Super-Duper Oxtail Soup

About the Book

Super-Duper Oxtail Soup

What this book is about. . .

About the Author

     Carleen Bonds was born in Cleveland, Ohio.  She was raised in Bay Village, Ohio, on the shores of Lake Erie.  Her love of writing blossomed early.  At the age of 8, she wrote a Mother's Day poem for her mom.  This was the beginning of her childhood poetry anthology, written in a myriad of small spiral notebooks. 

     She earned her B.S. in Education degree from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.  She also attended the University of Hawaii and Cleveland State University.

     She taught third grade in Rocky River, Ohio for ten years.  She has been an ESL instructor in the Lakewood, Bay Village, and Avon Lake, Ohio School Systems for over 18 years. 

     In addition, she is a seasoned traveler.  She has visited more than 20 countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa. 

     Mrs. Bonds was inspried to write this book by her amazing ESL students.  The theme of the story touches on universally basic needs and solutions.  Because vocabulary is such an integral element for all readers, she has included a rich, varied and thoughtfully chosen text that will benefit English Learners and many others reading this book.  A glossary has been included for word study and clarification of meaning.

     She and her husband have one daughter, Devon, who is a high school choral director.  Mrs. Bonds is also "Mom" to her Maine Coon and Siamese rescue cats.  She and her husband currently live in Avon Lake, Ohio. 

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

     Dawn M. Neff, has always enjoyed drawing.  She especially likes to draw in pen and ink and paint in watercolor. When asked to help illustrate Ox Tail Soup, she wanted to keep the characters simple and colorful.  There is also a strong emphasis on repetition and simplicity to help the primary reader and students who might be new to the English language, identify with the main characters and story line.  Students are able to recognize simple objects and relate to the images even if their reading skills are limited. 

     Ms. Neff has been an art teacher for the past 23 years.  She currently teaches Art at Bassett Elementary School in Westlake, Ohio, in grades K-4. She graduated from Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio with a B.S. Ed in Art Education and an M.A. Ed. in Supervision from Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, Ohio.