Birth Stories for Books: STUCK!, THE STORY OF LA BREA TAR PITS, by Joyce Uglow

Howdy, readers! It's time to dig into another Birth Stories for Books interview. Today we'll take a deep dive into Joyce Uglow's debut nonfiction picture book, STUCK! THE STORY OF LA BREA TAR PITS (illustrated by Valerya Milovanova, Bushel and Peck Books, March 4, 2025).

by Joyce Uglow and Valerya Milovanova

Dawn Prochovnic: Welcome to the blog, Joyce. We "met" recently via our mutual membership in 12X12. I was interested in hearing about your newsletters on Substack, and I was fascinated with your debut nonfiction picture book, STUCK! THE STORY OF LA BREA TAR PITS. I'm  eager to learn more about your path to publication for this book.

I'd like to start by learning about the inspiration that sparked the idea for this story, and the process and timeframe between your initial idea for the book and the story that was formulated fully enough to submit to an agent or editor.

Joyce Uglow: STUCK! came to me the first time I visited La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, CA. I stared in wonder standing in front of the Smilodon exhibit. My original notion was to feature Smilodon as a main character who would travel the USA. Oh, my goodness! What an unmarketable idea… When I started researching animals trapped in the asphalt seeps, I realized the story is MUCH BIGGER than the 3.5 million fossils stored and displayed in the museum. Two words: climate change. Paleontologists’ research unearthed findings showing changes that impacted the ice age ecosystem trapped over 50,000 years in hidden pools of asphalt. They found that human-caused fires impacted a great deal. Since 2018, I’ve read research and interviewed scientists to ensure the accuracy in the book’s text and in the art. This book is dedicated to La Brea scientists Dr. Emily Lindsey and Dr. Regan Dunn.

DP: Wow! It sounds like the content for this story really took hold and grabbed you! 

When you compare one of your earliest drafts of this story to the version in the published book, what stands out for you in terms of what is most different? Likewise, is there anything in particular that stands out that was included in your earliest drafts and survived the revision process?

JU: Once I started the manuscript, I knew I wanted to write using a light mood and tone because this topic is somewhat dark. I worked to soften the blow of the huge number of unsuspecting ice age animals that met their demise in the stickiness. Each iteration of the manuscript got stronger via the wisdom of input from my critique group members. They shined a light on the arc and the language. I’m eternally grateful for their thoughtful feedback. Below is a snapshot of one of the early drafts with and early title STUCK! TRAPPED! STACKED IN THE PITS! This spread about the dragonfly moved to the end of the book in a slightly different format. 

DP: Reflecting on the journey from idea to published book, are there any individuals, experiences, or opportunities that you credit with opening the door for you to bring this story to publication? 

JU: Children’s Book Insider (CBI) publishes a monthly newsletter that is known for its articles on the writing industry and craft tips. The publication offers news and above-the-slush-pile submission opportunities. The CBI newsletter is published 12 times per year by Children’s Book Insider, LLC and can be found at http://www.writeforkids.org . 

When I felt that STUCK! was submission ready, I began looking for publishers that accepted manuscripts from unagented writers. Lo and behold, CBI featured editor Ryan G. Van Cleave of Bushel and Peck Books. I closely read and followed the submission guidelines. Several months later, I opened a celebratory email. Woohoo! Bushel and Peck offered me a contract for STUCK!  Bushel and Peck Books is a highly respected and PAL approved press. (PAL is a term SCBWI uses for Published and Listed.) My SCBWI profile and listed books can be found here.   

DP: One of the kindest and most thoughtful rejections I've received was from Ryan G. Van Cleave at Bushel and Peck. Hooray that your book found a home at such a lovely publishing house.  

Your book has been described as a "lyrical non-fiction exploration, surrounding the history, and little-known origins, of the ice age and the La Brea Tar Pits." Based on a recent stroll through your website and blog, it's clear you have a love for, and experience with, poetry. Can you share how your interest and experience with poetry influenced and informed your picture book? 

JU: I want to first recognize that my late mom, Marie Virginia (Hall) Cooper was a quiet writer. As an east coast high schooler and William and Mary college student, she wrote editorials and articles. As a busy mom, she quietly submitted her stories and editorials. Little did I know, that her writing practices would rub off on me. As an educator for students who benefitted from creative approaches, I often used writing to teach reading and picture books to teach writing. Because I was interested in creative approaches for reaching students, I researched the impact of using mentor texts on student literacy. This led to more involvement in literacy education and to serving as the president of the Wisconsin State Reading Association. This in turn, led to my responsibility of hiring presenters for the 2012 WSRA conference. In my search, I read about Janet Wong. Her presentation on poetry for kids at the 2012 WSRA conference hooked me on writing poetry. I have poems in books published by Janet Wong and Sylvia Vardell’s Pomelo Books as well as in poetry anthologies published by Hey Hey Books and Northern Loon Press. As you noted, the text of STUCK! THE STORY OF LA BREA TAR PITS is lyrical. I have come to love the tone and mood of lyrical picture books.  

DP: I just love how one connection leads to another and another in this business! 

Who do you see as the ideal reader for this book and/or what would you love to hear a bookseller or librarian say as they "hand-sell" this book?

JU: I see students in grades 2 to 5 digging into it. The Next Generation Science Standards state: 

3-LS4-1: Analyze and interpret data from fossils to provide evidence of the organisms and the environments in which they lived long ago.  

And the connection to reading and writing is huge. Teachers work with student on the following:

RI.3.1

Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers. (3-LS4-1)

RI.3.3

Describe the relationship between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text, using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause/effect. (3-LS4-1)

W.3.1

Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons. (3-LS4-1)

W.3.2

Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly. (3-LS4-1)

W.3.8

Recall information from experiences or gather information from print and digital sources; take brief notes on sources and sort evidence into provided categories. (3-LS4-1)

STUCK! recently received the following praise from a reviewer for The Bulletin for the Center for Children’s Books : 

“This stirring story and its dynamic illustrations may manage to

enthrall even the least nature-focused kiddo, but any budding scientist will be thrilled to

discover the informative and accessible backmatter, where more information includes a

timeline, glossary, and list of trapped animals, potentially sparking a desire to learn even

more about this viscous part of our planet.”

DP: What a fantastic example of tying your book to established educational standards -- and whoo-hoo for the excellent review! 

What resources would you suggest for readers who want more on this topic?

JU: Concerns about climate change and its impact on the world around us are growing. Scientific studies at La Brea Tar Pits are working to find more about the link between climate warming and the evolution of Ice Age predators, and attempting to predict how animals will respond to climate change today. If it is possible for a reader to travel, I recommend taking a trip to the amazing La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, CA. The fossil exhibits are stand-and-stare-worthy. If accessing the information in person is not feasible, here are some cool resources. 

More info: 

• Stones and Bones: Fossils and the stories they tell

• Fossils for Kids: An Introduction to Paleontology (Simple Introductions to Science)

• https://tarpits.org/research-collections 

DP: Thanks for these great resources, Joyce!

What would be your dream review for this book? Who would this review be from? And where would this review be published or posted?

JU: My BIG WHY: I write picture books centered on wonder combined with my passion for nature, the planet, and my child-like curiosity-driven interest in bees, trees, whale families, and much more. I write picture books for curious kids as they change and grow.

My dream review would come in the form of a thank you or a letter from kids who love our book. Of course, we’d be very grateful to have readers post positive reviews on Kirkus Reviews, Library Science Journal, Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble. It would be a dream come true to see STUCK! THE STORY OF LA BREA TAR PITS in every book store. 

DP: Here's to seeing all of that and more for this book, Joyce! 

One of my favorite parts of being an author is connecting with young readers at school, library, and bookstore visits, and I’m always looking for fresh tips. Do you have any professional advice or suggestions for fellow author/presenters in terms of planning successful (in-person and/or remote) book-related events? 

JU: I was a part of conference planning committees for the Wisconsin State Reading Association for many years. The best presenters came prepared with a rehearsed presentation, tech tools, handouts, and a smile. Flexibility is a must, because things can go sideways. Bring a plan B. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. 

DP: Great tips! 

If you could go back in time, what would you tell your pre-published self? Or, said another way, what do you know now, that you wished you would have known a bit earlier?

JU: Patience is a virtue. 

DP: Indeed! Especially in this business!

Is there something you wish someone would ask you about your path to publication for STUCK! THE STORY OF LA BREA TAR PITS, that you haven’t had the opportunity to share yet? 

JU: Q: What is the most effective marketing tool that does not come across as self-promotion? 

A: My answer to that is ELEVATE, my One Little Word for 2025.

Announcing uGROnews - a newsletter for kidlit authors and illustrators curated by Joyce P. Uglow and Kathy Groth and published on the Substack platform. The title of this newsletter comes from their last names and speaks to the mission of uGROnews. Both authors volunteer for SCBWI Wisconsin. Kathy currently serves as chair of Publications Promotions and Joyce carries out the duties of the Assistant Regional Advisor. uGROnews gets delivered to readers and subscribers on Substack at no cost. Joyce conducts Q&A written interviews she calls Creatives’ Point of View, which get posted on or about the 15th of each month. The goal is to ELEVATE fellow kidlit creatives and their new projects, offer opportunities for authors and illustrators to increase awareness surrounding their latest releases or soon-to-be-released projects to the writing community. uGROnews is a way to showcase the book, share its vital idea, and describe the project’s publishing journey from idea to book. Equally important is the second post made at the end of the month. The How To Pointers curated by Kathy, gather know-how about various aspects of the craft of writing and publishing. Uglow and Groth see the incredible creativity, talent, and skill that members of the writing community have. If you happen to be a reader on Substack please check out uGROnews. If interested, subscribe and share with others. 

DP: What great resources for our readers, Joyce. Thanks for sharing! 

Do you have anything you’d like to tell us about what you’re currently working on?

JU: You asked THAT question. Here goes… I read and support the writing community in a variety of ways. If you’re a member of Inked Voices, I recently posted a discussion about back matter there. In addition, I’ll be Mighty Kidlit Featured Author in September to dig into back matter some more. In terms of poetry, Cynthia Mackey and  I are co-hosting a poetry and illustration challenge. The kick-off is March 14 but you can join anytime. Here’s a quick look on YouTube. We’ll post a one-word prompt you on Instagram and BlueSky. The details will be announced on February 14 on Substack. Watch for the STUCK BUMBLEBEE CHALLENGE. Join in on the fun! 

In terms of writing poetry and picture books, I am fortunate to have been granted a Pacing Mentorship with the amazing Jodell Sadler of Sadler Literary. The mentorship is through Rate Your Story on the Mighty KidLit Creator platform. I’m working on a half dozen manuscripts to polish them. Stay tuned! 

DP: Wowza! You've got LOTS going on in the next few months, Joyce. Very exciting! 

What is the best way for readers to get in touch with you or get their hands on your book(s)?

JU: I have details about my books, author visits, and poetry on my website at https://joyceuglowauthor.com . 

Social media: 

Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/jpuglow.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jpuglow/

jpuglow@gmail.com 

STUCK is available wherever you buy books. 

Bushel and Peck Books  Amazon  Barnes & Noble  Bookshop  

DP: Thanks so much for sharing your Birth Story for STUCK! THE STORY OF LA BREA TAR PITS with us, Joyce! 

Dear readers, you've heard me say it before: the best way to thank an author whose insights have been helpful and/or inspiring to you is to support their work. Follow them on social media. Subscribe to their newsletter(s). Buy their books. Request them from your library. Read and share them with others.  

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Joyce P. Uglow writes lyrical picture books about nature, science, and our planet. Retired from a career in education, she is the author of STUCK! The Story of La Brea Tar Pits (Bushel & Peck Books/March 4, 2025) and poetry in several anthologies (Pomelo Books, Hey Hey Books, The Dirigible Balloon, Northern Loon Press). Joyce loves family gatherings, gardening, and exploring National Parks, mountains, rocks and the ocean with her husband, Larry. She serves as SCBWI Wisconsin Assistant Regional Advisor and a round one 2024 CYBILS Poetry judge. She is unwaveringly committed to sparking kids' curiosity. Visit Joyce’s  website to learn more. 

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Birth Stories for Books is an occasional feature of Dawn Babb Prochovnic's blog. Dawn is the author of multiple picture books including, Lucy's Blooms, Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty?, Where Does a Pirate Go Potty?, and 16 books in the Story Time With Signs & Rhymes series. Dawn is a contributing author to the award-winning book, Oregon Reads Aloud, and a frequent presenter at schools, libraries, and educational conferences. Contact Dawn using the form at the left, or learn more at www.dawnprochovnic.com. 

The Author Q and A Part of the Writing Life, a Follow-Up to WRAD 2025

As I've said before, one of my favorite parts of author life is connecting directly with young readers. Last week, I had the pleasure of participating in World Read Aloud Day, aka, WRAD. 

Here is the "office" I set up in the bathroom from which I made my WRAD 2025 visits!

Dawn's WRAD 2025 "Office"

One of the most fantastic things about connecting with young readers is sometimes they send written notes, and sometimes they ask more questions in those notes.

Whenever students write to me after an author visit, I do my best to write back to them, and WRAD is no exception. Here is the letter I recently wrote to the students in Ms. Raffin's 4th/5th grade class from Lapeer Community Schools, Metamora, Michigan:

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February 12, 2025

Dear Ms. Raffin’s Class, 

I enjoyed reading with you on World Read Aloud Day. Thank you for taking the time to write and for asking such great questions! Your questions and my responses are below:

1. Is it easy to make a book?  And how many steps does it take?

I wouldn't say it's easy, but I would say it's fun! There are many steps in the book-making process. It all begins with writing (and/or illustrating) a story, and then revising it until it is exactly how you want it to be. Then, you research literary agents and/or publishers that might like your story. You send your story to agents and/or publishers until you find one that likes your story enough to help you turn it into a book. 

I have a series on my blog where I interview other authors to learn about their path to publication. You can find all of those interviews here. 

I also have a series of blog posts about a project I worked on with a group of 5th grade students to help them create their own picture books. You can learn a lot about the picture book making process by reading about that project.

Lastly, one of my author-friends, Josh Funk, has a great website with information about how to write picture books. You might enjoy reading what he has to share. You can find it here.  

2. What got you interested in making books?

I first started writing books with a goal of becoming a published author because I wanted to share my love of American Sign Language with more people than I could directly teach in the sign language workshops I taught for young families. Eventually I branched out into writing other types of books for young readers. Here is a blog post where I talk about my path to publication for my very first books in the Story Time with Signs & Rhymes series.

And here is a blog post where I talk about my inspiration for Lucy’s Blooms. 

3. Is the illustrator your friend?

It might surprise you to know that the author and illustrator of a picture book often never meet. I have only met one of the illustrators who has worked on my books: Stephanie Bauer. I was lucky enough to meet Stephanie at a writing conference, and we did become friends. I also had the opportunity to visit her art studio! I do admire and enjoy the work of Jacob Souva and Alice Brereton, the artists who illustrated my other published books, and I’d be happy for the opportunity to meet one or both of them some day!  

4. How old were you when you wrote your first book?

The first book I ever made was a poetry book that I hand-wrote as a Mother’s Day gift for my mom back when I was in middle school. 

The first book I had published, See the Colors, came out in 2009. (I’m currently 57, so you can do the math to find out how old I was when that book was published!) The most recent book I’ve had published was Lucy’s Blooms, which came out in 2021. I also had two humorous books that were published in 2019: Where Does a Pirate Go Potty? and Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty?

Image of author Dawn Babb Prochovnic holding her three most recent books.

5. When is your next book coming out?

My next book, MAMA’S HOME!, is currently scheduled for publication in September of 2026. I wrote that book back when my 22-year-old son was in preschool! It was acquired by my publisher (Familius) back in 2021, with an original plan for publication in 2024, but it is not uncommon for books to be delayed for one reason or another. 

You can read about some of the revisions I needed to make for MAMA’S HOME! here. (NOTE: this is a very looooong blog post with many different authors contributing to it, so you can search on the keyword "Prochovnic" to find my part.)  

I just recently learned who will be illustrating MAMA’S HOME! Her name is Adèle Dafflon. You can see examples of her artwork here.

6. Do you like making books?

I love making books, and I love being an author. I think it’s one of the best jobs in the world. One reason is I like words. They are powerful. They get things done. They help people understand one another. Words give people a voice. I like when my voice is heard. I have written an entire blog post with some of the other reasons I like to write. You can find it here.

I will also say that I love reading books, I have written a couple of blog posts about why I like reading. You can read those here and here .

(Psst: In my experience, reading books is one of the easiest ways to become a better writer!)

7. How did you think of the book, Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty?

I have written a whole blog post that answers that question! You can find it here. 

(Fun fact: This blog post was written for Tara Lazar’s blog (she is the author of Flat Cat and Absurd Words, two of the books I mentioned to you during our time together on World Read Aloud Day).  

8. What inspired you to make books?

I became inspired to write books because I had stories and important ideas in my head that I wanted to share with other people. 

I also credit my fifth-grade teacher, Mr. Snook, for inspiring my love of reading, which greatly contributed to my love of writing. 

A couple of years ago I was honored with a literary award and mentioned Mr. Snook in my award acceptance speech. You can read all about that (and also find link to a video of my acceptance speech) here. 

9. How many books did you make?

I have written 20 stories that have been published into books. You can learn about all of my different books here.

You should be able to find all (or most) of my books in your local library. Here is a link to help: https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=dawn+prochovnic&offset=1 .  If you can’t find my books in your library, you can find videos of me reading them (and songs to go along with my most recent books, including Lucy’s Blooms) on my YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/user/dprochovnic/featured

Thank you again for sharing your World Read Aloud Day with me and for asking such great questions! I hope I get to visit your school again in the future. In the meantime, if you’d like to read more about my life as a writer, you can visit this section of my blog where I talk about my writing life. 

Write On!

Sincerely, 

Dawn Babb Prochovnic (and Pickle)

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If you missed World Read Aloud Day, but would still like to connect, I offer Virtual Author Visits year round anywhere in the world. I've also compiled a comprehensive collection of free remote resources for Self-Guided Virtual Author Visits here: https://www.dawnprochovnic.com/2025/02/the-wrad-part-of-writing-life-2025.html . It's not quite the same as a personalized virtual visit (or an in-person visit), but these resources do allow young readers to connect with an author in some fashion. And here's a fun fact: I also write back to classrooms of students who visit me virtually via a Self-Guided Virtual Author visit. 

Write On!   

Birth Stories for Books, ADVENTURES WITH OPAL: THE MUGGY, BUGGY DAY, by Lora Heller

Hello readers! Welcome to the first Birth Stories for Books interview of 2025. Today's post is an extra special one! Our guest is my longtime friend and colleague, Lora Heller. Today I'm so excited to shine a light on her latest book, ADVENTURES WITH OPAL: THE MUGGY, BUGGY DAY (illustrated by Piper Fialkoff, Independently Published, February 2025). 

Dawn Prochovnic: Welcome to the blog, Lora. We have been friends, colleagues (and occasional critique partners!) for a very long time. I believe we first came to know each other via our shared interest in signing with babies and young children. By my recollection, our friendship dates back to your kindness in offering your expertise as the content consultant for my second series of Story Time with Signs & Rhymes books. That kindness continued with your enthusiastic support for my latest book, LUCY'S BLOOMS, generously recording book readings, lining up others to provide ASL interpretations of the story and the companion song, and eagerly helping get the word out about my book launch in the midst of the pandemic. The list goes on and on. I am so very grateful for all of your past support and SO VERY EXCITED for the opportunity to support the launch of YOUR latest book, ADVENTURES WITH OPAL: THE MUGGY, BUGGY DAY. I'm eager to learn more about your path to publication for this sweet and cheerful new book, so let's get started! 

Although I've had the pleasure of reading various iterations of this story via some past manuscript swaps, I'd love to learn more about the inspiration that sparked the idea for this story, and the process and timeframe between your initial idea for the book and the story that was formulated fully enough to move forward with publication. 

Lora Heller: While I was working on a different story, I was struck by the summer heat and the first line of this one just came into my head (“It’s muggy and buggy and so warm outside…”). Thinking about it evoked memories of summers past with my children, exploring parks and playgrounds together and witnessing their creative play, which inspired me to continue writing. It took about 18 months from start to finish. I’ve always written poetry so it was fun to write a story in rhyming verse – but it was a new added challenge to develop a character and plot in this format.

DP: When you compare one of your earliest drafts of this story to the version in the published book, what stands out for you in terms of what is most different? Likewise, is there anything in particular that stands out that was included in your earliest drafts and survived the revision process? 

LH: Each illustration includes a ‘thought bubble’ that comes from Opal (the story’s main character) reflecting her thoughts or feelings about her adventures as told on each opposite page. I initially had an older sibling as a narrator instead, and decided over time to focus just on Opal. I feel that is what changed the story and Opal’s storytelling most significantly. The first line survived the revision process. 😊

Interior image from Adventures with Opal, Muggy Buggy Day
by Lora Heller.and  Piper Fialkoff 

DP: LOL, that's how revision, goes, isn't it! And I love Opal's thought bubbles. 

Reflecting on the journey from idea to published book, are there any individuals, experiences, or opportunities that you credit with opening the door for you to bring this story to publication? 

LH: Definitely my own children. I’ve always loved writing and reading poetry, and found that my kids also enjoyed stories told in verse. They also loved adventures and being outdoors. 

DP: It’s my recollection that you worked with a specialized organization to help ready this book for publication. Can you share how you connected with this organization, how the process worked, and/or any valuable learnings from the experience that might be of help and interest to our readers? 

LH: Children’s Book Mastery offered a picture book bootcamp which I participated in for several summer days, getting inspiration, guidance, and feedback along with other authors in the program. CBM also offers assistance with the self-publishing process including book design. One of the most valuable pieces of this experience was developing relationships with other children’s authors and another was having a daily goal for writing; these were things that kept me inspired and motivated to complete the story and continue working on more. 

DP: I can completely relate. I don't know what I'd do without my network of kidlit friends and colleagues (I'm talking to you!), and writing goals definitely help keep me moving forward day by day.   

Were there any specific resources you utilized that were most helpful to you along the way? 

LH: I attended and continue to attend a variety of online workshops and webinars, and utilize the workbooks offered by CBM as well as other similar programs. For CBM I participated in live on-line picture book 5 day ‘boot camp’. I also attended follow up webinars she offered covering topics such as book launch and marketing.

I’ve also attended a few general writing retreats in person through various organizations. Some examples include: 

https://journeytokidlit.com : I’ve followed her blogs and book templates; attended webinars on character and story development with her and guest presenters.

https://miriamlaundry.com : I have her book blueprint and attended her webinar ‘How to Write a Picture Book Children Will Love  (and Parents Will Buy!)’

https://murphywriting.com : I attended an in-person weekend writing retreat in the poetry track.

DP: Those are some great resources, Lora. Thanks! 

I’d likewise be interested in hearing how you went about the process of connecting with / collaborating with an illustrator for this project. 

LH: While telling my neighbor that I was writing a picture book and would soon be looking for an illustrator, she told me that her (adult) daughter was an artist. I had seen this young woman grow up literally since she was born, but didn’t know this about her. So I reached out and asked if she would be interested in a possible collaboration and had any playful drawings to share. Piper’s style was so charming, it just felt like a perfect match. That said, she hadn’t done a lot of people drawing, so developing Opal was a process. She joyfully took my ideas and feedback, dived right into the story, and really brought Opal to life. 

DP: I love it! What a great connection. Casual networking at its finest!  

You have several traditionally published books under your belt including a collection of Baby Fingers board books, Sign Language ABC, and Sign Language for Kids. When you compare your path to publication for this new book to your path to publication for one or more of these earlier books, what are some of the key similarities and differences in terms of the publication journeys for each? 

LH: The autonomy you have when self-publishing is liberating. I was able to make my own decisions about the title, text, illustrations, cover, size of the book, publication date, etc. It’s quite a learning curve, though – understanding book design (and finding the right organization to help), book sales, and so much more. And I had to invest financially, not just my time. Finding writing & author groups and programs helped maintain a collaborative feel of sorts which can be motivating. Traditional publishing can be daunting, as your work has to be accepted. My first sign language book was initially requested, and subsequent proposals led to my additional books. With the board books and Sign Language for Kids, I was fully engaged in the photography process to make sure we caught the models actually signing (all the babies/toddlers were students in Baby Fingers). My writing was also edited only for clarity and flow, since I was considered the ‘expert’ on the topic. For the ABC book, I chose the word list and made sure the handshapes for each letter were correctly done, but the art/artist was primarily coordinated by the publisher. An advance was nice 😉 and I appreciated the support & collaboration throughout the process with each book. Very different experiences!

DP: It sounds like very different experiences, indeed! 

One of my favorite parts of being an author is connecting with young readers at school, library, and bookstore visits, and I’m always looking for new pro tips. Given your vast experience as the founder of Baby Fingers, LLC, a music therapist, a stage performer, Adjunct Professor, and Teacher of the Deaf (and likely other credentials I'm forgetting or overlooking),  what professional advice or suggestions do you have for fellow author/presenters in terms of planning successful (in-person and/or remote) book-related events? 

LH: I am still figuring this out myself! That said, relationships can be valuable. Now in our 25th year at Baby Fingers and my 30th year as a music therapist in NYC, I have developed relationships with schools, day care and community centers, medical and mental health facilities, libraries, a network of professionals and families. I’ve also developed relationships with other authors, writers, and people working in publication or other areas of media. So with these relationships, I’ve been able to set up and offer some upcoming programs including book readings and signings, special workshops, have books for sale in classes, have my books chosen by librarians and schools, etc. 

DP: That is so fantastic to hear, Lora. You have always been so kind and supportive of others' work. I'm not at all surprised that you have built a network of "book angels" around you who are eager to support your books. 

If you could go back in time, what would you tell your pre-published self? Or, said another way, what do you know now, that you wished you would have known a bit earlier and/or are there any lessons you've learned along the way that could help others who would likewise like to write and independently-publish (and/or traditionally publish) a children’s book?  

LH: Write because you want to write, regardless of publication process. Write what you know and what you love. Remember that it takes time!! 

DP: Yes, yes, and yes! 

Do you have anything you’d like to tell us about what you’re currently working on?  

LH: I am working on the next two (so far) Adventures with Opal books and still returning to the book I initially started before Opal came to life.  

DP: That's great to hear, Lora. Thanks so much for sharing your Birth Story for ADVENTURES WITH OPAL: THE MUGGY, BUGGY DAY with us! I wish you MUCH success with this project!

Dear readers, you've heard me say it before: the best way to thank an author whose insights have been helpful and/or inspiring to you is to support their work. Buy their books. Request them from your library. Read and share them with others. Let's give ADVENTURES WITH OPAL: THE MUGGY, BUGGY DAY some love! (Bookshop, B&N, Amazon )

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Lora Heller is the founding director of Baby Fingers, the premier NYC area ASL program for families, established in 2000. She is a mom, a music therapist, and a teacher of the Deaf. She and her team have provided music-mediated sign language programs for schools, libraries, and thousands of families both in person and virtually. Lora is the author of seven ASL books for kids with Sterling Publishers and has written for national parenting magazines and music therapy professional journals. She has always loved telling stories and going on adventures with her own two children, leading her to writing Adventures with Opal. Learn more at Mybabyfingers.com. 

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Birth Stories for Books is an occasional feature of Dawn Babb Prochovnic's blog. Dawn is the author of multiple picture books including, Lucy's Blooms, Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty?, Where Does a Pirate Go Potty?, and 16 books in the Story Time With Signs & Rhymes series. Dawn is a contributing author to the award-winning book, Oregon Reads Aloud, and a frequent presenter at schools, libraries, and educational conferences. Contact Dawn using the form at the left, or learn more at www.dawnprochovnic.com.

The WRAD Part of the Writing Life, 2025 Edition

 WRAD 2025 is officially a Wrap for me! 

World Read Aloud Day (WRAD) is a special literacy event that takes place around the globe on the first Wednesday in February each year. It's hosted by LitWorld, and originally founded by Pam Allyn. For the past several years, author Kate Messner creates a space on her website where teachers and librarians can connect with authors and illustrators who are willing to volunteer to offer free virtual book readings to young readers around the world. It's one of my favorite book-related events to participate in. 

I have a Google Form for folks who want to be among the first to find out when the scheduling tool is available for  next year. 

This year I scheduled visits with six schools and multiple classrooms. Even with excellent coordination, it's not unusual that one or more of the schools needs to cancel at the last minute due to weather-related school closures or illness. Also, some schools that hope to meet with me are unable to match their scheduling needs with my available times, and/or my schedule is full by the time they reach out, or there are members of the learning community who were absent on World Read Aloud Day. 

For these schools (and now for you!) I compile some of my best resources as a stand-in for a real-time virtual author visit. These resources are of course not quite the same as real-time virtual visit, (or a full-length, personalized author visit), but they do allow young readers to connect with an author in some fashion, in honor of World Read Aloud Day. Please feel welcome to explore and share these resources with your learning community: 

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Here is a link to a “Hello” slide deck that I shared with the schools/classrooms that I visited.

It’s not the same as a real virtual visit, but it will allow your students to connect with me for World Read Aloud Day in some fashion. (The “speaker notes” below each slide provide my general talking points and related resource links.) 

Speaking of resources, here is the link to the plethora of Resources tab on my website.

From this landing page, you can access things like: 

1. My YouTube channel with full readings of several of my books including Lucy’s Blooms,  Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty? and First Day Jitters from the collection of stories in Oregon Reads Aloud. This is where you will also find animated book trailers and companion songs for my three most recent books, as well as some ASL interpreted readings for Lucy’s Blooms and the companion song. 

2. Curriculum-Aligned Educators’ Guides for Lucy’s Blooms, Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty?, and Where Does a Pirate Go Potty? (All three of the guides include STEM tie-ins, and for my Pirate and Cowgirl books, these guides include Readers' Theatre scripts.)

3. Lesson Plans for Sign Language Story Times, themed enrichment activities, and fun extras such as Pirate and Cowgirl Name Generators. 

I also have a couple of different “virtual-virtual,” or “self-guided” author visits via Google Slides that you/your students can peruse (the “speaker notes” below each slide provides the talking points I would typically deliver during a school visit): 

Write On! Why Writing is (Possibly) the Most Important Thing You’ll Ever Do

From "Ahoy, Matey! to “Howdy, Pardner!” How to Create Vivid Characters by Giving Each a Unique Voice

Please reach out to me directly and I would be more than happy to provide links to these virtual visits. 

Once a school or classroom has interacted with one of my books, (via the video story times, and/or virtual workshops on Google Slides on your own), I would be more than happy to respond to written questions from students. How this typically works is that the librarian or classroom teacher assigns a “post visit” writing lesson for the students where they each ask me a question (about my books, or my writing process, or my “office assistant, Pickle, etc.), and then you would deliver the full set of questions to me via postal mail or email (in one batched email from you vs. individual emails from students). After I receive the questions, I will reply to the students with a compilation response that I will deliver to you. Here is a link to some examples of my responses from my interactions with other schools. 

I hope these options are helpful resources. Please feel welcome and encouraged to share them with your families and your colleagues, and please let me know if I can be a resource to you in any other way.

Warm wishes,

Dawn

Author Dawn Babb Prochovnic Holding her latest books

Reach out via email, social media channels such as Instagram, Bluesky or my Facebook fan page, or through my contact form (at the left of this post on the desktop version), if you'd like to schedule a time for me to meet with your students in the future! 

For more posts like this, visit The Writing Life series on my blog.