"Ms. Pichon, I hope you win a Goldicott!"

"Ms. Pichon, I hope you win a Goldicott!"  

​Those were the words whispered to me as I told some of my first grade students about Maryam!  Their innocence and excitement upon seeing illustrations of her filled me with so much joy! Their exclamations about winning a Caldecott (or "Goldicott" as he called it), saying, "she looks just like my mom's friend," and, "I think she lives in my neighborhood," made me all the more excited for the upcoming book release on the 19th!  

Today, I had the opportunity to share Messages From Maryam with multiple groups of students at St. John the Evangelist School.  This was my first time sharing the full story with any group of students.  I had a wonderful time!  It was fun to see how students connected with Maryam and Aila and the ways in which they were able to empathize with these girls whose lives were much different than their own.   

As a first-time author, I have learned a lot about the publishing process.  One of the most joyous parts has been being able to share my writing with children and other groups of people.  One of the most challenging parts was the layout and design of the book.  While the book will be available via our publisher on December 19th, there is a possibility that there will be a slight delay in making it available on Amazon.  Check this page on the 19th for more information and for a link to buy Messages From Maryam.    

Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm for our book.  I can't wait to reveal the final product!  

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