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I love it when I book-talk a new selection for my classroom library and end up with a near-battle over who gets to sign it out first.  I know, I know, chaos is generally frowned upon in school, but I love to see kids ravenous about reading.  Here's the book that caused the commotion this week...



Dee got there first, so she's enjoying Lisa Schroeder's debut novel in verse tonight, probably up late with a flashlight under the covers even as I type this review. 

I read I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME in one weepy sitting over the weekend and savored lisa_schroeder's free verse poems that come together to tell a touching story of love, loss, and healing.  The book opens with the funeral of Ava's boyfriend Jackson -- a funeral for which she can't help but feel a sense of responsibility, given what happened.  This isn't a traditional tear-jerker, though -- because Jackson comes back.  As a ghost.  And Ava finds herself pulled in two directions, forced to choose between the love she lost and the life she still has.

Lisa Schroeder's poems are spare and beautiful -- the kind of poems that paint an amazing picture and then hit hard in the last lines.  This book will have huge appeal for fans of other verse novels.  Kids who love Sonya Sones, especially, are in for a treat.  Like Sones, Schroeder takes a realistic look at teenagers. Simon & Schuster recommends this title for grades 9 and up. There are some very mild references to sex, but nothing, in my opinion, that would make the book inappropriate for a 7th or 8th grade reader who has read Sones' work or other books that  deal with teen romance.

Ava and Jackson were so real to me during the hour I spent in their world,  I couldn't help being swept up in their drama.  Part of me was glad I read this one at home, so I didn't end up sobbing through sustained silent reading in front of twenty seventh graders.  But part of me thinks that would have been just fine, too.  Sometimes, an old-fashioned cry is a perfect reminder of  how transporting a great story can be.

The beautifully crafted classic The Little Engine That Could has four editions, a DVD, and I don’t know how many different versions and variations. I love the theme of the classic, which is that we can overcome any obstacle as long as we “think” we can, It seems the little blue engine had the knowledge to implore the power of positive thought before many of us were born. The little engines personal refrain going up the mountain, “I think I can, I think I can,” and as the plot moves forward, "I—think—I can—I think—I can” and then coming down the other side “I thought I could, I thought I could” with relief and new found confidence in her abilities..

The Little Engine That Could will remain in my memory all of my life since I really do remember the reassurance that I, at the age of five or so really could do some things. The tale of our beloved little blue engine and her valiant determination to rescue a stranded train full of toys, and bring them to the children awaiting them on the other side of a huge mountain is one of America’s great classics in children’s literature.

The story’s mood is kind and upbeat, with both attitude and friendship playing a huge role in the theme. It also is mindful of compassion and empathy in that the little blue engine helps the larger locomotive regardless of her size suggesting that to care is the right thing to do, regardless of the circumstances. The new version beautifully illustrated by Loren Long (Madonna’s Mr. Peabody’s Apples 2003), is rich with lush mountains and valleys, and the characters outfits are illustrated differently, but the text is the same using anthropomorphism in the cast of a toy clown, purple elephant, and an expressive toy monkey.

Whatever version you decide the text is the same, The Little Engine That Could is a classic in children’s literature and a must have for your children’s bookshelf.

Available online at amazon.com

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Bizzy, The Busy Dog is a manuscript I wrote many years ago, with the help of my son who was four years old at the time.

I have been writing on and off for children for about ten years. However, until recently, I have not actively pursued publication. I am finally in the position to dive into a profession I love, regardless of the consequences, because my son is an adult. When he was small, I had not the heart to put him in the position of enduring the joys and pitfalls of the writing profession. Now that he is an adult and beginning his own writing career, I do not have the heart not too.

I started this blog to share my love of writing, especially for children, with parents and other children’s book writers. I love the act of telling a story, plotting in out in rhythm that will inspire, encourage and entertain children. Bizzy, The Busy Dog is one of many manuscripts I wrote with my son and the only one I am posting on A Nice Place In The Sun. I have submitted my other manuscripts for publication at publishing houses; therefore, I am unable to share them with my blog readers until publication. However, every month I will post a new title for my character, Bizzy, The Busy Dog.

I wrote Bizzy, the Busy Dog for the picture book or young reader age group, however I hope parents will enjoy reading each adventure about the little dog. The rhythm and pace of the verse is intended to be fun to read, and the sound of the rhythms help children develop a love for the sound of language. I want to help inspire a love for the sound of words, characters, and books, and I hope to begin with this blog.

Right now, I am searching for an illustration or photos of Bizzy to add to the series, since Bizzy’s photo is from Public images. I am new to the blogging world, so I have to look into the best ways to include pictures in the series. In the meantime, have your children draw them along with the story, it includes them in the process of telling the story, and will make it fun for both of you-.

I hope to bring imagination coupled with an ongoing enthusiasm for the craft of writing for children, particularly writing in rhyme. I find the prospect of communicating with parents about children’s issues and other writers about their writing, and mine, engaging, and feel my energy and love for the craft will shine through on this blog.

Thanks to everyone to has been reading this blog in the last month for a great first month in blogging, and thanks to my readers who are not bloggers.

Bizzy, The Busy Dog is on the front page and my first story in my Bizzy series. The next story posted will be on July 2, so please remember Bizzy’s name -

Ann

The Photo of Bizzy taken from public images

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One morning, on a Spring day, Bizzy the Dog wished to go play.

He was supposed to wait for his boy to awake, although nothing could

wake him, except an earthquake!

So he leap toward the kitchen, with his tail spinning round, to slurp up some water before he went to town.

But he knocked over his water, it spilled on the floor, so he sashayed on the water, to the flap in the door

He pushed his paws through the flap, to reach the outside, but Bizzy got stuck, since he was too wide.

So he used his front paws to pull himself through, and rolled in the dirt, since it's fun to do.

While he spun in the dirt, watching dust swirl around, Bizzy spied a bug run and hide underground.

He kicked back his paws, like a bull in a fight, and barked at the bug, when it jumped from his sight.

Bizzy looked for the bug, until his eyes crossed, one minute there, the next minute lost!

Well, that was that, the bug would not play. So Bizzy decided to be on his way.

He heard his paws hit the sidewalk, as he pranced along. Plop, plop, de bop, bop, like the beat of

a song.

Then Bizzy saw Mr. Tom Cat! He jumped in the air, and was gone, just like that!

Now, Mr. Tom Cat found it easy to hide. So Bizzy amused swung his tail, side to side.

Then, Mr. Tom Cat reappeared from the air! His green eyes peered at Bizzy against his black

hair.

“ Spizz! , Meow!”, cried the cat, his ears flat on his head. He was ready to fight, much to Bizzy's

dread.

"Grrr ,Ruff!", growled Bizzy, lifting his paw in a curl, then Mr. Tom Cat swung his paw with a

twirl.

Bizzy jumped back, protecting his eyes, and snapped at the cat, much to his surprise

Bizzy followed the cat’s scent to the trunk of a tree. He could smell the tom cat, now, where

could he be?

Bizzy wondered if maybe, Mr.Tom Cat could fly since Bizzy can’t catch a cat in the sky.

He thought of his boy as he smelled by the tree, too bad he could smell what he could not see

Bizzy hoped his boy would not awake, since now he knew he made a mistake.

So, he kicked back his paws and went on his way.

Bizzy, the dog, loved a spring day.

He dashed along his mind on the creek. He liked to go there, he would just have a peek.

When he got to the creek he smelled the fresh grass, then tasted the water, clear as new glass.

As he tasted the water from the creek bed, he saw the reflection of a dogs' head.

He turned his head sideways, not sure what to do.

But when Bizzy's head turned, the dogs' head turned too!

Bizzy barked at the dog, but his body felt weak, then he tried to run backwards, and slipped in

the creek!

Slip, slither, slide, he fell in with a splash! Down, down to the bottom he went until he crashed!

His head under water, he could see mud below, he paddled and pulled, but his paw would not go!

The busy pup's paw was stuck in the mud, his fur matted and covered in crud.

He thought of his boy as he tugged and he tugged. His boy might wake up, and need to be

hugged.

Bizzy saw fish swimming around, he had to go up, but his paw held him down.

Bizzy paddled and paddled his paws did not stop. He paddled and paddled his way to the top.

"Oh! Boy! You are stinky!” is what is boy said, “Get down stinky dog. You are wet, on my bed!”

Then the busy’s Dogs' boy took him out for a scrub.

He brushed out his hair, and gave him a hug.

Oh! He loved his boy so! The busy dog thought.

Then he thought of the toys, and the food his boy bought.

Bizzy let his boy know when he left home again, however most of the time,

he took his best friend.

He thought he should wait for his boy to awake, although nothing could wake except an

earthquake!

Ann Clemmons

Ages- 4 to 8

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