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It’s time. As much as it pains me, I must purge my bookshelves a bit. Because I’m your fan, I want to share my purgings with you. Huh. That didn’t come out right, did it.

Moving on–we have a resource for non-fiction writers, one for picture book attempters,  a practical book for any writer and (yes, there’s more) a set of brilliant middle grade novels by masters of the genre. And you thought this was going to be an ordinary day. Silly you!

Lean in and I’ll tell you how you can be a winner of the Spring Cleaning Giveaway: simply comment on this post and let me know which book (or books), you’d like to win. Then, I’ll draw names on Friday, April 17 at Noon. Easy sneezy.

Here’s what’s on the menu (and good luck deciding!) . . .

The Magazine Article: How to Think It, Plan It Write It by Peter Jacobi

This book was published in the late 1900s (makes it sounds really outdated, doesn’t it). What it lacks in advice about online research, it more than makes up for in how to add substance, depth and honesty to your work as a non-fiction writer. Plus, it’s Peter Jacobi. He’s amazing. If you ever get the chance to hear him speak, do. He’s a true orator. And can that guy write. Oh, my. Did I mention this book is signed? I almost hate to part with it.

Writing with Pictures: How to Write and Illustrate Children’s Books by Uri Shulevitz

This is a classic. If you write (or aim to write) picture books, you simply must have this book. It’s a treasure. And yes, I am willing to share it with you. Is that love or what?

Writer’s First Aid: Getting Organized, Getting Inspired and Sticking to It by Kristi Holl

I met Kristi ages ago at a Highlights Foundation workshop. This lady knows her stuff. While this little volume looks demure, it can be a real kick in the pants.

These fine middle grade novels, I’m offering as set. You can study them for craft, enjoy each as a fun, quick read and then share them with a child you love.

• A Series of Unfortunate Events, No. 2: The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket
• Lost in Cyberspace by Richard Peck
• Hank Zipzer, The World’s Underachiever: Niagara Falls, or Does It? by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver
• This Gum for Hire by Bruce Hale

Have you made up your mind? Don’t wait too long. Leave a comment by Noon on Friday and hopefully you’ll be a winner. Regardless, you are a fine person and there are plenty of kids who would be happy to sit by you at lunch. Remember, don’t slouch.

With freedom, books, flowers and the moon, who could not be happy? ~ Oscar Wilde

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Bigger-than-life Henry Winkler.  The photo is smaller than life.

Henry Winkler appears on the dais!

He's funny, and speaks of having co-written 19 books with Lin Oliver, being an actor and director and producer... even though he was never a good student.

They hatched the idea for Frank Zipster, and he's explaining their collaborative process.

"If you write what you know, not what you think other people will read or are selling or want to hear... if you write what you know, it jumps off the page."

He's very encouraging and inspirational, the crowd is laughing... He gets a huge round of applause and the crowd are on their feet!

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Lin Oliver’s humour and engagement with the writing community connected everyone at the huge SCBWI LA Conference winner.

Love Lin and Henry Winkler’s (the Fonz) NY best seller series Hank Zipzer series.

Gary Paulsen was riverting – the maveric who turned his tragic early years into wild independence, crashes and ultimately couragee and an independence that had led to powerful award winning books.

Verla Kay, a dynamic,really generous writer has established a kids’ literature writing community  that gets 1 million hits a month – everyone in the community is welcome – www.verlakay.com

Katie Davis an engaging and delightful speaker and author gave great insight into how to promote your book – her online talk radio gets over 2.6 million listeners every month [email protected]

Leonard Marcus – the guru of children’s literature; Ellen Hopkins – best selling YA author of edgy verse books; Bruce Hale -brilliant speaker and best selling author; Allan Silberberg – award winning humorous author; Frane Lessac – award winning illustrator; Henry Winkler – the Fonz and best selling author …. and more are all part of the SCBWI International celebration of children’s literature in LA.

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It's hard to imagine two funnier, kinder people than Lin Oliver and Henry Winkler, the co-authors of the bestselling Hank Zipzer series—and now, the GHOST BUDDY series from Scholastic. 

Neither needs any introduction, of course: Lin co-founded SCBWI, and Henry is one of the best known actors in the world. Their collaborations—18 novels worth—are hilarious and full of heart, as was their session on writing.

Lin Oliver and Henry Winkler deep in discussion. Note: This picture isn't as funny as the panel. Blame the fish.

When they collaborate, they meet in her office. Henry paces the carpet and talks while she types. When she gets an idea, he stops talking and she writes. He likes the new, larger carpet in her redecorated office (no word on whether this will lead to longer novels).

Henry revealed a secret about their new series, GHOST BUDDY. The voice of the ghost is the Fonz, and the boy who finds the ghost in his closet is Richie. Aaaaay.

On finding your emotional center: Henry confessed he had a hard time with his parents. "They were very, very, very short German Jews." His father spoke 11 languages, and in those 11 languages, 15 times a day, would urge Henry to take over the family business: buying and selling wood.

But Henry always wanted to be an actor. The same emotional insight he brings to his acting, he brings to his writing.

"The thing is, when you write who you know, when you write your emotional truth, nobody is going to say 'how could you have written me into your thing, your masterpiece, your book.' They never recognize themselves. They say, 'My goodness, you have a good imagination."

Your emotional life feeds you. You're writing what you know. "The emotional truth jumps from the page and into the eyes and mind of your reader."

If you write the truth, somebody is going to say, "Wow, how did you know me?"

Lin on what's funny: If you want to write with humor, you have to go to your deepest emotional part and stay there until it's funny. It has to come from something that's true and heartfelt. If something is sad and funny at the same time, it's the strongest funny you can have."

Henry on loving your characters: When you're writing, you love the people you're writing about. When you're acting, you have to find the humanity in the bad guy. Otherwise, you're just playing one dimension.

Lin on getting the humor deep: You can't lay a joke on top of a situation. It's better when the situation is inherently funny. You can anticipate the comedy when the situation is inherently funny. For example, when a dyslexic character triples the amount of chili in a recipe and gives it to an evil teacher who later shoots across the room as though she has a rocket beneath her skirt.

• Follow Henry Winkler on Twitter: http://twitter.com/hwinkler4real
• Follow Lin Oliver on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/linoliver

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photo by Paul Mannix www.flickr.com

*Middle-grade contemporary novel
*Fourth-grade boy as main character
*Rating: Two hysterical authors, Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver, write a truly funny novel that boys (and girls, too) will love!

Short, short summary: The first book in the Hank Zipzer series, Niagara Falls or Does It? introduces us to underachiever Hank Zipzer. Hank is starting school–fourth grade–and he just so happens to get Ms. Adolf instead of the cool teacher. She wants the class to write a 5-paragraph essay, and Hank can’t think of anything worse to do. In the meantime, he and his friends form a magic act and practice for their first gig at the bowling alley. When his parents find out he has to write the essay, it cuts into his rehearsal time, and so Hank decides to build a living essay–a model of Niagara Falls like no one has ever seen before. He has a lot to say about the Falls and his family’s trip there, but he just can’t seem to get it from his head to the paper. He is super excited about his project until the flood gates open–literally. Join Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver for a great start to a funny series, Hank Zipzer: The Mostly True Confessions of the World’s Best Underachiever.

So, what do I do with this book?

1. This book is a great read aloud, especially if you are teaching writing 5-paragraph essays. Some of your students may be feeling the same way as Hank, and you can open up discussions on difficulties they are having writing these essays. Many children feel the same way as Hank Zipzer–the information is in their heads, but how do they get it down on paper? Students can even journal about this topic and share their feelings about writing, math, science, and so on.

2. Niagara Falls is an obvious topic of study while reading this book. Students can make a list of all the facts that Hank Zipzer quotes in the book about the Falls. You can also challenge each of your students or your children (if you homeschool) to find one more fact about the Falls that Hank has not stated. Ask students to write it on an index card. You can make a Niagara Falls fact bulletin board. If you want to be really brave, you can try a class project and build the Falls like Hank does. Just hope that your tubing and pipes hold up!

3. At the end of the novel, one of Hank’s teachers helps him out a little by talking to his parents. During the talk, his dad basically says he is lazy and doesn’t try hard enough. Ask your students to describe Hank and his character in a paragraph. Then ask them to write another paragraph and support either his dad’s point of view or his teacher’s. Tell them to use specific events in the book to support their opinions.

For more information on the Hank Zipzer series by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver, please see the Hank Zipzer website.

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According to the website ReadingSuccessLab.com, Government statistics show 25 million Americans are functionally illiterate. The primary cause is dyslexia or one of its many variants.

Through their children’s book series, Hank Zipzer: The World’s Greatest Underachiever, co-authors Lin Oliver and Henry Winkler share the struggles and triumphs of a resourceful elementary school student as he deals with the challenges that come with dyslexia. The stories are based on Henry Winkler’s own experiences with the disorder.

On this edition of Just One More Book, Mark speaks with actor, director, producer and author, Henry Winkler about becoming an author and his relationship with Hank Zipzer, his struggles with reading and learning, and what we can do to help our children.

Links to Hank Zipzer books:

• Chapters.ca
• Amazon.com

This is episode 300 of Just One More Book!!

UPDATE: Click here to see the transcript of this interview.

Photo: American Library Association

Tags:childrens books, dyslexia, Hank Zipzer, Henry Winkler, interview, Lin Oliverchildrens books, dyslexia, Hank Zipzer, Henry Winkler, interview, Lin Oliver

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The Not. CRP Children's Book Slushie is awarded to books written by celebrities that are good enough to be published regardless of the fact that the author is famous.

	Freckleface Strawberry By Julianne Moore Freckleface comes to terms with her nickname, her freckles, and her life. This cute book has a message without being preachy. It's decently written and has adorable illustrations. I did enjoy this book.
Not. CRP Children's Book Honor Slushies
	The Alphabet from A to Y with Bonus Letter Z! By Steve Martin & Roz Chast
	Hank Zipper #13 Who Ordered this Baby? Definitely not Me! By Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver

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15 Minutes of Beer on the Wall

After the Jackals Win of the FAHL C Division Championship, Mike Stangler at 850 the Buzz informed us that our team is the first to win the Miller Lite Team of the Month.



I finally get my 15 minutes and I'm surrounded by giant beer bottles.

http://www.850thebuzz.com/millersalute.html

There is also a radio interview but you'll have to listen to the show to hear it. I haven't hear it myself but as I understand it, my captain was able to fit in the word metrosexual while likening the stanley cup to a garbage pail.

go Jackals,

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