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Dog Travel Buddies

[Your Name Here] — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:16:25 +0000

OJ and I are logging a lot of miles this month (TX, MN, NY, MD, VA, MA, and today, Kansas City, MO!). Today we met Tula, a fellow passenger with digs that made OJ green (well, orange) with envy. Being "packed" with my socks and toiletries never bothered OJ before. But now that OJ's seen how the other half lives...

At the IRA today!

[Your Name Here] — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:54:44 +0000

I am very pleased to have the chance to visit the International Reading Association's Engage blog today.

Won't you join me there? I think there might be cookies...

More O.J.!

[Your Name Here] — Mon, 13 May 2013 11:21:36 +0000

It has been a busy couple of months, with travel to San Antonio, Minneapolis, New York, Virginia and more. Lots of kids, lots of O.J. books, and everywhere I go I tell kids, "Make an O.J. and send me a photo!"

Well, here's the newest member of the O.J. family, submitted by Rei (pronounced "Ray" - how cool is that?) in Vermont. He doesn't have a name yet, but I'm thinking maybe "Pinky"? Or how about "Sting"? That way, it'll be "Sting" and Rei - stingray! Just some suggestions... he's your dog, though, so the name is up to you. Write about him, send it to me and maybe you'll see your work published here!

Presenting: More Pups of Moretown (VT!)

[Your Name Here] — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 04:12:02 +0000

O.J. loves to get mail (oj at ericaperl dot com!), and today he was treated to a great email from Diana Puffer, a 5/6 teacher at Moretown Elementary School in Moretown, VT. She told O.J.: "My students got together with our 2nd grade buddies and made our own dogs like OJ. They had so much fun and came out amazing!!!"

And she sent photos, so you can see her fabulous students and their new pets:

But wait there's more... (of course there's more - these kids are from Moretown!)

Here's the "more":

Diana and her school librarian, Meg Allison, have created activities based on When Life Gives You OJ. For example, they are planning to work with the 2nd grade buddies to make a biography about the dogs through the eyes of the dogs. (I love that idea!) She also thought the kids might work with their local Humane Society, Central Vermont Humane Society, to create bios for dogs needing adoptive parents. And here's another great idea: turning the dogs into "doggie" banks and try to raise money for the local Humane Society.

Great job on the dogs, and great collaboration! Let me know how these projects go and keep those stories and photos coming!

Introducing... Carlos!

[Your Name Here] — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 19:14:50 +0000

Carlos the chameleon is the one and only KING OF THE ZOO (just ask him!). He's illustrated by the fabulously talented, NY Times bestselling illustrator (and all around terrific person) Jackie Urbanovic. He'll be available at a bookstore, library, school, and hopefully zoo near you in 2013!

I Shared My Lesson!

[Your Name Here] — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 21:18:00 +0000

Last week, I had the pleasure of going to Osceola County, FL with the American Federation of Teachers and First Book to present my work and help provide books to all of the kids there. It was an incredible event, though typical of the great work AFT and First Book are doing all over the country. Here's a video AFT made of it:

Did you hear the kids chanting "Dot-TY! Dot-TY!"? Too cool...

Anyway, while I was there I watched a presentation on the AFT's new site, Share My Lesson. When I learned that it is available for anyone who works with kids to share resources, I got really excited. What a cool thing for us authors that create teaching guides and materials! So I jumped on and, yes, shared my lesson, including several resources for using When Life Gives You O.J. with 3rd-6th grade students and linking them to the Common Core standards. And my plan is to do it again, and again, and again.

You should, too. And you heard it here first!

O.J. takes on DC

[Your Name Here] — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 14:56:47 +0000

This morning, O.J. came downtown on the metro with me (we're skyping with Katie Davis later today). O.J. was much admired by the one commuter who noticed he was there. He said, and I quote, "You have a very well-behaved dog, young lady."

The Book Report with Jarrett J. Krosoczka!

[Your Name Here] — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 17:15:19 +0000

Hey, pals with newer cars than mine (and non-vehicle-based SiriusXM subscribers)! Today at 5:40 p.m., tune into The Book Report (on the Absolutely Mindy Show) and hear a familiar voice - mine! If you know Jarrett, make that two familiar voices. We'll be talking about books, First Book, chickens (NOT Chick-fil-A chickens, literary chickens), O.J., and more.

The best part is, Jarrett draws pictures of his guests (and makes them look even purdier than they are in real life - thanks, JJK!).

Climber, anyone?

[Your Name Here] — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 12:29:23 +0000

Free to a good home in the Washington DC area. Needs a minor facelift, and you must carry away yourself (dismantle it or bring strong friends!)... first come, first serve.

Books to Kids in Hagerstown

[Your Name Here] — Sat, 05 May 2012 02:55:00 +0000

I did three back to back school visits today in Hagerstown, MD with some fabulous kids, all thanks to the wonderful resourcefulness of Pat Wishard and her team at the Washington County Free Library. They brought me in, and also provided every child with a book to keep (First Book helped with this because all of the schools were Title I). Here are some pics of me with some of the kids, as well as what they were having for lunch (oh noooooo!). The pin I'm wearing is recycled plastic and was made by the art teacher and given to me (I am so honored)!