I'm excited to tell you that there is another local children's author/children's librarian in the Monterey Bay Area. Carol Diggory Shields has written more than a dozen books for young readers, and she is the children's librarian at the Seaside Branch of the Monterey County Free Libraries. You can check out all of her wonderful titles on Amazon.com, including:
SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE DINOSAUR STOMP
THE BUGLIEST BUG
FOOD FIGHT!
I WISH MY BROTHER WAS A DOG
and her newest book: BABY'S GOT THE BLUES

Just got back from a fun week of book signing! On Thursday, the Pacific Grove Public Library held a book signing "celebration" in honor of WHEN THE WIND BLEW. Then I drove down for two book signing events in Huntington Beach and in Fullerton, where I used to work as a children's librarian. It was all great fun!

If you live in the northern California area, then you might be interested in attending a book celebration and author signing party to launch the publication of my new book, WHEN THE WIND BLEW. The Pacific Grove Public Library will be hosting the event on Thursday afternoon, April 24, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. Copies of my new book will be available for purchase, along with my other titles, and I will be signing them, of course!  Come join us! The address is 550 Central Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA.

WHEN THE WIND BLEW is currently featured in a blog authored by Kerri Hall! She has developed a list of good books to share with children. Check it out:

http://mlreads.com/2014/04/03/8-great-new-picture-books/

Great news! Cecile Gayette from Blue Apple Press has just purchased two of my manuscripts: BOXES BOXES and HOLES HOLES. Both are easy concept books for young readers, and Blue Apple hopes to  expand them into a series! Founded by author Harriet Ziefert, the publishing house specializes in simple books for Preschool through age 8, utilizing die-cuts and fold-outs. One of their more recent titles is DO YOU KNOW WHICH ONE WILL GROW. The publication date for my books will be spring 2015.

This just in! Another great review for WHEN THE WIND BLEW, from SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL this time!

JACKSON, Alison. When the Wind Blew. illus. by Doris Barrette. 32p. Holt/Christy Ottaviano. Mar. 2014. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780805086881.

PreS-Gr 1–Rollicking watercolor portraits of round characters chronicle nursery rhyme mishaps caused by an extended gust. The old woman of the shoe (a pink Victorian boot) and her many children restore treasures like rock-a-bye baby, Mary’s lamb, and Jack’s candlestick to their rightful places. The rhymed text reminds readers of each origin story and uses rich vocabulary such as “lament,” “instrument,” and “seize.” This companion to If the Shoe Fits (Holt, 2001) provides pleasant reunion with old favorites.–Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA

This week marks the passing of a truly wonderful librarian, Carolyn Johnson. Carolyn served as the head of Children's Services at the Fullerton Public Library for many years. She then accepted the position of City Librarian, elevating the Fullerton Library to the high standards of service it still offers today. She was a true inspiration to me and many others, and will be sorely missed.,