HELLO FORT WORTH, TX!

I had a swell time at the Morningside School in Fort Worth, TX.

How about this for a welcome? Although Mr, Kelly got top billing over me, it was still a thrill.

And take a look at this! The path to the school was lined with my book covers!

I knew I was in Texas now!

I'm always so grateful for such a wonderful welcome.

I guess the teachers and librarians prepped the students for my visit.

Note to self: get a new headshot and lay off the chocolate ice cream.

We had a great time talking about Jacques Cousteau.

Alright, who's the wiseguy?

FLYING FISH!

During my visit to Fort Worth, TX I discovered some pretty incredible Southern style seafood.

Look! Up in the sky! It's the famous Flying Fish!

What a fun place it was. There were fish everywhere just to remind you of what they served.

There was lots of fun stuff to look at while I waited for my order.

And there were sure a lot of plastic fish everywhere.

A piece of advice- try the unsweetened iced tea first! One time I ordered a large sweetened iced tea and I was all crazy jittery for about 2 days.

Ahh! At last. My order of fried catfish, shrimp, and hushpuppies. Deee-lish!

I think someone wanted a bite.

RUSS & DAUGHTERS!

 

So to follow up on my visit to Katz's Deli, I usually then pop into Russ & Daughters, another one of my Lower East Side  favorites.

 

Whenever I  come here I feel like a kid in a candy store, pretty much because I am in a candy store. Look at all these wonderful treats! Everything is better dipped in chocolate.

 

Even coffee beans! And so many different kinds. I may have to try them all.

 

After being here for a few minutes, my head was spinning with choices. So many sweets! So many different kinds. I had to turn away for a moment, but when I did, I saw this...

I've been coming here for years and I still can't quite figure out why they also sell all sorts of fish. I mean, I  like fish, but why are they selling candy on one side of the store and fish on the other?

Oh, well. I'll take a quarter pound of the chocolate covered coffee beans, a quarter pound of the chocolate covered graham crackers and a quarter pound of the herring.

KATZ'S DELI!

If you visit my blog, then you know how much I love all sorts of food.

I've lived in New York City for over 25 years and fortunately my absolute favorite delicatessen is still here!

 

There it is! Mighty Katz's Deli on the Lower East Side, a short walk from my neighborhood.

 

The first thing you must know is to KEEP THE TICKET YOU'RE GIVEN AT THE DOOR! Do not lose it! Even if you don't eat anything, you must give the ticket back on your way out.

Ah! The sights, sounds, and aromas of Katz's. It's usually pretty crowded whenever I come here, but that's okay. There's plenty of seats. You can get table service, or...

You can walk right up to the counter and order your food. Today, I'm ordering a Reuben sandwich (pastrami, Russian dressing, sauerkraut on rye bread) and a knish (pronounced "kin-ish"- it's actually a large square of golden brown potato). While you're waiting for it all to be prepared, you can examine the pickles and pickled tomatoes. 

And there it all is! They even gave me a plate of garlic and half sour pickles to compliment my meal. Notice that my ticket is always in sight.

As I eat my lunch, I look around and just enjoy the atmosphere.

Take a look at this lovely still life, worthy of painting. If you look hard enough, you'll find beauty everywhere.

MORE SCHOOL VISITS!

I LOVE visiting schools!

How incredible is it that I can walk into a school and see a wonderful sign like this!

I'm so happy to see my books on display in the library. Very cool.

And all of the lovely drawings and paintings of characters from my books all over the place.

Mission accomplished! My goal for my book THE FANTASTIC UNDERSEA LIFE OF JACQUES COUSTEAU was to raise awareness of the great Jacques Cousteau in elementary schools students and it looks like it worked!

There can never be too many robots.

Then the best part- hanging out with the students! We have a great time talking about books, animation, and a lot of other things.

And when I see something like this- 

I'm a happy fella.

HELLO MASSAPEQUA NY!

It was great to visit Albany Avenue Elementary in Massapequa NY!

My day started out VERY early. I took the train from Penn Station and felt like a real commuter.

How cool is it to enter a school and this is the first thing you see? I felt welcome immediately!

There was so much great art on the walls.

Okay, time to do a tech check. Isn't show biz glamorous?

I presented in the auditorium, but then I read to the students in the library.

Lunch time! Apparently it was invitation only.

And what a spread! Do you think they ordered enough pizzas? I wonder if they ordered them from Zorgoochi Intergalactic Pizza?

And it wouldn't be a school visit unless I signed a bunch of books.

I felt so honored signing the chair of fame!

I had a little time before my next presentation, so I cruised around the hallways and saw some more art.

And even more art!

Thanks for a wonderful visit!

HELLO SEA GIRT, NJ!

It was a fun day for me in Sea Girt, NJ.

Although a bit cold.

First, I hung out with the kindergarteners. We read a few books. No one cried. I consider it a success!

I read one of my most favorite of my books, EVERY FRIDAY. It's non-fiction, as we say in elementary school. That means it's a true story.

And I got to do silly voices when I read NO NAP! YES NAP!

Then I spoke to the upper grades about what it's like writing and illustrating books.

We talked about DOUG UNPLUGGED.

And I told them the inspiration behind Doug.

Lastly, I spoke to the 6th, 7th, and 8th graders about my middle grade novel ZORGOOCHI INTERGALACTIC PIZZA: DELIVERY OF DOOM! 

Now, I usually speak to students up to 6th grade and I was a bit nervous about talking to kids that old, but I wasn't driven out of the school with pitchforks and torches, so I guess it went okay.