.jpeg?picon=3103)
By: Annette,
on 7/19/2011
Blog: A Garden of Books (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Patricia Reilly Giff, Add a tag
Hollis Woods has finally found a home she can "fit in with." But, circumstances beyond her control will threaten this little nest. Through her experience Hollis will learn things about herself she never thought possible.
Published by Scholastic 2002
For ages 9-12
176 pages
Link for the book @ Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Pictures-Hollis-Woods-Newbery-Honor/dp/0385326556
Paperback $6.99
Hardback $11.16
Kindle $6.99
Link for the book @ publisher:
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/search?query=picture+of+hollis+woods
By the age of 12 Hollis Woods has lived in almost 1/2 dozen foster homes. After settling in at each home she eventually leaves, scoots out the door, it's as if she has gotten "enough" and wants to leave A.S.A.P.
Then she is placed in to the home of an elderly retired art teacher, Josie Cahill. Josie has a moody cat named Henry. A bond quickly grows between Hollis and Josie. Often during the story Hollis day dreams of her previous foster family, she has conversations with Steven--he is her trusted confident. Hollis begins to understand that Josie's aging may make it difficult for her to continue living there and she worries about the future for both of them.
This book was made in to a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie in 2007.
It is a winner of the Newbery Honor Book award.
I loved the character Hollis. She is sharp, quick, witty, feisty, artistic, independent, and a scraper.
There is a tender spot in her heart that reaches out to Josie and for that I have kind regards for this young girl that has lived through many trials.
There were times early in the book that I was not sure if Steven was a real person, but the book does reveal the answer in time.
The book is touching. There is not physical displays of love, but the love the exudes from the heart of Hollis is memorable.
Blissful Reading!
Annette
By: Carmela Martino and 5 other authors,
on 8/25/2010
Blog: Teaching Authors (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Writing Workout, Book Giveaway, Teacher Resources, Esther Hershenhorn, Back-to-School Activities, TeachingAuthors, Interview, Patricia Reilly Giff, Add a tag
Lucky us!
Newbery Honor Medalist and TeachingAuthor Patricia Reilly Giff chose TeachingAuthors as her last August Blog Tour Stop.
She’s been out and about in the Virtual World sharing news of her early chapter book series for readers ages 6 through 9, Zigzag Kids, which kicks off this month with its first two titles, Number One Kid and Big Whopper.
And lucky me!
I’m the TeachingAuthor who interviewed her.
In many ways, I’m paying Kindness forward.
Patricia Reilly Giff taught me. As I traveled my oh, so long Writer's Plotline, learning my craft, honing my craft, I read her books - first as a reader, then next as a writer, over and over and over again. Today I share them with my writing students, young and young-at-heart.
Most of us know Patricia Reilly Giff as an author. Her award-winning books include The Pictures of Hollis Woods and Lily’s Crossing. The Polk Street Kids series sat on many of our shelves, at home, in the library, in the classroom.
But I bet most of us didn't know Patricia Reilly Giff was and is a teacher still.
She taught school before she wrote, at P.S. 136 – St. Albans, New York, and on Long Island, in various districts.
And, she currently teaches Writing for Children to adults at her Fairfield, CT bookstore, The Dinosaur’s Paw. Her current class, she brags, holds five students whose books are being published this year.
In the Zigzag Kids series, Patricia Reilly Giff again creates a world and kids readers will instantly recognize: the Afterschool Center at the Zelda A. Zigzag Elementary School and the eleven wonderfully-unique students who stop by every day. Though wonderfully-unique, the five girls and six boys deal with all-too-common, universal problems. As in her Polk Street Kids series titles, Real Life becomes easily-readable – and instantly fun.
either a writer or librarian or home-schooling parent or parent/grandparent.
Note the Entry Rules at the end of this post.
In the words of Patricia Reilly Giff.....
&n
Blog: The Children's Book Review (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Writing Resources, Chapter Books, Patricia Reilly Giff, ZigZag Kids, Add a tag
By Patricia Reilly Giff, for The Children’s Book Review
Published: August 15, 2010
Welcome to stop 6 of Patricia Reilly Giff’s Blog Tour for her new series ZIGZAG KIDS.
What Characters!
Destiny Washington wears her hair up, hmmm, maybe down. Bows on top or over her ears. Green streaks on St. Patrick’s Day.
Mitchell wants to be Number One, instead of Number Eighty-four. He’s hopeful; Nana gave him a Number One tee shirt. And don’t worry; he’s going to be tough! He’s won’t cry, even if a tarantula lands on his head.
Charlie who invents the potato popper, the dollar machine, and flying feet. At least he tries. Wait until everyone sees. “They’ll be yelling: “Charlie! Charlie!”
Don’t forget Sumiko: she’s set to be an Olympic star. Gina’s goal is opera. All she needs is a voice.
There’s a wistfulness here, a longing to be special, (ah, to be a contender) transparent in these early characters, not so obvious when they reach middle grades, and almost hidden later. Some of my early characters scream look at me! How do you like my butterfly bows? The best, right? And did you know my greatest-grandfather was Abraham Washington?
Others go about it more quietly. They don’t want to be losers; they want to fit in. So Mitchell has to swim across the pool with his feet on the bottom. Charlie whose mom is the Afternoon Center bus driver, has to pretend he never saw her in his whole life.
How do I create these characters?
I might as well stand in front of a mirror. It’s a long time since I borrowed Nana’s beaded bag to take to school; it’s been ages since I told everyone to spell my name Patt to distinguish myself from the other two Pats in my class. But I remember. I remember, too, reading a library book, a thick one, returning it that same afternoon, so the librarian would know she had the fastest reader in St. Albans at her desk. And if the mirror’s cloudy, I look around at my children and grandchildren. Billy told me reverent-ly that he was the fastest blesser in his religion class. Alice needed Chapstick so everyone would think she wore lipstick…the same Alice who was horrified when I wanted to take a class at her school.
So for me, that’s the key to writing for young people: to show our own young selves, to hold up that mirror so they can see themselves, too. And once, at least, I did that. Ah, what joy to receive a letter from a young reader. “Do you know me?” she asked. I think so. I hope so.
Add these books to your collection: Number One Kid and Big Whopper
ZigZag Kids Blog Tour:
August 10th Cynsations
August 11th Random Acts of Reading
August 12th Where the Best Books Are!
August 13th
By: Amanda,
on 2/16/2008
Blog: A Patchwork of Books (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Patricia Reilly Giff, Patricia Reilly Giff, Add a tag
When Sam is almost eleven years old, he discovers a locked box in his attic, along with a piece of paper saying something about him being a missing child. Sam has lived with his grandfather for as long as he can remember and has had trouble reading for just as long, but has never questioned why he is where he is, or why he has terrible nightmares about the number eleven. Now Sam is not only having nightmares every night, but he also doesn't know if Mack is really is grandfather or if he is related to the man at all.
By: Amy C. Moreno,
on 4/24/2007
Blog: Cachibachis (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: toy design contest, Hong Kong, Add a tag
Here's a toy design contest. I didn't read the details, but thought there just might be someone out there raring to enter one. Seems the monetary awards are pretty good.... Read the rest of this post
I can't wait to get these books for my daughter, who just started kindergarten today. Thanks for the wonderful interview!
Congratulations on the new series, Patricia. It looks like lots of fun.
Delighted to see beloved children's author, Patricia Reilly Giff, featured on your blog. She's one of my all time favorite authors! If it weren't for Pat's encouragement, I probably would not be an author myself. Thank you, Pat!
CONGRATULATIONS on your new series!
I always loved Patricia's books for those readers who were newly ready for a chapter book. My own daughter loved the Polk Street School series. Lily's Crossing is still sitting on the shelves in her room as one of her favorites.
I would love to win the books to add to the library I am organizing at Hesed House or for the children I work with at GiGi's Playhouse.
Susan Gibbs
[email protected]
Thanks for your wise encouragement! I have enjoyed so many of your books. You make writing for children sound so easy and more importantly so worthwhile. I can’t wait to read your new series. I have one question. When you go to school visits–do you arrive in a limo?
Thank you for posting this inspiring interview. I am both a parent and a writer. As a former literacy teacher, I read to my children before they were born and every day since. As a result, they both LOVE to read and the more they can identify with the characters, the better. Patricia's new series sounds like something my kids won't want to put down which is the true test of a great story. I hope to win one of the sets so that I may share your stories with my kids and they can share them with me. akhertz at aol dot com
What a great interview, Eshter and Patricia! I am a big fan and would love these two books for my personal library as a writer. I love the question mark comment from the teacher to the student--when I taught full time, I can remember saying things like that! :)
Margo
http://margodill.com/blog/
[email protected]
No need to enter me, ladies. I'm dropping in to say thanks to Carmela for the e-mail. I've got this posted at Win a Book for you guys!
Have a great school year!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on encouraging young writers. I will definitely check into this series as a bridge for younger readers to Lilly's Crossing, since we use it every year in our 5th grade class.
Theresa Orand
Librarian, Holy Family Catholic School
Great interview and good luck on the new series. I'm a writer and a homeschool mom. :)
I love this: "No matter what we write, we reveal ourselves." As genre writers we may feel that the subject matter is distant enough from ourselves that we aren't obligated to reveal ourselves. Authenticity always comes from the truth, even good advertising copywriters know this. (Even if it's not your truth; it has to be somebody's.)
Nice work, Esther!
I'm a big fan of Ms. Giff's... a writer and parent. If I were to win this set, I would donate it to a second grade teacher who is also a Giff fan AND has been an amazing supporter of my writing career. irene at irenelatham dot com
These sound like such nice books. I'm a parent and I have been looking for books that aren't filled will potty language and rudeness.
tiredwkids at live dot com
Lovely post! Thank you. I read many of the Polk St. Kids books when I was growing up, and loved them. This brought back memories, and was really inspiring, too.
Love this! I have many of the Polk St. Kids books in my classroom and look forward to sharing Zigzag Kids books with my students, as well. I remember hearing Patricia speak at a California Reading Association conference years ago. It's a treat to hear that she's now teaching writing at her bookstore. I had no idea. What an inspiration!
I'm a mom(future homeschool mom, hopefully), and aunt to 5 boys and a girl. I love giving books as birthday and Christmas gifts, so I'm always on the lookout!! :)
bluerosesheart at yahoo dot com
Thanks for sharing your insights, Patricia. Inspiring. May you continue to be successful.
W. R. Miller, writer
pdc99 at sbcglobal dot net
I am a writing instructor, parent, and writer! I'd love to share these books with my kids! They look great!
I'm also conducting a free book giveaway (for the grownups) on my site: www.meremade.blogspot.com
I would love to win these to use in my elementary classroom. I think my students would enjoy reading these books. Thanks
sonflower277(at)gmail(dot)com
I'd love to share these with my daughter's school and perhaps have a kid review them for my blog.
Thank you for offering the contest.
Pat Zietlow Miller
http://www.patzietlowmiller.com