I’m thrilled to holler out: My new picture book , ONE DAY I WENT RAMBLING, is on the way!  It’s coming to bookstores on April Fool’s Day!

Illustrated by the creative goddess, Terri Murphy, with whom I partnered to create DANCE, Y’ALL, DANCE (also published by Bright Sky Press) ONE DAY I WENT RAMBLING stars Zane, a boy who finds fun and adventure within found objects.

Come rambling with Zane and his friends and you’ll discover the priceless jewels and other treasures that lie all around…if you just know how to look!

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

“Some one gave me a wonderful present… ” I felt like singing when I opened my e-mail Saturday morning. The Galley’s for Dance Y’all Dance, my soon to be released picture book from Bright Sky Press had arrived. It is a lively, two-steppin’, swingin’ and twirlin’ dance hall romp. Illustrator Terri Murphy created lively art with fun characters, every page dances. She did a wonderful job of bring the story to life. Dance Y’all, Dance will be released this fall. Here is a peek at the cover.