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The Blog
A Tin of Buttons and a Box of Notes
My mom's most prized possessions? A tin of buttons and a box of handwritten notes. She never said it outright, but I don't think it was the buttons or the paper that mattered most — it was the memories they held. Each button told a story: one from the blouse she wore to my wedding, another from the dress Annie wore home from the hospital. Each note carried a heartbeat from the past ,a letter from Cody asking if angels have elbows, my childhood essay about why you should love
dneumann1972
1 day ago1 min read
Annie the Porcupine's Crunchy Snack Adventures
Annie the Porcupine loves her fruits and veggies. From sweet carrot cake to green bean casserole, she's always munching on something wholesome. But even a veggie-loving porcupine sometimes wants that salty, crunchy snack. Lucky for Annie, she's already experimented with all kinds of crunchy goodies like banana chips and turnip fries, and now she's discovering carrot chips! Carrot Chips: Sweet, Salty, Crunchy Ingredients: • 4–5 large carrots, peeled • 1–2 tablespoons olive oil
dneumann1972
1 day ago1 min read
November 5th
Today should have been another amazing day. But for me, it is always the day my sweet Julie took her first and last breath. Although I only held her in my arms for a moment, I have held her in my heart for all eternity. When I started writing I Want a Birthday Party , it only made sense to name Annie's new sweet porcupine friend Julie—birthday twins who together learn the true meaning of birthdays. The book is dedicated to my Julie, a small but lasting way to honor her memory
dneumann1972
Nov 31 min read
Autumn Road Trips
Last week my husband and I took a little road trip, just the two of us and the open road dressed in autumn's finest colors. The trees were bursting with golds, oranges, and deep reds, and that unmistakable freshness filled the air, reminding me why this has always been my favorite time of year. There's something about autumn that invites you to slow down. The pace of life softens, the days grow shorter, and everything feels calmer. As we drove through winding roads lined with
dneumann1972
Nov 31 min read
Full Circle Moments
This week, I was honored to receive an email from a former student. She was in my Young Fives class, and while it feels like just yesterday, in reality she's now in tenth grade. Time really does have a funny way of sneaking by. She explained that her teacher had given an assignment: reach out to your early education teacher, someone who made an impact on your life. I thought, what a great idea! As teachers, we pour so much of ourselves into those early years, but we rarely g
dneumann1972
Oct 232 min read
A Giant Mailbox Adventure
This weekend, I had the joy of traveling to Books Under the Arch, a wonderful book event in St. Louis that brought together readers, authors, and stories from all over. There's something so special about being surrounded by people who love books as much as I do, sharing stories, trading smiles, and celebrating the magic that happens when words come to life. Of course, no road trip would be complete without a little detour adventure . Somewhere between home and St. Louis, I fo
dneumann1972
Oct 141 min read
Swiftie Connection in My Books
I was recently challenged to find a Taylor Swift connection to my Annie the Porcupine books and honestly, it was one of the most...
dneumann1972
Oct 82 min read
A Mother's Love
I know I've talked before about my mom no longer being with us. And if you've lost your mom, you understand the hole that's left behind,...
dneumann1972
Oct 22 min read
My Dented Sign
I love little things that spark conversations—the kind you notice out of the corner of your eye and can't help but comment on. I never...
dneumann1972
Sep 231 min read
Buzzworthy News: Year Two and Better Than Ever
This is our second year of Buzzworthy News , our online news program for elementary students. Every Friday, a group of students joins me...
dneumann1972
Sep 231 min read
Laughing Wolfe Media Review
I had the pleasure of working with Laughing Wolfe Media ( https://www.laughingwolfemedia.com/ ) for voice-over services on all four of my...
dneumann1972
Sep 161 min read
Turkeyville in Marshall, MI
This weekend I was surrounded by a sensory paradise: turkeys singing, swings squeaking, mini horses pulling a wagon, the sun on my...
dneumann1972
Sep 151 min read
Squeals of Delight
Today was one of those days where packages brought squeals of delight. First, my book arrived for final proofing (that's the word I...
dneumann1972
Sep 101 min read
Mother's Love & My New Book
The newest story in the Annie the Porcupine series is coming soon: But I Love My Mother Too. This is a book I never planned to write....
dneumann1972
Sep 42 min read
Hazel Park Author Adventure
This weekend I went on another author adventure: a two-day art fair in Hazel Park, Michigan. It was full of firsts for me, a two-day...
dneumann1972
Aug 262 min read
Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone
Lately, I've been surprising myself. I thought I knew the kind of writer I was, the lane I belonged in and the stories I was meant to...
dneumann1972
Aug 252 min read
Grilled Carrot Dogs
When I was writing my first book, I Don't Celebrate Anything , we had so much fun dreaming up creative vegetarian options for Annie....
dneumann1972
Aug 252 min read
Homemade Applesauce with Roland
One of my favorite childhood memories is baking and cooking with my Grandma. Those moments in her kitchen have stayed with me my whole...
dneumann1972
Aug 92 min read
I'm Not Three Anymore
This week, I played hide and seek with the grandbaby. It was one of those days when you just have this overwhelming desire to be a child...
dneumann1972
Aug 91 min read
Kids Can Socialize in a Digital World
This week, I had the opportunity to speak to several school districts about the work we're doing in the virtual elementary world. On the...
dneumann1972
Aug 82 min read
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