At Bookfest 2023 in Elmira NY, I got to hang out with the real Dr. Cosmic from my Mad Scientist Academy books. Thanks to Mick Morgan, whose dedication to bringing the character to life meant visiting multiple costume shops in Manitoba to find the perfect green lipstick to match the rest of his makeup. Mick’s commitment to the role was nothing short of extraordinary.

While visiting Hendy Elementary, my presentation was interrupted by a visit from the real Benjamin Franklin, back from the dead and wandering the neighborhood. I persuaded him to stick around for a couple minutes, and together we presented a quiz on his life to the kids in the room before he had to go.

Sometimes, a student will come up and give me a gift they made just for me. After one presentation this spring, I was silently handed this awesome miniature monster book containing a one-eyed spider, a vampire bat, a ghost, and Frankenstein in a hat.

At the morning assembly at Rockwell Elementary this spring, the music teacher, Mr. Meyer, led everyone in some songs. On a whim, I asked him if he wanted to join me and play some improvised accompaniment as I read Bean Thirteen. We had so much fun that he came back and played along as I presented several other books throughout the day. (The plan is for us to tour together next year, if I can convince him to quit his day job.)

So often, when I do an author visit, someone has put in a huge amount of work preparing artwork to welcome me to the school. Here is just a small sample of the terrific projects that greeted me this past spring. (Kensington Road Elementary, Forts Ferry Elementary, Veeder Elementary, and North Broad Street School)

It’s always a treat when the author visit is just down the street. Especially so, when it’s such a terrific day. Thanks, Slingerlands!

Such a fun day visiting Jefferson Elementary this week!

Two wonderful author visits up at Kensington Rd. Elementary and Harrison Ave. Elementary, both in the Glens Falls area, this week. My thanks to everyone at both schools who helped make the visits so special!

Such a fun week of school visits last week at South Side, Waterman, York, Pavilion, and Elba Elementary Schools. Thanks to everyone involved for making them so special. If these are to be my last visits of the school year, it was a nice way to finish up.

Finally home after visiting a week of schools in Oneida and Guilderland, New York. Thanks to everyone for making a tired author feel so welcome!

An amazing collection of thank you notes from the students at Cedar Hill School in Basking, NJ. What a wonderful surprise to get in the mail!