How Thelma Got Her Wings

"Thelma Makes a Visit" is dedicated to all the little girls and boys who believe in Santa Claus, The Tooth Fairy, and the Boogeyman. Their wide-eyed enthusiasm and innocence inspire the story-teller. I especially want to thank my granddaughter, Zoe, for her participation in this twenty-first century fairytale. Afterall, it really is her story. It all began with this first book that introduced the young reader to Thelma P. Jones. Zoe had lost a tooth and decided to leave the tooth under Grandma's pillow hoping that the tooth fairy would come. Early the next morning, Zoe rushes into Grandma's room and searches under her pillow. Wow! There she finds a tiny green treasure box containing a neatly folded dollar bill. Excitedly she shares the contents with Granda. "Grandma, the tooth fairy came," she exclaims. Grandma replies, "Yep, she woke me up when she reached under my pillow." "What Grandma, you saw her?" That is when the story-teller in Grandma was inspired as she describes Thelma P. Jones. Zoe was enthralled and could hardly wait to share the story with her classmates at school. This story had to be shared with others and that is how "Thelma Makes a Visit" was born. Zoe's curiosity about Thelma became the catalyst for the next in the series, "How Thelma got her Wings." Zoe's imagination was captured by Grandma's description of Thelma: short, feisty, chocolate in complexion with a head full of crinkly hair, almond-shaped eyes wearing a t-shirt, pink tutu, polka-dot tights and tennis shoes. Zoe had many questions about this unusual fairy. One was: How did Thelma get the tiny wings that Grandma had described? Her curiosity inspired the next book,"How Thelma Got Her Wings." In this story, not only is Zoe's question answered, but the reader is treated to a lesson in giving and its reward.

My first book, "Thelma Makes a Visit" is dedicated to all the little girls and boys who believe in Santa Claus, The Tooth Fairy, and the Boogeyman. Their wide-eyed enthusiasm and innocence inspire the story-teller. I especially want to thank my granddaughter, Zoe, for her participation in this twenty-first century fairytale. Afterall, it really is her story. It all began with this first book that introduced the young reader to Thelma P. Jones. Zoe had lost a tooth and decided to leave the tooth under Grandma's pillow hoping that the tooth fairy would come. Early the next morning, Zoe rushes into Grandma's room and searches under her pillow. Wow! There she finds a tiny green treasure box containing a neatly folded dollar bill. Excitedly she shares the contents with Granda. "Grandma, the tooth fairy came," she exclaims. Grandma replies, "Yep, she woke me up when she reached under my pillow." "What Grandma, you saw her?" That is when the story-teller in Grandma was inspired as she describes Thelma P. Jones. Zoe was enthralled and could hardly wait to share the story with her classmates at school. This story had to be shared with others and that is how "Thelma Makes a Visit" was born. Zoe's curiosity about Thelma became the catalyst for the next in the series, "How Thelma got her Wings." Zoe's imagination was captured by Grandma's description of Thelma: short, feisty, chocolate in complexion with a head full of crinkly hair, almond-shaped eyes wearing a t-shirt, pink tutu, polka-dot tights and tennis shoes. Zoe had many questions about this unusual fairy. One was: How did Thelma get the tiny wings that Grandma had described? Her curiosity inspired the next book,"How Thelma Got Her Wings." In this story, not only is Zoe's question answered, but the reader is treated to a lesson in giving and its reward.The

Diane Jackson, a grandmother of three, has regaled her grandchildren since they entered the world with stories both real and fictional. A graduate of Fisk University with a BA in English and the University of Chicago with a Masters in the Art of teaching English, she spent over forty years in high school classrooms in Chicago, Compton and Los Angeles. She earned her National Board Certification in Young Adult English and Language Arts and served as English department chair at George Washington Prep. Upon retirement from the LAUSD, she returned to Chicago where she spends time with family and friends while enjoying her book club, Literati and Friday Bridge Clubs. Diane currently resides in the South Suburbs of Chicago. After launching her writing career with Thelma Makes a Visit, she has completed the sequel, How Thelma Got Her Wings, an inspiring story of how giving is rewarding and rewarded.