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JuKa Books is an evolving publishing company, whose journey is posted as it happens. JuKa's owners discuss their philosophy, insights, setbacks, challenges and successes. They are on the verge of publishing their first book, Howard the Fish. Howard's character is based on Kate's daughter who was diagnosed at two years old with high-functioning autism.
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JuKa made a special visit to Washington Woods on Thursday, teaming up with HCASG for Autism Awareness Month. For those of you who don't know, 'Howard the Fish' was written with autism in mind. Julie and I are as passionate about autism as we are about Howard. What's great about taking our cause to the schools is how incredibly receptive kids are to talking about autism. They never cease to amaze me, every visit we make. What surprised me most at Washington Woods was how many of the students knew the word autism, knew kids with autism, knew information about autism, all before we even started into the lesson. At the beginning, when Julie asked our first group who had heard the word autism, nearly every hand in the room went up. Not only that, a lot of them knew their facts! It was such a wonderful and positive experience. A big thank you to the students and staff of Washington Woods for having us out.
0 Comments on JuKa visits Washington Woods Elementary as of 4/25/2009 8:35:00 PM
Julie and I teamed up with another author-illustrator pair, Anne Paluszny and Lori McDonough, for The not-so-young Authors' Book Signing Event at Cherry Tree Elementary on Wednesday. What a great way to kick off the busy week ahead! It was nice to be at our home school for a change of pace. The staff and students of Cherry Tree were very welcoming. A big bonus of being at our own school was that our children got to be celebrities (or children of) for the day. My daughter Nina (our second in line) proudly brought her class by to meet her mom the illustrator.
We filled out our busy week with a book reading and autism lesson for the students of Washington Woods Elementary today, which we will post on soon. On Saturday we are off to Mudsock Books in Fishers for a joint event with the Hamilton County Autism Support Group. So stay tuned for updates!
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JuKa Books to read for Autism Awareness Month April 17, 2009
Carmel-based JuKa Books and the Hamilton County Autism Support Group have joined forces to honor National Autism Awareness Month this month. JuKa Books created their children's picture book, "Howard the Fish," especially for children with autism spectrum disorders. Their book is the springboard for April's events.
Mudsock Books and Curiosity Shoppe, 11631 Fishers Station Dr., Fishers, will host JuKa and the Hamilton County Autism Support Group (HCASG) for "Autism Stories." The event is for children and adults at 10:30 a.m. April 25.
"Howard the Fish" author and illustrator, Julie Shore and Kate Jones, will read and engage in a craft with the younger audience. At the same time, HCASG Executive Officers, Jane Grimes, Beth Schweigel, and Stacey Halvorsen are conducting an informal coffee and discussing their personal stories as mothers of children with autism with the parents, caregivers, and the professionals who attend.
"HCASG President Jane Grimes and I have planned several events for the month of April," Shore said. "We are excited about our event at Mudsock Books, as it includes something for both adults and children."
HCASG and JuKa Books recently collaborated at the Indiana Autism Expo.
"Jane is an amazing, non-stop woman whose passion for the cause knows no bounds. The explosive growth of her organization speaks for itself," Shore said.
JuKa is donating its profits from this event to the Hamilton County Autism Support Group.
0 Comments on Article from The Indy Star as of 4/18/2009 9:45:00 AM
Today was a blast! It is nearly impossible for me to capture the energy of my visit to The Rice School/La Escuela Rice today. I shared Howard the Fish with kindergarten through third grades, and each group was more incredible than the next. Everyone was engaged, learning, and having a great time. The teachers in that building are obviously doing a marvelous job, and have created a community of respectful and enthusiastic learners. We talked of differences, of similiarities, of autism, of likes and dislikes, and of our fears. We laughed and we learned.
A special thank you to Patty Henry for inviting me and making my trip to Houston a reality. And to Becky Ingalls for her patience and hospitality, and also for giving me those great introductions that tuned every student in from the beginning. The teachers made my job today both easy and enjoyable. Most of all I'd like to thank every single student who I visited today---each one of you did your part in making today a very special day for me.
Special Note: As I am blogging, Kate (remember--Kate is the illustrator) is on our website slashing prices for a special discount for The Rice School/La Escuela Rice. We'll leave these discounted prices up until next Friday. It's a great time to order!
0 Comments on Howard the Fish at The Rice School/La Escuela Rice as of 1/1/1900
Anonymous said, on 3/5/2009 9:29:00 PM
I'm glad to see Howard is making his way around to many schools in many states. "Howard the Fish" is a wonderful book, and Howard is a great role model for children (and adults too!).
Anonymous said, on 3/5/2009 10:48:00 PM
The Rice School is such an open environment. WOW! Thanks to all who made this happen! Sena
Anonymous said, on 3/5/2009 11:54:00 PM
Howard the Fish must be blowing a lot of very happy bubbles today because he found so many new faces and families at The Rice School/La Escuela Rice in Houston, Texas. Howard's new faces and families will also be very happy because, like Howard, they will find new faces and families who share much in common with them. There will be so many more happy fish bubbles and people smiles now, all the way from Carmel, Indiana to Houston, Texas.
Anonymous said, on 3/10/2009 10:41:00 PM
Wow! So glad Howard is in Texas! Rice School is way ahead of this game. Now, Howard is heading to California Dreamin'. Welcome to west of the Mississippi, Howard! Paulette P.
Wow. Days like today are what it's all about. Kate and I were at Shamrock Springs Elementary this morning. We owe a big THANK YOU to Teacher Extraordinaire, Betty Smock, who let us debut our Autism Awareness Lesson with her class of third graders. Kate and I have been fine-tuning this particular lesson for weeks, gearing up for April, Autism Awareness Month. The kids were open and enthusiastic as they learned about autism, themselves, and each other. Kate and I always go back to the mantra that people are more alike than they are different. With kids, that's always so easy to illustrate. I just love the beauty of their receptiveness!
Kate and I were thrilled to get some terrific feedback from Betty, Mr. Hartley (principal), Mrs. Meyer (Special Ed) and Mrs. Smith (Special Ed). And what a joy to see a school principal sitting on the floor, right in the mix with his students, participating right alongside them. Very cool. The students were obviously reflecting the quality of education that they are receiving at Shamrock. What an amazing group of educators! Thank you for taking the time to spend your morning with us!
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Kate and I have often told you stories of the amazing people we have met on our journey. Jane Mills is one of those people. She owns a children's bookstore in Noblesville, Indiana---The Wild. She was the first in the business to listen to Kate and I, the first to host a reading/signing for us. Somewhere in this blog, there are pictures. If you live anywhere near Noblesville and haven't been to The Wild, you are truly missing out. But I digress...
Jane is awesome. Her store is awesome because of her, as it reflects the woman behind the counter. On the counter there is an unobtusive jar, collecting stray coins for CF (Cystic Fibrosis). There is a picture of a boy with CF on the jar, whose name is Fritz. On the walls, artwork from various artists is jammed onto any vacancy. Much of it has been created by a boy named Fritz. Some days, a boy is sitting behind the counter with Jane. His name is Fritz. He is Jane's son.
I'd like you to watch the following video. Ernie (Jane's husband) made it so others might understand. Definitions are great---video is infinitely better. I definitely learned about CF by watching it. But this video also reminded me that heroes are everywhere. They are behind the counter, holding a door for you, exercising alongside you, or sitting in the seat next to yours. They are short, tall, young, and old. You might know them well, vaguely, or not at all. We do not know what each other has going in on in our lives, on the day to day, in the privacy of our own four walls. But rest assured: there are those among us who are doing the heroic. Every single day.
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Anonymous said, on 2/23/2009 9:45:00 AM
Thanks for the inspirational video. We take so much for granted and forget just how blessed we are. Like at the end of the video, if we could all just turn off the lights and thank God for everything that we have and what he does in our life, the word would be a better place Peace
Anonymous said, on 2/23/2009 12:27:00 PM
Thank you for sharing this beautiful story. It inspires me to take out my checkbook and give a donation to the CF Foundation and/or other charities and foundations working toward finding cures and giving support. Charities and Research foundations are being affected by the economic crisis, as we all are. A check to any one of them not only helps the represented people and cause, but also helps the overall economy by keeping jobs.
HCASG is the Hamilton County Autism Support Group. Kate and I have worked with them in the past, and are about to start up a new venture. I don't want to get ahead of myself, since details are yet to be worked out. However, I must say that I am completely pumped. We are getting together some awesome events for Austism Awareness Month.
I would be remiss in mentioning HCASG if I didn't mention its President, Jane Grimes. Jane is one of those intense, type-A women who overflows with energy and leaves no stone unturned. Today, I had the pleasure of not only meeting with Jane, but also Beth Schweigel (Secretary), and Stacey Halvorsen (Treasurer). One word sums it up: WOW! It's no wonder that HCASG has evolved into such a powerhouse---these three women are nothing short of amazing. Stay tuned for what's to come...
0 Comments on JuKa and HCASG Join Forces for Autism Awareness as of 1/1/1900
Anonymous said, on 2/12/2009 9:53:00 PM
Keep us up to date on your plans. I think we are getting pretty excited with Autism Awareness month just around the corner.
It's been quite awhile since my last post, but the JuKa wheels are back in action. Kate and I took off the month of December, which is one of the luxuries of our business. Now that the new year is in full swing, we've dusted off our various keypads and dug back into the work that is Howard the Fish. Marketing is consuming our time for the month, and we hope to be back on the school trail next month. Kate and I have a blast doing lessons at schools, and we'd like to see that aspect of our business double. One thing remains constant: kids are fun.
Although we've presented many lessons on discovering similarities and differences, we've yet to do a lesson specifically on autism awareness. April, Autism Awareness Month, is right around the corner, so I am curious if we will see a shift in what schools want from us.
0 Comments on Howard the Fish Rings in 2009 as of 1/1/1900
As both a mother and educator, I have learned some of my most effective strategies from the realm of special education. In that spirit, I am cut/pasting an email I received from the Hamilton County Autism Support Group. Whether or not you have a child with autism, it's a great list. Although my girls are not on the autism spectrum, I can certainly benefit from #4!
Helping Your Son/Daughter and Family Have a Happy Holidays:
The Twelve Tips of Christmas
Contributed by Dr. Cathy Pratt, Ph.D. Director, Indiana Resource Center for Autism
While many happily anticipate the coming holiday season, families of sons/daughters on the autism spectrum also understand the special challenges that may occur when schedules are disrupted and routines broken. Our hope is that by following these few helpful tips, families may lessen the stress of the holiday season and make it a more enjoyable experience for everyone involved. The following tips were developed with input from the Autism Society of America, the Indiana Resource Center for Autism and the Indiana Autism Leadership Network.
1. Preparation is crucial for many individuals. At the same time, it is important to determine how much preparation a specific person may need. For example, if your son or daughter has a tendency to become anxious when anticipating an event that is to occur in the future, you may want to adjust how many days in advance you prepare him or her. Preparation can occur in various ways by using a calendar and marking the date of various holiday events, or by creating a Social Story that highlights what will happen at a given event.
2. Having decorations around the house may be disruptive for some. It may be helpful to revisit pictures from previous holidays that show decorations in the house. If such a book does not exist, use this holiday season to create a picture book. For some it may also be helpful to take them shopping with you for holiday decorations so that they are engaged in the process. Or involve them in the process of decorating the house. And once holiday decorations have been put up, you may need to create rules about those that can be touched and those that can not be touched. Be direct, specific and consistent.
3. If your child has difficulty with change, you may want to gradually decorate the house. For example, on the first day put up the Christmas tree, then on the next day decorate the tree and so on. And again, engage them as much as possible in this process.
4. If your child begins to obsess about a particular gift or toy they want, it may be helpful to be specific and direct about the number of times a child can mention the toy. One suggestion is to give your child 5 chips. They are allowed to exchange one chip for 5 minutes of talking about the desired gift. Also, if you have no intention of purchasing a specific toy, it serves no purpose to tell the child that maybe they will get the gift. This will only lead to problems in the future. Always choose to be direct specific about your intentions.
5. Teach your child how to leave a situation and/or how to access support when an event becomes overwhelming. For example, rather then having a behavioral episode, the individual should be taught ahead of time that they should go to their room when feeling overwhelmed. This self-management tool will serve the individual into adulthood.
6. If you are traveling for the holidays, make sure you have the child’s favorite foods or toys available. Having familiar items readily available can help to calm stressful situations. Also prepare them via social stories or other communication systems, for any unexpected delays in travel.
7. Know your child and how much noise and activity they can tolerate. If you detect that a situation may be becoming overwhelming, help your child find a quiet area in which to regroup. And there may be some situations that you simply avoid (e.g., crowded shopping malls the day after Thanksgiving).
8. Prepare a photo album in advance of the relatives and other guests who will be visiting during the holidays. Allow the child access to these photos at all time and also go through the photo album with your child while talking briefly about each family member.
9. In preparation for the holiday season, you might want to practice opening gifts, taking turns and waiting for others, or giving gifts to others. You might also choose to practice certain religious rituals. Work with a speech language pathologists to construct pages of vocabulary or topic boards that relate to the holidays and family traditions.
10. It may also be helpful to prepare family members for strategies to use to minimize anxiety or behavioral incidents, and to enhance participation. Help them to understand if your son/daughter prefers to be hugged or not, needs calm discussions, or provide other suggestions that will facilitate a smoother holiday season.
11. If you child is on special diet, make sure there is food available that they can eat. And even if they are not on a special diet, be cautious of the amount of sugar consumed. And while we are talking about health, try to maintain a sleep and meal routine.
12. Above all, know your child. Know how much noise and other sensory input they can take. Know their level of anxiety and the amount of preparation it may take. Know their fears and those things that will make the season more enjoyable for them.
Our hope above all is that you will have a wonderful holiday season!
0 Comments on Read this List and Check it Twice as of 1/1/1900
Kate and I are frequently asked where our book can be purchased. Many of you know that we chose to publish Howard ourselves, and we do not distribute nationally. Yet. However, in the meantime, there are several places to buy Howard the Fish.
The first is our website, http://www.jukabooks.com/. If you order through our site, you can request a signed (hard cover only) copy. Just write it on the comments section of the order form. And, to answer another common question, Kate and I don't have a pile of books in our basements or cars---the books are stored at our fufillment center, where your order is received, packed, and shipped.
The National Autism Association sells Howard through their Little Shop of Hope, and a portion of those proceeds goes directly to their Helping Hands Project. Local (to Carmel, Indiana) shops that carry Howard the Fish are The Wild (Noblesville), 4Kids Books (Zionsville), Borders (Castleton), and Wild Child (Nora).
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Yesterday was a big day in JuKa History. For the first time ever, I did a Howard the Fish gig alone. Kate and I have always been a package deal, and being a duo is part of the fun. That said, Kate had a house full of sick wee ones and leaving was a non-option for her. I was a bit nervous on the eve of the visit since Kate and I each have different strengths we bring to our school visits. My oldest daughter, one of my biggest fans, didn't help when she said, "Oh, no, Mom...Kate reads your book WAY better than you!" Nice.
Nonetheless, this solo author visit could not have gone better. Central Elemetary is a dynamic little school in Reading, Ohio. Kate and I have done many schools, and we pick up on the "feel" of a place immediately. It was clear to me that it was going to be a good day once the first group entered the auditorium. The Central staff was smiling and involved, and the kids were eager and enthusiastic. Principal Connie Holtmeier exudes postive energy that obviously infuses her entire environment and everyone in it. To her, to the teachers, and to all of those wonderful kids, THANK YOU.
0 Comments on Flying Solo With Howard the Fish at Central Elementary as of 1/1/1900
Anonymous said, on 11/22/2008 11:39:00 AM
Way to go, Julie and JuKa! Schools need Howard...now more than ever. Sally M.
JuKa Books visited Norwood View Elementary last Wednesday. Principal Sue Cash welcomed us bright and early at 9am and we quickly went to work. Julie and I set up shop in the school library where the kids came to us, one grade at a time. We started with the older kids, grades 3-6, where we read "Howard the Fish" and followed up with lessons on goal setting and the importance of reading. With grades 1 and 2, we worked on making new friends by finding common ground. We finished our day visiting the Kindergarteners in the classroom. After reading our book, Julie and I received much praise from the little guys. The kids LOVED Howard! All in all, it was a fantastic day. Thank you Sue for having us out to share "Howard the Fish" with your students.
Pictures from our day at Norwood View...
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Sometimes Kate and I get bogged down in the business of JuKa. We lose our vision, our raison d'etre from time to time, getting lost in decimal points and the quagmire that is book sales. Kate and I are creative people, full of energy and passion. We love the big picture of things---details, not so much.
Nearly a week ago, at my daughter's third grade conference, I was rejuvenated. In one sentence spoken by her teacher, I was reminded of all of it: the beginnings, the foundation, the very kernel of my WHY. "You have really inspired her with your book, your writing." My daughter was sitting next to me, beaming. Beaming for her, for me. As a mom, I say: WOW. Typing the words does not do them justice, as they miss the context, the tone. But any parent reading this gets it. And, in the words of that teacher, I instantly knew---no thought process involved---that every bit of the JuKa journey is worth it. Even the details.
JuKa made a trip out to Shamrock Springs Elementary in Westfield on Monday. We visited the kindergarten, the first grade, and had a wonderful time. I (Kate) typically run the show with the little guys, and the Kindergartners at Shamrock were one of our best groups yet. They really enjoyed the story, and did a great job with my questions afterwards. Julie took the bulk of the work on the 1st graders. She had put together a new JuKa lesson and was eager to break it out on Monday. It was perfect. After reading Howard, JuKa talked about differences, more specifically, how we are all more alike than we are different. We presented to two classrooms at a time, and our main activity for the day was to pair the kids up with someone from the other class, someone they didn't know, and have them find some common ground. By the end of our lesson, not only had the kids filled up their worksheets with differences and similarities between themselves and their partners... they had also made a new friend.
Here are pictures of JuKa at work. Thank you to Shamrock Springs for having us out!
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Actually, it wasn't JuKa--it was just Ju, better known as me, Julie. And maybe Jamie and I didn't actually "meet", but the proximity was there. Here's Jamie asking how we managed to make Howard the Fish such an amazing book...looking for pointers, if you will. Okay, she might have been saying something else. Like, "Who do I make this out to?" And she might have been talking to my friend, Joanna, since it was her book that was being signed. Regardless of the reality of this particular situation, the whole Orange County thing was fun, even if I was short on paparazzi.
0 Comments on Jamie Lee Curtis Meets JuKa as of 1/1/1900
Howard the Fish made its debut at the Orange County Children's Book Festival in Costa Mesa, California. What a great experience! The coordinators of the event do an incredible job pulling it all together. A big THANK YOU to Pat Burns and Barry Ackerman! I met some amazing people, and got to hang out with my fave colleague, Joanna Keating-Velasco. Joanna is a blast, and I learn something new every time I'm with her. Kate wasn't with me, so Joanna took the pics (shutterbug, I am not).
0 Comments on Howard Goes to The OC as of 1/1/1900
Anonymous said, on 10/14/2008 12:26:00 PM
I was there. GREAT event for families.
AisForAutism said, on 10/14/2008 2:37:00 PM
Hey, I do recall one lady actually asking you for your autograph! That beat the one asking an Indiana lady for directions to South Coast Plaza! Ha, it was fun!! Jamie says, "Hi!" Joanna
Today JuKa visited Sharpsburg Elementary in Norwood, Ohio. Julie and I presented to a varied audience, reading 'Howard' to ages ranging from preschool to 6th grade. I always get a little nervous reading our little-kid picture book to the older grades, basically 3rd and up, but as always, 'Howard' didn't cease to amaze me. There are no boundries to what this little fish of ours can do, the lessons he can teach, and the people he can inspire. Julie put together some phenomenal lesson plans specifically catered to the classes we were visiting today. It is incredible to see the lessons that can be pulled from our story. Today we touched on everything from setting goals, to the writing process, illustrating and publishing, the importance of reading, building safety zones, bullying, and the power of positive thinking. Just when I think I've seen all of Howard, Julie finds a new application, another facet of his character. It just goes to prove what an amazing role model Howard can be to all of us.
Thank you to Mrs. Riehle and to all the students and staff at Sharpsburg. We had a wonderful time sharing our story with you.
0 Comments on Our Trip to Sharpsburg Elementary as of 1/1/1900
AisForAutism said, on 10/14/2008 2:37:00 PM
Wow, they really rolled out the red carpet for JUKA!!
Kate and I created Howard the Fish with autism in mind--you know that. We wrote it so that it would appeal to any child. Most of JuKa's activities to date have been autism focused and extremely gratifying. Yesterday we swtiched gears and used Howard to teach a class of second and third graders in the Challenge (Gifted/Talented) class at Cherry Tree Elementary. Howard was a tool in our teaching about goals and overcoming obstacles in reaching those goals. All I can say is WOW. The kids did an amazing job, and were so enthusiastic. Kate and I once again learned that breaking out of our bowls to do something outside the norm is extremely rewarding. A big THANK YOU to Linda Mylin for having us as guests, and to those kiddos who made the experience forever memorable.
0 Comments on Howard on the Loose at Cherry Tree Elementary as of 1/1/1900
As you know, Kate and I decided to take off the month of August to enjoy the last days of summer. The last two weeks of August were spent transitioning to school mode, and now here we are into September---off and running with Howard the Fish. We've already scheduled our first elementary school visit for later in the month, and we've got a great event planned for 4 Kids Books on September 27. The National Autism Association just ordered their third batch of books (requested ASAP), commenting on how popular Howard the Fish has been. And to think this is after a month off, only three days into "work mode". I can't wait to see what the upcoming days and weeks will hold!
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christina hicks said, on 9/10/2008 4:08:00 PM
This is a great idea!!! Thanks for raising autism awareness!
Kate and I haven't updated the testimonials on our site in awhile, but a recently received email from Dr Cathy Pratt needs mention sooner rather than later. Dr. Pratt is the Director of the Indiana Resource Center for Autism and the Chair of the Board for the Autism Society of America. It was an honor for Kate and Ito hear from her regarding Howard the Fish. Here's what she had to say:
I just finished Howard the Fish. It is a lovely story that illustrates the subtleties of characteristics associated with autism. I can see it being used to build peer awareness and understanding.
0 Comments on Kudos from Dr Cathy Pratt as of 1/1/1900
Anonymous said, on 8/26/2008 4:10:00 PM
This is awesome recognition and well deserved, JUKA! You are teaching by example and through the eyes and words of the most innocent among us, children. Keep Howard coming!
Kate and I do what we do for a bucket of reasons, but the two reasons nearest and dearest to me live in my house. They are my two daughters, who deserve a role model worthy of their love and admiration.
Both of my girls attend the elementary school where the bulletin board in the previous post is displayed. My oldest passes it several times a day. Yesterday she said to me, "Mom, I try to walk by it (the bulletin board) a bunch of times. And I always try to walk by with somebody different. And then I say, 'that's my mom's book'".
And just when I thought it couldn't get any better than that...
I recently moved my home office to its own little enclave upstairs. I put a small desk in for my girls, and declared it "our office"---a quiet place for the girls of the house to get work done. For the 15 minutes of mandated quiet time after school each day, my youngest chooses to spend it in our office. She directs me to my desk, and she settles into hers. For the past week, she has been producing books with various titles, although two of them are entitled "Haword". Her illustrations are lively, detailed, and thoroughly thought out. Here is one of my favorites:
0 Comments on Meaningful Motivation as of 1/1/1900
Anonymous said, on 8/21/2008 8:48:00 PM
If only we could all truly embrace the belief that our differences are far outweighed by our similarities. JS
One of the teachers (the fab one mentioned in the previous post) who used Howard the Fish on the first day of school sent the following feedback:
Julie, I read Howard the Fish to the 21st CP students (grades 1-3) yesterday. We discussed all of our differences and what makes us special. We have a bulletin board outside of our area that we made after reading the book. The students wrote "Why I am special" sheets. Come check it out next time you are in the building. Thanks for sharing your book with us. The students really learned a lot from it. Take care, Kelly Meyer
How cool is that?
And after reading that email, you can bet that I went to take some pics of the bulletin board:
0 Comments on Inspired by Howard the Fish as of 1/1/1900
No, it's not a sequel. (Hmmm....maybe not today, anyway.) A fabulous teacher at my daughters' elementary is using Howard the Fish today in her classroom. Although my girls have never had this particular teacher, she's one of those teachers that you just KNOW is excellent. It's evident in her every interaction with children.
She let me know at the end of summer Ice Cream Social that she was using Howard on the first day of school to teach differences. She is not using it as an "autism book" but as a much broader, much more comprehensive tool for student learning and understanding. I LOVE it.
0 Comments on Howard the Fish Goes to School as of 1/1/1900
Eleisa Trampler said, on 8/12/2008 2:37:00 PM
It is a wonderful way to use it and I will suggest that to my grandchildren's school as well.
Today JuKa hosted our last event of the summer at our favorite little bookstore, The Wild, in Noblesville. Julie and I had a great time reading and crafting with the little guys. We had a pretty young group today and I'm continually amazed at how smoothly everything runs when we're at The Wild. Jane, the owner, has created a wonderfully colorful and playful environment that everyone who walks in the door can appreciate. If you haven't found The Wild yet, you need to put it on your list! Thank you Jane!
Pictures of JuKa at The Wild...
0 Comments on A WILD and Fishy Craft.... as of 1/1/1900
I still owe you a post on DAMAR, which was an incredible experience. Kate and I are admittedly behind in our postings. We chose to spend the last two weeks before school begins to thoroughly enjoy our children. They are, afterall, what this is all about.
We do have one last event before school is in session. Kate and I will be at our favorite local bookstore, The Wild, doing a reading and a craft on Thursday, August 7. We have scheduled two sessions, one at 10:30 and the second at 11:30. Rsvp to Jane at www.gothewild.com or 773-0920. We'd love to see you!
Everytime we go to The Wild, on JuKa related business or just on our own, it's awesome. So if you happen to miss us on Thursday, put The Wild on your calendar sometime soon. You will love it, the kids will love it. My older daughter just named it her favorite store. Now THAT's impressive.
0 Comments on Howard the Fish's Finale of Summer as of 1/1/1900
JuKa made a special visit to Washington Woods on Thursday, teaming up with HCASG for Autism Awareness Month. For those of you who don't know, 'Howard the Fish' was written with autism in mind. Julie and I are as passionate about autism as we are about Howard. What's great about taking our cause to the schools is how incredibly receptive kids are to talking about autism. They never cease to amaze me, every visit we make. What surprised me most at Washington Woods was how many of the students knew the word autism, knew kids with autism, knew information about autism, all before we even started into the lesson. At the beginning, when Julie asked our first group who had heard the word autism, nearly every hand in the room went up. Not only that, a lot of them knew their facts! It was such a wonderful and positive experience. A big thank you to the students and staff of Washington Woods for having us out.
Okay, she might have been saying something else. Like, "Who do I make this out to?" And she might have been talking to my friend, Joanna, since it was her book that was being signed. Regardless of the reality of this particular situation, the whole Orange County thing was fun, even if I was short on paparazzi. 
I'm glad to see Howard is making his way around to many schools in many states. "Howard the Fish" is a wonderful book, and Howard is a great role model for children (and adults too!).
The Rice School is such an open environment. WOW! Thanks to all who made this happen!
Sena
Howard the Fish must be blowing a lot of very happy bubbles today because he found so many new faces and families at The Rice School/La Escuela Rice in Houston, Texas. Howard's new faces and families will also be very happy because, like Howard, they will find new faces and families who share much in common with them. There will be so many more happy fish bubbles and people smiles now, all the way from Carmel, Indiana to Houston, Texas.
Wow! So glad Howard is in Texas! Rice School is way ahead of this game. Now, Howard is heading to California Dreamin'. Welcome to west of the Mississippi, Howard!
Paulette P.