Author Updates

I just finished reading to my son's fourth grade class! Last year I read the paperback edition to his third grade class, which was so much fun. This year I read the hardcover, which I signed and donated to his classroom. We played my poultry game, where the students guessed which bird laid which egg, and I passed around some real chicken feathers for them to check out. They also watched some videos of our new baby chicks! I brought my Traveling Library with me, which is a box of my books that students can borrow to follow along during the reading. This worked out wonderfully, as the kids could see all of the illustrations in detail while I read. They loved looking for Allie, the cat, each time they turned the page!  The kids had lots of questions about how I made the artwork for the book and the large bird cutouts for the poultry game, and about chickens in general. The class had just finished learning about the American Revolution and about how laws are made and changed. I loved b...

Today was a whirlwind! After volunteering with Project RED (Rural Education Day), where 1,400 Jackson County third graders learned about chickens (and more!), I stopped by Dexter Mill to pick up my family's baby chicks! Speaking of Dexter Mill - they are now selling my book in their store, so go buy a copy! Here are some photos from today. The peeps and cheeps of baby chicks might be my favorite sound in the world. The kids loved my poultry game, where they got to guess which bird laid which egg. These are REAL poultry eggs! I drew each bird by hand using colored pencils and crayons. My chicken presentation for Project RED. Every third grade teacher at the event received a copy of my book, Bawk Bawk in the Backyard , provided by the Jackson County Farm Bureau. The rooster was a good boy. He crowed for every group of students! (Not my chickens...provided by the farm bureau for the event). Our new baby chicks! This was years in the making, as our township did not allow chickens and I...

We did it! The Lima Township Board unanimously approved a new backyard chicken ordinance last night. Stay tuned - we're getting chickens!  

Washtenaw County Farm Bureau has been busy sharing educational resources throughout the community for Michigan's Food and Agriculture Month. Thanks to their efforts, Bawk Bawk in the Backyard is now available to library patrons in several areas! If you happen to stop by any of the following Michigan libraries, look for Bawk Bawk in the Backyard among the farm bureau's beautiful displays: Chelsea District Library Milan Public Library Manchester District Library Ypsilanti District Library Saline District Library  I love knowing that so many kids in our community will have a chance to learn about chicken keeping! Attention librarians: the second edition of Bawk Bawk in the Backyard is available in hardcover and paperback through Ingram ordering systems (ipage), and Baker & Taylor. I would be glad to arrange an order separately if you prefer, just send me a message!  Library of Congress Control Number: 2023901387  ISBN: 979-8-9876939-4-0 (hardcover)  ISBN: 979-8-98...

And the winner is...Georgia!  Look at her beautiful drawing and all of its wonderful details: the little eggs cracking open, the happy chicken, the flowers and heart, and the "Book of Bawks." It's clear she poured her heart into it, and now she will have her very own book of bawks - a signed copy of Bawk Bawk in the Backyard! Though the giveaway has ended, you can still access free coloring pages on my author website . I even added a new baby chick activity page today. Save 10% in my Etsy shop ! Enter promo code EASTER to save 10% at checkout. Find signed hardcover and paperback editions, plus a gift set which includes coloring pages and is gift wrapped. Order today in time for Easter!

Visit my Etsy shop for signed hardcover and paperback editions of Bawk Bawk in the Backyard, plus a gift set which includes coloring pages and is gift wrapped. Order today in time for Easter, and use promo code EASTER to save 10%! https://celinamariechase.etsy.com

Last night, the Lima Township Board authorized the Planning Commission to put together a backyard chicken ordinance amendment, which will allow more residents (like me!) to be able to keep chickens. Once the commission comes up with the proposal, the board will then vote on whether to approve it. We're one step closer to getting chickens!  Click  here  to read more about my backyard chicken political effort. Photo circa 2017, of our baby chicks in Ann Arbor.