A Conversation with Young Writers

One of my favorite parts about school author visits is that I get to meet young readers and encourage young writers. Sometimes a "school visit" begins as an email Q & A with students. Other times, an in-person visit is the launching-off point for an ongoing conversation. Here is a sampling from a recent email exchange I had with an English Language Development teacher and some of her students (I've removed names to maintain privacy):

Hello Dawn: I have some students who would like to share some comments about their favorite parts of your books.

Image Credit: Abdo Publishing Group

"N' liked THE BEST DAY IN ROOM A

"I LIKED THE PART IN THE MIDDLE WHEN THE WERE KIDS BOUNCING BALLS." 

Thank you so much for your nice note. I like the bouncing balls page in the THE BEST DAY IN ROOM A, too! I like playing "I Spy" to find all of the balls on that page.

"A" liked FAMOUS FENTON...

Image Credit: Abdo Publishing Group

"I  LIKED THE PART AT THE START ABOUT THE GOATS IN A BOAT."

I'm glad you liked the goats in a boat page in FAMOUS FENTON HAS A FARM. That book has some tricky tongue twisters! Try reading it as fast as you can and watch your tongue get tangled!

Image Credit: Abdo Publishing Group

"K" liked THE BIG BLUE BOWL

"I LIKED THE PART WHEN THE CHICKEN PUTS FOOD IN THE BOWL."

Did you notice that the illustration on the cover of THE BIG BLUE BOWL is the same illustration that's on the page of the book where the hen is putting corn in the bowl? For each book, my editor chose an illustration she liked best, then she put that illustration on the cover of the book.

"R" liked SEE THE COLOR

Image Credit: Abdo Publishing Group

"I LIKED THE PART IN THE MIDDLE WHEN THE YELLOW ROSE."

I'm so glad you liked SEE THE COLORS. That story started as a song to my daughter back when she was a baby. She's 14 now! Did you know you could "sing" that story to the tune of "Oh My Darlin' Clementine?" Try it out! (Let your teachers know that this web page has lots of activity ideas to go along with this book).

Image Credit: Abdo Publishing Group

"J" liked THE NEST WHERE  I LIKE BEST

I LIKED THE PART WHERE THE EGGS HATCHED AND THE CHICKS WERE CUTE."

I agree that the chicks in THE NEST WHERE I LIKE TO REST are really cute . . . the only problem is that they don't look very tired, so poor Mama hen is not going to get ANY rest! That is one of my most popular books. A lot of people buy it as a gift when someone they know has a new baby.

Image Credit: Abdo Publishing Group

"B" liked TRICK OR TREAT"

"I LIKED THE PART WHEN ONE TRICK OR TREAT GROUP WAS THE CATS."

Thanks for reading ONE TRICK FOR ONE TREAT! When I first wrote that book, the title was, ONE WARTY WITCH. My editor didn't like that title, so she changed it to ONE TRICK FOR ONE TREAT. Which title do you like better?

They really loved all your books and were fascinated with the sign language! They also enjoyed your visit to their classes.

THANK YOU,

L. F., English Language Development Teacher 

Thanks for reading my books and thanks for writing to me. I enjoyed visiting your school!

And . . . I hope I get to visit YOUR school some day! For more information about school visits, click here.