All About the Books with Janet Squires

Poetry Friday

2012-01-27T19:47:00.000-08:00

Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted today by Hey, Jim Hill!

My selection is "A Kick in the head: an everyday guide to poetic forms" selected by Paul B. Janeczko with illustrations by Chris Raschka.

Janeczko has created an anthology of twenty-nine different poetry forms that lead readers from a simple couplet to the complex pantoum (feel free to google this one folks). Fortunately for his readers, Janeczko does an admirable job of providing straight forward explanations with each poetic form while offering up examples from a broad range of poets. Ogden Nash couplets share space with a sonnet by Shakespeare and Gary Soto's Ode to Pablo's Tennis Shoes. The author's guide is further enriched by a thoughtful introduction paired with end notes and additional examples.

2012 Caldicott winning illustrator, Raschka, elevates the fun-quotient with lively illustrations that include a visual clue to each form -- an urn for an ode, a guitar for a ballad and so forth.

Challenge yourself , your students or your family to try one.

Nonfiction Monday

2012-01-23T10:54:00.000-08:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Shelf-employed.

My selection celebrates Chinese New Year with "Dragon New Year: a Chinese legend" written by David Bouchard with paintings by Zhong-Yang Huang.

Bouchard tells the story of a young girl who is frightened by the noisy Chinese New year celebration outside her window, but comforted by her grandmother's story of the Chinese Dragon. In the telling, the grandmother spins a tale of how Buddha frightened a fierce Sea Dragon into returning to the quiet of it's ocean home by staging the festival we recognize as Chinese New Year. Bouchard explains in a brief note that this "legend" is one he made up while taking the history of Chinese New Year into account.

Zhong-Yang Huang's brilliant illustrations capture the drama, excitement and color of this new fable and Chinese New Year.

Poetry Friday

2012-01-20T10:36:00.000-08:00

Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted today by Wild Rose Reader.

Today's selection is for all my dog loving friends: "The Hound Dog's Haiku: and other poems for dog lovers" written by Michael J. Rosen and illustrated by Mary Azarian.

Rosen includes 20 different breeds of dog from the familiar Labrador Retriever to the Bluetick Coonhound -- from the Pug to the Samoyed -- in this enjoyable collection that offers brief glimpses into dog behavior and attitudes -- Border Collie "above your fixed gaze/a Milky Way of cows move --/your constellations."

Azarian's hand-colored wood block prints provide a handsome portrait that places each dog in a context that mirrors the poetry and provides a rich sense of the breed's traits and purpose.

Rosen concludes the book with "Notes for Dog People and Haiku Lovers" that gives insights into the breeds that are portrayed and the author's thoughts on his writing.

Nonfiction Monday

2012-01-16T11:27:00.000-08:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by The Swimmer Writer.

My selection is "Freaky Big Airplanes" written by Meish Goldish.

Goldish provides readers with a basic information about nine super-sized aircraft ranging from the 840 passenger Airbus A380 to the B-52 bomber. The descriptions are designed for easy reading by young aircraft enthusiasts and the photographs provide an excellent sense of the relative size of these enormous planes.

Happy Holidays

2011-12-23T08:06:00.000-08:00

I'm taking time off to celebrate this wonderful holiday season with family and friends.

I'm wishing you the best success yet in all your reading and writing endeavors.

See you in 2012.

Poetry Friday

2011-12-16T18:57:00.000-08:00

Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted today by Book Aunt.

My selection is Winter lights : a season in poems & quilts by Anna Grossnickle Hines.

Hines gives voice and vision to the many celebrations of winter in this collection that includes Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Chinese New Year along with various winter scenes. The quilts are brilliantly colored, beautifully detailed and in many instances intricately constructed. The book concludes with notes about the construction of the quilts.

Writer's Wednesday

2011-12-14T11:33:00.000-08:00

For YA and MG writers -- Something to think about:

"Five Mistakes I Learned from Harry Potter" by Suki Wessling posted at Write4Kids.

Nonfiction Monday

2011-12-12T08:22:00.000-08:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Geo Librarian.

My selection is "Barbarians!" written by Steven Kroll and illustrated by Robert Byrd.

Kroll begins his book with a pair of questions -- "Are you rude, crude and uncivilized? Could you be -- a barbarian?" He offers both the history of the word and an up-close look at four groups commonly referred to as barbarians: the Goths, the Huns, the Vikings, and the Mongols. He acknowledges their war-like tendencies, but goes on to describe their history, culture, and beliefs. Each chapter is enriched by sidebars offering facts on various topics. Best of all, Kroll provides readers with a clear understanding of the ways in which these barbarians changed and enhanced their world through their many encounters with the civilizations of the time and left behind a legacy that has continued to the present day.

Byrd's richly colored illustrations are intricate in their detail and powerfully depict the life of these barbarian societies from the battle-field through day-to-day life. Maps, timelines and a bibliography complete the book.

Poetry Friday

2011-12-09T08:25:00.000-08:00

Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted today by Read, Write, Howl.

My selection is Mammalabilia: poems and paintings by Douglas Florian.

Florian continues his winning ways with lively fun in this collection of poems about mammals ranging from the Aardvark to Zebra. He makes playful use of both the names and appearances of his selected menagerie as in this short verse --

"Aardvarks aare odd.

Aardvars aare staark.

Aardvarks look better

By faar in the daark."

The art work, painted on brown paper bags, varies from verse to verse, but each is as inventive and clever as the words they accompany. Some animals are rendered in broad strokes as with the tennis shoe wearing rhebok on the cover. At other times, Florian uses detailed renderings to great advantage challenging readers to make an accurate count of the zebras from among their many stripes.

Writer's Wednesday

2011-12-07T17:16:00.000-08:00

Today I'm sharing.

There's a wonderful article posted at Adventures in YA and Children's Publishing by Tina Moss titled "Write Like a Reader."

Well worth your attention.

Nonfiction Monday

2011-12-05T18:31:00.000-08:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Gathering Books.

My selection is "Kubla Khan: the emperor of everything" by Kathleen Krull with illustrations by Robert Byrd.

Krull makes it clear that accurate information and primary sources are few, but despite that lack she creates an interesting look at Genghis Khan's grandson from his youth to his legendary rule as the first Emperor of China's Yuan Dynasty through his later years. Precise details and dates might make this a less than great choice for report writing. However Krull's rich portrait would certainly give older readers a clear feel for the man, his world, and the culture he influenced in countless ways.

Byrd's Chinese inspired art reflect the wealth and scope of Kubla Khan's life with glowing color and intricate detail.

Poetry Friday

2011-12-02T10:03:00.000-08:00

Poetry Friday is hosted today by Carol's Corner.

My selection is "Be Glad Your Nose Is On Your Face and Other Poems: some of the best of Jack Prelutsky, illustrated by Brandon Dorman.

Here is a collection of over one hundred poems, including fifteen new works created for this book, by the first U.S. Children's Poet Laureate. Tongue-twisters and clever word-play abound in these thoughtful and silly verses. Tigers eat spaghetti, at least that's what they say. Elephants, cows, monkeys, cats, and dogs share pages with the Clocktopus, a Sleek Bananaconda and the Detested Radishark.

Dorman's vibrant illustrations provide another layer of whimsy and charm and meld perfectly with the lively language.

The book includes fifteen activities, games, and puzzles, performances by the author and an index of first lines.

2011-11-25T18:41:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone

Nonfiction Monday

2011-11-21T14:30:00.000-08:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Books Together.

My selection is "A Wizard from the Start: the incredible boyhood & Amazing Inventions of Thomas Edison" written by Don Brown.

It may surprise readers to discover that Thomas Edison was not a good student. In fact, his mother home schooled Thomas because his teacher told her he was "addled." Edison wasn't addled -- he was a dreamer. Daydreaming got him in trouble at school, but Edison's imagination, fueled by the fact that he became a voracious reader, led him to a life of invention. When he wasn't selling newspapers to train riders to help with the family finances, young Edison was experimenting with chemicals in the family cellar. A life of hard work and curiosity eventually led to 1039 patents and the electric light bulb. "A Wizard from the Start" is written for primary students and offers a lovely introduction to the life of this extraordinary man.

Brown concludes his book with an author's note and bibliography.

Poetry Friday

2011-11-18T08:25:00.000-08:00

Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted today by Tabitha Yeatts: The Opposite of Indifference.

My selection is "Pumpkin Butterfly: poems from the other side of nature" written by Heidi Mordhorst and illustrated by Jenny Reynish.

Mordhorst has composed more than twenty poems in a variety of forms to celebrate a year of nature beginning with the Fall. Her imagery stretches reader perceptions with references to squirels as high-wire acrobats and likening the dazzling yellow of sunflowers to jazz. The child's voice moves from energetic to wistful as Mordhorst invites readers to look more carefully at the natural world with their eyes and their imaginations. Poems for active children -- shooting cherry pits, playing with autumn's leaves, and creating snow angels contrast with more sophisticated themes and language as when she references butterflies as "the ghosts of pumpkins."

Reynish's illustrations provide added visual impact, elevate the language with powerful imagery and frame verses with thoughtful detail.

Writer's Wednesday

2011-11-16T15:45:00.000-08:00

Picture Book Month -- continuing posts:

Picture Book Month

At Picture Book Month -- Why Picture Books Are Important by Denise Fleming

At School Library Journal -- November is Picture Book Month – are you in? Posted by Diane Chen on November 13th, 2011.

Nonfiction Monday

2011-11-14T21:50:00.000-08:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Playing By the Book.

My selection is "When Marian sang : the true recital of Marian Anderson the voice of a century" by Pam Munoz Ryan with illustrations by Brian Selznick.

Ryan and Selznick once again join forces. this time in the story of the extraordinary contralto, Marian Anderson. This collaboration beautifully recounts some of the most notable moments in her life and in the history of the civil rights struggle. Despite a plea from First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, Anderson was denied the opportunity to sing in Washington's Constitution Hall. She sang on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial instead to an audience of thousands. She was the first African American to sing at the Metropolitan Opera. She sang at the inaugurations of Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Selznick makes full use of the musical theme in the design and presentation as he highlights the experiences of this American legend.

An extensive section, "Encore" written in two sections -- words from the author and words from the illustrator -- elaborates on details from Anderson's life and includes personal remarks from Ryan and Selznick. A Timeline and Discography conclude the book.

For your enjoyment -- a short film about the life and music of Marian Anderson.

Poetry Friday

2011-11-11T08:58:00.000-08:00

Poetry Friday is hosted today by Teaching Authors.

The season from Thanksgiving to Christmas always inspires me with a nostalgic longing for a simpler time. So in keeping with that sentiment, my selection consists of two editions of "Over the River and Through the Wood: a Thanksgiving Poem" written by Lydia Maria Child.

One edition, published by North South books in 1998, features richly colored woodblock illustrations by Christopher Manson. This book also includes the words and music to the well-known song.

The other edition was published in 2011 by Candlewick Press and is illustrated by Matt Tavares. Tavares' watercolor paintings are full of movement and feature wonderful small details that are well worth a second and third look.

Writer's Wednesday

2011-11-09T14:27:00.000-08:00

It's Writer's Wednesday and in keeping with Picture Book Month I'd like to refer my readers to a pair of articles on the length of contemporary picture books. How has the trend in recent years to reduce the word count to 500 words or less influenced picture book popularity or the lack thereof?

Bartography Post by Chris Barton titled " A Picture Book's Worth How many Words?"

School Library Journal Post by Anita Silvey titled "Make Way for Stories: There's a good reason why people are passing up picture books.

Both articles are thought provoking and well worth your time and consideration.

Nonfiction Monday

2011-11-07T16:11:00.000-08:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Chalotte's Library.

My selection is "Do I Need It? or Do I Want It?: making budget choices" by Jennifer Larson.

Money management for the young set is the topic and Larson has provided a straight forward discussion in simple language to help children with the distinction between needing and wanting. The format is visually appealing and the content invites discussion by parents, teachers, and students as a means of developing smart money strategies early.

This book is part of a series on economics that includes What Can You Do with Money? earning, spending, saving - What is Money Anyway? why dollars and coins have value - Where Do We Keep Money?: how banks work - Who's Buying? Who's Selling?: understanding consumers and producers.

Poetry Friday

2011-11-04T07:56:00.000-07:00

Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted today by Laurasalas: Writing the World for Kids.

My selection is "Ubiquitous: Celebrating Nature's Survivors" poems by Joyce Sidman and illustrations by Beckie Prange.

Sidman and Prange, who collaborated on the Caldecott Honor Book "Song of the Waterboatman and Other Pond Poems" have produced another marvelous blending of a variety of poetic forms with science. Ubiquitous celebrates some of nature's most intriguing and frequently overlooked survivors. Bacteria, mollusks, lichen and sharks are just a few of the lifeforms celebrated for their longevity. Each poem is paired with a thoughtful scientific discussion. The subjects of Sidman's verses are arranged in the order in which they appeared in the evolutionary timeline which is an added bonus to give readers a deeper understanding and appreciation of the amazing world we share.

Prange's artwork skillfully ties verse and science together with beautiful water-colored block prints. A timeline on the endpapers provides a visual representation of geologic time and the appearance of various lifeforms. The line is 46 meters long with each centimeter equaling 1 million years.

A Glossary and Author's Note complete the book.

Writer's Wednesday

2011-11-02T14:33:00.000-07:00

What's your favorite picture book? I'll bet you can name a few.

Rarely does a week go by when I'm not reading one of my favorites to a class in library. Even my sixth grade students are delighted by a good picture book. That said, you can imagine my dismay when word began to circulate that picture books were obsolete.

That opinion received national attention one year ago when The New York Times published an article -- Picture Books No Longer A Staple for Children.

Picture Book Writers didn't agree and now they are having their say.

I refer you to two articles.

The first is the October 31st post at Write4Kids titled November Being Touted as Picture Book Month. Here you will find background and information about the a new website written by noted picture book advocates.

Then support picture books by visiting Picture Book Month which opened on November 1, 2011. You will have an opportunity to read some thought provoking and inspiring essays by some of the most recognized names in children's picture books.

Nonfiction Monday

2011-10-31T14:30:00.000-07:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Jean Little Library.

My selection is "Teammates" written by Peter Golenbock and illustrated by Paul Bacon.

Golenbock, a well-known sports writer, provides young readers with a thoughtful account of Jackie Robinson's selection as the first Negro League player to join a major league team, the Brooklyn Dodgers. He skillfully tells the story of Branch Rickey's hiring of Robinson , the challenges Robinson faced from both a hostile public and fellow players and the actions of Pee wee Reese in support of his teammate.

Robinson was a target for verbal abuse, physical attacks and death threats, but Reese refused to participate in the harassment and is remembered for the moment when he offered a supporting arm to Robinson in an action that silenced fans, players and critics and is commemorated by a statue in Brooklyn's Coney Island Keyspan Park.

Bacon's illustrations are combined with photographs to provide readers with an authentic sense of the life and times of this baseball legend.

Poetry Friday

2011-10-28T10:55:00.000-07:00

Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted today by Random Noodling.

My selection is "Holiday Stew: A Kids Portion of Holiday and Seasonal Poems" by Jenny Whitehead.

Here is light-hearted poetry to keep you going all through the year. The collection is divided into seasons, beginning with the spring and acknowledges not only the generally expected holidays, but touches on some others as well: daylight savings, grandparents' day, and teacher appreciation day to name a few. There are plenty of poems related to the seasons as well and they vary from simple two-line verses to more substantial work, but all of them share a sense of fun.

The whimsical gouache and ink drawings reflect the child-like point of view that informs the poet's voice throughout.

Nonfiction Monday

2011-10-24T11:27:00.000-07:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Apples With Many Seeds.

My selection is "All Star!: Honus Wagner and the most famous baseball card ever" written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Jim Burke.

Yolen begins her tribute to this baseball legend, who was one of the first five players inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame, by sharing the story of how his baseball card sold for nearly three million dollars. Wagner was a child from an immigrant family with a sixth-grade education. He worked in a coal mine but went on to become a hero of baseball playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Yolen skillfully intersperses anecdotes culled from Wagner's experiences with the personal values that sustained him. Wagner, a nonsmoker, had his baseball card recalled in 1909 when he learned it was being included in cigarette promotions because he didn't want to set a bad example for children. Yolen sets his story against a realistic picture America during Wagner's life (1874-1955).

Burke's illustrations are reminiscent of those early years and are filled with carefully rendered detail that makes each picture worthy of a second look.

Poetry Friday

2011-10-21T08:29:00.000-07:00

Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted today by Jama Rattigan's Alphabet Soup.

My selection is "Hallowilloween : nefarious silliness" from Calef Brown.

Brown is once again at his best with nonsense and fun as he explores the season of scary delight with Poltergeysers, Oompachupa Loompacabra and Vumpires.

In "Lone Star Witches" the witches of Texas/are practicing hexes/in comical conical ten-gallon hats...

You get the idea. If you're a Calef Brown fan then you know what to expect and won't be disappointed. If you aren't a fan yet; it's time to get acquainted.

Nonfiction Monday

2011-10-17T10:02:00.000-07:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Simply Science.

My selection is "Helen Keller: her life in pictures" written by George Sullivan.

Anyone who is familiar with Helen Keller knows she lost her hearing before she was two years old and eventually learned to communicate at the age of seven as a result of her lessons with Anne Sullivan, her teacher. It is a remarkable story that has appeared on stage and screen. But Helen Keller's life was far more than the story of how she overcame her disabilities.

Sullivan highlights Helen's accomplishments, which were extensive. Following her graduation from Radcliffe college in 1900, Helen led a public life. She wrote several books, appeared on the stage, starred in a film, lectured, and traveled extensively, visiting thirty-nine countries on six continents. She served her country as a goodwill ambassador and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award, by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964. She raised millions of dollars to aid the blind. She was an activist for a broad range of issues -- equality for the disabled, the right of workers to organize, and women's suffrage.

Sullivan's choice of photographs give the reader a powerful sense of the scope and impact of Helen's life. The book concludes with a chronology, bibliography, a list for further reading, other sources of information, and an index. The book also features a link to "Ask Keller" where readers can make inquiries about Helen Keller's life and receive a response in a monthly column by Keller Johnson Thompson, Helen's great-grandniece. The column is found at Helen Keller Kids Museum Online.

Poetry Friday

2011-10-14T06:46:00.000-07:00

Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted today by Fomagrams.

My selection is "Cobwebs, chatters, and chills : a collection of scary poems" collected by Patricia M. Stockland and illustrated by Sara Rojo Perez.

Stockland has collected a variety of poetry forms woven together by a theme ideally suited to Halloween. Her selection is an eclectic mix of writers ranging from Carl Sandburg to Ogden Nash and provides plenty of opportunities to explore a range of poetic options that children would enjoy and teachers could use to encourage students to try writing poems on their own.

Perez's illustrations are weirdly entertaining and add to the fun.

Nonfiction Monday

2011-10-10T09:09:00.000-07:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Practically Paradise.

My selection is "I Could Do That!: Esther Morris gets women the vote" written by Linda Arms White with illustrations by Nancy Carpenter.

Esther Morris' "can do" attitude shaped her life. At the age of six, she insisted she could learn to make tea like her mother -- and she did. At nineteen she established her own millinery business. And when she moved to Wyoming with her husband and sons, she saw no reason why she shouldn't vote. She was instrumental in leading her state to be the first to give women the right to vote. She went on to become the first women to hold a public office when she was sworn in as a judge to fill the vacancy created when her predecessor resigned in protest of women's suffrage.

White tells readers that there is very little documentation about the life of Esther Morris, but that only makes this story more remarkable. White has done a splendid piece of work in providing her audience with a heroine who is both admirable and believable. If the line between nonfiction and historical fiction seems to blur at times, there is no doubt about the achievements of this remarkable woman's life.

Carpenter's illustrations are colorful and energetic, much like the character she portrays.

Poetry Friday

2011-10-07T07:15:00.000-07:00

Poetry Friday Round Up is hosted today by Great Kid Books.

My selection is Tap Dancing on the Roof: sijo (poems) written by Linda Sue Park with pictures by Istvan Banyai.

Park, 2002 Newbery Medalist for her book A Single Shard, introduces readers to the Korean sijo. A sijo is similar to the more familiar haiku in that it has a well-defined structure, but this form of poetry is designed to surprise the reader with an ironic twist or joke as the last line.

If this sounds like fun, it is. Park explores a variety of subjects that are familiar and engaging for her young readers. Banyai's loosely drawn illustrations feel effortless and are a perfect, playful compliment to the text.

An Author's Note, Historical Background, Further Reading, and Tips for writing a sijo complete the book.

Writer's Wednesday

2011-10-05T08:01:00.000-07:00

I have a serious date with one of my manuscripts today. I've given myself one week to complete a first draft. You know how those deadlines go so we'll see . . .

In the meantime, I'd like to recommend a worthwhile post at Adventures in Children's Publishing -- Kiki Hamilton on Writing for the Love of the Story.

If you are new to writing you will find encouragement and seasoned writers will enjoy this reminder of why we write.

Nonfiction Monday

2011-10-03T08:23:00.000-07:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by 100 Scope Notes.

My selection is "Fearless: the story of racing legend Louise Smith" by Barb Rosenstock with illustrations by Scott Dawson.

Women's roles were clearly defined in the 1940s and 1950s and Louise Smith met traditional expectations as a wife with a nursing career, but she wanted something more. Speed! She found what she was looking for in NASCAR. She competed from 1949 - 1956, won 38 races, and became the first women elected to the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.

Rosenstock leads readers through the life of this dynamic women who began her career as a novelty to attract fans and continued into her later years as a car owner for some of Nascar's best known drivers.

Dawson's paintings capture Smith's life with the nostalgic feel of a begone era and create a sense of power and movement that clearly convey the potent attraction of racing.

Versatile Blogger

2011-09-30T08:24:00.000-07:00

I'm sending a heartfelt "Thank You" to Tammy Flanders from Apples with Many Seeds for recognizing me as a Versatile Blogger!

This recognition comes with three important responsibilities:

Thank the person who nominated you and provide a link back to their blog.
Share 7 things about you.
Give this award to up to fifteen bloggers. Contact those bloggers and let them in on the exciting news.

Here are 7 things about me as a writer.

1. I began my career writing for regional and national periodicals.

2. My work as a Library Media Specialist surrounded me with children's literature and eventually caused me to switch a portion of my writing efforts to children's books.

3. My family pioneered their way West by covered wagon to Arizona and I grew up surrounded by Western culture which is why it is often reflected in my work.

4. I feel a personal and professional responsibility to share what I know about my craft with my fellow writers. With that thought in mind, I've co-chaired Young Authors Conferences, provided in-service training/seminars for teachers, and taught writing workshops for children and adults.

5. I'm passionate about doing research. I have shelves and shelves of books on a variety of topics related to the craft of writing, history, folklore, etc. I favor primary sources for history whenever possible and some of my books are from the 1800s.

6. Mark Twain and Ernest Hemingway have influenced me through their body of work, but also through their perspectives on the craft of writing.

7. One of my favorite quotes from Mark Twain is: "To get the right word in the right place is a rare achievement. To condense the diffused light of a page of thought into the luminous flash of a single sentence, is worthy to rank as a prize composition just by itself . . . Anybody can have ideas -- the difficulty is to express them without squandering a quire of paper on an idea that ought to be reduced to one glittering paragraph. -- Letter to Emeline Beach, 10 Feb. 1868

I would like to recognize the following Versatile Bloggers -- listed below in no particular order:

Tales of the Rushmore Kid

The Miss Rumphius Effect

Teaching Authors

The Happy Accident

Adventures in Children's Publishing

School Visit Experts

The Librarian Writer

Jen Robinson's Book Page

Nonfiction Monday

2011-09-26T18:03:00.000-07:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by True Tales and A Cherry On Top.

My selection is "Yellowstone Moran: painting the American West" by Lita Judge.

Frontier painters such as Frederick Remington, George Catlin and Charles M. Russell may be more familiar names, but Thomas Moran's trek into the Yellowstone wilderness as part of Dr. Ferdinand Hayden's expedition receives well-deserved attention in this visually stunning book.

Judge does an excellent job of portraying the hardships endured and the determination with which Moran sketched and documented the amazing beauty and natural wonders of Yellowstone.

Judge's watercolors and the reproduction of Moran's painting, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, certainly explain how Moran's portrayals helped influence public opinion in favor of the creation of Yellowstone, America's first national park.

Poetry Friday

2011-09-23T14:09:00.000-07:00

Poetry Friday is hosted today by Picture Book of the Day.

My selection is "A Full Moon is Rising" by Marilyn Singer with illustrations by Julia Cairns.

Accomplished children's poetry Marilyn Singer takes readers on an around-the-world journey to explore the moon from multiple perspectives. Her travels include New York skyscapes, coral reefs at spawning time, Hong Kong, Israel, Australia, the International Space Station, and the Sahara as she explores urban and rural, man-made and natural locales in search of lunar experiences to share.

Cairn's watercolors enliven the text in each double-page spread.

Writer's Wednesday

2011-09-21T20:54:00.000-07:00

It's a potpourri sort of day -- here are some interesting notes.

Write4Kids has an interesting article posted 8/29 "Does the Ad Budget Make a Bestseller?"
Kidlit.com reminds readers that the 2012 Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market is now available.
At Teaching Authors a thoughtful post by Carmela Martino on her experience as a student in a workshop titled "The Climax or Breaking Point in Short Stories and Novels" presented by noted editor and writing teacher, Fred Shafer at Off Campus Writer's Workshop (OCWW). Carmela notes that picture books are an important resource in the class and sites a quote on the subject from a recent online interview with Fred Shafer.

Nonfiction Monday

2011-09-19T20:15:00.000-07:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Tales from the Rushmore Kid.

Thinking about curriculum with today's selection -- "If Maps Could Talk: using symbols and keys" by Erika Shores.

It isn't the maps that talk here. A bird by the name of Ace McCaw leads the readers through the text, photographs and drawings. Young readers are introduced to basic map skills and are acquainted with terms such as compass rose, scale, and map keys as McCaw narrates a look into a variety of maps. Simple examples and engaging activities round out the volume.

Poetry Friday

2011-09-16T09:12:00.000-07:00

Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted today by The Poem Farm.

My selection is "Amazing Faces" poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins with illustrations by Chris Soentpiet.

Amazing Faces is an anthology of poetry by some of our most well-known and best-loved poets: Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Nikki Grimes, Lanston Huges, Jude Mandell, Pat Mora, Janet S. Wong and Jane Yolen are among the contributors whose poems reflect the diversity of America's children. African America, Asian, Caucasian, Hispanic and Native American will all be found in the pages, but the experiences and emotions expressed are universal to children of any background and provide a unifying theme.

Soentpiet's glowing watercolors shine a light on the individual moments captured in each poem while at the same time adding another layer of expression, understanding, and continuity.

The Gingerbread Cowboy Anniversary Blog Blow Out

2011-09-12T09:31:00.000-07:00

The Gingerbread Cowboy Anniversary Blog Tour concludes today with OutWest Marketing

To celebrate The Gingerbread Cowboy's Fifth Anniversary, I have a $50 dollar gift certificate to OutWest Marketing waiting for some lucky reader so giddy-up on over, leave a comment and your email contact information.

Nonfiction Monday

2011-09-12T09:06:00.000-07:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Wrapped in Foil.

My selection is "You Are the First Kid on Mars" by Patrick O'Brien.

Written in the second person, O'Brien's book quickly immerses young readers in their personal trip to Mars. The four-month long trip covers every aspect of the voyage from leaving Earth to taking up residence in a Mars research colony. The young traveler explores the red planet's incredible landscape and observes scientists at work before it's time to board a rocket for the return trip home.

Digital photgraph-like art gives the reader a visually stunning sense of the journey and the environment. Readers will find it hard to believe that they can't make the trip just yet, but they will have no trouble imagining that such an event could easily be in their future.

The Gingerbread Cowboy Anniversary Blog Blow Out

2011-09-11T17:37:00.000-07:00

Due to technical difficulties The Gingerbread Cowboy Anniversary Blog Tour didn't post yesterday as planned, but it’s up now and will be for several days with Heidi M.Thomas.

I will select one name at random from people who comment on any blog tour post to receive a $50 dollar gift certificate to OutWest Marketing, an online store for shoppers who are wild about the west. The Gift certificate will be good for 60 days and include a 10% discount and free shipping so be sure to leave your email contact information.

So Giddy-up on over there and leave a comment.

The Gingerbread Cowboy Anniversary Blog Blow Out

2011-09-10T07:04:00.000-07:00

The Gingerbread Cowboy Anniversary Blog Tour continues today with Heidi M.Thomas.

I will select one name at random from people who comment on her blog tour post to receive a $50 dollar gift certificate to OutWest Marketing, an online store for shoppers who are wild about the west. The Gift certificate will be good for 60 days and include a 10% discount and free shipping so be sure to leave your email contact information.

So Giddy-up on over there and leave a comment.

Poetry Friday

2011-09-09T08:18:00.000-07:00

Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted today by Secrets and Sharing Soda.

My selection is "Birds on a Wire: a Renga 'round town" written by J. Patrick Lewis and Paul B. Janeczko with illustrations by Gary Lippincott.

A Renga is a Japanese form of verse for two or more poets in which each writer creates a verse inspired by and linked to the previous poem thus producing an ongoing narrative. Lewis and Janeczko demonstrate this form with skill as they move from the real to the abstract, shift viewpoints, and lead readers on a contemplative and sometimes surprising ramble through a small town to explore nature, its people and the community.

Lippincott's soft, nostalgic illustrations take their cue from the poetry. Each spread references the previous artwork and hints at what is to come, providing a visual affirmation of the text.

The Gingerbread Cowboy Anniversary Blog Blow Out

2011-09-08T08:08:00.000-07:00

The Gingerbread Cowboy Anniversary Blog Tour continues today at On Being a Writer, Velda Brotherton's blog.

So Giddy-up on over there and leave a comment.

The Gingerbread Cowboy Anniversary Blog Blow Out

2011-09-06T19:46:00.000-07:00

The Gingerbread Cowboy Anniversary Blog Blow Out begins today with The Gingerbread Cowboy Book Trailer created by the incomparable Tina Nichols Coury at Tales of the Rushmore Kid.

The tour continues on

9/8 at On Being a Writer, Velda Brotherton

9/10 with Heidi M. Thomas

9/12 courtesy of OutWest Marketing

To celebrate The Gingerbread Cowboy's Fifth Anniversary, I have something special for readers:

I will select one name at random from people who comment on this blog tour post to receive a $50 dollar gift certificate to OutWest Marketing, an online store for shoppers who are wild about the west. The Gift certificate will be good for 60 days and include a 10% discount and free shipping so be sure to leave your email contact information.

The Gingerbread Cowboy Anniversary Blog Blow Out

2011-09-05T19:40:00.000-07:00

The Gingerbread Cowboy Anniversary Blog Blow Out begins Tuesday September 6th with the debut of the new Gingerbread Cowboy Book Trailer created by the incomparable Tina Nichols Coury and debuted at Tales of the Rushmore Kid http://www.tinanicholscouryblog.com/.

To celebrate The Gingerbread Cowboy's Fifth Anniversary, I have something special for readers:

The tour will continue through September 12th so stay tuned for the next stop on the tour.

Nonfiction Monday

2011-09-05T09:09:00.000-07:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Playing By the Book.

My selection is "The 2001 World Trade Center attack" by Jacqueline Dembar Greene.

Greene combines her narrative with photographs and quotes from people directly involved to create a factual look at the events surrounding the 9/11 tragedy. Written at a third grade level with reluctant or struggling readers in mind, this book provides a straight forward approach that is accessible to young readers. Twelve chapters consisting of double page spreads of photos and text cover topics from the first news of the attack to our nation's recovery with topic headings such as Racing to the Rescue, Trapped, The South Tower Falls, City of Heroes, Hijackers and America Recovers.

The book concludes with four brief profiles of individuals from that day, glossary, bibliography, additional reading and an online resource.

Poetry Friday

2011-09-02T08:43:00.000-07:00

Poetry Friday is hosted today by The Miss Rumphius Effect.

My selection is "Animal Poems" by Valerie Worth with pictures by Steve Jenkins.

This collection of twenty-three poems about a variety of animals was published following Worth's death in 1994 and is a fitting tribute to her remarkable talent for using ordinary words to create an extraordinary experience. Worth's perceptive free verse observations invite her readers to see the familiar -- from snails to whales -- with new eyes. At first glance, the book appears to target a young audience, and many of the poems suit a youthful demographic. However, there are also works that require a more sophisticated vocabulary and world view that will appeal to teens and adults as well.

Each spread highlights an individual poem and features the inventive cut-paper artwork for which Steven Jenkins is famous. Textured, multi-dimensional collages are a visual treat in harmony with Worth's word pictures.

Writer's Wednesday

2011-08-31T22:10:00.000-07:00

On Writing Through the Fear . . .

There is a worthwhile post today on overcoming your insecuritites -- visit Teaching Authors.

"Talent is helpful in writing, but guts are absolutely essential." Jessamyn West

Nonfiction Monday

2011-08-29T11:15:00.000-07:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Capstone Connect.

My selection is "A Feast of Freedom: tasty tidbits from the City Tavern" by Walter Staib and Jennifer Fox with illustrations by Fernando Juarez.

Staib and Fox have found an interesting take on Revolutionary War Events in this chronicle of Philadelphia's City Tavern, built in 1773 as a genteel gathering place for many of that era's most recognizable gentlemen. Walter Staib, an expert in 18th century cuisine and the current chef at City Tavern, shares stories from this historic landmark covering the years from the opening through a pre-inauguration celebration for George Washington in 1789. A tricorn-wearing mouse (think Robert Lawson's Ben and Me) shares reactions and narrates City Tavern's role as a meeting place for members of the First Continental Congress, site of a private dinner between Washington and Lafayette, and the tavern's historic relationship with many of the well-known events from the day.

Juarez's illustrations add depth to the text with paintings that appear to acknowledge colonial artists such as Gilbert Stuart, familiar for his portraits of George Washington, while retaining a modern sensibility.

Hand-drawn maps, a timeline, and a recipe for City Tavern's famous corn bread complete the book.

Poetry Friday

2011-08-26T08:06:00.000-07:00

Poetry Roundup is hosted today by Live. Love. Explore! with Irene Latham.

Here we are at the beginning of the school year once again. To help students and teachers get off to a fun-filled start, my selection is "Counting our way to the 100th day!: 100 poems by Betsy Franco with 100 pictures by Steven Salerno.

Short poems and lively illustrations lead readers through the first one hundred days of school. Each verse incorporates the three digit number that has become a main stay of the beginning calendar in so many classes.Salerno's cheerful illustrations will challenge readers to find all his cleverly incorporated 100s.

Franco's poetry -- imaginative and varied in style -- touches on an assortment of topics in the school curriculum: science, history, language arts, and an amazing collection of math related topics. Many of the math-themed verses are actually problems in disguise, but who would mind when the word-play is so much fun.

Here is a poem-a-day for teachers to use and children to enjoy as they count their way to the 100th day.

Nonfiction Monday

2011-08-22T11:06:00.000-07:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Ana's Nonfiction Blog.

My selection is "The adventures of Marco Polo" by Russell Freedman with illustrations by Bagram Ibatoulline.

Did Marco Polo travel to China and beyond or were the tales he related exaggerations? Newbery Medal-winner, Russel Freedman leads readers through the life of this 13th century adventurer in search of answers. The story of Polo's life and travels is every bit as exciting as his "Description of the World" that was published at the end of the century in which he lived and was one of the most popular books in Medieval Europe. Freedman weaves an alluring narrative that incorporates Polo's descriptions in quotes without losing an historian's quest for facts.

Ibatoulline brings a rich and unique aesthetic to the illustrations which vary in style from Western to Eastern as the text requires. The book is further enhanced by the use of aged parchment style paper, calligraphy, and medieval reproductions to create a work with an historic feel. Maps, author's notes, bibliography, remarks about the illustrations, and an index complete the work.

Poetry Friday

2011-08-19T09:13:00.000-07:00

Poetry Friday is hosted today by Dori Reads.

My selection is "Birds of a Feather" poems by Jane Yolen with photographs by Jason Stemple.

Award winning Jane Yolen, author of over 300 books, has created another delight for audiences. This collection of fourteen poems about birds includes beautiful photographs by well-known wildlife photographer Jason Stemple and is rounded out with sidebars containing facts about the various species.

The poetry touches on an assortment of subjects. Haiku for a Cool Kingfisher, Oystercatchers on Parade, Eastern Kingbird: The flying Ninja, and Cedar Waxwing Unmasked are a few of the works that readers will enjoy.

Writer's Wednesday

2011-08-17T20:38:00.000-07:00

Is writing worth the rejection?

From a reader --

"I just received my second rejection letter."

What now?

With every rejection letter I follow these steps:

reread the manuscript,
revise,
rewrite,
resubmit.
Repeat as needed.

"The low grades on my college stories were echoed in the rejection slips, in the hundreds of rejection slips." -

John Steinbeck - Nobel Prize in Literature 1962.

Nonfiction Monday

2011-08-15T08:14:00.000-07:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Amy O'Quinn.

My selection is "The secret soldier : the story of Deborah Sampson" written by Ann McGovern, illustrated by Harold Goodwin with cover illustration by Katherine Thompson.

McGovern tells the remarkable story of the first woman known to have served in the army during the Revolutionary War.

Deborah was born in Plympton, Massachusetts, on December 17, 1760. Her father died at sea and her mother could not support their six children, so she sent them to neighbors and relatives. Sampson was only eight or ten years old when she became an indentured servant.

Ten years of working in the house and fields made her strong. And in the winter when there was less work to do, she went to school. When her servitude ended, she had learned enough to be hired as a teacher. Deborah wanted more from her life -- more than spinning, weaving, and baking bread -- more even than teaching.

So, on May 20, 1782, at the age of twenty-one, she disguised herself as a man and enlisted in the Fourth Massachusetts Regiment of the Continental Army as Robert Shurtleff. She was wounded twice and was honorably discharged from the army at West Point on October 25, 1783. She returned home, married, and had three children. In 1802, she traveled through New England and New York lecturing on her experiences in the military.

Poetry Friday

2011-08-12T18:03:00.000-07:00

Poetry Friday is hosted today by Karen Edmisten.

My selection is "Good sports: rhymes about running, jumping, throwing and more" by Jack Prelutsky with illustrations by Chris Raschka.

Prelutsky treats readers to poetry about team and individual sports in his well-known wacky style. From basketball to frisbee, sprinting to baseball, the poems beg to be read aloud. Raschka's watercolors are alive with movement as children run, and leap across the pages.

Writer's Wednesday

2011-08-10T20:37:00.000-07:00

Working . . .

               Working . . .

                       Working . . .

What did you write today?

                                        Working . . .

                                                                                              Working . . .

                                                                                                                                                                               Working . . .

"The only certainty about writing and trying to be a writer

is that it has to be done, not dreamed of or planned and

never written, or talked about (the ego eventually falls

apart like a soaked sponge), but simply written; it's a

dreadful, awful fact that writing is like any other work."

Janet Frame

Nonfiction Monday

2011-08-08T10:33:00.000-07:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Apples With Many Seeds.

For all the devoted baseball fans. Do you know the name of the first woman inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame? If you don't have the answer then today's selection -- "She Loved Baseball: the Effa Manely Story" written by Audrey Vernick and illustrated by Don Tate -- is a book for you.

Effa Manely was a lifelong baseball fan who founded and owned the Newark Eagles -- a Negro League team. When African American players had the opportunity to move on to integrated major league teams, she fought tirelessly to protect her players and guarantee that they had fair contracts. She later campaigned to have African Americans included in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Vernick does an admirable job of profiling a woman who changed the face of baseball in America and extended her activism to promoting equal rights outside the stadium as well. Tate's illustrations make these pivotal moments in baseball and American history come to life.

Poetry Friday

2011-08-05T08:33:00.000-07:00

Poetry Friday is hosted today by A Year of Literacy Coaching.

My selection is "If the shoe fits: voices from Cinderella" written by Laura Whipple with illustrations by Laura Beingessner.

Whipple offers up a reimagined look at a classic favorite. New voices, familiar voices, and unexpected voices tell the story in blank verse from their varied points of view. The troubled ghost of Cinderella's father, the garden cat, the rat turned coachman, and even the glass slippers speak -- longing to be reunited. Multiple perspectives enable readers to delve deeper into the story's well known characters. Why is the stepmother so cruel? How will the Queen welcome Cinderella? Who was the Fairy Godmother's accomplice? Did the magic of that night endure?" Was there really a "Happy Ever After?" Thirty-three poems weave the tale that begins and ends with Cinderella's voice.

Beingessner's artwork varies from portraits to full page spreads and beautifully succeeds in capturing the magic of this classic story.

Writer's Wednesday

2011-08-03T19:38:00.000-07:00

Are you struggling with writer's block?

You might want to take a look at On Beyond Words & Pictures

for a guest post titled:

WRESTLING WITH WRITER'S BLOCK by Peter Patrick Langella -- from the VCFA Summer Blog Initiative.

Poetry Friday

2011-07-29T11:30:00.000-07:00

Poetry Friday is hosted today by Book Aunt.

My selection is "Cats Vanish Slowly" written by Ruth Tiller and illustrated by Laura Seeley.

Tiller shares memories of cats on her grandmother's farm in this collection of twelve verses and long the way lovingly resurrects a bygone era of rocking chairs on front porches. Light-hearted, dramatic, funny or tender, the poems are as varied as the personalities of the cats are diverse. Careful attention to word choice and rhythm captures each. What cat lover hasn't known a cat like Bad Penny, the "criminal cat" who always comes home.

Seeley's art brings the grace, stealth, humor, and mystery of Tiller's felines to life.

Writer's Wednesday

2011-07-27T15:39:00.000-07:00

I don't have time to write --

Children,

Parents,

The job that pays the rent,

Household chores,

Yard work,

Volunteering,

Tweeting,

Blogging,

Checking email --

What's your excuse?

Yes. You're busy. So am I.

Maybe it's time to make the time to write.

I'm taking the day off from blogging to focus on my manuscript.

What about you?

Nonfiction Monday

2011-07-25T08:49:00.000-07:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Check It Out.

My selection is "Speaking of art: colorful quotes by famous painters" edited by Bob Raczka.

Raczka has found an interesting format for introducing young -- and not so young -- readers to eighteen famous nineteenth and twentieth century painters by pairing their work with actual quotes from the artist. Raczka provides a thoughtful range of artists across both time and artistic style from Grandma Moses to Juan Gris, Klee to Kahlo, Degas to Dali,

Each quote provides a glimpse into the thoughts and feelings of these well-known painters. Van Gogh "The only time I feel alive is when I'm painting." is paired with "The Sower." Raczka enhances the learning potential on each page by making unexpected choices rather than always selecting the artist's most recognizable work. One might have expected "Starry Night" or "Sunflowers" -- two of Van Gogh's most often discussed works, but "The Sower" is a lovely surprise. The book concludes with black and white photographs and a paragraph of interesting facts about each of the featured artists .

Poetry Friday

2011-07-22T19:27:00.000-07:00

Poetry Friday is hosted today by Tabatha Yeatts: The Opposite of Indifference.

Summer is beach time so here is "At the Sea Floor Cafe: odd ocean critter poems" written by Leslie Bulion and illustrated by Leslie Evans.

Bulion's poems celebrate some of the oceans more unusual creatures and sidebars provide scientific information about them as well. A variety of poetic forms are explored as Bulion descends through the ocean depths in search of worthy subjects for her verse.

Evans utilizes block prints to capture the beauty and diversity of sea life. A glossary and additional reading conclude the book.

Writer's Wednesday

2011-07-20T11:16:00.000-07:00

Why do you write? A simple enough question, but the answer is often more complicated than you'd first expect.

My experience as a mentor has taught me that many aspiring writers are often uncertain about their writing goals. Some writers haven't even decided if they want to write fiction or nonfiction.

People write for many different reasons.

They may write as a form of therapy.
Some write because they get a boost out of telling friends, family, etc. that they are authors.
There are writers who simply enjoy the process without any real goal of seeing their work in print.
For many, writing is about having themselves or their life experiences validated by being published.
People write in pursuit of fame and fortune -- good luck with that!
There are writers who have valuable knowledge and/or personal experience to share.
And those who are storytellers at their core and write because they must.

Everyone has a story to tell. A writer must ask the question -- For whom is the story being written?

If the story is for the writer, then perhaps journaling is the answer.
Are you writing to share memories or experiences with family or friends? Consider memoirs.
Do you want to connect with others who have had similar life experiences? Perhaps blogging is the option for you.
If financial security is your goal, then you might want to keep these words from John Steinbeck (1902-1968) in mind: “The profession of book-writing makes horse racing seem like a solid, stable business.”
Can you offer readers a fresh viewpoint on a well-known topic or a knowledgeable look at a new topic?
Do you have a gift for storytelling and are you willing to do the work required to develop that gift?

Many writers can benefit from a beginning writer's course or even a one day workshop where many of these issues can be brought into focus. While it's not possible to teach someone to be an effective writer in a day, writers can discover and clarify their motivations and develop some clearly stated goals to enable them to write more successfully.

Nonfiction Monday

2011-07-18T20:27:00.000-07:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Chapter Book of the Day.

My selection is "How Baseball Managers Use Math" written by John C. Bertoletti. Here is an answer to that perennial question in math lessons -- "Why do I have to know this?" Bertoletti sets mathematics in the context of a baseball manager's job in 13 chapters with titles such as -- The Manager and His Percentages, Intentional Walks, and Keeping a Close Eye on the Pitch Count. Utilizing graphs, statistics, and charts, Bertoletti challenges students to do the math that is essential to a baseball manager's decision making process.

Each double page spread describes a real-life scenario then looks at the data and the related math that the manager uses. In "A Night Game On The Road" Bertoletti explains how a manager studies batting averages to help him decide which team members will play. The chapter concludes with a section titled "You Do the Math" that challenges readers to answer questions by interpreting a table of batting averages.

Related photographs enhance each chapter and the book concludes with an answer key, glossary, and related reading for additional information.

Poetry Friday

2011-07-15T08:25:00.000-07:00

Poetry Friday is hosted today by A year of Reading.

My selection is "Mirror mirror : a book of reversible verse" written by Marilyn Singer and illustrated by Josee Masse.

I'm always on the lookout for another creative way for teachers and children to explore poetry and word play and Singer's invention of "reversos" (poetry which has one meaning when read in one direction and another interpretation when read in a different direction), was just the ticket. Singer's poetry provides a new look at fairy tales as she plays with plot and characters from Cinderella, Goldilocks, The Ugly Duckling and other favorites.

I could immediately see the classroom potential for discovering how reordering language changes meaning. Singer invites students to create their own poetry styled like these word puzzles by employing strategies similar to her own. Author notes are included to explain her process.

Masse employs bold color and clever visual tricks to mirror and enhance the content and structure of the text.

Writer's Wednesday

2011-07-13T08:20:00.000-07:00

I'm focusing on a couple of my own manuscripts today -- researching material for a new book and spending time on a new story that needs plotting.

Which brings me to the subject of alternative plot choices. Take a few minutes to read this insightful post at Kidlit.com by guest contributor, Ingrid Sundberg a current Vermont College of Fine Arts student. Her article is titled "Time to Punk Rock With Plot: Discover Alternative Plot Types."

Ingrid provides some good food for thought. Check it out.

Nonfiction Monday

2011-07-11T08:33:00.000-07:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Proseandkahn.

My selection is Food Creations: from hot dogs to ice cream cones written by Jacqueline A. Ball.

How well do you know your foods?

Here is an entertaining way to answer that question and learn some interesting details about some of our most popular foods. Ball poses the question of which came first for a ten pairs of foods: Peanut Butter or Jelly, Ketchup or Salsa, Popcorn or Pretzels and so on.

In answering the questions, she provides information about the history, science, and social context of the foods under discussion and adds some fun facts to entertain her readers.

Did you know that the world's largest PB & J sandwich was made November 6, 1993 in Peanut, Pennsylvania and used 150 lbs. of peanut butter and 50 lbs. of jelly?

Ball includes a scorecard to track your guesses, a list of additional facts, timeline, glossary, bibliography, together with print and online sources of information for readers.

Poetry Friday

2011-07-08T09:22:00.000-07:00

Poetry Friday is hosted today by Wild Rose Reader.

My selection is "Amber was brave, Essie was smart: the story of Amber and Essie told here in poems and pictures" by Vera B. Williams.

Amber and Essie don't have an easy life.

Daddy is in prison.

Mom works long hours and sometimes there isn't enough to eat.

Despite the hardships, these two sisters find strength in each other and joy in simple triumphs.

                    "Essie could thread a needle
                     cook toasted cheese sandwiches
                     make cocoa . . .
                     Amber was brave
                     She could get the grocery man
                     to trust them for a container of milk
                     though their mother
                     couldn't pay him till payday . . ."

Williams' free-verse poems tell a story of these two young girls that is realistic and hopeful without being sentimental. Color portraits of the girls and their family open and close the book. Simple black and white pencil sketches in the text keep the focus on Williams' inspired use of language.

Writer's Wednesday

2011-07-06T13:01:00.000-07:00

On the subject of Query Letters to Agents...

Multiple Submissions is a topic that often comes up during workshop Q and A. At first thought, multiple submissions rather than single submissions seems like a good idea.

Writers may have an anxiety-filled wait for a response from a single agent. Although with most submissions now done via email, response time is much quicker than in the days of snail mail. With single sumissions, if the agent passes on the work, then the writer needs to make the next submission, wait again and so on in the quest to find the perfect match.

It's important to keep in mind that the perfect match is the reason for submitting in the first place. So the questions is whether or not multiple submissions are the way to find that workable agent/author relationship.

Ideally, you've done your homework in preparation for seeking representation by thoroughly researching a number of agents.

You've honestly assessed your work and have a clear understanding of where your book fits in the market place.
You know what categories and genres of books the agents represent: fiction or nonfiction, picture books, beginning readers, MG, YA, adult, graphic novels, fantasy, sci-fi, romance, historical, biographies, self-help, etc.
You know what percentage of each type of book the agents have sold.
You know what is of special interest or what the agents are specifically looking for in the current market.
You've checked the agent's website to insure that all of your information and submission requirements are up to date.
You've used all that information to create a list of potential agents ranked in order of preference.

Now you are at the point of decision. Do you send your work to the first person on your list or to the first five?

Might as well send the book to the first five. After all, not everyone is going to want your book. So why not send several submissions and hope at least one gets you a request for the manuscript. You're right. You are going to be rejected, but approached with that mind set the problem is one of the glass half empty. You multiple submit with the hope that one of the five is positive. However, if you've polished your manuscript until it is brilliant as diamond, crafted a smart query letter, and really fine-tuned your list of potential agents, your odds of a positive response should be good.

What happens then if more than one agent requests your book? Most agents, even those who accept query letters in a multiple submission situation, will only accept a manuscript for their exclusive reading. This means that as soon as you decide to send your manuscript to one agent, you must immediately withdraw the work from consideration by any other agents you've queried.

And there is another what if . . . Let's say the first agent to respond positively is number five on your list. Good practice and basic courtesy says to respond to that request for your manuscript ASAP. But you're still hoping to hear from number one or number two. Now what? Do you withdraw your manuscript from their consideration or try to stall agent number five. It gets complicated very quickly, ethical dilemmas abound and ultimately you can find yourself indulging in bad business practice.

What to do? If you query one agent at a time, beginning with your first choice, you'll know you gave yourself and your manuscript the best chance. If your manuscript is requested, great! If the agent passes, at least you won't wonder if you missed a better opportunity. Yes, you'll be rejected by some. Yes, single submissions are slower. And in hindsight you may look back and decide you could have submitted to all those agents simultaneously and been able to move on. That feels like a negative approach to me. It's almost as if you're counting on being rejected and just want to get if over with quickly.

On the other hand, multiple submissions will get your query in front of more agents, more quickly. If the agents on your list are fairly equal in your estimation so that you'd be happy with any one from your list then multiple submissions may be the fastest route to an agent. Just keep in mind that when it comes time to submit your manuscript, exclusive reads will most likely be the rule.

Whatever your decision -- Best of Luck!

Nonfiction Monday

2011-07-04T12:12:00.000-07:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Bookmuse.

In honor of our American holiday, I've selected "Ballet for Martha : making Appalachian Spring" written by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan with illustration by Brian Floca.

Greenberg and Jordan relate the creation of the great American Ballet, Appalachian Spring, which is a tribute to American Frontier Life and a remarkable collaboration between Martha Graham, Aaron Copland, and Isamu Noguchi. Graham, a pioneering choreographer known for her simple yet powerful style of dance, brought her idea for a new ballet to Copland with a request that he compose the music. Copland, a child of immigrants, drew inspiration from an old Shaker hymn. The extraordinary sets for the ballet were created by Noguchi, a Japanese-American sculptor.

The collaboration between Greenberg, Jordan, and Floca have, in turn, produced a book that is equally powerful in its description of how these three talented artists combined their unique talents and perspectives to produce a quintessential American work. It wasn't always easy, and readers will note the tension that had to be worked through as these three determined artists struggled to understand and accommodate varying viewpoints. Greenberg and Jordan include source notes, bibliography, and photographs to provide added depth to their work. Floca's use of line and watercolor give readers a very real sense of movement with each page turn.

As a special treat, here is Simple Gifts from Aaron Copeland's Appalachian Spring paired with photographs by Ansel Adams via YouTube. Enjoy!

Poetry Friday

2011-07-01T14:43:00.000-07:00

Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted today by A Wrung Sponge.

Summer seems like the perfect time for a visit to Trinidad so my selection is "Earth Magic" written by Dionne Brand and illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes.

Award winning poet, Dionne Brand visits her birthplace as she provides her readers with many-faceted glimpse of island life from a young girl's point of view.

Fernandes' artwork is brilliantly alive with the vibrant colors of the tropics making this a get-away to be enjoyed by children and adults.

Writer's Wednesday

2011-06-30T22:08:00.000-07:00

Editing your Manuscript -- Part Three

Regardless of the type of writing you do, decisions regarding vocabulary and word choice are critical.

Begin by giving serious thought to vocabulary that is appropriate for your intended readers. Are you writing for children -- elementary, middle school or high school? Is your manuscript intended for the general reading public or is it meant for a professional audience?

Consider how the vocabulary is influenced by the genre and voice. If you're writing something historical, you want to avoid language that doesn't fit the chronology of your story. Writing YA? Is your language accurate for the age of your characters?

The goal of any form of writing is to be understood. There's nothing wrong with a reader needing to check a dictionary for a word or two, but deciphering a manuscript shouldn't be a chore. Do you employ jargon or technical terms to express or impress?

Choose vocabulary to communicate ideas and facts clearly rather than astound readers with your intellect.

The simplest way to insure that your readers understand you is by giving careful attention to word choice.

Be specific. Find the precise noun or verb that expresses what you intend.

Consider -- "He walked." Clear enough, but is there a more precise word?

A quick check of the thesaurus produces these possibilities: saunter, amble, march, stride, pace, hike, toddle, totter, stagger, move, and stroll. If I look closer, I discover that stroll has its own set of synonyms: amble, mosey, meander, ramble, wander, promenade. As a writer, it's my responsibility to decide if any of these options would better express what I mean when I say, "He walked."

Be accurate. Synonyms are not always interchangeable. When consulting a thesaurus remember that the synonyms, although similar, have individual meanings. If you are uncertain about differences, check the dictionary.

Here are a few examples from the Merriam Webster online dictionary:

Saunter: to walk about in an idle or leisurely manner.

March: to move in a direct purposeful manner.

Stride: to move with or as if with long steps.

Toddle: to walk with short tottering steps in the manner of a young child.

Stagger: to move on unsteadily.

Amble: to move aimlessly from place to place.

Be thrifty: Avoid multiple words when a single one will do.

I began to see. = I saw.

They came to the realization that they were lost. = They realized that they were lost. or They were lost.

Check for repetition. Many people have favorite words or phrases in their spoken language that end up on the page and are overused.

These are some words I watch for -- just, now, really, like, even, very. By the time I completed the recent revision of my novel, I had a list of over one hundred words that I had used multiple times. In most cases the words could be eliminated without changing the meaning of the sentence.

Make every word count!

I leave you with one of my favorite quotes --

"The difference between the right and the nearly right word is the same as that between lightning and the lightning bug." Mark Twain

Nonfiction Monday

2011-06-27T17:01:00.000-07:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Wendie's Wanderings.

My selection is "Mermaid Queen : the spectacular true story of Annette Kellerman, who swam her way to fame, fortune, & swimsuit history!" written/ by Shana Corey and illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham.

Summer is the perfect time for a biography of Annette Kellerman. Corey's picture book focuses on the highlights of Kellerman's life. Having taken up swimming as therapy, Kellerman developed a passion for the sport and was well-known for her athletic accomplishments which included the creation of water ballet. She encouraged women to live healthy lives by participating in vigorous sports, a notion that was new in the early 1900s. Kellerman went on to revolutionize women's swimwear by discarding the heavy swimming costumes of the era in favor of more practical attire. Her campaign got her arrested, but she won her case and changed the face of women's athletics forever.

Corey combines powerful narration with quotations to give readers a clear understanding of how this early feminist faced her challenges in a time when women were more often criticized than complimented for being innovative, determined, and self-confident. Fotheringham's illustrations, a colorful mix of swirling color and spirited images, convey a clear sense of Kellerman's passion. The book concludes with author's notes and photographs about this extraordinary woman.

Poetry Friday

2011-06-24T11:37:00.000-07:00

Poetry Friday is hosted today by Carol's Corner.

My selection is "Ellington was not a street" written by Ntozake Shange with illustrations by Kadir Nelson.

Drawing upon her 1983 poem, "Mood Indigo," Shange invites readers to share moments from her childhood when her family hosted such notables as Dizzy Gillespie, Paul Robeson, W.E.B. Dubois and of course, Duke Ellington. Shange's name is familiar from her adult works, but here she has created a picture book for older readers that provides a glimpse into the heart of the Harlem Renaissance. Most of these African American men, though well known from their contributions to the culture of the previous century, are familiar to children only as names in a book -- Shange brings them vividly to life.

Nelson reflects the little girl's point of view in paintings that radiate with an energy that is all their own. The book concludes with a group portrait of several of the men and biographical notes.

Writer's Wednesday

2011-06-22T22:06:00.000-07:00

Editing your Manuscript -- Part Two

For this discussion we will focus on writing fiction or narrative nonfiction.

Your previous edits have addressed the major points of format, plot, character, and voice.
Your manuscript is successfully formatted in the correct style.
Your plot unrolls seamlessly. Tension builds from the opening scene to the climax via plot points and complications.
Your characters are fully realized, varied and believable.
You've found the appropriate voice for your characters and/or narrator.

Now it's time to address two more aspects of your writing -- errors of fact and consistency.

Errors of fact deal with references about actual or fictional people, places or things.

As author you are utilizing a real time and place or creating a fictional world for your story. It is essential that the facts are true to that world. Real or imagined, your world must feel authentic. Geography, architecture, technology, clothing, foods, social conventions, attitudes and language are just a few of the areas that you will need to be aware of as you are editing.

Stepping outside the boundaries of your facts will jolt readers out of the story and if the occurrences are frequent they can even cause readers to question the entire work.

For example:

A reader critiquing a manuscript expressed concern about a particular horseshoe used in the story and wondered if it had been invented at the time in which the story was placed.

It would have been tempting to say the point was insignificant. After all, it was only a horseshoe, the work was fiction, and how many readers would actually know the difference. But clearly it was a matter of note for this person. Fortunately, the writer knew that the shoe had been used for some six hundred years prior to the time in which the work was set.

Not only must the facts of your story be accurate, they must also be consistent from beginning to end unless you demonstrate how, when, and why they change. Checking your manuscript for consistency means looking at attitudes, behaviors, speech patterns, and vocabulary to name a few.

Imagine a protagonist who sustained a crippling wound, but oddly enough the injury seemed to come and go at the writer's whim. When seeking sympathy for the character, the writer had the hero unable to care for himself. Moments later, when a hero was needed, the injury scarcely troubled him, only to leave him once again disabled a page later. The writer made no attempt to explain or qualify these random transformations and it made the entire story suspect.

Beginning with the first chapter, everything is based on what went before so consistency is essential.

Avoiding errors of fact and maintaining consistency can be particularly difficult if you are writing over a long period of time and/or taking frequent breaks from your work.

It can be equally difficult to identify errors. If you edit or workshop your writing a few pages at a time, it's almost impossible for you or your readers to remember all the details of your story and catch inconsistencies.

When you reach this stage of editing, it is a good idea to set aside a day, weekend, or even a week to focus on your story and read multiple chapters at a sitting.

Chances are you'll suddenly find these mistakes leaping off the page. If the needed changes are quick, easy fixes you can attend to them as you go. If the problems require some serious thought -- highlight the problems, make notes for correction later, and keep on reading until you've finished the manuscript.

Don't get in a hurry to make big changes early in the manuscript. Wait until you have a clear understanding of how those changes will affect later chapters.
Enjoy your story, the process and remember you're getting another step closer to submitting your work.

Next time --

Editing part three: Word Choice and vocabulary

Nonfiction Monday

2011-06-20T12:11:00.000-07:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Geo Librarian.

My selection is "Neo Leo" by Gene Baretta.

Addressing audiences in grades 1-3, Baretta does an admirable job of making the life and work of Leonardo da Vinci relevant to today's children by linking da Vinci's notes and sketches with modern inventions.

Most da Vinci fans may be aware of his imaginative renderings of airplanes, hang gliders and tanks, but these familiar devices are a mere taste of the man's genius. Utilizing da Vinci's many notebooks, Baretta examines a dozen or so modern counterparts such as robots, contact lenses, even movie projectors. The book artfully combines renderings that appear to be da Vinci's drawings with cartoon style portrayals of contemporary items.

Poetry Friday

2011-06-17T10:02:00.000-07:00

Poetry Friday is hosted today by Check It Out.

My selection is "Falling Down the Page" -- an anthology of list poems edited by Georgia Heard.

This is a collection of 32 works by such well known poets as Jane Yolen, Allan Wolf, Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Lee Bennett Hopkins and editor Georgia Heard. The book is formatted like a note pad, long, slim, and bound at the top which allows the poetry to be displayed vertically, and the poems do indeed "fall down the page."

The anthology is a celebration of childhood's everyday activities and the list poems are as varied as the poets: "Things to Do If You Are a Pencil" by Elaine Magliaro, "Winter's Presents" by Patricia Hubbell, "Good-Byes" by Eileen Spinelli, and "Chorus of Four Frogs" by David Harrison.

Teachers will find this collection accessible and fun for their students and a great opportunity to invite children to create their own list poems.

Writer's Wednesday

2011-06-15T07:55:00.000-07:00

I've been reading and offering suggestions for a number of writers this week. Their work varies from essays and short stories to memoirs and novels.

Regardless of their writing styles or goals they all have one problem in common: how to approach editing. Everyone expresses the same frustration with the overwhelming scope of an edit and the difficulty of knowing where to begin. I don't know why, but new writers always seem to feel they are supposed to solve all their manuscript problems in one massive rewrite.

That's just not how the process works. Editing happens in stages -- which explains why we go through so many rewrites on our way to creating a manuscript worthy of publishing.

Begin with the big items first:

Know your audience. Are you writing for a magazine or newspaper? Are you creating a book for a specific age or interest group? Every type of publishing has guidelines about format, word length, etc. Do your homework and have the criteria in mind before you begin to edit. You'll avoid wasted effort.

Structure your work appropriately whether it's nonfiction or fiction -- Is it logical? Can the reader follow your reasoning in an essay or the action of your plot without becoming confused or lost?

Are the characters distinct and multi-dimensional with clearly defined goals? Do their actions and motives arise out of who they are or are they dancing like puppets on a string at the whim of the author? Are their choices believable?

Find your voice. Identify your distinct style of expression as essayist, narrator or fictional character.

It is very likely that you will need to do a separate rewrite for each of these points to allow you to focus on each element. When you are satisfied with the results, it's time to look at some of the other essentials of good writing.

I'll explore those next time.

Meanwhile, remember that the object of critiquing your work is to create the best piece of writing possible. Your goal is to make your writing accessible to your readers.

Nonfiction Monday

2011-06-13T16:53:00.001-07:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Books Together.

My selection is "2030: a day in the life of tomorrow's kids" by Amy Zuckerman and James Daly with illustrations by John Manders.

What will the future bring for today's students? The authors speculate on a variety of futuristic possibilities: a watch that sends the wearer's temperature, blood pressure and feelings directly to the doctor, holograms in the classroom, robots, and virtual reality sports are some of the highlights, but advances in technology aren't the only topics. Social, environmental, and cultural changes are also explored and there are discussions of overpopulation, starvation and health concerns. The cartoon-style illustrations depict a world that children will identify with as they follow one boy's activities through the day.

Poetry Friday

2011-06-10T13:44:00.000-07:00

Poetry Friday is hosted today by Picture Book of the Day.

My selection is "An Egret's Day" written by Jane Yolen with photographs by Jason Stemple.

Yolen has created a "day in the life" that combines her poetry with clearly organized information and beautifully conceived photographs. Yolen makes use of a variety of poetic forms and a paragraph of scientific discussion to explore egret behavior, biology and habitat.

Nonfiction Monday

2011-06-06T09:03:00.000-07:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Chapter Book of the Day.

My selection is "Claude Monet: the painter who stopped trains" written by P.I. Maltbie with illustrations by Joseph A. Smith.

The name Monet may forever be linked with water-lilies, but Maltbie has found an entirely new aspect of the renowned artist's work to celebrate in this narrative non-fiction book. Inspired by his son's love of trains and the need to silence his critics, Monet created a series of paintings of steam engines set in the first Paris train station, the Gare Saint-Lazare. His work brought him success with both the critics and popular audiences and encouraged other impressionist artists of the time. Information about Monet and the Impressionist movement is readily accessible to readers and the book provides another viewpoint of the man and the community of artists in his time. Smith's illustrations combine the techniques associated with Impressionism and his own sensibilities as an artist to create a visually satisfying complement to the text.

Artist and illustrator notes, a glossary, index to Monet's work and a list of museums and collections that house Monet's artwork is included.

Poetry Friday

2011-06-03T06:52:00.000-07:00

Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted today by The Writer's Armchair with Toby Speed.

My selection is "City kids: street & skyscraper rhymes" by X.J. Kennedy with illustrations by Philippe Beha.

Award-winning poet X.J. Kennedy examines urban life in this mostly exuberant collection of child-friendly verses. His poetry is short and engaging and explores city life through places, experiences and characters. Subways, laundromats, museums, zoos, pollution, crime, street performers, a firefighter lost on 9/11, and the Leaflet Man all receive attention. Beha's colorful cubist style artwork complements the text's alternating intensity and light-heartedness.

Writer's Wednesday

2011-06-01T19:33:00.000-07:00

It's a working writer's day for me.

However, let me recommend this terrific post from Author/Agent Mandy Hubbard titled: The Epic Post on Trends (YA & MG). This post has created a lot of buzz on the SCBWI list serve and is worth a read.

Nonfiction Monday

2011-05-30T15:15:00.000-07:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by History with a Twist.

My selection is "Through Georgia's Eyes" by Rachel Rodriguez with illustrations by Julie Paschkis.

Rodriguez traces the influences and development of Georgia O'Keeffe's art from her childhood in Wisconsin to her early exhibitions in New York to New Mexico where she found much of her inspiration. Rather than trying to create an exhaustive study, Rodriguez shares the details she found most expressive of O'Keeffe's life, her work and her influence as an artist.

Paschkis beautifully translates O'Keeffe's artwork through the use of cut-paper collage illustration.

Poetry Friday

2011-05-27T07:25:00.001-07:00

Poetry Friday is hosted today by My Juicy Little Universe.

My selection is "A Child's Introduction to Poetry" written by Michael Driscoll and illustrated by Meredith Hamilton.

Driscoll's anthology is a two-part collection. Part one, The Rhymes and Their Reasons, provides examples of twelve poetic forms -- nonsense verse, limerick, ballad, haiku, and free verse to name a few. Part two, Rulers of Rhyme, Legends of the Lyric and Superstars of the Spoken Word, introduces twenty one poets from Homer, William Wordsworth, Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost to Carl Sandburg, Lanston Hughes, Octavio Paz and Maya Angelou.

The tone is lively and humorous and it is clear that Driscoll is eager to share his joy in word-play with his readers. The writing is clear and the information is educational without losing a sense of fun. An accompanying CD provides readers with an opportunity to enjoy the music of the spoken word by following the cues to the sixty-four tracks containing the verses that are read aloud.

Hamilton's light-hearted watercolors bring a quirky sense of fun and whimsy to each page turn.

Nonfiction Monday

2011-05-23T07:27:00.001-07:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Great Kid Books.

I've selected "Hot Diggity Dog: the History of the Hot Dog" written by Adrienne Sylver and illustrated by Elwood H. Smith.

Frank, wiener, sausage or hot dog -- Sylver takes a light-hearted look at how this popular favorite has been known by many names and appreciated in all its forms. She traces the history from Homer's Odyssey to the twenty-first century with an emphases on how the hot dog became an American staple of sports events and cookouts. Sylver flavors her writing with quotes, recipes, and information about regional differences in hot-dog preparation and consumption. The book is stuffed with fun facts and plump with humor. Smith's retro cartoon-style illustrations add just the right zest for this tasty tome. A bibliography, websites and further resources are included.

Poetry Friday

2011-05-20T07:54:00.000-07:00

Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted today by The Drift Record/Julie Larios.

My selection is "The Fastest Game on Two Feet: and other poems about how sports began" written by Alice Low with illustrations by John O'Brien.

Here is a collection of poems on topics as varied as bowling, gymnastics, soccer, surfing, badminton and Frisbees. Low digs into the history of athletic endeavor and the origins of specific sports in a fun-filled style that is both entertaining and educational. Factual notes, interesting trivia and a timeline round out the book. The humorous tone is echoed by O'Brien's larger-than-life ink and watercolor artwork.

Writer's Wednesday

2011-05-18T15:29:00.001-07:00

The focus for today is writing for the Middle Grade and Young Adult audience.

I'm taking the day to work on plotting a new manuscript, but here are some posts that are well worth your time --

Sherrie Peterson, writer of MG books discusses The Magic Rejection Number at Adventures in Children's Publishing.

You'll find 5 Rules for writing YA posted by Chuck Sambuchino at Guide to Literary Agents Editor's Blog.

Salt Water Taffy has a post entitled: Middle Grade Reading: the secret to Writing MG Fiction by Eric Delabarre.

Nonfiction Monday

2011-05-16T08:37:00.000-07:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Simply Science.

My selection is "Soar, Elinor!" by Tami Lewis Brown with pictures by Francois Roca.

Brown tells the story of a remarkable aviatrix whose life spanned the golden age of flight. Brown's narrative focuses on Elinor Smith's stunt flying -- On a dare, nineteen-year-0ld Elinor flew her Waco 10 under all four of New York City's East River Bridges.

Brown, who interviewed Smith, provides additional biographical notes about this remarkable woman who took her first flight in 1917 when she was six and earned her pilot's licence at 16 becoming the youngest licensed pilot in the world. She went on to become a test pilot and eventually "flew" NASA'S space shuttle simulator at the age of 88. During her lifetime, she set records for altitude, endurance, and speed and was named the "Best Woman Pilot in America" shortly after her twentieth birthday.

Brown captures Elinor Smith's passion and determination in this beautifully illustrated book.

Poetry Friday

2011-05-13T11:41:00.000-07:00

Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted today by Jama Rattigan's Alphabet Soup.

For all your Calef Brown fans, I've selected "Dutch Sneakers and Flea-keepers: 14 more stories" by Calef Brown.

Here is a follow up to Brown's 1998 "Polkabats and Octopus Slacks: 14 stories." Once again, Brown has collected a fun and clearly bizarre cast of characters to inhabit his verses and artwork. Sir Dance-a-lot, a knight, gives up dragon slaying for ebullient terpsichorean delights. There's a pirate with a rabbit instead of parrot who relies on a carrot rather than a sword and Grandma who sports a magical electric guitar. If you're in the mood for wacky fun then dive right in.

Nonfiction Monday

2011-05-09T07:16:00.000-07:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Shelf-employed.

My selection is "Before They Were Famous: how seven artists got their start" by Bob Raczka.

This 2011 offering compares and contrasts the youthful artistic attempts by artists from Michelangelo to Picasso with one of their most recognized adult works. Short biographies are readily accessible and include photos or self-portraits of the artists. The discussions of their work are accompanied by full-page reproductions that invite the eye and provide opportunities for study.

Today's aspiring young artists will enjoy the opportunity to view early works such as Klee's pen and ink drawing of his bedroom and perhaps find inspiration and encouragement from the childhood examples by some of the great masters of art.

Poetry Friday

2011-05-06T08:40:00.000-07:00

Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted today by Scrub-a-Dub-Tub.

My selection is "The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast" illustrated by Alan Aldridge with verses by William Plomer and notes by Richard Fitter.

The fact that the illustrator, Alan Aldridge, is credited first will give the reader a sense of the visual impact of this book which is oftened described as "magical." The multitude of woodland creatures in attendance are beautifully rendered and their whimsical costumes are worked in exquisite detail to match the sumptuous setting.

Plomer's verses are equally rich and imaginative. British novelist and poet William Plomer is the recipient of numerous awards including the Queens Gold Medal for Poetry and (with Aldridge) the Whitbread Award in Children's Literature for "The Butterfly Ball and Grasshopper's Feast." Richard Fitter, a well-known British naturalist provides factual notes about the creatures found within the scenes. The book concludes with remarks about Aldridge's career.

Writer's Wednesday

2011-05-04T06:38:00.000-07:00

Writing for Beginners...

"I've always dreamed of being a writer."

"I've got this idea for a book."

"My friends/family keep telling me I should write down some of the great stories I tell."

Sound familiar?

If that's you then it's time to stop procrastinating and get to work. It's the only way you will ever know if the life of a writer is what you really want. I don't know if you'll succeed, but you'll never find out until you make the attempt.

"You will have to write and put away or burn a lot of material before you are comfortable in this medium. You might as well start now and get the work done for I believe that eventually quantity will make for quality." Ray Bradbury.

Be prepared to invest your time and energy as you learn your craft.

"As a younger man I wrote for eight years without ever earning a nickel which is a long apprenticeship, but in that time I learned a lot about my trade." -- James Michener

It won't be easy. Take a class. Find a mentor. Join a workshop. And don't give up.

"Successful writers are not the ones who write the best sentences. They are the ones who keep writing. They are the ones who discover what is most important and strangest and most pleasurable in themselves, and keep believing in the value of their work, despite the difficulties." Bonnie Friedman.

Nonfiction Monday

2011-05-02T07:43:00.000-07:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Jean Little Library.

Just for the fun of it...my selection is "Chocolate: a sweet history" written by Sandra Markle and illustrated by Charise Harper.

Markle collects a wealth of detail about chocolate -- from its history among the Aztecs to its economic importance as a modern African export -- nutrition facts -- even a tasty recipe and organizes it all in an easy-to-read style fashioned like a student's school report. Colorful illustrations add to the light-hearted feel of this informative book.

Poetry Friday

2011-04-29T11:30:00.000-07:00

Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted today by Tabatha Yeatts: The Opposite of Indifference.

My selection is "A Crossing of Zebras: animal packs in poetry" written by Marjorie Maddox and illustrated by Philip Huber.

This is a book for readers who delight in the music and motion of words. Maddox offers both fanciful and realistic verses based on collective nouns for animal groups ranging from a "crash of rhinos" to a "charm of butterflies."

Writer's Wednesday

2011-04-27T20:55:00.000-07:00

On the dreaded Writer's block --

We all face that problem from time to time. What to write? How to get that half-formed idea onto the page is a struggle that every writer must confront. Don't worry. You're in good company...

Here are some well-known quotes on the subject from writers past and present.

"The hard part is getting to the top of page 1." -- Tom Stoppard

Too true, but having succeeded in putting those first words on the page the next challenge arrives.

"I always do the first line well, but I have trouble doing the others." -- Moliere

Exactly. What is it that makes this writing thing so difficult?

"I think writer's block is simply the dread that you are going to write something horrible. But as a writer, I believe that if you sit down at the keys long enough, sooner or later something will come out." -- Ray Blount, Jr.

So you're saying that perseverance is key. That makes sense, but sometimes I get stuck halfway through the story. Any suggestions to help me out then?

"I always stopped when I knew what was going to happen next. That way I could be sure of going on the next day." Ernest Hemingway

That's a great suggestion. I'll have to try it. Any final thoughts?

"The mere habit of writing, of constantly keeping at it, of never giving up, ultimately teaches you how to write." -- Gabriel Fielding

For more on this topic check out the post on Writer's Block at The Librarian Writer.

Nonfiction Monday

2011-04-25T08:07:00.000-07:00

Nonfiction Monday is hosted today by Telling the Truth: Writing Nonfiction for Children.

My selection is "The Day-glo Brothers: the true story of Bob and Joe Switzer's bright ideas and brand-new colors" written by Chris Barton and illustrated by Tony Persiani.

Barton explores the creation and use of fluorescent colors -- a topic that is so common place, so taken for granted and so remarkable that it deserves this closer look. In 42 pages, Barton shines a light on the two Switzer's lives and work. Joe died in 1973 and it was Bob's obituary in 1997 that sparked Barton's curiosity. Barton found his answers by turning to Bob's seventy-five page hand-written history, conversations with Switzer family and colleagues, a self-published book by a family friend, US Army records, and even the Popular Science article that sparked Joe's first interest in fluorescence. Persiani was equally inspired -- beginning the book in gray-scale that gradually transforms with color until the final pages shine with day-glo brilliance.

To learn more about fluorescent colors and how fluorescence works click HERE.

Poetry Friday

2011-04-22T08:21:00.000-07:00

Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted today by Book Aunt.

My selection is "Canyon" written by Eileen Cameron with photographs by Michael Collier.

This book is built on a basic premise: describe how water creates a canyon. That premise evolves into a stunningly crafted combination of free verse and photographs as the author and illustrator follow a simple rivulet to its ultimate destination in the mighty Colorado River.

The powerful forces of water and erosion are mirrored in the language and illuminated in photos that provide intimate closeups and breathtaking aerial shots. The book concludes with a picture index and a map of the region of the Colorado River to identify the photographer's various locations.