Children’s Author Julianne Endres to Visit Watertown Elementary Schools, Gift Signed Books to Every First Grader
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - First graders across the Watertown School District will receive a special literacy experience next week as children’s author Julianne Endres visits all three elementary schools to read her book Little Bug Earns Her Spots. Thanks to an anonymous donor, every first grader will take home a signed copy of the book following the classroom readings.
Endres will meet with students at the following times:
· Tuesday, September 1 – 10:00 AM Mellette Elementary
· Wednesday, September 2 – 9:00 AM Jefferson Elementary
· Wednesday, September 2 – 12:45 PM Lincoln Elementary
A Story Rooted in Kindness and a Make‑A‑Wish Legacy
Little Bug Earns Her Spots has a deeply personal origin. The book was inspired by Endres’ friendship with Emily Hult, a young girl who loved ladybugs and passed away in 2002. Emily was a Make‑A‑Wish child, and in her honor, all royalties from the book in 2026 are being donated to Make‑A‑Wish South Dakota and Montana.
The book’s illustrations were created by Rebecca Hall, a digital and watercolor artist who partnered with Endres to bring Emily’s story and spirit to life.
Earlier this summer, Endres, Hall, and Redlin Art Center Director Julie Ranum joined Northeast Radio SD to share the book’s background and the kindness campaign surrounding it.
Community Celebration at the Redlin Art Center
To celebrate the book’s release and its charitable mission, the Redlin Art Center hosted a family‑friendly event on June 20. The event featured:
· A joint book reading by Endres and Hall
· Four hands‑on activity stations, including postcard coloring, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, and washable ladybug tattoos
· A free gallery bingo game encouraging children to explore Terry Redlin’s original artwork
Local retailers — DDR Books, Blessings Big and Small, and Timber Bloom — continue to carry the book, with additional copies available online through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
A Gift of Literacy for Every First Grader
School leaders say next week’s classroom visits will give students a chance to meet a real author, hear a story rooted in compassion, and take home a book that encourages imagination and kindness.
The anonymous donor’s contribution ensures that every first grader in Watertown receives a signed copy, making the event one of the district’s most wide‑reaching literacy efforts of the year.
