By Audrey Wood

Issue #21

Dear Friends,

Audrey, Don and Bruce Wood will attend the American Library Association convention in San Francisco in mid June, where, for the first time ever, father and son will give a combined presentation. Don and Bruce will speak to an ALA pre-conference concerning new media in children's book illustration. Then, also for the first time ever, father, mother, and son will have a combined book signing on Saturday, June 16th.

If you are attending the ALA in San Francisco, visit Scholastic's booth for a sneak preview of Audrey and Bruce's new fall book, ALPHABET ADVENTURE.

Audrey will also be signing her books at the Harcourt booth Monday, June 18th.

If, during any of the signings, you mention to Audrey that you are a Smart Piggy, you'll get a special gift!

Another highlight of the long weekend will be Audrey and Bruce's presentation of their new book, ALPHABET ADVENTURE, at the Scholastic Literary Luncheon on Monday, June 18th. If you have never been to such an event, they are fascinating. At least 15 authors/illustrators are given 5 minutes each to capsulize their latest book. The best aspect of the program is learning in 5 minute bursts how the authors/illustrators created their books. The worst part (for me) is being sandwiched between an accomplished, charming, public speaker, like Barry Moser, and Virginia Hamilton, who recites her exquisite books in perfect dialect. If someone had told me I'd have to be a public speaker when I became an author, I might have run the other way.

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AUDREY WOOD SURROUNDED!

I recently had the pleasure to attend a Blue Sky Scholastic dinner in Santa Monica in honor of Mark Teague's visit to the West Coast. At one point I looked around me and realized that I was smack dab in the middle of four of my favorite illustrators -- Don Wood, Mark Teague, David Shannon and Robert Florczack. For a moment I felt like I would faint from the combined power of their talents! It was quite an experience.

If you don't know which books I have collaborated on with each of these award-winning illustrators, enter The Clubhouse and visit the ”Meet The Artists” section or click on the following link: http://www.audreywood.com/mac_site/friends_clubhouse/friends_clubhouse.htm

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HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY BOOKS!

Many of the stories I have written over the years were inspired by the experience of being a mother. Don’t forget to call, write, or kiss your mother on Mother's Day, May 13th. Instead of flowers or a drugstore card, why not send a memorable book?

BOOKS FOR MOM! (By Audrey Wood)

Picture books are not only for children, adults need picture books, too!

WEIRD PARENTS –No one can escape them, you either have them, or… you are them! I get more letters from parents who have received WEIRD PARENTS from their adult children!

Instead of the usual card, try BIRDSONG (Illustrated by Robert Florzack, written by Audrey Wood) BIRDSONG is beautifully illustrated in a Victorian romantic style. Flowers and singing birds are a perfect Mother’s Day theme. Include a handwritten note (by you) in the book (available now in paperback).

FIND OUT how to order a book for Mother's Day now.

Enter The Clubhouse and visit the “Parents and Teachers” section or click on the following link: http://www.audreywood.com/mac_site/bookstore/bookstore.html

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BOOK INSPIRES CHILDREN TO CREATE THEIR OWN GAMES!

Dear Audrey,

My name is Austen. I am 7 years old and in 2nd grade. My brother is Scott, he is 5 years old and in Kindergarten.

We love your book, "Sweet Dream Pie"! My mom reads it to us every night before bed.

Scott and I act out the people and animals in the book. I pretend I'm the newspaper boy, Jonny Lunds, when he gets knocked off his bike by the chocolate tornado. Scott pretends he's Pa Brindle tossing sweets into the pie crust. Mom thinks we'll get hurt when we roll out of our beds when Ma Brindle rolls out the pie crust, but we never do.

We both like the wild dreams!

Dear Austen,

To learn more about Sweet Dream Pie and how award-winning illustrator Mark Teague (How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight) created the illustrations for our book enter The Clubhouse and visit the “Meet the Artists” section or click on the following link: http://www.audreywood.com/mac_site/friends_clubhouse/teague/pie_art/pie_art.htm

************************************************************* A ROYAL ACTIVITY!

Audrey, do you have an art activity for your book KING BIDGOOD’S IN THE BATHTUB?

Marion Cruz

Elementary School Teacher

For a King Bidgoodian art activity, have your students make their own masquerade masks like the characters wear in our book. Photocopy the page from our book ("tonight we dance in the tub") and enlarge the masks to create templates. Set out feathers, pasta, leaves sparkles etc. for the children to use to decorate their masks. Then put on some music!

A teacher once wrote and told me that at the end of her author's week, she brought in a bathtub and had her children take turns sitting in the tub wearing a crown and cloak. She then took Polaroid’s of each child and posted them on her bulletin board, and titled them – "(the child's name) is in the bathtub and (s)he won't get out!"

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JOIN IN AND BE A SMART PIGGY!

Do you have an activity inspired by one of our books that you would like to share with other Smart Piggies? Let us know and we’ll include it in our newsletter.

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NEW SUBSCRIBERS!

Check out our past Smart Piggy's Newsletters! Enter THE CLUBHOUSE at http://www.audreywood.com and click on the "Parents and Teachers" link, then click on "Smart Piggy's Newsletter past Issues" link.

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Keep your questions and suggestions coming!

Warmest Regards,

Audrey Wood

Info@audreywood.com

http://www.audreywood.com