July 4 2006

WORLD ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY

Rhode Island cake

Rhode Island State Children's Book Award
Pennsylvania Keystone to Reading Award
Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award
On state lists for Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Utah, Iowa, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Washington
Nominated for the Children's Crown Book Award for 2006-2007

FRIENDSHIP ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY

SEVEN WONDERS OF SASSAFRAS SPRINGS

Honor Book, Judy Lopez Memorial Award of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Women’s National Book Association
On state lists for New Hampshire and Vermont

OTHER

Inducted into the Affton (MO) School District Hall of Fame, March 2006 (Pictured at left with fellow Hall of Famer, artist, teacher, mentor and good friend from high school, Bob Hansman. He was kind enough to give me a boffo introduction at the ceremony. On right, my sister, Janet Powell, dad Ed Griesbaum and me.)

With Bob Hansman With sister Janet and Dad

FUN

On July 4, 2006,I was part of the fabulous LAYA (Los Angeles Young Adult Writers) group that judged the South Pasadena 4th of July Balloon Parade (thanks completely to Lisa Yee - who also threw a great party)! It was a real small-town America parade - the 25th anniversary. We wore crowns and sashes and basically had a blast - though we took our judging very seriously. Here are a few photos.

LAYA Judges with Mayor

LAYA Judges with Mayor Philip C. Putnam. From left, Amy Goldman Koss (The Girls, Gossip Times Three, Poison Ivy), Kerry Madden (Gentle's Holler) , Cecil Castellucci (Boy Proof, Queen of Cool), Mayor Putnam, Odom Stamps (former Mayor and City Council Member), Eileen Rosenbloom (Stuck Down), me, Lisa Yee (Millicent Min, Girl Genius; Stanford Wong Flunks Big-time).

Preparing for the parade

We got to ride (and wave to the crowds) for part of the parade route - whoopee! From left, Eileen, Betty, Cecil, Amy, Lisa, Kerry

Three judges at work

Judges Mark London Williams (Danger Boy series), Lisa Yee and Cecil Castellucci hard at work.