Connecting with Kids
The Dellingers’ time with our classes was a multifaceted treat. Mrs. Dellinger shared her process of developing characters and writing and illustrating stories based on her own experiences while also addressing character education themes of kindness, generosity, and acceptance through her books Choose Love and Joyful Giving.
Having Mr. Dellinger on hand to share his hiking expertise for the book Hiking Safety really brought home the lessons in the book and built an excitement in the students for enjoying the great outdoors. Mrs. Dellinger’s talent as a singer, musician, and songwriter was the cherry on top of a fun, engaging presentation that had our whole school singing “With Heelda the Cat & Friends” and wanting more. Even our sixth grade students were swaying with the music and lending their voices to the sing-a-long. It’s impossible not to love Heelda the Cat and her friends!
Whether you are looking for a local author and illustrator to share with your students about developing their own writing and art, books to support your character education program, or information about safely enjoying all nature has to offer, Kimberly and Tom Dellinger can do it all. Our students and staff alike loved our time with them, and we hope they come back after their next book is published!–Lee Ann Perry, Media Coordinator, Banoak Elementary, Vale, North Carolina
