November 2011

What a great day it was at Te Anau's 21st Birthday party. Lots of people in fancy dress. (Have you noticed how nearly every children's librarian is slightly MAD about fancy dress parties?) There was a clown and me, too. But the highlight for me was the Duck's Stuck! birthday cake. Delicious! 

September 2010

School Visits in the USA

Here are some photos of my trip to the USA in September and October. I visited about 40 schools and did over 150 talks. Some of the schools were very big. Sometimes I had to talk to 600 kids! No wonder I nearly lost my voice! I went to so many schools I've forgotten which photos were taken where. So if you recognise yourself or your school, let me know and I'll add it! If you have any photos from my visit, I'd love to see them too.

These are some of the great kids at the first school I visited near Salisbury. They made a fantastic poster with Andy covered in kisses and had a row of fluffy animals making the tug'o'war scene from Duck's Stuck!

The kids at Minot Lewis & Clark Elementary in Minot sent me an email too. "Thank you for Reading to us. I liked Kiss, Kiss, yuck, yuck. My mom is the same way." Preston (grade 3)
"I love Kiss Kiss Yuck Yuck cause that kid is in a situation with his aunt. I love the book!" Gabbi (grade 5)
"I love your accent, and how you told us about your life. I likded how you read your books. You are full of humor." Lakota (grade 5)
"I Love your book, Kiss, Kiss Yuck, Yuck! You are hilarious! Your accent is cool! I think it's cool that you live in New Zealand. Your house is really cool, and you have very funny jokes. Thanks for coming to our school!" Kali (grade 5)
"I like all of your books they are very funny, especially Kiss, Kiss, yuck, Yuck. Awesome presentation." Megan (grade 5)
"I loved your book Kiss, Kiss, Yuck, Yuck it is very funny. I had a lot of fun listening to it. Thank you for coming to our school, because I know you had a lot of choices. I hope to read one of your other books real soon." Brody (grade 5)
"Thank you for coming to Lewis & Clark. I love Kiss, Kiss, Yuck, Yuck. You could write a book about a beaver in my bathtub." Alex (grade 4)
"Thank you for reading to us! Do you remember my Grandmother? Her name is Paulette. I like Kiss, kiss, yuck, yuck it's my favorite book!" Keegan (grade 3)

At one school all the kids turned up with big lips stuck on their mouths! That was funny

I got some amazing letters and drawings from the kids at Central Elementary in Wahpeton the other day. Some of them are SO funny! And I loved the drawings! I wish I could draw. Their teacher Laurie Stiller made a special Aussie Kangaroo Kiss Kiss card for me as well.

Some teachers wrote to me as well. I love getting emails, especially nice ones like these!

St Johns School in Wahpeton

1st grade teacher: He did a fantastic job connecting with his audience, giving them ideas or signs of what might help them be writers and gave a great sample of his work. There was much talk about him and his presentation in the classroom afterwards.

Music teacher: I thought he was very engaging. He kept the kids' attention and made being an author seem to be a real profession!

Kindergarten teacher: My children had a delightful time listening to Kyle's stories--I think they could have stayed there, all afternoon. He has this wonderful voice, and his accent kept them enchanted.

4th grade teacher: I loved the author and went out and bought the book he suggested!

6th grade teacher: He was energetic and fun to listen to. He made the kids laugh. He motivates everyone to be a writer...even a student who didn't behave well in school. Although, like all jobs, one has to keep trying and trying until you get it right

I also attended the ND Librarians' Conference in Grand Forks and received my Flicker Tale award for Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck! I met lots of lovely librarians and also award-winning author Sheila Solomon Klass. This is me with Linda Austin who organised my whole ND trip!

Century Elementary School, Grand Forks ND We were so grateful that Kyle was willing to come and work with students at Century Elementary School. Both staff and students enjoyed his presentations. His slide show and sense of humor were a treat for all of us! Just the other day I had a little girl stop me in the hallway after school and say, "Kiss, kiss! Yuck, yuck!" Then she gave me a great big hug. It's wonderful when books elicit that response from children!

Central Elementary, Bismarck ND We really enjoyed hearing Kyle's presentation. He was hilarious with the kids. They were totally into him! I teach Title 1 Reading to 1st & 2nd graders here and after Kyle's visit, I had all my 1st grade students draw and color what they thought his pirate ship looked like and I hung them out in the hall for all to enjoy. They were a hit.

Thanks for opening up their imagination!!!!!!!!!!!