Today I made my last school visit of 2011. 
My unscientific accounting says I did about 25 this year —
and that doesn't include book festival readings
and other non-school events. 

Sheesh.

That's a lot of clicks of ye olde Powerpoint, a lot of bottles of water, and a whole lot of kids. 
Thousands of kids, actually. 
Which makes it an overwhelming thrill and daunting honor.

Today, I'm grateful for school visits. 
I truly love the work that I do, all of it, but school visits have become a deep and unexpected pleasure.
I'm grateful for the opportunity to talk to kids about ideas and rhyme and revision and book making.
I'm grateful for devoted librarians, enthusiastic teachers, and school districts and PTAs who still think author visits are a good idea.
I'm grateful for all the kids who say they want to be authors and all the kids who say they are authors.
I'm grateful for all the kids who say writing is hard.
I'm grateful for all the kids who raise their hands to say funny things, curious things, smart things, anything, really.

For example:

“Do you know the author?”
 
“Do you have to take off your slippers and put on shoes when you hand your work into your editor?”
 
“The library is my home.”

"Will you sign my journal?"

"A heart isn't ALWAYS a pocket full of love."

"I'm pretty sure only adults get writers' block."

"You could try to write more like me — fast."

"You could learn to draw."

"You could ask me if you need more ideas."

"Is every book your favorite? Because if I was an author, every book would be my favorite."

Granted, I come home from a day like today hoarse and tired, but really, can you beat all that?
I'm so grateful….