Welcome to Debbie Dadey's Website
            Happy Book birthday to The Princess Promise

Dear friends, 
My website won't let me answer your Kid's Talk letters on Debbie Talks, so I'm putting them here:

Dear Zachary, I’m so glad you love my books. Do you have a favorite?  Anderson, Isabella, and Dallys, I 

am working on a new story. No monsters or ghosts this time, but I hope it’s funny. Isabella, I like your title ideas! Did you know I co-wrote books called Zombies Don’t Play Soccer and Wizards do Roast Turkeys? Malachi, I’m so glad you liked Ghosts Don’t Eat Potato Chips. Was it scary? Kensie, the graphic artist who drew the pictures and adapted the book wanted to include Carey more in the story.  She is also in Dragons Don't Cook Pizza. 

Pauline, I’m so happy you liked Battle of the Best Friends. Can you tell I like writing about mermaids? Several of the Mermaid Tales are also about Shelly (like The Lost Princess), who is a princess. Nora, I am so curious. Which book of mine did you love? Liliana, I hope you like the Mermaid Tales books! Adelaide, did you know there is even a Mermaid World in Florida? It’s called Mermaids of Weeki Wachee Springs State Park. Have a great week, Debbie

Dear Vivianne, I am so delighted that the Ghosts Don’t Eat Potato Chips graphic novel is your favorite book. I hope you have an awesome week, Debbie

Dear Londyn, Ryan, Leo, Emmalee, Aria, Leah, and Coen, So pleased that you liked the Ghosts Don’t Eat Potato Chips graphic novel. Did you do a play? I never thought of myself as being better than Dr. Seuss! Thanks for that!  Liliana, Mayah, and Paislee, glad you liked the graphic novel and chapter book versions of Ghosts Don’t Eat Potato Chips. Liza is pretty cool isn’t she? Orien, I would have loved to see you play Aunt Mathilda. How fun! Thanks Gloria, glad you liked the drama and ending.

Hey Cooper, I never played soccer as a kid but my three children played it a lot! My daughter still plays in an adult league. I learned a lot from them to help write Zombies Don’t Play Soccer. Nolan, do you have any special interests or like a certain kind of book? I find that’s a great way to find books that you might enjoy.

Grace, I’m glad you like one of the Mermaid Tales books. I have a surprise for you. There are actually 22! Click here to see them all. Wow, Ainslee, glad you like my stories. Do you have a favorite?

Hi Callista and Lincoln, I have been writing for 36 years! I am working on two stories right now-one is silly and the other one is a bit silly too! Ellisyn, I like your idea. I did make a book called Sleepover at the Haunted Museum. It’s a bit scary and book #21 in the Mermaid Tales series.

Sophia and Owen, please tell your librarian I said hello! Have a great weekend, Debbie

Hi Savannah, I hope you enjoyed Ghosts Don’t Eat Potato Chips. Have fun reading Danger in the Deep Blue Sea.  Hey Addison and Zachary, my daughter has two black cats and one almost white one. I’m pretty sure they aren’t magical like the ones in the Ghosts Don’t Eat Potato Chips graphic novel, but you never know! Remmie, Brantley, Delaney, Andrew, and Max, so glad you like the Bailey School Kids chapter books and the graphic novels. Did you know there might be a movie? Luke, Carey is actually in many of the Bailey School Kids books. I was a bit surprised that the graphic artist wanted to make her a main character, but I’m glad she did. Mya, it’s interesting that you like the graphic novel better. It would be neat to do a survey of your class to see if the chapter book or the graphic novel would be more popular. Michael and Reid, Eddie was definitely the most fun character to write about!

Mia, it would be fun to do a graphic novel version of Aliens Don’t Wear Braces. I will ask my editor about it. Samuel, all my kids learned how to snowboard but I never learned how! I guess I’m not a giant like in Giants Don’t Go Snowboarding.
Alexi, I love the title of your story. It sounds so fun. I am a writer, not an illustrator so I can’t help with the drawing piece, but you might like to check out my writing page.

Lily, you are an amazing reader. Liana and Lily, here’s a list of all my books so far. Benjamin, what a fun title! I should definitely ask my editor about it. Kendall, did you know there are 51 numbered Bailey School Kids books, super specials and holiday specials? Hope you’ll like them all! Thanks Isaak, so happy that you liked Werewolves Don’t Run for President.

Hi Korra, there are 22  Mermaid Tales books. Do you have a favorite? Elena, have you seen the newest Mini Mermaid Tales book, The Princess Promise (picture below)? Willow, it is hard to pick one, but of the Mermaid Tales series The Polar Bear Express is my favorite.

Thanks so much Parker, Brynley, Anderson, Greyson, Samuel, Neelym, Connor, Waylon, and Dawson, I do enjoy writing and am writing more now.  Emrick, Everly, and Eric, I have a couple of stories I am working on right now-one of them is even about the wild west!

Hope you have an awesome rest of the week. Happy reading, Debbie

Dear Ava, Mason, Isabelle, Ethan, and Conley, it is hard for me to pick my favorite story out of all 182 of mine that have been made into books. At this time of the year, Ninjas Don’t Bake Pumpkin Pies and Santa Claus Doesn’t Mop Floors are definitely two of my favorites though! I am working on a new series. Should it be scary or funny or both?

Oakley,  am so glad you liked both the graphic novel and chapter book versions of Ghosts don’t Eat Potato Chips. It is interesting to me how the same story can be told in different ways.

Kaydin, Mason, Nora, Mia, and Elise, I’m happy that you enjoyed Ghosts Don’t Eat Potato Chips.

Annabella, I am working on a new series. I hope it will be made into books!

Ethan, I was a teacher and school librarian for many years  so I did meet many kids like Eddie. They were actually special to me because I knew they weren’t bad kids, they just needed help directing their energy or needs. Of course, every kid I taught was unique and special to me in some way or another because all kids are!

Jaxon, I’m delighted that you enjoyed Wizards Don’t Need Computers. What do you think I should write about next?

Shannon, it makes me happy that you like my Mermaid Tales books. Or is it my Mini Mermaid Tales books that you like?

Sydney and Austin, thank you so much for your thank you’s! I had been feeling a bit down this last week so I appreciate your kind words. I hope you and your friends have an awesome week! Please let me know if I missed answering anyone. Happy reading, Debbie

Dear Shannon, Yeah! I'm so glad you like my mermaid stories! They took different amounts of time to write, some a month and some much longer! It is scary sharing stories with others, but I know people are different. Some people like mermaid stories and some like stories about football. It's okay and our differences are what makes us unique! Happy Halloween, Debbie

Dear Natasha, Thanks so much for your kind words. I'm so glad you enjoyed the Bailey School Kids books as a kid. I hope your son will love them as well. Did you know there are Bailey School Kids graphic novels not too? I hope you both will like them. Happy Halloween, Debbie

Dear Maryam, Wow! You are a big reader. Did you read all the Bailey School Kids chapter books or the graphic novels? Did you know that Ghost Don't Eat Potato Chips chapter book was the hardest BSK book to write? It is one of my favorites. Happy Halloween, Debbie

Dear Lily, It's strange. I answered you the other day, but it disappeared. I'll try again! HI! It's great to hear from you again. And thanks for the kind words about Mermaid Tales. Can you believe I worked for 6 months to create the world they live in? I'm so glad it feels real to you. Happy reading, Debbie

Dear Eliza, I"m glad you liked Danger in the Deep Blue Sea. Just like in the story, I've always thought it fun to try to make people smile. Thanks for reading the Mermaid Tales. Your friend, Debbie

Dear Mary K, I used to be a teacher and then I became a librarian. My favorite part of those jobs was reading aloud to kids and sharing stories. I thought it would be such fun to write my own stories. I like being an author a lot!  God bless. Your friend, Debbie 

Dear Mrs. Haa's Hive-Thanks for reading Vampires Don't Wear Polka Dots. Did you read the chapter book or the graphic novel? My friend Marcia and I have been asked many times what was in the box (coffin) in Mrs. Jeepers' basement. I know what I wanted it to be, but Marcia had a different idea and that's what we wrote about in Mrs. Jeepers' Creepy Christmas. Hope you'll like it, Debbie

Dear Gabrielle, I'm so glad you love my books. Do you have a favorite?

Dear Aryana, Tomorrow  (October 2nd) is the release date of The Princess Promise! I hope you'll like it. Poppy is determined to find the perfect princess in her park, but things are not always as they seem, Debbie

Dear Jordan, It would be totally cool to see a mermaid! Have you seen my Mermaid Tales page? Hope you enjoy it, Debbie

Dear Aryana, I'm so glad you like my mermaid books. Did you know I have a new one  coming out called The Princess Promise? I hope you'll like it too. Happy reading, Debbie

Dear Ishi, I'm curious. You said my vampire book is your favorite. Are you talking about Vampires Don't Wear Polka Dots or my book with the vampire squid? I agree, it would be super fun for Echo to do a video call! Your friend, Debbie

Dear Drestlee, I wanted to be an author because I love to read so much. I thought it would be awesome for someone to read something I wrote! If you like to write, you might want to check out my writing page. The right side is for students. Have a great week and God bless, Debbie

Dear Caisheenia, I do like chocolate, although I have to be careful and not eat too much because it can make me sick, especially dark chocolate. Sometimes I say I'm allergic to it because in a way, I am. Do you like chocolate?  Happy chocolate eating and reading, Debbie

Dear Hanifa, I am so happy you like my Mermaid Tales books. Please tell your librarian I said hi. I wonder which book you will check out next? Have a great school year, Debbie

Hi Aishani, It's so cool that you are writing with your friend. I wrote a lot of books with my friend, Marcia T. Jones. You might like to take a peek at the right side of my writing page. Good luck, Debbie

Hi Brooke, I'm so glad you like my books. Do you have a favorite? Have an awesome summer, Debbie

Dear Ashley K, My next book is Mini Mermaid Tales #3, A Princess Promise. You'll see Shelly in that book-she's a mud princess! I'm so glad you liked A Tale of Two Sisters.  God bless, Debbie

Hi Raj, my first book came out in 1990.

Yug, I really liked to read and thought it would be awesome if someone wanted to read what I wrote.

Anaya, my newest Bailey School Kids book is the Dragons Don’t Cook Pizza graphic novel. I hope you’ll like it!

Cathrina and Jacklin, I have so many favorites, it is hard to pick one! My newest Mini Mermaid Tales is a favorite, The Dolphin Dream.     

Lily, thanks for the fun idea. I hope I get to write it!
Have a great week everyone and happy reading, Debbie

                                                    
          Hurrah! Never Give up is on the
          Keystone to Reading Book Award list for 2024-2025!
     
                     

WhooHoo! The Dragon is back!

Whoohoo! Never Give up is a 2024 best STEM book!   (Children's Book Council and the National Science Teachers of America)  Never Give Up is included in the Mighty Girl Books for Women in History Month 2024 SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL  STARRED REVIEW  VERDICT Informative as well as inspiring, this book shows how Karikó’s tenacity is proof to never give up. A first purchase for all biography collections.–Tracy Cronce Congratulations to Dr. Katalin Kariko for winning the Nobel Prize in Medicine! Learn about her Life in Debbie's book Never Give Up! It is also a Junior Library Guild Gold Star Standard Selection.   Available Now!       Kati knew her idea would help people, but no one else agreed. Kati wouldn't give up. But would her struggle be worth it? Find out in Never Give Up!  Booklist says: Generously appended with an illustrated time line, stages for U.S. vaccine approval, glossary, source notes, and bibliography, this is a fascinating and up-to-date choice for primary science, health, and women's history units.    Debbie chats with Kidlit Distancing Social about chapter books, her writing journey, and graphic novels.

Hope you'll stop by Facebook.com/debbiedadey every Thursday for more ways to end "I Hate to read!" I don't hate to read, but I know some kids do. I'm on a mission to stop the horror. If your child hates to read, try this: Ask them to make a list (you can write it for them) of the top five types of books they hate to read. Sometimes it's easier for them to identify what they hate rather than what they like. That will give you a starting point. If that doesn't work, try this: I HATE DOG BOOKS. YES OR NO I HATE SPORTS BOOKS. YES OR NO I HATE SCARY BOOKS. YES OR NO I HATE FUNNY BOOKS. YES OR NO I HATE BOOKS ABOUT GIRLS. YES OR NO I HATE BOOKS ABOUT BOYS. YES OR NO I HATE BOOKS ABOUT MONSTERS. YES OR NO I HATE FAT BOOKS. YES OR NO I HATE SKINNY BOOKS. YES OR NO I HATE HORSE BOOKS. YES OR NO I HATE CAR BOOKS. YES OR NO I HATE DINOSAUR BOOKS. YES OR NO If there is one that they don't hate, then you have a starting point. You can look for those books in the library or bookstore. If your child doesn't like to read, have you considered that perhaps they just haven't found the right book yet?  Let them choose what interests them.  Here are some other tips to put them on the path to reading success:   You read a line and then let your child read.  Try to make sure the hardest words are ones you get.  You know things are improving when they forget to stop.   Don't worry if your child doesn't want to stop reading a series.  Series reading helps develop prediction skills and allows students to grow their comprehension skills in a safe comforting environment.    Don't make your child sound out every word!  It's horrible for them and for you.  Just do it occasionally and help them with the others.  You want reading time at home to be fun and non-threatening, so they'll see that reading can be FUN.   Have your child's eyes checked if they appear to be squinting at the words.    Let your child see you reading for pleasure.  Modeling is the best lesson.   Be an angel and read to your child every night before they go to bed.  This is not a lesson where they read.  This is where you read to them.  They learn comprehension by listening and they learn a love of reading by enjoying stories with you.