1st School Reading 2020 in Los Cabos

Photo-Story, School Children Thanks, School Reading

January 14, 2020

First School Reading in Los Cabos 2020 — Esc. Prim. Valentín Gómez Farias, Valentín Gómez Farías Elementary School, in San José del Cabo

Principal Roberto Montaño
Teachers: Arianna
Anythé Aguirre

Public school in San José del Cabo. Only school offering sign language interpreters for deaf students in the region. Next year all students will be offered the opportunity to learn sign language.

The administration and students are committed to recycling. Two years in a row the school won the distinction of most effective in recycling. For example, in preparation for my visit the students (who had already read my books, A Tall Tale About Dachshunds in Costumes and Un Gran Cuento Acerca de Perros Salchicha y Disfraces) each created a dog featured in the story using only recycled items from home. I was amazed at the creativity of the children and their projects!

Professor Winston and I shared in the reading of the English and Spanish translations according to the age groups. We read three times: to the 1-2, 3-4, and 5-6 grade classes.

To my utter amazement the next day I received 200 thank you letters from the students! Followed by a huge hug fest!!!!

Much appreciation to Professor Winston, Anabella Nixania and teacher Anythé Aguirre, for making the arrangements, Professor Winston’s stunning lyrical translation, the warm welcome from the staff and students, and the ever faithful love and support from my beloved Thom.

Warm welcome by teacher (L) Anythé Aguirre. She gifted (R) Anabella Nixania and I baskets of home made soap and shampoo!

At this school, the children had been busy making dolls and puppets of the dogs in my book, A Tall Tale About Dachshunds in Costumes. This is a gallery of their creative project!

Dog creations using only recycled items from home inspired by Costumes Tall Tale! Here is one that caught my eye.

Older students full of comments & questions! (L-R) Thom Wert & principal Roberto Montaño listen

Recycled plastic bottles, sticks, leaves! Very clever!

This young man has got talent!!! — Papier-mâché!

The students gave me this poster as a gift to take home with me! Fabulous Afghan Hound!

Autograph request for composition book page for Tall Tale!

(L-R) Professor Winston, Teacher Arianna, Kizzie signing books, and Principal Roberto Montaño

Very clever! Chess board & rules decorate wall. Chess boards painted on cement lunch/community tables.

Two consecutive years Environmental Award!

Kizzie is asked to autograph a basketball!

Principal Roberto Montaño presents Kizzie with 200 thank you letters from the students!!!!

Kizzie shows off all her gifts from the students & 200 thank you letters! What incredible memories! What cherished new friendships! Thank you students & staff!

Hand-drawn envelope from one of the students.

“Today is Wednesday January 15, 2020 To: Kizzie Jones Hello. My name is Hermán. I’m 10 years old. I’m in the 5th. Love to draw. Love to write. Have a great flight.”

“Hello Kizzie Jones. How are you? I loved your story. Have a great flight. Hope to see you soon. My name is Natalie. I’m 10 years old. I’m in 5th grade.”

“Hello. My name is Santiago. I’m 10 years old. I’m in 5th grade. I loved your story. I loved to draw.”

Valentín is the only school in region to offer classes in sign language for the deaf. Next year they will teach sign language classes for all students as an additional language. The students on the far right is signing, “I love you.”

Valentín school children gathered to pose with their cards.

The students from the whole school gathered with their cards!

I donated an English and a Spanish edition of my newest Tall Tale, A Tall Tale About Dachshunds in Costumes: How MORE Dogs Came to Be, to each school. You can get your own at your local bookstore via Indie Bound or from Amazon. You can see the whole 3-book series here.