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The 2016 Purple Dragonfly Children's Book Awards were announced today.  "Dinosaurs Living in My Hair" received a 1st Place Medal for Poetry. It also received a number of other accolades for Cover Design, Illustration, Interior Design, and Children's Picture Book categories. This is the third gold award "Dinosaurs Living in My Hair" has received since it's April 2015 publication. "Dragonflies are reminders that we are light and can reflect the light in powerful ways if we choose to do so." Check out Story Monsters Ink Magazine to see what's new in children's literature!

I had the privilege to read "Dinosaurs Living in My Hair" to over forty first graders. It was a great day to share my story with these wonderful and polite students. We discussed dinosaurs facts, characteristics we don't love about ourselves, nicknames, living "outside the box," bullying, kindness, how to accept our differences, and how to be true to who and what we are. After reading DLIMH, they allowed me to read "Dinosaurs Living in My Hair II." I needed help on the ending, title options, and advice on if it was too long. They were extremely honest and I...

In the early 1930's, poetry recitation was a popular occurrence at many social gatherings. My mother lived through this time period and memorized many poems from Patsy Dowd's Book of Treasure Poems and Recitations. My brother and I were serenaded many times at breakfast with her witty practiced rhymes from another era. The following is an example - and one of our favorites. SCHOOL DAYS Ma. I don't gotta go to school to-day, do I ma? Ah, shoot, Ma! I don't see why I gotta go to school all the time for. Johnny Jones don't gotta go to school when he don't want...