When I was 8-years-old I moved from Hoopa to Burnt Ranch, CA. The entire school, K-8, only had 48 students at the time. I was in 3^rd grade and it only had five students. The school grew to over 60 by the time I exited 8^th grade. I’m especially happy to make school visits to small schools in rural areas.

Sometimes we do science experiments related to my books and other times we read stories or do art projects. This visit was all about the stories.

Cox Bar Elementary is only about 15 miles from Burnt Ranch, and about 40 miles from Hoopa. I’ve made a few visits over the years. This year, the school has fewer than 15 students. The kids were pretty excited to know I grew up so close to where they live.

Taking questions from the kids, mostly about roadkill and vultures.

Reading “Buddy, the Wayward Wolverine” and talking about animals native to the Cox Bar School area.

Reading “No Place for Ugly Birds” and talking about turkey vultures.