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Here
are excerpts from some of my favorite letters.
Thank you all for writing to me!
What Educators Say
"I just wanted to drop you a line to say how fabulous
you were in your visit to our school and with your interaction
with our students. I was so impressed with you and your
presentation. Without a doubt you are the best we have
ever had visit our school. Your presentation was superb
and your interaction with the students and reaction to
them and responses to their questions was simply perfect.
I helped judge the bookmark contest and the little 4th
grader who won with his "Lily" bookmark came
down after school on Friday and gave me a hug and thanked
me and for him this is so uncharacteristic. He told me
with a beaming grin that he had given you the bookmark
and you were going to post it on your website. His buttons
were "popping." He has always been so timid
and quiet. I was so happy for him and for what I knew
this experience was going to mean in his life. Your visit
was just such a positive experience for our entire school.
YOU brought that to us. Thank you so much! Again I want
to say how much we all loved you and thank you for what
you brought to our school and the lasting memories that
will linger in all of our memories through the coming
years. Continued success with your writing and keep those
"great books" coming. We all love your work!"
Cheri Balls
Third Grade Teacher
Phillipsburg Elementary
Phillipsburg, Kansas
"You made your books come alive with the background
you gave the audience and the telling. You did a marvelous
job explaining what it takes to write a book and get it
published. You had many different ages in the audience,
yet you kept them all intrigued. I could see them all
thinking, 'Hmmmm…I may want to write a story some
day about a person or event in my life.' My favorite part
of each of your programs was that after showing the slides
and talking about writing and answering all sorts of questions,
there was always one tiny little voice that asked, 'Please
read us another story.' No one can doubt your stories
are great when you're asked for more! (Just like dessert.)"
Maggie Preiss
Coordinator Children's Services
St. Charles City-County Library District
"On Tuesday, I got to watch the awe in my students'
eyes as they got to meet a "real" author. I
got to listen to their honest laughter as they enjoyed
learning the background of your humorous stories. I got
to see their eyes light up when they received the books
that you had taken the time to personally autograph for
them. And finally, I got to see the excitement and the
belief in their own writing back in the classroom. It
was truly an awesome and inspiring experience for the
students and the teachers. We hope you'll come again."
Heather Ostenberg
2nd grade teacher
Cedar Creek Elementary
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"You presented a wonderful program at our school.
It truly delighted the children to hear about the creative
development of a book. The teachers commented that you
were the best author we have ever had at our school! You
brought books to life for our children!"
Beth Smith
Library Media Specialist
Westview Elementary
"I wanted to drop a note to let you know what a lasting
impact your visit last year had on our students. You are
the focus of our current first grade author study, and
I'm amazed at how many students remember you and details
of your visit from last year (they were in kindergarten)!
I still have frequent requests for your books by older
students and they love to point out your autograph and
tell me which of your books they have at home."
Linda Carr
Shawnee Heights Elementary
Topeka, Kansas
" We have a little boy in third grade who has always
been a problem. His brother is in prison. He is the boy
who could answer the question about the storm cellar when
you gave your talk to the third graders. We were all surprised
that he knew the answer. Last week his teacher noticed
he was writing words on a Kleenex and she asked him why
he was doing that. He answered, “That’s what
the author showed us!!” Your talk obviously stuck
in his memory. Remember that little tidbit, when you are
have a hard day. You do make a difference!"
Dorothy Morris
Title 1 Director
Wendell, Idaho
"I love your new story. Lily has a message for
all of us – to be our own special person and to
dance our way through life! Your book is one of the first
things I’ll share with my students on Monday when
we get back from Spring Break."
Mary Collins
Second grade teacher
Council Grove, Kansas
"Your ability to establish rapport with students
of all ages is exceptional. You're articulate and credible;
a true literary artist!"
Tamara Ice
5th grade teacher
Apple Blossom School
"Your books are 'out of the ordinary'. Your word
choice, dialogue, and plot capture the character of a
foreign land and its people in a wholly personal way.
Your characters are 'comfortable in their own skins'.
There is warmth and respect of one's self, which are critical
themes necessary for children in today's world."
Lance Armstrong
5th grade teacher
Eagle Ranch School
"I was finally able to nab Lily from the check-ins
at the library (a very popular book! I caught it between
"holds"). I was udderly delighted. I'm taking
it with me Saturday to read to my grandson. It will play
perfectly into what we're doing together. I "adopted"
a cow named Velveteen for him, through Stonyfield Farm,
and he's all excited about HIS cow and stuff about cows.
Lily will be a beautiful variation on a theme. After we
read Lily, we'll try a conga line . . . if not to the
barn, maybe to the bathtub. Great book! It combines so
many aspects: music, travel, farm life, psychology, et
al."
Trish Kaspar
Educator and author
WHAT KIDS SAY
"I loved your books. They were incredible to me….I
think you are the best writer in the whole galaxy."
Your friend,
Dairk
2nd grader
Missouri
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"I think that you're a special woman for me and
for everyone in the world. I think that your family is
surprised that you have written so many books and you
are wonderful. You are the best woman that I ever saw."
Grecia
3rd grader
Bakersfield, California
"Thank you for teaching us how to be a writer."
Corey
2nd grader
Missouri
"I like you. You are very nice. I like all of your
books. They make me feel good."
Kayla
2nd grader
Missouri
"Your visit with us was absolutely great. I really
learned how important it is to keep trying, if you really,
really want something."
Rachel
5th grader
Sebastopol, California
"I'm sorry about your rejects. At first I didn't
believe you got 13! I would think you would only get 2!!
I'm starting a book too. It's going to be good, like yours."
Holly
2nd grader
Oakgrove, California
"Thank you for reading your stories. I love the
words. Aloha"
Michael
1st grader
Laie, Hawaii
"Thank you for coming! Your stories were great and
your presentation was super!!"
Jess
6th grader
Princeton, New Jersey
"Thanks Mrs. Arnold: You brightened my day with
your stories!"
Amanda
6th grader Princeton, New Jersey
“When I met and heard Marsha, I knew I was going
to grow up and become an author.”
Victoria
Third grader
Phillipsburg, Kansas
