Michele Palmer makes up songs to help her students move more easily from class to class at Lemon Avenue Elementary in La Mesa where she works as a paraprofessional in the special education department.
One of her songs stuck particularly deeply and resulted in Palmer’s debut as an author and illustrator, the just-released, I Can’t Wait! The book also has an interactive component, as the lifelong musician recorded her arrangement of the song with local musical visionary Jordan Krimston.
The book is being released via Palmer’s own Dirt Pixie Books imprint, offering a hardcover, soft cover, and an accompanying coloring book.
She will celebrate the release of I Can’t Wait! with a launch party at San Diego’s Kroc Center (6753 University Ave.) on Saturday, May 18 at 11 a.m. The event will benefit the Lemon Avenue Elementary PTA, with 20% of the day’s sales going to the organization.
“Music has been in my blood my entire life,” Palmer said. “So when I started working as a para it just made sense to incorporate it into my routine. I found that singing songs with my students made moving from space to space much easier and a lot of fun, both for me and my students.”
Palmer went on to note, “The book is really about finding joy and excitement in any situation, in this case, different weather. While some may find a rainy day to be a downer, there’s plenty to look forward to and change our attitude to find the positive in any situation.”
Raised singing in her father’s church, Palmer started singing in bands in the Los Angeles area at the age of 16, recording five albums with the band Adam Again and another five as a solo artist under the name Riki Michele. Palmer has also been a ceramic artist for more than 20 years, creating sculptural pieces out of clay.
It is this innate artistic vision that propelled her to not only write but illustrate I Can’t Wait!
“I wasn’t sure I was ready to illustrate my own book,” Palmer remarked. “As I explored different characters and textures and approaches I was able to find a drawing style that is authentic to me. It took about eighteen months to finish, and while there were times I was ready to hand the drawing off to someone else, I am so glad I pressed through – I love it so much I am already working on another one!”
Perfect for families and classrooms
The book is an easy match for beginning readers, as the music reinforces the reading and vice-versa.
Nicole Torres, a kindergarten teacher at Pepper Grove Elementary School in Santee, used a test pressing of the book with her class to assess students’ reactions.
“Social stories prepare children for what to expect in a given situation,” Torres said. “Michele’s vibrant story and song is a social story exemplifying a child’s positive outlook for whatever the weather might bring. My kindergarten class loved the illustrations, repetitive pattern, and of course the catchy tune. They can’t wait for me to read it again!”
Having previewed the book at the BOOST Conference, a national gathering of 3,500+ out-of-school time professionals, Palmer is excited to host an official launch celebration in her hometown with a gathering of students and families she has come to know.
“This book was born out of the love I have for my students,” Palmer remarked. “So it’s particularly special to be able to have an official launch party with those students and their families and to support the Lemon Avenue PTA and all they do for the school’s community.”
Editor’s note: The article and image provided by Dunktankmarketing.com.
