News From Jim Gill!
Dear friends and colleagues....
I just learned that my new CD/DVD, Music Play for Folks of All Stripes, was named a 2012 Notable Children's Recording by the American Library Association! In my excitement I've decided to send an email to all my friends and supporters with the news...and sum up a few of the highlights from 2011 and the first six weeks of 2012.
The award:   For those not familiar, this honor from the American Library Association is the equivalent of a Grammy Award for someone like me. Here are some of the criteria for evaluation:
     "Respects young people's intelligence and imagination"
      "Exhibits venturesome creativity"
      "In exemplary ways reflects and encourages the natural interest of children..."
It mean s that more librarians will become familiar with my music play a nd share the games in their story time programming. And that means that more and more families will learn about the recording and borrow it from the library!
To learn more about or to order my new CD/DVD, visit my website by clicking on the CD image above!
Speaking of libraries:  In 2011 I was honored to visit libraries in Nevada, Idaho, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Iowa and, of course, all over Illinois for family concerts and training workshops for children's librarians and early childhood educators.      In 2012 I've already visited libraries in California, Texas and Ohio and have plans to visit more in states like Virginia, Oregon and Texas (once again)!
     I should mention that a few appearances at book festivals and libraries have been funded by generous grants from the Target Corporation. (Thanks Target!)
Conference appearances:   I was honored to make presentations and keynote addresses at some great conferences in 2011 sponsored by organizations such as: The National Association for Family Child Care, Missouri Department of Education, Ohio AEYC, Oregon Library Association, and the California Head Start Association.  I also visited conferences in South Carolina, Oklahoma, and, of course, conducted a lot of training events here in the Midwest.
      In 2012 I have plans to visit Texas, New York, Wisconsin, Missouri, Nebraska and Minnesota for conference appearances.
Concerts:  My "Family Room Tour" continues. And I think my family concerts are better than ever! Adding some new games from the new CD has been great fun. And I am thankful that more and more clients are inviting members of my band to join me in concert. If you didn't get a chance to see it, here is a link to my December appearance on WGN television with members of my band and a great group of parents and children (click on the image below): 

To learn more about my family concerts, visit my WEBSITE!
A Soup Opera:   This book (which received an award in 2010 from the American Library Association) will soon enter its second pressing!
And, speaking of books, I am in the early stages of work on a new one!
Thanks to everyone for their continued interest in and support of my work...which is, and will always be, PLAY!


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