Authors, Kai Strand & LA Dragoni

It’s time for Three Times A Charm. I love meeting new authors, illustrators, bloggers, agents, editors or promoters from the children’s publishing industry and sharing their careers with my readers. Today’s guest is award winning picture book author, Penelope Anne Cole. Welcome to Strands of Thought, Penelope. Tell us a little about you, if you don’t mind. Hi, I’m Penelope Anne Cole. I’ve taught and tutored at every grade level. I enjoy writing children’s stories for read aloud time. I believe that reading to children is the best way to help them love literature. I have a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and an M.A. in Education. When I’m not writing stories or reviewing children’s books, I enjoy walking my dog, reading great children’s books, gardening, church and choir activities. I’m a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, the Fremont Area Writers of the California Writers Club, and I’m a Certified Reading Therapist with Read America. ...

It’s Friday! Time for my blog feature, Building Character in which you get to meet a character from a book. Talking to a character outside of their book is fun! Huge. Amounts. Of fun.  This week Strands of Thought is excited to host Mea from Magical Mea. It’s lovely to have you with us, Mea. Tell us a little about yourself. Hi, my name is Mea. I’m the little sister of Matthew. I have magic --  but don’t tell anyone – it’s a secret! I like to hide things with my magic. Later when I find stuff, everyone is so happy. Then I get lots of praise, ‘cuz I’m such a good finder! Well, that sounds fun, Mea, but I sense sometimes it isn’t. Does it cause problems sometimes? The problem I have is that I don’t want to do what Matt and Grandma Nonie tell me to do. Matt wants to boss me around and I’m tired of it. I like to hide things and then find them. I like to have fun and play tricks. But they want me to listen to them. They want me to be just like Matt, but I need to be...