(upbeat electric music) - Hello.

My name is Maria Hoskins and I am the author of Down Home in Arkansas, A Family Reunion Story.

The illustrator of this book is Wade Hampton.

We are on our way to the old home place.

Folks are gathering from near and far, it is time for our family reunion down home in Arkansas.

My family travels from across the USA.

Some come in cars or vans, some travel in planes.

Our cousins come all the way from Oregon on a train.

This year my mother, Papa, brother and me, planned three days of family reunion activities.

Our family reunion is so much fun.

It doesn't matter what the weather.

Cool or cloudy, or a hot days in the sun.

We just love being together.

We have a big family, colorful like a rainbow you see.

In each generation you'll find many shapes, sizes, colors.

Lots of diversity.

On the first night of our family reunion we have a meet-and-greet.

We get together for welcomes, introductions, for family history, entertainment, and of course, lots to eat.

My brother loves to sing.

He can sing, sway, and shout.

So much talent in our family.

Singers, dancers, musicians, authors.

Amazing people to learn about.

On the second day, we have a sightseeing tour with something for everyone to learn and see.

We all board the touring bus and off we go.

There's so many places to be.

Stop one: The Discovery Museum.

All kids at heart, get out to play.

Here, learning is so much fun.

It's a perfect way to start the day.

Stop two: it's Pinnacle Mountain State Park.

From the overlook, we can see fields of tall corn stalks.

We learn about animals native to Arkansas.

We enjoy the Riverview, and just before lunch, we go on a nature trail walk.

We drive by the Governor's Mansion and the Arkansas State Capitol, because there is the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center.

For a little Arkansas education, we tour the Central High School Historic Site and museum where we learn about the Little Rock Nine, and history of 1957 desegregation.

One final stop on the tour and the highlight our family will see, is the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum in honor of Arkansas's first presidential family.

It's Sunday morning, and our time is winding down.

We attend church together when our family comes to town.

Afterwards, mother shares memories and pictures of grandmother's farm.

Aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers, cousins, the entire family gathers all around.

Now it's time for farewells and goodbyes.

We hug, kiss, laugh, and cry.

Oh, what a great time we've had.

There is no reason to be sad.

We had fun listening, learning, sharing, caring and just hanging out with family down home in Arkansas.

It's a great place to be.

(upbeat electric music)