Last school visit of the year!

With Rain Dragon, I haven't been able to participate in as many good causes as I have in the past, which makes me sad as I really do believe in charitable giving. I feel like so many people helped me during rough spots, I should try to give back. While I don't think I'll ever take on a project like Robert's Snow again, I would love to do another project like small graces. Maybe when Rain Dragon is old enough to go to school!

In the meantime, I've had to participate in charity in smaller ways. Which is why I was delighted that my last school visit of the year was for the United Way.  To combat summer reading loss, the United Way hosted bookfairs in Lynn, MA giving at least one book to each grade K-5 student. I visited the 4th and 5th graders at the Hood Elementary School where my awesome publisher Little, Brown and Co donated Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.

My own donation was an original piece of art from Dim Sum for Everyone! I plucked it out of the art designated for my trunk sale and as it's exactly what I'm hoping for all the pieces--to be displayed, shared and enjoyed by many (instead of being under my bed).

Rain Dragon is not sure she wants to let it go, though!

And what a lovely new home the art has! The students were great-- they were so attentive while I did my reading:

And had lots of great questions:

And easily mastered the tiger drawing:

I think my painting looks right at home, don't you think?

Thanks so much Hood School! Thank you, United Way!