Laura Numeroff is the author of the bestselling, classic children’s book, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, first published in 1985 and now in its 62nd printing. She’s authored five additional books in the If You Give… series, plus What Mommies Do Best/What Daddies Do Best. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up as the youngest of three girls, surrounded by art, music and books. Laura now lives in Los Angeles, California. Laura will headline this year’s ScholarShare Children’s Book Festival the weekend of September 26 and 27. She’ll read If You Give a Mouse a Cookie plus her new book, Raising a Hero, and sign copies of her books.

What was your inspiration for If You Give a Mouse a Cookie?
I was on a long boring car trip and started to visualize animals eating my favorite foods. I pictured a zebra eating Cheetos (the crunchy ones) and getting orange all over his beautiful black and white face. (If they can put a man on the moon, why can’t they figure out how to make Cheetos not leave orange around your mouth?) I pictured an orangutan eating pizza, getting his long, gangly arms tangled in the long cheese strings that you get when lifting a piece of hot pizza up from the plate. And, then I pictured a little mouse eating a big chocolate chip cookie. But, I didn’t stop there! I figured he’d want milk! I kept going with the napkin, straw, the whole magilla, and when I got home, I typed it on my fifty-dollar typewriter that I got at a flea market, with a wonky “W”. I first sent it to Harper & Row, because they had published one of my favorite books, Stuart Little, but they rejected it. I sent it to nine other publishers, one of them sending it back saying they only did series. After the ninth rejection, I heard that there was a new editor at Harper & Row, and her name was Laura. I sent it to her and got a phone call saying she wanted to publish it. The timing couldn’t have been better because I had just broken up with my boyfriend and was miserable! That’s why my motto is “Never give up!” And, that’s the story of my inspiration,which led me to talking about trying to sell it. (Yes! I am the mouse!)

Tell us about your latest book, Raising a Hero?
I’ve always wanted to write a book about service dogs! They are the most inspiring, amazing, smart and sweet dogs and know over fifty commands, including, taking off someone’s shoes, turning the lights on and off and helping with laundry. I met Sean Hanrahan when I was looking for help with my archaic web site. It turned out his brother, Devin, used a service dog because he has cerebral palsy. That was my first meeting with Miss Ellie, Devin’s service dog. It was love at first sight! I wrote the book, doing research at Canine Companions for Independence, located in San Diego, which is where Miss Ellie came from. Sean and I raised the money to publish it on Kickstarter. We were very lucky that Lynn Munsinger, who illustrated Ponyella, was on board. Her illustrations are so endearing! Raising a Hero, is my first independently published children’s book, and I’m truly excited about it!

For many, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie is a beloved childhood book. What was your favorite book to read as a child?
I have two favorite books, both inspired me to be a writer! I absolutely loved Stuart Little, written by E.B. White, and published by Harper & Row (they’re now HarperCollins), is about a mouse in New York City, and yes, I’m from New York! Brooklyn to be exact. My other favorite book was Eloise, written by Kay Thompson and published by Simon and Schuster. It’s about a little girl who lives in a hotel in New York. The cool thing is, I’ve now been published by Harper AND Simon and Schuster! As for a fairytale character, it would have to be Cinderella! One of my books was inspired by the story. It’s called Ponyella! Cinderella as a pony!

The most magical night of the year is coming soon! On June 27, fairies take over our storybook park for a Midsummer evening of magic, merriment, music… and ice cream! It’s our annual ice cream social inspired by Shakespeare’s famous fairy play.

Before the fun, we wanted to introduce you to this year’s Honorary King and Queen of the Fairies, Dan and Michelle from Mix96!  Dan and Michelle are the husband-and-wife morning show team at Mix96. We’re thrilled that Dan and Michelle will be presiding over the festivities and emceeing the event. Read on to learn more about Dan, Michelle and a few of their favorite things!

Tell us about your history and experience with Fairytale Town.

(Michelle) When we first moved to Sacramento we took our family and our son lived what he’s only read in books.  AMAZING

What are you most looking forward to at A Midsummer Night’s Dream & Crystal Ice Cream Fantasy? 

(Dan) ICE CREAM!  Really can use some ice cream right now!

We have to ask: What is your favorite ice cream flavor?!

(Dan) Mint Chip (Michelle) Fudge Brownie – Please tell me you’ll have fudge brownie!

 And your favorite Shakespeare play?  Why?

(Dan and Michelle) Romeo and Juliet – I wish we could say it’s because our life is a modern day version of the classic tale, but it’s not!  We just love Leonardo DiCaprio…

If you could be any fairytale or storybook character, who would you be?  Why?

(Dan) Jack and the Bean stock – Because he reached for the stars.

Thanks Dan and Michelle!

Those attending the Mad Hatter Meets the Great Gatsby party on April 23 are in for a sweet treat! Marlene and Walter Goetzeler, owners of Freeport Bakery for 28 years, will be serving as the evening’s Honorary Chairs and sampling some of the Bakery’s best-loved items. Plus, the Bakery’s head decorator will be giving a very special demonstration during the event.

Read on to learn more about the Goetzelers—Marlene was just named one of the region’s Women Who Mean Business by the Sacramento Business Journal—and Freeport Bakery.

Tell us about Freeport Bakery and some of the delicious items you make. 

We are a full-line bakery but we are known mostly for our cakes. Some of the favorites are the Fruit Basket and the Champagne cakes. People come from all over just for those cakes.

What items will you be showcasing for guests at the party on April 23?

Our buttermilk cake with raspberry buttercream and tart lemon, along with some other great cakes.

What can you tell us about the decorating demonstration Carol Clevenger, your head decorator, will be doing at the party?

Carol Clevenger is an amazing cake artist. She will be decorating what we call a topsy-turvy cake in honor of the Mad Hatter. She will show how when using fondant you can make some really fun designs.

And because it’s Mad Hatter Meets The Great Gatsby, we have to ask—what’s your favorite? Alice in Wonderland, The Great Gatsby, or both? Why?

Marlene: Probably The Great Gatsby. I read it again recently and realized what a great storyteller Fitzgerald was.

If you could be any character from Alice in Wonderland or The Great Gatsby, who would you be? Why?

Marlene: I wasn’t sure so I took an online test to see which character I would be. I was told Alice. I’ll have to think about that one.

Barney Saltzberg is the author and illustrator of close to 50 books for children, including Beautiful Oops!, Arlo Needs Glasses, Andrew Drew and Drew, and the bestselling Touch and Feel Kisses series with over 800,000 copies in print. Additionally, he’s recorded four CDs of music for children. Barney has been working with the United States State Department as a part of the Cultural Exchange Program and has traveled to China and Russia to speak about the creative process. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and three dogs.

Meet Barney at Fairytale Town the weekend of September 27 & 28 at the ScholarShare Children’s Book Festival! Barney will read Beautiful Oops! and his latest book, Chengdu Could Not, Would Not Fall Asleep, and sign copies of his books.

Beautiful Oops! is an inspiring read about creativity and how “oops” can transform into something wonderful. Where do you find inspiration for your books?
I travel around the world speaking about the creative process. In my PowerPoint, I show two images which were created from mistakes. Paw prints on a painting turned to clouds and a coffee stain turned into a monster. Educators kept asking if I could teach how I do that. I tore a piece of paper one day in my studio and it looked like the mouth of an alligator. I knew at that moment that a book was born!

Tell us about your latest book, Chengdu Could Not, Would Not Fall Asleep?
The US State department has sent me to Russia and China to speak about creativity. When we were in China, my wife took a 24-hour trip to the city of Chengdu, where the pandas are. She took photographs of a panda in a tree who was having trouble falling asleep. Based on her photos, I made a picture book.

Do you have any tips for parents wanting to encourage their children to unleash their imaginations?
Down time. Down time from any screen. Down time from soccer, ballet, etc. Buy a sketchbook and
have some art supplies. I would not critique your child’s work. Do not ‘show’ them how to draw
anything. Children need to play and use their imagination and often times, we, as parents get too
involved. That telegraphs to a child that they are either doing something incorrectly or that their work somehow doesn’t meet their parents approval. This is a definite imagination shutoff. Another way to jump-start creativity is to play with your children. Pretend play is a great way to activate that creative muscle. Another idea is to make a squiggle on a sheet of paper and let your child flip it around until they see something they want to draw, using the squiggle as a starting point. There are no ‘wrong’ answers here. Everything you draw is perfect. VERY liberating. Hopefully, that ability to improvise and use one’s imagination is a starting point for more to come.

If you could be any fairytale character, who would you be? Why?
I have never thought about this before. It’s not really a fairytale, but the classic story of The Little Engine That Could would be my inspiration, so I would have to say I’m the little engine. Two reasons. I’m not that big and I never give up. I think I can, I think I can, seems to be my motto!

Thanks Barney!

Before the fairy fun at A Midsummer Night’s Dream & Crystal Ice Cream Fantasy on June 28, we wanted to introduce you to this year’s Honorary Queen of the Fairies, Mellisa Paul! Mellisa needs no introduction as the hostess of Sacramento & Company. She is also the Community Liaison Director for News10, coordinating all station events and many other community projects. We’re thrilled that Mellisa will be taking on the role of Titania, Shakespeare’s Queen of the Fairies, presiding over the festivities and greeting guests in her magical fairy bower. Read on to learn more about Mellisa’s history with Fairytale Town as well as a few of her favorite things!

Tell us about your history and experience with Fairytale Town.

I first started going to Fairytale Town as a parent of my eldest daughter Abbi. We went as a family a handful of times for play dates and then had her third birthday party in King Arthur’s Castle. She loved it! We have been avid fans since.

What are you most looking forward to at A Midsummer Night’s Dream & Crystal Ice Cream Fantasy?

I am a big fan of Shakespeare. I actually have a certification in Shakespearean performance from the Oxford School of Drama in England. My favorite dessert is ice cream. So A Midsummer Night’s Dream & Crystal Ice Cream Fantasy is a marriage of two things that I love! So…what am I looking forward to the most??? ALL of it!

We have to ask: What is your favorite ice cream flavor?!

Tough question…hmmmmm…. I like berries a lot…and chocolate. So anything with berries and chocolate is a win for me.

And your favorite Shakespeare play?  Why?

Oddly enough… A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream. I’ve played numerous characters in the play over a series of years. One great experience was when we used the stylings of the ‘commedia dell’arte’ in one interpretation of the play…but my favorite was when I played Hermia in college. I was opposite my husband who played Demetrius. We weren’t dating at the time…but the whole experience led to us falling in love!

If you could be any fairytale character, who would you be?  Why?

Rapunzel…because I’d LOVE to have super long, gorgeous thick hair!!!

We are fortunate to have Brad Peters of Hock Farm Craft & Provisions serve as the Honorary Chair of Mad Hatter Meets Sherlock Holmes on May 8!

With over 13 years of experience in the hospitality industry, seven of those behind the bar, it’s Brad’s enthusiastic and genuine approach to mixing drinks and guest service that have earned him recognition as one of Sacramento’s most respected bartenders. Brad emphasizes ingredient-driven classic cocktails, often re-imagined with local produce and locally produced goods. Brad has received recognition for his recipes and perspectives in local, regional, and national media outlets.

We wanted to introduce Brad and ask him about a few of his favorite things and what he’ll be making for the party.

What’s your favorite: Alice in Wonderland, Sherlock Holmes, or both? Why?

I am a Sherlock Holmes guy. I love crime dramas, mystery and suspense. However, I guess when you look at it that way Alice in Wonderland is a lot of the same and I love the undertones of Alice. I’ll still stand by Sherlock.

If you could be any character from Alice in Wonderland or Sherlock Holmes, who would you be? Why?

Watson. He’s the trustworthy sidekick to the eccentric Holmes. All the excitement but none of the hassles of fame.

Have you been to Fairytale Town? If so, what is your favorite feature?

I have, multiple times. I love the venue for adult fundraising fun. I’ve been for concerts. I have a 7 month old boy now, and I’m sure I will be hanging around Fairytale Town a bunch soon.

What will you be showcasing at the Mad Hatter Meets Sherlock Holmes event on May 8?

We will be sampling Hock Farm’s sangria and demonstrating how to make a traditional punch. We will also be showcasing some fun methods to improve your at-home punch making experience!!!

A new train inspired by the classic children’s book The Little Engine That Could opened at Fairytale Town on August 15, 2013!

Comprised of an engine car, train car and caboose, the new train replicates the little train that saved the day with its plucky attitude and positive thinking. It was designed and fabricated by local artist Shane Grammer. The train sits alongside the little red engine that currently represents the classic story. Playground surfacing surrounds the base of the play structure to make for soft landings during play time on the structure.

The new train was made possible in part by generous gift from the Ken Stieger family, William A. Brown, Jr., Raley’s Family of Fine Foods, Otto Construction, and Lionakis, as well as a portion of the proceeds from Fairytale Town’s Yellow Brick Road fundraising project.

Watch a time lapse video of the train being built!

We are fortunate to have acclaimed chocolatier Ginger Elizabeth Hahn of Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates serving as the Honorary Chair for the Mad Hatter Meets Mad Men fundraiser on Thursday, May 16. Ginger is a formally trained chocolatier and pastry chef who has been studying and working professionally with chocolate for over 10 years. She studied pastry at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, where she graduated top of her class. In 2008, Ginger and her husband Tom launched their retail store in Midtown Sacramento. In 2010, Ginger was named one of the Top Ten Chocolatiers in North America by Dessert Professional Magazine.

Before the fundraiser this Thursday, we wanted to introduce Ginger and ask her about a few of her favorite things and the special cocktail she created just for the event.

What’s your favorite: Alice in Wonderland, Mad Men, or both? Why?
Mad Men, because it is the only show I watch on cable and I love the characters and the costumes.

If you could be any character from Alice in Wonderland or Mad Men, who would you be? Why?
The white queen in the Alice and Wonderland book because she is crazy, and I feel a little crazy sometimes with the business and my two young sons.

Have you been to Fairytale Town? If so, what is your favorite feature?
Not yet, but my kids are dying to go see the animals.

What will you be showcasing at the Mad Hatter Meets Mad Men event on May 16?
A chilled drink with a little chocolate, a little tea and a little booze! It’s an Earl Grey Chocolate Chambord cocktail.

Thank you Ginger!

This year’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Crystal Ice Cream Fantasy will be presided over by an Honorary King and Queen, who will kick off the event and then greet guests in a magical fairy bower. We are fortunate to have John Frisch and Monica Woods serve as the event’s Honorary King and Queen. John and Monica will take on the roles of Oberon and Titania, the king and queen of the fairies in Shakespeare’s play.

Before the event on June 9, we wanted to introduce John and Monica. We spoke with them recently to find out more about their history with Fairytale Town as well as a few of their favorite things.

John Frisch
Honorary King

John Frisch is the regional managing director of the Sacramento and Roseville offices of Cornish and Carey Commercial Newmark Knight Frank. John has been active in many community organizations. Currently he serves as the chair of the board of directors for the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce.

Tell us about your history and experience with Fairytale Town. I joined the Fairytale Town board in 1980.  It was the first real community board that I ever served on, and I not only learned a great deal about Fairytale Town but about the City of Sacramento Parks and Recreation Department, which ran and maintained the park back in those days.  We eventually became one of the first public parks to “privatize,” and in many ways became the City and County’s model for future public-private partnerships. I eventually retired from the board around 1996.  It was one of the best boards that I ever served on!

What is your favorite feature of the park?  The Three Little Pigs!

What are you most looking forward to at A Midsummer Night’s Dream & Crystal Ice Cream Fantasy?  Just seeing the magical joy on the faces that all kids and adults get when they visit Fairytale Town.

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?  Rocky Road!

What is your favorite Shakespeare play?  Romeo and Juliet.

If you could be any fairytale character, who would you be?  Peter Pan!

Monica Woods
Honorary Queen

Monica Woods is KXTV News 10’s chief meteorologist. She is actively involved in the Sacramento community. Monica served a term as president of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Sacramento and sat on the organization’s Board of Directors for three years.

Tell us about your history and experience with Fairytale Town. We were regular weekly visitors while the kids were not in school. We visit less frequently now, but every time we do the kids want to make sure to visit everything!

What is your favorite feature? King Arthur’s Castle. I love to imagine what it might have been like to be a part of that time.

What are you most looking forward to at A Midsummer Night’s Dream & Crystal Ice Cream Fantasy? Seeing the kids’ excitement!

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?  Mint Chip!

What is your favorite Shakespeare play? Romeo & Juliet.

If you could be any fairytale character, who would you be? Cinderella.

Thanks John and Monica for being our King and Queen!