Extras
FOR KIDS
Want to be a reporter like me or pup reporter Maggie Mae? This activity sheet will show you the way.
Here are some fun Jackie and the Books She Loved activity sheets you can download:
JACKIE’S DESIGN YOUR OWN BOOK MARK
BE AN INQUIRING PHOTOGRAPHER LIKE JACKIE
JACKIE AND THE BOOKS SHE LOVED LAUNCH CRAFT
For the Launch on November 7, 2023, the Chappaqua Children’s Room Staff created a fun craft activity.
Jackie and the Books She Loved Launch Craft Directions
FOR LIBRARIANS, TEACHERS, AND PARENTS
I hope my picture book brings joy and learning to you and the children in your life. This curriculum guide helps teachers and librarians integrate Jackie and the Books She Loved into the English Language Arts Curriculum. Parents and caregivers also will enjoy the curriculum guide as they share the book with their children. Activity sheets contain interactive and engaging ideas for story time and beyond.
Downloadable Activity Sheets for Jackie and the Books She Loved:
JACKIE’S READERS’ WORKSHOP LAUNCH JACKIE’S WRITERS’ WORKSHOP LAUNCH
FROM MY LATEST NEWSLETTER…
NOVEMBER 2023
Jackie and the Books She Loved had a great launch on November 7th!
Many thanks to the Children’s Librarians at the Chappaqua Library for hosting my Jackie and the Books She Loved launch on November 9. It was a great conversation with Robbin Friedman, Head of the Children’s Room with thoughtful questions from the online viewers. The librarians created a great craft project. Thanks to Friends of Miller House and Skyhorse Publishing for co-sponsoring.
Photo by Naava Katz
Saturday, November 25, 2023, noon to 2PM.
Susan Lawrence Gourmet Catering, 26 North Greeley Avenue, Chappaqua, NY
Jackie and the Books She Loved makes a great teacher gift and holiday gift for people of all ages!
If you’ve ordered book online I am happy to send you personalized signed bookplates. If you wish to order signed copies of Jackie and the Books She Loved. Please visit my website for the local stores that can send them to you. https://ronnidiamondstein.com/books/jackie-and-the-books-she-loved/
OCTOBER 2023
Jackie and the Books She Loved’s book birthday is two weeks away on Tuesday, November 7th!
A great time was had at the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival on September 30th. Despite the rainy start to the day both the illustrator Bats Langley and I sold out of all our copies. Nearly 100!
Photo by Vicky Tipp
Here’s one of our very happy readers that we joined me at the book festival. That’s what it’s all about.
Photo by Oscar Flores
You can pre-order the book now! http://tinyurl.com/bdfjwps7
Lots of events are planned for November when the book debuts on Tuesday, November 7th.
JACKIE AND THE BOOKS SHE LOVED BOOK LAUNCH
Cosponsored by the Chappaqua Library, Friends of the Miller House and Skyhorse Publishing Thursday, November 9, 2023, at 7:00PM.
Attendees can pick up a related activity kit at the library ahead of time or just log on for a reading of the book and a short Q&A. Every registrant is entered into a raffle for a signed copy of the book! Free registration: http://tinyurl.com/4wfxktjs
Legacy Lecture: Jackie and the Books She Loved, Penning a Jackie Kennedy Picture Book
Thursday, November 16 at noon.
I’ll be reading Jackie and the Books She Loved and discuss how the book came to be and the remarkable literary life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, the First Lady of Literature. Free tickets are available now. http://tinyurl.com/bdhtbedz
JACKIE AND THE BOOKS SHE LOVED BOOK SIGNING CELEBRATION
Saturday, November 25, 2023, noon to 2PM.
Susan Lawrence Gourmet Catering, 26 North Greeley Avenue, Chappaqua, NY
I will keep you posted on the details of all events in these newsletters, on my website, and social media.
SEPTEMBER 2023
September is a special month in the life of Jackie. September 12th marks the 70th anniversary of the wedding of Jackie and John F. Kennedy. They married in Newport, Rhode Island at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church with a reception at Hammersmith Farm.
September is a special month for me! I’ll be signing early release copies of Jackie and the Books She Loved at the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival on Saturday, September 30th from 10AM-4PM. You can find me in the central courtyard area. As a former board member of the festival, I’m thrilled to participate this year. It’s a fun event with lots of authors, illustrators, and fun activities. You can find me in the central courtyard area. https://ccbfestival.org
Can’t make it to the book festival, then you can for pre-order the book now! http://tinyurl.com/bdfjwps7
Thrilled to share some early press for Jackie and the Books She Loved in Inside Chappaqua magazine feature.
photo by Donna Muller
Lots of events are planned for November when the book debuts on Tuesday, November 7th.
JACKIE AND THE BOOKS SHE LOVED BOOK LAUNCH
Cosponsored by the Chappaqua Library, Friends of the Miller House and Skyhorse Publishing Thursday, November 9, 2023, at 7:00PM.
Attendees can pick up a related activity kit at the library ahead of time or just log on for a reading of the book and a short Q&A. Free registration: http://tinyurl.com/4wfxktjs
Legacy Lecture: Jackie and the Books She Loved, Penning a Jackie Kennedy Picture Book
Thursday, November 16 at noon.
I’ll be reading Jackie and the Books She Loved and discuss how the book came to be and the remarkable literary life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, the First Lady of Literature. Free tickets are available now. http://tinyurl.com/bdhtbedz
JACKIE AND THE BOOKS SHE LOVED BOOK SIGNING CELEBRATION
Saturday, November 25, 2023, noon to 2PM.
Susan Lawrence in Chappaqua, NY
I will keep you posted on the details of all events in these newsletters, on my website and social media.
JULY 2023
Happy Birthday Jackie!
It’s July 28th, Jackie’s birthday and I’m excited to announce a special event I have planned with the National First Ladies Library in Canton, Ohio on Thursday November 16, 2023 at noon EST. I was delighted when I was contacted by NFLL in April. Currently they have an exhibit about Jackie that runs through April 2024. The program will be online. Free tickets are available beginning September 8. I’ll be reading Jackie and the Books She Loved and discuss how the book came to be and the remarkable literary life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, the First Lady of Literature.
Legacy Lecture: Jackie and the Books She Loved, Penning a Jackie Kennedy Picture Book
I’m also thrilled to share some of Bats Langley’s fabulous art from the Jackie and the Books She Loved with you. Jackie at work as an editor on Martha’s Vineyard…
You can for pre-order the book now. https://ronnidiamondstein.com/books/jackie-and-the-books-she-loved/
Here’s more advance praise from award-winning author Nancy Churnin:
“How lovely to learn that a love of books was the constant that guided little Jackie Bouvier as she grew up to become America’s beloved First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy! Ronni Diamondstein’s lyrical text, enhanced by Bats Langley’s charming illustrations, will get children thinking about how books can help enrich their lives, too.”
Mark your calendar for my online launch on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at 7:00PM and a book signing in Chappaqua on Saturday, November 25, 2023. More details to follow.
And I’ll be at the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival on Saturday, September 30th! As a former board member of the festival, I’m thrilled to participate this year. I will keep you posted on the details in these newsletters, on my website and social media.
JUNE 2023
Seventy-one years ago on June 2, 1953 Jackie was in London covering the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. You’ll learn more about what else Jackie was doing in Europe in my book Jackie and the Books She Loved. It’s available for pre-ordernow. https://ronnidiamondstein.com/books/jackie-and-the-books-she-loved/
I’m excited to let you know that the book has gone to the printer. I’m so pleased with the final product and can’t wait for you to see it and hold it in your hands!
Here’s more advance praise for the book from award-winning author Jennifer Berne:
“Ronni Diamondstein’s story of Jackie Kennedy and her lifelong passion for reading
is a beautifully-told ode to books and how they enrich our lives. Written about a
book lover by a book lover. Illustrated with warmth and wonderful detail.”
I’m planning an online launch on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at 7:00PM and a book signing Chappaqua on Saturday, November 25, 2023. And I’ll be at the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival on Saturday, September 30th! As one of the founders of the festival and former board member I’m thrilled to participate this year. I will keep you posted on the details in these newsletters, on my website and social media.
MAY 2023
Today, the last Saturday of April, is National First Ladies Day. It’s a day that honors all First Ladies of the United States and commemorates the founding of the First Lady upon President George Washington’s inauguration on April 30,1789 when Martha Washington became First Lady of the United States that day. She, and all those who followed in her footsteps, have played an important role in molding our nation including and especially, Jacqueline Kennedy.
I was a child when Jacqueline Kennedy became the First Lady of the United States. She did so much to change the White House and the role of the First Lady. She hosted many cultural events at the White House, among them a romantic evening of Elizabethan poetry and music and invited one of her high school English teachers who had inspired her. You’ll learn more about her love of poetry in my book Jackie and the Books She Loved. It’s available for pre-order now. https://ronnidiamondstein.com/books/jackie-and-the-books-she-loved/
I’m excited to let you know that the book will be going to the printer soon! The charming illustrations by Bats Langley complement the text so well. Here’s a sample of the lovely art inside the book on the title page.
I’m planning an online launch and book signing in the fall. I will keep you posted on the details in these newsletters, on my website and social media.
I’d like to close with some advance praise for the book. Peter Sís, award-winning author and illustrator and recipient of the Hans Christian Andersen Award whose book The Three Golden Keys was edited by Jackie wrote:
“When I worked on my picture book with Ms. Onassis she was a wonderful editor who worked like an invisible whisperer from the background. I think it would delight her that children can find out how much she cared for books…”
APRIL 2023
April is Poetry Month, so I’d like to suggest some great books to share with people of all ages.
Poetry was a true love of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, the subject of my forthcoming book Jackie and the Books She Loved.
In 2001, Caroline Kennedy created a beautiful poetry anthology in the book The Best Loved Poems of JACQUELINE KENNEDY ONASSIS. In the introduction she writes “One of the greatest gifts my brother and I received from my mother was a love of literature and language.”
Then Ambassador Kennedy went on to compile two books for young people:Poems to Learn by Heart, and A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children.
Ambassador Kennedy follows in the footsteps of her mother who instilled this love of reading and poetry in her children. And I was so honored to have her give me permission to include one of Jackie’s poems in my book.
You’ll learn more about Jackie’s love of language, literature, and poetry in my book Jackie and the Books She Loved. It’s available to preorder now!