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Blog: Wendy Orr's author journal (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: animal stories, pet books, ABANDONED A Lion Called Kiki, Clarence the cross-eyed lion, lions as pets, Rainbow Street Animal Shelter series, WANTED A Guinea Pig Called Henry, Add a tag
Blog: Teaching Authors (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Surprise Soup, Camp K-9, Mary Ann Rodman, anthropomorphic animals, animal stories, Add a tag
Books where the main characters are animals are among my favorite. Charlotte's Web is forever and always the one book I would take to a desert island. I love the work of picture book authors Kevin Henkes, Carolyn Crimi and Lisa Wheeler, who often place their stories in the animal world. (If there is a Hall of Fame for picture book authors, those three should definitely be included.)
I love what I call "talking critter" books, in which the animals are anthropomorphic. I just can't write them.
I have published two "talking critter" books.
Surprise Soup was written about little boys. Something about that manuscript inspired the art department and the illustrator to make the little boys into little bears. Changing the species of the character made it a much funnier book...but I can't take any credit for writing an anthropomorphic book. The illustrator did it for me. (Thank G. Brian Karas!)
The other book, Camp K-9, was inspired by my dog, Nilla. She was a cocker-spitz mix, with floppy ears, a thick white coat, and a joyful personality. In fact, Nilla was far more popular with the neighbors than the Downing family. She was actually invited to parties that we weren't! Nilla was so human-like, it wasn't hard for me to imagine her as a teen-age girl. My husband and I would invent adventures for her. Nilla as a Laker Girl. Running up a phone bill. Hanging out at the mall with her (also imaginary) BFF, Stacy.
When we traveled, we boarded our "child" at a kennel called Camp K-9, which had a cute logo of a dog toting a sleeping bag and a tennis racquet. That got my imagination going. What would dogs do at camp? I used my own experiences as a camper and a counselor to put together a day as a "doggy camper." I used a lot of dog puns and references to add humor. The other "campers" were based on the dogs in my neighborhood. That was pretty easy.
After that, I had to find some tension, a problem, that my girl dog might experience with her bunkmates. That was the hard part. I fiddled and fiddled with the story for four or five years. Finally, after many many critiques by my friends and writing group, I felt Camp K-9 was as good as it was going to get. (Fortunately, my publisher liked it.)
Will I write another "talking critter" book? I don't know. I had been inventing "Nilla adventures" in my head for ten years before I tried to write one down, and it was the most difficult thing I've ever written. Cute one-liners and puns are one thing; shaping them into a coherent story, with a beginning, middle and end. Who knows? Right now I am "inventing adventures" for my extremely ill-behaved cat, Rosie. (She's giving me the evil eye right now.) Maybe...
Don't forget to enter our latest book giveaway for Stephanie Lyons' new book, Dating Down. The deadline is midnight, May 15 2015, so don't miss out.
Posted by Mary Ann Rodman
Blog: Teaching Authors (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: animals, Book Giveaway, animal stories, Carla Killough McClafferty, Add a tag
George Washington trained his own horses and was considered to be an expert horseman. During the American Revolution, General Washington rode one of two horses. One was a brown horse named Nelson. The other was a white horse named Blueskin. During battle (yes, Washington actually fought in battle) he rode Nelson because the noise and chaos didn’t bother the calm horse. But when Washington was just going about everyday life, he rode Blueskin.
In portraits painted during the 18th century that depict Washington during the Revolution, he is shown with one of these two horses. If the scene depicts a scene following a battle, Nelson is pictured. But when the painting is not a battle scene, Blueskin is with him.
General George Washington at Trenton by John Trumbull |
Mount Vernon created three wax figures of George Washington. This one depicts General Washington at Valley Forge riding Blueskin. Find out more about George Washington's historic home |
Blog: Teaching Authors (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Cynthia Cotten, Marcia Strykowski, animal stories, Monica Kulling, Book Giveaway Winner, Rebecca Colby, Add a tag
Congratulations, Rosi H! You won THE DEATH OF A HAT by Paul B. Janeczko!
Animal stories have always been popular. Ancient peoples told stories of mythic animals depicting universal truths about humanity. Over two thousand years ago, Aesop told the story of the fox that coveted a bunch of juicy grapes, of the frog who wanted to be king, and of the proud town mouse who visited his country mouse cousin.
Animal stories have always been some of my favorites reads, including Anne Sewell’s Black Beauty (1877), Robert C. O’Brien’s Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (1971), Walter Farley’s The Black Stallion (1941), and the quintessential animal story, E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web (1952).
And this year, I’ve found more to add to my collection!
Lumpito and the Painter from Spain (Pajama Press, April 2013): Monica Kulling’s poetic narrative retells the story of a special friendship with sparse eloquence. Dean Griffith’s rich, vivid watercolors capture the luscious landscape, the bold personality of the painter, the soulful expression of Lumpito as he dodges Big Dog, and Lump’s sheer delight as he finds his new home. A gorgeous and rewarding tale of love, and a perfect read-aloud for a rainy – or any -- day!
When Emily Carr Met Woo (Pajama Press, August 2014): Monica Kulling is the master of biography. Her series depicting little known inventors, Great Ideas, remains one of my favorites on the topic. However, it is when her biography showcases the iconic relationships between human and animal that her poetic narrative truly shines. This book follows eccentric Canadian artist Emily Coo, who lives in a camper she calls Elephant. She takes her puppies for walks using a baby carriage.
Folks called the painter a strange bird! One day Emily Carr adopts a small lonely monkey, whom she calls Woo. And the fun begins!
Snow Ponies (Paperback, Square Fish Reprint, October 2013): First published in 2001, the book begins “On a cold, gray day, Old Man Winter leads his snow ponies outside. "Are you ready?" he asks. Using her signature quiet, poetic narrative, Cynthia Cotten captures the magic of winter as Old Man Winter takes the snow ponies across the frigid landscape. As the ponies gallop, faster and faster, everything they touch turns white with snow. This is a poetic masterpiece, and a perfect read aloud.
“Why did you do all this for me?' he asked. 'I don't deserve it. I've never done anything for you.' 'You have been my friend,' replied Charlotte. 'That in itself is a tremendous thing.” -- Charlotte's Web, E.B. White
What are your favorite animal stories?
Bobbi Miller
Blog: An Awfully Big Blog Adventure (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: C.S. Lewis, Narnia, animal stories, a writing life, Add a tag
The Lewis family, 1906 |
“I couldn’t write in that way at all. Everything began with images; a faun carrying an umbrella, a queen on a sledge, a magnificent lion.”
Blog: The Fourth Musketeer (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: animal stories, picture-book, Add a tag
It's a special pleasure to welcome to the Fourth Musketeer author/illustrator David Ezra Stein. David is the creator of many award-winning picture books, including Interrupting Chicken, which was awarded a Caldecott Honor, and Dinosaur Kisses. His books are great read-alouds, and are favorites of librarians, teachers, parents, and yes, kids.
He has kindly agreed to answer a few questions about his very funny new picture book, I'm My Own Dog. In a role reversal that will tickle all dog lovers, this dog has no need of a human owner. He can perfectly well take care of himself (except for that one little spot he can't scratch). But what will happen when he lets one of those cute humans follow him home? Kids and adults alike will love the reversal of roles in Stein's newest book.
my dog, Buddy |
some examples of Stein's humor and artwork |
Blog: The Fourth Musketeer (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: picture-book, animal stories, Add a tag
Recommended for ages 3-8.
British poet Brian Patten and British painter and illustrator Nicola Bayley combine forces in Can I Come Too?, an exquisitely illustrated picture book suitable for the youngest children, in which a tiny but adventurous mouse sets out on a quest to find the biggest creature in the world.
In his gentle and lyrical text, Patten turns to a familiar and beloved pattern for children's books, the cumulative tale, much as P.D. Eastman uses in Are You My Mother or Deborah Guarino uses in Is Your Mama a Llama, to mention just a few. Here, our mouse heroine meets a succession of larger and larger animals, asking each "Are you the biggest creature in the world?" A friendly frog, a rainbow colored kingfisher, a sleepy cat, an otter, a badger, a dog, a goat, and a tiger all admit they're not the biggest creature in the world, but ask politely if they can come along on the adventure. When the story is read aloud, children will enjoy chiming in on the oft-repeated refrain, "Can I come too?" Finally, the motley group of animals, led by our intrepid mouse, meets a polar bear, who knows just where to find the biggest creature in the world. They all follow the polar bear to the ocean, where they encounter an enormous and majestic whale. Satisfied, the sleepy animals spend some time watching the whale frolic in the ocean, and then return home, where Mouse curls up and muses, "I might be tiny, but I've had a very big adventure."
This is a calm and soothing story that would be perfect for bedtime reading for young children; snuggled in a chair or bed an adult and child could not only enjoy the text but also have time to observe the intricacies of Nicola Bayley's meticulously detailed illustrations, rendered in colored pencil. Her style brings to mind celebrated American illustrators such as Michael Hague and Jan Brett. Peachtree Press has kindly shared some of her illustrations, which can be seen below:
If Mouse's adventure makes you hungry, you can make a mouse-themed snack with instructions from Peachtree's blog!
For more on Can I Come Too?, check out other blog tour stops:
Monday 10/6 Green Bean Teen Queen
Tuesday 10/7- Geo Librarian and Kid Lit Reviews
Wednesday 10/8- Chat with Vera
Thursday 10/9- Blue Owl
Friday 10/10 Sally's Bookshelf
If you would like to win a copy of Can I Come Too? for your own home or school library, please leave a comment below with your e-mail address! The winner will be selected at random on 10/23/14.
Blog: The Fourth Musketeer (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: animal stories, picture-book, Add a tag
Recommended for ages 4-8.
In this laugh-out-loud new picture book from South African writer-illustrator Alex Latimer, we discover that while it's not always easy to be friends with those who are different from us, the result can be worth the extra effort.
Pig is completely flummoxed when, for no reason at all, his nose begins to squeak.
What could it be? Time to get out the medical book, of course, to look for Squeaky Nose Syndrome. But it's not in the book (although the book includes Squeaky Knee Syndrome and others). Finally, after much observation, Pig discovers there's a tiny bug on the end of his nose, waving and squeaking at him. Pig can tell by the bug's friendly squeaking that he wants to be friends, but the activities they try --a tandem bike ride (with Pig pedaling and Bug holding on for dear life), a game of chess, making matching sweaters--don't work very well.
They are about to give up, when Pig has a sudden inspiration--a movie! Bug doesn't eat much popcorn, and he can sit right on Pig's ear. Soon they can think of all kinds of things they could do together! They even forget that one of them is big and the other little, until, in a surprise twist, an elephant comes along to ask if he can be friends, too.
Alex Latimer's whimsical cartoon-style artwork is distinctive, with speech and thought bubbles taken from traditional cartoons. The illustrations are created first as pencil drawings, then digitized and finished with a bright color palette with orange and turquoise dominating. The colorful artwork meshes perfectly with his witty and engaging text. The theme of the challenges of friendship with someone different is a universal one, perhaps particularly appropriate in Latimer's hometown of Cape Town, South Africa, where the "rainbow nation" of post-apartheid still struggles with issues of equality for all its citizens, as we continue to do in the United States. This book would work well in a preschool or early elementary storytime, and could encourage discussions about how we get along with others. I could easily see a writing prompt about imagining activities Pig, Bug, and elephant could do together, for example. Latimer's earlier work, Lion vs. Rabbit (Peachtree, 2013), in which a clever trickster rabbit outwits a lion, is also a terrific storytime selection.
For more on Pig and Small, check out these other blog tour stops:
Blog: The Fourth Musketeer (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: animal stories, picture-book, Add a tag
Recommended for ages 1-7.
In this delightful new picture book series from British author and illustrator William Bee, Stanley the hamster is very busy--building houses, working at a garage, even running a farm.
In Stanley the Builder, Stanley is building a house for his friend Myrtle the mouse. He'll need his orange bulldozer, his yellow digger, and his green crane. Step by step, he prepares the land and then builds the house. Together with his friend Charlie, he finishes the project by painting the house in Myrtle's favorite colors--red, white, and blue--before returning home for supper, a bath, and bedtime.
In this series, Bee uses very simple vocabulary and minimal text together with very appealing digitally-created images to craft a story that is equally appropriate for two distinct audiences: toddlers/preschoolers and beginning readers.
There are so many things to like about this book, but first and foremost are the illustrations, with their clean black outlines, flat bright colors, and simple shapes (not to mention adorable hamsters...) Bee's U.S. publisher for this series, Peachtree Publishers, has kindly provided some artwork so The Fourth Musketeer's readers can get a better sense for Bee's unique artistic style. I was especially interested to note that Bee trained as a designer (check out his quirky website, which gives little information on his books but tells you all sorts of interesting trivia about his passions for vintage cars and the Queen). His design flair can be seen in everything from the endpapers (see first image below) to the font chosen for the text.
While this series is a sure-fire winner with toddlers and preschoolers, it's also ideal for beginning readers, with simple sentences and minimal vocabulary. Even with the limited vocabulary, Bee uses correct words for different tools and parts of the house, such as "shingles" for the roof, thus providing a rich use of words for the earliest readers. The book will also allow young readers to practice sequencing, since the steps for building a house are clearly delineated, and they can even re-tell the story using just the pictures as well.
Highly recommended!
For more on Stanley, please see the following blog tour stops from earlier this week:
Blog: An Awfully Big Blog Adventure (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: animal stories, war stories, Ruth Symes, Megan Rix, Add a tag
Top 10 Animal War Heroes by Megan Rix
l. The dogs:
2. The Pigeons:
3. The Horses:
4. The Donkeys:
5. The Camels:
6. The Elephants:
7. Cats:
8. Tortoises:
9. Dolphins:
10. Baboons:
*****
While I was doing my research I came across the sad fact that poor Anne the circus elephant rescued from cruelty in a circus a few years ago and moved to Longleat is now expected to live out her days alone there as it's been decided it would be better for her to be a solitary elephant despite elephants being one of the most social family orientated species. It makes me feel sick especially when you see the wonderful reunion of elephants that have been rescued, most of them old and having suffered abuse like Anne, at the Tennesse sanctuary on You Tube
Ruth Symes's website
Blog: The Fourth Musketeer (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: animal stories, blogging events, picture-book, Add a tag
Recommended for children 3 and up.
With the adoption of Common Core nationwide, we are already starting to see increased demand at our library for nonfiction resources for children, particularly for books suitable for kindergarten and first grade. Animal reports are particularly popular with these early grades, and Cathryn Sill's new book, About Parrots, a new release from Peachtree Press, is ideally suited for that purpose.
The large format book features beautiful full-page paintings of different colorful parrots from around the world by wildlife artist John Sill, along with very brief and simple text that is targeted toward young children (see example below). Catherine Sill is a former elementary school teacher, and it is clear that she knows her audience well and what will interest young children as well as information they will require for school. The simple text covers diverse topics such as the parrots' diet, habitat, communication, predators, and nests. The main part of the book talks only about wild parrots, and does not cover their long history as pets, or their skills at imitating sounds such as human speech.
An afterword features additional information about each illustration, providing further details that would enhance the book for older children who are interested in going beyond the very basic information covered in the text. The afterword does touch briefly on how many parrot species are endangered because of both habitat destruction and being captured as pets.
In addition to the afterword, other back matter includes a glossary, suggestions for further reading, helpful websites for children on parrots, and a brief bibliography. About Parrots is part of the "About...Series," which includes volumes on various animal groups (i.e. mammals and amphibians) as well as particular species, such as penguins and raptors.
At a recent professional meeting for children's librarians, we were advised that with Common Core, we should be incorporating nonfiction books regularly into storytimes for preschoolers and even toddlers. This is a wonderful example of a nonfiction book that could be easily incorporated into a storytime for young children about birds, since the minimal text and large illustrations make it well suited to reading aloud to young children as well as for school reports.
For more on About Parrots, please see blog tour stops from earlier in the week:
Kid Lit Reviews, Jean Little Library, Geo Librarian, Chat with Vera, Kid Lit Frenzy, and Blue Owl.
Note: An advance copy of this book was furnished by the publisher.
Blog: The Fourth Musketeer (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: World War II, middle grades, animal stories, Add a tag
Author Sandy Brehl |
I am delighted to participate in the blog tour for an exciting new historical fiction novel for middle-grade readers, Odin's Promise: A Novel of Norway, by author Sandy Brehl. Sandy kindly consented to answer a number of questions about her book for this blog.
Q: World War II continues to supply inspiration for movies, television, adult books, and children's books, with no signs that interest in the war is abating as it becomes part of the more distant past for today's young people. How would you explain the continued fascination with this conflict?
A: It’s true that WWII has a sustained interest among young readers and their families, too. I would have thought with our many recent years of war that it would not be the case. Despite our war-weary society, World War II seems to hold a unique place in the hearts of even the youngest. Perhaps it’s seen as that one war when, despite graphic horrors and destruction, loss of lives, and even documented atrocities, good really overcame evil. It was also followed by world-unifying efforts, like support for refugees, restoration of cities, and the creation of the United Nations. Even if young people aren’t aware of those aspects, they seem to understand that WWII has an aura of decency and validity that so many other conflicts lack.The unequivocal ruthlessness of Hitler, Japan, and Mussolini versus a world united not only in self-defense but in the name of freedom makes it a sort of “poster child” for what a “good war” would be. Few before or since have had such a clear mission.
Q: What inspires you to write historical fiction for young people?
A: First, I enjoy reading historical fiction, for all ages. In this case specific stories I heard about the war years while visiting Norway took root in my mind and wouldn’t let go. The research that ensued made me eager to discover and tell this story. I write contemporary middle grade novels, too, and picture book texts, but several historical fiction stories have sprouted “seedlings” in my mind from stories my parents, grandparents, and even local characters have shared. I’ve begun to trust that a time will come when each will grow to harvest when the time is right.
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about why you decided to set a story in Norway at this time and how you researched this difficult time in their history?
A: First, I’m not Norwegian. A good friend is the daughter of a Norwegian immigrant, though, and she invited me to travel with her to her father’s home village. On that first trip I fell in love with the country- the people, the landscape, the values, the lifestyle. We stayed with her family on that visit and another. I experienced such genuine hospitality, good humor,generosity, and national pride of the purest type that I felt at home there immediately. Pictures and stories they shared focused on their family before, during, and after the war years. One particular story of resistance seemed like a book waiting to be written. Despite my best efforts over several decades, that story couldn’t seem to find its footing. Revisions, critiques, and shifts in genre, target audience, or focus weren’t enough to bring success. My readings and research into that era continued until I finally found one work by a Norwegian scholar, Stokker. It featured journal entries from the war years, including some by children Mari’s age. That’s when those earlier readings, writings, and research found their way into Mari and her family. The story incorporates many documented details of underground resistance, but the characters are all fictional.
Photo of coastal Bergen,Norway--the village where the book takes place is on the other side of the mountains |
Q: What made you decide to put a dog, Odin, at the center of your novel?
Norwegian Elkhound |
Q: I especially liked the way your novel does not portray the Nazis as black and white or 100% evil. Was it important to you to show that some of the Nazi soldiers may have been young men not very different from the Norwegian young men of the village of Ytre Arna, where Odin's Promise is set?
Ytre Arna, mid-20th century (from the collection of Knut Naevdal and the Ytre Arna Historielag (Museum) |
A: Although I didn’t write this to convey a “message”, it was very important to me to avoid stereotyping any of the characters. That includes the villagers who cooperated with the Nazi occupiers. We can’t always choose the circumstances of our lives, yet we can make conscious choices about how we deal with them. The hard truth is that those choices are seldom clear-cut, black-and-white, yes-or-no. Mari’s journey involves her growing recognition of this challenging truth.
Q: With the adoption of the Common Core, do you think that historical fiction will become more popular as a genre?
A: I hope so, just as I hope quality literature becomes a more central part of every subject. My concern is less with the standards than with the emphasis on high-stakes testing. When testing drives the curriculum, all too often school districts adopt various packaged materials, many of which are produced by the testing publishers themselves. Authentic, engaging, rich literature (novels, non-fiction, picture books) should be used in every subject area, and historical fiction can play a major role in helping young people not just learn to read, but to love reading.
Q: In addition to publishing this novel, you blog about picture books at Unpacking the Power of Picture Books. Can you share with us a little about your work with picture books?
A: I spent nearly forty years as an elementary teacher, working in classrooms and with special needs students, from pre-school to middle grade. Whenever someone hears you are a teacher they ask, “What do you teach?” At the risk of sounding like a smart-mouth I would always answer “Kids!” then quickly explain that I regularly changed grade levels, subjects, and focus groups because I loved working with kids at all the different stages of their young lives. At every age or grade it’s the child I teach, not the subject. These changes allowed me to read, share, and explore a wide array of children’s literature. I loved helping established readers rediscover the depth and richness of picture books, those “baby books” they thought they had outgrown. I was writing throughout those years, mainly in summer. That included academic articles on ways picture books work for all ages to improve literacy and comprehension. When I retired a few years ago it was to read, write, and teach, but this time to teach adults instead of kids. I teach professional development workshops for teachers, childcare workers, and librarians on the power of picture books to develop the highest quality readers and thinkers. I also do presentations on this topic for reading conferences.Many of the titles I share in those workshops are non-fiction and historical fiction.
Q: Can you share with us what books are on your nightstand or e-reader?
A: I always have a half-dozen or more picture books in a stack, to add reviews on Goodreads or use them for my blogs. That stack turns over every week or so, but as I write this it includes: God Got A Dog, by Cynthia Rylant and Marla Frazee; Nest, by Jorey Hurley; Founding Mothers, by Cokie Roberts with illustrations by Diane Goode; Ezra Jack Keats:A Biography with Illustrations, by Dean Engel and Florence B. Freedman; A Dance Like Starlight, by Christy Dempsey and Floyd Cooper, and A Home For Mr. Emerson, by Barbara Kerley and illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham. In the MG category I just finished: From Norvelt to Nowhere by Jack Gantos and Catherine Called Birdy by Karen Cushman. Now reading, or waiting in the stack, are: The Year We Were Famous by Carole Estby Dagg, Half a Chance by Cynthia Lord; Seven Stories Up, by Laurel Snyder, Sure Signs of Crazy, by Karen Harrington, Slob, by Ellen Potter, and A Snicker of Magic.
Thanks so much, Sandy, for your thoughtful responses!
Blog: Robin Brande (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Reading, Bullying, Friendship, Confidence, Pets, Dog Stories, Dogs, Animals, High School, Self-Confidence, Animal Stories, Bullies, Strong Girls, Free Audio Books, Teen Humor, Overcoming Shyness, Dog Training for the Movies, Doggirl Audible, Doggirl Audio Book, Free Audible Books, Girl Self-Confidence, High School Performing Arts, High School Theater, High School Theatre, Teen Animal Books, Teen Dog Books, Teen Dog Training, Add a tag
Guess what? From now until the end of the month, I’m going to be giving away one free copy of the DOGGIRL audio book every day! That’s ten free audio books. I know! I mean it!
To enter to win, just send me a note here on my contact page telling me one quick story about you and your love for animals. It can be a childhood memory, a quick story about a favorite pet of yours, or just an overall description of why animals make our lives so much better. Keep it short (I do have other work to do), but tell me.
That’s it! I’ll pick one winner every day and send you the secret code to download the book from Audible.com.
Sound easy? Of course it is. So go for it!
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JacketFlap tags: Cats, Pink, Animal stories, Alleycat, kestrel, Bamber, Ginge Club, Add a tag
Nothing much has happened in the Six Foot recently, except for the kestrel. It was seen hovering two days ago, and yesterday, all in a rush, it swooped down and took a pigeon from next door’s garden. Everyone heard the screams. Alleycat doesn’t mind kestrels, or hawks, unless they get too big for their boots and start to trespass on his territory. Some folk say that cats are the villains of the piece where Mother Nature is concerned (they’re always on the hunt, apparently, looking out for prey) but Alleycat isn’t like that. He’s a sage, a meditative sort. He says that it’s Mother Nature who’s responsible and everyone (cats and humans too) have to treat her with respect and understand that She contains them and gave them all their lives (nine if you’re a cat). If a hawk kills a pigeon, or takes a vole, well, that’s Mother Nature for you, red in tooth and claw. There’s nothing to be done about that sort of thing. It’s life. But Alleycat won’t tolerate conflict on his lawns. His lawns are private, sacred to his clan , and he maintains a careful watch on his fences and Bamber’s out all hours (he has his orders) patrolling the Five Streets and putting down markers, while Alleycat remains indoors and sleeps and thinks and lays his plans. When Pink saw the kestrel she was pretty scared, I can tell you. But Alleycat sent Bamber on to the roof of the car-port, to keep watch on the perimeters, and that hawk hasn’t been seen since. He’s probably heard of Alleycat’s great power and understands there are better (meaning safer) places to hunt and trespass than Alleycat’s private lawns.
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JacketFlap tags: Pink, Animal stories, Ginge Club, spirit of the lamp, children's books, Cats, Children's fiction, Add a tag
Pink’s playing up. She’s wants to dictate more of her adventures, but I haven’t had time to write them down and she feels I’m slacking. That’s rich coming from her, the laziest cat in the Five Streets. Anyway, she’s ordered me to stick in and press on regardless of other commitments. I’ve told her it’s Christmas and I might have to break off and drink some mulled wine or eat some strong cheese, but she’s impatient with that sort of thing and simply won’t tolerate it. This morning when I got up she was waiting for me on the kitchen table with her head in the angle-poise lamp. She thinks that if she sits there she’ll have a bright idea. It’s as if the lamp’s lighting up her brain as well as lighting my table, and Pink’s such a strong-minded little cat that she can probably make the light do anything she wants, including inspire her, just as she can require me to write when I ought to be eating Christmas cake. Maybe she’s right, because while she was boiling her brains and egging me on to listen to her, I managed to get another chapter done in draft and here it is.
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JacketFlap tags: children's books, Cats, Children's fiction, Pink, Animal stories, about cats, about animals, Ginge Club, Add a tag
It’s been a while since I blogged, but I’ve been hard at work on a story that Pink told me while I was sleeping. She crept up close while I was dozing in the armchair and whispered in my ear and said I’d better get on and write up some of her better adventures, not the latest ones, but the ones she had when she was younger. Pink isn’t altogether stupid. Mostly she just pretends to be silly because it means she can avoid difficult and lengthy tasks by claiming they’re beyond her. But she’s clever really and she knows stuff. She was quite right about the story. I’d been letting things slide and it was high time I got to work. Here’s a link to what she dictated. While I was writing it Pink perched somewhat cheekily on the back of my office chair and watched what I was typing, in case I got anything wrong, and if there was anything she didn’t approve of she chirruped a warning and told me to blot.
Blog: Alan Dapré - Children's Author (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
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A wee Christmas gift for all you Kindle owners, or anyone with Kindle software on a Mac or PC. It’s the time of year for sharing – and I’d like to share Wiggle Jiggle Free. Eggy Leggy is on promotion … Continue reading
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JacketFlap tags: children's books, Children's fiction, Cat stories, Pink, Animal stories, animal story, Alleycat, Bamber, Add a tag
We hear tell of cats who went on adventures and travelled far and wide, or cats who bravely opposed injustice and fought for freedom, but in general cats have little truck with that sort of thing. Now and then Alleycat and Bamber go out into the world and show themselves to the neighbourhood, but Pink never goes out at all, and that’s why I think she may be the brains of the outfit. None of the rival cat families ever come into Alleycat’s garden, because if they did Bamber would be straight out of the cat-flap to engage them in heated discussion, and if Bamber failed to impress them Alleycat would plod out and ascend to the top of the highest fence post and stare at them. That usually does the trick. Pink on the other paw stays indoors all day and all night, profiting from the other cat’s exertions. In the cold weather she has prime spot in front of the hearth and she’s allowed to sleep wherever she likes without being disturbed. She can even walk over the heads of the dogs on her bony little feet and they know quite well that they’re not to complain. Pink, for all her pretty ways and her silly habits, may, in truth, be the most Machiavellian and formidable cat of all and easily the cleverest warm-blooded creature living on Nine Foot Way. And that’s a frightening as well as an amusing thought.
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JacketFlap tags: Children's fiction, stories for children, Bears, Pink, Animal stories, Alleycat, Add a tag
Alleycat went missing and there was no sign of him for a day and half. He didn’t show up until yesterday morning. No one knew where he’d gone to and when he came back (he always comes back) he looked fitter and stronger than he’s been for years. Obviously he’d been invisible, and whilst invisible he’d seen the solution to the problem of the bears. The bears must have sensed that their reign of terror was coming to a close, because they all came out and encircled Pink and surrounded her in a little bear-army on top of the kitchen table. Then Alleycat whispered something in Pink’s ear, and a moment later all the bears were flat on their backs and Pink was in control. Alleycat let her have all the glory, but I’m sure she wouldn’t have been able to overthrow the bears without his sage advice.
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JacketFlap tags: Cats, Children's fiction, Dogs, Witch, Animal stories, gipsy, Alleycat, Add a tag
Yesterday evening there was a knock on the front door. No one knocks on our front door, they always come in via the kitchen, so that was strange right away. I never receive unexpected callers either and everyone knows it, so I was more than surprised when the knocking continued and didn’t stop, and I was more than annoyed when the dogs didn’t bark at all. I hate to think of my dogs being cowed, so I ran to investigate and flung the door wide open. There on the other side of the threshold was an old, thin-looking woman with a gipsy ring on her outstretched hand and a hooky nose on her narrow face. Yet she wasn’t thin exactly, more wiry than anything, and she had big bones, and steely muscles, and if I thought she was thin I didn’t think she looked puny. Far from it. This was a formidable woman, you understand. Here! she said, and I stood my ground and said nothing because I was amazed and disconcerted. Here, she repeated. Here, you! Do you want your fortune reading! Now, for all that I would love to have my fortune read, I am afraid to see into the future, so I held out my hand in front of me and opened the palm in her face to show her what I thought of her question. The grim old woman didn’t speak again, but she stared through me and fixed her gaze on something behind me. She crooked a finger and beckoned it to come and when I turned I saw bears, dozens of bears, crawling along the tiled floor of the hall towards me (or rather towards her). Alleycat! I cried. Alleycat, where are you!
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It’s been a while since I posted because last week I fell ill and I’m still a bit under the weather if truth be told. Even so, there are things to report. The last time I went along the Six Foot I saw a black and white cat at the southern end (watching me) another black and white on the fence and yet another on the garden wall opposite. A fourth b+w gang-member was on guard halfway down Bugle Street and when I took a left into Hanbury Way a massive fifth was waiting halfway along the footpath. The five of them sleuthed me all the way to the station, dodging in and out of the gardens, making sure I saw them. Alleycat’s changed his tactics too and even when he’s dozing he’s alert. Occasionally his whole body wakes him up, and he stands on his chair, or on the windowsill and stares through it at something that I can’t see. It makes him cross. It may be a black and white cat, roaming around on his borders, but it could be anything really. In a moment he’ll spring outside and when he returns he’s often angry and agitated and trying hard not to show it. I know how it is. Once I came home from work and there were three black and whites at the end of the Six Foot, looking in, and when I turned into the Six Foot itself who should I see but Alleycat sat in front of them all with his big green eyes wide open. He was making sure they understood how important he is, just by looking, and though the black and whites made occasional eye contact with me, I was clearly of no importance at all by comparison and in a while the intruders just melted away, suitably awestruck by Alleycat’s presence.
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JacketFlap tags: Animal stories, Alleycat, Pink, animal story, about cats, Cats, Add a tag
Not a lot of people know this, but Alleycat was living in Six Foot Way the day we all arrived. He was in the house, looking after it, keeping it clear and keeping it clean and when we showed up out of the blue he allowed us in through the door and gave us permission to stay. It’s hard to say how old he is. Old certainly. Years, decades. He’s lived a long time because he’s lazy. Sometimes you see him on the lawn, staring at a blade of grass, and then you realize he’s staring at the drop of dew that’s hanging on the end of it. And then finally, you understand that he’s staring at something else entirely, something only he can see. What I see is that he’s the laziest cat who ever lived. He’s the acme of indolence. Pink’s no better (is that a good thing?). Alleycat’s training her up to do nothing. And doing nothing is the secret of living for ever where cats are concerned.
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JacketFlap tags: Pink, Animal stories, Alleycat, about cats, Kindle and cat, Cats, Children's fiction, Add a tag
If she could read, Pink would check out the tales of the Ginge Club and make sure she’s presented in the best possible light, as the most beautiful, alluring and fashionable pink cat who ever lived. I’ve told her that’s exactly how she’s presented in the stories, and in the blog, but I don’t think she trusts me entirely. That’s why she’s been staring at my Kindle, trying to see inside it. She probably thinks it’s a mirror. She knows what mirrors are because she spends hours every day staring into the one in our bedroom, preening herself and showing off to the looking glass. Alleycat’s different. He says he doesn’t care what anyone thinks so long as he can sleep whenever and wherever he wants and demand food at the drop of a hat. Of course, he’s given me a few guidelines. For one, thing. I’m never to give Snatcher too much attention or importance and for another I’ve got to impress everyone with Alleycat’s fine qualities. Bamber alone of our three cats has little interest in such matters. He doesn’t care about social media and his heart is set on being a cat and staying a cat and doing the best he can at being that.
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JacketFlap tags: Trains, Animal stories, animal story, Alleycat, There and back again, railways, Cats, Children's fiction, Add a tag
A fat cat thin or a thin cat fat? When Alleycat was young he was thin, but suddenly one day he became enormously fat, like a bear getting ready to hibernate, or like a cat leviathan. But there was method and purpose behind his bulking-up. He was building his physical power in the knowledge that soon he’d be poisoned (and he was) but he got himself through his ordeal and burned off the poison by burning away his fat. He came near the Door of Death, and he saw through it, and who knows what arcane knowledge he glimpsed out of the edge of his cat’s eyes in those days when the prison was attacking him. But now the poison’s gone and he’s as thin and fit as he was when he was young, and as for me I’m a little bit fatter than I’d like to be, so Alleycat and I have started running together. We jog together along the disused railway line near my house, and sometimes we stop and listen for the ghostly whistling of the old-time trains. By the way, it’s Alleycat in both of the photos, fat and young at the top, old and thin at the side.
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JacketFlap tags: Bamber, Dimchurch Spire, Ginge Club, children's books, Cats, Children's fiction, diet, Animal stories, Add a tag
Do cats rate chips? Bamber does. I gave him a chip on my fork and he lapped it up. I know I shouldn’t have done it, but I did. For the last month we’ve been in the throes of getting a new kitchen installed, and during the whole of that time we haven’t had water in the taps. Hence we’ve relied on processed food and home cooking has eaten dust. But Bamber loves rubbish food, he loves fatty chips, meat products laced with bad chemicals and oozy fatty liquors. And that’s what this episode has taught us. It’s also reminded us how stubborn he is. He refused to give up asking until he’d had his chips. He sat on the edge of my plate and demanded them until he was given.
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I agree with Pink, we should catch every “sun” puddle while we have winter :o)
Pink and the rest of us at Six Foot Way can hardly wait for Summer. We may have a long wait!