Love that Gracie

When I was awarded the William Allen White Award for the state of Kansas, the student who introduced me was the adorable Gracie Schmidt.

When I arrived the first night, she presented me with boiled peanuts (made from scratch by her and her mother.)

Gracie did a great job at the award ceremony.

Last week, she sent me this picture of herself when she discovered BOILED PEANUTS by the roadside.

Kansas Part 2

The day of the William Allen White Award ceremony.

Here I am backstage with my student presenter, Gracie Schmidt:

Waiting for our turn:

(l to r) Gracie Schmidt, me, Mikey Hughes, Cindy Kadohata



Gracie introducing me:

Me saying something brilliant:

Me, saying something else brilliant:

The William Allen White Award medal!

Thank you, Kansas!!

Kansas Part 1

My trip to Emporia, Kansas to accept the William Allen White Book Award for How to Steal a Dog was fantastic.

The day started with a tour of the beautiful campus of Emporia State University - decorated for the occasion.




A lovely dinner the first night, when I met Cynthia Kadohata, whose book, Cracker: The Best Dog in Vietnam, won the award in the Grade 6-8 division.

Cynthia Kadohata (left) and me

After dinner, Cindy and I went to chat with students who were attending a sleepover the night before the award ceremony. I got to meet the student who would be presenting me with my award, the lovely, adorable, funny, smart fifth grader Gracie Schmidt. Gracie presented me with a basket of HOMEMADE boiled peanuts. (She had read that one of my fond childhood memories was when my grandfather grew peanuts and my grandmother boiled them.)

Gracie Schmidt (left) and me

Boiled peanuts!

A band played in front of the auditorium:

Getting ready for the ceremony: