News
Introducing IF I WERE A PARK RANGER
Coming Soon from Albert Whitman & Co. (but available for pre-order NOW!). IF I WERE A PARK RANGER!
Know someone who is a fan of our beautiful national parks? Or an aspiring or working park ranger? Or any kid who loves nature? So excited to share news of my new book…
If you were a national park ranger, you’d spend every day in one of the most treasured places in America. You’d have an amazing job protecting animals, the environment, and our country’s natural and historical heritage, from the wilds of Denali to the Statue of Liberty!
Kirkus lauds the book as “A great way to introduce children to a not-often depicted career path and maybe to spark some interest in our country’s national treasures as well.”
Release date April 2019 but available for pre-order at your favorite bookseller.
Child Actors from THIS IS US Perform Lively Read-aloud of IF I RAN FOR PRESIDENT
As today is Election Day, this seems a good day to share this news. It’s not often that a children’s author gets to see her book read by not one – but three – super talented television actors. The young stars of the very popular and poignant THIS IS US read IF I RAN FOR PRESIDENT in this online video, as part of the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists’ Storyline Online program. The Storyline Online literacy program offers families, educators, health care professionals and kids an online library of children’s picture books presented by guest readers and accompanied with animation-enhanced illustrations.
The video featuring IF I RAN FOR PRESIDENT was released earlier this year, in observation of Constitution/Citizenship Day. Even though I knew about the upcoming video, it was still such a pleasant surprise to watch these three amazing, expressive young actors sharing the book. They performed in front of a very cool set with posters and decorations featuring characters from the book and these young people brought so much fun and warmth to the reading.
Oh, and Storyline Online offers an activity guide to accompany the book, too!
The American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten spoke in a separate video, discussing a bit about this book as well as the importance of helping kids to learn about our government and guiding them to be “informed and involved at an early age.”
I am proud that this book may help kids to do just that.
Watch the videos at https://www.storylineonline.net/books/if-i-ran-for-president/
Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Sleeping Bear Press at a Truly Great School
Last week I joined in the Sleeping Bear Press 20thanniversary celebration by taking part in a mini-visit to St. Gregory the Great Catholic School in San Antonio.
The students and staff were incredibly kind and welcoming! After the nicest of introductions by Ms. Rosales, I shared a photo of a book I wrote in first grade and read my historical fiction picture book WELCOME TO AMERICA, CHAMP! (published by Sleeping Bear Press). Then students had some very interesting 
questions – “Do you get help writing your books?” “Do you tell the illustrator how you want the pictures to be?” I could tell that they put a lot of thought into these questions!
To mark their 20th anniversary, Sleeping Bear Press donated 20 new books to the school.
Oh, and the school gave me some fun Fiesta items, including this bright and festive Fiesta medal!
Thank you to the students and staff at St. Gregory the Great and to Sleeping Bear Press for a truly amazing day!
The Charm Bracelet Bio
(or the Writing Resume I Wear on My Wrist)
As a child, I had a charm bracelet with charms that marked the places I visited and the important events in my life. As a grownup, I started a new charm bracelet – with each charm representing a part of my writing life. I call it “my writing resume on my wrist.” Instead of a traditional bio, I offer this…
The Queen Mary Ship
This charm represents my first historical picture book, WELCOME TO AMERICA, CHAMP! which takes place on the ship the Queen Mary. I conducted a book signing and was a guest at the WWII War Brides Reunion on this amazing ship, permanently docked now in Long Beach, CA.
Candy Cane
Wrote two Holiday feature articles in Woman’s Day Magazine. As a freelance magazine writer, I published 25+ how-to, craft & feature articles in Woman’s Day Magazine.
Newspaper
Served as a newspaper columnist for 8 years for The Schaumburg Review newspaper. Also published articles in The Chicago Sun-Times, the San Antonio Express-News and other newspapers.
Teapot
Published my first poem titled “When Jean Forgot to Say When,” a wild tea party tale-in-verse, in Highlights magazine.
Bug
Published three bug books, BUGS IN MY HAIR?!, BARNABY THE BEDBUG DETECTIVE, and WHAT’S BUGGING NURSE PENNY.
The White House
Published three presidential/election books, IF I WERE PRESIDENT, IF I RAN FOR PRESIDENT and TODAY ON ELECTION DAY. The White House Historical Association featured IF I WERE PRESIDENT in their gift shop.
Heart
For two short story romances in Woman’s World magazine.
Hawaiian Quilt
Wrote a Hawaiian crafts feature and other articles for Children’s Playmate and Child Life magazines.
Book
For my first novel, THE TERRIBLE SECRETS OF THE TELL-ALL CLUB.
Ship’s Wheel
For a sea shanties article in Highlights magazine. I published 25+ stories, articles and crafts in Highlights magazine (by the way, sea shanties are songs sailors sang as they worked).
Mount Rushmore
For a book signing at Mount Rushmore. The sculpture also appears in the books IF I WERE PRESIDENT and IF I RAN FOR PRESIDENT.
Statue of Liberty
Wrote a family travel cover article for Woman’s Day magazine. That issue featured a photo of my kids in front of Lady Liberty.
Roadrunner
Mascot of the University of Texas at San Antonio, where I conducted research on children’s literature and authored/co-authored 3 academic articles on children’s picture books during the completion of a Master’s Degree in Reading & Literacy.
Children’s Book IF I WERE PRESIDENT selected for Teach A Girl to Lead project
Rutgers University’s Center for American Women and Politics has announced the picture book IF I WERE PRESIDENT, by Catherine Stier and illustrated by DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan, is this year’s selected book for their Teach A Girl to Lead project.
Approximately 2000 copies of the book, described as “a great story that teaches an important lesson about leadership,” have been purchased and distributed in to “each woman in Congress, the women serving in all state legislatures, and four women governors” as stated on the Teach a Girl to Lead website at http://tag.rutgers.edu/teaching-toolbox/reading-day-if-i-were-president/
These elected women leaders are encouraged to share the book and discuss leadership issues with groups of children in their districts, and then donate the books to the school or organization at which they appear. And they have! New York State Senator Elaine Phillips, Hawaii State Representative Nadine Nakamura and Florida State Representative Tracie Davis are just some of the elected leaders who have shared IF I WERE PRESIDENT with children to date.
I am very proud that these women leaders are reading and discussing my book. I hope that its portrayal of both young boys and girls imagining themselves as POTUS will encourage all children to consider a possible future in positions of leadership.
I Did It! Completion of a Master’s Program
This spring, I celebrated with my family the completion of my Masters of Education/Reading and Literacy with a focus on children’s literature from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
This program offered abundant opportunities to explore the research on children’s literacy and literature. I studied with incredible professors including Dr. Miriam Martinez, a children’s literature researcher, former Caldecott Medal selection committee member and my advisor; Dr. Roxanne Henkin, Director of the San Antonio Writing Project; and Dr. Carmen Tafolla, the instructor in my Multicultural Literature for Children Class and State Poet Laureate of Texas; among other stellar faculty members.
Through the master’s program, I conducted picturebook research, both on my own and with others. My independent research article “Examining the Actions of Child Characters in Historical Fiction Picturebooks” appeared in the Spring 2014 issue of The Dragon Lode, a peer-reviewed publication of the International Reading Association’s Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group. http://www.clrsig.org/dragon_lode_current.php
I was also fortunate to conduct illuminating picturebook research with Dr. Miriam Martinez and Dr. Lori Ann Falcon. The article based on this research, “Judging a Book by Its Cover: An Investigation of Peritextual Features in Caldecott Award Books” was published in February 2016 by the peer-reviewed Children’s Literature in Education http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10583-016-9272-8
While pursuing this degree, I had the amazing opportunity to create children’s works while researching kid’s literature. I released three new children’s books while enrolled in the program, including WELCOME TO AMERICA, CHAMP! (Sleeping Bear Press), the WWII historical fiction picturebook that inspired my independent research topic.
Additionally, through my completion of the exciting and intense summer institute of the San Antonio Writing Project (SAWP) held at UTSA, I became a SAWP teacher consultant.
Guest speakers (in person and through Skype visits) at various programs associated with UTSA included children’s authors/illustrators Candace Fleming, Eric Rohmann, Yuyi Morales, Karen Cushman, Deborah Wiles and Pat Mora. How fascinating to hear about their writing and research practices!
I am grateful to my family who encouraged me and to all the UTSA staff and faculty who guided me along my academic journey. Today, I look forward to continuing to create children’s literature, now with an increased understanding and appreciation and fresh insights developed through this remarkable program.
DoSeum Kids’ Creative Writing Workshop Explored “Heroes Among Us” at Saturday Program
What fun to facilitate the “Heroes Among Us”
Creative Writing Workshop at the DoSeum with fellow San Antonio Writing Project teacher consultants. The DoSeum is San Antonio’s new, amazing children’s museum. On July 25, young writers learned about The Hero’s Journey and spoke with real life heroes to inspire their own hero stories! Visiting the DoSeum that
day were all kinds of heroes, including those who work to keep others safe, protect wildlife, and help kids to learn and grow. To meet some of these amazing heroes visit: http://www.thedoseum.org/heroes-everyday-meet-heroes/
The Queen Mary Hotel and Attraction Book Giveaway
Just learned that last month, the Queen Mary staff hosted a giveaway, and gifted one winner (who liked their post on Facebook) with a copy of WELCOME TO AMERICA, CHAMP! in honor of International Children’s Book Day. I hope the recipient enjoys both this story, set on the Queen Mary in 1946, as well as the gorgeous illustrations of the interior and exterior of the great ship by Doris Ettlinger.