Tails, Scales, Fur, Purr, Oink

Jennifer was born and raised in Oakland,California, but came to Idaho in 1972 as the wifeof an Air Force pilot. She began her teachingcareer at Mountain Home High School whereshe taught art for 25 years before teaching art at Skyview High Schoolin Nampa. She earned her BFA in Art Education from Mississippi StateUniversity and her Master's degree in Art from Boise State University.Jennifer lives in Idaho with her husband, Kirk (who still shootshis age in golf), where she has been an art educator for 45 years.Jennifer has been an adjunct professor at Boise State University,George Fox University and the College of Idaho. Jennifer has receivednumerous state and national awards in her teaching career, includingthe Governor's Award in Art Education, US West Teacherof the Year, Boise State's Distinguished Alumni Award and Women Making History Award, ING's 1st Place National Unsung HeroesAward, the National Education Association's Teaching ExcellenceAward, Idaho's Art Teacher of the Year and was the 2002 IdahoTeacher of the Year. In 2016, Jennifer was one of only five teachers,nationwide, inducted into the NATIONAL TEACHERS HALL OFFAME in Emporia, Kansas, and is the first Idaho teacher to have everbeen recognized by the President of the United States for this award.Jennifer is a published artist, having written two art textbooks andmany articles. This is the volume 2 in a series of children's books she iswriting, to share stories that are mostly factual, about the plethora ofsentient beings that always seem to find their way into her life. Jenniferpassionately advocates for all creatures. Her Volume 1 'Tails, Scales,Fur, Purr, Oink' is a hardback compilation of books 1-7. This is volume 2hardback, which is a compilation of books 8-14.Jennifer has taken art to tiny one room school houses for over40 years with her 'Project Van Go'. Four years ago she celebratedthis milestone at the little red school house on the prairiein Prairie, Idaho. Her greatest work, she says, is that of'WA' to her precious grandchildren, and Mother to four amazingchildren: Hillary an Investigator for Human Resources, Tyler (Lauren)a Doctor of Physical Therapy residing in Boise now with the rest ofhis family, exploring all things that present a physical challenge andtests limits, Jessica (Kyle) a high school Science teacher (and her highschool's teacher of the year) in Idaho and amazing mother to ourprecious 'cheeky monkey' Norah, Harper 'peanut', and Emily (Jason)who is a School Counselor and stay at home Mommy to darling SonjaHope and Reed William. In her free time, Jennifer rehabilitates wildand domesticated animals. At every opportunity she volunteers atthe Makauwahi Cave Reserve on Kaua'i where her two giant sulcatatortoises, Shelly and Lily, are part of a project that promotes thepropagation of native Hawaiian plants. Jennifer donates profits fromher books to many organizations. Her greatest inspiration was herMother who passed away 8 years ago. Jennifer smiles at the journeythat is her life since she was Miss San Francisco Cable Car 1968.