Today’s Ripple: 23 Future LiLis and One Unforgettable Afternoon 💛
There are classroom visits that feel special, and then there are days that sparkle so brightly you can almost hear the universe whisper, Keep going. Yesterday was one of those days.
Red‑Carpet Welcome at Rae Farms Academy
I stepped into Ms. Echols’s room expecting a routine read‑aloud of Nate Kid and the Flip Side: Ploodles Paradise—my tenth book and first worldwide release. Instead, twenty‑three ready‑readers rolled out an energetic red carpet. They laughed at Nate’s gloriously embarrassing moments (“Yes, throwing up in class is the worst!”), flipped the book like pros, and dove head‑first into our Moss‑Making Showdown: girls vs. boys crafting shape‑shifting moss mock‑ups for the Flip Side storyline. Cheers thundered down the hallway when our impartial judge crowned the girls—so loud the ceiling tiles shook!
Winners took home broccoli‑sprout seeds, just like Nate nibbles in the book. Utterly ridiculous? Absolutely—and 100 % by design. Moss himself honors my dear friend Kent Moss, whose 2018 passing spurred me to launch Living Libraries.
A Gift That Lit Up the Room
Midway through the fun, parent champion Asha Baura revealed a surprise: every child would take home a personal copy of Nate Kid. Watching twenty‑three sets of eyes realize those books were theirs to keep was electrifying. Asha, thank you for believing stories belong in children’s hands, not warehouses.
Why Ms. Echols Is a Literacy Superhero
Author visits often squeeze into 30–60 minutes; Ms. Echols gave us a glorious 1 hour 45‑minute super‑session. She fielded every question—“Can the animals be real or made up?” (Answer: anything you can imagine!)—and took a chance on an author who proved she had so much to offer. Classrooms bloom or wither on teacher energy; yesterday’s bloom belongs to her. Thank you for allowing me to come into your teaching space.
The Ripple Continues—Flip‑Side Forward
Driving home, gratitude sparked a new idea: Flip‑Side Forward. I created a certificate good for a free author visit plus a class set of books, and handed it to Ms. Echols to gift forward. I can’t wait to see which lucky class she chooses next.
Why Moments Like This Matter
Every hug, autograph, and lifted‑arm page‑flip reminded me that reading is both physical and mental. We felt it in our hearts and bodies—endorphins buzzing, kids shouting, “This is the best book ever!” One amazing classroom at a time, we’re fulfilling Kent’s dream: turning readers into Superhuman learners and leaders.
To Asha, Ms. Echols, and twenty‑three brand‑new Nate Kid superfans: you filled my cup to overflowing. Thanks for flipping another page in the Living Libraries story. Until we meet again—Keys in hand… ✨
To Li Continued…
- Explore NateKid.com
- Order additional copies: books.by/kristicruise
- Apply for our Creative Kids Club: bit.ly/CreativeKidsClub
