Speaking on the “Aunt” Norma Champion show

Hi everyone,

On April 27, I had the pleasure to join NORMA CHAMPION at the Marshfield, Missouri Library. Norma was one of Springfield’s three TV “aunts” who did children’s shows forty or more years ago. Norma’s show was on KY3 and ran from 1956-1986. Our son, JEFF, was one of the children who joined other kids on the Aunt Norma show.

On this occasion, Norma spoke to a full house at the library and reminisced about her long-running series. I joined her to talk for a while and read from some of my work. My good friend, DAN HUTCHENS, was there from Colorado and he took pictures as a favor. He was there with his wife, someone most of you know at least by name, SU HUTCHENS.

I thoroughly enjoyed the event and thank Reverend NICHOLAS INMAN, chairman of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival and related events, for inviting me. I even got my picture taken with SANDY and SU!

I’m going to be on The Children’s Hour

Hi everyone,

I told you sometime ago that I’m going to make a guest appearance at this year’s Cherry Blossom Festival in Marshfield, Missouri. That’s coming up this Saturday, the 27th. Here are a couple of the promotional pieces.

The idea is for me to read a story to the audience during Aunt Norma’s show, and I’ve chosen an old favorite of mine, Little Turtle’s Big Adventure. Maybe I’ll see some of you there on the 27th. I hope so.

April looks good

Hi everyone,

We like to spend part of March in Florida so I don’t book many activities until April. I’m looking over what’s coming up in April and see that it’s going to be a good month. I have a dozen commitments in four cities, including a school visit, a poetry workshop, poetry readings, a story reading, a keynote conference talk, and more.

I look forward to each thing on the agenda, but maybe the most different among them will take place last, on the 27th in Marshfield. “Aunt Norma” Champion, a longtime children’s TV show hostess in the 1960-1980s will appear at 10:30 that morning at the Webster County Library and reenact her old show. I’ve been invited to read a story to her audience that morning and I’ve decided to read Little Turtle’s Big Adventure. I haven’t read that book aloud in years so I look forward to it.