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So it’s time for another “I’m so cool – I am an author” kind of post. I got my first fan mail. And my second actually, within two days. Here’s an image of the letters (no names of course).

Fan mail and thank you note

These letters show particular effort. I don’t share my address on the web. It’s part of my attempt to have some privacy for my kids. Not that there’s a huge worry about people stalking children’s book authors or their families, but you just never know. So if you want to write me you can always send it to the following address and I will get it:

Jennifer Fosberry
C/O Sourcebooks
1935 Brookdale Road
Suite 139
Naperville, IL 60563

But I don’t know how immediate that will be. So sometimes I give it out if you email and ask.

That was the case with the first letter, I received the following (edited) email:

I am tutoring little girl in ****, CA who adores “My name is not Isabella.” She wanted to write you a fan letter. I bought her the book after her grandma died and her mom said she slept with it. She then took it to school and the teacher read it to the class. She and they liked it so much that they wrote about it . Is there a way that I can get her letter and picture to you? She would be thrilled to know you actually got it.

So I shared. And got the lovely yellow letter with lots of great questions. I also got a letter from another little girl just the next day. Both great letters. So of course I wrote them back. See the cool Doctor Seuss notes. Don’t you love them?

I hope that they will love getting my letters as much as I enjoyed getting theirs.

Related posts:

1. Jennifer Fosberry – explained a little bit
2. 100 Things about Jennifer Fosberry
3. BFNBT #2 – My Name is Not Alexander – Jennifer Fosberry Tour

So I often read Ms. Bird over at Fuse#8 and she has been checking out book trailers from other countries and found this one for an upcoming French pop-up book. I love it. Mood is beautiful by eerie and….well….kinda creepy. Just like fairy tales should be.

Related posts:

1. Beautiful inspirational ceremony features flowers and my books!
2. My head might actually spin off my body

A fellow Sourcebook writer, Katrina Kittle, used to teach school at the Miami Valley School in Dayton, Ohio. Looking at their website, Allison Janney went there – I love her.

Anyway, back on topic. She sent the link to the video below. Apparently they have a ceremony, a convocation in September. A special ceremony where the youngest kids (kindergarten, first grade) give flowers to the seniors and the seniors present back a book. This year they chose to give the girls “My Name is Not Isabella” and the boys “My Name is Not Alexander.” And they videotaped the whole thing and shared it on youtube.

Evan Stanley, the sophomore who filmed it, did a wonderful job putting together this video. Jazz band is quite good as well. And even though I don’t know any of these students, I really enjoyed watching this inspirational ceremony. Thanks so much for including my books, my dreams as it were. Best of luck to you with the school year and beyond.

Related posts:

1. Cool Science Safety Video
2. Isabella was on TV
3. Time Machine Under Repair – Update on Current Events

One of the places I go to for inspiration and examples of just good writing are songs. An old friend shared this with me back in grad school. That was back when I was still an engineering geek person with a longing for the stories, and she an opera singer, a link to the arts. Who could guess that we would stay in touch and wind up a mere hour away from each other on the other side of the country. A great friend and a great song.

This is still a fantastic song with great description of the lady (shown, not told) and the issue (the relationship).

Quite a dreamer, and yes I still believe…..

Related posts:

1. Did I mention that school started today?

It is that time again. A Big Blue dog mascot and a super hyped assembly has sent home three over-charged under 5-foot sales people aimed at winning more plastic junk that they will completely forget about until I dispose of it when they aren’t looking.

Let me say it very clearly. I hate “selling” for the school fund raiser. I don’t have a cadre of relatives clamoring for over-priced wrapping paper. Nobody on the street needs tiny containers of sweets that cost less when purchased from a premier chocolatier.

I am not saying that the schools don’t need funds. I am not saying that the PTA organization at our school don’t do wonderful things for the school with the funds. I am not even saying that I don’t want to give any more money. I will. Really.

What I can’t stand is that my kids are more excited about this than any other aspect of their first weeks of school. I am also upset that my little babies won’t be getting those coveted prices. Aw…. (And some of them are really good prices). I just question how much money gets raised this way versus other methods. Throw your quarters in a bucket? I don’t know.

Maybe it all just comes down to the plain fact that I don’t want anything to do with it.

I know that I am not alone. Look here to see someone else make better arguments and say things more eloquently. I agree with her. Just imagine I said this stuff.

So basically, what she said.

Related posts:

1. Did I mention that school started today?
2. Thank a teacher

Here I am spreading my love of will.i.am. Again.

Thanks to The Miss Rumphius Effect blog for pointing this out.

My favorite part – Snoop Dog calling out Benjamin Banneker.
And of course, will.i.am.

Related posts:

1. Cool Science Safety Video

Dominique Raccah of Sourcebooks recently wrote an article about how she discovered and fell in love with “My Name is Not Isabella.” She tells it like it was. She explains the process, the path, and how she felt. She wrote a really nice article that made me blush. She quoted songs and used the word “Love.” A lot.

It made me think back to those early days. I was scared. Was I making the right decision? My personal soundtrack was more like “What is love? Baby don’t hurt me.” (sorry, couldn’t link to that video – a little too suggestive and no one in this scenario is a vampire. But if you are feeling nostalgic – go look it up. Really fun stuff.)

After I made the decision – things have indeed been wonderful. And at times I have felt like this.

“This thing, called love…I ain’t ready for this crazy little thing called love.”
Sometimes I feel like I am not ready. This has been so fast (and at times also felt incredibly slow, but in this industry – fast). There have been so many wonderful developments. Getting to record the audio reading with my daughter (the REAL Isabella). Making the New York Times Bestseller list. Film options. Paper dolls are coming.

I can say that it was the right choice and I am so happy to be here today.

And the best part – I am currently working on a new Isabella adventure for next year! I will share more details when I wrangle this puppy into better shape. With help from my team friends family at Sourcebooks.

I gotta be cool, relax, get hip, and get on with it ……… and write the next book!

Related posts:

1. My head might actually spin off my body
2. They’re Playing Our Song
3. BFBT#8 – In which we finally almost go somewhere new

So my parents have told me that the river is higher than it has been in a long time. Of course, they have no cameras or way of “showing” me this. But aha – youtube.

Here’s a few videos showing it.

And this one says since 1913!

No related posts.

My next book, due in June of this year, is a complete departure from the fantasy novel that came out last year, THOMAS AND THE DRAGON QUEEN (Knopf), and a return to picture book format. It’s titled: MINE!

And I thought you all might be interested in seeing the wonderful artwork of the illustrator, Patrice Barton.  It’s published by Knopf, and edited by the talented Michelle Frey.

MINE! is a simple tale of one-upmanship with a hero who is a VERY YOUNG child. This book is for sharing with any child who has ever laid claim to all the toys within reach. It was inspired by the Toddler’s Creed—something I always keep in mind when writing for this age group. 

Love it!

And I hope you will love MINE! when it gets here. I do know that many online ordering sites are doing preorders right now.

Happy National Reading Month to all of you!

Shutta

Ribbit Rabbit by Candace Ryan, illustrated by Mike Lowery

Frog and Bunny are the best of friend.  They swim together.  Fight monsters together.  Even share peanut butter sandwiches.  But sometimes something happens and they stop getting along.  Like when they find a robot with a key.  One of them ends up with the robot, the other with the key.  And they don’t want to share.  After a bit of alone time though, they come together ready to share and have fun once again.

Ryan’s text is such fun to read aloud.  It trips, gallops, dashes and dances on the tongue.  The rhythm of the book is a delight and the silly rhymes add joy to the book.  It is impossible to read it without grinning. 

Lowery’s illustrations have a wonderful modern, fresh feel to them.  Done in pencil, screen printing and print gocco, they are finished digitally.  They have a simplicity that works well here.  The soft colors have an intriguing pop to them and the texture from the screen printing adds to the appeal.

Highly recommended, this is a top choice for toddler and preschool story times.  Appropriate for ages 2-4.

Reviewed from ARC received from Bloomsbury.

Also reviewed by The Bookbag and Young Readers.

• Follow this blog to its new home at Waking Brain Cells.

I recently put together a blog I considered necessary to fill a need. I am sharing information about the new blog here at Acme --Book-E-Leaks is here! Leak info. about YOUR books here! This is just the kind of blog all writers and readers need - a place where writers are encouraged to speak freely and openly about their favorite titles created by THEM without being attacked but rather appreciated for appreciating their own works and favorite lines and ideas and methods used as well as news of new book launches, signings, sales strategies that worked or failed --- anything leaking from your book from inception to completion and publication....whether an ebook or a paper book. Post your news and great feelings of completion and closure right here at Book-E-Leaks. Share great blurbs, quotes, snippets from reviews here as well. All without fear of being attacked or having your book called SPAM. Don't know about you, but my life's work is not SPAM.


To get started here I will go first since I have bragging rights here just as you do. I will post a great line from Titanic 2012....and you do your best to add a great line from YOUR book so that readers will have a BookEleak to go by....you may also want to leak such lines on Twitter, Facebook, and elsewhere with a link to Book-E-leaks.

So come on over to http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2476000364646494559

do too leave a comment!
Rob Walker
http://www.robertwalkerbooks.com/ (order direct)

In Baltimore. On NBC. On a gift guide of great books. Let me tell you, lots of those books look great.

What is so funny (funny strange, not funny ha ha) is that Isabella is essentially (almost) sandwiched between a reissue of Peter Pan and a book on Ted Williams.

Why is this so funny? Because I have always loved Peter Pan. My high school year book quote was “Second Star to the right and straight on ’till morning.” It is a beautifully told adventure story that deals with not wanting to, but having to grow up.

And I heard all about the Kid growing up from Poppi. Not just because he was a Red Sox. Because as a young coming player, he stopped to join the Marines for WW II. Because he made it back. Because he played when he could have ensured his record by sitting out the last two games.

So pretty heady company for Isabella to sit with.

Related posts:

1. Margaret (Tina) Plays along with Isabella
2. A Princess Story for “My Name is Not Isabella” After All
3. Wanna hear the real Isabella?

Ribbit Rabbit. Candace Ryan. Illustrated by Mike Lowery. 2011. February 2011. Walker. 32 pages.


Frog and Bunny are best friends.
Ribbit Rabbit.
Rabbit Ribbit.
They go swimming together.
Ribbit Rabbit.
Dip it, Dab it.
They fight monsters together.
Ribbit Rabbit.
Zip it, Zap it.

I liked this one. I really liked this one. It's a playful look at friendship. At what it means to be a friend when you're young--how difficult it can be to get along, but how very important it is that you do! Frog and Bunny are the stars of this picture book. They are best friends. But their friendship is tested--at times--sometimes by little fights, sometimes by big fights. But their friendship is worth it, isn't it?

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

I love blogging--I do. And I love blogging every day. But sometimes I sit down to write a post and...

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40. Choice in Sharing

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By: Ruth, on 8/25/2010
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  sharing, Add a tag

Robert B. Parker. There is no one right way. Each of us finds a way that works for him. But there is a wrong way. The wrong way is to finish your writing day with no more words on paper than when you began. Writers write. Every August, I think about what area in regards [...]

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41. Bears On Chairs

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By: Becky, on 2/16/2010
Blog: Young Readers (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  friends, friendship, bears, sharing, Candlewick, 2009, review copy, Add a tag

Bears On Chairs. Shirley Parenteau. Illustrated by David Walker. 2009. [August 2009]. Candlewick. 32 pages.

Can five friends find a way to share four chairs? Find out the answer in this cute and adorable picture book by Shirley Parenteau. In Bears On Chairs, readers learn about sharing.

Here's how it starts off,

Four small chairs
just right for bears.
Where is the bear for each small chair?

Calico Bear
sits on a chair.
He likes it there
on his one chair.

Now Fuzzy Bear
wants a chair.
She climbs up there
on the second chair.

What happens when a fifth bear, Big Brown Bear, comes along? Can Calico Bear, Fuzzy Bear, Yellow Bear, and Floppy Bear find a way to make everything work out for everybody? Or will one bear have to give up his chair?

This one is definitely a rhyming book. But that wasn't a bad thing. I know I can be hard on rhyming books now and then. Because sometimes rhyming books--especially rhyming books that are cute and adorable--can be a bit dinky in places. But I thought Bears On Chairs worked quite well. The rhyming really works. I thought it was great fun. Cute and playful. I really liked this one and am happy to recommend it.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

1 Comments on Bears On Chairs, last added: 2/17/2010

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Playing by the book said, on 2/16/2010 11:37:00 PM

Sounds lovely, and I know someone who has a thing about chairs for whom this might be perfect!

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42. CLEAN YOUR ROOM!

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By: Shari Lyle-Soffe , on 1/25/2010
Blog: Shari Lyle-Soffe (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  cleaning, sharing, decorating, colorful, attitude, storage, bedroom, children, books, organizing, Add a tag

How many times did I say that to my kids? More times than I can count. I hope I can offer some suggestions and tips that will make it easier for parents and kids to get the bedroom clean with minimal friction.

Parents: Make your child's room an atmosphere they will want to keep clean. Sometimes we decorate our kid's rooms as we would want them. Be sure the decor is pleasing to the child, not just to you. Ask them what they would like, and let them make color choices, ( within reason. Our son wanted to paint his room black. I put my foot down on that one.) Allow your children to browse through magazines and look for rooms or features they would like to have.

"A place for everything and everything in it's place" is a valuable reminder of how to keep order. I sometimes come across items when I am cleaning house that just don't seem to have "a place". You can waste a lot of time trying to figure out what to do with that item. Adding it to a designated place where it doesn't belong can throw your order out of whack and can become a slippery slope to chaos.

Children need colorful baskets and bins that are designated for specific items. They may need labels to remind them what goes where. Make it easy for children to keep things in order. Put things at your child's level so they don't have to throw things up high where they can't reach. They need convenient hooks for handing up jackets, caps, mittens, backpacks and they should be within their reach.

Rooms need to be set up with designated areas for specific purposes. If your child plays in his/her room you will need to arrange for areas for art, puzzles and games, clothes, school work and supplies, collections, etc.

Children need different things at different ages. Keep that in mind when planning the room. Make sure furniture is the right size for the age of the child. Give them adequate light for working on homework or puzzles, etc.  Organization is more important than cutesy themes, although they can sometimes go together, but keep in mind that you want the kids to learn to clean up after themselves so make it fun and easy for them. Make sure the space or container is large enough and the right shape to hold the things that are supposed to go in it. A round basket is not a good holder for rectangular coloring books. 

 Re-evaluate the plan periodically. Remember children grow, needs and interes

5 Comments on CLEAN YOUR ROOM!, last added: 1/26/2010

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kathy stemke said, on 1/25/2010 5:16:00 PM

Great tips, Shari. I'm gonna get my mop.

Janet Ann Collins said, on 1/25/2010 10:49:00 PM

What helpful information for parents!

Shari Lyle-Soffe said, on 1/26/2010 5:36:00 AM

I hope it helps. My brother and I hid everything under the beds. I never said a word about it, but my kids did the same thing. I think I became lax about making sure they had "a place for everything" as they got older. When they were young I was pretty good about doing things to make it easy for them and they were very good about cleaning their rooms and keeping them orderly.

Shari

Cheryl said, on 1/26/2010 6:32:00 AM

Great article, Shari. Would you allow me to use it in the next issue of Pages & Pens? This is a quarterly newsletter put out by Musing Our Children. I am editor of that newsletter and the spring version would be the perfect place for this.

Thanks.

Cheryl

Shari Lyle-Soffe said, on 1/26/2010 7:38:00 AM

Cheryl

I would be glad to have you use it.
Thanks. The problem is universal. LOL.

Shari

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43. I like the community bookcase idea

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By: Jessamyn West, on 9/9/2009
Blog: librarian.net (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  books, sharing, bookcase, communitybookcase, Add a tag

A friend sent this link to a community bookcase with more explanation here (Google translated). I’ve seen these in a few places including my local laundromat. They seem to tend to come to equilibrium with a hapless collection of religious texts, romance novels and old scifi. Luckily for me, I like scifi, but since I rarely go into the laundromat expecting to encounter a community bookcase, I rarely have anything to offer.

1 Comments on I like the community bookcase idea, last added: 9/11/2009

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Marion said, on 9/11/2009 9:03:00 AM

We had one, not so lovely, in the Pitt Stop (our local as station, general store, post office). Even obsolete text books disappeared from the shelf (perhaps for fire starter?). At the moment the shelf is empty, but we re stock it with left overs from the book sale.

We also have a take one leave one book exchange inside the library for donated paperbacks that we don’t keep for our collection. It’s especially nice for out of towners who can take a half finished book with them and not worry about returning it.

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44. Another Reason for Libraries to Make Their Sites Social

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By: Jenny Levine, on 8/21/2009
Blog: The Shifted Librarian (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  libraries, facebook, precat, sharing, twitter, delicious, blogpost, mobile devices, mobile services, Add a tag

Now that I’m on a smartphone that has a real web browser and is capable of multitasking (the Palm Pre), In fact, I find myself expecting it to act like my laptop. I’ve stopped carrying my laptop or my netbook to work each day because I can do so much on my phone, but I’m still noticing where decisions made by web designers make my mobile life easier.

So here’s mobile developer tip #1, my two cents: use plugins and widgets that let users automatically share your content on sites like Twitter, Delicious, Facebook, etc., because you’ll make the user’s life easier. Granted, not all phones support the Javascript that powers this type of service on a web page, but more and more will, so consider getting ahead of the curve and adding it now.

The alternative for me as the reader (acknowledging each person’s situation is different) is to:

1. Leave the site up in a card until I get home in the evening and can manually bookmark it on my laptop. This works about 50% of the time.
2. Email the site to myself so I can bookmark it later on my laptop. This works about 80% of the time but is annoying.
3. Try remembering to revisit the site later on my laptop to bookmark it. This works 0% of the time.

As a result, I’m finding that I’m far more likely to bookmark something if there’s a direct link to post it to Delicious, and that workflow will continue for me until there’s a Pre app that makes this easier, which means I really appreciate sites that offer this. Even better is if you can add it so that it appears in your RSS feed so that it shows up in places like Google Reader and Bloglines, too.

Here are some options to consider for adding this functionality to your site.

• For WordPress blogs, you can use the Sociable plugin (I’m sure there are others, but this is what I use so I know it works). I have another blog post brewing on this topic, but this is yet another reason I encourage libraries to make their “what’s new” page a blog - you can then use the wealth of plugins out there to improve the user’s experience.

  

• For Drupal sites, you can use something like the Share module (I’m going to look into this for ALA Connect. If you’re using a different CMS, check to see if there’s a similar module for it.
• Failing that, or even for use on general web pages, check out something like the Add This widget, although I have to admit I’m not sure how accessible it is.

Regardless, this can be a relatively easy way to help meet the needs of your mobile users, a group that’s just going to grow in the future. Food for thought. Nom nom nom.

Tags: blogpost, delicious, facebook, libraries, mobile devices, mobile services, sharing, twitter

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45. Special Visitors

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By: Stacey, on 5/23/2009
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  sharing, writing workshop, family, Add a tag

My parents stopped by their classroom to meet my students yesterday.  They were supposed to stay for a few minutes.  In reality, they stayed for over thirty. There was no plan for their visit.  I pulled up two chairs for them to sit in, had each student introduce him/herself by name, and then said, “They [...]

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46. Happy Earth Day

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By: Alice, on 4/22/2009
Blog: It's All Good (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  alice, green, sharing, earth day, polar bear, Add a tag

There may still be an event or two you can participate in, to celebrate Earth Day.

Remind your library supporters that using the library makes every day an earth day. (Sharing resources, sharing knowledge, bringing people together under a common desire to improve their lives through a richer, more complex world view. (Or simply knowing how to fix their truck...)

I love the polar bear in this image...

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47. EDUCATIONAL BOOK: "The Magic of Laven-Rock"

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By: Shari Lyle-Soffe , on 2/14/2009
Blog: Shari Lyle-Soffe (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  tolerance, diversity, dog, fairy tale, sharing, Add a tag

The people of K'briadron lived an idyllic life.

Purple and blue magic created by the Jockspurs supplied their every need. That is, until the coming of the Lockstick.

Princess Kaylin Veronica and her cousin, Prince Theodore, escape the confines of their royal lives and set out to find the being who caused so many problems in their land.

Written by the author of The Wishing Flower, The Magic of Laven-Rock is a delightful fairy tale adventure where children learn that sharing is much better than fighting, and that people throughout the world are not so very different than themselves.
Title: The Magic of Laven-Rock
ISBN: 9780981777733
Author: Mosetta M. Penick Phillips-Cermak
Publisher: PM Moon Publishers
Additional Features:
hardcover/68 pages/approx. size 8.25 x 10.75/trade

She is currently writing a teacher manual for ESL teachers to accompany this title.

Her book has been reviewed by the Midwest Book Review and is on their Children's Bookwatch list:
"Children's Bookwatch • Jan, 2009 •
The Magic of Laven-Rock
Mosetta M. Penick Phillips-Cermak
PM Moon Publishers, Limited
PO Box 110813, Cleveland, Ohio 44111-0813
9780981777733, $29.95 http://www.pmmoonpublishers.com/

African-American author, teacher, and counselor Mosetta M. Penick Phillips-Cermak presents The Magic of Laven-Rock, an amazing children's fairy tale about the faraway land of K'briadron, where purple and blue magic fill the needs of the people--until the coming of the Locktick. Princess Kaylin Veronica and her cousin Prince Theodore must go on a quest to find and deal with the creature that has caused so many problems for their homeland! A powerful moral about tolerance, diversity, and the value of sharing rather than fighting pervades this gentle and fairly lengthy (66 pages) story, featuring illustrations ranging from simple, cartoon-like caricatures to gorgeous computer-generated scenic views. Highly recommended. "
Although Dr. Mosetta is a black American, none of her stories are written specific to that community, but embrace all children
Purchase Information: The Magic of Laven-Rock is available at Publisher Graphics Bookstore (http://www.publishersgraphicsbookstore.com/The-Magic-of-Laven-Rock-40sw41-by-Mosetta-Penick-Phillips-Cermak_p_155.html ) at Google books search, and at PM Moon Publishers' website (http://www.pmmoonpublishers.com/ .

Her newest title, Rajah and the Big Blue Ball (ages 6-8), is scheduled for a March 2009 release. Once more, the theme is talking rather than fighting to avoid misunderstandings, when the central character, Rajah, is tormented by another character sharing his yard. Dr. Mosetta is under contract with us to publish five more of her Rajah stories. We believe that these books will delight children everywhere.

Her first book, The Wishing Flower, was originally released as a short story and published in the Writers Post Journal in May 2007. This is a powerful story of how special children are, and the love their parents have for them. Currently in its second edition, The Wishing Flower features simplistic hand-drawn illustrations by Dr. Penick Phillips-Cermak. It is very child-centric. We are also sending this cover. If the email has difficulty reaching you, we will send the jpegs in a separate email.
Purchase Information: Publishers' Graphics Bookstore (http://www.publishersgraphicsbookstore.com/The-Wishing-Flower-by-Mosetta-Penick-Phillips-Cermak-40sw41_p_105.html ), at Google Book search, and at PM Moon Publishers' website (http://www.pmmoonpublishers.com/ .

The Wishing Flower has been used for teachers' education by Western Governors University, and was reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Gill, other teachers and writers:
11-15-2007
Mosetta Penickphillips-Cermak’s story “The Wishing Flower” will be a welcome addition to any classroom or home library. The story opens the possibilities for parents to express to their children how much children are loved—that our children truly are a gift to us. While many of us think this, we may forget to say such things openly, and doing so sends a powerful, affirming message of worth and security to our children. For teachers, “The Wishing Flower” and its accompanying lesson plans can provide a more thorough understanding of the fairy tale as a literary genre, assist students in developing an awareness of their emotional reactions to such stories, and reinforce a sweet and touching message of love.
Jennifer C. Grill, Ph.D.
Academic Mentor, English Language Learning
Content Advisor, English Language Learning
Teachers College, Western Governors University
Toll Free 877-435-7948 ext. #2001 (Eastern Time)
Salt Lake City 801-274-3280 ext. #2001
Email: [email protected]
http://www.wgu.edu/
8-12-07"The concept of your book is excellent. As a child, I received few hugs and cuddles and I can't remember my mother ever saying she loved me. Of course she did and proved it by all she did for me but the lack of affirmation caused insecurity that followed me into my adult life. And this was made worse because I had little contact with my father who did not know how to be a good dad.Things are very different for my own children,Rosemary."http://www.rosemarymorris.co.uk/Tangled Hearts set in the reign of Queen Anne the last Stuart monarchAvailable from: http://www.enspirenpress.com/

3-13-07"What a sweet story. It actually brought a tear to my eye."Jacqueline Druga-JohnstonEditor in Chiefhttp://www.writerspostjournal.com/"The Wishing Flower" is a wonderful storybook for young children and good reading for older children. I liked how the over all message of the book placed great value on the love for children. I look forward to reading "The Wishing Flower" to my five month old daughter for years to come…”Deborah ZigaWaverly SchoolCleveland Metropolitan School District

“The story Wishing Flower brought out what I always knew about children, that they are our true treasures that we can not forget to appreciate…This story stirred up my wonderful memories of my childhood and my years watching and spending enjoyable days with my own children as…they were growing up into now adults.”Kathryn HrusovskyLibrarian at Waverly School in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District- Cleveland,

Dr. Mosetta is available for interviews and lectures. Please contact her directly at [email protected]

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48. Emotional & Truthful: That’s What Memoir Is!

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By: Stacey, on 2/10/2009
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  family, memoir, writer's notebook, sharing, Add a tag

I’m teaching memoir right now.  It falls into our schedule early this year… and I love it! On Friday I had four conferences, two of which my students didn’t follow through with, which really disappointed me.  They both forgot to take their notebooks home over the weekend and therefore didn’t write.  However, I now know I [...]

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49. Back to Basics: Sharing (Part of TWT’s Big Picture Series)

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By: Stacey, on 2/5/2009
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  celebration, sharing, responsive classroom, Katherine Bomer, Leah Mermelstein, Add a tag

Katherine Bomer said, “Writing celebration is the most important part of the writing process” (TCRWP Key Note Address, 7/8/08). Bomer suggests that this is because every writer writes for the purpose of having someone listen to what they’ve written. Therefore, when students share their writing with their peers at the end of [...]

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50. Getting Back to Basics: Structures & Routines (Part of TWT’s Big Pictures Series)

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By: Stacey, on 2/1/2009
Blog: TWO WRITING TEACHERS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  sharing, writing workshop, minilesson, conferring, routines, strategies, meeting area, Add a tag

Structures and routines need to be clear in your head so they can be implemented when you start Writing Workshop. You can shift to a new routine or modify one that’s not working mid-year, but explaining WHY you’re doing it to your students is important. If you’re unsure of whose model you wish [...]

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