PHUN IN PHILLY!

Did you miss me?  I've been off having delightful adventures in Philadelphia.

Here are some phun Philly photos . . .

Our nephew's prom coincided with my sister's birthday.  Happy to be there for both occasions!

Ellen and Kyle

 Kyle's date, Marissa, was lovely . . .

I also had the great pleasure of visiting with my 10th grade English teacher, Myra Durlofsky.  We've kept in touch for over 30 years.  I so loved her that I made her a character in one of my novels.  Here she is . . .

Myra Durlofsky

Our family summer party took place during our visit.  Lots of laughing and swimming and baby cuddling and, of course, eating . . .

I had so much fun visiting with family and friends.  There were graduations.  There were celebrations.  There were wild Wii championships.  It was fantastic.

Then I had the great pleasure of spending a few days with my niece in the city.

Here she is on the steps of her new apartment . . .

Nicole

She cooked great meals and was an excellent tour guide.  The first evening, we watched the sun set over the Schuylkill River, then saw the public art displays behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Donna and Nicole

 We hiked all over the city . . .

City Hall and the Love Statue

And visited LOTS of bookstores.

Bookstore cat getting cozy on a display of new books

One of my favorite parts was spending time in the library on Vine Street.  (Not the first library in the country, which was created by Benjamin Franklin, but the first library system in the country.)

Inside the Free Library of Philadelphia

Of course, we had to visit the children's department.

Along the walls were framed posters for Children's Book Week.  Here's one of my favorites . . .

This one is from 1964

I was marveling at the collection when I recognized one of the librarians.

"Did you use to work at the Northeast Regional Library?" I asked.

"Yes," she said.

She's been in the system for 37 years (19 of which were at my childhood library, that I loved so much).

Donna and Irene R. Wright, Head, Children's Department

I told her how much that library and the people who worked there meant to me.  I told her that I became an author of children's books for Random House.

When I handed her a card, she said, "We have your books!"

And indeed they did . . .

Not all the places I saw were filled with joy.  When we drove past the Mutter Museum, one of the settings in my new book, I saw something that made me gasp -- the rubble of the building at 22nd and Market Street that collapsed recently, killing six people.

There were flowers and memorials placed along the side

Despite the sadness of this, it was good to spend time in my home city.  And wonderful to spend time with family and friends.

ENTER THE BIG GIVEAWAY!

We're celebrating OLIVIA BEAN, TRIVIA QUEEN'S paperback release this week by GIVING!

Today, we're giving away not one, not two, but THREE prize packages!

There will be signed bookmarks

There will be autographed books

There will be cash to buy books!!!

But first . . .

A big THANK YOU to everyone who participated in our last blog post and voted for which children's literacy organization should receive a $200 donation.

Your kind comments and generosity inspired me!

Kimmy T is sending boxes of new, award-winning books to my childhood library -- The Northeast Regional Library.

Thank you, Kimmy T!

Imagine my purple banana seat bicycle with the basket for books parked in front.

S.R., a teacher at a Title I school, matched my donation!  Thank you, S.R.!!!

Paul Grecian, photographer and friend, added $25 to the total.  Thanks, Paul!

That means the organization with the most votes will receive $425.00!!!

* Drum-roll, please. *

After totaling votes from blog comments, we had a tie.  Fortunately, one person wasn't able to post a comment and sent her vote via e-mail, which broke the tie.

So, the recipient of the $425 donation will be . . .

FIRST BOOK!!!

Their programs provide access to new books for children in need.

Now, onto the BIG GIVEAWAY . . .

THREE prize packages will be given away!

Each prize package consists of:

• 3 signed copies of OLIVIA BEAN, TRIVIA QUEEN
• 30 signed bookmarks
• $30 to spend at the bookstore of your choice 

To enter this random drawing, tell 3 friends about the giveaway and leave a comment below.

That's it!

Winners will be announced on the blog Tuesday, March 26th, after I get back from a week of school visits in Fort Worth, Texas.

What are you waiting for?

• Share this opportunity with 3 friends!
• Leave a comment.
• Check back March 26th to see if you've won. 

OLIVIA BEAN, TRIVIA QUEEN BIG BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!

Join the celebration as OLIVIA BEAN, TRIVIA QUEEN comes out in paperback!

Available at your local bookseller and online.

We're celebrating all week by GIVING!!!

Growing up, my favorite book was . . .

I never owned a copy until I was an adult, because we couldn't afford to buy books when I was a kid.  I'd borrow it from the Northeast Regional Library of Philadelphia again and again.

That's why I'm so excited that OLIVIA BEAN, TRIVIA QUEEN is now available in paperback!  It means this fun story of a determined girl to accept her family and reach her dream against all odds will get into more young hands.

If you're thinking of buying a copy, won't you consider donating it to a young reader, a local elementary or middle school, a public library, a children's hospital or a children's literacy organization?

If you want to make a bigger impact, how about providing a copy for every 4th, 5th or 6th grade student at a Title I school?  (Bonus good karma if you support your local indie bookseller with your purchase.)

Image from:  childrens-books.lovetoknow.com

Thank you in advance for your support!

Now, it's my turn to GIVE!

Because I'm passionate about opportunities to get kids reading, I will donate $200.00 to a children's literacy-based organization.   

YOU will choose which one gets the cash . . .

1.  RIF -- Reading is Fundamental.  RIF's highest priority is reaching under-served children from birth to age 8.

2.  FIRST BOOK -- Their programs provide access to new books for children in need.

3.  REACH OUT AND READ --  Promotes early literacy through books given out by thousands of pediatricians in all 50 states.

4.  IF I CAN READ, I CAN DO ANYTHING --  A national reading club for Native American children.

5.  THE READING CONNECTION -- Dedicated to improving the lives of at-risk children and families by helping them create literacy-rich environments and motivation for reading. 

6.  KIDS NEED TO READ -- Provides inspiring books to underfunded schools, libraries, and literacy programs across the United States, especially those serving disadvantaged children.

PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE for one of these six organizations in the comments section.  (The organization with the most votes will get the $200.00.)

And drop by Friday, when a BIG GIVEAWAY will be announced!!!

Amazing Addendum:  Within an hour of this blog post, an educator from a Title I school in Orlando, who understands firsthand how important it is to get books into kids' hands, decided to match the $200 donation to one of these six organizations.  So vote, people.  Vote!  (Thank you S.R. for your generosity.  You inspire me . . . and made me cry a little.)

Why I Write for Children . . .

When I was a kid, my parents divorced.  My mom worked full-time.  My sisters were older and mostly out of the house.  Friends were scarce. 

I spent a lot of time here . . .

The Northeast Regional Library in Philadelphia.  (The children's department was in the basement.)

I made friends with Mr. Popper and his penguins.  I enjoyed the adventures of Ben Franklin and his trusty mouse, Amos, in Ben and Me by Robert Lawson.  But it was Wanda Petronski in Eleanor Estes' The Hundred Dresses that made me feel understood.  Less alone.  Like I had a friend.  Wanda was broke.  She didn't have a lot of clothes.  Or friends.  But she was imaginative and creative.  She was like me.  I was like her.

I hope the books I write help young readers feel less alone.  More understood.  Provide a few hours or days or a lifetime of literary friendship.

That's why it's such a delight when I open my P.O. box and find (not mail for the previous owner) but a letter from a young reader or a large envelope of letters from students at a school, which is what happened last week.

Here are some gems from 7th grade students in Illinois who read How to Survive Middle School:

"I would like you to write about in your next book, maybe about a boy that is having girl problems and doesn't know how to deal with them.  I would want it to be a comedy."  (Idea noted!)

"I really enjoyed this book.  I hope you make a squeal to this."   (How sweet is this misspelling?)

"It was one of the few books I could read, and not bore me.  The only bad part was how many characters there where.  If you fixed that then this book would be perfect.  I guest that nothing is perfect."  (My future editor.)

"I did not really connect to any of the characters."  (Love the honesty.  The young reader went on to tell me all the reasons he enjoyed the book.)

This letter from Emily, had me tearing up . . . 

"I relate to David because, just like him, I got bullied.  After Tommy gave him a "birthday gift," he said "Even though I could turn on my computer and read dozens of fan messages from people all over the world, I feel more alone than ever."  To me, that was the saddest part of the book, but the most relatable because when I was bullied, it seemed like I was all alone, and no one cared or understood what was going on.  I felt like no one knew how to help.  After I read that part of the book, I realized there is someone who is feeling the same way, and someone who was hurt just as bad as I was.  I learned not to give up hope."  

Thank you for your letter, Emily.  It's why I write for children.