Not Norman, A Goldfish Story is now Reader’s Theater!

After garnering a 5-glug review at its debut at Bear Pond Books in Montpelier, VT the Reader’s Theater version of Not Norman, A Goldfish Story is ready to take on the road. Next stop: Your Place!

Download the Not Norman Reader’s Theater Script.

(If this link fails, click on the “Activities” Tab and scroll down to Not Norman‘s Activity Box

Ready all you Normans? (Come on you know you always wanted to play a goldfish.) Puff up your fish cheeks, puff out your fish lips and give us a “Glug!”

….Fish lovers that is. Specifically Norman the Fish lovers me and Noah Z. Jones the Amazing, who illustrated Not Norman, A Goldfish Story. We met up for the 1st time at St. George’s Pre-school in La Canada, California on Wednesday. How?

In some wonderful cosmic collision Rebecca Grose, of SoCal Public Relations,

Rebecca Grose, my personal publicity Guru!

just happened to reach out to Flintridge Books in La Canada when she was scheduling events to celebrate my new picture book, Your Mommy Was Just Like You, and, fellow Vermont College grad Catherine Linka

Catherine Linka, my VCFA Bud! (A brilliant writer!)

just happens to be the Children’s Book Buyer for Flintridge Books (which is now is a brand spankin’ new, bigger and better location right on the corner of Foothill and Angeles Crest)

Brand spankin' new Flintridge Books

, and Noah’s son Eli just happens to be attend pre-school at St. Georges—what are the chances of that!

Noah, who is quite famous and successful nowadays as creator of the Disney animated series, Fish Hooks took time that morning to pop over to St. George’s for a visit. What a surprise! What a treat! Noah is just as silly and fun and clever in real live as I imagined him to be when he brought to life our funny flippin’ and floppin’ fish character Norman!

Pleased to meet you, Noah!

Noah and I had never met. Never even talked on the phone before. Never even e-mailed until after Not Norman was released in 2005. (Which is pretty normal in the picture book creating process.) Still, it is kind of weird if you think about it….wouldn’t it make sense for the illustrator and author to chat? Or meet? But that’s not how it’s usually done. The idea is that the author might muck up the illustrator’s creative process by imposing his or her vision over the artist’s. I must admit, judging by the wonderful, surprising art in picture books—especially mine!—the system works!

Our editor, Sarah,  kept telling me how much fun Noah was and how nice Noah was and and and…and finally I got to see for myself! Noah brought his easel, giant paper and markers along when he came to surprise me. And so together we entertained the preschoolers with the story of how Not Norman came to life. For a few hours on Wednesday it was the Noah and Kelly Show: while I talked and read, Noah drew silly, funny sketches. The kid’s heads were bobbing back and forth faster than fans at Wimbledon!

The Noah and Kelly Show

Noah and I had a blast! We’re hoping this is the beginning of more fishy fun! (Hint, hint, Sarah…)

Noah Z. Jones--one Amazing Illustrator!

There is nothing, nothing, absolutely, positively nothing as thrilling as sharing a new book with kids! With readers! Thanks to my niece, Grace, I had the chance to do that Friday. Here’s Grace–and my brand new book, Your Mommy Was Just Like You (which won’t even be in stores until March!)

Me, my sweet neice, Grace McAndrews, and YOUR MOMMY!

I’m in Reno visiting my family. My mom and  big brother, Joe, sis-in-law Joanne and my talented, smart and georgeous Grace and her brother Devin (equally talented and smart but more handsome than georgeous) live here. Grace is in the 3rd grade at Caughlin Ranch Elementary. I was thrilled when she invited me to visit her class–and especially happy her teacher, Samantha Fryer, said it was all right!

1st we looked at the globe to see where I had come from to visit!

Jakarta, Indonesia is all the way around on the other side of the world--it took me 5 flights: 1- 1 1/2 hours; 1-12 hours; 1-7 1/2 hours; 1-6 hours; and one last 1 hour long flight to get here.

We talked about writing and illustrating and where story ideas come from–and I shared my famous, never fail trick for thinking of story ideas (Shhhhhh! Don’t tell!). Then we read DANCE Y’ALL DANCE and admired Terri Murphy’s incredible art!

Who can tell me the name of that critter?

Next we took a vote on which book to read next. Lots of kids wanted me to read NOT NORMAN, a GOLDFISH STORY, because they were familiar with it. But, in the end they voted for YOUR MOMMY WAS JUST LIKE YOU illustrated by David Walker. And so, for the first time in the history of the world, I read YOUR MOMMY to students!

Your mommy was.... Just like You!

Afterward, we had had had to read YOUR DADDY WAS JUST LIKE YOU….it was the fair thing to do!

Equal time for YOUR DADDY!

And then, even though we could have gone on reading and talking and asking questions all day, it was time to leave. But, before I left, we had all posed for a group photo! Thank you, Grace, for inviting me to visit your class. Caughlin Ranch is a fantastic school and Mrs. Fryer’s 3rd grade class is the best!

Mrs. Fryer's 3rd Graders are Fab-u-tastic!

Thank you for making me welcome! Write on! Kelly