The Importance of Being 3 Book Launch at The Learned Owl Book Shop

Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate the release of my new book, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING THREE. It was great to see all of you! I'm very excited about the release of this book as I hope all of you are. This reading was particularly special for me because it was the first time my son, Jackson, was present to listen to his mama read. Thank you to Kate and everyone at the Learned Owl Book Shop for hosting me and supporting my books!

Reading The Importance of Being 3 aloud as my adorable nephew Tommy listens in.

Reading The Importance of Being 3 aloud in The Learned Owl Book Shop children's section.

Jackson and Grandma Haley. So excited he could be at this event! He was happy to be there as long as he had his bah-bah!

Coloring with my favorite Evie Bean.

Photos courtesy of Mike Haley.

BOOK BIRTHDAY! The Importance of Being Three Comes Out Today!

PLEASE BRING BALLOONS in German!

I just received these copies of my book, PLEASE BRING BALLOONS, now available in German! So exciting!!!

School Visit with Fort Island Primary School

I had the pleasure of speaking to all the students at Fort Island Primary School in Fairlawn, Ohio this past Friday.  When I first walked into the school I was warmly greeted and knew immediately this would be a great visit.  And then I saw the artwork...I mean wow these kids are talented.  Personally I think their illustrations of the polar bear's adventures are better than the ones I created for my book, Please Bring Balloons.  Check out their amazing artwork below:

Thank you to all the teachers and students at Fort Island Primary School for sharing your beautiful artwork, celebrating my book, and such a wonderful visit!

HENRY FINDS HIS WORD Book Launch Party

Huge thank you to everyone who came out this past Saturday to celebrate the release of my new picture book, Henry Finds His Word!  Special thanks to Main Street Cupcakes and the Learned Owl Book Shop in Hudson, Ohio for hosting and selling books on my behalf.  It was a truly wonderful event filled with books, cupcakes, crafts, and face painting.  Check out the photos below courtesy of my step-dad, Mike Haley (thanks Mike!)

My best Vanna White.

My husband Frank, the first to get his face painted.

He's pretty awesome.

Getting a "bunny" painted on my face.

My husband and I with our "dog" and "bunny" faces.

Frank working on a word bubble.

My friend Kate and the owner of the Learned Owl Bookshop.

Thanks for selling books Kate!

Signing books for my favorite librarians (Annie, Tina, and Chris)

This little girl went with the "bird" face painting option.

My mom rockin' it with the face painting skills!

Love this photo!

Reading Henry Finds His Word aloud.

The beautiful and delicious cupcakes made by Main Street Cupcakes for the party.

My nephew Nicky...cute as a button, getting a "dog" painted on his face.

The Kessen Family.  If you open a copy of Henry Finds His Word,

you'll noticed it's dedicated to Tyler. 

I love that Tyler is wearing stripes in this picture just like Henry.

Tyler.

My dear friend Jen with her baby Audrey.

Main Street Cupcakes in Hudson, Ohio.

Thanks for having me and Henry!!

HENRY FINDS HIS WORD comes out today!

It's here!  Henry Finds His Word comes out today!  Happy Book Birthday to Henry!!

HENRY FINDS HIS WORD Book Launch Party!!

HENRY FINDS HIS WORD Cover & Jacket Release!

I know it has been a while since my last post, but I'm happy to say it is all because of new projects!  Currently I'm working on two new picture books, ROSCO VS. THE BABY with Simon & Schuster and THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING THREE with Dial Books For Young Readers.  Both are scheduled for 2016!  I can't wait to share them with you when I can...but until then I'm very excited to release the cover and jacket art for my new picture book, HENRY FINDS HIS WORD, which will be released on February 24th, 2015.  I hope you love Henry as much as I do!  Happy Reading!

Please Bring Balloons Polar Bears!

One of my favorite things about working as an author/illustrator is seeing how kids respond to my books.  I received an email the other day from Miss Sara and the Kids at Storytime at a Barnes & Noble in Clay, New York, who recently read Please Bring Balloons during Polar Bear Day.  Check out the amazing artwork they created:

So cute!  I love the fuzz added to show the fur!

Thank you to Miss Sara and the Kids from Storytime for sharing!  I'm so thrilled that you loved Please Bring Balloons!

Honorable Mention for Please Bring Balloons!

Yesterday, the Huffington Post gave an honorable mention to PLEASE BRING BALLOONS for Best Escape Picture Book 2013!!!  I'm so honored to be with such an amazing group of books!  Check out the article below:

www.huffingtonpost.com

EVENT TOMORROW!

Hey Michigan, I'm visiting the mitt tomorrow!  Join me for story time at the fabulous Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor.  Details below:

Who: Me!

What: Bookstore Visit

Where: Literati Bookstore, 124 East Washington Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan

When: Tuesday, November 5th at 5:30 pm

Why: To celebrate PLEASE BRING BALLOONS!

I hope to see you there!

THIS WEEK'S EVENTS!

I will be at the Westlake, Ohio Barnes & Noble and Euclid Public Library this week to celebrate PLEASE BRING BALLOONS!  I hope to see you there!  Details below:

BARNES & NOBLE WESTLAKE, OHIO

Who: Me!

What: Bookstore Visit

Where: Barnes & Noble, 198 Crocker Park Boulevard, Westlake, Ohio

When: Friday, November 1st at 10:30am

Why: To celebrate PLEASE BRING BALLOONS!!

EUCLID PUBLIC LIBRARY

Who: Me!

What: Library Visit

Where: Cuyahoga County Library - Euclid Branch, 631 E. 222nd Street, Euclid, Ohio

When: Saturday, November 2nd from 2-3pm

Why: To celebrate PLEASE BRING BALLOONS!

*Event will include: presentation, story time, and craft.  Books available for purchase at this event.

EVENT TOMORROW! Pinwheel Kids in Cleveland Heights, Ohio

Join me tomorrow at Pinwheel Kids children's boutique for a story time and craft to celebrate my new picture book PLEASE BRING BALLOONS!  Details below:

Who: Me!

What: Author visit

Where: Pinwheel Kids Children's Boutique
3469 Fairmount Boulevard, Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pinwheel-Kids

When: Saturday, October 26, 2013 from 11am - 1pm

Why: To celebrate PLEASE BRING BALLOONS!!!

I hope to see you there!

EVENT TODAY! Orange Library, Ohio

Join me tonight for a storytime and craft (make your own carousel polar bear!) to celebrate the release of my new book PLEASE BRING BALLOONS!  Details below:

Who: Me!

What: Library Visit

Where: Cuyahoga County Public Library, Orange Branch
31300 Chagrin Boulevard, Pepper Pike, Ohio 44124

When: Wednesday, October 23rd, 2013 at 7pm

Why: To celebrate PLEASE BRING BALLOONS!!

Books will be available for sale courtesy of the Friends of Orange Branch Library and Mac's Backs - Books

I hope to see you there!

Please Bring Balloons Book Launch Party!

This past Saturday I had a book launch party for my new picture book, PLEASE BRING BALLOONS, which was a blast!  Thank to you everyone who came out on a rainy afternoon to celebrate my book, it means the world to me.  Also, a huge THANK YOU to Main Street Cupcakes in Rocky River, Ohio for hosting the event.  I had such a wonderful time and I know Emma and the polar bear did too!

Check out photos from the party below:

Please Bring Balloons Book Launch Party has officially started!!

Reading the book aloud.

Check out the beautiful case of cupcakes at Main Street Cupcakes!

Please Bring Balloons themed cupcakes courtesy of Main Street Cupcakes!

Emma themed cupcakes!

Photo op with Emma and the Polar Bear!

Emma's red boots cupcakes!

E is for Emma.

Signing books.

Balloon cupcakes!

Polar bear cupcakes (coconut for the fur!)

Signing more books!

Meet Emma!  I was so honored to have a real Emma at my party!

Maura colors in her polar bear carousel.

Storytime.

I decorated the white board at Main Street Cupcakes to celebrate the event.

Balloon battle!

I'm pretty sure I'm in mid-chew of my cupcake here :)

Thanks again to everyone who came, I had so much fun!

Happy Reading!