March Reading Month is just about over and WHOA were we busy! We have had book deals and book birthdays, we’ve added authors to our
PAL list, we visited schools near and far, and the PALs came together in an incredible way to give our books and time to
Carsten’s Academy of Aquatic Science, a K-8 school in Detroit as part of our ABC (Authors, Books, and Children) Program. I’d like to speak a bit about this program, if you don’t mind, as it is something that I think highlights how amazing our SCBWI-MI PALs are.
The ABC Program was created to provide children in underfunded and under-resourced schools the opportunity to read a wide variety of books and to have the ability to connect with books and authors in a way that may not have been available to them otherwise. We accomplished this by donating almost 90 books from PALs all over Michigan, by donating free 20 min. Skype visits with the 1st-4th grade classes, and by holding a reading contest that resulted in three readers winning a Skype session with
Lori Taylor who sketched them and will be including their likenesses as characters in her next book, HOLLY WILD: MOTOR CITY MAYHEM (out this May!). The winners of the contest will also receive fossils from Sleeping Bear Dunes, sketch-and-color books, and copies of book 5 of Holly Wild when it comes out. This was our first year with the ABC Program and it was an incredible experience!
As the PAL coordinator it is my job to find ways for authors to market and sell their books, so I can’t tell you how moved I was with the response to the ABC program. Don’t get me wrong, I know how generous our authors are so I wasn’t surprised that many jumped on board, but when my inbox flooded with “count me in’s” and the books started piling up in my office, I have to say that my heart felt full and my eyes may have watered a few times.
I really can’t thank you enough and I know the school feels the same way:
“Carstens' students really enjoyed the Skype interviews with the authors. The authors' love for writing was contagious and has the students excited about reading and writing books of their own. I’d like to thank you for reaching out to our school with this opportunity.” –Katie Burton (Carsten’s school counselor)
Your generosity it appreciated more than you know. I am so proud to be part of our community. SCBWI-MI rocks!
Jodi McKay lives in Grosse Pointe, Michigan with her husband, son, and a couple of furry friends. She discovered that she loved to write when she was 8 years old, but decided to finish school before pursuing it full time. Now she is an active member of the incredible kid lit community and is proud to be represented by Linda Epstein at Emerald City Literary Agency. Jodi is the author of the picture book, WHERE ARE THE WORDS? published by Albert Whitman & Co. Learn more at her website (look for the teacher's guide!), and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
Coming up on the Mitten blog: A new Featured Illustrator and another round of Hugs and Hurrahs! Nina Goebel is working with our surprise illustrator to unveil our new spring blog banner, and Patti Richards is collecting your writing/illustrating/publishing news. Please email your good news to
Patti by
April 9th to be included. Don't be shy, we're inspired by your success!
Are you registered for the
SCBWI-MI Spring Conference? Don't delay!
It's almost time to apply for the first of
SCBWI-MI's two 2018 novel mentorship programs. The submission window for the PAL mentorship with Leslie Connor opens April 2nd-23rd. Read our interview with mentor Leslie Connor
here.
Calling all illustrators! Are you signed up for the
4 Out the Door postcard challenge? Learn more
here.
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