The Further Adventures of Grace Brewster

Visiting Bria

January 19, 2010 · 2 Comments

In December I travelled to the home of another fan. Here are some pictures and a terrific journal that my host, Bria, would like to share. I had a great time. Thanks for having me over, Bria!

Grace and Bria’s Journal

Grace arrived at my house on Monday, December 7 – my granddad’s birthday.  When I walked in with my mom after school from the bus stop I couldn’t wait to open the package!!  I loved the card from Ms. Baptiste with the pretty blue and white dress on it.  Grace and I had fun watching television, telling secrets and we ate then talked on the phone.  But before all of that I introduced her to the other Groovy Girl dolls in my collection and we took pictures.  She had a sleeping buddy named Gigi who is my favorite stuffed giraffe, and also my sleeping buddy.  I came up with the idea to let her spend the day one on one  with each of my Groovy Girl dolls while I was away for the day at school learning.

On Tuesday she spent the day with Solana.  They did some cool things while I was at school.  You can ask her what they did.  Then later when I came home, she helped me finish my homework.  Then she helped me design and write my birthday party invitations.  We had so much fun.  I also read a storybook to her and the other Groovy Girls in my bedroom.  Then we went for a ride in the car to the post office and Grace helped me put my birthday invitations in the mail box.  Then we stopped by the gas station with my mom to pick up a few snacks and went to the dollar store.  Then Grace, Gigi and I went to bed.

On Wednesday Grace played with Bindi and when I came home from school we did homework, went on the computer, ate and then watched some television.  Later while Grace and Gigi were falling asleep I read them a bedtime story.  Then I fell asleep also.  P.s. We also took a shower (Grace was in my robe pocket) before going to bed.

 On Thursday Grace and Kendra played together.  I don’t know what they did, so ask her.  We had fun doing homework when I returned home.  Then we ate and went on the computer.  We had a snack before dinner time, and then Grace, Kendra and I went for a ride to the library twice.  When we came back home we put our pajamas on and pulled our hair up.  We watched a little television and then went to bed.

 On Friday Grace played with her new BFF Shayla all day.  You can ask Grace what they did because I was at school.  After school I had a play date with one of my BFF’s Maya.  She came over to my house and I introduced her to Grace. My mom was making apple bread while we played.  Later my dad, mom, older brother, Deven, Maya, Grace, Shayla and I went over to my neighbor’s house for dinner.  My dad ordered food from the Star Tavern in Orange, NJ.  We had pizza, pasta and salad!!  YUM!!  Maya and I made necklaces and bracelets.  I made a necklace for Grace and Maya made some jewelry for herself and her mom. Then we took a picture. Then we took Maya home and re-joined the rest of my family at our neighbor’s house.  My brother Deven and I watched a movie and played a board game.  After my family and I left our neighbors house, my brother and I put our pajamas on, watched a little television and then went to bed.  P.s. We stayed up until 12 midnight!!! It was the weekend.

 

On Saturday We ate breakfast, got dressed and then watched television.  Grace played with her sleeping buddy Gigi all day.  And guess what??  It SNOWED!!!  My brother, Grace and I later worked on a school Christmas project called The Giving Tree, where we had to create homemade cards and attach them to our unwrapped Christmas gifts for some children in Haiti.  My mom bought them puzzles.  We provided gifts and cards for 5 children  and in total the other children at my school (Watchung Elementary) were able to provide gifts and cards for 264 children in Haiti.  They attend Watchung’s sister school in Haiti that was founded by one of the Watchung parents.  Check out edeyo.org for more information on the project.  We had a lot of fun working on it.    Later we watched television and put on our pajamas.  We decorated our new Christmas tree and Grace helped.  We also took some more pictures.  We also watched an educational show on the computer.  We later relaxed on the couch and ate some clementines.  Then we went to bed.

On Sunday Grace played with all of her Groovy Girl friends and Gigi all day.  Grace and Gigi also went to church we me and my family on Sunday morning.  Then we took a ride to David’s Bridal to order my flower girl dress and my mom’s bride’s maid dress for my godmother’s wedding that is coming up on January 17 – can’t wait!!  Then we went to the dollar store and K-Mart.  We ate lunch at Taco Bell.  YUM!!  Then we went home and had some company over.  We watched television, put on our pajamas, and ate dinner.  Before we went to bed we packed up Grace who was wearing the scrunchy and the new necklace that I gave her.  We also packed in some apple bread for Ms. Baptiste and her family to enjoy.  She said she enjoyed it!  I’m glad she liked it.  Everyone said goodbye to Grace.  We miss her very much!!  Maybe we’ll see her again one day.

 Love & Thanks!

Bria

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Another visit with Grace

December 11, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Yesterday, I came back home from visiting with Bria in New Jersey. We had a great time! I arrived with my hair done in a scrunchie and a  beautiful necklace that Bria made as well as some yummy treats for Tracey. Apple bread! Tracey started eating it right away.

Below is a picture of the apple bread before Tracey started eating it.

Here’s the letter from Bria. We’ll hear more from Bria in coming days.

Thanks for having me over, Bria!

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Thank you Montclair Library!

November 18, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Tracey and I visited with the ladies at the Mother/Daughter book club in Montclair yesterday and it was a fantastic visit! Tracey read, I sat and looked pretty, and then I was invited to someone’s house to hang out! I hope they have PBS! It’s my favorite channel!

Tracey was invited back to do a lecture  and I’m going to go too. I better work on my speaking-int0-the-mic skills.

Is this thing on?

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Presentation? Check!

November 11, 2009 · Leave a Comment

DSCN0481Tracey and I are getting ready for our Author Visit at EPCS tomorrow. We’re looking forward to meeting the 5th graders. We hope they like the slide show!

Now, what should I wear? Oh, right, I always wear the same thing!

Don’t forget, this is the last week to sign up for the Free Author Visit!

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November Events

November 5, 2009 · Leave a Comment

If you’re driving around Englewood, Montclair or New Brunswick this month, you might see me strapped into the passenger side of Tracey’s car, enjoying the sight of falling leaves as we go to a few events.

On November 12th, I’ll be visiting the 5th grade class at Englewood on the Palisades Charter School. That’s EPCS for the hometown crew.

On November 13th and 14th, I will be at the NJASL conference in New Brunswick. If you buy books at the conference, you can enter to win a chance a FREE Author Visit from me! (Tracey will probably come along too.)

On November 17th, I will be at the Montclair library at the Mother/Daughter book club. If you’re a mom, or a daughter, and you like books, especially books about mysterious family members, exotic tropical locales and the possibility of a little romance, come on down. We’d love to have you. I hear there will be snacks. Yum!

See you around Jersey, guys!

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Kids Can Write Novels Too!

October 27, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Grace writes 1

Aaargh!

Somebody sat down and wrote an entire book about me. And that’s a really hard thing to do, but it’s not impossible! I think kids like you can write books too. In just over four days, National Novel Writing Month begins. That’s NaNoWriMo for short, and during the month of November, thousands of people (maybe millions!) try to write an entire novel in thirty days. People do it every year! And even if you’re a kid, you can do it too. The folks at NaNoWriMo have novel-writing workbooks for kids that you can download for free. Click here. And you can use it to start writing your very own novel in one month. Yes, YOU!

I think you should do it. I totally do.

I’d do it, but this darn pencil is so cumbersome! Sheesh!

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The Fox and the Crow

October 19, 2009 · Leave a Comment

One of my favorite Aesop’s Fables is this tale of a wily fox outwittng a crow for a hunk of cheese. I never thought of any part of that story as fact. Both the fox and the crow talk in the story, after all. But just a few minutes ago I was looking out the back window, when a huge black crow swooped down frantically with a huge piece of cheese in its beak. I have no idea where a crow would find such a large hunk of cheese, but it was clearly from a large block, bright yellow like sharp cheddar and the crow looked like it couldn’t believe its good luck.

Unfortunately I wasn’t fast enough to get a picture. It flew off as suddenly as it landed in the yard. But seriously. Who sees a fable come to life ever? Well, you know, almost.

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Happy Divali, Everyone!

October 15, 2009 · Leave a Comment

The celebrations are starting. People are bursting bamboo all over Trinidad. It’s the Hindu festival of lights, and then everybody else’s follows.

Some advice:
1. Do not stand in front of a bamboo cannon.
2. Do not try this unless you are a Trinidadian expert.

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Trinidad, here I come!

October 8, 2009 · Leave a Comment

I just found out that we’re going to Trinidad for Christmas! How great is that? I’ve already circled the dates on my calendar and sent an email to Raj. This is going to be great! Black cake, pastels, souse, punch de creme! Parang!

I can hardly wait! Now I just have to get through the next two months (!) of school without bursting from excitement!

(If only we could leave Sally at home. ;) )

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Get a classroom visit for $9

October 1, 2009 · 3 Comments

Last week I learned that Angel’s Grace is about to earn out its advance. Do I wish it had happened sooner? Yes. But a poster on my other blog reminded me that 70% of books never get there. Whaa? That’s crazy talk. So I’m really happy that I’m so close to achieving that feat.

Since the book is now available on Kindle and in paperback, it’s more affordable than ever, so I’m asking you, dear readers, to help me get there. In both cases, you can get somethin’ for practically nothin’. Does that happen these days? Nuh uh.

OPTION ONE (for regular folks)

If you’ve borrowed Angel’s Grace from the library and you enjoy it, please buy a copy, and if you already have a copy and know someone who’d enjoy the book, buy a copy for them. And my eternal thanks for your support! Really. It means a lot. So if you let me know that you’ve bought a copy, I will mail you a signed bookplate.

OPTION TWO (for teachers and students)

If you’d like me to visit your school, buying a copy of the book could earn you a free classroom visit. From now until November 14th, when I will be at NJASL in New Brunswick, I am raffling off the chance for a free visit. In this economy, a free anything is good, and I promise you, I give a good visit.

To be entered you must:

1) Buy a new copy of ANGELS’ GRACE.

2) Scan a copy of the receipt.

3) Send an email with the receipt attached and the following type of information:

SUBJECT: FREE CLASSROOM VISIT RAFFLE

BODY: Attached is a copy of my receipt for __ copies of ANGEL’S GRACE

Please enter my school: Best Ever Elementary and Middle School

#1 Hope Boulevard

Heckyeahville, NJ

Teacher: Mr. Sweet

Contact number: 201-555-0000

4) I will email you back to verify and you’ll be entered into the raffle, one entry for every book purchased. That means, buying more books gives you more chances to win a free visit!

5) On November 15, I will videotape myself choosing the winner and post it here. GOOD LUCK!

———-

THE FINE PRINT! I can only realistically visit schools near my NJ home. If you live farther than I can drive in a day, I will offer you the same length visit but online. This means your class will need to have access to a computer with Internet access so that we can do the visit over Skype. Sweet huh? Know what else that means? You can enter even if you live in a different country! I’m looking at you, Sharon!

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