Tuesday, February 24, 2009

My hero, The Honorable Al Gore wrote me!

Hello there!
I received my letter back from the Honorable Al Gore and here it is...




Hi-

While I was on my latest book tour in northern California, and just six days after my letter was received at The Honorable Al & Tipper Gore's office, I got an email requesting my home address for a response to my package and letter.  I called yesterday to check in and was told that they have been swamped the last few months and I will probably receive something in the next couple of weeks. 

Waiting, excited...

Gillian & Sparky

Monday, February 23, 2009

My 2 new best friends from the Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula!




I had a fantastic time at The Center for A New Generation (founded by Condaleezza Rice) & The Boy's & Girls Club of the Peninsula.
The kids asked great questions, they colored Sparky coloring pages and Amy who set it all up said the kids were so engaged that it reminded her why she chose this for her career...  So satisfying!

Friday, February 20, 2009

The Laureate School...










The brilliant kids of the Laureate School...  And my friend Joanie seen in the first photo who was very instrumental in all this coming together and so well.  I can't thank her enough!

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Another sign?! Closer to my Dream?


Hi-

News flash!  In a stunning turn of events, I heard that the Obama's went to chill out from a stressful day by reading to 2nd graders!  This on the heels of me writing a letter and sending my children's book 'Sparky the Wonderfish' to them about just that.  I heard him say he wanted to have readings for kids in The White House to promote literacy in the US, but he is spontaneously doing it ALREADY.  I want so much to be a part of this effort. (Dave Cook of Vote Blog writes) "...According to the White House, the charter school was founded in 2000 by a group of Washington public school parents working with teachers and other education professionals interested in reform.  The building the Obama's visited serves 244 students Grades Pre-K through 8.  The student body is 39 percent African-American, 24 percent Latino and 34 percent white.  More than half the students qualify for reduced-price lunch.  Student achievement in the school ranks in the top one-third of D.C. public schools...  One student wanted to be a veterinarian.  "We had a fish.  I've got to admit the fish died,"  the President said.  Mrs. Obama added, "The girls say we keep killing them." ...enter Sparky the Wonderfish: A story of how love creates magic, my true story of a tiny feeder fish who survives being dinner for six big mean Oscar fish and lives happily for 13 years!

Sparky wants to do more good deeds, wish him luck for Washington D.C. & The White House!

-Gillian