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Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: snakes, Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 1 - 17 of 17
1. 10 facts about the trombone

Tuba, trumpet, trombone...which one should you pick up this fall? Read below to learn what makes the trombone the right choice, and to find out a little more about this bass instrument's long history.

The post 10 facts about the trombone appeared first on OUPblog.

0 Comments on 10 facts about the trombone as of 8/9/2016 5:51:00 AM
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2. Animal Families

This month's themed art is Family.  I thought I'd share some animal moms and their families.


Momma Bear soothes Baby Bear.
written and illustrated by Shennen Bersani.


Mother elephant sleeps with her baby.
written by Linda Stanek, illustrated by Shennen Bersani.


A mother garter protects her young.
written by Jerry Pallotta and Van Wallach
illustrated by Shennen Bersani.


A zebra shark and her children.
written by Jerry Pallotta, illustrated by Shennen Bersani.


And finally, as bats prepare to hibernate…
written by Janet Halfmann, illustrated by Shennen Bersani.




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3. Slithery Snakes – Perfect Picture Book Friday

Title: Slithery Snakes Story and art by Roxie Munro Published by Amazon Publishing, 2013 Ages: 7-11 Themes: snakes, habitats, skin patterns Nonfiction, 40 pages. Available in hard back and eBook formats. Opening Lines:  Can you guess what kind of snake this is?       … Continue reading

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4. Lego Ninjago #4: Tomb of the Fangpyre by Greg Farshtey

5 Stars Lego Ninjago Graphic Novels #4: Tomb of the Fangpyre Greg Farshtey Papercutz 64 Pages    Ages: 6+ ............... ....................... Tomb of the Fangpyre is book four in the Masters of Spinjitzu series. Four masters Jay, Cole, Zane, and Kai are lead by the Master Sensei Wu. They are in an ongoing battle with the [...]

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5. Close Encounter of the Racklenake Kind

Yes, again. This is what happens when you build suburbs in the chaparral.

This time, we weren’t on a hiking trail in the hills. This time, we were running down the path from the water fountain to the playground at a park we only just discovered this morning. Upon arrival, I wrote Scott: “This is the best park I’ve seen since we moved here.” Beautiful place. Towering trees shading a narrow creek (more stones than water) and an elaborate playground—a welcome improvement on the sunbaked playgrounds we usually frequent. Enormous rocks for climbing, glorious golden hills rising up just beyond the park’s borders, a conveniently located restroom, a functioning water fountain. Before the first child had reached the top of the slide, I was envisioning a regular weekly park day at this heretofore undiscovered (by me, at least) gem.

The kids ran around the playground for half an hour; Beanie spent a long time pushing Rilla on the swings. Then we meandered over to the creekbed, watched a squirrel, climbed a tree, and after a bit, I decided it was sunny enough on the trail beyond the park fence that we could risk a short walk. Too hot for rattlers on the path at that time of day, I reasoned. But Wonderboy was spooked by the memory of that other rattler, the big one we happened upon on a similar trail, and we turned back after a only a few minutes. Back to the swings, the rocks, the blissfully cool shade under the trees.

On the way to the water fountain, Huck complained of mulch in his shoes. I stripped them off: he’s happier barefoot. He raced up the short stretch of sidewalk between playground and fountain, following the others. I trailed behind, stepping over a few fallen leaves and scattered twigs. Drinks accomplished, we turned to head back to the playground. Huck was in front, still barefoot, and I registered that the stick he was about to jump over wasn’t a stick at all just as he did, in fact, jump over it. His chubby bare foot hit the ground about an inch from the slithering, diamonded, triangle-headed, rattle-having stick.

I screamed. Launched myself between Huck and the snake. It wasn’t a big rattler, and it was leaving the path in a hurry, heading for the aforementioned blissful shade under the trees. I backed the kids way up, looked around wildly—and then, yes, took a picture. I mean, I was already holding my camera, and it was clear the thing wanted to put some distance between itself and my pack of wild monkeys.

By this point the playground was filled with a group of day-camp kids who’d arrived for a picnic. I hustled my kids back toward the parking lot, stopping to alert the camp counselors to the presence of the snake. They put in a call to Animal Control and herded their charges to the cement-floored picnic area. The snake hung out under the swings—Rilla’s swing—for a bit and then chan

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6. OPPOSNAKES


Opposnakes a Lift the Flap Book about Opposites by Salina Yoon is a great concept teaching tool. Bright and lively illustrations with friendly faced snakes introduce opposites in a fun way! Few words are used which will engage young ones and also emerging readers can confidently read their own way to the end. Really great find!




ALSO TRY:

One Weighs a Ton by Salina Yoon

The Crayola Rainbow Colors Book by Salina Yoon

Super Babies on the Move by Salina Yoon



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7. The Snake on My Desk, and After That

























I came out to the barn where I work at about ten o'clock this morning. So what if it's Memorial Day? Writers work when they need to, and I had two blog posts to write. Past the gorgeously blooming hibiscus plant that props open the door, up the stairs past my son's Hess trucks and a painting I did once of the moon, as it looked every day for a month, past color printouts of my work-in-progress, an illustrated book about my dives in the submarine Alvin... I hit the button on the radio, preset to WFUV, and I set my glass of water on my desk.

That's when a five-foot garter snake uncoiled itself from somewhere, scooted across my desk toward me (I leapt back. Duh.), slid down the front of my file cabinet, and skedaddled into the dark corner beside the desk, where it found safety amid two open canvas boxes of files.

Holy BATS. Hell's bells. Crikey! Why me, why this, why now? Lord, don't you know I'm BUSY?

Okay, okay. I have resources. My friend Tucker is nineteen, studies zoology, and is known for his extreme joy upon discovering a fer-de-lance snake in the boot of a bunkmate during a stay in Costa Rica. I knew Tucker would come over and get the snake out for me. But Tucker's mother tells me he is away for the weekend, saying sadly, "He'll be so sorry to miss this opportunity." Uh-huh.

I get my park ranger friend Noonie on the phone at her house in Pennsylvania. Noonie is famous among my family for having introduced them to several fine examples of snakes, including Harry, her Burmese python; a water snake at our swimming hole; and a couple of mating snakes that made beautiful music -- well, if you want that story I'm going to post it on The Doodling Desk under Good Little Snakes.

Noonie suggests I construct a barricade using bed sheets, planks. and blankets and, having created a channel for the snake to run along, begin to remove the files boxes and other stuff that is shielding the snake. Then I can just pick it up if it doesn't go in the right direction and take it out. "It's going to try to bite you, but just remember you're not small enough to fit inside its mouth." From the background, her partner Steve shouts, "Wear gloves!" All this is the kind of advice I find difficult to follow, and besides I have WORK TO DO, did I mention that? At last Noon admits that just leaving the snake behind the desk is definitely an option.

So I do, for now. Yes, I do have work to do, but this situation has presented me with a different approach to that work. The earlier idea for the blog post has gone straight out the window (where I wish the snake would also go) and an interest born of necessity has overcome it -- not just the necessity to feel comfortable in my work place, but a fascination with learning enough about this situation to write

5 Comments on The Snake on My Desk, and After That, last added: 5/31/2011
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8. Toads and Snakes – What do you know?

by Heather Tomlinson, author of Toads and Diamonds


Authors are often told to “write what you know.” But what if you don’t? Research is the key to making the fantastical, believable. In the course of writing a novel, a writer can become completely immersed in finding out about a wide variety of subjects. In this case, reptiles. For as long as it takes to write the book, we become experts.

As for you, gentle reader? Prepare to test your herpetology knowledge!

True or False:

It’s difficult to tell poisonous snakes from harmless ones.

True. Some poisonous snakes do have distinguishing characteristics such as: a triangular head; vertical “catlike” pupils; a hole or pit between the animal’s eyes that is a heat sensor allowing it to track live prey; specific coloring or feature like a cobra’s hood. But non-poisonous snakes may mimic poisonous snakes in coloring or behavior to fool other predators.
 

from Indian Snakes, An Elementary Treastise on Ophiology, With a Descriptive Catalog of the Snakes Found in India and the Adjoining Countries, by Edward Nicholson]

 

Cobras are the world’s most venomous snakes.
False. In terms of toxicity, their venom doesn’t make the top ten list (Ernst & Zug, 1996). Russel’s viper, several varieties of sea snakes and kraits, for example, are far more deadly.

Touching a toad can give you warts.
False. Warts are caused by a virus that enters the skin via a scratch or cut.

Most snakes live in the desert.
False. Snakes live in a variety of habitats, including the water, forest, swamps, prairies, and even glaciers.

 Snakes eat other snakes.
True. Some species’ diet consists primarily of other snakes. For other species, food items may include insects, birds, fish, small mammals, and other reptiles.

 

Snakes drink milk.
False. According to Indian Snakes.org, “The ‘milk drinking’ snakes shown by snake charmers are severely dehydrated and hence they will drink milk which is normally watered down and given to them.”

Poisonous snakes are an issue for people living in India.
True. In 2008, according to UPI, about 80,000 snakebites were reported, resulting in 11,000 deaths. Most take place in rural areas without immediate access to medical treatment and anti-venom.

Some snakes carry a diamond in their heads.
False. Totally a myth!

Under certain circumstances, a girl might wind up speaking toads and snakes with every word she says, which could lead to all sorts of misadventures.
True!  So, so true.

 



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9. Can I Play Too?

Can I Play Too? by Mo Willems

If you are ever looking for a picture book or easy reader sure to pull a child in and get them adoring books, pull any of Mo Willems books off the shelf.  His Elephant and Piggie series is so simple, yet profound and funny.  This latest book in the series is one of the best in the bunch.  Here we see Elephant, the careful and more serious character, and Piggie, who is loud and enthusiastic.  The two of them are best friends, which alone has led to some great books.  Add Snake who wants to join them in playing ball.  Of course, that’s a problem because Snake can’t really catch since he doesn’t have arms.  But that doesn’t mean he can’t try and it certainly doesn’t mean that Piggie can’t figure out a solution that will have them all playing together.

Willems is the master of brevity, capturing entire scenes in a few words and his simple illustrations.  His book are perfection for early readers but also make great read alouds thanks to his skill in writing.  His characters are beautifully drawn, offering so much in so few words and images.  It is magic on a page.

In this book, Willem’s natural humor comes pouring forth into a vaudeville-like scene that will have children laughing aloud, guffawing even.  It is a special easy reader that will have my teenage son crowding us on the couch to be able to see.  But then, all he needed to hear was that it was a Mo Willems book and it was funny. 

Guaranteed success between two covers, this book is laugh-out-loud funny, wry and as always with Willems, big hearted.  Appropriate for ages 3-6 and the occasional thirteen-year-old.

Reviewed from library copy.

Also reviewed by:

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10. Review - Sully's Topsy Tale


Sully’s Topsy Tale is a wonderful rhyming story about a solo singing snake with laryngitis. Children will be thrilled as Sully’s friends all try to help him with his problem. In the end Sully recovers and discovers in the process that it is good to have friends as they make beautiful music together..


Donna J. Shepherd’s rhymes are delightful and have a wonderful message about friendship. Kevin Collier’s illustrations are colorful and humorous, and will definitely make children giggle. Donna and Kevin are a winning partnership.


This is the third book in the Topsy Tales series. This book is suitable for children ages 3 to 7. The back cover includes definitions of musical terms used in the book. The book is endorsed by a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist for use in articulation therapy for the letter “s”.


COMING SOON: Sully’s Topsy Tale is a Littlest Angels Book from Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.

For a FREE coloring page go to Sully's Topsy Tale

7 Comments on Review - Sully's Topsy Tale, last added: 6/1/2010
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11. Ancient World Radio


Some more sketchbook work. My current sketchbook is the Hand* Book. This sketchbook caught my eye because of the colour and unusual shape. The white, thick paper is lovely as well.

There's a review of this notebook on this diary writing blog and more information on this notebook blog. I'm finding a lot of great reviews of paper and pen products lately and I'll share them as I find them. Currently my favorite site to read about thoughts on paper and ink is Drawing With a Squirrel. Check it out, I went through it yesterday and made a list of art supplies to try out.

A couple of bits of good news. I sold this picture and I've been commissioned for a book cover. Very cool.

Also, my picture got a very nice write up on on The Ephemerist.

Two bits of good news this week. I sold a drawing and I've been commisioned to do a book cover.

4 Comments on Ancient World Radio, last added: 1/26/2010
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12. Animal Kingdom Stories Continue...

Steph got us talking about accidental roadkill last week, and many of us had stories about how we’d unfortunately taken ended some lives in the animal kingdom.

Well, today I’ve got a story about how one of them came to my rescue.

It was Saturday morning, and I'd decided to take a walk because I’m trying to tone up to look fairly decent in my gown for the Rita awards next month. I slapped on my headphones and set off. Early on, I noticed an unusual number of black crows flying around, scavenging, and then one with a nice hunk of bagel. Since I talk to random animals all the time--but don’t worry about me too much for they don’t respond--I applauded him for his breakfast “score,” as I moved on.

A half-hour later, I'm on a sidewalk two miles away, bopping to my CD (because I a firm believer in walking as if nobody’s looking), when out of nowhere, a black crow dive-bombs the strip of grass between the sidewalk and the street ahead of me.


Suddenly a six foot plus rattlesnake jackrabbits up and across the sidewalk, running for HIS life. Where it had been, I guess, sunning. And maybe coiled.

Maybe I should add here that I have a screaming, out-of-my-mind snake phobia. To the extent that back in college, I could not enter a certain classroom building because its first floor corridor was lined with CAGED snakes. And which is why the only snake that appears in this post is cartoon and "almost" cute.

When I regain consciousness (miraculously I am still breathing and somehow across the street), I realize that had that crow not shown up, I would have dance-walked right up to that rattlesnake, most likely startling the thing.

Arg, sputter, gasp.

And because I am a total drama queen, newspaper headlines started screaming in my head:


WOMAN SAVED BY DIVE-BOOMING CROW FROM RATTLESNAKE ATTACK

CROWS COMMUNICATE TO SAVE CRAZY WOMAN

LOCAL AUTHOR SAVED FROM RATTLESNAKE BY CROW (BUT WILL SHE LOOK GOOD IN HER RITA DRESS?)

WOMAN FACES BIGGEST FEAR AND LIVES TO BLOG ABOUT IT

Or...or...

Any other headline ideas? Or have a near-miss yourself in the wild?

Tina

Tina Ferraro
How to Hook a Hottie, 2009 Rita Finalist
The ABC's of Kissing Boys, 2009 YALSA Nominee
Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress
www.tinaferraro.com

9 Comments on Animal Kingdom Stories Continue..., last added: 6/29/2009
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13. Meet Margot Finke, author of Rattlesnake Jam



Author and freelance editor Margot Finke writes midgrade adventure fiction and rhyming picture books. For many years she's lived in Oregon with her husband and family. Her 6 books series of rhyming picture books are fun and educational. They bring kids closer to many of the neat animals in the US and Australia. Excerpts and illustrations from these books can be viewed on her BOOKS page, along with instructions on how to BUY and great reviews.
"Musings," her monthly column for children's writers, can be read in The Purple Crayon and the SCBWI NewsWorthy magazine. Her Website offers help to upcoming writers, and her Critique Service can help you iron out plot and character problems.

In this tour, Margot is promoting her latest picture book, Rattlesnake Jam. I had the chance of reviewing this book recently, and all I can tell you is that it's disgustingly delicious! Read my review HERE.

Hi, Margot! Thanks for stopping by my blog today. Why don't you start by telling us 5 unusual things about yourself?

I was born in the land Down Under
I am scared of driving
I love speaking to large audiences - no fear at all!!
With a name like "Finke" I had to develop a good sense of humor
I don't have a belly button.

You write because...

To not write is unthinkable. I think some people get double dibbs on the writing gene. I know I did. When an idea or a character takes over your every waking hour, and a big chunk of your dreams, it means that sooner or later, you have to put everything else on hold, and put those thoughts into words, sentences, paragraphs and chapters. Soon, a book is born! Although all these Book Tours, and promoting the books I have already written, makes writing time very scarce. Once you have several books published, the rush is on to sell, sell, sell!!


If you weren't an author, what would you be?

I would be a master gardener with my own nursery. We have an acre of landscaped gardens, and I often regret that these days I don't have the energy or time to work on both.

Tell us about Rattlesnake Jam.

I wrote Rattlesnake Jam for boys and reluctant readers. My son was a reluctant reader, and I soon realized that if you want boys to really enjoy reading, you have to give them what their macho brains long for. Cut the frills, girly stuff, and the cute descriptions, and bring on the fat frogs, wild relatives, and use powerful words that paint vivid pictures in their heads. With boys, action and the YUCK factor rules!

Most Moms are nervous nellies about snakes. However, once they see how Gran, Pa, and that pot of rattlesnake jam captures their reluctant reader's imagination , they order up. Hey! Gran does promise her jam cures everything from gout to wheeze. It's not a big stretch to add
"reluctant readers" to the list of cures - now is it?

How do you handle your muse when she refuses to help you?

My Muse knows her place, mate, fairdinkum!! When I call, she comes. Well. . . most of the time.
Lack of ideas is not my problem - it's lack of TIME that often has me beat.

What would you say to those people who think picture books are easy to write?

I'd tell them that picture book writing is like being a great parent: It looks easy until you try doing it yourself. Throw a few words together on three or four pages, get a friend to draw cute pictures, and send it off to a publisher - all done over one weekend - right? Like good parenting, it's what you DON"T know about it that will ruin your chances of success.

Leave us with some words of wisdom....

You've got to be kidding, mate. Wisdom is a rare commodity. And I suspect that age is not the only necessary component. How about this: Do good. Be Good. And know your limits. And if you are lucky enough to have double-dipped on the writing gene, stick with it until your talent is well honed, and you are published.

Thanks, Margot!

Margot will be giving away a prize at the end of the tour. To be eligible, just leave a comment on her BLOG.

To win a print copy of my children's book, CRASH, just leave a comment here. I'll announce the winner on June 15th.

To see the full Bounding for Books Blog Tour schedule, click HERE.

8 Comments on Meet Margot Finke, author of Rattlesnake Jam, last added: 6/5/2009
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14. Review of Rattlesnake Jam, by Margot Finke


Rattlesnake Jam is a hilariously funny children’s picture book about an old couple who share an irresistible affection for rattlesnakes. There’s only one problem: While Pa would rather have the rattlesnakes turned into fritters or pie, old Gran prefers them turned into jam… disgustingly green, sweetened, gooey rattlesnake jam!

So no matter how cold the weather is, there goes brave Pa hunting after the snakes. And as he hunts them, he fantasizes about the various ways Gran could cook them—hot on a plate, fried, sliced on white rice, hmmm… But no way will his dreams ever become a reality, for as readers will learn “…snake cooked for Pa was not in Gran’s plan. She dreamed of them sweetened and made into jam.” Though Gran swears her special jam can cure colds, gout and wheeze, not to mention “troublesome knees”, everyone dislikes the taste of her ghastly creation. Will Gran ever stop?

Colliers’s colorful, wacky illustrations complement Finke’s humorous rhyme perfectly. Gran is grossly comical with her toothless grin, warts, and bell pepper nose. The book has 28 pages in all, and each story page has an illustration with a short text at the bottom—a two or four line rhyme. Whimsical and amusing, Rattlesnake Jam is one of those books young children will beg their parents to read to them again and again.

0 Comments on Review of Rattlesnake Jam, by Margot Finke as of 6/15/2008 10:26:00 AM
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15. SFG: Wicked

Oh Eve ...



I'm experimenting with ink jet prints printed as drafts so they come out rough and illustrating on top of them with markers and colored pencil. Then scanning and adjusting in photoshop using texture layers and experimenting with color treatments.

Enjoy

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16. Funny, Weird, or Scary Signs #4

More than flowers at the local nursery.

9 Comments on Funny, Weird, or Scary Signs #4, last added: 3/12/2008
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17. Blue Like Jazz


I just had to blog Donald Miller. I love his writing, and since I'm reading Blue Like Jazz, and found he has a website, I'm blogging it.

0 Comments on Blue Like Jazz as of 7/22/2007 4:00:00 PM
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