Redmond, WA — I have a full week of school visits here, in the hometown of Microsoft and Google and a sqillion smart kids everywhere. I was at another beautiful school today, Horace Mann Elementary. And here is my wonderful and gracious host, Colette Weber, welcoming me to her library this morning:Don’t you just love that fish???

And here is Zoe welcoming me to breakfast:Oh, there was much more than that!When you’re an author, librarian or teacher, it’s important to start Author Day off right! Thank you Horace Mann PTO for feeding us so well today! I had seconds. Then after my morning presentations, I had second breakfast 😀 !!!

Here I am getting down to work after first breakfast:The fourth and fifth graders used hand signals and paid very close attention. I was very impressed.

So then I gave them the Shakespearean Insulting Kit:For those of you who are now brandishing your new Shakespearean Insulting Kit, you may need these too: http://fb.me/LUWujhCd , courtesy of Mrs. Alvarez @stylinlibrarian.

At lunch, a mom brought me this:It was really beautiful and filled with many wonderful and delicious treats:  I felt so well-taken care of and so grateful for every bite. When you’re an author, the kindness of strangers will often make you stop and marvel at the beauty of everything. Thank you SO much, Rebecca!!!!

Here are some more shots of this welcoming, light-filled school: But my favorite shot of all came at the end of the day, when the Caped Crusader himself waited in line for an autographed book:We talked about Batman rings and other things, before he hurried off to read Alvin Ho and to save the world, in that order.

Thank you, Oliver. You’re a real superhero!

And thank you everyone at Horace Mann Elementary for a fun and wonderful visit!!!