| Tina Turbin ( author and humanitarian, recently | | | | went on to explain that when she began working |
| brought her children's book Danny the Dragon | | | | on the book, she had a well-defined sense of the |
| Meets Jimmy to Blossom Montessori School for | | | | characters including how they should look. Then, |
| the Deaf ( for a special day of reading and fun | | | | through the process of creating the book and |
| and to encourage a group of kids who have less | | | | working with the artist, the characters came to |
| opportunity than other children. Blossom | | | | life. As Tina was relating this, you could see that |
| Montessori School is unique in that they use the | | | | many of the kids were coming up with their own |
| Montessori curriculum is the starting point and | | | | book ideas. |
| then add processes, materials and methodologies | | | | After the question and answer period, Tina read |
| suited to meet each individual child's needs. | | | | her book to the students (using, of course, the |
| Staring off, the kids had many questions for Tina | | | | school's very helpful teachers translated the |
| such as how she got started as an author, how | | | | reading into sign language). The children were |
| she created the book, what are her plans were | | | | delighted by the story and the colorful illustrations. |
| and many other questions. Tina told them that | | | | After reading, there were additional questions |
| when she was 16 she wrote her first book. From | | | | asked and answered. The kids could not get |
| there she ended up getting married and having | | | | enough of Tina, her stories and explanations. |
| three kids of her own. Just two years ago all her | | | | At the end, the kids and teachers helped pass out |
| kids had moved out and were on their own. At | | | | stickers and bookmarkers specially made just for |
| that point, Tina decided that she could put her | | | | the occasion. |
| attention on her writing and the arts. Tina | | | | It was obvious that a few new writing careers |
| described the process of creating an illustrative | | | | were placed on the launching pad via this event. |
| work and her relationship with her award winning | | | | Hopefully we'll see more of Tina at other schools |
| Illustrator, Aija Jasuna and how they worked | | | | as her presence seems to ignite young minds. |
| through an interpreter as Aija lives in another | | | | A video of a signed reading of Danny the Dragon |
| country. This fascinated the kids, who truly | | | | Meets Jimmy is planned so that all kids can enjoy |
| understand working through interpreters. Tina | | | | the book, even those who cannot hear. |