From Mississippi's hills in the north to its southern shores, M is for Magnolia: A Mississippi Alphabet will educate as it entertains with its fascinating state facts. Presented in a two-tier format with simple poems for young readers and expository text for older students Magnolia is a delightful trip through this fascinating southern state richly detailed with bright illustrations. From bottlenose dolphin near the shore to Grenada Lake for fishing and more; gaze at Longwood, the home frozen in time and finally board the Mississippi Queen for a memorable trip down the "Old Man River."
Mike spent his childhood traveling in an army family to Fort Knox, KY, Fort Chaffee, AR, two visits to Germany, and Fort Campbell, KY. Mike graduated from Northwest High School (Clarksville, TN) in 1972 and earned a degree in education from Austin Peay State University (Clarksville, TN) in 1976. He taught for 14 years and then worked as an instructional supervisor until 2005. Mike earned his doctoral degree from Tennessee State University (Nashville, TN) in 2004.
Mike married Debbie Adams in 1974. They have three grown children: Jason, Ryan and Meghann. They have a standard poodle named Maggie, cat named Audrey, and a hedgehog named Dezi.
Mike attended the Governor's Academy for Teachers of Writing in 1995. He was bitten by the writing bug and has written for publication ever since! In 1997 he created a column called "Story Time" for Tennessee's oldest paper, The Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle. In that weekly column, Mike reviewed children's literature, with an educator's slant. The column continues today, but, because of a demanding traveling schedule, his wife took over the column in 2003.
Mike visits nearly one hundred schools each year spreading his message that "Reading IS Magic."
Books:
Say Daddy!
Goodnight, Baby Bear
V is for Volunteer - A Tennessee Alphabet
Count on Us: A Tennessee Number Book
N is for Natural State - An Arkansas Alphabet
Natural Numbers - An Arkansas Number Book
M is for Magnolia - A Mississippi Alphabet
1Mississippi, 2 Mississippi - A Mississippi Number Book
D is for Drum - A Native American Alphabet
ABC Book of North American Homes
G is for Gladiator - An Ancient Rome Alphabet
E is for Eucharist - A Catholic Alphabet
T is for Titanic
