Throwback Author Visit: Nellie Stokes and Simpson Schools

(A series where I look back on memorable school visits from long ago!)

First trip to Delaware for school visits! Although it was a three hour drive, it was an easy I-did-not-get-lost-drive! Yea!

I visited Nellie Stokes and Simpson Schools. Here's the very enthusiastic media specialist at Stokes, Laura Wright, and her adorable kids that she had visit in the afternoon. What cuties!

Laura had everyone dress up in beach clothes and gave everyone leis. Here's the kindergarten class I met with. A fun group of kids! See that chair I'm sitting in? They asked me to sign it. But...I forgot! Sure enough, when I was at Simpson the next day, Laura brought this massive rocker over for me to autograph. (All visiting authors/illustrators are asked to sign it. A cool idea!)

Here's Laura with her principal, Christine Alois. As soon as I met her, I knew Christine was a dynamic principal. Very hands on and very proud of her students and staff. What my dad would call a "mover and a shaker." She was warm and "real" and adored by her staff. Although I only spent the day (and dinner and an evening event) with her, I was thoroughly impressed with her on so many levels. Not surprisingly, the day I left, she was named Delaware's Principal of the Year. Well-deserved. CONGRATS, Christine!

Dover Air Force Base was across the street from my hotel. It seemed like everyone I met was from a military family. Walking through the school, I saw lots of areas like this:

These areas are used for kids who need a mentor in their lives. They meet here and talk several times throughout the year. The connections made are strong and powerful. Many of the mentors throughout the years have been volunteers from the base. However, since September 11th, the teachers have been taking over the mentor roles since many of the former mentors have been called to active duty.

I had the pleasure of meeting Jane Stewart, the media specialist at Simpson. It was a treat to finally meet the person I had been emailing back and forth with for months. When I have a few minutes, it's always fun to look through the library and discover new books. Jane had been working on processing book fair materials so I got to see what was "hot" at the fair. Always a good way to add to my reading list! (Lots of graphic novels and The 39 Steps seemed in demand.)

Look what caught my eye as soon as I stepped into Laura's library:

Staff members pose with their favorite books. Of course they end up being the most circulated books in the library. If I were still in the library, I would "borrow" this fantastic idea.

Here's another idea I'd want to implement in school: all teachers who retire make a stepping stone for the garden. Lovely!

One of my favorite parts of visiting schools is getting to read the letters/cards kids write. Often, it's in conjunction with a contest to have a 20-minute Q&A Dessert Time with me. With permission from Mya, here's her letter (love the comment about my website) that made me smile:

Dear Lisa Mullarkey,
It would be an honor if you would spend twenty minutes with me so we could chat and talk face to face. I have read your fantastic books. Another little thing I would like share with you is that I think you are a very talented person because your books are so wonderful. I have been on your website. It was a very fine piece of grateful work. And the pictures are just magnificent. One of your magnificent pictures that was very sweet to me was Sharkey Mullarkey. It was just so kind of your class to give him to you. And don't get me started on the awesome recipes! We'll I just can't! The Moon Rock Pizza one is so cool. How did you come up with those lovely recipes? Well, that's all I can say in twenty minutes. Thank you for taking the time to read my message/letter. Tick,Tock. Ding Dong Man. Gotta go! READING TIME!!!
Stoke Colt,
Mya

Thanks, Mya! And thanks to all of the students and staff members who made my visit so special. Delaware rocks!

Throwback Author Visit Series

I'm starting a series of great school visits from the past. Today, I'm starting with Hamilton Avenue School in Bridgewater, NJ. This post originated on an older blog. Full disclosure: cutting and pasting here for Author Visit Throwback!

I knew it was going to be a GREAT visit with the first and second graders within seconds of arriving. I had just started setting up when a head poked through the cafeteria divider. "Are you Lisa Mullarkey?" I walked over to the student. "Yep, I am," I said as I put out my hand to shake his. He jumped back in surprise and screamed, "I'm your number one fan!" How sweet! I told him that I needed a picture of my #1 fan so here he is:

Then I saw this nice welcome:

What a cute vignette. All of my books were featured. Very creative! Katharine would love it!

Every school has a vibe. A feel to it. This school could best be described as HIGH ENERGY! They seem like a close staff and a staff that really loves each other and their students.

Here are three amazing ladies who made the day such a success!

That's some speadsheet to keep track of book orders! Since I had over 100 books to sign and the school is close by, I signed them at my house and brought them with me. Becky, the wonderful librarian (on right) is the mother of a former student of mine. I taught her son, Chris, when he was in first grade. I believe he just turned 28! Can that be?? I remember Chris well for two reasons. One: he was taller than me by the end of first grade and Two: he was as enthusiastic about life as the boy in the picture above!

I did two assemblies and then I visited second graders in their rooms. (They doubled up.) I love that extra 20-minutes with them. They get to ask questions, view some goodies I can't share during regular presentations, etc., and sometimes I'm lucky enough to ask them questions and listen to their stories.

I wish I had a picture of the beautiful fancy lunch Becky organized. The library looked like it belonged in House Beautiful! Wow! All first and second grade teachers and related arts staff were invited. It's a nice opportunity to talk to the teachers. Lots of them want to write picture books. Some shared their ideas with me and I don't think it will be too long before I see their books on library shelves.

Look at some of the creative reading tattoos kids designed after reading uses Her Common Cents. I wish I could have taken a picture of all of them:

Thanks so much for inviting me to your school, Becky. Hamilton School rocks! So do you!