Shennen Bersani's Weblog

A visit to the Hillsboro-Deering Elementary

Today I had the pleasure of visiting the Hillsboro-Deering Elementary School in Hillsboro, New Hampshire! I meet a great group of enthusiastic students, and felt warmly welcomed by the students and the staff. Many thanks for inviting me!

CBC Magazine Summer Showcase 2006

I was pleased to see that the Children's Book Council Magazine had chosen Ocean Counting Odd Numbers as one of their summer showcase books.
http://www.cbcbooks.org/cbcmagazine/showcase/summer2006_PB.html

Here's their comments:

Ocean Counting: Odd Numbers
Written by Jerry Pallotta
Illustrated by Shennen Bersani
Ages 4-7
ISBN: 0-88106-150-6
Price: $6.95
Charlesbridge

Are you ready to count by twos starting with odd numbers? You may need a little help, so let an ocean-full of creatures show you the way. And while your head is swimming with numbers, add in a few ocean-dweller facts to make things interesting. From one Striped Bass with teeth like Velcro, to seven Basking Sharks that cruise with their mouths open to catch food (now that's odd), to 49 Smelts traveling in a school.

Shennen Bersani's richly textured illustrations find a world of color and activity in the dark waters of the Atlantic Ocean. So realistic it's like looking at an aquarium.

And, if skip-counting and ocean facts aren't enough of a challenge, look closely in the illustrations for the names of the U.S. capitol cities.

Great introduction to marine biology
Challenges young mathematicians
Beautiful illustrations will fascinate young ocean lovers

A visit to Port Clinton Ohio

Today I had the pleasure of visiting the Immaculate Conception School in Port Clinton Ohio. What a fabulous little town on the shore of Lake Erie! I.C.S. is such a wonderful, caring school with really terrific students and staff. A very special thank you to Mrs. Connie Snyder for having me come out to visit. Jefferson School and St. Mary's of Millersville also came by to see my morning presentation. After my presentation I conducted art classes in the afternoon to the I.C.S. students. Here are some of the apples the students painted.

Students proudly display their apples.

The shore of Lake Erie.

Graduation Day!

Today my son Ryan graduated from Boston University's School of Mathematics and Statistics with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics. I am so very proud of him! We sat in the pouring, pouring rain watching - but it was well worth every droplet to participate in his acomplishment. He's now headed off to Honolulu Hawaii to spend his summer surfing. Go as far West as you can, young man!

A million thanks to Hayley for sending me these photos.

A visit to the Chapel Street School

Today I had a most wonderful visit to the Chapel Street School in Stratford CT. I was greeted with the most balloons I've ever seen in one place! Balloon bouquets and balloon archways decorated the school's hallways including huge signs welcoming me! Also visiting today was author Herman Parish, author of many Amelia Bedelia books. Both of us gave presentations to the entire student body. My heartfelt thanks goes to Mrs. Naples the school's librarian and the WONDERFUL PTA for all their efforts and the pampering they gave to me! I am so touched by their generosity. A special thanks to Mrs. Dianne Boras and Mrs. Sarah Voccola :-)

A small sampling of the balloons that greeted me!

Herman Parish and myself - and my famous Megaladon tooth necklace (I illustrated a Megaladon tooth in SHARKS Big, Bigger, Biggest). Kids love to touch the tooth!