." Of course! That makes so much sense. 

So I asked Lou Fancher and Steve Johnson, our illustrators of Sofia's Stoop Story, to comment on their unique style for this book, and here is what they said: "The illustrations are collage, acrylic paint, and ink on paper. Photos, patterns, and text are manipulated in photoshop, printed out, and collaged onto a rough sketch. Multiple layers of acrylic paint and ink are then applied. Probably, the most unique part is that we both work on each painting. Most people who work as teams divide the work, but we pass the paintings back and forth, working in layers."

I've pasted an illustration here. You can see the multiple layers of recipes, tickets to baseball games, and newspaper clippings. Each illustration tells its own story. Awesome, right?

Rachael Ray Show - Holiday Fashion...I modeled holiday fashion on the Rachael Ray Show. It aired yesterday, 11/28/16. If anyone is interested in purchasing a signed, personalized copy of Sofia's Stoop Story: 18th Street, Brooklyn, email me at mariaread@optonline.net.

Rachael Ray Show...I modeled holiday fashion on the Rachael Ray Show.  It aired yesterday, 11/28/16.  If anyone is interested in purchasing a signed, personalized copy of Sofia's Stoop Story: 18th Street, Brooklyn, email me at mariaread@optonline.net.

Free

So sorry I haven't posted in a while.  Have been so busy with...well, everything!  If you would like to have your class Skype with me, please send me a message.  Also, if your school is on Long Island or in Brooklyn and would like to have a FREE presentations, just let me know.  Also, check out my free "Close Reading" lesson on the Teachers Pay Teachers site.  :)

Cherry Lane Elementary School, Carle Place

Just came home from a book signing at Cherry Lane Elementary School in Carle Place, LI.  I met so many wonderful children, parents, teachers, a great principal....and a very helpful custodian!  Hope to visit them again someday soon.

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR NIGHT AT HARDING AVENUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 5/8/15

           Here are a few photographs from Author/Illustrator Night.  Everyone who attended enjoyed this event...especially the students!  Now they have many wonderful new books to enjoy!  Happy reading!

 

  
                                         

Author/Illustrator Night at West Gates!

On, Thursday, April 20th, I met so many wonderful students at West Gates Elementary School in Lindenhurst.  I enjoyed hearing the students talk about how much they enjoyed listening to my book when their teachers read it to them.  I encouraged them to write each of their family's special stories down.  Maybe someday I will read them in a book!

Weird Al Yankovic!

On, Monday, April 23rd, four of my wonderful students, Mia Hennig, Michaella Jashyn, Cayeigh McEntee, and Abby Johnson, had the unique opportunity to interview Weird Al Yankovic.  He is a remarkable man!  Did you know that he started kindergarten a year early,  skipped 2nd grade, and was valedictorian of his class at the age of 16?  He graduated college with a degree in architecture.  Impressive!!!  His parodies are quite humorous.  My favorite is funny and educational, check out "Word Crimes."

The Voracious Reader in Larchmont

I met some special young readers at The Voracious Reader in Larchmont today.  What a wonderful bookstore with a great selection on children's books and the best, most natural ice cream on the east coast!  A special "thank you" to Francine and Melissa for inviting me as a guest author.  "Thank you" to Chris for telling Francine about Sofia's Stoop Story!  I had a most enjoyable day in a lovely little town.

 

The Galley Bay Resort, Antigua...Paradise found!

If you are looking for a great place to relax and enjoy the water, food, and service....this place is for you.  Only 98 rooms and 230 employees to pamper you.  Galley Bay Resort is paradise!!!