On the way to visit her grandma, eight-year-old Poppy learns about her family tree’s roots in Montana. Like Great-Grandma May, Poppy camps, fishes, climbs trees and visits a buffalo ranch. For a girl living in the city, these activities are as magical as Bergum’s illustrations of late summer in rural Montana.
GRANDMA BUFFALO, MAY AND ME is a story designed to introduce the concepts of family genealogy and oral history to young school-age children. In the accompanying activity page children are encouraged to interview family members in person, via Skype, emails or snail mail. There’s a recipe included too, in hopes children will ask for their family recipes. When published in print copy GRANDMA BUFFALO, MAY AND ME received awards from Pacific Northwest Writers and Read America!
I wrote Kirsty's Kite after the death of several dear friends whose children were grieving the loss of their mothers. A year later, when I held the first copy of Kirsty's Kite, my mother had died and I felt like Kirsty. I found the beautiful illustrations by Gwen Harrison comforting as I worked through my grief. Counselors invited me to share my book and story. The most difficult was a group ages 4-18 who mourned the loss of family members. I hope Kirsty's story will bring healing and peace.