Jeanette Hopkins Visits Central Lyon

by Deb Snyders

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     Central Lyon students were treated to a visit from author, Jeanette Hopkins, and her husband, Bruce, on Tuesday, March 23, 2010.  Jeanette is the author of the book, The Ladybug Waltz.  Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins have a special connection to our school.  Three of their grandchildren attended Central Lyon for a short time last year.  Chloe, for whom the book was written, was a kindergartner in Mrs. VanVeldhuizen's classroom.  Kaden, was a second grader in Mrs. Snyders' classroom, and big sister, MacKenzie, was a fourth grader in Mrs. Grooter's room.

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     Mrs. Hopkins told the kids that she likes to use "yummy" words in her books.  She considers "yummy" words to be any word with more than one syllable.  Mrs. Hopkins uses words like:  spectators and crimson when she writes.  

     Both Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins shared with us important aspects of the illustrator's drawings.  The illustrator has a Russian Blue cat and loves the color orange.  She wanted to include the cat, the color orange, and Chloe into her illustrations.  As you look at the pictures in the book, you notice that the illustrator drew numerous hearts into her drawings.  

     Chloe's heart is special and unique to her.  Mrs. Hopkins wrote the story, a poem set to music, and sung the song every evening during Chloe's hospital stays following four open-heart surgeries.

     When not writing books, Jeanette and her husband enjoy taking road trips throughout the states. They currently live in Sioux City, Iowa.  

     Thanks for sharing your story with us.