Jane Sutton's Blog, page 20
October 20, 2016
Try, Try Again!
A bout of early-season flu canceled my story hour at Lexington Community Farm last month. But…I’ll get to read 2 of my farm-related books and run interactive games this Saturday at the farm’s Harvest Festival! From 10-12:30 PM there will be tours, food samples, music, kids’ activities…animal visits…including (be still my heart)–alpacas! Plus, it’s all free!
Come by and say hi!
October 15, 2016
World Egg Day and Me
I was delighted to see the post on the terrific and creative blog Celebrate Picture Books about What’s Up with This Chicken? Blogger Kathryn Carroll features picture books on their associated holidays. And it turns out that October 14th is World Egg Day. Who knew?
The post has a summary of the book, examples of the illustrations, a review, a Q&A with the author, moi, and best of all, delightful games Kathy created based on the plot. She uses egg cartons to make adorable chickens and eggs, and the project is simple enough for kids (and even this craft klutz) to do!
So cute!!!
I was excited to see these glowing comments about the book:
“With a deft and delightful understanding of the puns and humor that set kids to giggling, Jane Sutton has written a fun—and informative—story for animal lovers and anyone who loves a good, natural mystery. Through the well-paced plot and action-packed description, readers learn about a particular behavioral aspect of some chickens and the clever and sensitive way that Sylvia solves the problem. The close relationship between Sylvia and her grandmother adds charm and depth to the story, and their dialogue is spontaneous and playful.
Peter J. Welling’s bright, homey illustrations are the perfect accompaniment to the story. Animated Trudy shoos Sylvia away while the other chickens take dust baths, scratch for bugs, and look just as perplexed as Sylvia and Grandma. Humorous touches abound in Grandma’s choice of home décor and Sylvia’s printed T-shirts as well as in the facial expressions of the human and feathered characters. Trudy’s chicks are adorable, and readers will cheer to see Trudy fulfill her heart’s desire.
What’s Up with This Chicken is a wonderful read-aloud for younger kids’ story times and a fun romp that will keep older, independent readers guessing and wondering how it all comes out right up to the end. The likeable characters—both human and chicken—make this a book kids will like to hear again and again!”
Chicken Tic Tac Toe
September 25, 2016
My Dad’s 102nd Birthday!
A few days ago my dad, Milton Sutton, turned 102! Amazing, right? Yesterday our family gathered for a party, which my dad thoroughly enjoyed. We were 4 generations with an age range of 1 month (happy 1-month birthday, Caleb!) to…well…102. It was a lovely, happy party, as you’ll see from these photos!
New Daddy Charlie holds Caleb so that the 102 year old birthday boy and the 1-month old birthday boy can get to know each other.
My dad with his great-grandsons: Nathan, Eli, Jacob and Caleb
“Boppa” enjoying cards and presents from his great-grandsons
Birthday boy surrounded by his grandchildren: Matthew, Charlie, Becky & Adam
Oldest great-grandson (my sister, Judy’s, grandson) with Caleb, my new grandson. Jacob was a natural!
Yes! Little Caleb is a party animal!
Great grandson Jacob helps blow out the candle (just 1–102 candles may have meant a visit from the fire department!)
My daugher-in-law, Amberly, my daughter (Aunt Becky, with Caleb) and my son (Daddy Charlie)
The Family!
September 15, 2016
Reading on the Farm!
I’m excited to be invited back to do a Special Story Hour this Saturday at Lexington Community Farm, a wonderful community resource for fresh vegetables as well as terrific education programs:
Event Link
Besides reading my books and running interactive games, I’m looking forward to hanging out with real life chickens and the adorable Nigerian Dwarf goats.
Come join me!
September 13, 2016
Grandparents Day Was Fun!
Fellow children’s book author and fellow new grandma Ellen Mayer and I had a blast at our first Grandparents Day Story Hour at Barnes and Noble in Burlington, MA last Sunday!
I read my book…
Ellen read her books…
We had fun…
…acting out the story
…doing crafts
…making new friends
…and hanging out with old friends
And the best part was having my new grandson, little Caleb, there! Thank you to his mom and dad for bringing him!
September 9, 2016
Grandparents Day Event this Sunday
Now that I am officially a grandma (hold on a sec, I have to pause to grin!!) as announced in the previous post, it’s time to do a Grandparents Day Story Time! My fellow author Ellen Mayer, who is also a new grandma and has 2 wonderful new picture books (more on those in a later post), came up with this idea. We will read 3 of our picture books that feature grandparent characters and run activities for 2-9 year olds.
In Barnes and Noble, Burlington window
I’ll answer questions about the world of children’s book publishing, and Ellen – an early literacy educator – will chat about ways to develop language in young children.
All ages welcome!!
Sunday, September 11th, 2016
1-3 PM
Barnes and Noble
98 Middlesex Turnpike
Burlington, MA
New grandmas Jane Sutton and Ellen Mayer will read our picture books with grandparent characters!
August 31, 2016
The Wait is Over! (See Previous Post)
Our wonderful new grandson has arrived! Everyone says being a grandparent is amazing, and everyone is usually wrong, but in this case, everyone is right. Little Caleb is soooo adorable, and his parents are so sweet with him…and and…I won’t go on lest I become all faklempt (and most likely boring). Below are some photos from the little guy’s first week…
Caleb and his parents right after he was born!
I told you he’s adorable!
Future son-in-law Dan, daughter Becky, smiley Jane, Caleb!!, husband Al, daughter-in-law (new mom) Amberly and son (new dad) Charlie
Photo capturing the ecstasy of being a Grandma
August 6, 2016
Expectantly Expecting
Yes, my husband and I are verrrrry excited that our first grandchild might arrive ANY DAY NOW. The visual proof is right here…
Our son, Charlie; daughter-in-law, Amberly; me; and my husband, Al. Won’t be long!
July 18, 2016
Farm Fun
What is up with this chicken? We’ll find out…
A few days ago, I had fun reading my picture book What’s Up With this Chicken? at a story hour at Lexington Community Farm, which provides fresh vegetables, promotes sustainability, and offers education programs for all ages. My audience was very young, but volunteers still enthusiastically participated in acting out key scenes afterwards. Some future Oscar winners there! Then we got to meet real-life chickens! Some of them, like Trudy in the book, were broody!
Volunteers who excelled in starring roles!
I told you I had fun!
July 5, 2016
Visual Conference Memories
Photos from the New England Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators conference were recently posted on Facebook, and I thought I’d share some of them here:
At the faculty dinner, chatting with Deb O’Brien. Soon after this photo was taken, I got to meet the legendary Jane Yolen!
Giving my first conference workshop evah! About conveying character traits and emotions in picture books.
Showing an example of a well-drawn character in the picture book DON’T CALL ME GRANDMA by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon
Hoping attendees thought my joke was as funny as I did.
