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I'm happy to announce that according to randomizer, the winner of the hardcover copy of TIME TRAVELING WITH A HAMSTER is...
PATRICIA TILTON
Congratulations, Patricia! Expect a message from me asking for your mailing address.
I'm happy to announce that, according to randomizer, the winner of the hardcover copy of FULL OF BEANS is...
Congratulations, Suzanne! Expect an email from me asking for your mailing address.
* * *
Next week, I'll be featuring a review of TIME TRAVELING WITH A HAMSTER by Ross Welford, and the week after, an exclusive Q&A with Ross,
and a giveaway!
We have a winner! According to randomizer, the winner of the hardcover copy of THE GALLERY by Laura Marx Fitzgerald is
Congratulations, Jess! Expect an email from me soon.
I'll be back next week with a new review and another giveaway!
I'm happy to announce that, according to randomizer, the winner of the hardcover copy of A CLATTER OF JARS and the paperback copy of A TANGLE OF KNOTS is....
BOOKS4LEARNING
Congratulations! And expect an email from me asking for your mailing address.
Come back next week for a guest post from debut author David Neilsen!
I'm pleased to announce that according to randomizer the winner of the SIGNED hardcover copy of UNIDENTIFIED SUBURBAN OBJECT by Mike Jung is
Congratulations, Rosi! Expect an email from me asking for your mailing address.
* * *
Please note: I'm taking a blogging break for a few weeks so I can focus on revising my verse novel. I received some fantastic feedback on it at the
Highlights Foundation workshop on Novels in Verse in late May. Those five days were a magical experience, filled with learning, sharing, and making new friends. Really, we felt more like a family by the end. The food was heavenly, we took walks without seeing a single vehicle (!), and there was plenty of built-in time for writing. I'll be back in July with a more-detailed recap of my adventures.
I'll leave you with some photos from Highlights. My cabin was the second from the left. Rustic and cozy and very conducive to writing.
I'm pleased to announce a Giveaway winner for the signed hardcover copy of THE DRAKE EQUATION by Bart King. According to randomizer the winner is:
SUE HEAVENRICH
Congratulations, Sue! Look for an email from me asking for your mailing address.
* * *
And I'm so excited because I have a new giveaway this week and it's also SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR!
Unidentified Suburban Object by Mike Jung (April 26, 2016, Scholastic Press, 272 pages, for ages 8 to 12)Synopsis (from Indiebound): The next person who compares Chloe Cho with famous violinist Abigail Yang is going to HEAR it. Chloe has just about had it with people not knowing the difference between someone who's Chinese, Japanese, or Korean. She's had it with people thinking that everything she does well -- getting good grades, winning first chair in the orchestra, et CETera -- are because she's ASIAN.
Of course, her own parents don't want to have anything to DO with their Korean background. Any time Chloe asks them a question they change the subject. They seem perfectly happy to be the only Asian family in town. It's only when Chloe's with her best friend, Shelly, that she doesn't feel like a total alien.
Then a new teacher comes to town: Ms. Lee. She's Korean American, and for the first time Chloe has a person to talk to who seems to understand completely. For Ms. Lee's class, Chloe finally gets to explore her family history. But what she unearths is light-years away from what she expected.
Why I recommend it: I've been one of Mike's loyal followers since, well, practically forever (in social media terms). I've always found his blog posts and tweets thoughtful and thought-provoking. He's a founding member of We Need Diverse Books (and yes, people, we STILL need diverse books!). But all of that is really besides the point because I LOVE THIS BOOK and I would love it even if I didn't know anything about the author and even if I hadn't read
GEEKS, GIRLS, AND SECRET IDENTITIES, Mike's first MG novel, published in 2012.
Chloe's voice is pitch-perfect. You will feel you are listening to an actual twelve-year-old girl gripe about her parents and school. Her family history is wild and crazy, but makes for a fun, fast-paced read. Chloe's friendship with Shelly reminds me of actual friendships I had in junior high. And it's always refreshing to read a story in which the main character has two loving parents. Plus, this is a lighthearted, humorous novel that nevertheless delves into deeper issues of prejudice and racism. Today's kids need this book more than ever.
Favorite lines (from page 66): "The notes spilled out of the violin strings like beams of sunlight, and I got that tingly feeling I always get when I'm playing something as well as I can play, except I was just playing a scale!"
Giveaway details: I have a SIGNED hardcover copy to give away. To enter, you must be a follower of this blog and you must comment on this post. US mailing addresses only, please (so sorry!). If you mention this giveaway on social media, please let me know and I'll give you extra chances. This giveaway ends at 10:00 pm EDT on Sun June 5 and the lucky winner will be announced on Monday June 6, 2016. Good luck!
I'm happy to announce that according to randomizer, the winner of the hardcover copy of FREE VERSE by Sarah Dooley is...
JESS HAIGHT
Congrats, Jess! Those extra chances really did help. Look for an email from me asking for your mailing address.
I'll be back next week with something a little different... In the meantime, enjoy my latest Fifty Word Story:
Midnight at the Urgent Care Clinic.
It gives me great pleasure to announce the winners of my two recent giveaways.
According to randomizer.org, the winner of the hardcover copy of THE GOBLIN'S PUZZLE by Andrew S. Chilton is:
Congratulations, Akoss! Expect an email from me asking for your mailing address.
_________________________________________
And now, according to randomizer, the winner of the hardcover copy of NOOKS & CRANNIES by Jessica Lawson is:
Congratulations, Rosi! Expect an email from me asking for your mailing address.
And thanks to everyone for supporting my blog.
First, I have a winner to announce. The winner of 101 MOVIES TO SEE BEFORE YOU GROW UP by Suzette Valle is:
Susan Gregory
Congratulations, Susan! I'll get your book out to you pronto.
______________________________________________
And now we return to our regular Monday broadcast, er, feature, MMGM. See
Shannon Messenger's blog for the links to other Marvelous Middle Grade Monday posts.
Synopsis (from Indiebound): After her best friend dies in a drowning accident, Suzy is convinced that the true cause of the tragedy must have been a rare jellyfish sting--things don't just happen for no reason. Retreating into a silent world of imagination, she crafts a plan to prove her theory--even if it means traveling the globe, alone. Suzy's achingly heartfelt journey explores life, death, the astonishing wonder of the universe...and the potential for love and hope right next door.
Why I recommend it: Beautiful writing and an expertly crafted plot. The simple, yet luminous language -- and Suzy's earnest desire -- makes this a joy to read, even though the subject matter is weighty with sadness. It's easy to see why
The Thing About Jellyfish is a National Book Award Finalist (
winners will be announced November 18) and has earned starred reviews from PW, Booklist, School Library Journal and others.
Suzy's grief is heartbreakingly realistic. I lost a good friend at age 10 (she rode her bike across a busy street and never saw the truck that hit her), so this moving story affected me deeply. This book should also win at least a Newbery honor in January.
Favorite line: They are moving silently, endlessly, all of them, through the darkness of the sea (from pg. 109).
Bonus: You're bound to learn something about jellyfish!
Have you read The Thing About Jellyfish? If not, what MG novels have you read that deal poignantly with grief?
First, huge congrats to Laurie Wallmark for the STARRED review of Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine in Publishers Weekly! Here's a link to the review. I'm so happy for you, Laurie. It's well-deserved.
And now... (drum roll, please)
I have a winner to announce! According to randomizer, the winner of the hardcover copy of
Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine by Laurie Wallmark is...
MICHAEL G-G
Congrats, Michael. Expect an email from me asking for your address. The book will be coming directly from Laurie. So if you want it autographed, I'm sure she'd be happy to do that for you.
Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway.
First, I have a winner to announce. According to randomizer, the winner of the hardcover of Auggie & Me:Three Wonder Stories and The Wonder Journal is...
Greg Pattridge
Congratulations, Greg and expect an email from me asking for your mailing address.
* * * * *
Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead (Wendy Lamb Books/Random House, August 4, 2015, 304 pages, for ages 10 and up)
Source: Random House
Synopsis (from Indiebound): Bridge is an accident survivor who's wondering why she's still alive. Emily has new curves and an almost-boyfriend who wants a certain kind of picture. Tabitha sees through everybody's games or so she tells the world. The three girls are best friends with one rule: No fighting.Can it get them through seventh grade?
This year everything is different for Sherm Russo as he gets to know Bridge Barsamian. What does it mean to fall for a girl as a friend?
On Valentine's Day, an unnamed high school girl struggles with a betrayal. How long can she hide in plain sight?
Each memorable character navigates the challenges of love and change in this captivating novel.
Why I recommend it: There's a lot to love about this novel, including realistic dialogue and great characters, but my favorite part is the gradual blossoming of the friendship between Bridge and Sherm. I love that neither of them are ready to be more than just friends yet.
Have to admit I also felt a strong kinship for Bridge since she's an accident survivor. And as an aneurysm survivor, I can tell you her feelings are spot-on. Rebecca Stead has done her research. But I wouldn't expect anything less from the author of First Light, When You Reach Me, and Liar and Spy, all of which I've read and enjoyed.
Favorite line: "Tab's mom said that when people reached out to hurt your feelings, it was because they secretly felt they deserved to be talked to that way." (p. 140)
Bonus: Plenty of diversity, as one would expect in a NY city school. But the author doesn't hit you over the head with it.
Rebecca Stead's websiteFollow her on Twitter
I'm happy to announce that according to randomizer the winner of the hardcover of THE UNLIKELY ADVENTURES OF MABEL JONES by Will Mabbitt is....Cindy
(of Cindy Reads a Lot)
Congratulations, Cindy! Expect an email from me asking for your mailing address. Readers, if you haven't visited Cindy's blog, Cindy Reads a Lot, you should click on over there pronto!
* * *
Please note that I'll be on a blogging break for at least the next month or so as I try to make headway on a much-needed rewrite of my fourth novel. I'll be back to visiting your blogs in late August. Enjoy the summer and stay cool!
Hi everyone!
Moving day finally arrived this past weekend–one long day that has, thus far, lasted 96 hours (and counting). While everything is moved, my living space is boxish. The cats are not thrilled with all the booms and bangs of neighborhood fireworks, which, strangely, go off all day and night. For a state that has made fireworks illegal, there are a lot of fireworks going off.
Moving is never much fun, but I was fortunate to have hired a company that sent two energetic, polite, and very professional movers. Anyone interested in another’s cannot-fit-into-new-home stuff, a yard sale is . . . wait, I have a garage now . . . a garage sale will be held near the end of August. By then, I should have most of the boxes opened and sorted. Until then, the cats are enjoy climbing the stacked boxes and furniture and tromping in the empty boxes. Lucky cats.
Baby Girl (grey) and Theo (white) enjoy the familiarity of the bedroom.
Those who made a move after 15 years in one place will understand my current living situation. Those who have not, the pictures should help.
One side of living room.
Kitchen: big metal square is a built-in fridge (doesn’t work).
New Refrigerator: ice maker not hooked-up, but still dispenses ice.
The house was built in the 1940’s and has plaster walls, not drywall. All new to me and proving to be a challenge. “Just where is that stud?” Love the backyard, which is divided into 1/3rd front and 2/3rds back (fenced in), with the entire yard privacy fenced. Molly, a nine-year-old rescue dog, will be moving in once I have a living room. She loves the fenced in portion. The rescue yard does not have grass, so this was new for her.
Anytime you move into an older home, all sorts of problems seem to surface. This has led to some Bad News/Good News: Basement leaks/but getting water-proofed. Bathroom is a mess. Last owner actually used double-sided table (Scotch tape) to keep shower wall attached to the wall. It didn’t work. Good news is the bathroom is being made over next week. Old tub out, walk-in shower in. Everything will be changed except the toilet (already new). A built-in oven across from the new fridge (doesn’t work), is getting pulled next week and a pantry built in that space. I even got to start a garden. Nothin fancy this year: tomatoes, peppers, radishes, carrots, and lettuce.
Reviews will be back on track after the July 4th holiday. I have a new writing room.
My new “writing room.”
This has been a rough year for me and book reviews have suffered for it. Things are going to turn around. I know it. Enjoy the weekend’s activities, the food, festivities, family, and friends, and stay safe. See you after the 4th.
Oh, congratulations to Julie Harms Moen! Julie won the Guardian Herds tote bag and all the goodies inside it.
Filed under:
Special Event Tagged:
bathroom makeovers,
boxes-upon-boxes,
giveaway winner,
moving day,
old houses,
rescue dogs 
Hope everyone is enjoying Memorial Day Weekend. It's been lovely weather here in Pennsylvania the last four or five days. Without further ado, I'll get to the good stuff.
According to randomizer, the winner of the giveaway of a hardcover copy of
The Wisdom of Merlin and a paperback of the updated version of
The Hero's Trail is...
Michael G-G
Congratulations, Michael! Expect an email from me asking for your mailing address. I'll get these out to you ASAP.
I'm happy to announce that according to randomizer the winner of the signed hardcover copy of A Dragon's Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans by Laurence Yep and Joanne Ryder is...
FAITH HOUGH
Congratulations, Faith! Expect an email from me asking for your mailing address.
First, I have a winner to announce...
According to randomizer, the winner of the signed hardcover of The Inquisitor's Mark (The Eighth Day Book 2) by Dianne K. Salerni is...
JESS HAIGHT
Congratulations, Jess! Expect an email from me asking for your mailing address. I'll be attending Dianne's book launch this Saturday, January 31st and will buy your copy then.
_______________________________________________________________
Now for some Newbery talk in honor of the 2015
ALA Youth Media Awards, which will be announced one week from today, at 8 am Central Time on Monday February 2nd.
Back in October, I mentioned in
this post that I had read 60 Newbery medal winners. (
Here's a link to the Buzzfeed Newbery test if you haven't taken it).
Well, I'm happy to report that I can update that total once again. Thanks to my local library, I've now read 67. I believe
Ms. Yingling has read all 93 of them (Congrats, Karen!), though I don't know how she did it, because some of those older books are, um, a bit slow (I tried to read
Hitty, The First 100 Years. I really did. I think the cramped font put me off too).
Here's a brief look at some favorites from the seven Newbery medal winners I read in the last few months, all highly recommended:
Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata (Atheneum, 2004, for ages 10 and up, winner of the 2005 Newbery Medal)
Katie Takeshima's big sister, Lynn, makes everything seem kira-kira, or glittering, shining. It's the 1950s and the family moves from Iowa to rural Georgia, where Katie's parents work long hours in a poultry plant and hatchery. This isn't so much a book about prejudice (although that's a big part of it) as it is a haunting and achingly beautiful look at how the death of a loved one tears apart an entire family. It's up to Katie to remind her family there is still kira-kira in the future.
I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1965, for ages 10 and up, winner of the 1966 Newbery Medal)
I'd always put off reading this because I was afraid it would be dry and boring. I was wrong. Told in first person, this novel is based on the life of the painter Velasquez and his slave, Juan de Pareja, who became a respected artist in his own right. In seventeenth-century Spain it was forbidden for slaves to practice the arts, so Juan resorts to stealing colors and painting in secret, despite knowing he could be killed for it. A great novel about the injustice of slavery. I also loved the richness of the writing, with a tapestry of colorful details that brought Juan's world vividly to life.
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (Atheneum, 1991, ages 8 to 12, winner of the 1992 Newbery Medal)
According to
Wikipedia, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor completed the first draft of this novel in a mere eight weeks! Yet it's become a modern classic. Published in 1991 and set in West Virginia, this touching story of Marty and the dog he rescues must be one of the first MG books to talk about animal abuse (unless you can think of another?). And don't worry, it has a happy ending.
What book do you hope will win this year's Newbery medal?
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson is getting a lot of Newbery buzz, so I won't be at all surprised if it wins. I've only predicted the gold correctly one time (the year When You Reach Me won). Maybe I'd have better luck trying to predict honor books. This year, I'm hoping the Newbery committee gives some love to Hope is a Ferris Wheel by Robin Herrera, The Secret Hum of a Daisy by Tracy Holczer, and El Deafo by Cece Bell.
Even though today is Wednesday, this isn't a Wednesday Writing Workout post. (We'll be back with more workouts in January.) I just wanted to share a quick update regarding our Three Weeks of Thanks-Giving challenge. This year was the first time we ran a book giveaway in conjunction with our series of posts expressing our gratitude. Last Friday, when I posted my wrap-up linking to posts by other bloggers who joined in our challenge, I didn't realize that a number of our readers had shared their "gratitudes" in their giveaway contest entries. It wasn't until I reviewed all the entries this past Monday that I saw them. Their gratitude was so uplifting I had to share them with you.
When asked to "Tell us three things you're grateful for," here's what they said:
- Family, children's books, great blogs to follow!
- I'm grateful for my family, my awesome poetry friends, and for my wonderful life. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to see if it all is real.
- I am grateful for my family, friends and God for my life.
- Health, loved ones and faith top the list today!
- My job, my friends, and my family
- Wonderful family, immediate and extended, fabulous friends from way back and from recently, and writing for the sake of writing. Thankful, happy, humbled.
- I'm thankful for: the cornucopia of rich SCBWI IL and beyond authors and Illustrators sharing their skills and knowledge with us; my family that perpetually allows me to pour myself into my writing and art; and nature that is a constant well of inspiration for all that I create!
- Thankful for family and thankful for the snow
- I'm grateful for 1. my hubby, 2. currently having no obstacle, be it physical, mental, emotional, or practical, to enjoying every simple joy in life that I could wish for, and 3. having no obstacles (except for my own inefficiencies) to exercising creativity in many ways every day.
- I am filled with gratitude for my loving home and family, more than five years of being cancer free, and my opportunities to make a difference.
- I am grateful for: A wonderful network of writers through SCBWI. My two challenging, supportive writers groups: one in Illinois and one in Virginia. My family, who provide inspiration, encouragement, ideas, and yes--distractions.
- I'm grateful for health, happiness and heaps of good books to read--and WRITE!
WE'RE grateful so many of our readers took time to share their "gratitudes" with us!
Congratulations to our giveaway winner,
Margaret Simon, who shared her wonderful "Thanku to Roux" along with a student Thanku at her blog,
Reflections on the Teche on November 8.
Thanks again to everyone who participated.
Happy writing!
Carmela
First, I have a winner to announce from the LUG giveaway. Drum roll please............
The winner is.......
SUZANNE WARR
Congratulations, Suzanne! Look for a message from me asking for your mailing address.
* * * * *
Today's MMGM features another debut novel. And it's the debut of our own Jessica Lawson!
For other MMGM posts, look for the links on
Shannon Messenger's blog.
 |
| Jessica Lawson from her website |
The Actual &Truthful Adventures of Becky Thatcher by Jessica Lawson, illustrated by Iacopo Bruno (for ages 8 to 12, Simon & Schuster, July 2014)
Source: purchased from B&N
Synopsis (from the book jacket): Becky Thatcher is sick and tired of that tattletale Tom Sawyer following her around! Becky is determined to have her own adventures, just like she promised her brother, Jon, before he died. When she joins the boys at school in a bet to steal from the Widow Douglas, the rumored town witch, Becky recruits her best friend Amy Lawrence to join her in a night of mischief. And that's when the real adventure begins.
Why I recommend it: What a fun read! This is one of those delightful stories you could easily read over and over again, especially if you're eleven or twelve. You don't have to be familiar with Tom Sawyer or Sam Clemens, but it helps. This is a smart, funny book, and best of all, it features one of the strongest female protagonists I've encountered this year. Or in a lot of years. The sassy and tomboyish Becky is a joy to get to know. You'll have a great time tagging along as she searches for adventure, escaped convicts, and maybe even treasure.
What MG novel could you read over and over again? Tell me in the comments.
Now for the
GIVEAWAY details:
My very own hardcover copy (*hugs book*) is staying right here in my house, but the author herself has generously offered a FREE hardcover copy for one lucky winner, who will be chosen by randomizer. This giveaway is open to US/Canadian addresses only. To enter, you must be a follower and you must leave a comment on this post. If you tweet about the giveaway or mention on facebook or your own blog, I'll give you extra entries, but please include the links. Thanks! This giveaway ends at 10 pm EDT on Friday Oct 3, 2014 and the winner will be announced on Monday Oct 6.
By:
Susanna Leonard Hill,
on 9/19/2014
Blog:
Susanna Leonard Hill
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Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, Everyone!
Boy do I have the most magnificent book to share with you today! It's one of those books that makes you revel in how perfect it is when you get to the end and want to read it again right away in case you missed anything and then again just to enjoy how much fun it is :) I hope you all like it as much as I do!
Title: The Most Magnificent Thing
Written & Illustrated By: Ashley Spires
Kids Can Press, April 2014, Fiction
Suitable For Ages: 3-7
Themes/Topics: creativity, perseverance, perspective, emotion (frustration)
Opening: "
This is a regular girl and her best friend in the whole wide world. They do all kinds of things together. They race. They eat. They explore. They relax. She makes things. He unmakes things. One day, the girl has a wonderful idea. She is going to make the most MAGNIFICENT thing!"
Brief Synopsis: A little girl sets out to make the most MAGNIFICENT thing with the help of her best friend and assistant, her dog. Imagine their shock when the thing turns out
not to be magnificent! In fact, it's not even "
good. It isn't even kind-of-sort-of okay. It is all wrong." So she tosses it and starts again. But it's not easy to turn her vision into reality. Frustration leads to anger, and anger leads to defeat. Luckily, her assistant suggests a walk which brings calm and clarity and a new perspective... and a most magnificent thing :)Links To Resources: supply a variety of craft items and/or found objects and encourage kids to think up and create their own "magnificent things";
Goldie Blox Toys (which encourage girls to put down the dolls and pick up the tools and might give you some invention ideas)
Why I Like This Book: I love that this story addresses what may be the most common of all childhood emotions: frustration! The little girl has a great idea. She can imagine it perfectly. She knows exactly how it will look. But she has a hard time translating what she sees in her mind's eye to the physical reality of her most magnificent thing. Her escalation of emotion is real and believable (and kids will relate to it so well!) And the message that sometimes a little distance and a little time to calm down can help improve your perspective is a wonderful one. In the end, she makes something that is just perfect (but I won't tell you what it is :)) The art is cute and full of humor. The depiction of emotion is spot on. The story touches on imagination and creativity, making things from found objects, dealing with frustration and disappointment, keeping/finding your perspective, not giving up, the idea that it's okay to make mistakes, and the importance of having a good friend. All around, a book kids will enjoy and parents will be glad to read multiple times.
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit
Perfect Picture Books.
Now, before we all trot off so see what everyone else picked this week, I'd like to take a moment to announce the winner of last week's giveaway. Laura Sassi and her publisher, Zonderkidz, generously contributed a copy of GOODNIGHT, ARK and the lucky winner is . . .
Sandy Perlic!!!
Congratulations, Sandy! Please
email me so we can organize getting you your book! And thanks to everyone who shared their bedtime routines - we all had so much fun reading about them!
PPBF bloggers please be sure to leave your post-specific link in the list below so we can all come visit you! I can't wait to see what's on the list for today :)
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!! :)
I'm happy to announce that according to randomizer the winner of The Big Book of Superheroes by Bart King is
GREG PATTRIDGE
Congratulations, Greg! Look for an email from me asking for your mailing address. The publisher will then mail you the book.
I'll be back next week with a feature on Curiosity, Gary Blackwood's newest novel. Until then, happy reading.
Happy Monday, Everyone!
You would think, given that it's Monday, the start of a new week full of possibility, that I would have something pithy or inspiring or at the very least entertaining to share with you all.
And I do!
I have exactly ONE THING!
(Prepare for the shortest post in the history of this blog!)
I'm sure you will all recall that on Friday we held a giveaway thanks to the generosity of Lori Degman. One of the commenters on Friday's post was promised a signed copy of Lori's new book, Cock-A-Doodle Oops!
Lori and I were amazed and delighted by how many of you stepped up to admit you were donkeys, chickens, pigs, goats, horses, cows, sheep, ducks, and wow! a whole lot of barn cats! Also, we loved your creative and original crows!
Random.org has done its thing, and I'm thrilled to announce that Farmer McPeeper and his barnyard menagerie will be winging their way to sunny Italy, because none other than the lovely Renee has won Lori's book!
Lori, thank you again for generously donating a copy of your wonderful new book!
Everyone who commented, thank you so much for joining the fun, and I hope you all get a chance to read Lori's fabulous book!
And Renee, please email me your address again because although I'm pretty sure I have it somewhere you will get your book a whole lot sooner if you just send me your address than if I start rooting around for it. I'm very ADD when it comes to searching... or house cleaning... and have a tendency to get distracted from my original task and go off on unrelated tangents and would likely end up sending myself a box of Perugina Chocolate instead of figuring out where in Italy to send your book :)
Have a marvelous Monday, everyone! :)
Yes! I have two winners to announce today, both chosen by randomizer.org.
The winner of the ARC of
The Eighth Day by Dianne Salerni is
AKOSS
Congratulations! And expect an email from me asking for your mailing address.
And now (drum roll, please...), the winner of the hardcover, which will be purchased and signed at Dianne's book launch in April, is
JESS HAIGHT (DMS)
Congratulations! Sorry you have to wait a few weeks for your prize, but as soon as I can I'll mail it to you. And this way, you have time to let me know how you want Dianne to personalize it.
Boy, oh, boy are we going to have tons of fun today!
(Which is good because we're back in sub-zero temperatures around here and I might get cranky about that if not for all the fun! :))
First of all, it's Perfect Picture Book Friday, and what's not to love about that?
Second of all, we have a winner of today's book from our meet the author post on Monday! (You can see the post HERE if you missed it.)
Finally, someone around here, who clearly cannot be left unsupervised for a second!, has been hatching a hare-brained scheme, and I suppose it's about time I let you in on it :) But first - our perfect picture book!
Title: The Girl Who Heard Colors
Written By: Marie Harris
Illustrated By: Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Nancy Paulsen Books, September 2013, Fiction
Suitable For Ages: 3-8
Themes/Topics: synesthesia, differences, acceptance, perception, five senses
Opening: "
Jillian loved the world with all her five senses. She loved the tickling touch of her bunny's whiskers on her cheek. She loved the taste of warm maple syrup on waffles."
Brief Synopsis: When Jillian hears a dog barking, she sees red. When she rings her bike bell, she sees silver. The wind in the pines is soft gray, and the rain, light purple. Jillian has synesthesia - a way of perceiving that causes sound to have color. But when the kids at school tease her, suddenly it doesn't feel like such a great thing to have. It takes a special teacher to help them all see it for the gift it is.
Links To Resources: The back of the book has information about synesthesia.
Neuroscience For Kids has information about synesthesia as well as a test you can try.
Science News For Students also has a lot of information.
HERE is a test to see if you might be a synesthete. Talk about what it would be like to hear colors or taste sounds. Are there times when experiencing the world like that would be an advantage? A disadvantage?
Why I Like This Book: I always like books that encourage acceptance and tolerance. There is too much variety in the world for any one way to be the "right" way to be or believe or perceive. So I like this book for that reason. But it's also a beautifully written story that any child who has ever felt different will relate to. The language is poetic (not surprising since it was written by a New Hampshire poet laureate :).) And synesthesia itself is absolutely fascinating. I finished this book and found myself wishing I could be a synesthete for a day, just to see how cool it would be to experience the world that way!
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit
Perfect Picture Books.
The next item on our agenda of excitement today is to let you know who won the book so generously donated by Marie. Random.org has chosen our winner and it is
Tracy Campbell! Woo-hoo, Tracy! Come on down! Your prize is a signed copy of THE GIRL WHO HEARD COLORS! Please email me with your address (which I probably have but can't find! :)) and I'll get it right out to you!
And now, one last item before we all head off for the weekend....
It's been a long winter.
We've had a lot of snow, and more is coming Sunday into Monday (according to the local weatherman who seriously needs to be replaced by a new weatherman with better news!)
It's been bitterly cold, day after day, for weeks on end.
The icicles have icicles!
I think it's time for some fun!
And it seems to me, we haven't had a writing contest in nearly 3 months...
SO, boys and girls, hold onto your hats, because we're taking Hare-Brained Scheme to a whole new level!
Announcing
The March Madness Writing Contest!
The Contest: Write a children's story, in poetry or prose, maximum 350 words, that is a fractured fairy tale. Feel free to add a theme of spring, or mix in one of the spring holidays if you like - St. Patrick's Day, April Fools Day, Easter or Passover, Arbor Day, Earth Day... Have fun with it ! The madder* the better! :)
*as in wild and wacky, not angry :)
Post: Your entry should be posted on your blog between Thursday March 20 at 12:01 AM EST and Monday March 24 at 11:59 PM EST, and your post-specific link should be added to the link list on the official post which will go up on my blog on Thursday March 20 (no PPBF March 21!) and remain up through Wednesday March 26 (no new post on Monday March 24, no WYRI on March 26). If you don't have a blog but would like to enter, please copy and paste your entry into the comments on my March 20th post. (If anyone has trouble commenting, which unfortunately happens, please email me and I'll post your entry for you!)
The Judge: My lovely assistant and I will narrow down the entrants to five (or possibly a couple more :)) finalists which will be posted here on Thursday March 27 for you to vote on for a winner. The vote will be closed at 5PM EST on March 30 and the winner will be announced on Monday March 31.
The Prizes!: I'm still working on the prize(s). I'm hoping to have something knock-your-socks-off great to offer... I think I do... we'll see. Stay tuned :) But I wanted you all to have time to get to work on your stories so I went ahead and posted the contest rules without the prizes.
Now. The
really hare-brained part of all this is that it will be followed by a related
Illustrator Contest in April!!! (to be announced and elaborated on later! :))
I know!!!
That kind of excitement bowls you right over, don't it? :)
And with that, I wish you a lovely time perusing the rest of today's perfect picture books! PPBF bloggers, please leave your post-specific links in the list below.
Have a great weekend, everyone!!! (And fire up those thinking caps!)
A big "thank you" to all who entered our latest giveaway. We enjoyed learning about your favorite chocolate treats. :-) The winner of the
2013 Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market is:
Sandy Brehl
Sandy blogs at
Unpacking the POWER of Picture Books. Congratulations, Sandy! And thanks again to
Mary Kole for her guest interview.
And now to wrap-up our current
TeachingAuthors' topic: critique groups, and critiquing in general. Last Friday,
Jill opened the discussion with some excellent tips for when you're critiquing a manuscript in a group setting. Mary Ann focused on
advice for one-on-one critiquing. Jeanne Marie
emphasized the importance of looking at first drafts at the "global level," instead of nitpicking them. And both Mary Ann and Jeanne Marie talked about the value of asking a writer: What made you decide to write this particular story?/Why did you choose to write about this topic? Today I'd like to share a bit about what to do when you receive conflicting feedback.
In the facilitated critique workshops that I teach, we follow the critiquing model I learned at Vermont College. The format is described in this
guest post by Lyn Miller-Lachmann. There are two unique aspects to this format that are specifically designed to help keep the writer from getting defensive:
1) The author remains silent while others discuss his or her work. When you think about it, this makes sense. When you submit a manuscript to an editor or agent, you're not there to explain the choices you made. The manuscript must succeed on its own. Also, an author who remains silent is more likely to really
hear the feedback because he or she isn't sitting there thinking about how to respond to what's being said.
2) After a round of sharing positive feedback regarding what's working well, instead of telling an author what's "wrong" with the piece or what needs "fixing," critiquers share questions about the manuscript. I've found it takes some practice for my students to learn how to express their comments in question form, but here are a few examples:
“Is the narrator a boy or a girl?”
“What time of day is it? What season?”
“What happened to the dog?”
“How did the narrator feel when that happened?”
“Why did the mother react so strongly to such a minor accident?”
“Why didn’t the mother react more strongly?
I do allow my students to preface their questions with an “I” statement to indicate points in the story where they were confused or found something unclear. For example:
I was confused here. I thought the narrator was a boy. Is the narrator a boy or a girl?
I couldn’t picture this scene. Is the main character sitting or standing here?
I didn’t understand exactly what this sentence means. Could you clarify?
However, not all questions are appropriate. I discourage critiquers from trying to tell the author how to "fix" the story via their questions. As critiquers, we may not see or understand the author's goals. Therefore, I believe questions like "Why don't you get rid of the mother character?" aren't as helpful as "What purpose does the mother character serve?" The first question puts the author on the defensive. The second question leads the author to think more deeply about the story. It may be that the mother
is important, but the author hasn't shown why clearly enough yet.
When I facilitate critique workshops, I remind students that all feedback is subjective, including mine. Just because I'm the "teacher," that doesn't necessarily mean my comments are "better" or more valuable than anyone else's. I also encourage students to share their opinions even if they disagree with me and/or with their fellow students--it's important for a writer to know different readers may react differently to the manuscript.
So, when you're the author, how should you handle contradictory feedback? My advice is to latch on to the feedback that feels "right" or "true" first. For example, let's say that while drafting your piece you wonder if a section of dialogue sounds too mature for the character's age, but you leave it as is. Then, when you bring the piece to critique group someone asks: "How old is this character? I think his dialogue sounds old for a 9-year-old." Even if another critiquer responds, "I disagree. His dialogue sounds just right to me," I'd go back and revise the dialogue.
On the other hand, if you're not sure which feedback feels "right," you can go one of several ways. You may decide to go with "majority rules"--what do most critiquers agree on? OR, if there's someone in the group whose opinion you particularly respect or tend to agree with, then you might go with that one individual's response, even it it's the minority opinion. In the above example, if the person saying the dialogue sounds "just right" is a third-grade teacher who works with 9-year-olds on a daily basis, I wouldn't revise. OR, you may decide that the contradictory feedback is a symptom of a deeper problem that requires you to go back and revise something earlier in the story. Perhaps your character is precocious, and mature dialogue is part of his personality. In that case, you may want to go back and check whether his dialogue has been mature for his age from the very beginning. If his precociousness is important to the story, you might want to include other signs of it, besides his dialogue.
Keep in mind that the more critiquers you have, the more likely you are to get contradictory feedback. Sometimes, that's a good thing, but not always. I've seen writers revise over and over again thinking they will eventually satisfy all their critiquers. The problem is:
You can't please all your readers all the time. If you don't believe me, go to
Goodreads and look at the reviews for
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Alongside this bestseller's many 4- and 5-star ratings, you'll see reviews with only 1-3 stars.
As I said earlier, reading is subjective. While critique feedback can be invaluable, in the end it's
your story, and yours alone.
Happy writing, and Happy Poetry Friday! Today's Poetry Friday round-up is at hosted by
Ed DeCaria at ThinkKidThink.
Carmela
Thank you to all who entered our latest TeachingAuthor giveaway. See the end of today's post to find out who won an autographed copy of Eileen Meyer's debut picture book, Who’s Faster? Animals on the Move (Mountain Press).
 |
| Image courtesy Microsoft Clipart | |
When MA posted on Wednesday, she thought she would be the last TA to talk about research, but we're not quite done with this subject. I agree with what my fellow
TeachingAuthors have already said about the importance of research in fiction. So, instead of beating that dead horse, I'm going to share three research resources some of you may find helpful:
1. Consult an expert
Jeanne Marie's post reminded
me of an important resource many writers, including me, shy away from:
talking to an expert.
As Jill wrote in her post, that expert can be a family member or friend. But what do you do when you don't know anyone with the background to answer your questions? I look for professionals in the field. Most often, they are the authors of books or articles I've come across in my research. So far, I've contacted two such experts for information related to my historical young adult work-in-progress--both university professors. Because of their positions, their email
addresses were easy to find on their university websites.
From my experience contacting subject matter experts for my nonfiction work, I knew that most experts are happy to share their knowledge. These two professors were no different. One was able to answer my question via email. But he also expressed his pleasure at learning of my project and asked me to keep him informed of my progress. The other professor agreed to a phone interview and spent over an hour talking with me. He did more than simply answer my questions--he also provided information about additional research sources for my project.
Of course, I did my homework before contacting these experts. I didn't want to waste their time by asking "stupid
questions" or anything that could be answered by reading the right
references. If you need an expert's help and have never contacted one before, I suggest you do some research (either online or via books about nonfiction writing) on conducting effective research interviews first.
2. Visit your setting virtually
In last Wednesday's post, Esther discussed using maps and photographs in books to "travel" to the location of her picture book. Nowadays, we have
Google Earth to allow us to take virtual tours of locations around the world. And this past weekend, while attending the SCBWI-Wisconsin Fall Conference, I learned from a fellow attendee that another great resource is the
U.S. Geologic Survey website. I haven't had a chance to explore this site in depth yet, but it appears to include historical topographical maps of U.S. locations as well as satellite images from around the world.
3. Watch a video demonstration
It never occurred to me to use
YouTube as a research resource until I was trying to find out about cat tricks for my
I Fooled You short story, "Big Z, Cammi, and Me." Thanks to YouTube, I was able to watch videos of cats that had learned to "
High Five" with their paws, a trick my main character teaches his cat, Big Z. More recently, I've watched re-enactments of eighteenth-century dances and step-by-step demonstrations of how to dress in eighteenth-century clothing.
Do any of you know of other resources, besides traditional library references? If so, please share them with us, either by posting a comment or sending an email to teachingauthors [at] gmail [dot] com with "Research Resource" in the subject line. Please note: several readers have emailed us about problems with Blogger's Word Verification software when trying to post comments. I've temporarily turned off Word Verification to make commenting easier. I'm hoping we won't be flooded with Spam as a result. I'm afraid that if we are, I'll have to turn WV back on. But for now, please "comment away"!
And finally, time to announce the winner of Eileen Meyer's debut picture book,
Who’s Faster? Animals on the Move (Mountain Press). The winner is:
Karen Kobylarz,
who submitted her entry via email. Like several other readers, Karen guessed that the fastest animal is the cheetah. Here's the correct answer from Eileen:
The peregrine falcon is the fastest creature in the animal kingdom, with dives clocked at well over 200 mph. Try to catch that bird!
Thanks again to Eileen for her wonderful
Student Success Story interview. And thanks to all our readers who entered the contest.
Happy writing!
Carmela
View Next 16 Posts
By: Joanne R. Fritz,
on 10/17/2016
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on 12/3/2014
On the other hand, if you're not sure which feedback feels "right," you can go one of several ways. You may decide to go with "majority rules"--what do most critiquers agree on? OR, if there's someone in the group whose opinion you particularly respect or tend to agree with, then you might go with that one individual's response, even it it's the minority opinion. In the above example, if the person saying the dialogue sounds "just right" is a third-grade teacher who works with 9-year-olds on a daily basis, I wouldn't revise. OR, you may decide that the contradictory feedback is a symptom of a deeper problem that requires you to go back and revise something earlier in the story. Perhaps your character is precocious, and mature dialogue is part of his personality. In that case, you may want to go back and check whether his dialogue has been mature for his age from the very beginning. If his precociousness is important to the story, you might want to include other signs of it, besides his dialogue. 
This advice is valuable too for teachers & younger students, Carmela. Maturing writers need to listen well, then choose what feels right. Thanks.
Thanks so much for pointing this out, Linda. I should have realized that young writers also need help discerning what to do about conflicting feedback.