The Sun Jumped Over the Moon. Part 1

Hello,

Let’s catch up on what has been going on with the children’s book The Sun Jumped Over the Moon. Part 1

While I was living in Florida I did book readings to kindergartners, 1st graders and 2nd graders. So much fun!!!! The little ones love the characters and the illustrations. The older children get the message of the book. I heard so many special stories about how friends helped each other overcome fears and challenges. The common question asked is when the next book is coming out. And I have to be sure to add a rainbow to the story in the next book.

I did many school readings in both public and private schools throughout Broward County, FL The last school that called me to do a reading asked about the fees I charge to come to their school. “What fees?” I asked. I was informed that authors charge fees for these readings. Who knew? I didn’t!

When I moved back to MI and scheduled readings in the tri-county area, I decided not to charge the schools for my visits. It’s so much fun for me to go to the school to share the important message of the book. What I did instead was solicit local businesses to ćnancially sponsor the books so that the children could receive an autographed book with their name in it. WIN WIN for ALL. The children were so excited to see their name in the book.

Below are a couple of what are now funny stories while doing these readings.

One of my best friends, Diane, lives in Savannah, GA. So, I scheduled several readings at the schools in that area. The first school I went to was about an hour outside of Savannah – literally in God’s country in the middle of nowhere. I am driving along through the woods when a huge compound suddenly appears. Three large buildings; an elementary school was in one building, the second building was the middle school, and the third building was the high school. The grounds had all the respective sports fields.

Being used to all the schools in Broward Country, FL having on the premises a police presence, locked doors, and having to be escorted to each classroom, I was surprised there were no police on the property, and I could just walk into the elementary school doors and mosey into the main office to check in. I was given verbal instructions to the gym where I was going to read to all three of the grades at the same time. This was a new set up for me. I was put on a very large stage with a movie screen set up behind me. I was handed a microphone and was told while I read the story the pictures would be displayed on the screen. As I am being instructed on the process, I start hearing in the distance what sounded like many marching feet coming down the hall, getting louder as it got closer to the gym.

When the door opened, a single line of little kindergartners came marching in making their way around the outer walls of the gym to the front of the stage. After passing in front of the stage they lined up in three rows out from the stage. Next came the first graders followed by the second graders all marching along the outer walls and finding their place in front of the stage. They all looked like little mini soldiers. Each grade took up three rows the entire length of the gym. Once everyone was in place they all sat on the floor crisscross applesauce. There was not a peep from anyone during this entire march.

I don’t talk in front of people where I am the only one up front and everyone else is out in front of me. It is my biggest fear. I have never been able to overcome this emotional state. This was freaking me out! I started to feel the sweat rolling down the side of my face and armpits.

I was told there were about 300-350 kids, all sitting quietly and all looking up at me!!!!! When the librarian introduced me, the applause was so loud it was deafening. I took a deep breath and grabbed the microphone and said, WOW! There are a lot of you guys out there! Should I be nervous?” “NO” they all ALL yelled out. Then one little boy sitting up front calls out, “We are really friendly!” That did it! They were so darn cute, my terror disappeared! Once the reading was completed, there was an actual ovation louder than the applause at the beginning. As the kids trooped out of the gym the same way they came in, they thanked me as they passed by the stage. This was my most curious experience. I have never seen so much discipline with that many children.

Part 2 to be continued next Sunday.

Have a great week

Kathy