Show-Me-How Story-time with Miss Vivian Travels to Chicago
Frank Sinatra sang songs about many of the cities that he loved…New York – San Francisco – Chicago.
After a fantastic long weekend in Chicago, I’ll have to echo some of his words (written by Sammy Kahn and Jimmy Van Heusen):
Chicago is one town
That won’t let you down
It’s my kind of town.
I arrived on Friday morning and spent the day relaxing with my son and daughter-in-law at their home. Visiting with them is like going to a spa…they LOVE to cook “healthy” and every morning they start the day with a bowl of fresh fruit…mangoes, papayas, bananas, apples, peaches…drizzled with a little honey. For lunch each day, my son made a huge vegetable salad bowl for each of us…cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, mushrooms…all topped with some capers and a splash of aged blueberry balsamic vinegar.
My book event, Starting School Jitters Be Gone, on Saturday at Lollie, a children’s boutique in Evanston, just 20 minutes north of downtown Chicago, was so much fun! This shop is an amazing place…filled with many handmade and locally designed clothes and accessories, as well as other unique items for infants, toddlers and children. The owner is knowledgeable, helpful and a really lovely lady…I know if I lived in the Chicago area, I’d stop in there for any new baby gifts I needed, as well as for birthday and Christmas presents for any little ones on my list.
Of course, Mother Nature had her own plans for 11am, the time the first presentation was to start. The skies over the entire Chicago area darkened, and the heavens poured forth a torrential rainstorm, accompanied by huge claps of thunder and crackling flashes of lightening.
Inside Lollie, however, everything was bright and cheery. A group of young children listened attentively as I read The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. As the story about Chester unfolded, the children heard how the little raccoon, anxious about his first day of kindergarten, learned a secret from his mother that helped him overcome his fear and go to school with eager anticipation.
After the story reached its happy conclusion, I showed the children a sample of the craft project and explained how we would all be making “Kissing Handprints”…deciding who we loved and who loved us and then drawing in the features for each person (or pet or stuffed animal) on each finger.
Parents and children clustered around the craft table and we proceeded to draw an outline of each child’s hands. The hum of happy children, busily engaged in a constructive activity with their parents, is definitely music to my ears. “This finger is going to be my mommy” said one little girl. “And those are my dogs” she added.
The storm had ended by the time the second presentation was over. My son and daughter-in-law, who had brought me and had assisted during the program, helped me pack everything up. I’m looking forward to my next trip to Chicago…Lollie’s owner has invited me to come back to do another program, whenever I’m in town. Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking is available at the shop for those of you who are in the Chicago area.
The next few days were filled with family visits, an afternoon at the beach – unbelievable to have a REAL sandy beach with what looks and smells like the ocean (it’s really Lake Michigan) right across the street from the downtown area of a major city – and an architectural river boat cruise. It was difficult to leave…I’m already looking at my calendar to see when my next jaunt to Chicago will be.
My next post will be a review of a children’s book, A Reel Cool Summer, written by Martha Rodriguez. We connected online and she loved my book and did a great review of it. I brought her book on my trip and was able to share it with my great-niece and great-nephew…they absolutely loved it and were totally engaged in the story…so in my next post, it will be my turn to tell everyone why they need to run out and get a copy of Ms. Rodriguez’ fun-filled book for children ages 6-9.
Photo credit: Thanks to JCrocker for the Chicago skyline pic.
Posted on August 28, 2011, in 1st day of school, Book events, Chicago, children's picture books, crafting, infants and toddlers, new baby gifts, parenting, reading to preschoolers, school anxieties, Show Me How! and tagged Audrey Penn, Chicago, children's picture books, crafting, families, Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Van Heusen, Kissing Hand, Mother Nature, parenting, Positive Parental Participation, READING WITH CHILDREN, Sammy Kahn, school anxieties. Bookmark the permalink. 19 Comments.
Sounds like a wonderful trip!
It was! I always have a ball when I visit my son and his wife…no matter where they are living…San Fran, Boston and now Chicago!
great post! Love the pictures from the crafting with the kids. Looks like they had a blast using Show Me How!
Thank for stopping by, Carrie.
Yes, the kids had a ball…and so did the adults…and that’s the whole idea behind positive parental participation.
Welcome back and I’m proud of you to keep up the tours and book shares… excellent. You look great too!
Thanks, Eliz! It’s actually a new look…quite different from my usual, very conservative pants suit type of attire…I decided to go a little more modern…my daughter-in-law (who is a fashion designer and the artist who created the book cover) LOVED the look also.
You know I appreciate your encouragement and enthusiasm!
Well, you go lady! The new look suits you very much…
Their kissing handprints are so sweet! Such a fun idea!
Thank you for stopping by, Becky Jane. The idea just came to me as I pondered what craft activity would be simple, fun and meaningfully related to the story I was going to read. The kids really enjoyed working on them…and I think it helped them to realize just how many people (and pets) there were who they loved and who loved them back.
What cute kiddies! Just adorable.
Hi Kate,
How nice of you to stop by and comment.:) Yes, they were so much fun to read and craft with…I have several similar on-going programs here in Colorado Springs. When children love books, they can step out from inside the covers and succeed in life.
Some years ago I decided writing a children’s book would be an easy way to break into getting published. They’re short – couldn’t be difficult, coult it. You may laugh now. I gave up that thought quickly.
David, thanks for stopping by and commenting. You are so right…it is not so easy. I went to a meeting of SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustratiors) and we did a little exercise where we passed around the text of a children’s picture book we were working on…one of the writers observed that because there are so few words in a children’s picture book, each one has to have tremendous impact and one needed to be careful not to waste any. Great advice. I really enjoyed your blog post.
What a fantastic looking book and what a fabulous visit – I have been to Chicago and it’s one of my favourite American cities, its easy to get to know and full of surprises.
Reading your post was like being there and what a wonderful gift and talent you have, not just to write such a beautiful book, but to put it into practice and engage with the children. Very special and no wonder they want you back! If you visit France, I know a lovely little english bookshop in Aix en Provence that would welcome you!
Hi Claire,
Thank you so very much for your amazingly kind words! I feel badly because I haven’t followed up by visiting the other blogs on SheWrites…I came back from Chicago with a sore throat and a cold and haven’t been able to shake it…went to the doc today and am on antibiotics.:( But I will try to hop over to say hello to you on yours.
Hi again Claire,
Hope to be able to participate on SheWrites more in the future. 
Which just goes to show you that I am not operating on full scale…cause I went to your blog and realized that I had already visited and commented.
Hi Claire,
Thank you for the beautiful comments about my book…and I’m so happy to connect with you!
Would love to go to that little English bookshop in France.
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