A banquet for Florida Book Awards 2007 winners
The Florida Library Association was hosting a banquet for Florida Book Award 2007 winners on April 24 with FLA annual conference in St. Pete Beach, Florida.
Book signing at Gaddesby School, Leicestershire, England, March 6th, 2008
As you can see I was made very welcome at the Gaddesby School. The way the Head Teacher introduced me I felt I was someone famous. The kids were very enthusiastic about Space Travelers and I read a part of the book to them. I was then taken round each of the classes and discovered they were doing projects related to the book. They must have been working on them all week. One teacher asked them to think up new endings to a chapter. I then went round to read them and got some clever ideas? After selling copies of the book to many of them I told them a little about myself. In a question and answer session the kids fired questions at me. Who was my favorite writer? Why had I written Space Travelers? Had I written other books? Never have I answered so many sensible questions in such a short time. Those who did not buy the book that day wanted my signature anyway and came along with blank pieces of paper. It was one of the most enjoyable afternoons I have ever spent.
Book signing in Barnes & Noble, Clarence, NY, April 19th, 2008
My time spent at Barnes and Noble was wonderful. As I read to the children, the story was very interactive. We had Grumpy Bear limping, Running Deer stomping on Orange root, and Peanut throwing nuts at a very grumpy Grizzly! What made story time even more special was that my 2 daughters Arika and Jeannette were present with Jeanette’s husband Larry. My grandchildren, Jarame, Emma and Mathias also came to hear me read. Naturally Jarame sat next to me. After story time, I had a book signing. Jarame sat on my lap and greeted customers as they entered the store. Jill was a wonderful hostess, and invited me back in the fall!
12 Stories Offer A Peek At Past Rural Life In India
12 Stories Offer A Peek At Past Rural Life In India
By NITISH S. RELE
The Tampa Tribune
Published: April 13, 2008
“Ticket to the Moon,” by Uthaya Kumar (Bouncing Ball Books, $19.95)
Decades ago, Uthaya Kumar of Tampa worked as a veterinarian in poor and desolate villages of India. The experience of visiting the underprivileged but dignified folks is now an open book (so to speak) in the first-time author’s anthology “Ticket to the Moon.”
There’s the vegetable seller, Lady Alamilu of “Debt,” who waits patiently for three years. The reason? So she could return small change from the sale of vegetables to the narrator.
Kumar takes us back to the day when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon. In a remote village, Muvirundali in south India, All-India Radio has broken the news to the curious townsfolk. Deivanai, a 73-year-old widow, attempts to bribe her nephew with jewelry.
“You can use all these, or keep them, but the next time the Americans go to the moon can you get me also a ticket.”
“Santhosam’s Riddles” leaves a lasting impression on the narrator. As in what is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10? “One means one Earth, 2 - two eggs, 3 - three gods, 4 - four legs of a chair, 5 - five Pandavas, 6 - six faces of Muruga, 7 - seven continents, 8 - eight directions (including diagonals), 9 - nine planets, 10 - 10 digits,” is her answer.
Written with immaculate details of rural life and its people in India, the 12 short stories are a breezy read. Stark black-and-white images of village life are captured superbly by A. Esakki.
Nitish S. Rele is a special sections editor for the advertising department of The Tampa Tribune.
Find this article at: http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/apr/13/tr-12-stories-offer-a-peek-at-past-rural-life-in-i/?life
The Florida Book Awards for 2007
Ticket to the Moon has been awarded the Bronze medal in
General Fiction of the Florida Book Awards for 2007. 
Mrs. “D’s” Classroom Visit, April 4th 2008
What a wonderful visit I had when I visited Mrs. D’s (as her class calls her) kindergarten classroom on April 4, 2008. As I entered her classroom, I was amazed by the colors and decorations. Stuffed animals sat comfortably on the piano. Potted plants gave her classroom a welcoming air. I gave each child a copy of the characters from Running Deer meets Grumpy Bear, so that they could flip through the pictures to have a visual aid as I read through the story.
To my surprise, the following day, Mrs. “D” gave me pictures that each child drew, along with a wonderful thank you note. This was an unexpected surprise for me!
Visit to Barker Free Library in town Barker, NY March 28th, 2008
Old man winter delivered another three inches on the small village of Barker, New York (which sits right on the shore of Lake Ontario) this morning. The temperature was a balmy 28 degrees. The weather did not stop the four second grade classes, sixty children in all, from Barker Elementary school to make the 1/2 mile trek to the Barker Free Library. The cold temperature was no match for the warm greetings that were offered by librarian Lisa Thompson and her mother as the children entered the library.
As I read the first story, Running Deer Meets Grumpy Bear from The Misty Forest, some children eagerly pointed out that they already had the book, but would not spoil the ending. I asked some questions such as if anyone knew how a tipi was constructed, and who was sitting on the tree limb looking down at Grumpy Bear. The children knew the answers!
On a more serious note - Running Deer gets lost in this story, so I asked if any of the second graders had ever gotten lost - almost half raised their hand. One little girl asked if I had ever gotten lost. I answered yes. I was in kindergarten and walked my friend home from school. I made a wrong turn on the way home, and was lost. However, I knew my phone number. I told the children that I went to a Tony the Tiger gas station and the attendant called the police. Because I knew my phone number, they were able to contact my parents. I pointed out the importance of knowing your phone number, and that the police were there to help if ever there was trouble. Happily, they knew their phone numbers! As a mother, a grandma and a writer, I am asking that every parent please make sure that your child knows their phone number and if possible, their address.
Author event at George Southard first grade, Miss Pass class, Feb.29th, 2008
Who was spotted lurking around the halls at George Southard Elementary school today? Why it was Peanut the raccoon! Peanut poked her head into many classrooms as she made her way to read the second story from The Misty Forest called The Masked Bandit! All of the children greeted Peanut with warm smiles as she sat to read the story. Some greeted her by saying Hello Mrs. Wrobel. Peanut was quick to let them know that she was not Mrs. Wrobel for the day but Peanut the raccoon. Jarame sat next to Peanut and flipped through character sketches as Hoot and Spotted Tail were two new characters introduced. After the story was read, each child held a copy of The Misty Forest and told who their favorite character was. Who had more fun - the first graders or Peanut? I would call that one a tie!
Book Blast 2008 - Celebrate The Joy of Reading, February 23rd, 2008
BOOK BLAST 2008, a free annual event hosted by Kidget, at the Mall at Rockingham Park in Salem, NH was a welcoming success. Children of all ages and their parents enjoyed stories, a family grab-bag project, raffles, voting games, free gifts and more. Children’s author Tabatha Jean D’Agata was the presenter of the event and her theatrics and love for books easily engaged the crowd.
Celebrate The Joy of Reading
| Celebrate The Joy of Reading @ The Mall at Rockingham Park *Help instill a love of reading in others by bringing a new or gently used book for donation to a host of charities. *Some giveaways are limited to Kidgit members only. If you are not a member, please visit your mall’s Guest Services for more information or visit http://www.simon.com/kidgits*Keepsakes and handouts while supplies last. |
The Mall at Rockingham Park
Upper level former Macy’s Court
99 Rockingham Park Blvd
Salem, NH
(603) 894-5526
Contact: Kimberly M. Plourde, Guest Services Manager
http://www.simon.com
Borders Express
99 Rockingham Park Blvd
Salem, NH 03079
Phone: 603.893.2370
