As part of our efforts to include local, Houstonian authors in our reading curriculum, we’re proud to feature Dianna Hutts Aston and her book, An Orange in January! Henderson wrote her illustrated children’s book for ages 4-8. We’re honored that she took some time to tell us about herself, her writing process, and her thoughts about the importance of childhood reading.
General Academic already publishes a comprehensive curriculum for English Language Arts (ELA) grades 5-11. We are now in the process of expanding that curriculum down to grades 1-4 particularly for use with our Elementary Learning Program. As such, we’re researching children’s books and are particularly interested in including local Houstonians in our curriculum.
We’ve adapted An Orange in January for a brief activity and included reading comprehension questions below.
About An Orange in January
An Orange in January takes the reader through the journey of an orange from start to finish, including the plant cycle and the produce industry. We follow the orange through every stage of life and every mode of transport until it ends up in the hands of a boy– a boy who is able to enjoy that orange in the middle of winter.
The book is primarily targeted to kindergarteners, preferably with an adult present depending on their reading level. Ultimately, though, Aston believes that readers of any age would be able to take something from this book. Teachers around the country have been using An Orange in January in textbooks and social studies curriculums, and it’s been in print for almost twenty years!
Aston hopes that An Orange in January encourages readers to live their lives with a natural curiosity: “I hope they pay a little more attention to the real world, recognize small moments that lead to good stories, and begin to wonder. And then with that curiosity, find out and write it!”
Aston’s Advice on Fostering a Love of Reading
Aston emphasizes the importance of introducing audiobooks as well as physical ones: “Read with your ears as well as your eyes. Not all children read on a schedule.” She saw the effects of audiobooks on her own son, as he regularly listened to classic novels, often in traffic. By the time he was in 7th grade, “his auditory vocabulary was on an 11th grade level… Reading in the traditional way was leading him away from a love of literature.” Aston’s wish is that audio reading will be incorporated more frequently in the school system.
Aston’s Advice to Aspiring Authors
Perseverance is key, according to Aston: “If you want to become a published writer, and if reading and writing bring you joy, persevere. You might not have instant gratification, but keep going, you’ll get there! And read, read, read. When I was studying the craft of writing children’s books, I got two library cards and checked out upwards of forty picture books every few weeks. Although I was a writer before taking up this craft, it took 4 years until I sold my first manuscript. But it’s what brought me joy and knowledge, so I kept going. Persevere. And never let anyone discourage you!”
Aston’s Other Works
Aston’s most recent book, Mermaid’s Song to the Sea, was published in August 2024. This particular story revolves around “three mermaids who swim in coral reefs with the animals and bless them with prayers. It’s a perfect nighttime lullaby book.” It’s a two-minute read, which makes it the perfect choice for multiple readings for evening family time! Aston was inspired from her time living in Corpus Christi Bay, where it’s said there are frequent mermaid sightings.
Ultimately, Aston is motivated to write by her concern for the health of the planet: “My hope is that children will take away a new respect for our home and become stewards of the earth.”
How Aston Found Writing
Aston’s story begins in Sharptown, where she attended Pat Neff Elementary. From as far back as she could remember, Aston was an avid writer, sending 30 years of letters to her grandmother about any and all events in her life.
Aston’s love of writing eventually led her to pursue a career in journalism, and she graduated from UH in 1986 with a degree in Journalism and Political Science. Post graduation, Aston became a managing editor, but she continued to harbor a passion for writing and literature. Ten years later, and as a mother of young children, Aston realized that her true calling was in children’s books, and in non-fiction storytelling in particular. Aston reflects that “writing a non-fiction manuscript is so much like journalism. You gather facts via interviews and online research, [and you] make that first sentence so intriguing that a reader wants to turn the page and find out more.” Soon after, Aston wrote and published An Egg is Quiet, a charming and informative book about the world of eggs.
Elementary Learning with General Academic
General Academic’s Elementary Learning Program (ELP) provides the structured support your grade 1-5 child needs to advance their core skills in reading, writing, and math, and our reading curriculum highlights plenty of great books like An Orange in January!
ELP students typically meet for an hour each time, with 30 minutes dedicated to reading and writing. Our tutors are trained to get to know their students and help them choose books that are a good fit for them in terms of both interest and difficulty level. During each session, our tutors help students read passages in a way that is intentional and methodical, using skills that are critical for students to excel on the ISEE, the SAT, and other standardized tests of reading comprehension. We also assign reading materials for homework, ensuring that your student gets acclimated to reading independently.
For older students in grades 5-12, or for elementary students who need a challenge, we also house full ELA and Math curricula for grades 5-12 on Piqosity.com, our e-learning platform. Across all of our ELA courses, we have over 1,000 passages designed to engage and challenge your student across multiple genres.
- Register for our Elementary Learning Program
- Sign up for a phone consultation
- Sign up for a mock test
Are you a children’s book author based in Houston? We’d like to hear from you!
Reading Comprehension Activity Featuring An Orange in January
We have adapted An Orange in January into a short reading comprehension passage with a set of 5 practice questions. Your child can read the passage and answer the practice questions below, or you can download the activity as a PDF.
