The Dexter Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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Local teacher writes her first book
Himle pens book about first-day-of-school jitters kids' experience
By Sandi Kasha, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: August 31, 2006
Sometimes art imitates life.
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Lisa Himle, a second-grade teacher at Cornerstone Elementary School, has found inspiration from many students throughout her 22-year career, 11 of which has been spent in Dexter schools.
One student in particular inspired Himle's new children's book, "Hands as Warm as Toast."
"There was a little girl who was terrified to come into the classroom," Himle, 44, said of her muse. "She was hiding behind her mother's skirt."
Himle said she's always had cold hands and devised a plan that would get the girl to feel more comfortable.
"I held her hands and felt how warm they were, and I asked her to help me keep my hands warm," she said.
The girl, Olivia, is now a high school freshman and Himle has sent her a copy of the book.
The premise for "Hands as Warm as Toast" centers on a girl's first-day-of-school jitters and how holding her teacher's cold hands boost her confidence.
"It's a true embellished story," Himle said. "It's about separation anxiety from parents and coping with anxiety."
The story was just an idea until Joe, Himle's husband of 22 years, convinced her to consider writing the story. It came to fruition shortly after her family passed by some Christmas trees.
"I thought about how sad it would be if a tree didn't get picked to be a Christmas tree," she said. "My husband and I started talking about story ideas."
Himle was motivated when she opened the newspaper to find author Colleen Monroe talking about her latest book, "A Wish to be a Christmas Tree."
"My husband and I thought it was hilarious," Himle said. "I just knew that my ideas could turn into books."
So, Himle got to work and started writing, but she needed help with the editing.
"I wrote it and really needed somebody to edit it," she said.
Himle met with editor and author Cynthia Furlong Reynolds of Scio Township, who lent a hand.
"Cindy really wanted me to send my story in," Himle said. "She really believed it was a good story."
Himle also read the story to her students and received positive feedback.
When the manuscript was edited and polished to Himle's satisfaction, she sent it to the Ann Arbor Media Group for consideration. A week later, she received a call from editor Lynne Johnson.
"A lot had to be edited out," Himle said. "It has to fit 32 pages and shouldn't be to long so the little one could finish reading it."
Himle submitted the manuscript with about 2,000 words and ended up chopping about 900.
"I'm very pleased with the finished product," she said. "I plan on reading it the first week of school."
Himle has made a teacher's guide for "Hands as Warm as Toast" to provided interactive activities that would go hand-in-hand with the book.
"There are a variety of activities, such as math, spelling and reading comprehension," she said. "The whole point of reading is to take the text and apply it to your life. With children, the major goal of reading is for them to understand what they're reading."
The book is targeted for children age's four to seven.
"Hands as Warm as Toast" is published by Mitten Press and can be found at Barnes and Noble and Borders. It sells for $17.95.
Staff Writer Sandi Kasha can be reached by telephone at 475-1371 or via e-mail at skasha@heritage.com.
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