Jane Sutton's Blog, page 22
April 5, 2016
See You at the Public Market!
Boston has a wonderful year-round indoor marketplace called the Boston Public Market, with vendors selling a variety of locally sourced food–vegetables, fish, meats, coffee, ice cream, and lots more.
The Kitchen at the Market, run by the Trustees of the Reservation, holds classes, hands-on cooking demonstrations and family activities. Why am I talking about this?…OK, I’ll get to the point…this Friday, April 8th, I’ll be guest author at the Kids Story Time in The Kitchen.
From 10 AM-10:30, I’ll be reading my picture book Don’t Call Me Sidney. Then, since it’s about a pig who wants to be a poet, I’ll be running interactive rhyming games. Afterwards I’ll sign books. Come by, listen to a story, play a game, and buy some fresh local food!
March 29, 2016
Schools that are Cool!
Recently, I had a chance to talk about my writing process with kindergarteners, first and second graders at Center School in Peabody, MA…and with third and fourth graders at North Street School in Tewksbury, MA.
Both groups were engaged, enthusiastic, and asked great questions. They laughed at my jokes, too, always a plus.
It was inspiring to hear about the excellent work promoting reading and writing that teachers and administrators are doing in both schools. Thank you to all the staff and parent volunteers who helped arrange these programs!
Talking to and listening to students at Center School Elementary in Peabody
From the Tewksbury Town Crier
March 21, 2016
Fun Day!
I had a great time at Gare Fest, a meeting of professionals who own paint-your-own-pottery studios around the country. It was run by Gare, in Haverhill, MA, a leading supplier of ceramics supplies: http://www.gare.com/profile.cfm When I walked in the building, I was amazed by the variety of colorful, appealing ceramics projects.
In my session I read 3 of my picture books–Esther’s Hanukkah Disaster, What’s Up With this Chicken?, and Don’t Call Me Sidney–and suggested accompanying story hour activities. It was such fun to present to friendly, creative people, and when Robyn Pierce, the marketing director, announced that each participant would receive a copy of Esther’s Hanukkah Disaster, I was delighted to hear the crowd cheer as if Oprah were giving out prizes.
Signing books for Gare Fest participants
People in line were very patient–especially because lunch was being served!
To top it all off, I went home with an adorable memento–a mug featuring Esther the purple gorilla–front and rear views–custom-made by talented Gare sculptor, Robert!
Esther in Book Form
Amazing resemblance!
Back of mug: so cute!
Awww…Jane loves Gare, too!
March 14, 2016
Trudy Wannabe
…yes, this wannabe Broody Trudy from What’s Up With this Chicken? and some feathered companions were spotted in Turkey (to clarify…the country of Turkey, not the chicken cousin, turkey) by my friend Judy (to clarify…my human friend Judy, not Broody Judy the adopted offspring of Broody Trudy)…Gee, that was more complicated than I thought this post would be!
March 2, 2016
Cluck, Cluck, Cluck…
With spring almost here (yay!), it’s time for this blog’s parade of chickens to get in motion again. Here’s a lovely specimen we spotted outside a gift shop in Provence last April:
Joli, n’est-ce pas?
February 13, 2016
Groundhog Day Treat
On our recent freakishly warm Groundhog Day I got to read What’s Up With this Chicken? to a group of great kids who were about 95 years younger than the listener in my previous post! During this Kids Cooking Green class, held at Newton Community Farm, the children got to cook with and learn about eggs.
It was so warm we could read outside!
After I shared the book, I tagged along with the class to the chicken coop. I’d never gotten the chance to pet chickens before. They were so soft! And their feathers glinting in the February sun were beautiful!
January 23, 2016
Me and Daddy
Moving, delightful, amazing…words that describe the experience of sharing my book with my 101 year old dad, who laughed at the jokes and admired the story and whose opinion as a highly successful advertising writer still matters much to me.
January 13, 2016
What’s Cooking?
Kids Cooking Green is a wonderful organization that teaches children to prepare healthy meals using fresh, locally grown ingredients. The classes are fun, as well as educational. I’m excited to read What’s Up With this Chicken? as part of a class about eggs and chickens held at Newton Community Farms. I hope to get to sample some of the egg dishes the kids cook!
Children may sign up for the 5-week class or just the February 2nd class, featuring Trudy the Broody Chicken and moi. Below are details:
5 weeks of Farm Life Fun & Cooking Classes
“Come visit the farm, cook with local farm fresh products before sitting down at the table to sample what we have made. Kids will go home with recipes and knowledge of what life on a farm is about!”
Newton
Community
Farms, Newton, MA
Tuesdays,
January
12-
February
9 
1
:30-‐3:15 PM
Children
in
grades
K,
1,
2
Register/info: www.kidscookinggreen.com
617.212.2820
January 4, 2016
My Inspiration Shares Her Inspiration!
When my friend-since-we-were-11-years-old Fay opened her overnight-shipped copy of my brand new picture book WHAT’S UP WITH THIS CHICKEN?, she discovered that the book, which she and her chickens inspired, is not only dedicated to her but features her and her chickens in the author’s note. You can imagine these old friends shrieking and chortling via skype! Before long she shared the book and her celeb status with 3 of her grandsons. And she read the book to her grandson’s 1st grade class.
Grandma Fay reading the book she inspired
Fay reading to first graders
December 19, 2015
Happy Everything!
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Happy every holiday you celebrate!
And let’s all hope for a more peaceful, compassionate 2016.
(For those of us in the Boston area,
a little less snow would be nice.)
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