FREE BOOKS AND THE POWER OF STORIES

Last week, I came home from a busy day at summer school and decided to kick back with a good book. I sat outside on the patio beside our bedroom sliding glass door. Our cat Shadow, curled up on my lap as I read. Eventually, he jumped down, but a few minutes later, I felt a tail brush against my leg. I reached down to pet Shadow and instead of his velvety back, I touched wiry fur. I looked down and jumped. A skunk! He jumped too, but fortunately, he didn’t spray. He waddled off into the garden and I rushed inside. 

When I’ve told this tale to others, their responses have been varied; some have leaned closer to hear every detail; some, with eyes wide, jumped back when I came to the word “skunk”; and some have laughed. Whatever their response, all of my listeners had one thing in common. They listened closely to the details and each listener held an image of how a skunk’s fur might feel.

Stories engage the mind. That is why they are one of my favorite tools to use with speech students. Well-told stories and well-written books capture attention, which in turn, creates rich learning opportunities. 

With this in mind, I’d like to share some of my written stories with you. I’m offering Kindle versions of three of my books for free through June 29. You can find the links here: https://www.amazon.com/Ghostly-Night-Jeanette-Stickel-ebook/dp/B01MCSV4KE/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1529875841&sr=8-4

https://www.amazon.com/Giants-Sneeze-Jeanette-Stickel-ebook/dp/B07C6QL13F/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1529875841&sr=8-5&dpID=61-zvK1qaIL&preST=_SX342_QL70_&dpSrc=detail

https://www.amazon.com/Talking-Time-Jeanette-Stickel-ebook/dp/B07C6M76RJ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1529875841&sr=8-3&keywords=Jeanette+W+Stickel

If you enjoy them, I hope you will consider writing a review on Amazon. 

By the way, in case you are wondering, the skunk came back the next day and I’m afraid the word is out among the wildlife in our area. He is not the only visitor to the food dish. Take a look!

A visiting fox with our cat looking on!

He came back with a friend

He decided to stay so he stole our cushion and cat's bed!

This raccoon wanted to get in on the fun.

"Hey, I could be a cat. What a cushy life!

And yes, the skunk came back but I'm safely inside behind the screen door!

Sh! Sh! Marie

Early in my career, I had a young student named Marie. She had wild, unruly hair and a wildly enthusiastic attitude toward life. Her unguarded enthusiasm often got her into trouble. Her voice was loud and she was always moving. Her big personality wasn’t a good match for her quiet classroom and she often came to the speech room to see if I needed any “help”. I could usually find a job or two to keep her busy. Marie’s teacher welcomed the relief and I welcomed the day-brightener. 

Marie is grown now and has left home for college but she will never leave my memory. I think of her often when I meet other wildly enthusiastic children who struggle to keep their bodies and voices within the classroom-acceptable range, and she was the inspiration for my story, Sh! Sh! Marie. 

from Amazon:

Marie can't seem to keep her voice or body quiet as she twitches and twirls her way through life hearing, "Sh! Sh! Sh!" at every twist and turn. Her irrepressible spirit has her leap through the living room practicing ballet; pound with exuberance on a toy drum (near the neighbor's window); and imitate a baby baboon during story-time at the library. Children will laugh with delight at her antics and relate to the common refrain, "Sh! Sh! Sh!" Their delight will increase at the end of the story when Marie gets to say the final "Sh!"

Speech, language and reading skills are interdependent and children make leaps toward literacy when those skills are taught together. This story, besides providing entertainment, will help children learn the letter combination "sh" and give them practice pronouncing it as they join in the repeated refrain Sh! Sh! Sh!