The Summer Season and September Signings

It seems like just yesterday when I last updated this blog!  It's hard to believe I let over two months slip by without an update.  The end of school came and went with all the usual stresses, celebrations, and everything in between.  

Messages From Maryam definitely granted Kendra and I some celebrations at the end of the school year!  Kendra was featured in two different publications, Crossroads, a publication of Eastern Mennonite University, and Today Magazine, a publication of Hesston College, for her illustrations of Messages From Maryam.  You can check out the Today Magazine article by clicking here: www.hesston.edu/hesstoncollegetoday/article/sharing-timely-message/, and the Crossroads article by clicking here to view pages 37 and 41:  issuu.com/easternmennoniteuniversity/docs/crossroads_spring-summer_2017_issuu.  I am so excited to see Kendra receiving some much-deserved spotlight for all of her hard work.     

A few days ago, I got back from the home of the Giant Tortoises- the Galapagos Islands!  I feel so fortunate to have seen this delicate ecosystem in person.  Where else in the world can you visit the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center, hike to a volcano, go on a speed boat ride, and get the worst sunburn of your life all in one day?  The flora and fauna were unbeatable, but sharing the experience with my fellow educators made it all the more unique.  If any educators who are reading this blog are looking for an affordable way to travel the world, check out all the trips that GEEO has to offer( www.geeo.org).  You can be sure that there will be some island influence in future books!   

Since returning home, I have been continuing to work on the Messages From Maryam unit study.  I am planning on releasing this in mid August in preparation for the school year.  Kendra and I have also been working with Harvey Yoder (harvyoder.blogspot.com/2017/06/childrens-book-highlights-hardships-of.html) to plan for the Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale in September (vareliefsale.com).  We are looking forward to being a part of this event by running a children's activity, selling, and signing our book!  We will be donating the profits of our book sales from this event to Mennonite Central Committee for their work with refugees 

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Kendra describes her illustration process for interviewers and photographers.  PC: http://emu.edu/now/news/2017/06/art-teacher-illustrates-book-young-refugees-friendship-adaptation-new-life/