Donna Marie 2023

Donna Marie hopes you enjoy this special International Dot Day celebrating creativity and the 20th Anniversary since Peter Reynolds wonderful book The Dot was released!

She is the author/illustrator of the series of picture books Pippin Pals are Hero Helpers! written
to help children understand, cope and comply with the "new normal" of the pandemic,
executed in 7 diverse and inclusive versions so YOU can pick the main character and family that
suits you best.

Though they target the pandemic lockdown situation, the books contain invaluable teaching
tools on health and hygiene, and is loaded with ideas for stay-at-home fun:
PippinHeroHelpers.com

Happy Dot Day, everyone!

:Donna Marie

Sharon Creech 2023

 

 Newbery Medalist Sharon Creech was the inspiration for the Celebridot project. Here is her dot for 2022. 

You can learn more about Sharon and her wonderful books on her website.

Sharon Creech

Sharon Creech 2012

Sharon Creech 2013

Sharon Creech 2014

Sharon Creech 2015

Sharon Creech 2016

Sharon Creech 2017

Sharon Creech 2018

Sharon Creech 2019

Sharon Creech 2020

Sarah Aronson

 

Sarah Aronson began writing for kids and teens when someone in an exercise class dared her to try. Since then, she has earned an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and published the following books for kids and teens: Head Case, Beyond Lucky, and Believe, a young MG series, The Wish List as well as Just Like Rube Goldberg, illustrated by Robert Neubecker, Brand New Bubbe, illustrated by Ariel Landy.

Her next picture book is a biography of Bella Abzug, called Abzuglutely: Battling, Bellowing Bella Abzug. (Calkins Creek, Astra Publishing).

When Sarah is not writing or reading (or making great soup or riding her bike), she is talking to readers about creativity, writing, social action, and of course, sparkle power! She loves working with other writers in one of her classes at the amazing Highlights Foundation, SCBWI, or Writers on the Net. Warning: When she gets really excited, she makes funny faces and talks with her hands. Don’t be shocked if she talks about the power of play. She lives in Chicago, Illinois.- www.saraharonson.com

Sarah explains her dot: " I take Lynda Barry's advice on getting started--and entering the creative portal--by making what I'm going to call a "swirladot." Every morning, this is the first thing I do. It helps me say goodbye to whatever is on my mind and into the heart of the story!"

Tricia Springstubb

 

Tricia is one of those peculiar creatures—her stories grow out of both her head and her heart. Her picture books, chapter books and middle grade novels explore the wonders and fears, joys and challenges of growing up and taking a place in the world. Her favorite people are kids—and the adults who nurture them.

A late-blooming and self-taught writer, Tricia has worked as a counselor for adolescents, a Head Start teacher, and an associate children’s librarian, besides doing the all-important job of raising three children. Her work has received many starred reviews, been nominated for state awards, honored as a best book of the year by Kirkus, Bank Street College of Education, the Chicago Public Library, the Horn Book and the Washington Post, and recognized by Parents Choice and the Junior Library Guild. Reader's Digest named her most recent picture book one of the hundred best children’s books of all time (they really did!)

And though all of that is very, very nice, her truest reward is connecting with readers. A frequent speaker at schools, libraries and conferences, Tricia loves to share her crooked path to becoming an author and to encourage people of all ages to discover and delight in their own creativity.

Tricia lives and works in trusty, rusty Cleveland. Find out more about her and her work at www.triciaspringstubb.com

Ying Compestine

 

A leading national authority on Asian culture and cuisine, award-winning author, and former food editor for Martha Stewart's Whole Living magazine, Ying Chang Compestine is the multi-talented author of 25 books including fiction, picture books, and five cookbooks. She is the host of the popular TV cooking show New Ideas for Delicious Meals on Phoenix TV. Ying has been the spokesperson for Nestle Maggi and Celestial Seasonings.

Frequently sought after by the media, Ying has been featured on numerous national television programs, and is regularly profiled in prestigious news media outlets (The New York Times, The Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, and Huffington Post); and has been named one of the "50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading" by The Author's Show. Ying has contributed to Cooking Light, EatingWell, Self, Men's Health, Christian Science Monitor, and many other prestigious national publications. Her keen interest in cuisine has led her to weave food into all of her writing--including cookbooks, novels, and picture books for young readers. Her highly acclaimed novel about her life growing up in China during the Chinese Cultural Revolution, Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party, has received over 30 national awards, and has been included in school syllabi globally. It was also selected for the One Book/One County reading program in Santa Clara California.

Ying grew up in Wuhan, China during the Chinese Cultural Revolution. She uses these experiences, as well as her passion for food, in all her writing. Ying graduated from Central China Normal University with a degree in English, then earned her Master's in Sociology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, where she met her husband shortly before completing the degree. She has taught writing and sociology in both the U.S. and China, receiving education awards in both countries.

Request a Visit with Ying

Susan Eaddy 2023

 

Susan Eaddy writes picture books and plays with clay. Her illustrations are all made with plasticine or polymer clay and photographed with the help of her two marmalade cats. She has pizza boxes filled with clay critters and she’s pretty sure they come out to play at midnight.

Susan has written/and or illustrated 10 picture books and her artwork appears regularly in Babybug, Ladybug, Click and Spider Magazines. She was an Art Director for fifteen years, has served as a judge for the Audie Awards for 14 years, and has won international 3D illustration awards and a Grammy nomination.

Susan loves nothing more than school visits. Her love of travel has taken her to schools all over the world from Hong Kong, Brazil, Switzerland, Taiwan, and all over the US too! Her home base is in Nashville, TN where she plays with clay in the attic studio of her 100 year old house.

http://www.susaneaddy.com

Merriam Sarcia Saunders

Please meet wordsmith and ADHD aficionado, Merriam Sarcia Saunders, LMFT! As a licensed family therapist and maestro in managing ADHD, Merriam is a wizard who understands the magical world of neurodevelopmental differences. She's not just your regular author – she's your go-to guide for all things ADHD! When she's not conjuring up creative stories, Merriam works magic helping families navigate the enchanting journey of raising kids with differences.

Merriam is the imaginative mind behind five captivating books, including the picture books My Wandering, Dreaming Mind and My Whirling, Twirling Motor. (School Library Journal even gave her a golden star for this gem!) But that's not all – middle schoolers adore her spellbinding novel Trouble With A Tiny t, a positive ADHD tale that hooks and helps young hearts and minds.

Merriam is a seasoned school sorceress (aka, school counselor!) having counseled young explorers from kindergarten to 12th grade, with a particular mastery in special education. And like your own enchanting teachers, she is currently one herself—of psychology at Dominican University, so she knows the magic of a classroom!

Her dedication to kid-lit and mental health lead her to co-found the haven known as www.ANovelMind.com. It's a searchable treasure chest brimming with kids’ books that celebrate characters with unique minds and extraordinary journeys.

So, whether your students are curious readers, aspiring authors, or just looking for a dash of wonder, Merriam will conduct your next school author visit with a symphony of topics ranging from her whimsical writing journey, how to turn fairytales into limericks or make a poem out of a problem to in-service staff trainings on neurodivergence in the classroom—all with the underlying melody of understanding children with unique needs. With her years of experience, she knows how to make each note resonate with empathy and fun. 🪄📚

Learn more about Merriam on her website https://merriamsaunders.com/books.html