Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counsellors, and the most patient of teachers.
Charles W. Eliot, The Happy Life, 1896 US educator (1834 - 1926) My submission for Illustration Friday's "wise" theme are some diecut gift tags that feature teachers in the doorway of an old-fashioned school house. copyright 2008 Valerie Walsh
Hey, you guys are awesome! Word about our blog is getting around and it even attracted the attention of an author---specifically, Lee Wardlaw, author of 101 Ways to Bug Your Parents. Let's hear what she said:
Hi Guys! Thanks so much for mentioning my novels 101 Ways to Bug Your Parents and 101 Ways to Bug Your Teacher. I'm honored! And it's true: I have a son (he's almost 12) and two younger brothers (yes, as the Big Sis I bugged them too), so I definitely know that Boys Rule and Boys Read!
My son is a big fan of the Rick Riordan books. Some of his other favorite books are: His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman; The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series by Michelle Paver; Enders Game by Orson Scott Card; The Artemus Fowl Series by Eoin Colfer; and, oh yeah, he kinda likes my books too.Keep you eyes peeled for my next book, coming next year: 101 Ways to Bug Your Friends & Enemies.
Catch that reading bug!-Ms. Lee Wardlaw
Thank you so much, Ms. Wardlaw. We're honored that you wrote to us. Please feel free to write to us again--and tell your son to write to us! I'm glad your son is a fan of Rick Riordan's books. I am, too! In fact, I've got a special something to tell you and all the other Percy jackson fans at the end of this post.
We also had a comment from a fellow blogger, Chris Everheart:
Hey guys. Groovin' on your blog. Keep up the fun. Chris
Thanks, Chris! We're definitely having fun here. Chris is an author of YA thrillers. (YA stands for "Young Adult") He used to be a reluctant reader but then he "caught that reading bug" and now writes books that boys, especailly middle school and high school boys, would like. He wants to inspire a million boys to read. If you'd like to read his story and see what he says about our blog, check out the site below:
http://millionboysread.blogspot.com/
Our library system does not have any of his books, unfortunately. He's got some good links to other sites about books for boys, so take a look---and all you parents, teachers, and librarians take a look, too!
And now for a real treat! I just came off of Rick Riordan's blog and heard and saw him read some of the opening to his new Percy Jackson book, The Battle of the Labyrinth. This book has one the best first sentences I ever heard: "The last thing I wanted to do on my summer break was to blow up another school." To hear the rest, click here.
All right, guys, keep up the good work!
Carl
PS--In all the excitement yesterday, I forgot to get cyber kid 303 his free book. Come and get it next time you're here. And we still have your free T-shirt, Will. If you live in the Charlotte area, come to the library in Imaginon and pick it up.
Hey everyone, we had a great time at our Heroes and Villains festival. I don't have time to write much, but I'll show you some pictures and Bill will say some more. As I said, it was a great time. We had Guitar Hero:
That's cyber kid 303 in the middle with the baseball cap. We also had some actual fire fighters come here and let some kids get on the fire engine:
Bill, I mean, Captain Bootstrap Bill is with them. He burns the port cities and they put out the fires. Here's the fire engine:
We also had a portable basketball goal so kids could be a Basketball Hero:
That's Bootstrap Bill again--he said he wanted to "burn one in." We tried to tell him that when you steal the ball you don't really steal the ball.
But finally the Hero Avengers of Imaginon Library (or HAIL) caught up to Bootstrap Bill and paid him back for his dastardly deeds:
As I said, we all had a lot of fun. And, guess what---
cyber kid 303 was there to get his
free Rick Riordan T-shirt:
Hey, Mr. Riordan, any chance cyber kid could be a Demigod of the Week?
Well, I'd put up more pictures, but Blogger is telling me I've used up half of the capacity already. So I'll see if Bill wants to make another post. By the way, I told you all that I'd post cyber kid's and Will's new comments, so here they are:
101 Ways to Bug Your Parents by Lee Wardlaw. Mrs. Wardlaw is another author I met at Novello (in 2006). She has a son, so she knows how to write books that are interesting to boys. This is a good book and it really does teach you 101 ways to bug your parents. I've tried a lot of them. She also wrote 101 Ways to Bug Your Teacher.
That's from cyber kid. Did you really use some of thsoe on your parents? Did they write a book called 101 Ways to Ground Your Kid?
Here's from Will:
Otis Spofford by Beverly Cleary is a good book because Otis always gets in trouble and always gets an excuse to get out of it, but he gets paid back from his prank....two girls get him back by playing a prank on him.
Very good, Will. You've really made me want to read the books you write about and that's the sign of a good book reviewer. I've got Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary checked out and I'll let you guys know how it is.
Keep up the good work, everyone!
Carl
Beautiful post Valerie! I agree with you. And wow. these diecut gift tags are really beautiful. It is really colorful and eye-catching!
Very nice. But you can't click a book for more info! :-)
comforting words. precious tags!
oh sweet! And I love the seamless background it is shot on. I never thought about stripes on a seamless...that's way cool!
Lovely! You make a very valid point. Books are faithful, too.
Faithful and wise. Perfect!
Excellent idea and interpretation of the theme "wise", like the colors.
Cheers!
FlyWORKS
V cute!
Your houses and homes are always so welcoming. The teachers who receive any gifts accompanied by these tags are certainly lucky. And aren't you WISE to feature both the gentleman and the lady. *:)
the very acknowledgement of the wise teachers among us caused me to smile this morning.
:)
One of my favorite quotes and the gift tags are SUCH a gorgeous accompaniment! Beautiful.
Very nicely done! Glad to have time to stop by again. And LOVE the Buffalo Springfield song! Never heard, will buy it on iTunes right now!!! Thanks!
Very great idea...very great drawing.
oh yes the wisdom of the teacher...or not...
Wonderful post and colorful work!
http://indigeneartforms.blogspot.com
Great work! =)
A nice nice illo for a great quote !!!
I totally agree with mir Charles W. Eliot.. of course they are..
Must hear more about 4 nipple girl.
The die-cut gift tags are just so colorful and eye catching! Very nice quote!
sweet!
what gorgeous gift tags !!!
The Arts Director
those are really neat! and what a great way to reference 'wise'. :)
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. —Groucho Marx
very fun tags!
very nice, val!
And the song! I'd forgotten about that one. :)
Love it.
xo
Di
Hi! You have been tagged. =)
nice take on the subject… the words… the thought… AND, of course, the illo…
your work is so lovely!
How nostalgic! I remember being kicked out of that schoolhouse for being a "wise" guy. Love Bad Dog
Great Idea. Cute houses!
Thanks for adding me on your page! I've also added you to my blog roll so I can follow your blog. Your art is really wonderful!
Have a great day!
Aww - so cute!!
And a great concept too :) Really love the colours - they make me happy!
Aww - so cute!!
And a great concept too :) Really love the colours - they make me happy!
You are the director of arts in my story...will make sense shortly.
absolutely lovely!!! i want to live there.
Truly inpsiring:)
I want to be a great teacher waiting for my students too at this lovely doorway.
How thoghtful you are!!!
Hugs valerie ^^
I like them very much! I especially like the fallen fruit!