Poetry Friday is hosted today by Buffy's Blog.

For Poetry Friday -- "Bees, snails, & peacock tail: patterns & shapes--naturally" written by Betsy Franco and illustrated by Steve Jenkins.

Franco introduces her young readers to the natural world through poems that celebrate nature's geometry -- from the delicate artistry of a spider's web to the brilliant design of a male peacock's tail. Her poetry often mimics the shapes as when the verse spirals like the snail shell she's describing.

Jenkins clever paper collages are perfect counterpoints to the text and beautifully rendered.

Additional scientific information on the various subjects of the poems is provided in an appendix.

Nonfiction Monday

For other Nonfiction Monday posts click HERE. 

For Nonfiction Monday - - "The kids' guide to paper airplanes " by Christopher L. Harbo.

The holiday season is filled with advertising for digital and electronic games and toys, but sometimes fun can be found in the simplest of items -- paper!

Harbo provides easy-to-follow fold-by-fold directions and clear illustrations for the creation of a variety of craft from the simple to the complex. He also provides tips on how to achieve maximum air time. Budding aeronautical engineers will find plenty to keep their hands busy and their minds engaged.

Poetry Friday

Poetry Friday is hosted today by Booktalking #kidlit: Anastasia Suen's Blog

My selection is "Wonderful words: poems about reading, writing, speaking, and listening" selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by Karen Barbour.

I couldn't resist sharing this fun collection of poems that encourage creativity and invite readers to discover the power and fun of words. Hopkins' selected verses are by some of our best known poets and touch on a variety of topics both broad and specific: from finding your own creativity and embracing the joy of reading to works entitled "Metaphor" and "The Period."

Barbour's boldly colored illustrations are a delight to the eye.

Teachers will find multiple uses for this book as both an introduction to and inspiration for writing.

Nonfiction Monday

Today I'm offering some fun with Math Appeal: mind-stretching math riddles written by Greg Tang, illustrated by Harry Briggs.

Playful puns and brilliantly colored double page spreads offer readers the challenge of finding strategies such as identifying the pattern in a group of objects in order to count them. Here is an engaging lesson in problem solving that could be used individually or in a classroom. Teacher notes are included at the end of the book.

Nonfiction Monday

For other Nonfiction Monday posts click HERE. 

My selection is "When I Grow Up: a young person's guide to interesting and unusual occupations" by Jessica Loy.

Fourteen careers ranging from Alpaca farmer to robotics engineer, set designer to pet photographer are given individual double page spreads as they are highlighted for the reader with colorful photo-essays. Each occupation includes basic information about the job, education and/or skills required to be successful.

Loy's book would be a fun introduction to a discussion of future careers and a great way for readers to imagine themselves in various settings.

Nonfiction Monday

For other Nonfiction Monday posts click HERE. 

For Nonfiction Monday  --  "I'm all thumbs! (and other odd things we say)" written by Cynthia Amoroso with illustrations by Mernie Gallagher-Cole.

 

Amoroso leads the reader through about thirty of the common idioms and figures of speech commonly in use: I'm all thumbs, the big cheese, at the drop of a hat, no sweat, and off the wall to name a few. She provides an example of how the idiom is used and explains the meaning while Gallagher-Cole ups the entertainment factor with literal illustrations of the phrases.

This would be a handy reference for English language learners -- both children and adults.

Poetry Friday

Poetry Friday is hosted today by Teacher Dance.

For Poetry Friday -- "Your Skeleton Is Showing: rhymes of blunder from six feet under" written by Kurt Cyrus with illustrations by Crab Scrambly.

 

A search through a cemetery for a ghost-dog's owner leads a boy on an adventure of discovery as each passing headstone reveals a cautionary tale or a history of the deceased. Who knew nose-picking could be fatal?

The verses vary from silly to grim providing just enough of the "ick" factor to make them appealing for readers delighted by the morbid and ridiculous.  There's even a touch of mystery as the reader is challenged by a verse to answer the question "Who is laid below? / Mysterious letters mark the stone: / EIEIO."

Scrambly's art puts me in mind of Tim Burton, but with a softer and more humorous sensibility. Other reviewers have likened Scrambly's art to the work of Edward Gorey.

Writers Wednesday

If you've ever considered submitting to a literary magazine, but weren't sure how to start, this was written for you.

Check out this post: Three Tips for Submitting Your Work, Written by Emily Harstone At Autors Publish.

Nonfiction Monday

For other Nonfiction Monday posts click HERE. 

 

For Nonfiction Monday  --  "Katherine Stinson Otero: high flyer" by Neila Skinner Petrick; illustrated by Daggi Wallace.

 

 

 

From the publisher: Katherine wants to fly, but all the instructors say that she is too young and too small. When finally given a chance, she excels as a solo flyer and becomes the fourth American woman licensed to fly.

Petrick's book focuses on Otero's early years: her life as a stunt pilot  flying exhibitions across the United States, in Japan and China and teaching at the flying school that was opened by her mother. Katherine was denied the opportunity to fly in World War 1 so she drove an ambulance and flew exhibitions to raise money for the war effort. A brief summary of her later years mentions her battle with tuberculosis, her marriage and her career as an architect.

 

 

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

For Poetry Friday -- "Poetrees" by Douglas Florian

 

 

 

Florian's book was the perfect choice for this time of year with Autumn colors blazing and leaves falling. Clever wordplay celebrates trees from the oldest (the Bristlecone Pine) to the tallest (the giant Sequoia), from the familiar Oak to the exotic Dragon Tree.

 

Florian neatly weaves a snippet of information about each type of tree along with their parts -- roots, bark, leaves, etc. into the verses. A Glossatree at the end provides additional details on the subjects of his poems.  

 

The imaginative artwork is playfully rendered in various media on brown paper bags which gives the pages an organic feel that suits the subject. Both the poems and artwork could serve as inspiration for student projects.

 

Nonfiction Monday

For other Nonfiction Monday posts click HERE. 

For Nonfiction Monday  --  "MONTY The Courageous Survival of a Rescue Dog" by Janet Squires.

Abused, shot, and left for dead in the desert, Monty is taken in by dedicated animal rescuers who launch an eighteen month long campaign via social networking that saves his life and makes him a world-wide celebrity with thousands of fans.

 

A year and a half later -- after losing a leg, Monty, now healthy and happy, finds a loving forever home, becomes an ambassador for other abused and abandoned dogs, and inspires everyone who hears his story about second chances and never giving up.

 

Award winning author Janet Squires champions Animal Welfare by donating proceeds from the sale of her newly released book about Monty, a remarkable rescue dog with an international following, to Animal Rescue organizations.

Poetry Friday

Poetry Friday is hosted today by No Water River.

For Poetry Friday -- "My America: a Poetry Atlas of the United States" selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by Stephen Alcorn.

 

Hopkins has selected poems that celebrate the unique diversity of America that can be found in its regional geography, landmarks, cultures, and people. Poets Carl Sandburg, Langston Hughes, Myra Cohn Livingston, Nikki Giovanni, and Shonto Begay are only a few of the many talents to be found here.  Familiar works share pages with verses commissioned specifically for this collection. The poems are organized geographically and each section includes a map and facts about that region.

 

Alcorn's bold colors mirror the richness of the verses and the America they honor.

 

This is a great introduction for a study of American geography.

Writers Wednesday

I'm pleased to announce the release of my newest book -

MONTY The Courageous Survival of a Rescue Dog.

 

Meet Monty -- A remarkable rescue dog with an international following. From his guardians to his doctors, Monty's loving spirit captures hearts with an I-can-do-it grin and a wagging tail.

Abused, shot and left for dead in the desert, Monty is taken in by dedicated animal rescuers who launch an eighteen month long campaign via social networking that saves his life and makes him a world-wide celebrity with thousands of fans.

A year and a half later -- after losing a leg, Monty, now healthy and happy, finds a loving forever home, becomes an ambassador for other abused and abandoned dogs, and inspires everyone who hears his story of second chances and never giving up.

Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and local retailers in print and Ebook.

For more information please visit my website - Janet Squires Books: http://www.janetsquiresbooks.com/home.html

Nonfiction Monday

For other Nonfiction Monday posts click HERE. 

For Nonfiction Monday  --  "A Project Guide To Rocks And Minerals" by Claire O'Neal  

 

O'Neal's book, from the Earth Science Projects for Kids series, acquaints readers with the basics of geology through the use of hands-on activities.  A Story Told in Sedimentary Rock uses multiple colors of layered gelatin and particles of marshmallows, bananas, graham crackers and other additives to simulate the deposition of limestone on the ocean floor. Recreating the Rock Cycle utilizes bits of crayon to mimic the results of heat and pressure in the formation of metamorphic and igneous rocks.

 

Other entries include: Make Your Own Geode. Deposition Message in a bottle, and Instant Weathering.  A section titled Further Reading: provides additional resources subdivided into Books, Works Consulted, and On The Internet. Information about Science Supply Companies is provided as is a Glossary and Index. Many of the activities require adult supervision and help as they require the use of a heat (oven, boiling water, etc.)

 

Poetry Friday

Poetry Friday is hosted today by Author Amok.

For Poetry Friday -- "In The Wild" by David Elliott with illustrations by Holly Meade.

 

Elliott's verses capture the essence of animals from Arctic to African savannah in this collection. Each poem is short with an engaging rhyme and rhythm and will appeal to readers who are new to poetry.

 

The Giraffe

Stilt-walker!

Tree-topper!

Long-necked

Show-stopper!

 

And at the same time, there is a subtle sophistication in the precise language, imaginative imagery, and underlying thoughtfulness that is very attractive and worthy of examination and discussion.

 

As to color, plain--

an ordinary gray.

But once we start to look,

we cannot look away.

 

When peaceful, silent;

when angry, loud.

 

Who would have guessed

the Elephant

is so much like a cloud?

 

Meade's woodcut plus watercolor double-page spreads capture her subjects in motion and draw the viewer into a closer examination of each creature.

Writers Wednesday

Here's an interesting article -- "The Impact Character: Why Every Character Arc Needs One" posted by K.M. Weiland.

Worth a read.

Poetry Friday

Poetry Friday is hosted today by Check It Out.

For Poetry Friday -- "Monumental Verses" by J. Patrick Lewis"

 

Verses from the esteemed J. Patrick Lewis -- need I say more?

 

This is a wonderful collection that pays homage to some of man's most amazing monuments. Lewis takes readers around the world -- from ancient Stonehenge and the colossal Great Wall of China to the engineering marvel of the Golden Gate Bridge and the inspiring Statue of Liberty.  The beauty of the Taj Mahal, the mysteries of Easter Island, and the grandeur of Machu Picchu are all celebrated within the pages along with others.

 

Traditional rhyming schemes share space with concrete, free verse and acrostic poems as Lewis invites readers to contemplate and appreciate the imagination, skill, and dedication required to create each monument that appears in stunning photographs.

 

The book includes a map showing the location of each monument and additional information.

 

What a beautiful way to integrate Language Arts and Social Studies.

Nonfiction Monday

For other Nonfiction Monday posts click HERE. 

For Nonfiction Monday  --  "Fall leaves: colorful and crunchy" by Martha E. H. Rustad with illustrations by Amanda Enright."  

 

Fall Leaves is one book in a series by Rustad that includes: Animals in Fall, Fall Weather, Fall Pumpkins, Fall Harvests, and Fall Apples.  Each of these books is very accessible for young readers. Short sentences and simple language is paired with colorful, child-friendly illustrations. 

Fall leaves introduces children to the process of photosynthesis through a discussion of leaves and how they perform vital functions in nature from their first appearance in the spring through their colorful appearance in the fall. The text is enhanced with sidebars that provide additional detail. A leaf activity, glossary and index complete the book.

Poetry Friday

Poetry Friday is hosted today by Live Your Poem.

For Poetry Friday -- "R is for rhyme: a poetry alphabet" written by Judy Young and illustrated by Victor Juhasz

 

The title leaves no doubt as to what will be found between the covers.  Young's work measures up to the challenge that begins with "A is for Acrostic" and delivers extra content as well.  Each poem is accompanied by a sidebar that adds interesting facts and additional depth, poses questions to be pondered, and supplies topics for discussion. "B is for ballads" offers up a history of this form, cites Longfellow's "The Village Blacksmith and includes a discussion of meter. "D is for doublet" demonstrates how the form is built on a word ladder.  E is for end rhyme" provides examples of rhyming patterns and so on.  

 

 Juhasz indulges his well-documented talent for caricatures in the bold illustrations.

Writers Wednesday

POETS!

Mark your calendars. Set your watches. And check out THE POETRY MARATHON --

CHALLENGE YOURSELF  to create a poem every hour for 24 hours.

The Marathon runs from 9 AM EDT on Saturday, August 23rd 2014 through 9 AM EDT on Sunday, August 24th.

There is also a half marathon.

For information click HERE.

Poetry Friday

Poetry Friday is hosted today by My Juicy Little Universe.

For Poetry Friday -- "Sea stars: saltwater poems" by Avis Harley with photographs by Margaret Butschler.

 

Harley's verses range from thoughtful and cautionary -- "Do not pollute/this pristine sea:/an anemone's enemies/are you and me" -- to playful as a crab shares: "A toe-pinching scrimmage/has damaged my image..."). Poems in a variety of forms: haiku, rhyming couplets, acrostic and more explore and celebrate the world beneath the waves and along the tidal shore. 

 

Butschler's photos are engaging and are a lovely reflection of the words. A delicate moon jellyfish, two starfish struggling with one another, an otter dining on a crab, fish, and whales are highlighted in words and pictures.

 

Author's notes at the back provide biological facts about each animal.

 

Nonfiction Monday

For other Nonfiction Monday posts click HERE. 

For Nonfiction Monday  --  "Animal Eggs: an amazing clutch of mysteries& marvels!" by Dawn Cusick & Joanne O'Sullivan."  http://janetsquires.blogspot.com.

 

The cover art depicting insects, reptiles, birds, amphibians and fish invites youthful scientists to explore the variety of egg-laying creatures to be found inside this photo-illustrated book. The table of contents lists the following : Egg Layers, Egg Shapes & Sizes, Egg Colors, Egg Guarders, Egg Stealers, Egg Shelters, Egg Escapers, Gross or Cool? , Whose Egg Is This? challenges readers with a picture identification quiz.  A Glossary & Index complete the text.

 

The Egg Layers introduction informs readers that over a hundred egg-laying creatures will be found in the pages. The expected examples of frogs, sea turtles, clown fish and alligators share space with the less familiar skinks, copecods (a shrimp-like animal), apple snails, fruit flies and a host of other animals.

 

An easy-to-read format coupled with colorful close-ups will keep curious students turning the pages.

Writers Wednesday

In celebration of her newly released book,

PRUDENCE PURSUED,

Shirley Raye Redmond is my guest today with an interesting post about the use of historical research in works of fiction.

THE THRILL OF THE CHASE

By Shirley Raye Redmond

I love the thrill of the chase! Because I write primarily nonfiction and historical fiction, I rely heavily on research to enhance my plotting and character development. But when I get my teeth into a juicy historical tidbit, I can’t let go. Generally, I have far more notes and resources going into a new project than I ever use in the final product—whether it’s an historical novel like PRUDENCE PURSUED (Astraea Press, July 2014) or a nonfiction book for teens like CITIES OF GOLD (Cengage Gale).

When it comes to keeping track of my discoveries, I’ve learned the hard way over the years to “spare no ink” and that includes printer ink and the copy machine too. I always photocopy the page with ISBN, copyright date, and publisher’s info. I copy any page I glean information from and make sure the page number is indicated. I use only credible Internet sources (most editors have told me not to use Wikipedia as a quotable source) and I cut and paste the website address on to a resource sheet for my files along with the date I did so. You should also record the date you cut and paste the page in case the site is down by the time an editor wants to verify your facts.

But if I am writing fiction, is all that necessary, you ask? Yes! You’d be surprised how often an editor has wanted me to verify facts mentioned in a novel. One editor made me change the last names of a couple of characters because she didn’t think they were credible (if only I had copied the phone book page where I’d gleaned those names!) and another editor made me change the style and shape of a bookcase in my suspense novel STONE OF THE SUN. So, yes, research matters even in fiction. But of course, I don’t want to do a big information dump in the middle of tale.

Author Jack Bickham once wrote this about descriptive details: “Description must be worked in carefully in bits and pieces to keep your reader hearing and seeing and feeling in your story world. But please note the language here: it must be worked in a bit at a time, not shoveled in by the page.” I believe the same is true about factual information. Sprinkle it around, don’t shovel it.

My latest novel, PRUDENCE PURSUED, was in fact inspired by the research I did on a middle grade biography about Edward Jenner, the British physician responsible for the first smallpox vaccine and the father of immunology. I was a bit surprised to learn he lived and worked before and during the time frame generally known as the Regency period. For a man who launched a highly controversial and yet successful medical treatment, he gets little mention in novels set in that time period. Although the publisher eventually killed the series my Jenner biography was intended to be a part of, I was left with reams of notes and decided to include much of what I’d learned in a Regency romance.

As the horrors of smallpox plays a major role in my story plot, I decided to set tone right away on the first page. Here is the opening scene:

     “You should not wear that to the pox party,” Prudence Pentyre said, indicating her younger cousin’s dress of light green Italian silk. “I recommend something with short sleeves which allows you to expose your forearm to the lancet.”
     Margaret shuddered. Her plain face, pale and lightly freckled, appeared downcast. “Oh, Pru, I wish I didn’t have to go.” She stood, slender shoulders drooping, in front of her open wardrobe.
     “Truly, Meg, there’s nothing to worry about,” Prudence assured her, slipping a comforting arm around her cousin’s slim waist. “Papa had all of us vaccinated with the cow pox when we were still in the school room—and the servants too. I’m quite surprised my Uncle Giles didn’t do the same,” Prudence replied.
     A glint of disapproval flashed in her soft brown eyes. Silently, she fumed. Uncle Giles had held too many old-fashioned notions. Such an old stick! He was dead now, having suffered an apoplexy two years ago. Her mother, if she knew of Prudence’s unspoken condemnation, would have reminded her not to speak ill of the dead. This dictate had never made sense to Prudence. Why were some of life’s most unsavory characters deemed to be saints after their deaths? Not that Uncle Giles was unsavory, but he had been shamefully old-fashioned.
       “Look, Meg, there’s not even a scar.” Prudence held out a white arm for her cousin’s perusal. “Mr. Jenner’s procedure is almost painless and quite safe, much safer than buying the smallpox and enduring the dreaded disease.”

But as serious as the disease was—killing 1 out of every 4 people that contracted it—I still wanted to get in a little “Jane Austenish” wit in the story too:
 
     Prudence considered her eyes her best physical feature. They were large and expressive. When she had been much younger, an infatuated suitor had once written a poem for her, referring to the subject of his adoration as the, “lovely, ox-eyed Prudent Athena.” Smiling, she recalled this bit of poetic nonsense, but decided not to mention the particular compliment to Margaret. At least not until after the girl had been vaccinated with cowpox and quite recovered from her current state of anxious misery.

• Here are a few amazing facts that will help readers of Regency romance appreciate Edward Jenner’s contributions to the era so popular with fiction readers:
• (1) In its day, smallpox was referred to as “the speckled monster.
• (2) It killed hundreds of millions of people—more than the Black Death and the wars of the 20th century put together!
• (3) President Thomas Jefferson, who used the Jennerian method to vaccinate his own family, friends, and slaves, once wrote to Jenner: “Yours is the comfortable reflection that mankind can never forget that you have lived.”
• (4) A woman who was considered a “great beauty” during this time period was usually one who had not been seriously disfigured by smallpox. It was understood by portrait artists of the day that they were not to paint in the disfigurements and pockmarks of their subjects.
• (5) Jane Austen’s dearest friend Martha Lloyd was scarred by smallpox for the remainder of her life. Several members of the Lloyd household died from the disease.
• A character in Austen’s novel Northanger Abbey is disfigured and crippled by the dreaded disease.

And what do pretty milkmaids have to do with Jenner’s discovery of the possible prevention of smallpox? Read PRUDENCE PURSUED and find out! And enjoy a lively love story along the way.



Shirley Raye Redmond PRUDENCE PURSUED Astraea Press, July 2014 Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords $4.99

Despite Prudence Pentyre’s best efforts, her cousin Margaret proves reluctant to accept Sir James Brownell’s marriage proposal, and fears being “bovinised” if she undergoes the controversial cowpox vaccination he recommends. And the dashing baronet seems more concerned about the spiritual plight of headhunters in Borneo than Margaret’s refusal. Then Prudence suddenly finds herself smitten with the man.

What to do? What to do?

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