Judy
Slack is a native of Northern California who has also resided in
Alaska. She graduated with an A.A. in Interior Design from
Modesto Junior College and B.A. in Fine Art from California State
University, Stanislaus, thereafter-earning certification in Graphic
Design thru an awarded University of California, Davis Scholarship.
She possesses two California Teaching Credentials (Multiple and
Single Subject) and has been employed in many fields of retail, and
public and private education, teaching both children and adults.
She continues to educate herself through the University of San
Diego.
With a
passion of freelance work in illustration, Bet Borgeson,
author/artist of several art books such as, “Basic Colored
Pencil Techniques,” has influenced Judy’s artistic ability
through workshops in Monterey, California.
Judy’s
inspiration for writing a nutritional picture book for kids came to
her as she witnessed the dreadful eating habits of our youth in the
public school system. With a great commitment for healthy
living and a desire to make a contribution to help all children,
Judy concluded that now is the time to take immediate action. She
combined her skill of illustration and a desire to research and
write, and as a result “Crunching Carrots, Not Candy” has
culminated into a compelling reality.
While she
researched information for CCNC, she learned that 40% of all
children are overweight in the state of California. In addition, she
discovered that the Hispanic population is suffering from alarming
diabetic problems related to obesity. But she sympathetically
comprehends that all people are exposed to this eating condition so
language has also become an important element in writing
“Crunching Carrots, NOT Candy.” Although CCNC
is formatted in English/Spanish, she invites multiple language
translations to serve all people.
Some of her recent CCNC book
activities include:
Media Coverage and Publications
- Book review published in the March 25 Edition of Nurseweek
Magazine.
- A feature article of CCNC in the “Turlock Living Magazine”
written by Christina Rhodes, TLM Reporter. (January 2008)
- A guest of CW-31/CBS-13 on their morning segment of “Mom’s World” with Anchor/Report Michele Kane in Sacramento, California. (November 2007)
- Featured as a "LightFull Lady" for her work with
CCNC, by LightFullFoods.com.
- Marty Martindale, a freelance writer for "Food Site Of
the Day", has included a recommendation of CCNC in their
online newsletter (July 2007) on http://foodsiteoftheday.com/previous.htm.
Check it out!
- Featured in the April issue of Stanislaus
Connections.
- Chosen one of Educators'
Top 100 Children's Books in an online poll conducted by the
National Education Association. The survey was conducted
in 2007 and compiled to assist parents and teachers in selecting
quality literature for children.
- The National Education
Association published a CCNC article in the September
2006, “NEA Today” publication under the heading, Books By
NEA Members (pg. 61). This is quite an honor since a large
volume of submissions is never featured
- Featured in California
State University Stanislaus Alumni Magazine (Turlock, CA)
in December 2006 (pg. 25)
- An article in the
Modesto Bee, “Local Authors Published,” August 13, 2006
(Modesto, CA)
- Story proposal for the
Emanuel Medical Center’s “Heart Beat” circular (Turlock,
CA) - January 2007.
Events and Activities
- Judy will share her work with students at the Authors' and
Illustrators' Faire in Ceres on Wednesday,
May 28. This faire features the work of students from
throughout the year. Local authors are invited to
share their writing and illustrating talents with students.
- Participated in the 6th Annual Human Services Awareness Day
hosted by the Modesto Junior College Human Services Club on Tuesday, April
1, 2008.
- Through the Mother Lode American Heart Association, the “Take It To Heart” Foundation raised money and purchased 100 CCNC books to incorporate into their “Family Fit Program,” fighting against childhood obesity in Tuolumne and Calaveras Counties, California. (October 2007)
- Judy participated in the California Authors
booth at the
California State Fair August 17 through September 3. She
was on site at the exhibit on August 29 and on September 2.
- Judy delivered a community presentation on CCNC at
the El Concilio Community Center in Modesto, CA on July 26,
2007.
- Participated in the Soroptimist Saturday of
Service project -- "Spring into Action", a Health
& Fitness Faire for Women and Girls in Angels Camp,
CA., March 3, 2007.
- CCNC featured at the Turlock Public Library for the month of
November, 2006.
- A book signing at Main
Street Antiques and Collectibles in conjunction with a
celebration of “A Taste of Down Town,” and an article
in the Turlock Journal (Turlock, CA) announcing the event
- Summer of 2006
- Speaking invitations at
Denair Elementary Ag Day and the Julien Elementary School
Garden Party (Turlock, CA).
- Donations of CCNC
Books to the Julien Elementary School Library and
Teachers, and to Brown Elementary School (Turlock, CA).
- Donations of CCNC T-shirts to Julien Elementary Students and Teachers (Turlock, CA).
- Participated in the
first annual "Walk from Obesity" event held in
Modesto, CA in August 2006.
Memberships and Professional Affiliations
CCNC is
available through this website along with Beekman and Beekman
Honey Tasting Room (Hughson, CA), Emanuel Hospital Gift Shop
(Turlock, CA), Yesterday's Books
(Modesto, CA), and at Border's Books (Turlock, CA).
Judy is currently in the process of creating an activity board book for toddlers, a picture books for beginning readers and a nutritional guide book teens, teachers and parents. She continues to strengthen her goal of providing children with the tools to fight this battle of obesity. In return the children will become the driving force to change eating habits and implement the necessary active lifestyles.
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