Author Katie Speck Visits Redland Oaks

Author Katie Speck visited Redland Oaks Elementary on November 2 and talked to the students in grades second through fifth about being an author and how she came up with the idea for her book "Maybelle in the Soup."

Another of Speck’s books, "Maybelle," was selected for this year’s Bluebonnet Books, which is quite an honor. In addition to "Maybelle in the Soup," which was Speck’s first book, she also has written "Maybelle Goes to Tea" and will have her third book, "Maybelle at the Fair," released in early 2011.

Students enjoyed listening to Speck discuss her experiences with cockroaches while growing up in New Orleans, a city known for having manyof “water-bugs”. She shared how her grandmother called the cockroaches "Maybelle" and told funny stories to help Speck better deal with her fear of the bugs. After her presentation, the students had questions about her books and how she came to be an accomplished author. What was particularly useful to the students was how she took an ordinary occurrence that most children can relate to, and demonstrated how they can write an entertaining and whimsical story that helps others laugh at their fears.

Posted on November 5, 2009