Thanks North Oxford Baptist Creative Learning Center!

I spent the morning with the silly, giggly children at North Oxford Baptist Creative Learning Center. Here are a few of their "happy faces!"


One of the best things about publishing children's books is hearing parents say, "This is the first book my child's ever read!" or "She can read it all by herself!" or "We have to read this every night before bed." I'm truly honored to play even a tiny part in sparking a child's love of books. This little man is only three years old, but he read the entire book to us all by himself. I was so proud of him!

Thank you to the bright-eyed children at North Oxford Baptist for giving me a morning full of fun. Even the one-year-olds sat still and attentive through both books --- I was super impressed!

Barnes and Noble Signing

This weekend, I experienced my first Barnes&Noble event. It all started on Friday, March 27, when the Pre-K class from Tupelo Christian Preparatory School came on a field trip to hear me read the books at the store. They had plenty of wild animal stories to share -- as well as tons of LOUD roars. Thank you, Ponies!

My daughter, Emily, joined me on the adventure, snapping photos and hiding behind shelves to avoid any attention from the crowds. At one point, a child spotted her and shouted, "There she is! I see her!" The whole class was trying to sneak a peek at the famous photographer, who quickly hid behind the stacks. She's struggling to adapt to her newfound fame!



BIG thanks to Community Relations Manager, Allyson Barnes, who treated Emily and me like royalty. She gave us a behind-the-scenes tour of the store, sharing the ins and outs of corporate bookstore operations. We learned about receiving and shipping, counting and shelving, and the best secret of all --- the Barnes&Noble cafe. We were treated to a yummy chocolate chip Frappuccino, and now we're hooked!

The next day, Saturday, March 28, we returned for 1:00 storytime. I arrived a bit early to sign some books, then read to a small gathering of young families, and stayed to sign for another hour or so before heading out around 3 pm. The signing went well, and I was excited to meet tons of colorful characters who stopped to chat - many of whom purchased books, too...thankfully. The photo below shows some of my most talkative visitors who insisted they were Huge Fans! (wow!) All in all, we had a fabulous adventure and a fun launch into the world of corporate signings. Thanks Tupelo!

Thanks to First Baptist Church Preschool

My daughter and I had the luck o' the Irish on St. Patrick's Day! She volunteered to be my photographer as I read to the children of First Baptist Church Preschool in Oxford, MS.

This photo shows the four-year-olds all decked out in green as they shared their favorite happy thoughts: playing with Daddy and snuggling with Mama.









The super sweet two-year old class showed us all how it looks when we're HAPPY!







And the four-year-olds flexed their muscles to show how it looks to be strong.



Thanks First Baptist! We enjoyed spending the morning with you all.

Thank you for the smiles, Discovery Day!

I was very excited to join the spirited preschool children at Discovery Day School in the Oxford University United Methodist Church on Wednesday, March 11. Here I am with two classes - roaring like lions!

Of course, they don't always act like lions. Sometimes, they're just sweet, cuddly little lambs. They taught me tons of new happy thoughts to keep away the scary dreams: Riding bikes without swallowing bugs; not falling out of a tree when you sleep; and letting your pet pterodactyl drive your monster trucks. Not bad for an on-the-spot assignment. Gotta love kids' imaginations.

BIG Thanks to all of you who came out for my very first book signing. The fun event was hosted by Peas & Carrots, a fabulous children's boutique in Oxford, Ms.

I was shocked to look up at one point to see the line stretched out the door! I'm thrilled to report we sold more than 100 books in an hour!

Of course my favorite part of this whole adventure is interacting with the children. They never fail to deliver smiles - like the little boy who told me his daddy was smarter than his mama. (Yikes!)

I am truly humbled and extremely appreciative of the support I've received from this amazing community. I hope your families can enjoy snuggles and stories with these little books for years to come.