dr. kate

Got any spare change?

Recently my friend Google Alerts notified me that the Arbor Vitae-Woodruff Education Foundation is doing a penny drive to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the penny drive they did to build beloved pioneering Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb a hospital. This time around the pennies (and nickels, and bills, and checks) are going to fund college scholarships and educational opportunities for local students.

Dr. Kate: Angel on Snowshoes

Dr. Kate: Angel on Snowshoes

I first came across Dr. Kate’s story almost 10 years ago. Not only was she a doctor in a time when women were not encouraged to go to medical school, but she was the only doctor in her part of northern Wisconsin, often trekking out to patients on skis or snowshoes. She was so beloved that when she wished for a hospital, the kids of her community set out to raise the fund for her by collecting pennies. They were successful beyond anyone’s dreams. Since that time, I’ve been lucky enough to share her story with kids in a book for the Wisconsin State Historical Society’s Badger Biography series.

Watch a little more about Dr. Kate’s story in this video the school did below. And read more about the current penny drive here. Consider donating, too. Every penny counts!

Download a donation form and mail it to:

AVWEF
PO Box 2261
Woodruff, WI 54568

(or you can go here to donate by credit card)

New Book Events, Lots of Sweat, and Fireworks: Friday Five

New Book Events, Lots of Sweat, and Fireworks: Friday Five

Published by on July 6, 2012 | Leave a response

Lots of fun little book news this week. And IT WAS REALLY HOT HERE IN WISCONSIN. Last night it finally cooled off, which I feel like is really the event of the week. Even our dog perked up. 1) Anyway, this past week, I finalized some upcoming book events. Brian Lies and I will be at the Sheboygan Children’s Book… Read more →

I met with the second, third, fourth, and fifth graders. One of the classes stuck around and I finally remembered to pull out my camera.

Spring Break in . . . Columbus, Wisconsin? Yes!

Published by on March 29, 2012 | Leave a response

Last week I traveled to Columbus, WI to visit their elementary and middle schools.We talked about writing nonfiction and writing fiction. It was a great time! Thanks to literacy coaches Mary Jo Werner and Kay Lange for lining it up. I hope the students got as much out of it as I did.  

Read On Dr. Kate!

Read On Dr. Kate!

Published by on August 21, 2010 | 3 Responses

Things to know: The Wisconsin governor’s wife, Jessica Doyle, runs a book club for the students of Wisconsin called Read On Wisconsin. Things to be excited about: She’s chosen my Dr. Kate: Angel on Snowshoes as her January 2011 pick! And finally, my illustrious company: Book Selections September Preschool: My Garden by Kevin Henkes Primary: Shark vs. Train by Chris… Read more →

Out and About

Out and About

Published by on April 26, 2009 | Leave a response

Working full time in a school means it’s hard to visit other schools and events as an author. At least during the school year. But I’ve squeezed in a couple this spring.   Here I am at the WEMTA Authors Fair in Madison, Wisconsin. (That’s Kashmira Sheth next to me.) I attended as a media specialist, but moonlighted as an author Sunday… Read more →

Write by Night

Write by Night

Published by on March 7, 2009 | Leave a response

Eek! There’s an interview with Don and me about our Last Night for Dinner series in our local arts/entertainment newspaper, Volume One. It’s out now so you can pick it up when you’re out and about. Or go read it here. (But only if you promise to promptly erase any memory of what I look like in that first photo.) Also, if… Read more →