Local author garners Silver Award for children’s book

The award, presented by the Independent Book Publishers Association, is in the Children’s Book & Audio Book category. The books will carry a silver sticker identifying them as award winners.

"I was so pleased, and so happy," said Derrick, who owns and operates learning centers in New Mexico and the SpringStone Montessori School in Las Vegas, which has 170 students.

Animalations books feature a rhymed story and musical CD that enables the reader to sing along while reading the book. The books also include the musical composition, science notes and teacher notes.

Derrick has released nine books for ages 2-8. She has four other books completed.

She also recently learned that four of her Animalations books received awards in the Storybook with CD category from Creative Child Magazine. The magazine named Derrick’s "Riley the Rhinoceros," "Dody the Dog has a Rainbow" and "Farley the Ferret of Farkleberry Farm" winners of the Preferred Choice Award, with "Rickity and Snickity at the Balloon Fiesta" winning the Media of the Year award.

An educator for 30 years, Derrick said incorporating books with music was "something I always knew was needed."

"I study the brain and I study language," Derrick said. "You need multisensory stimulations to connect the neurons."

By using music with her books, "it makes children smarter and it makes learning easier," Derrick said.

"I write the story, then rhyme the story, then hire a composer who puts the rhyme to music," said Derrick, who has been working with composer Jay Ramsey of Las Vegas. The books are illustrated by Doug Hoch of New York.

The books have received a positive response from parents and children because of the music, Derrick said.

"They get to participate and dance," she said.

Derrick gets the ideas and themes for her books "from my life," including her upcoming book "Lily and Laney in Easter Bunny Town."

Derrick’s daughter, Tricia, and her family are in the process of adopting a girl named Lily from China. Laney (short for Delaney) is the daughter of Derrick’s son, Scott. In the book, Laney and Lily are bunnies who face discrimination in Easter Bunny Town because of their ears.

"The town could be anywhere," Derrick said.

In addition to her recent awards, Derrick also received good news regarding the distribution of her books. The books have been added to the Follett Library Resources Catalog used by public libraries and schools to order books, and they also will be carried in libraries and schools in Singapore.

Derrick’s books are available through local bookstores.

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