Tag: Children’s Book Awards

Sadly, my school, library, and bookshop author readings for this spring have been cancelled due to Covid-19. However, a teacher friend asked for a video reading for her remote classroom, and so with the help of my husband, we created a YouTube interactive video of my book, If You Don’T Take a Bath. 

Enjoy this video with the young ones in your family (2-7 yrs).

If you enjoy this video, please LIKE, (thumbs up), leave a comment, and share with your friends.

Kristen Olsen who hosts Fort Collins, CO  KRFC 88.9 (PBS) children’s program “Tunes and Tales,” invited me to be the “Tales” part of her Dec 12th broadcast. We recorded my portion today.  The program will be broadcast at 6pm (MT time) Dec 12th.

It was my first recording session, but after a few minutes of nervousness, I had a great time! Kristen gave a brief summary of my background, and we discussed the inspiration for my book, If You Don’t Take a Bath. It was so much fun to do a pre-reading activity and then read my story for her listeners. Kristen concluded with follow-up questions including, “What message would you like to give our readers today?” and “Where can kids find your story?”

Greetings

Book Reading

Kristen Olsen and me

Watch the video clip below for a short preview (yes, it will turn right side up!)

Click here to buy now!  If You Don’t Take a Bath

Many people have stopped me when I carry my tote bag and ask me, “What does happen if you don’t take a bath?”  I say there are  “serious consequences!”  Here are three of many..

A squirrel storing acorns in your belly button!

Bluebirds will nest in your hair!

Little guys looking at the snail sliding around her nose.

Think about it:  A squirrel could store acorns in your belly button or bluebirds might nest in your hair, and then there is that snail that would slide around your nose! What else could happen?  There is a little ladybug that witnesses it all. After a reading with plenty of giggles, kids have a great time making up their own consequences and, no doubt, are more eager to get in the bathtub! A “seriously” funny book for kids 2 – 7 years old. Awarded Royal Dragonfly ~1st Place for Children’s Picture Books 2017. Order online or in your favorite bookstore.     sallyhwillett.com

We had a great time at the IAC sponsored by my publisher, BookBaby!

We met many “Rock Stars” of the independent publishing industry who unselfishly shared their experience and expertise.  Now, we have a long list of “to-do’s” to help promote the book to a wider audience.

The conference ignited my enthusiasm to get started on my next book 📚

Rock Stars 🌟 of the Independent Publishing world share their knowledge with me!

So excited! We’re in Philadelphia to attend our first authors conference. We’ll spend the next three days expanding our marketing and promotional strategies with experts from the self-publishing industry.

My friend, Hayden, and his teacher, Mrs. Lemon, invited me to share my story with his kindergarten class. The fun didn’t stop with Hayden’s class as I read to the other three kindergarten classes, too!

After I completed my story time activities with the fourth class, and I asked if there were any questions. A little girl raised her hand and asked, “Will you read it to us again?  I looked over at the teacher, and she nodded “yes”. This time, the children all chimed in enthusiastically to say what would happen if you don’t take a bath!  Compliments come in many ways, but for this story-teller asking for  “Again, please”  warms my heart!  April 20, 2018

While I was visiting my sister, Jo, in Texas, I had the opportunity to share my book at their local library for the Friday Pre-School Story Time and the Monday Toddler Time.  Lots of giggles!

The little ones had fun coloring my story pictures.

Thank-you, Emily McDonald, the Children’s Program Specialist!!!

I enjoyed being a guest author at Old Firehouse Books in Fort Collins for Story Time on April 10th.  After seeing my tale of the consequences of not taking a bath, the little ones decided they would rather take a bath than have a caterpillar crawling up their shoulder!

For my morning activities, I used picture cards for memory games and gave out coloring pages. I also read The Pigeon Needs a Bath and When Your Lion Needs a Bath.

I had fun reading and discussing the other “bath” stories and the children had a few bath tales of their own!  Julie, the children’s book manager, finished the session with bath time games and songs.

I love seeing my book for sale in their children’s book department!

Although it’s only March, my 4 year old grandson, Drake, announced there should be a Halloween version of If You Don’t Take a Bath!  As my readers know, the consequences of not taking a bath are dire such as carrots growing out of your ears, bluebirds nesting in your hair, and frogs lingering between your fingers. Drake and his buddy, Sabine, have come up with “the Halloween horrors” of not taking a bath.  Drake has bats flying out of your ears, yellow slime dripping between your fingers, and a spider web sticking on your belly button. Sabine thinks worms will crawl out of your ears, a spider will sit on your nose, and little skeletons will dance on your elbows. They have great creepy imaginations inherited from their mothers! A delightful way to enjoy this story is to make up your own silly or scary version with your little ones. It is quite humorous to hear what they imagine will grow out of your ears!