Deborah Segal always had an affinity for children and knew at the age of eight that she would one day become a teacher. She was unconcerned with the fact that no one in her family had ever been to college. A teacher needs a degree, so she marched herself down to the community college as soon as she graduated high school. The path to her goal was stick straight, and she took charge of her first classroom for Downey Unified School District at the tender age of 24. A few years later, she enrolled in a class at Cal State Fullerton to learn Reader's and Writer's Workshop. Her philosophy of teaching literacy was forever changed. She loved everything about her new career, but teaching children to foster a love of reading and express themselves in writing as real authors was both powerful and magical. Children love choice and learn best by doing. As real authors, they embraced the best of both worlds and reveled in the possibilities. With Ms. Segal as coach, their imaginations soared, their motivation improved, and their progress in writing abounded. She was both proud and inspired. Ms. Segal's "Parent Publishing Company" cranked out hundreds of student authored books over the years, but she had yet to accomplish her own goal of one day becoming a published author. Newly retired, Ms. Segal couldn't rest until that dream had become a reality, so she set about to finish a book that she had begun over 25 years before. Critter Countdown is just the type of book she loved to use as a teacher. It's packed full of opportunities to learn but a whole lot of fun as well. She looks forward to hearing what you think.

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