Gail All

🤩 My Chat with Tracy Blom: Pulling Back the Curtain on Turkey Trouble!

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Tracy Blom to talk all things Turkey Trouble, along with my incredible partner-in-crime, illustrator Lee Harper!

If you’ve ever wondered how a book goes from my simple words to Lee’s hilarious illustrations, this interview is for you. We shared some fun secrets from our creative process:

💡 Our Best Advice for Young Creators

  • For Writers (That’s Me!): I shared that my best advice is to love the revision process. No one gets it perfect the first time! Every single Turkey Trouble book was improved by going back and finding the strongest ideas.
  • For Illustrators (That’s Lee!): Lee talked about the fun of creating Turkey’s over-the-top personality and encouraged aspiring artists to always draw what you love to develop your own unique style.

🎬 Watch the Fun Here!

Click below to hear Lee and me discuss our favorite Turkey disguises and give our best tips for overcoming creative challenges.

Have you watched the interview? Which disguise is your favorite? Tell me in the comments below!

Gail All, News

Delving into the Delightful Details of Nature: Wendi Silvano’s “How the Forest Feels”

Exploring the Sensory Wonders of the Woods with Fun Activities and Educational Applications

Wendi Silvano, the award-winning author of the beloved “Turkey Trouble” series, has once again captured the hearts of young readers with her enchanting new book, “How the Forest Feels.” This delightful picture book takes readers on a sensory adventure through the forest, inviting them to explore the wonders of nature through touch, sight, sound, and smell.

A Sensory Symphony

Through soothing rhyme and vivid descriptions, Silvano paints a captivating picture of the forest, where every element has a unique texture and sensation. From the smooth, wet stones in the creek to the rough bark on a tree trunk, the book encourages children to engage with their surroundings and appreciate the diverse sensations that nature offers.

Mirka Hokkanen’s soft, velvety illustrations perfectly complement Silvano’s words, bringing the forest to life with their gentle colors and inviting details. The images of a curious boy and his grandfather exploring the woods together create a warm and comforting atmosphere, making the book a perfect read-aloud for families and classrooms.

Fun Activities to Extend the Sensory Exploration

  • Sensory Treasure Hunt: Inspired by the interactive treasure hunt in the book’s back matter, create your own sensory treasure hunt in your backyard or a local park. Hide objects with different textures and ask children to find them and describe how they feel.
  • Forest Collage: Collect natural materials like leaves, twigs, and bark and use them to create a forest collage. Encourage children to explore the different textures and colors of the materials as they work.
  • Blindfolded Nature Walk: Take a nature walk blindfolded (with adult supervision) and focus on the sounds, smells, and textures around you. Try to identify different plants and animals by their unique sensory characteristics.

Educational Applications for a Multisensory Learning Experience

  • Science Curriculum: “How the Forest Feels” can be used to introduce young children to the concept of the five senses and their role in exploring the world around them. The book also provides a great starting point for discussions about different types of plants and animals and their habitats.
  • Language Arts Curriculum: The book’s rhyming text and vivid descriptions make it an excellent tool for teaching children about poetry and descriptive writing. Encourage them to use sensory language to describe their own experiences in nature.
  • Social-Emotional Learning: The book’s focus on curiosity, exploration, and appreciation for nature can help children develop a sense of wonder and connection to the natural world. It can also promote empathy and respect for all living things.

A Must-Have for Every Child’s Bookshelf

“How the Forest Feels” is a beautiful and engaging book that will spark children’s curiosity about the natural world and encourage them to explore their senses. With its fun activities and educational applications, this book is a must-have for every child’s bookshelf and a valuable resource for parents, teachers, and caregivers.

About the Author

Wendi Silvano is a former educator and the award-winning author of the “Turkey Trouble” series, which has sold more than 600,000 copies. She is also the author of the “Love Is All Around…” series, as well as a variety of other picture books, early readers, and educational materials. Visit her online at www.wendisilvano.com.1

About the Illustrator

Mirka Hokkanen is the author-illustrator of the “Mossy and Tweed” early graphic novel series, as well as “Kitty and Cat: Opposites Attract,” and the illustrator of several books for children. A native of Finland, she now lives in the Baltimore area with her family. You can find her online at www.mirkah.com and on Instagram @mirkadraws.

Gail All, Appearances

Upcoming Author Visits and Events in 2025

March 4, 2025- Day Spring Christian Academy, Greeley, Colorado- Virtual Visit

April 11, 2025- Author visits to New Hope Solebury Lower Elementary (Solebury, PA) and Gayman Elementary (Doylestown, PA)

June 4, 2025- Yuma Colorado Library Visit for Summer Reading Program

October 13, 2025- St. Marks Campus Author Visit, Jacksonville, FL.

Interested in having Wendi visit your students or event? Please pop by her SCHOOL VISITS page for more info by clicking here.

Gail All, Appearances

Lots of Fun Events

I’m super excited to share a list of all the fun we have been having. I love visiting schools, bookstores, reading festivals and inspiring students. Actually, it is a win/win as they inspire me too!

December 13, 2024- Free For All Book Fair, Glenwood Springs CO Community Center, 12;00-6:00. Wendi will do a reading at 2:00.

December 13, 2024- Reading and Signing at Alpenglow Bookstore, 720 Grand Avenue, Glenwood Springs, CO (with Nancy Bo Flood and Deborah Williams)

November 12, 2024- School visit to Ballentine Elementary, Irmo, South Carolina

November 13, 2024- School visits to River Springs Elementary, Irmo South Carolina and Harbison West Elementary, Columbia, South Carolina

November 14, 2024- School visit to Chapin Elementary, Chapin, South Carolina

November 22, 2024- Kindergarten classrooms visit to Mesa View Elementary, Grand Junction, CO

Gail All, Appearances

More Past Appearances

March 2, 2023 – Author Visit to Freedom Elementary School, Colorado Springs, CO

February 16, 2023 – School Visit and Family Literacy Night Presentations at Sopris Elementarcy School, Glenwood Springs, CO

February 11, 2023 – Storytime/ Workshop and signing at Second Start to the Right bookstore, Denver, CO

February 1, 2023– Author Visit, Monument Ridge Elementary, Fruita, CO

January 28, 2023– Author Event/book signing at The Tattered Cover bookstore, Denver

December 9, 2022– Classroom visit with 3rd graders at Juniper Ridge Community School, Grand Junction, CO

November 16, 2022 – Virtual School Visit with Humphreys West Elementary School (military school in Seoul, Korea)

September 28 – Virtual Classroom Visit, World Compass Academy Kindergarten, Castle Rock, CO

September 10-11, 2022 – Rocky Mountain SCBWI Letters and Lines Conference, Denver, CO

May 6, 2022 – Joint Author visit with Lee Harper at St. Joseph’s Catholic School, Waxahachie, TX

March 17, 2022 – Virtual School Visit with First Graders at St. Anthony Catholic School, San Antonio, FL

November 24, 2021 – Online reading of TURKEY CLAUS to students at Juan Cancio Ortiz School in Lajas, Puerto Rico (for part of their English class).

November 19, 2021 – Author Visit, Monument Ridge Elementary, Fruita, CO

November 17, 2021 – Virtual Classroom Visit, World Compass Academy Kindergarten, Castle Rock, CO

November 16, 2021 – Author Visit- Dos Rios Elementary, Grand Junction, CO

November 13, 2021 – Author Event with writing group- Collbran Library, Collbran, CO

November 4, 2021 – Author Visit, Mesa Valley Community School, Grand Junction, CO

August 21, 2021 – Book Reading and Signing at the Wandering Jellyfish Bookshop in Niwot, CO 10:30-11:30 am. Come hear TURKEY GOES TO SCHOOL, help sing a song with silly hats, and disguise Turkey for yourself.
Here’s the link to the signing:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/164194292549

August 21, 2021 – Writing Workshop at the Wandering Jellyfish Bookshop, Niwot, CO. 1:00-4:00 pm. PICTURE BOOK PERKUP. See the details on the link below.
Here’s the link for the workshop:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/16419659142Here’s the link for the workshop:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/16419659142

August 14, 2021 – Layering in Layers in Picture Books (Webinar presented by Wendi)- virtual through the MD/DE/WV SCBWI Region

August 9, 2021 – Virtual Book Launch for TURKEY GOES TO SCHOOL through BOOKBAR Denver. 5:00 PM Mountain time/7:00 PM Eastern. TO SIGN UP FOR THE ZOOM LINK PLEASE GO TO https://www.bookbardenver.com/silvano-harper

August 7, 2021 – Meet the Author/Book Signing at OUT WEST BOOKS, 533 Main Street, Grand Junction, Co. (11:00 -4:00)

June 25, 2021 – ALA Meet the Author Event (virtual)- 10:00 am MDT

Dec. 11, 2020 – World Compass Academy, Castle Rock, CO- Virtual Author Visit, 9:30 am MST

December 9, 2020 – Green Gables Elementary, Federal Way, WA. Virtual Author Visit, 9:00 am PST

November 24, 2020 – Foster Care to Success, Clevland, OH, Zoom read-aloud. 2:00 pm MST

November 20, 2020 – Ensign Elementary School, Salt Lake City, UT. 4th-5th grade. Virtual Author Visit

October 30, 2020 – Tope Elementary School, Grand Junction, CO- Virtual Author Visit

February 15, 2020 – Rocky Mountain Chapter SCBWI Connect- Grand Junction Central Library (443 N. 6th Street) 11:00-1:00. Workshop on “First Lines” in children’s writing. Contact me for further info.

Mar. 6, 2020 – School Visit at Loma Elementary School, Loma Colorado. All day!

April 9, 2020 – 10:00 a.m.- Storytime at Clifton Library, 590 32 Road, Clifton, CO. Join Wendi as she reads TURKEY’S EGGCELLENT EASTER and have fun with an Easter craft and egg hunt.