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Kids' Caldecott Club is up and running!
In our first session, we talked about the Caldecott award, and about how the Caldecott committee works. We talked about layers, theme, and tone in story, and what we will look for as we hunt for the most distinguished picture books of 2016.
Here's one - Alan's Big Scary Teeth by Jarvis.
I asked the kids to tell me what kind of tone or mood they predicted it might have.
"Funny."
The Tree in the Courtyard by Jeff Gottesfeld, ill. by Peter McCarty
shows a different tone - historical, poignant.
The Night Gardener by the Fan Brothers
feels mysterious and intricate
Henry and Leo by Pamela Zagarienski
has a soft and ethereal mood.
We're starting with about 28 books this year because we only have so much time.
It would be lovely to absolutely roll in a roomful of books, but considering that we are working with after-school hours, 28 books is perfect.
Our wonderful librarian Martha helped as we evaluated two books with our ballots this week.
First, we examined the cover, jacket flaps, endpapers, copyright page.
We looked for interesting notes about the making of the book.
Next, we "read" the pictures all through, page by page, without words.
We searched for themes, color, mood, point of view, excellent details.
Then, I read the book aloud.
We asked ourselves what the book was about.
We asked what else it was about.
We looked for details to support our ideas,
nuances in text and art, in layout, in font.
We asked ourselves if the text and illustrations wove well together, or clashed.
We asked if the book would appeal to kids, if kids would be excited about that book.
We filled out our ballots and put them in their matching envelopes.
Exciting!
Here are the books we examined this week:
We All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel
I'm utterly wowed by the mind-explosions They All Saw a Cat creates.
I love the details our kids' committee noticed -
like balance in layout, patterns in text that echo in the illustrations,
exuberant differences in perspective throughout this book.
Genius!
The Music in George's Head : George Gershwin Creates Rhapsody in Blueby Suzanne Slade, illustrated by Stacy Innerst
Another wowzer!
Kids pointed out that the illustrations are done in browns and blues,
which seemed fitting considering that it's about Rhapsody in Blue.
They liked the playful hand lettering,
and the way the story begins, crescendos, and ends.
We listened to Rhapsody in Blue as we tidied up.
What a jazzy bright delight!
I love my library!
Stay tuned for updates as our Caldecott Club continues.
I'll post notes on our ballot and criteria next time.
If you're a local friend, you're welcome to join us!
We're meeting Thursdays
at the Jefferson County Library in Port Hadlock
from 3:45-4:45 p.m.
See more info
here.Except on Thanksgiving.
That's reserved for the turkey eating club.
It's Mock Caldecott season!
Beginning November 4,
we'll meet Thursdays
at the Jefferson County Library in Port Hadlock,Washington
from 3:45 - 4:45 p.m.
Get ready to be wowed by beautiful reads,
learn about the Caldecott selection process,
grow your critical thinking skills,
and help choose the stand-out picture books of 2016.
Read more about it here.I'm so honored to get to join our stellar children's librarian
Martha Ashenfelter and the Jefferson County Library
for a second helping of Caldecott Soup.
I'll keep you posted on all the book deliciousness!
A few of the books we'll be looking at:
They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel
They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel: I'm wowed by how this book
plays with visual point of view. Clever in the extreme.
The Storyteller by Evan Turk: Set in Morocco, this layer-upon-layer story is intricate and deep. The illustrations are done in ink as well as indigo and sugared green tea. Striking.
Sam and Jump by Jennifer K. Mann: Soft and sweet, this is a poignant book about loss and connection.
There is a Tribe of Kids by Lane Smith: I love how this book deals with the concept of collective nouns simply and efficiently, but the illustrations tell a deeper story.
Ada's Violin by Susan Hood, illustrated by Sally Wern Comport : This is an amazingly uplifting true story that starts in a garbage dump. Gorgeous illustrations!
Before Morning by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Beth Krommes: Here is another beauty with simple text and visual story that begs to be followed again and again.
By:
Faith Pray,
on 9/23/2016
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How do you feel about failure?
This summer, we made chalk paint with cornstarch, food coloring, and water.
Summery delight!
See our driveway canvas?
Little did we know that a thunderstorm brewed two hours away.
All our chalky wonders washed away overnight.
It's that resonance of art and failure that makes us strong, right?
Do you ever wonder if we can learn as much from our flops
- our sloppy first drafts, our rejections, our imperfections -
as from our neat and tidy successes?
I have this thing. This fear of ruining a brand new notebook or sketchbook.
I figure if I'm constantly working at something, then naturally, I'll keep improving.
And when I look at my old notebooks stuffed with terrible first drafts and awkward brainstorms,
I get panicky. What if this first page represents who I am through that entire notebook or sketchbook? Can't it at least start out perfect?
Talk about writer's block, eh?
So, I solved it.
It's my secret to hurdling the fear of failure. (in a notebook.)
I just skip the first page.
Then I'm set. I have a one-page cushion keeping me from a first-page flop.
(Really, it means that the second page becomes the first page, but shhh.)
But really, don't we gain something in being brave with each feeble offering of ourselves?
In truth, even if I jump right into the first page of a notebook and ink it up with a scratchy failure,
actually my "failure" teaches me something, and that becomes growth.
And if that's true, then maybe "failure" isn't so much of a failure.
Maybe the effort of trying something stretches and grows our skills.
And actually, that is beauty right there: being brave.
So, go out and be brave, my friends!
Ruin some second pages.
Scribble your heart out.
Make sloppy chalk paint that gets rained on overnight.
Get all muddy and splash around in those glorious flops.
Chalky books!
Journey by Aaron Becker
Quest by Aaron BeckerChalk by Bill Thomson
Art & Max by David Wiesner
The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds
Harold's Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
Let them eat cake!
Sweetness from Cafe Pray...
It's always fun to play with noses
on famous art...
They puzzled over my hand-drawn pieces of Picasso's Woman & Bird
and then played "Pin the Nose on the Picasso"
After a scavenger hunt, and treats,
we made wee matchboxes des Paris.
Ah the joys of the small things in life!
Paper. Art-making. A clamor of cousins. Laughter. Balloons.
Joyeux anniversaire! Happy birthday!
Here's to finding joy in the small things and the good things, my friends!
Au revoir!
C'est la belle vie!
Swan song!
Books!
Adele and Simon by Barbara McClintock
The Iridescence of Birds by Partricia MacLachlan, illustrated by Hadley Hooper
Henri's Scissors by Jeanette Winter
A Giraffe Comes to Paris by Mary Tavener Holmes and John Harris, ill. by Jon Cannell
Picasso and the Girl with the Ponytail by Laurence D'Anholt
Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio, illustrated by Christian Robinson
By:
Faith Pray,
on 6/27/2016
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A small friend is turning 6 in two weeks.
She lives across the country,
and we can't make it to the luau party.
We can't come for cake and balloons and birthday hugs,
but we can send pineapples
and kitties
and fancy toothpicks.
They're like tiny, paper aloha hugs.
So, in shuttling wildebeests to soccer camp lately,
I have discovered a few good surprises
in being the carpool soccer mom.
Books on CD.
Car-goofy kids.
And sketchbook time
while all my soccer players
do their runs and drills.
Big chunks of sketchbook time
help when working out new ideas.
It's funny that I can sketch happy around a crowd,
but I can't write a drop.
My thoughts turn to stone and my stories sink.
But then, that's kind of a theme for me with words anytime lately.
I know some writers who scribble serious magic
in coffee shops and airplanes.
What about you?
When do you do your deep story work?
Can you create masterpieces with everyone there?
Do you thrive with hum and buzz?
Or do you like a hush when you create?
Wherever you find yourself this week,
I wish you peaceful breezes, sweet surprises, and
aloha.
Books {and CD books} we're enjoying this week:
Captain Cat by Inga Moore
Dream Friends by You Byun
Ling and Ting Share a Birthday by Grace Lin
Ling and Ting: Together in All Weather by Grace Lin
A Boy and a Jaguar by Alan Rabinowitz, ill. by Catia Chien
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
Chasing Secrets by Gennifer Choldenko
The Cat Who Came in Off the Roof by Annie M. G. Schmidt
By:
Faith Pray,
on 4/27/2016
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Apparently, it's Poetry Month.
Only, I've been a little distracted.
I skipped off to the city
for my local SCBWI meeting -
an art show,
a lecture from book-wise and witty
editors Mary Kate Castellani and Caroline Abbey,
and then a consultation and workshop with
art director, professor, and story genius Joy Chu.
This is the same Joy who guided me over the last two winters
in visual storytelling classes through the UCSD online extension program.
I'm still reeling with inspiration.
I could have listened for days. Months. Years.
Now I'm home, all bright and hopeful,
waiting for my brain to shape so many beautiful tips
and ideas into working order.
Time to let the front thoughts simmer.
Time to play with poetry.
We started with a poet-tree.
The wildebeests and I cut out branchy trees and labeled each branch with simple word:
sky, go, sea, etc.
Next, we cut out dozens of leaves - in all flutters of color,
because it just looks more exciting that way.
Each branch grew rhyming leaf words:
sky = cry, my, pie, etc.
Because we like to make life even more thrilling, and sometimes complicated,
I thought it might be fun for the older wildebeests to thread their leaves on yarn.
Winnie added a button.
Pip used gold pen. She's really into gel pens lately.
And their finished masterpieces.
I'd love to meet a tree like this someday, shimmering with colors, yarns, and words!
I think I'd move in.
I'll share more poetry play next time.
Until then, here are a few favorites:
A Kick in the Head, An Every Day Guide to Poetic Forms - compiled by Paul Janeczko, ill. by Chris Raschka
The Random House Book of Poetry - edited by Jack Prelutsky, ill. by Arnold Lobel
Switching on the Moon - collected by Jane Yolen and Andrew Peters, ill. by G. Brian Karas
Chicken Soup With Rice - by Maurice Sendak
When We Were Very Young by A. A. Milne, ill. by Ernest Shepard
Now We Are Six By A.A. Milne, ill. by Ernest Shepard
It's National Library Week.
How glad I am for libraries this week and always.
How rich it is to have a place to borrow books,
to load up on research, art, music, words, and stories!
How glad I am for the staff at my library,
gracious souls who do not even sniff
when the wildebeests and I emerge
with a mountain of books to take home.
How patient they are with the noise and flamboyance
of kid-ruckus and story hour,
even when small bears and dragons and pirates
weave and wail beyond their story circles.
How perfectly like a matchmaker
is our children's librarian,
always hunting down treasure
to help her patrons fall in love with reading.
Happy Library Week!
Our latest librarian-found treasures:
When Mischief Came To Town by Katrina Nannestad
Hector and Hummingbird by Nicholas John Frith
Tea Party In the Woods by Akiko Miyakoshi
Detective Gordon: the First Case by Ulf Nilsson
Love that Dog by Sharon Creech
Happy birthday, Beverly Cleary.
Thank you for Henry, Ramona, and Beezus.
Thank you for Klickitat Street.
Thank you for your books.
By:
Faith Pray,
on 3/17/2016
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SCBWI's drawing prompt for March is LUCKY.
I got to thinking about luck,
and what it means to me.
With or without four-leaf clovers, book contracts,
double-rainbows or pots of gold,
I am wishing-wells full of the best kind of luck.
I have beauty all around me -
in sky and earth,
in people with all their glorious quirks,
in a roof over my head, clean water,
in laughter and forgiveness.
And I am free -
free to write, to make art, to learn,
dream, wish, pray,
to hope.
I believe thankfulness and hope can fill the darkest sky with stars.
That's my kind of lucky.
Books:
The Wishing of Biddy Malone by Joy Cowley, illustrated by Christopher Denise
The Woman Who Flummoxed the Fairies by Heather Forest, illustrated by Susan Gaber
Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
I'd rather have a turtle, and I'd rather wear a mock turtle.
I'd rather cook with crockery than be a mockery.
I'd rather party with Mock Caldecotts than with mock halibuts.
And party we did!
- complete with book toothpicks and book inspired snacks:
sunflower seeds (If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson),
honey and bread (Finding Winnie by Lindsay Mattick and Sophie Blackall)
tiny sandwiches (The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone Roach),
pretzel sticks and grape "stones" (Stick and Stone by Beth Ferry and Tom Lichtenheld),
dried mangoes (Mango, Abuela, and Me by Meg Medina and Angela Dominguez).
Voters designed medals for the winning books.
Kids announced both the ALA winners, and our Mock Caldecott winners.
Our committee results:
Our Mock Caldecott Gold Medal : Out of the Woods by Rebecca Bond. 
And then,
honor awards for all eight of our runners up:
The Bear Ate Your Sandwich - by Julia Sarcone RoachMango, Abuela, and Me - by Meg Medina and Angela DominguezA Fine Dessert - by Emily Jenkins and Sophie Blackall Thank You and Good Night - by Patrick McDonnellIf You Plant a Seed - by Kadir NelsonThe Whisper - by Pamela ZagarenskiIn a Village by the Sea - Muon Van and April Chu And then, the entire library voted on the
People's Choice Award. The winner was
Sonya's Chickens by Phoebe Wahl. 
In the book "A Fine Dessert," blackberry fool is made by four families, over four centuries, with different implements.
Our children's librarian Martha Ashenfelter had a brilliant idea.
Why not have our committee make the same dessert
using the same implements?
They loved it!
Delicious!
They ate it up. Every speck. Every lick.
What a sweet finish to a wonderful party.
Thank you, Martha.
Thank you, Mock Caldecott committee.
I hope we can talk and mock Caldecotts again soon.
I thought they might be a fun Valentine-y gift.
I like to carry around pocket-sized art decks, don't you?
Because don't we all carry words on the go?
Who doesn't like a little
fun on a ring?
Or words on a string?
perfect word surprises
for your small people -
or your pocket card collectors.
Local buyers can enter the code: LOCALPICKUP
on my shop to waive shipping fees
and arrange a delivery option.
Here's to the small, the tiny, the mini,
the little bits of love and beauty in this big world
that make life sweet and good.
Tiny book favorites:
Enormous Smallness by Matthew Burgess, illustrated by Eric DiGiacomo
The Tiny King by Taro Miura
Tiny's Big Adventure by Martin Waddell, illustrated by John Lawrence
Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes - by Mem Fox, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
When books sleep, do they see in color?
In their slumbering, do they take a wayward path,
meandering through bright worlds and words,
do their characters reach for lofty things?
Do books dream
of Caldecott and Newbery?
Or do they wish
to be read,
to be loved,
from end to end,
from page to page,
word after word after word?
On Monday, the American Library Association announced their choices,
the most distinguished books of 2016.
They've picked the stellar standouts,
a handful of beautiful treasures.
Finding Winnie gets the Caldecott medal this year.
Oh happy day for illustrator Sophie Blackall and author Lindsay Mattick!
Caldecott Honors go to:
Waiting, by Kevin Henkes,
Trombone Shorty, illustrated by Bryan Collier & written by Troy Andrews,
Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement,
illustrated by Ekua Holmes & written by Carole Boston Weatherford
and one more Caldecott Honor-
glorious surprise!
Last Stop on Market Street, illustrated by Christian Robinson & written by Matt de la Peña
rode home not only a Caldecott Honor,
but a Coretta Scott King Honor,
and the Newbery Medal,
the award given each year for the most distinguished contribution
in American literature for children.
What an exciting day!
Some of our other book favorites were honored on Monday with special awards as well.
Drum, Dream Girl, illustrated by Rafael Lopez & written by Margarita Engle
won the Pura Belpre' award for illustration.
Mango, Abuela, and Me, illustrated by Angela Dominguez & written by Meg Medina
earned Pura Belpre' Honors in both writing and illustration.
Emmanuel's Dream, illustrated by Sean Qualls
& written by Pacific Northwest author Laurie Ann Thompson
was honored with the Schneider Family Book Award.
Yay, Laurie!
And tomorrow, our Library Mock Caldecott committee
finds out their winners.
Last week, the committee had to stand up
and defend their favorite book finalists,
provide good, deep dirt on why their books mattered.
Nearly every kid present had a different favorite book.
Each speaker, even my crowd-shy wildebeests,
braved the limelight to give strong, passionate, thoughtful evidence
as to why their book was a winner.
And that's when it struck me -
each book wins.
Each book published has a chance to speak, to set a spark in a child.
And that is a win.
That's the beauty and the power
of these little, flat packages of words and pictures
that we call books.
So if tomorrow at the Library Mock Caldecott Awards Party,
there just happens to be one Mock Caldecott winner
and a surprising eight Honor books,
it is because
each of those books
has won over
some very passionate readers.
And if you just happen to be around tomorrow -
Thursday, January 14, 2016 at 3:45 p.m.
at the Jefferson County Library,
come in for the party!
All are invited!
Come see the books!
Have some party snacks and toothpicks!
If you read five books, you get to weigh in on the People's Choice vote.
And next Thursday at 3:45 p.m. at the library,
we'll write letters to authors and illustrators.
We'll send awards to our winners.
Here's to books that dream,
and to books that spark readers and dreamers!
It's the final week before the
2016 Caldecott medal is awarded!
And it's almost time for our very own Jefferson County
Library Caldecott committee to choose a winner!
The selection of thirty-four books has been narrowed down
to these nine favorites:
Kid committee members meet this Thursday, January 7, at 3:45 p.m.
to defend and debate their favorites before their peers
and hold a final election.
Most of our members are kids, ages 5-11.
Did I mention that?
I have been blown away by the details they discover,
things that my broad adult eye skips right past,
the critical thinking skills they are developing
as they compare and contrast books and styles,
themes and layers of story.
What a treat to learn to look, to really look
alongside this multi-age group.
And the fun keeps coming!
Simultaneously, the library has displayed all 34 top contenders
in-house for the month of January, so that patrons of all ages can participate
in a library-wide People's Choice vote.
Look at those yummy choices!
Wouldn't it be exciting if picture book delight spilled over
to the greater library populace through all of this bookish hooplah?
I hope so.
Up next:
bring on the sparkly gowns!
the announcements!
the fancy treats!
that gold sticker we've all been waiting for!
All ages are invited to our Library Caldecott Award Party
on Thursday, January 14 at 3:45 p.m.
Good times are sure to be had by all!
Our Top Nine Finalists:
Thank You and Goodnight - by Patrick McDonnell
The Bear Ate Your Sandwich -by Julia Sarcone-Roach
Out of the Woods - by Rebecca Bond
A Fine Dessert - by Emily Jenkins, illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Sonya's Chickens - by Phoebe Wahl
Mango, Abuela and Me - by Meg Medina, illustrated by Angela Dominguez
The Whisper - by Pamela Zagarenski
If You Plant a Seed - by Kadir Nelson
In a Village by the Sea - by Muon Van, illustrated by April Chu
Our Mock Caldecott project is in full swing.
Oh, the yummy books!
So far, we've discussed the Caldecott award,
the workings of a Caldecott committee,
and what to look for in our very own sessions.
Children's librarian Martha Ashenfelter and I created ballots with four voting categories.
I thought it might be fun to share how we're teaching our committee to vote.
1. Excellence
We examine each book - its design, how the pages feel,
the endpapers, the copyright page.
We try to figure out the art medium used,
whether fancy research was done,
if the art is consistent, stunning, unique.
 |
| "In a Village By the Sea" by Muon Van, illustrated by April Chu |
We noticed the book "A Fine Dessert" by Emily Jenkins and Sophie Blackall, a book about blackberry dessert, is partly painted with blackberry juice. That's a pretty tasty detail.
Nikki McClure's book "In" is made from paper cuts.
Vincent X. Kirsch's illustrations in "Gingerbread for Liberty" are made to look like gingerbread. More deliciousness.
 |
| In - by Nikki McClure |
2. Appropriateness
We consider how well the art and the text work together to fill up the story.
Is there a tone or mood to the words,
and do the pictures complement it?
We look at layers -
we ask ourselves what that story is really about,
and then, what else is it about?
 |
| The Bear Ate Your Sandwich - by Julia Sarcone-Roach |
3. Importance
By "reading" the book first without words,
we figure out if the illustrations give us clues, if they tell some of the story.
Then we read it a second time with words, scrutinize how the text is represented,
if the pictures and words are perfectly matched,
or if they give too much away.
We look for details, hints, clues within the story and pictures
that might add to the wow of the book.
 |
| If You Plant a Seed - Kadir Nelson |
4. Appeal
And then we ask if we'd want to pick the book up,
if we think it would appeal to kids.
How much do we love that particular book?
Voters score books from 1-5 in each category,
and slip their ballot in its book envelope.
I have my favorites, but I have to keep mum.
Here is the library's Caldecottmobile.
Each of our nominees will be displayed in the
library and available for voting
until January, when our top finalists will be announced.
At that time, our committee will debate for favorites,
vote on the final few, and, drumroll....
Announcements!
Awards Party!
Letters to Authors and Illustrators!
Some of our nominees:
Finding Winnie: the true story of the world's most famous bear
- by Lindsay Mattick, illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Sidewalk Flowers by JonArno Lawson, illustrated by Sydney Smith
It's Only Stanley by Jon Agee
Water is Water by Miranda Paul, illustrated by Jason ChinIn by Nikki McClure
If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson
Gingerbread for Liberty by Maria Rockcliff, illustrated by Vincent X. Kirsch
The Night World by Mordecai Gerstein
The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach
In November's gusty gale I will flop my flippy tail
and spout hot soup.
I'll be a whale!
Spouting once, spouting twice,
spouting chicken soup with rice.
- Chicken Soup With Rice, A Book of Months, by Maurice Sendak
It may not be spouting hot soup, but good news is easy to slurp about:
I get to help run Kids' Mock Caldecotts at the library!
And what a
library! They've ordered heaps of new books,
which the spectacular librarian Martha Ashenfelter and I
deliberated and drooled over for hours
before whittling our selection to a mere 32 book beauties.
On the first three Thursdays in November,
our library kids will form a Caldecott Committee,
evaluate, debate, and vote for their favorite books of 2015.
In January, we'll hold a final vote,
followed by an awards party.
Doesn't it sound fantastic?
If you are a local friend who knows of some book-loving kids,
bring them in on
November Thursdays!I'll try to post about our delicious book picks and the Caldecott sessions
along the way.
Doesn't it make you want to pick up a stack of picture books and start reading?
By: David D Bernstein,
on 12/13/2014
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Middle Grade Readers
1)
One Dog and His Boy- Written by Eva Ibbotson, Published by Scholastic Inc. New York, NY 2014. Hal is just an ordinary kid with a large dream of owning a dog. On his birthday Hal is allowed to choose a pet that is when Fleck becomes a part of his life and an adventure begins after Hal finds him gone on Monday. Together with a girl named Pippa Hal rescues Fleck and running away is his only option, made trickier when Pippa announces that she and the other dogs want to come along. It not only teaches your children about the power of friendship and love but it takes them on a journey through life. I highly recommend this book for your middle graders. Get out and pick up a copy today.
2)
The Path of Names- Written by Ari Goelman, Published by Scholastic Inc. New York, NY 2013. Dahlia Sherman loves magic tricks, math and video games. She is not so found of campfire songs or lighting storms or mean girls her age. When she is placed in a sleeping camp strange things start happening like ghosts of little girls and an ancient maze guarded by a mysteries caretaker. This books take her on a journey through the past to discover what all this means. It is a mystery based on ancient Jewish scripture that is much better suited for your older middle grader. The book is a fun read and has a very strong connection to Jewish traditions and mystical culture.
By: David D Bernstein,
on 4/7/2013
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Middle Grade Books
1)
“Children of the Lamp (The Akhanaten Adventure)- by P.B Kerr, published by “Orchard books, and imprint of scholastic Inc.
New York 2004.
What if you find out that you are descendants from a long line of Dijon, human-like beings created from fire.
They are able to grant wishes, and take on different animal forms.
This is exactly what happens to two twelve-year-old twins, John and Phillippa, after they get their wisdom teeth pulled.
The children are sent to London to their Uncle Nimrod's home where their amazing adventure begins. This venture takes the reader on a magic carpet ride through a fantasy Middle Eastern World.
This journey teaches the twins that granting wishes is not only dangerous for themselves, but for people who desire wishes as well.
2)
“Peter and Star Catchers”-Written
by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, illustrated by Greg Call.
Published by Disney Hyperion paperbacks for children New York 2004.
How was never-land discovered?
How did Peter Pan become a boy forever?
This book helps the reader find answers to those questions and many more.
Peter Pan is a never aging boy, who visits children at night and takes them to fantasy island called Never-Land where magic lives.
Through the use of vivid language and pencil illustrations, the authors introduce us to how Peter Pan became a part of a world, full of amazing creatures, and magic. This story reveals the mystery of magic dust and how Children can make it real by looking within and tapping into their own imagination.
3)
“Infinity Ring book three the trapdoor”- written by Lisa McMann, published by Scholastic Inc.
New York 2013.
The next book in this interactive serious takes our heroes Dak, Sera and Riq to Maryland in 1850 just before the Civil War.
The main character in this book travel back it time and fix History Breaks, that has been caused by an evil corporation with intentions to take over the world.
The time period in this book describes how new law has been passed that allows any white American to report free blacks, and then make them slaves. The children's mission is to stop this law, and to save the civil right leaders from a prison Dream like landscapes, humor and adventure take the seriousness of the topic at hand, and twists it into a fun read for everyone.
4)
“The 13thReality, the Journal of curious letters. - Written by James Dashner, illustrated by Bryan Beus, Published by Shadow Mountain Press an imprint of Worzalla Publishing Co.
Stevens point, WI. 2008. One day a nerdy boy, Atticus Higginbottom receives a strange letter from Alaska.
After this boy’s life changes from a boring one to life full of mystery and questions that, need to be answered.
Twelve clues help him understand that the world he lives in is just one of many parallel worlds, which still need to be discovered and saved.
If a child likes to solve problems through clues, they would love this book.
A story progresses Atticus goes from zero to hero.
The pencil illustrations and secrets surrounding the boy’s life will keep your middle graders turning the pages.
Do you remember when you thought you might be able to fly,
if you just jumped high enough?
Do you remember when anything was possible?
On Monday, I helped at a young writer's conference.
I was surrounded with small writers
belly-full pleased with their writing,
oblivious to that dreaded taskmaster Revision,
unconcerned about snagging a publishing deal,
purely finding joy in their words.
All that youthful buoyancy
made me want to climb out of my writing slump
and grow some wings!
How do we as writers return
to that weightless pleasure in our words
without losing
the wisdom earned
from critiques and rejection slips,
writing groups and how-to books...
How do we find both our feet AND our wings?
As soon as we returned from our very long day,
the girls embarked on a writing project:
to send letters
to 100 authors and illustrators
of some of their favorite books.
Think we can do it?
If you're an author or illustrator friend and a crooked little envelope comes to you,
would you be kind and write back?
Please!
We have two hopeful writers, who think anything is possible.
In Need of Some Snail Mail?
Leave us a comment, and we'll put you on our snail letter list - whether you're published or not.
Happy writing!
Books: 
A Letter to Amy - Ezra Jack Keats
The Gardener, by Sarah Stewart, ill. by David Small
Toot and Puddle - Holly Hobbie
Click, Clack, Moo! Cows That Type - by Doreen Cronin, ill. by Betsy Lewin
Mailing May, by Michael O. Tunnell, ill. by Ted Rand
By:
Faith Pray,
on 3/6/2013
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Some children are raised by wolves.
Others, by creatives.
And really, is there a difference?
Sometimes, the lines between "creative" and "fur-brained" blur.
And that's the beauty of it.
To be a creative,
you get to strap on your courage boots every day
and write,
paint,
parent,
sew, stitch, cook - whatever your bent -
and be prepared
for surprises.
Surprises like tears and paper wadding.
Snapping pencils.
Earnest screwdrivering until the cabinet doors fall off.
(Thank you for that, my wildebeests.)
Havoc.
Howling at the moon.
Eating paint.
raised-by-wolves days,
and sometimes, gleams of brilliance.
Have I mentioned this book?
"The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, the Mysterious Howling" by Maryrose Wood and illustrated by Jon Klassen
(the Caldecott 2013 doublescoop!)
I love this book! I am in a happy swoon.
Jane Austen meets Agatha Christie meets Alexander McCall Smith, only with heaps of originality and humor. Well done, Maryrose Wood. Wow. wow. wow.
More wolf-ishness we love:
[For the record, and in case any great-grandmothers are concerned:
dry ice is considered dangerous in some contexts.
As such, it should probably not be given to toddlers...however, the children in these pictures were skillfully trained stunt-models, posing as children, and obediently avoided actually touching the ice.]
By:
Faith Pray,
on 2/27/2013
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I am Icharus.
Except instead of wax and feathers,
I'm patched together with glitter glue,
writing morsels and
cups of hot tea.
Struck by a blaze of new story lightning,
I'm going down.
That's a good thing, right?
...Right?
Muttering at walls, scribbling
"Words are my wings!" on sticky notes,
covered in ink smudges,
I'm delightedly doomed.
But not too doomed
to help with peg dolls.
Indeed!
And Ancient Greek peggies at that.
Athena, patron of wisdom, and arts and crafts!
She's an owl lady.
Aphrodite, patron of love.
Posiedon. Sea guy. And that's his trident.
Hera, wife of Zeus, patron of marriage.
Peacock lady.
Also compared to a cow in some circles.
Now you know.
Parthenon?
Ruler. Cardboard. Scissors. Tape. White glue.
And now for the drum-roll, please...
we'd like to announce a winner!
A hearty thanks to all of you who entered
Margaret Bloom's
Making Peg Dolls giveaway,
and thank you to
Margaret for the fantastic blog tour.
Our winner is...
Barb Davis-Pyles. Congratulations, Barb!
I hope you will all go out and find this beautiful book.
You are going to LOVE it.
And did you know SACRED DIRT has a
facebook page?
"Like it" to get posts on the beautiful mess of artsy writing,
daily dirt, and parenting sent directly to your facebook feed.
Ancient Greece on the page:
Greek Myths For Young Children, by Heather Amery, ill. Linda Edwards
Explore Ancient Greece!
Greek Myths - Ann Turnbull, ill. by Sarah Young
A Gift From Zeus - Jeanne Steig, ill. by William Steig
The Adventures of Odysseus, by Hugh Lupton, Daniel Morden, ill. by Christina Balit
Aesop's Fables - Lisbeth Zwerger
By: David D Bernstein,
on 2/23/2013
Blog:
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It has been a cold and snowy winter so far. I really hope that you take the time to purchase these picture books and share them with your young children by your fireplace. Please have fun and enjoy that special moment with them.
"I Want my Hat Back"- Written and Illustrated by Jon Klassen published by Candlewick
press 2011 Somerville, MA and a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor book. A Bear's hat is stolen, but who has done it? He searches everywhere by talking to several of his animal friends. Have any of them seen it? This sounds like a simple concept for a story, but it is much more then that. What makes the book unique are the words and Illustrations. The hat is hidden in the story and your child has to find it. They have to look carefully. It can be used as a game for them, and this makes the book fun. Get a copy today.
"The Very Beary Tooth Fairy"- Written by Arthur A. Levine and Illustrated by Sarah S.Brannen, Published by Scholastic Press 2013 New York. All his life Zach the bear has been told to stay away from humans. Than one day he notices a family having a picnic and the little boy has a tooth loose. Zach discovers his tooth is also loose. What if the tooth fairy is a human, he has to find out for himself. The author's words and the illustrations give the legend of the tooth fairy a new twist. I really enjoyed this book very much. It is a great story to share with your kids. Get your youngster a copy, they will ask you to read over and over again.
"While Your Are Sleeping"- Written and Illustrated by Alexis Deacon, Published Farrar, Straus and Giroux New York 2006. What happens after the lights go out? This book explores this idea by creating a fantastic world where toys come to life to protect you. The words and illustrations blend perfectly together to make a great book that does not only teach your kids to take care of their toys, but to dream. It answers the question that every child has: "What happens when I sleep?" This delightful story for your young children to read at bedtime. I highly recommend this book for everyone.
"The Lamb and the Butterfly"- Written by Arnold Sundgaard and illustrated by Eric Carle, Published by Orchard Books an imprint of Scholastic Inc. New York 1988 reprinted 2013. Classic books stay with you all your life and inspire new generations as well. This book teaches a terrific lesson in a classic folk tale style. I was happy to see it re-released. It uses a combination of wonderful language and simple illustrations to show that every individual is unique, and so is their lifestyle. This book wisely teaches youngsters to identify with others, but to truly know themselves. This classic folk tale will be a great gift for your kids.
"Before You Came."- Written by Patricia Maclachlan and Emily Maclachlan Charest, Illustrated by David Diaz, Published by Katherine Tegan Books an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers New York 2011. Summary-"A mother relates how she spent time before her child arrived, then passes on a gift of days peddling a red canoe, reading in a pillow-filled hammock until dark, and watching the moon rise at night." The use of poetic language and beautiful illustrations explores a universal view of a bound between mother and child. I think that any parent can relate to it. Get a copy of this book and make your little one feel extra special.
"The Granddaughter Necklace."- Written by Sharon Dennis Wyeth and Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline, Published by Arthur A. Levine Books an imprint of Scholastic Inc.. January 2013.This picture book is a great read for Black History month. Summary- " A mother shares with her daughter stories of the generations of women in their family as each individual has passed along the tales and glittering necklace to her own daughter." I liked this book very much. I recommend it for older readers or to be used in a classroom setting. The illustrations are wonderful and the concept beyond the story is great.
Enjoy the picture books above, and I will have four new middle readers up in mid March.
It begins just like the other days.
Almost.
Hanging up the washing.
Nubby and bare,
naked as day.
Wishing.
All pegs have wishes, but Jane wishes most, and longest.
For color, aliveness, adventure
beyond the laundry line.
Little does she know that today is the day.
Today the wind is listening.
It twists into a great spiral,
knocking the orderly yard to pieces.
A folding chair barrels across the green.
The chickens gawp, the dog haroops.
Wind whips like a sandblast
and all in one great whoosh, down comes the line!
Socks!
Pegs!
Helter-skelter, shilly-shally, willy-nilly, down!
And Jane, the wooden wisher, is free.
Free!
Free to don paint and petals,
 |
| from Making Peg Dolls, by Margaret Bloom |
her owling self,
 |
| from Making Peg Dolls, by Margaret Bloom |
her fairy face.
It doesn't take much time.
Jane and the family find their secret selves:
Greek gods!
See, there's Jane in her purple hair.
She's waiting for wings.
She's changed her name to Athena.
Her coming-out party is next week.
Adventure awaits!
Making Peg Dolls, by Margaret Bloom is here!
Margaret is the creative genius mother of
Wish Baby,
There are umpteen reasons we love this book:
Margaret's illustrations tucked in and around the text.
Tiny peg bears.
 |
| from Making Peg Dolls by Margaret Bloom |
Can you say darling? Oh my nubs!
 |
from Making Peg Dolls by Margaret Bloom
|
Fairy tale dollies.
Owl peggies.
Amazon has already sold out. Yes, this book is THAT hot.
I packed a Peg Doll Get-Well-Kit for Pip's recovery.
Bliss!
Paint!
Why don't we do this every day?
I had no idea how joyful and addicting it would be.
The thing that amazes me about
Making Peg Dollsis how Margaret has made this process accessible
to adults and kids of all sizes.
We are smitten. Absolutely smitten with this book.
I am convinced you will be, too!
And I have a copy of Making Peg Dolls to give away!
It's simple: Just leave a comment.
You'll be entered in the drawing.
I'll announce the winner next Wednesday.
Exciting!
Entries end at midnight on Tuesday, February 26.
Thank you, Margaret!
By:
Faith Pray,
on 2/10/2013
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Here we go again!
Tomorrow is the big day.
Tonsils out!
I'm reading about the hero's journey lately -
the road a character takes
to become changed in a story
- a.k.a the story arc.
Writing and life are so linked, don't you think?
We're all on a journey.
We face monsters, magic, trials, portals every day - they just look a little different in real life.
Tests, school, work, laundry...
Pip's monster this week is tonsils.
We're trying to equip her with happy times,
to sustain her on the road of liquid food and couch time.
So we took her ice skating.
And experimented with pennies.
and made some copper valentines.
Did you know salt and vinegar can make some pretty impressive green crystals?
Then it was time for invisible ink, made of baking soda and water.
and purple cabbage juice to reveal our secret messages.
Very spy-like.
To go with the spy theme, I'm making her a book treasure hunt.
Like the book
geo-caching we did last year when Winnie said goodbye to her tonsils.
  |
| Sticky note clues hidden in favorite books: "The Nutcracker" ill. by Maurice Sendak, "The 5,000 Year-Old Puzzle," ill. by Melissa Sweet | | |
|
And speaking of books,
Margaret Bloom's "Making Peg Dolls" book giveaway is coming to my blog soon!
Stay tuned!
Happy, healthy hearts to you!
Sick days, valentines, and writers' journeys:
By:
Faith Pray,
on 2/4/2013
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We like to ring in Groundhog Day
with high style over here.
He sees his shadow, he doesn't see his shadow,
either way we get balloons
because Sugar Snack is four!
Bring on the sweets and sprinkles.
Sugar high!
I'm thinking of changing his name to "Cheeks."
Everyone likes a party.
Even small sewn friends.
Happy day, Cheeks.
And speaking of happy days,
Happy book birthday to Margaret Bloom of
We Bloom Here.
"Making Peg Dolls" is a gorgeous book.
I can't wait to rave all about it.
And I will!
I get to be part of Margaret's
blog tour, which starts today.
Margaret will be giving away a copy of "Making Peg Dolls"
to one of my lucky readers this month.
Stay tuned for giveaway details.
You can also visit Margaret as she tours the blog-globe.
Giveaways and surprises, oh my!
February 4th:
The Crafty CrowFebruary 5th:
The Magic OnionsFebruary 6th:
The ToymakerFebruary 7th:
CleanFebruary 8th:
Anna BranfordFebruary 11th:
Red Bird CraftsFebruary 12th:
Art is a WayFebruary 13th:
Softearth's WorldFebruary 14th:
Chocolate EyesFebruary 15th:
Rhythm and RhymeFebruary 18th:
Wild Faerie CapsFebruary 19th:
Sacred DirtI'm the caboose!
It's going to be brilliant.
Hooray, Margaret!
and in other news, goodbye Pip's tonsils...
That's our next adventure.
I'll let you know how we do.
Sugar Snack's birthday books:
I, Crocodile, by Fred Marcellino
Little Tug, by Stephen Savage
Alphabet City, by Stephen T. Johnson
Shortcut, by David Macaulay
In the Town All Year Round by Rotraut Susanne Berner
By:
Faith Pray,
on 1/16/2013
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Because everyone needs a reason to hide secret notes...
I made a mail kit.
It's our Narnian Lamppost.
Our Portal.
Our place where the real world transforms into the magical one.
See, Pip and Winnie haven't exactly been excited
about writing time.
They moan and whinge when it's time
to pull out notebook and pen.
But now they have a reason to write.
All manner of small letters, notices and lists
have been appearing in the mailbox, begging for a reader.
Secret message makers, word lovers in the making, I hope.
And if we're not so concerned with punctuation just yet,
still Something is being kindled,
and that Something is what we're going for -
getting so lost in play so that the unseen world
shines brighter within us,
and the ordinary world shines brighter on our return...
This is what I want for myself, too.
To take more time to play
with my words, with art, with the kids
without focusing on how much I get done.
I have a choice every day -
wear myself out trying to blast through my goals,
or find the sweet spots and savor.
Relish the revision.
(thank you Gail Carson Levine and
Molly Blaisell for your great advice.)
and
if you need a reason to play with your words,
or an incentive for young heel-dragging-writers,
may I suggest a mail box?
Our kit is compiled of:
A domed box (thrift store find)
Denim.
Felt.
Mod podge.
Ribbon.
A cardboard swing arm fastened with a nut and bolt.
I added a mail sack, felt envelopes and flannel stamps
plus a thick stack of paper
for good measure.
My dad's old mail carrier hat tops the cake.
Any mail today?
Books of Note:
The Dove's Letter by Keith Baker
The Jolly Postman, by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
The Jolly Christmas Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
The Gardener by Sarah Stewart, illustrated by David Small
Toot and Puddle by Holly Hobbie
Letters from Father Christmas - J.R.R. Tolkien
Love, Mouserella by David Ezra Stein
Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly - Gail Carson Levine
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows
The Enchanted Chocolate Pot - Patricia C. Wrede, Caroline Stevermer
And an experiment.
I've been trying to set up some freebies for my small writer friends, so here is my first attempt to provide a download.
You are welcome to use this art as long as you credit the artist (Hey, that's me - Faith Pray!) and as long as you don't try to pass it off as your own work, or sell it (That would be illegal). If you are going to pin or webshare this, please credit me as the artist, and link back to this original post.
Thank you for the respect.
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Funny, I have been wondering a lot lately about whether some of my "anything is possible" dreams are actually impossible. But I keep returning to the thought that "impossible" things happen every single day of the year. So I, for one, plan to keep jumping. I hope you do, too. Because I know we'll have lots to talk about when we're both up there flying around!
You KNOW I'd write back!!! (but will my note be delivered via that special home-grown mailbox (featured here way back when in mid-January)?
xo
"How do we find both our feet AND our wings?" You nailed it, Faith. Like Barb, I'll keep jumping. :)
I know many small authors who would love letters from their old friends and would be happy to write back via snail mail. You know where we are. Linda Morris
Faith, what a lovely project to do with the children. I shall have to do this too.