The snowdrops are up and  school visits are on! It’s time for World Read Aloud Day, Right to Read Week, Young Author Workshops and general thank-heaven-those-standardized-tests-are-over euphoria.

Some highlights from a wonderful visit to St. Dominic’s School in Shaker Hts. Ohio last week…

The poster that greeted me…

The Fountain of Happiness the littlest kids and I made together (further proof I should NOT attempt to draw, but the kids were very gracious and didn’t make fun). My favorite is probably The Liberty Bell.

(Just so you know, it was a teacher, not a child, who added “coffee”.)

And here is my meticulously detailed portrait, down to my cupcake earrings. Now if I could only get Habibi to walk on a leash like that!

My journey to book wonderland almost didn’t happen. Just before we left for the airport (an hour away), we got word that our flight was cancelled. That was the day a plane skidded off the La Guardia runway, and the airport shut down. Whomp.  Flights the next day were already sold out.  Not for nothing did I marry a superhero.  “We’ll drive,” he said, and within the hour we were  on route 80 through Pennsylvania (aka Painsylvania).

Here I am on the sidewalk outside the store:

I had a (literally) honking head cold, my first in years (note to self: build up immunity by working more sub hours in the library children’s room) and concentrated on not breathing on anyone, but still what a fun afternoon! I got to sit in between Pam Munoz Ryan, who rather than read played the harmonica, and Kat Yeh, who talked about fake food and real writing.

My crazy beloved family, my editor Donna Bray and my friend Mary Norris were all there, and for some reason so was Richard Peck, yes THE Richard Peck, a man so gracious all I could do was stutter and gawp.

Were we happy or were we happy?

Didn’t even mind that loooong ride back home.

…author and blogger is hosting me here. Includes A Giveaway!

http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/2015/03/guest-post-giveaway-tricia-springstubb.html

When my husband and I go to NYC, we almost always make a pilgrimage to City Bakery, home of the famous pretzel croissant and hot chocolate with homemade marshmallows as big my fist.

Almost right across the street is the children’s book store, in what many people consider the book city.

It’s  impossible to resist going in, but I always feel some trepidation. So many yes, wonderful, books! It’s humbling. And to be honest, anxious-making. How can there be room on the shelves for them all? If mine aren’t there, I understand, oh I really do, but still…

Well. This coming Saturday, March 7, not only will my books be there, but so will I! With Pam Munoz Ryan and Kat Yeh, two superb middle grade writers  in whose company I blush to be.

http://www.booksofwonder.com/events.php

If you’re anywhere near, please stop in. And don’t forget about those marshmallows!