Welcome to Marianne's Web Site

G'DAY MATES! Come to Australia where most of the animals are unique! From kangaroos and koalas, to wombats and sugar gliders, they are a fascinating bunch. In my picture book "Over in Australia, Amazing Animals Down Under" kids imitate and count the animals, and find hidden ones as well. Like my book "Over in the Arctic," the cut-paper illustrations by Jill Dubin will inspire many an art project.

And, I just learned that "Australia" received another award: the Florida Publishers Association Gold Award for Children's Picture Book. I am so pleased with all the wonderful awards this book has received since it was released in March 2011.

•2012 Learning Magazine Teacher’s Choice Award
•2011 Florida Publishers Assn. Presidents Award – Gold (Children’s Picture Book)
•2011 Skipping Stones Magazine Honor Award
•2011 Mom’s Choice Gold Award
•2011 Young Voices Foundation Gold Award (Children’s Picture Book Category)
•2011 Moonbeam Children’s Book Gold Award (Picture Book – All Ages Category)
•2011 Purple Dragonfly Book Award – First Place (Children’s Picture Book)
•2011 IBPPG Next Generation Indie Book Award – Finalist
•2011 Missouri State Teacher’s Assn. Reading Circle Program Selection

To read some of the great reviews, go to www.dawnpub.com. Click onto "reviews and awards."

And, "may reading take you many places!"

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ATTENTION: TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS AND PARENTS

Emily Morgan and Karen Ansberry, authors of two terrific NSTA (National Science Teachers Association )publications: "Picture Perfect Science Lessons" and "More Picture Perfect Science Lessons: Using Children's Books to Guide Inquiry" reviewed my book in the summer issue of NSTA's Science and Children. They compiled activities that encourage grades K-4 to "Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate" as they learn more about the mysteries of animal migration.

It's downloadable at: http://dawnpub.com/activities/NSTA_GoingHome.pdf

In fact, click on "Dawn Publications" below, then onto "Teachers/Librarians" Downloadable Activities, scrolling down to the Migration Book and you will see other activities too, including reproducible bookmarks of the ten migrating animals in the book. Enjoy the journey!

 

http://www.dawnpub.com/

Dawn Publications
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Thursday I spent an inspiring day at Westminster Christian School in Miami. It is always such a thrill when I arrive at a school that has really “prepared” for my author visit. Media Specialist, Susan Lewis, welcomed me with a special parking spot, and a light breakfast before entering the school’s warm and inviting media center, where on the walls the talented art teacher had displayed amazing creations about the migrating animals and their incredible journeys in my book "Going Home." What a great way to enhance learning!

I was particularly impressed with all the little hummingbird nests made out of yarn that were attached to real tree branches. Of course Susan had been reading all my books to the children over the past few weeks, and there they were on a table next to a microphone and screen and we were ready to begin. The students and teachers were so responsive and after doing three presentations for Pre-K through Grade 4, I autographed 175 books!

It’s so rewarding to know a kid is taking a book home to read again and hopefully again, each time discovering something new and exciting. Creativity certainly flourishes in WCS’s media center where students can celebrate the joy of reading, and learn digital literacy skills too! It was a great day, but the excitement wasn’t over.

When I arrived home in the early evening, after a 2-1/2 hour drive, I sat outside on our patio to relax before dinner, and for the first time in all the 12 years my husband and I have lived in Hobe Sound, there on our bottlebrush tree was a little hummingbird whizzing from flower to flower as the sun began to set in a glorious orange sky. Life is indeed a mystery!
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The Florida Reading Association's Annual Conference is Sept. 8-11 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando. The theme is "Reading...Unlocking Hidden Treasures." How perfect is that since it's National Literacy Month.

I'm lucky to be one of their featured authors and couldn't be more pleased, especially since Going Around the Sun: Some Planetary Fun is one of the eight nominees for the 2011-2012 Children's Book Award. Of course I'll be sharing all my books, including my newest, Animalogy published by Sylvan Dell. Read More 

My latest picture book "Animalogy" published by Sylvan Dell Publishing is now available on their web site, on Amazon.com and at Barnes & Noble.

It compares and contrasts different animals by size, physical adaptations, behaviors and animal classes.
The illustrations by Cathy Morrison are really beautiful, and the rhymes are easy for young children to enjoy, while older children are learning without even realizing it! ---

I'll be introducing the book at Barnes & Noble on Saturday, August 27 in Jensen Beach, Florida and at Barnes & Noble in West Melbourne, Florida on Wednesday, Sept. 14.

"And I am to YOU
As YOU are to ME!"

http://www.sylvandellpublishing.com/

Sylvan Dell Publishing

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Imagine how thrilled I was when I opened up the August issue of "Your Big Backyard" published by the National Wildlife Federation, and saw that "Over in the Ocean, in a Coral Reef" was their book of the month!

Wow! The August issue featured some really cool information about seahorses so my book really made a splash! (Couldn't resist the pun!) Hope "Over in the Ocean" will be enjoyed by kids for many years to come! It was such a fun book to write, and of course Jeanette Canyon's illustrations are "eye-popping!" Read More 

I am amazed at all the great "happenings" before "Animalogy" has even been released. (Release date is 8/10/11.)

Illustrator, Cathy Morrison, who did a fabulous job, won a blue ribbon at the Denver County Fair yesterday, for her beautiful artwork for this book.

And the publisher, Sylvan Dell, is offering a contest on their blog in connection with the five books they are releasing this month. Just comment on which of the five books you think will be your favorite (hint, hint) and you may win some free books. See:

http://sylvandellpublishing.wordpress.com/2011/07/25/five-great-new-fall-releases-enter-to-win/#comments

Can't wait to get my copies of this entertaining and educational addition to my other books. Will keep you posted on "Animalogy's" debut!

"Animals are to nature, as Animalogy is to fun!"

http://www.sylvandellpublishing.com/

Sylvan Dell Publishing

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Now that summer is here and school is out, lots of families will be heading for the beaches, here in Florida especially. My book, Seashells by the Seashore has a tear-out laminated identification sheet in the back of the paperback edition that a child can take to the beach, leaving the book at home. What fun to come back with a bucket of amazing shells that you can actually name and sort! Click on the Dawn Publications link to learn more about this book and shelling.

http://www.dawnpub.com/all-the-pretty-shells/

Dawn Publications

I'll be autographing it at Barnes & Noble in Jensen Beach on Thursday evening, July 14 and all day at Shells and Things in Vero Beach on Saturday, July 23. I'll have all the shells from this book available for kids to "touch and tell."

HAPPY SHELLING!
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