Jeannine Atkins

Happy Valentine’s Day! My lovely one started when I went down to the kitchen and found a pitcher of tulips and a heart arranged from chocolate-covered sunflower seeds atop my (closed) computer. Thanks, honey! Then I went to the Odyssey Bookshop http://www.odysseybks.com/ in South Hadley, MA, where Emily and Rebecca had everything so well organized, to celebrate Kids Heart Authors http://www.kidsheartauthors.com/ It was great to be part of something celebrated today by over independent bookstores in New England, and organized by Mitali Perkins and Deborah Sloan. From me on the right you can see Crissa-Jean Chappel crissachappell, Diane deGroat, Dina Friedman
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and Richard Michelson http://www.rmichelson.com/RMichelson_Galleries.html on the left. (I'm having some weird technical problem getting the names in decently, sorry! )

One awesome dad brought out his two girls for some reading. Here’s the youngest, when the dad was getting ready to purchase. When one author offered to bring the two darling girls home, he said fine, but the offer is for 48 hours or nothing. She said never mind.




Here’s Diane http://www.dianedegroat.com/ reading from Roses are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink:




Dina is reading from Playing Dad’s Song. She borrowed the sari I’d brought to put over her son who played oboe, and is here showing how the main character in the book reveres Paganini, who composed while covered-up.



And a student from last semester came by to deliver this pretty valentine. The sweet message inside: I miss having your Monday evening classes to look forward to… but don’t worry, I’m still trying to make time for the books that truly have a special place in my heart!” This from a hard-working college junior. Thanks, Reesha!