Earlier this month was Teacher Appreciation Week, a time to celebrate the A+ efforts of teachers. How did you thank your teachers? Did you write them a poem? Draw a picture? I'm sure your thoughtfulness was appreciated!

Fun fact: my elementary school teacher is one of the reasons why I'm a children's book author. Really! He asked the class to write a story, and even though I loved putting my imagination on paper, I was a little scared about sharing my stories with others. My fear disappeared when he gave my story back, all graded. At the top, he drew a big smiley face and wrote, "100% Excellent!" It gave me the courage to keep writing and sharing, and I'm still so very grateful. 

Thank you, Mr. K! 

The library is a very special place. Where else can you soar on a pterodactyl's back or jump aboard a pirate ship in search of lost treasure? Stories from every corner of the imagination await at the library, and a librarian is ready to help you find them. Click on the video to get to know about our community book helpers.

A special thank you to Mrs. Kim for this wonderful read-aloud!

The night sky is filled with sparkling wonder. I love star-gazing and tracing constellations, even trying to spot planets. (If you see a reddish dot far up in the sky, that's Mars!)

Do you like learning about space? Jump into your rocket and click on the books below to find out exciting facts about the stars, Mars, and our very own Earth! 

Today is Earth Day. Hooray! Taking care of our planet is a BIG job, but we can make it easier by teaming up to help each other. My family works together to recycle, which reduces landfill waste. We also plant flowers in our backyard for butterflies and other pollinators. (The monarch butterfly is my favorite.)

In ELLIE ULTRA: TEAM EARTH TAKEOVER, Ellie tackles a special Earth Day project with her best friend, Hannah. After all, saving the planet isn't only a superhero's job.

Let's team up and help Earth together!

March 20th to 26th was National Poison Prevention Week, and Safe Kids Indiana marked the event by offering a virtual story time of POISON ALERT! MY TIPS TO AVOID DANGER ZONES AT HOME. Check out the story time HERE, and stay after for important tips on how to be safe around poisonous critters like Gila monsters and coral snakes. (Yipes!)

Thank you to Safe Kids Indiana for helping children make healthy choices!

In November, the Cleveland Cavaliers gave the gift of reading to lots of lucky students at Denison Elementary. Every student got to pick new books at the Cavs Mobile Book Fair, and one of the books offered was ELLIE ULTRA. Click here to read more about the event for happy readers and big-hearted leaders.

Thank you to the Cavaliers for championing literacy and helping imaginations soar! 

Are you in the habit of staying healthy? My Healthy Habits, a series I wrote for Lerner/Millbrook Press, has been released in a format for younger readers. It's called Health Smarts (Early Bird Stories™). The series includes six books that teach you how to feel good and stay safe. Click on the book for more info!

Summer is officially here. Yay! It's a great time to take a trip and enjoy somewhere new, no matter if that place is a plane ride away or down the block. In THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS IN ILLINOIS, Mia and Sam travel to many places around the Prairie State. Along the way, they learn interesting things and have all kinds of fun. You can read about their exciting journey by clicking HERE. 

Think about somewhere that you have visited. What did you like most about it? Download the activity below to share your favorite memories from there.

The merriest of holidays to you! I'm sure you're taking time to read every day, and I'm so proud of you for doing that. It makes your brainpower stronger, you know. That's why I'd like to give you a special gift. It's something all readers need: a bookmark!

To get your very own Ellie Ultra bookmark, click on the links to download the images below. And keep reading!

Happy Summer, Ellie Ultra fans!

Now that school is out, how are you using your brainpower? Are you reading books? Writing stories? Making extra-ordinary things? If you want to give your brain a turbo-charged boost, click on the activity below to create your very own superhero! 

Get creating, and have FUN!