(Well, okay, I admit that around here the chocolate thing is pretty much par for the course, not confined to anxiety over waiting for contest finalists to be posted... uncontrolled chocolate consumption is a good thing :))
Bad enough that I always make you wait the weekend to find out who the contest finalists are, but this time I made you wait a WHOLE EXTRA DAY! I'm so sorry!
Please.
Go take a shower and put on clean clothes.
We'll wait. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
There now.
Isn't that better?
Because as always, we must begin with a few words from the people in charge around here.
First, I want to thank EVERYONE who found time in their busy holiday season schedule to write an entry for this contest - all 96 of you! The overall quality of the entries was amazing! There were no easy cuts. My assistant judges and I found something to like in every story and hated having to cut anyone!
Second, I want to thank EVERYONE who took the time to go around to as many of the 48 different blogs as you could, as well as the 48 entries posted in the comments here, and read and leave supportive comments for the writers who worked so hard on these stories. In this business where rejection is a common and unavoidable part of the process, it means a great deal to writers to know that their work was read and enjoyed, and to receive a few kind words about their writing. It is one of the best things about this community - that people are so generous and kind to each other.
Third, before I list the finalists, I want to say again how really difficult it was to choose. There were so many fabulous entries. The sheer volume meant that many great stories had to be cut. So if yours didn't make the final cut please don't feel bad. There was a huge amount of competition. Judging, no matter how hard we try to be objective, is always subjective at a certain point - we all have our own preferences for what makes a great story. And the fact that you didn't make the final cut DOES NOT mean you didn't write a great story. Everyone who plonked their butt in a chair and worked hard to write a story for this contest is a winner! You showed up. You did your best work. You practiced your craft. You wrote to specifications. You bravely shared your writing with the world. And you have a brand new story that is now yours to hone and tweak if you like and maybe submit at some point to a magazine or as a PB manuscript. So bravo to everyone who entered!
Finally, I'd like to be very clear about the voting process. Due to the large number of entries, there are 12 finalists listed below. I have deliberately listed them by title only, so as to help with objectivity. Please read through them and choose the one you feel is best and vote. You are MOST welcome to share a link to this post on FB, twitter, or wherever you like to hang out and encourage people to come read ALL the finalists and vote for the one they think is best. Please do that. The more people who read and enjoy these stories the better, and the more objective votes we get the better. HOWEVER (and I want to be very clear on this) please do not ask people to vote for a specific number or title, or for the story about Mrs. Claus dancing the makaraina with Rudolph or whatever. Trolling for votes or trying to influence the outcome is counter to the spirit of this competition which is supposed to be based on merit. I thank you in advance for respecting this.
Now, without further ado, here are your finalists. There is a mix of poetry and prose, funny, cute, and poignant - quite a spread!
Remember that the judging criteria were:
1. Kid-appeal! - These stories are intended for a young audience, so entries that were well-written but lacked child-friendliness or whose humor or content felt more appropriate for an older or adult audience did not make the cut.2. It (hopefully) goes without saying that you must follow the contest rules - there were very specific instructions about the opening line which almost all of you followed to the letter... but a couple of strong entries did not. I thought the instructions were clear because of the multiple examples given... but one entry in particular caused serious debate among the judges as to whether the rules had been followed or not - the opening line was clearly modeled on the song but did not follow the pattern spelled out. In the end, we did not add that entry to the finalist list because some people who weren't sure emailed for clarification and this author did not, and about 90 of the 96 entries followed the correct pattern flawlessly. So... executive decision... although we weren't entirely happy about it.3. Quality of story - the rules stated that entries were to tell a story, so if they appeared to be more of a description or mood piece, they didn't make the cut. We looked for a true story arc, and unfortunately there were quite a few lovely, well-written entries that failed to meet this criteria.4. Quality of writing - use of language, correctness of tense, spelling and grammar, quality of rhyme and meter for the poetry entries, and overall impression of writing were factored in.5. Originality and creativity - because that is often what sets one story above another.
We cut 84 entries to leave you with these 12. It was very hard! We did the best we could. There were a number of stories where the judges loved the concept, but the rhyme/meter needed too much work to make the finals. And there were some that modeled the song beautifully with perfect meter and rhyme that failed to tell a story. In any case, I
hope you'll all find at least one of your favorites on the list below.
#1 CITY CRITTER CHRISTMAS
Soaring over skaters at the Rockefeller Rink,
Pigeon spies a Christmas tree and stops to have a think.
Perched upon a frosty branch that twinkles red and blue,
he wishes that the holidays were meant for critters, too.
Dashing through the Christmas tree in front of 30 Rock,
Squirrel bumps into Pigeon and he stops to have a talk.
"Why so sad?" he asks the bird. "It's Christmas Eve, you know."
"Not for critters," Pigeon says. "Hey, look who's right below!"
Trudging home from Macy's (where he worked a double shift)...
it's Santa Claus! He slips, he slides, he winds up in a drift!
Squirrel and Pigeon watch him fall—it's not a jolly sight.
They scurry down the Christmas tree to see if he's all right.
Twisting on the sidewalk while the critters yank his boot,
Santa Claus begins to yell, "Lay off my Santa suit!"
"We'll help you up," the critters say. "We know you're in a rush!
You should be heading to your sleigh, not stuck here in the slush!"
Getting to his feet as shoppers shop and skaters twirl,
Santa grins at Pigeon, then he turns and grins at Squirrel.
"Thanks," he tells the critters, gently wringing out his hat.
"I'll give you both a Christmas gift!" They like the sound of that.
Sharing roasted chestnuts Santa purchased on the street,
Squirrel and Pigeon sit upon their Christmas tree and eat.
They look out at the city, filled with angels, while they chew,
agreeing that the holidays are meant for critters, too.
#2 Red Berries in the Snow
Hopping along the twisty trail in the quiet, wintry woods,
Rabbit spied red berries poking through the snow. “The Giver will be here
soon,” he squealed. Then a heavy branch dropped snow on his head. Rabbit’s
whiskers froze into tiny icicles.
He hopped to Mole’s house and thumped his foot on the cold
ground near the door. Thump, Thumpity-Thump, Thump. “I saw red berries in the
snow!” Rabbit hollered down the hole. “Please tell the Giver that I’d like a warm
scarf this year. I’m going home to thaw my whiskers.”
Mole was dizzy from Rabbit’s wild thumping, but he clawed
his way through his dark tunnel and popped out next to Mouse’s tidy nest. “Red
berries in the snow,” Mole announced. “Kindly tell the Giver that Rabbit would
like a scarf to keep his whiskers warm. And I would like a lamp for my tunnel. I’m
going to sit in my favorite chair until my aching head feels better.”
“Oh dear, oh dear,” stammered Mouse as she pulled on her boots.
“Rabbit and Mole are so impatient. Red Berries in the snow! Scarves and lamps!
I’ve no time to waste.” She scurried up an oak tree and teetered on a tiny
branch. “Good evening Owl,” she said. “It’s the sharing season and we must send
the Giver a message. Tell him that Rabbit would like a warm scarf and Mole would
like a bright lamp. Since I never seem to have enough time, I would like a
watch.”
Owl listened carefully, then he lifted his strong wings and
flew North until he saw the tallest evergreen in the woods. He circled it three
times and landed deep within its boughs.
In the warmth of the morning, Rabbit found his scarf. Mole
switched on his lamp and Mouse admired her watch. Beside each present lay a
note that read: Your greatest gift will be found just outside your door. “Hooray!”
said Rabbit, and he threw open his door. Mole and Mouse were staring back at
him, and he knew the Giver’s words were true.
#3 The Incident Fleeting through the crowded aisles
Of the mall - both hands held tight,
'Cause Mom and Dad are really mad
About "the incident" tonight.
It all started with a fun-filled trip
To sit on Santa's knee
So I could tell him all the things
I hoped he'd bring for me.
But when I saw the line of kids
Went far past Santa's sleigh,
I knew somewhere, someway, somehow,
I had to get away.
So I thought up an escape route,
'Cause I think it's so unfair,
For kids to wait instead of play
When toys are everywhere.
Quick - I bolted up the steps,
Down aisles, and through a store.
I figured it was better than
that long line - what a bore!
But the store was NOT a fun one.
It was filled with frilly things,
Stuff that grown-up ladies wear,
NO TOYS like Santa brings.
And then . . . my parents found me.
I knew it wasn't good.
So I hid inside a clothes rack
Like any smart kid would.
Then without so much as looking,
Mom reached in and grabbed my collar
While Dad stood with his lips pinched tight,
trying not to holler.
They yanked me from that clothes rack,
Past holiday displays,
Down the escalator,
And 'round people like a maze.
And as we fled past Santa,
I thought I saw him grin -
I guess I'll send a letter
About how good I've been.
#4 The Hanukkah Elf
Tapping on the window pane at the Klein family home was Max, Santa’s hungriest elf. He was waving a jar and a letter. It read:
Dear Santa,
Potato pancakes, jelly donuts, games and light. Please come to my house on Hanukkah.
Love, Joe
“Santa has to deliver presents tonight,” the elf stepped inside. “So he sent me, Max. And this oil. When do we eat?”
“After we light the menorah,” Joe said. “Bring the jar.”
Max filled each of the eight cups with Santa’s gift. The boy and the elf lit the wicks.
The menorah glowed bright, but Santa’s oil was gone.
Joe frowned. “We need more to make the latkes and sufganiyot.”
Max’s stomach growled. “Time for a little elf magic.”
Twinkle. Wiggle. Clap.
The jar refilled. “Okay, Joe. Let’s get cooking.”
Max flipped the potato pancakes. Joe fried the donuts.
The boy and the elf devoured their feast.
Bellies full, faces sticky with applesauce and jam, Max and Joe settled their stomachs with a game of dreidel.
“I think I’ll save my chocolate winnings for the ride home,” Max said.
Joe read the letters on the top. “Nun. Gimel. He. Shin. In Hebrew that stands for A Great Miracle Happened There. Thank you for the oil.”
“I came for the food and made friend,” Max smiled. “I hope we can celebrate Hanukkah together again. Santa will be flying by soon. I should get to the roof.”
But Max didn’t move.
“What’s wrong?” asked Joe.
“How will Santa know where to find me? This isn’t one of his usual stops.”
“Yes it is.” Joe grinned and pointed to the stockings on the mantle. “We celebrate Christmas too. Merry Christmas, Max!”
“Happy Everything, Joe!”
#5 The Christmas Seed
Circling round the planet Mars on their space craft RV-3,
the children begged and pleaded for a real live Christmas tree.
“There is no way,” cried Maw and Paw, “for that to come about.”
So Sue and Lou and Baby Boo would have to do without.
No Christmas tree? That cannot be…they vowed to find a way.
Sue climbed up high and searched the sky, but only saw a sleigh.
And Lou got tangled in the lights while looking in a drawer.
And Baby Boo picked up a seed as he crawled on the floor.
“Take that away,” cried Maw and Paw, “that’s not for Boo to eat”
But Boo skedaddled like a flash to the ejection seat.
Maw screamed! Lou tripped! Sue scrambled down! Paw reached to
save his kid.
They heard a BOOM! It shook the room! The spaceship blew its lid!
They watched as Boo flew through the air; it was a fearful sight.
This wasn’t quite the way they’d planned to spend this Christmas
night.
And Maw, she moaned, and Paw, he groaned, and Sue and Lou,
they cried.
But then they heard a HO! HO! HO! and Santa slid inside.
He opened up his big red sack – plucked out a doll for Sue,
a watch for Paw, a book for Maw, a bat and ball for Lou.
But Maw and Paw, their faces drooped, and Sue and Lou, they
frowned,
until they heard, deep in the sack, a most familiar sound.
Then Santa reached way down inside and pulled out Baby Boo.
“I saved the best for last,” he said. “This one’s for all of you!”
And scrambling up onto his sleigh, he pointed straight at Mars
The seed Boo found had grown into a Christmas tree with stars.
And Santa’s booming voice rang out as he rode out of sight,
“May peace and love and joy be yours on this and every night.”
So if you get a telescope, please aim the lens towards Mars,
and you might see Boo’s Christmas tree, adorned with twinkling
stars.
#6 Randolph, Not A Reindeer
“Packing up the presents at the North Pole workshop.” The elves and reindeer sang the traditional Christmas song. But Randolph couldn’t sing. Tears made the words stick in his throat.
Randolph was thinking about when Santa had told him that Randolph had not been chosen to pull the sleigh. “It’s not that you’re not fast enough, Randolph,” Santa had said, his eyes sad. “It’s…”
“Yes, I know, Santa,” Randolph had said, blinking back the tears. He had heard the rumours already. How all the children had cried, because Randolph had melted all the snow as he flew by.
Because Randolph was not a reindeer, but a raindeer, it rained wherever he went.
So instead of singing with the elves and reindeer, Randolph was doing what he did best: cleaning.
The elves started to chatter about the snowstorm that had taken place the night before in Canada.
“I’ve heard the snow is all the way to the rooftops,” said one elf.
“Santa is bringing extra food along,” said another.
The Christmas sleigh flew off , and everyone listened to the radio as it gave updates on Santa’s progress. All was well.
Then Santa hit Canada. The radio crackled, “Santa here, over. We’ve got an emergency, over. Send over everyone, over.”
Santa wanted everyone? Even Randolph?
Randolph flew high in the sky. Faster, faster, faster until he reached Santa and his sleigh.
Snow was not only up to the rooftops, but it was also covering the chimneys. That meant that Santa could not deliver the presents and food!
Elves were digging out the chimneys as fast as they could, but it was not fast enough. Randolph knew what he must do.
He flew over a house. The rain from the raindeer’s clouds melted the snow from the roof. Soon the chimney was exposed.
“Ho ho ho, well done, Randolph,” laughed Santa.
Santa went down the chimney, and then Randolph flew to the next house. And the next one.
“Packing up the presents at the North Pole workshop.” The elves and reindeer sang as they worked, and this time Randolph sang along.
#7 No Peeking! Sneakin’ around the present stash
At the bottom of the tree,
In stealth mode, got my ninja on,
Look how black-ops I can be!
I shouldn’t look, but too late now,
Hey, I think this one’s for me!
Later I might regret this choice,
But right now I’ve got to see.
Santa, please forgive me sir, it’s awfully hard to wait.
Voices saying, “It’s not Christmas – put that present down right now, Miss!”
Sneakin’ around the present stash
Is the most fun thing to do.
Parents are at their office bash,
If you were me, you’d peek too!
Here I go, I’m gonna open just one little gift.
Peel the tape slow, careful – don’t tear…
Jokes on me now, I got UNDERWEAR!
Wrap it back up, no time to waste
Hide this sneaky thing I did.
I’ll call St. Nick and plead my case,
“Please remember, I’m a kid!”
#8 The Gift Of The Magpie (And Friends)
Flitting around the birdfeeder at the tiny woodland house, birds of all kinds shared the feast that appeared like magic when winter arrived. Chickadee dipped and swooped while spreading his dee dee dee cheer. Goldfinch called po-ta-to-chip. Titmouse tap-tapped his seed. Magpie noticed Sparrow whose feathers slumped as she stared in the window.
“What’s wrong dear friend? In this season of chill, these people feed us from their goodwill. You should chirp, you should sing, you should eat your fill.”
“It’s the boy,” Sparrow cried.
The birds loved the boy. He watched them whenever he was home, and he spent his allowance on birdseed.
“His mom said there isn’t enough money to buy a Christmas tree this year.”
Magpie peered into the house. The boy was drawing birds, but Magpie saw him wipe his eyes.
“We’ll help him smile, I do decree. We’ll get our friend a Christmas tree.”
The closest trees to the house were maples and oaks whose leaves had fallen for the winter. Squirrel nibbled the stem of a young cedar tree so they could take it to the boy. But the whole flock of birds couldn’t lift one tree.
“Plan B is better, this I know. You’ll still need your muscles though,” Magpie enthused.
They practiced making tree-shaped pyramids, but the bottom birds got tired or hungry before the star-bird could settle on top. On their third attempt the neighbor’s cat almost got her own Christmas treat! Feathers flew; Cat missed, but Magpie got an idea!
“Who says we need an evergreen? Come all my friends, it’s time to preen!”
On the dawn-quiet of Christmas morning, the boy donned boots and a coat. He went to the closest maple by his window to hang birdseed ornaments for his friends. He gasped and smiled. From it’s naked branches hung colorful, delicate feathers gleaming with the new day’s light. He sang out loud as he added his ornaments. “Merry Christmas my woodland friends!” The morning air filled with bird song in reply.
#9 A New Classic?
Waiting in line for Santa’s knee
At the mall we always shop.
Suddenly, someone nudges me.
It’s an undercover cop!
You will not believe this crazy story when you hear…
He’s dressed like an elf, by golly!
In my shock, I drop my dolly.
The cop asks for my help, you see.
This is what he has to say:
“Three bullies have been on a spree.
For their stunts they now must pay!”
“They must be stopped,” I do agree
“What kind of help can I bring?”
He replies, “Teamwork is the key.
We will organize a sting.
“Those creeps are smashing candy canes swiped from little kids.
Wait ‘til you get to Santa’s chair.
Then get your cane, and I’ll be there.
“They’ll grab your treat and try to flee.
It will really make my day
To catch them in the act—all three—
And propel them on their way.”
Our plan works out just perfectly.
We make an unlikely team:
An elf cop and a little girl.
Sounds just like a wacky dream!
The mall’s now very safe, you’ll find;
So hop up on Santa’s lap.
Watch out if mischief’s on your mind,
For we’ll set another trap!
#10 Clucking Christmas Sneezing around the reindeer pen on the night before Christmas… AAAAACHOOOO! HOOONK! Santa blew his nose for the 50th time that Christmas Eve. “You’re done with your bath, Donner. Now you’re sparkling clean for our big… ACHOOO! HONK! …night.”
Mrs. Claus, with Agnes, her favorite backyard chicken, clucking behind her, said, “Santa dear, you’re allergic to those reindeer. There’s no way they can lead your sleigh tonight.”
A triple sneeze shot out of Santa and onto Donner. “Hogwash,” Santa muttered weakly.
Agnes scurried back to the henhouse. “Santa’s allergic to the reindeer. We have to help him!”
“Poor Santa! He’s a good egg,” Beaker moaned.
“Should we buy him allergy pills?” Lovey asked.
“This is our big chance!” Dixie flapped.
“Everyone in favor say ‘squawk,’ ” said Agnes.
“Squawk!” It was unanimous.
The chickens bustled outside and took a place in front of the sleigh.
Santa sighed. “I guess I have no choice. Reindeer, you get the night off.” He grabbed the reins. “On Agnes! On Bertha!”
The chickens weren’t listening. “Agnes! Why did he call your name first?!” Dixie clucked.
“Jiminy Christmas! You chickens don’t rule the roost,” Santa sputtered. “On Lovey! On Beaker!”
The chickens frantically flapped their wings. The sleigh crept forward, then moved faster and faster. It lifted a foot off the ground and Santa breathed a sigh of relief.
Bu
Deck the halls!
Light the menorah!
Fill the Kikombe cha Umoja!
It's time for...
The 5th Annual Holiday Contest!!!!
WA-HOOO!!!! :)
The Contest: Write a children's story (children here defined as approximately age 12 and under) beginning with any version of "Rocking around the Christmas tree at the Christmas party hop." You may use that actual opening, or you may change it to any similar version "[Verb of your choice]ing [any preposition you choose] the [any item you choose] [any preposition you choose] the [venue of your choice]." For example, "Surfing along the wind-whipped waves at the Yuletide barbeque," or "Wandering through the pine-sweet woods at the cut-your-own tree farm," or "Quarreling in the checkout line at the local Toys R Us," or "Waltzing among the candy canes at the Holiday Bazaar".... You get the idea, I'm sure :) But "Rocking around the Christmas tree at the Christmas party hop" is completely acceptable too - whatever works for you :) Your story may be poetry or prose, silly or serious or sweet, religious or not, based on Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or whatever you celebrate, but is not to exceed 350 words (I know! So much freedom after the Halloweensie Contest :)) (It can be as short as you like (the judges will be grateful :)), but no more than 350!) The field is wide open! Have fun! The more creative the better! No illustration notes please. (And yes, if you feel compelled to submit more than one entry you may, just remember you're competing against yourself!)
Post: Your entry should be posted on your blog between right now this very second and Friday December 11 at 11:59 PM EST, and your post-specific link should be added to the link list below which will remain up through Sunday December 13 (no WYRI or PPBF during that week.) If you don't have a blog but would like to enter, please copy and paste your entry into the comments on my December 7th post. (If anyone has trouble commenting, which unfortunately happens, please email me and I'll post your entry for you! But please don't send attachments! Just copy and paste your story into the email.) And please be sure to include your byline!! We don't want to have to guess who wrote your entry!
The Judging: My lovely assistants and I will narrow down the entrants to 10-12 finalists (depending on the number of entries) which will be posted here on either Monday December 14 or Tuesday December 15 (depending on the number of entries :)) for you to vote on for a winner. The vote will be closed on Thursday December 17 at 5 PM EST and the winners will be announced on Friday December 18. Whoever gets the most votes will be first and so on down to tenth place. Judging criteria will be kid appeal/kid-friendliness, creativity, quality of story, quality of writing, and originality.
The Prizes!: Wow! We've got some truly great prizes! (items in color are links for more info!):
-
A Picture Book Manuscript read and critique (winner's choice of in-person, on the phone, or via email) by
Claire Dorsett, Editorial Assistant, Roaring Brook Press!!!
A bibliophile and outdoor enthusiast, Claire spent her childhood summers road-tripping across the United States, reading constantly on the long car rides between parks and museums. Her love of literature led her to pursue a BA in English from Cornell University, where she was involved with campus publications The Daily Sun and Rainy Day literary magazine. Claire then completed the six-week intensive Columbia Publishing Course before finding a home at Roaring Brook Press, an imprint of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, assisting VP and Publisher Simon Boughton. She has worked on a range of projects during her time at Roaring Brook, including Lane Smith's middle-grade debut Return to Augie Hobble, Steve Sheinkin's National Book Award finalist Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War, and picture books The Skunk, There is a Tribe of Kids, and Ned The Knitting Pirate. - a brand new
Picture Book Webinar Bundle including one webinar on Concept Books and the other on Rhyme, Verse and Lyricism in Picture Books, generously donated by
Emma Walton Hamilton, author, editor, writing coach, and teacher of the fabulous Just Write For Kids courses.
- a 2016 Membership to
Children's Book Insider, including their Children's Writing Knowledge Base, an absolutely fabulous resource for kid lit writers of all kinds, generously offered by
Jon Bard and
Laura Backes - A
Picture Book Manuscript Critique by talented author/illustrator
Iza Trapani, author of JINGLE BELLS, OLD KING COLE, ITSY BITSY SPIDER, and many, many more!
- A
Picture Book Manuscript Critique by the fabulous
Lori Degman, author of 1 ZANY ZOO and COCK-A-DOODLE OOPS!
- an
e-copy of the fantastic
How To Promote Your Children's Book generously donated by
Katie Davis!
- Enrollment in
Making Picture Book Magic (my online picture book writing class - in January or a later month to be mutually agreed upon by the winner and me)
- A 6-Month Membership to the new and fabulous
One Stop For Writers Site!
-
2016 Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market and a $25 Amazon Gift Card.
- another
2016 Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market and a $25 Amazon Gift Card.
- a pack of Susanna Leonard Hill's amazing
What's The Story Cards (hitherto un-introduced to the world!) - writing prompts for every occasion :)
- another pack of Susanna Leonard Hill's amazing
What's The Story CardsI can't thank these authors and other industry professionals enough for their incredible generosity! Please visit their sites, buy and recommend their books and services to your writer friends and/or friends with kids, write them nice reviews on Amazon, GoodReads etc if you've read and liked their books, and show your appreciation to them in any way you can!
The Contest Winner will have first choice of the prizes. 2nd place will have next choice of what's left and so on. (I'm doing it this way in the hopes that no one will get something they already have and also because I think all the prizes are fabulous and I wouldn't want to make anyone feel less valued by giving them as 6th place as opposed to 1st.)
So let's get this Holiday Party started! :)
I want to warn you in advance that this may actually be the worst story I've ever written - embarrassing for me, but very comforting for anyone who is worried about the quality of their story - I can say with complete confidence that ANYTHING you write will be better than this sample! :) Every time I do this I'm amazed by how fast I use up my 350 words!
Christmas Pie
350 words
Skimming across the sugar snow in a one-horse open sleigh, Rabbit headed for the Holiday Festival with his specialty Christmas Pie, fresh-baked, still warm, and smelling delicious!
He passed Mouse.
“May I have a ride?” asked Mouse.
“Sure!” said Rabbit. “Hop in. But careful of the pie!”
Mouse climbed up beside Rabbit and off they went.
Soon they passed Squirrel.
“May I have a ride?” asked Squirrel.
“Sure!” said Rabbit. “Hop in. But careful of the pie!”
Squirrel climbed up beside Rabbit and Mouse and off they went.
Soon they passed Possum.
“May I have a ride?” asked Possum.
“Sure!” said Rabbit. “Hop in. But careful of the pie!”
Before long they had passed the Turkey Twins, Raccoon, Badger, Fox, Bobcat, and Deer and his eight out-of-town cousins visiting from somewhere up North, and they ALL climbed in. The sleigh was very crowded indeed, but the pie sat safe beside Rabbit, fresh-baked, still warm, and smelling delicious!
“Got room for one more?” asked Bear as they drew up alongside him.
“Sure!” said Rabbit. “Hop in. But careful of the pie!”
Bear hopped in.
But the way had grown steep…
…and the sleigh was VERY full!
Pretty soon the horse stalled out and the sleigh wouldn’t budge another inch.
“We’ll help!” volunteered the passengers, and they all got out to push.
Up, up, up the hill they went until…
…YIKES!
The hill pitched steeply down the other side.
The sleigh took off at high speed and crashed into a snow bank at the bottom.
Animals tumbled helter-skelter.
The Christmas Pie sailed through the air…
…and landed high in the branches of the Holiday Festival Christmas Tree!
“My pie!” wailed Rabbit. “We’ll never get it down!”
“Yes, we will!” said Bear.
Squirrel, Possum, the Turkey Twins, Raccoon, Badger, Fox, Bobcat, and Deer and his eight cousins all climbed up on Bear. All the way to the top of that tippy-tippy tower climbed Mouse, who plucked the pie from the high branches and passed it down to Rabbit, fresh-baked, still warm, and smelling delicious!
“Hurray!” cheered Rabbit.
And they all ate Christmas Pie!
So now! Is everyone filled with confidence about their entries? I certainly hope so after that display! Never let it be said that I'm not willing to make a fool of myself for you guys :) It just proves how much I love you :)
I can't wait to read all of your (much better!) stories! I hope there will be a lot - the more the merrier! And there are still nearly 5 days to write, so you have time if you haven't written yet and want to join the fun. Feel free to spread the word to your writing friends as well. If you just want to enjoy reading, that's great too! We need all the readers we can get, so feel free to spread the word to parents and teachers! And what better way to entertain yourself and your kids while waiting for the holiday goodies to bake? Or get someone to read aloud while everyone else wraps presents :)
Remember to put your post-specific link (not your general blog link or people will find the wrong page if you post again before the contest is over) in the list below!
Rejoice! and let the festivities begin!!! :)
Don't miss the # fabulous entries in the comment section! Click on the names or titles to go to the story. Please note that it takes a minute to load. And please also note that clicking on these links will allow you to read the story and leave your own comment, but not see previous comments left on that story... I don't know why... so if you want to see all the comments left on the story, you'll have to scroll through the whole comment section.
Darlings!
So nice of you to drop by on Monday and visit me! I missed you so over the weekend :)
And you won't be sorry for coming over!
I have SUCH exciting news!!!
Guess what???
I have invented a new recipe!
Yes! It's true!
I must give credit where credit is due. I was inspired by Shelley Kinder in a blog comment on the Halloweensie Winner's post. During all the talk about nuts vs. no nuts in dessert, she suggested the benefits of peanut butter chips... and an idea was born!
Lo and behold, my new recipe:
Take the brownie recipe of your choice and add 1/2 (or 1/2 +) cup of peanut butter chips! YUM!
And this gave rise to ANOTHER idea... add 1/2 (or 1/2+) cup of toffee chips!
OR add 1/2 (or 1/2+) cup of crushed peppermint!
OR go the s'mores route and add 1/2 cup mini marshmallows and 1/4-1/2 cup graham cracker cereal! (Although that might get mushy... I'll have to experiment...! Maybe crushed graham cracker at the bottom with the brownie batter mixed with marshmallows added on top...?)
I KNOW!
And you're welcome, because I know I have just given you a whole new outlook on your holiday baking plans! :)
At least, I've given MYSELF a whole new outlook on MY holiday baking plans! :)
And the added benefit? An unexpected Monday Something Chocolate Snack:
Please forgive the photos - I'm a baker not a photographer :) - but I promise they taste delicious!!! :)
So, thanks for stopping by. I hope it was worth your time. And I hope you weren't expecting anything else...
What?
You were expecting something else?
Well in that case...
...maybe I should tell you...
...that it's time for...
The 5th Annual Holiday Contest!!!!
WA-HOOO!!!! :)
The Contest: Write a children's story (children here defined as approximately age 12 and under) beginning with any version of "Rocking around the Christmas tree at the Christmas party hop." You may use that actual opening, or you may change it to any similar version "[Verb of your choice]ing [any preposition you choose] the [any item you choose] [any preposition you choose] the [venue of your choice]." For example, "Surfing along the wind-whipped waves at the Yuletide barbeque," or "Wandering through the pine-sweet woods at the cut-your-own tree farm," or "Quarreling in the checkout line at the local Toys R Us," or "Waltzing among the candy canes at the Holiday Bazaar".... You get the idea, I'm sure :) But "Rocking around the Christmas tree at the Christmas party hop" is completely acceptable too - whatever works for you :) Your story may be poetry or prose, silly or serious or sweet, religious or not, based on Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or whatever you celebrate, but is not to exceed 350 words (I know! So much freedom after the Halloweensie Contest :)) (It can be as short as you like (the judges will be grateful :)), but no more than 350!) The field is wide open! Have fun! The more creative the better! No illustration notes please. (And yes, if you feel compelled to submit more than one entry you may, just remember you're competing against yourself!)
Post: Your entry should be posted on your blog between 12:01 AM EST Monday December 7 and Friday December 11 at 11:59 PM EST, and your post-specific link should be added to the link list on the official holiday contest post which will go up on my blog on Monday December 7 and remain up through Sunday December 13 (no WYRI or PPBF during that week.) If you don't have a blog but would like to enter, please copy and paste your entry into the comments on my December 7th post. (If anyone has trouble commenting, which unfortunately happens, please email me and I'll post your entry for you! But please don't send attachments! Just copy and paste your story into the email.)
The Judging: My lovely assistants and I will narrow down the entrants to 10-12 finalists (depending on the number of entries) which will be posted here on either Monday December 14 or Tuesday December 15 (depending on the number of entries :)) for you to vote on for a winner. The vote will be closed on Thursday December 17 at 5 PM EST and the winners will be announced on Friday December 18. Whoever gets the most votes will be first and so on down to tenth place. Judging criteria will be kid appeal/kid-friendliness, creativity, quality of story, quality of writing, and originality.
The Prizes!: Ok, so I'm still working on the prize list and will have to update, but here are some of the prizes that will be offered, and I think we're going to have some additional awesomeness to add! (items in color are links for more info!):
- A picture book manuscript critique by talented author/illustrator
Iza Trapani, author of JINGLE BELLS, OLD KING COLE, ITSY BITSY SPIDER, and many, many more!
- a picture book manuscript critique by the fabulous
Lori Degman, author of 1 ZANY ZOO and COCK-A-DOODLE OOPS!
- Enrollment in
Making Picture Book Magic (my online picture book writing class - in January or a later month to be mutually agreed upon by the winner and me)
-
2016 Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market and a $25 Amazon Gift Card.
- a pack of Susanna Leonard Hill's amazing
What's The Story Cards (hitherto un-introduced to the world!)
I can't thank these authors enough for their incredible generosity! Please visit their sites, buy and recommend their books to your friends with kids, write them nice reviews on Amazon, GoodReads etc if you've read and liked their books, and show your appreciation to them in any way you can!
And now! Sharpen those pencils! Top off those coffee mugs! Get those derrieres in your chairs! And start writing those prize-winning entries!!!
I can't wait for the festivities to begin! :)
Ear of snake and tongue of bat! It's finally time for...
The 5th Annual HALLOWEENSIE CONTEST!!!!!
aahhhrrrooooOOOOO!!!!
 |
| courtesy google images |
The Contest: write a 100 word Halloween story appropriate for children (title not included in the 100 words), using the words
costume,
dark, and
haunt. Your story can be scary, funny or anything in between, poetry or prose, but it will only count for the contest if it includes those 3 words and is 100 words (you can go under, but not over!) Get it? Hallo
weensie - because it's not very long and it's for little people :) (And yes, I know 100 words is short but that's part of the fun and the challenge! We got over 130 fantastic entries last year so I know you can do it!) Also, you may use the words in any form - e.g. haunt, haunts, haunted, darkness, darkening, costumed, whathaveyou :)
No illustration notes please!Post your story on your blog between right now this very second and Friday October 30th by 11:59 PM EDT and add your
post-specific link to the link list below. There will be no Would You Read It this week, and no PPBF, so the post and the list of links will stay up all week for everyone to enjoy. If you don't have a blog and would like to enter, you can simply copy and paste your entry in the comments section of that post once it's up. (Or, if you have difficulty with the comments, which unfortunately sometimes happens, you may
email your entry to me and I'll post it for you!)
The Judging: in a grueling, marathon weekend, my lovely assistants and I will narrow down the entrants to 3 top choices (hee hee hee - you know how much trouble I have with only 3, so we'll see) which will be posted here and voted on for a winner on Monday November 2nd. The winner will be announced in a special Thursday post on November 5th. If we get more than 20 entries, I will post 6 finalists and give prizes for 1st through 3rd. If by some chance we get the kind of turn out we did last year, all bets are off. I may post as many as 10 finalists and I'll probably end up giving everyone a prize :) But we'll cross that bridge when we get to it :)
The Prizes: as always, our generous community has contributed some truly amazing prizes!
-
a read and comments on a PB ms by fabulous agent Tricia Lawrence of
Erin Murphy Literary Agency!!!
Tricia Lawrence - Agent
Tricia is the "Pacific Northwest branch" of EMLA—born and raised in Oregon, and now lives in Seattle. After 19 years of working as a developmental and production-based editor (from kids books to college textbooks, but mostly college textbooks), she joined the EMLA team in March 2011 as a social media strategist.
As agent, Tricia represents picture books/chapter books that look at the world in a unique and unusual way, with characters that are alive both on and off the page, and middle grade and young adult fiction and nonfiction that offers strong worldbuilding, wounded narrators, and stories that grab a reader and won't let go.
Tricia loves hiking, camping out in the woods, and collecting rocks. She loves BBC America and anything British. She has way too many books and not enough bookshelves. You can find Tricia's writing about blogging, Tweeting, Facebooking, and other social media topics (for authors and the publishing industry at large)
here and
here.
-
a picture book manuscript critique by Diana Murray!
websiteDiana Murray writes stories and poems for children. She is the author of several forthcoming picture books, including CITY SHAPES illustrated by Bryan Collier (Little, Brown, June 2016), GRIMELDA: THE VERY MESSY WITCH illustrated by Heather Ross (Katherine Tegen Books /HarperCollins, July 2016), NED THE KNITTING PIRATE illustrated by Leslie Lammle (Roaring Brook Press /Macmillan, August 2016), and GROGGLE'S MONSTER VALENTINEillustrated by Bats Langley (Sky Pony Press, Fall 2016).
Diana was awarded the 2010 SCBWI Barbara Karlin Work-in-Progress Grant for a picture book manuscript. She has many poems published and forthcoming in magazines, including Spider, Highlights, High Five, and Hello. Diana won the SCBWI Magazine Merit Award for poetry in 2013 and 2014, as well as the Honor Award in 2013. Diana is represented by Brianne Johnson at Writers House literary agency. She recently moved from the Bronx to a nearby suburb, where she lives with her husband, two very messy children, and a goldfish named Pickle.
-
a query critique from
Heather Ayris Burnell, founder of the
Sub It ClubHeather is a mom by day, children's book writer by night, and librarian on the side. Her picture book, Bedtime Monster, is published by Raven Tree Press. She has far too many manuscripts in various stages of development. If only she didn't need sleep! Represented by Sean McCarthy Literary Agency.
-
a 6 month subscription to
One Stop For Writers (value $50)
-
an e-pub or PDF copy (winner's choice) of
Linda Ashman's
Nuts And Bolts Guide To Writing Picture Books.
-
personalized signed copies of
Sarah Frances Hardy's Dress Me! and
Paint Me! -
a personalized signed copy of
Amy Dixon's Sophie's Animal Parade -
a personalized signed copy of
Corey Rosen Schwartz and
Rebecca Gomez's What About Moose?-
a personalized signed copy of
Penny Parker Klostermann's There Was An Old Dragon Who Swallowed A KnightPlease join me again in thanking these very generous authors and other writing professionals for contributing their books and writing expertise as prizes by visiting their websites and blogs, considering their books and services for holiday or other gift purchases, rating and/or reviewing their books on GoodReads, Amazon, B&N or anywhere else if you like them, or supporting them in any other way you can dream up :)
Now then. Time for my sample entry which I provide because I would never ask you to do anything I wouldn't do myself. Also, in case anyone is worried about the quality of their entry they have only to read my truly horrific attempt to be filled with confidence that their's is MUCH better! I have to confess, I was really down to the wire this year (my schedule is a little bit nuts!), so, ahem, yeah.. maybe I'll think up something better during the week and swap it!
So, here goes nothing...!
Halloween Surprise! (100 words)
Halloween. Trick-or-treat.
Spooky shadows. Darkenedstreet.
Suddenly my brother, Jay,
Tugs my arm. “Let’s go this way!”
He pulls me off the beaten track,
Passes Old Man Clancy’s shack.
Creeping fog licks at our heels.
I don’t like the way this feels.
Something glides in silent flight,
Ghostly shapes against the night.
“Witches! Let’s go home!” I say.
“Owls. Let’s go on,” says Jay.
Spidered moonlight through the trees.
Heartbeat pounding. Shaky knees.
Up ahead this haunted night
Monsters dance by bonfire light!
Turning! Running!
Then, “SURPRISE!”
Costumed monsters end disguise.
Cake and presents, friends who say,
“Happy Halloween Birthday!”
Everyone feeling better about their stories now? I should certainly HOPE so! :)
I can't wait to read all of yours! I'm so looking forward to them! I hope there will be a lot - the more the merrier! And there are still 4 days to write, so you have time if you haven't written yet. Feel free to spread the word to your writing friends as well.
Remember to put your post-specific link (not your general blog link or people will find the wrong page if you post again before the contest is over) in the list below!
Happy Writing and Happy Halloween!!! :)
Happy Columbus Day everyone!
I hope you're all enjoying days off from school and work!!!
You know what I always say?
What better way to celebrate Columbus Day then by talking about Halloween?!
And what's more interesting, fun and exciting about Halloween then anything else (except for miniature candy bars that have no calories because of their tiny-ness!)???
The 5th Annual HALLOWEENSIE CONTEST!!!!!Can you believe we're at the 5th???!!!
|
| courtesy google images |
The Contest: write a 100 word Halloween story appropriate for children (title not included in the 100 words), using the words
costume,
dark, and
haunt. Your story can be scary, funny or anything in between, poetry or prose, but it will only count for the contest if it includes those 3 words and is 100 words (you can go under, but not over!) Get it? Hallo
weensie - because it's not very long and it's for little people :) (And yes, I know 100 words is short but that's part of the fun and the challenge! We got over 130 fantastic entries last year so I know you can do it!) Also, you may use the words in any form - e.g. haunt, haunts, haunted, darkness, darkening, costumed, whathaveyou :)
No illustration notes please!Post your story on your blog between 12:00 AM EDT Monday October 26th and Friday October 30th by 11:59 PM EDT and add your post-specific link to the list that will accompany my October 26th post. There will be no Would You Read It that week, and no PPBF, so the post and the list of links will stay up all week for everyone to enjoy. If you don't have a blog and would like to enter, you can simply copy and paste your entry in the comments section of that post once it's up. (Or, if you have difficulty with the comments, which unfortunately sometimes happens, you may
email your entry to me and I'll post it for you!)
The Judging: in a grueling, marathon weekend, my lovely assistants and I will narrow down the entrants to 3 top choices (hee hee hee - you know how much trouble I have with only 3, so we'll see) which will be posted here and voted on for a winner on Monday November 2nd. The winner will be announced in a special Thursday post on November 5th. If we get more than 20 entries, I will post 6 finalists and give prizes for 1st through 3rd. If by some chance we get the kind of turn out we did last year, all bets are off. I may post as many as 10 finalists and I'll probably end up giving everyone a prize :) But we'll cross that bridge when we get to it :)
The Prizes: yeah... I'm still working on the prizes :) Feel free to chime in in the comments if there's something you'd particularly like to win! :) But prizes will include:
- a read and comments on a PB ms by fabulous agent Tricia Lawrence of
Erin Murphy Literary Agency!!!
- a 6 month subscription to
One Stop For Writers (value $50)
- an e-pub or PDF copy (winner's choice) of
Linda Ashman's
Nuts And Bolts Guide To Writing Picture Books.
- hopefully some other critiques and helpful books/resources... like I said, I'm still working on it :)
Plus whatever else I dream up in the meantime :)
I hope those fantabulous prizes fill you with enthusiasm for the contest!
So sharpen your pencils!
Get your butt in that chair!
See what amazing, knock-your-socks-off story you can dream up!
It's a chance to hone your writing skills, practice your craft, write to specifications and a deadline, win amazing prizes, AND get to read and enjoy the wonderful stories written by all your fellows :)
Many thanks to Tricia for her very generous prize offering!
I literally cannot wait to read your stories!!! :)
Have a Marvelous Monday everyone! :)
Happy Friday, Everyone!
I know none of you has gotten a minute of rest or a wink of sleep for days, what with the torturous anticipation of finding out who the winners of the contest are!
No doubt you have paced a hole in your carpet!
But fear not! The day has arrived!
Are you ready to see who won?
The 2nd Annual Pretty Much World Famous
Illustration Contest for Children's Illustrators!
Great!
Me, too!
I just have one quick thing to say, which is that EVERYONE who entered this contest should be very proud of themselves. You all showed up, put in the work, produced GORGEOUS illustrations, followed guidelines, and worked to a deadline - all very important skills to practice when illustrating and/or writing is your profession :) Even if you didn't make the finals, be assured that your illustrations were greatly enjoyed by many upon many! Seriously! I am not making this up. The contest post with all your links had around 3000 views, which means lots of people were visiting you, even if they didn't all comment! So we are giving you a round of thunderous applause -
clapclapclapclapclap!!!!! - and you should pat yourselves on the back and have an extra slice of chocolate cake - you did good! :)
So now, without further ado, by popular vote, the
Winner of the 2nd Annual Pretty Much World Famous Illustration Contest and the opportunity to take
Mark Mitchell's fantastic Make Your Marks And Splashes online illustration course...
DDDDDRRRRRUUUUUMMMMM RRRRROOOOOLLLLLLLLLL PLEASE!!!!...
Anna Totten!!!
Congratulations, Anna!!!
2nd Place, and winner of the Wacon Intuos Pen and Touch Small Tablet is...
Dow Phumiruk
3rd Place, and winner of the $50 gift certificate to Blick Art Materials is...
Cheryl Pilgrim
Congratulations, Cheryl!!!
4th Place* is...
Michelle Todd
Congratulations, Michelle!!!
5th Place* is...
The Write Laura
Congratulations, Laura!!!
6th Place* is...
Micha Klann
Congratulations, Micha!!!
*4th-6th Places may have their choice of any one of the following:
- a Canson sketch pad and a small set of Derwent or Faber Castell colored pencils
and of course you ALL get the bragging rights to having won or placed in a Pretty Much World Famous Contest! :)
Winners, please
email me so we can talk details :)
Thank you again to all the illustrators who participated in this contest and treated us all to such beautiful artwork; to our wonderful judges, Iza Trapani and Lisa Thiesing, without whom we could not have done this!; and to all the readers and viewers who visited, commented, and voted to celebrate these talented artists! It is all of you who make these contests fun and worthwhile!
Have a spectacular 4th of July Weekend, Everyone!!!
WOO HOO! The day has finally arrived! It's time for . . .
The 2nd Annual Pretty Much World Famous
Illustration Contest for Children's Illustrators!
The Contest: Draw/Paint/Create a children's picture book illustration (no text required - art only) the topic for which shall bediscovery
Above all things, these illustrations are meant to evoke story, so it is crucial that they present at least one character, a setting, and ideally hint at/suggest some kind of plot or conflict idea.
Illustrations should be 8x10, horizontal or vertical, any medium, posted in jpg at least 72 px. Illustrators may enter more than one entry if they're feeling ambitious :)
Post: Your entry should be posted on your blog between right now this very second and Friday June 26 at 9 PM EDT (contest deadline!) Please add your post-specific link to the link list below which will remain up all week so that people will be able to come visit and enjoy your amazing artwork. If you don't have a blog but would like to enter, you will be able to copy and paste your entry into the comments below. (If anyone has trouble commenting, which unfortunately happens, you may email me and I'll post your entry for you!)
Judging: entries will be judged by multi-talented, award-winning author/illustrators Iza Trapani, author and illustrator of over 20 gorgeous picture books, and Lisa Thiesing, author and illustrator of 40 beautiful and fun picture books and early readers! Judging criteria to include:
- does the illustration evoke a sense of story,
- is the picture readable to a young audience,
- how well does it show the character(s) and
- is/are the character(s) appealing (character development),
- originality,
- skill.
They will narrow down the entrants to 6 finalists (or possibly a couple more or less depending on the number of entries :)) which will be posted here on Monday June 29 for you to vote on for a winner. The vote will be closed at 5PM EST on Thursday July 2 and the winner will be announced on Friday July 3... along with something for the writers in our audience, so stay tuned! :)
The Prizes!: There will definitely be a 1st prize. Whether we give prizes for 1st only, 1st-3rd, or 1st-6th will depend on how many entries we get. We need at least 12 entries to place through 3rd, and at least 20 to place through 6th.
We've got some great prizes lined up including a chance to take Mark Mitchell's fantastic Make Your Marks And Splashes Online Children's Book Illustration Class (a $249 value, but really priceless!) This class is packed with video lessons on the topics of drawing, painting, and children's book illustration and video interviews with children's illustrators. It also includes three months of online group critique sessions (2 sessions per month, at this point) with Mark and guest instructors, so the winner could also get the equivalent of a portfolio critique if she/he participated in all six of the sessions. You can read all about it here: http://howtobeachildrensbookillustrator.com/NewCoursehome2/Additional prizes will include:
- a Wacon Intuos Pen and Touch Small Tablet (see details
HERE)
- choices of the following books:
- a Canson sketch pad and a small set of Derwent or Faber Castell colored pencils
and of course the bragging rights to having won or placed in a Pretty Much World Famous Contest! :)
So ready, set, GO! artists! We can't wait to see what you've created! We're ready to be inspired! :)
Remember, add your post-specific blog link to the link list below or email your illustration to me for posting here!
And our first entry to be submitted (from an artist who doesn't have a blog) is this one from Tina Marantettte: |
| illustration copyright 2015 Tina Marantette |
Hi there, everyone! Happy Monday!
Look at us: throwing routine to the dogs and showing up here on a Monday when (thanks to this crazy busy year) I no longer post hardly EVer! We are such rebels! :)
I know why you're here. It's because I told you on Friday I had something to tell you...
And I do!
And just wait until you hear what it is, because it's SO AMAZING!
Are you ready?
You must be.
I feel like life has fallen into monotony and we're all just going through the motions. We need something to shake things up! And I have just the thing. . .
Wait for it . . .
I'm considering getting my hair trimmed.
I know! Earth-shattering, right?
It's true.
After two plus (2+!) years of avoiding all institutions where shampoo and scissors coexist after the Great Hair Debacle of 2013, I'm thinking that maybe the situation is getting just a wee bit out of hand and I may require an eensy weensy teeny tiny little itty bitty bit off the bottom.
Just a smidge.
Nothing too drastic.
Nothing to recall the horror of April 2013! *shudder*
But something.
Aren't you glad you all came over here? I mean, it's not every day that news like this hits the world wide web!
Thanks for taking time out of your busy Monday to stop by and hear about my possible hair plans - the drama, the dilemma, the dream! And hey! This takes hair-brained scheme to a whole new level!
So really, thanks for stopping by.
Oh, and by the way, before you leave?
WE'RE HAVING A CONTEST!!!!!!! Because it's been ages and it's high time we had some high jinx and shenanigans around here! :)
The 2nd Annual Pretty Much World Famous
Illustration Contest for Children's Illustrators!
Yes! It's true! We had so much fun with it last year, running the Illustration Contest on the back of the Writing Contest, that we're doing it again! Only this time, because we in the picture book world love, admire, and depend on our illustrators, we're doing it the other way around - the illustrator's are up first! :)
The Contest: Draw/Paint/Create a children's picture book illustration (no text required - art only) the topic for which shall bediscovery
Above all things, these illustrations are meant to evoke story, so it is crucial that they present at least one character, a setting, and ideally hint at/suggest some kind of plot or conflict idea.
Illustrations should be 8x10, horizontal or vertical, any medium, posted in jpg at least 72 px Illustrators may enter more than one entry if they're feeling ambitious :)
Post: Your entry should be posted on your blog between Monday June 22 and Friday June 26 at 9 PM EDT (contest deadline!) You will be able to add your post-specific link to the link list on my Monday June 22 post which will remain up all week so that people will be able to come visit and enjoy your amazing artwork. If you don't have a blog but would like to enter, you will be able to copy and paste your entry into the comments below. (If anyone has trouble commenting, which unfortunately happens, you may email me and I'll post your entry for you!)
Judging: entries will be judged by multi-talented, award-winning author/illustrators Iza Trapani, author and illustrator of over 20 gorgeous picture books, and Lisa Thiesing, author and illustrator of at least 16 beautiful and fun picture books and early readers! Judging criteria to include:
- does the illustration evoke a sense of story,
- is the picture readable to a young audience,
- how well does it show the character(s) and
- is/are the character(s) appealing (character development),
- originality,
- skill.
They will narrow down the entrants to 6 finalists (or possibly a couple more or less depending on the number of entries :)) which will be posted here on Monday June 29 for you to vote on for a winner. The vote will be closed at 5PM EST on Thursday July 2 and the winner will be announced on Friday July 3... along with something for the writers in our audience, so stay tuned! :)
The Prizes!: There will definitely be a 1st prize. Whether we give prizes for 1st only, 1st-3rd, or 1st-6th will depend on how many entries we get. We need at least 12 entries to place through 3rd, and at least 20 to place through 6th.
We've got some great prizes lined up (and are still working on them...) including a chance to take Mark Mitchell's fantastic Make Your Marks And Splashes Online Children's Book Illustration Class (a $249 value, but really priceless!) This class is packed with video lessons on the topics of drawing, painting and children's book illustration and video interviews with children's illustrators. It also includes three months of online group critique sessions (2 sessions per month, at this point) with Mark and guest instructors, so the winner could also get the equivalent of a portfolio critique if she/he participated in all six of the sessions. You can read all about it here: http://howtobeachildrensbookillustrator.com/NewCoursehome2/Additional prizes will include:
- choices of the following books:
- a Canson sketch pad and a small set of Derwent or Faber Castell colored pencils
and of course the bragging rights to having won or placed in a Pretty Much World Famous Contest! :)
So artists, get out your pencils, paints, brushes, crayons, collage materials, magic markers - whatever it is you create with! - and see what you can dream up! We will all be waiting with great anticipation for the fruits of your talent - to admire, share, and enjoy! You've got 3 whole weeks - almost 4 if you post on the last day - so ready, set, draw/paint/create! :)
Have a marvelous Monday, everyone!
(Oh, an P.S. - if anyone feels like sharing this around to spread the word, that would be great. I want to be sure illustrators hear about it so they can join the fun and be in the winning for fabulous prizes! Many thanks in advance!)
Image courtesy of ALSC
The ALSC Membership Committee announced the launch of the 2015 ALSC Membership Needs Assessment Survey. This survey is performed biennially and will assess:
- who ALSC members are
- how the division can best serve its members
To encourage participation, the committee is offering participants the opportunity to be entered in a giveaway. Prizes include tickets to the 2015 Newbery-Caldecott-Wilder Banquet, an ALSC online course, a $50 ALA Store gift certificate, and award books. Winners will be notified by Friday, May 15, 2015.
Participants must be personal members of ALSC. The survey is 25 questions and should take around ten minutes to complete. The deadline to submit the survey is 11:59pm Central on Friday, May 1, 2015. Learn more at the Needs Survey tab above.
Take the 2015 ALSC Membership Needs Assessment Survey!
The post Take the Membership Needs Survey, Win a Prize! appeared first on ALSC Blog.
Although it is neither George Washington's nor Abraham Lincoln's birthday today, we are nonetheless celebrating President's Day.
I'm sure this makes sense to someone.
Possibly the person who thought up the plan to celebrate the birthdays of two presidents on a day that was no one's birthday.
We don't care though, because around here we're just always glad of an excuse for a day off from school and/or work, and also of an excuse for cake!
Because I think George and Abe would like us to have some cake in their honor, don't you? Phyllis picked this one, very Abe and George!
[okay, so my internet is being very persnickety and won't upload a photo tonight, so imagine, if you will, a luscious lemon layer cake with blueberry lavender buttercream icing in a vivid shade of purple that would definitely be right up George and Abe's alley - and if you follow the link below you can see it! Phyllis and I are thinking Spring!]
Lemon Layer Cake with Blueberry Lavender Buttercream
http://thewholesomepursuit.com/2014/04/23/lemon-layer-cake-with-blueberry-lavender-buttercream/Go ahead! Dig in!
It is not Phyllis's birthday either, although she is hoping that when she becomes President her birthday, which is also not on this day, will be included with George's and Abe's. Phyllis feels that a little marmot in the White House would be a good thing, and I can't disagree :)
So even though it is no one's birthday today, we are having cake and celebrating the selection of the prize winners from Phyllis's Birthday Bonanza!
Are you ready?
Let me start by saying that it was not easy to choose winners.
For starters, all the entries were amazing and marvelous and enrapturing. In addition, Phyllis felt strongly that all 19 should receive 1st Prize.
"You can't give 19 people first prize," I said.
"Maybe YOU can't," said Phyllis, "but
I can!"
"No, what I mean is that if you make a 19-way tie for first place then it's like no one won!"
"No, it's like
19 people won."
"19 people can't win!"
"Yes they CAN!"
"No they CAN'T!"
"I say they can and I'm giving them all the Punxsutawney Phyllis Pancake of Awesomeness!"
"Oh, well who wouldn't want to win a Pancake of Awesomeness?!"
"No one," said Phyllis smugly. "That's why it's the perfect prize."
Therefore let it be known on this 16th Day of February 2015 (which is not anyone's birthday) that Julie A, Karen, Sarah C, Jilanne, Kathy, Stacy, Catherine, Julie R-Z, Wendy, Michelle, Heather, Erik & Josie, Donna, the Hoeft Family, Linda, Vivian, Suzy, Robyn, Sarah M, and Christie all get a pancake from Phyllis.
I'm not really sure what to say about that.
I hope you like it?!
"Now that we've got that pancake business out of the way," I said to Phyllis, "who were really your favorites? There must have been some among that talented pack that really stood out to you."
"Well, now that you mention it," said Phyllis, "there were a few!"
So, without further ado, here are Phyllis's selections for top placement in her Birthday Bonanza! She is uncomfortable labeling them 1st, 2nd, etc. because she loved them all so much!
The Hoeft Family - for their beautifully written, illustrated, performed, and videoed Happy Birthday Wish.
Stacy - for her amazing quilling which Phyllis had never heard of before but thinks made her look beautiful and also was fabulously videoed.
Robyn - because Mr. Ed said, "you mean the world to me Phyll" in such an endearing way and had a whole Phyllis wall of wonder in his stall - what's not to love about a video with a horse in it?!
Julie A - for her amazing poem that included not only Phyllis but all her literary brothers and sisters... and trains and airplanes.
Erik & Josie - for their awesome video which included singing AND costumes and was just an all-out funkadellic performance - and Phyllis wants it to be known that she is Super Funky!
So Bekah, Stacy, Robyn, Julie A, and Erik & Josie, please
Email Me to sort out your prizes.
Up for grabs are:
- a generously donated signed copy of SUBSTITUTE GROUNDHOG by
Pat Miller along with an audio recording!
- a signed copy of PUNXSUTAWNEY PHYLLIS (should there happen to be anyone among you who wants one and doesn't already have one)
- any picture book of your choice (recent titles I have enjoyed and would recommend include Blue On Blue, The Most Magnificent Thing, and Gaston.)
- any MG or YA book of your choice should you happen to be a winner who would find something more at your reading and interest level more to your liking :)
Congratulations to all our entrants! You all did such a wonderful job, and Phyllis and I enjoyed your efforts SO MUCH!!! Thank you ALL for making Phyllis's birthday and 10th Anniversary SO MUCH FUN!!!
Have a marvelous Monday, everyone! And those of you who have the day off - celebrate like no one's watching! :)
WOO HOO!
It's Groundhog Day!
And you know what that means, right?
First of all, it means we have an announcement to make!
And that is that Punxsutawney Phyllis, Sage of Sages, Seer of Seers, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, and Weather Prophet Extraordinaire did set forth from her burrow on Blueberry Hill this Monday February 2, 2015 at 7:25 AM and declare [I'll have to add this in at 7:25 AM on 2/2/15 assuming I have internet... which is questionable due to our forecast... otherwise we'll have to let you know what happened on Tuesday or Wednesday :)]
Second, that means it's my little Phyllis's 10th Anniversary Birthday Bonanza!!!
"We're having a party! We're having a party!" [That's Phyllis. She's a little excited.] "We need CAKE!!!" [She's a girl after my own heart :)]
I said, "How about cupcakes?"
Phyllis said, "Something BIGGER!"
So I said, "How about this?"
Phyllis said, "But there's no ICING!"
So we settled on this:
 |
and in case you are wondering, those little brown things are
groundhog graham crackers... which makes this a Groundhog Day Cake :) |
"Now we need festive balloons!" said Phyllis.
"Here!" said I.
"You're kidding, of course," said Phyllis.
"What? It's blue! It's pretty!"
"It's only ONE!" said Phyllis. "ONE is not festive!"
"Fine," I said, ever accommodating.
"I'm going to pretend I didn't see that," said Phyllis. "Otherwise I might regurgitate my recently ingested natal day pancakes. What do the words GROUNDHOG and BIRTHDAY mean to you?"
"You're being just a tad demanding, Phyllis," I said patiently. "But I'll humor you. Will these do?"
"At last!" said Phyllis. "And now, for the most important part... my POEM!"
"Uh, yeah, about that... I'm not quite done yet."
"WHAT???!!!"
"I want it to be perfect," I explained. "After all, it's for you. It can't be just any old thrown together thing!"
"That's true," agreed Phyllis.
"But I've got to finish it quick. Everyone's going to be here soon."
"Also true," said Phyllis.
"So it would be
helpful," I said pointedly, "if you would be quiet and let me concentrate."
"Okay," whispered Phyllis.
I tapped my pen against the table top.
AN ODE TO PHYLLISI wrote across the top of the paper.
"Good start!" said Phyllis.
"Thank you."
I tapped some more.
There once was a groundhog named Phyllis"Stop," said Phyllis.
"What do you mean, stop?"
"Nothing rhymes with Phyllis. Believe me. I know. That's a nonstarter."
"How about
There once was a groundhog named Phyllis/Who made so much noise that her poem will never get written?"
"That doesn't rhyme," sniffed Phyllis. But she stopped talking.
tap tap tap tap tap
In the hollow of old PunxsutawneyLived Phyllis, whose fur was so . . .
"STOP!" said Phyllis.
"What now?"
"What
is it with you and these impossible words? NOTHING rhymes with Punxsutawney! You're supposed to be writing me a poem! Poems are supposed to RHYME!"
"For your information, Miss Smarty Pants, I was going to say '
whose fur was so tawny', but forget it."
"Yeah, well, that's pretty much cheating. Punxsu
tawney and
tawny - it's practically rhyming the same word with itself."
"Aren't you supposed to be outside looking for your shadow or something?"
"It's too early," said Phyllis.
I sighed.
tap tap tap tap tap tap tap
Oh, Phyllis, you forecasting marmot"Er. Ahem. I don't mean to interrupt, but seriously,
marmot? Where can you possibly go with that?"
"Harm it?!" I suggested.
"No..." said Phyllis, oblivious. "I don't think so. And I don't think you're quite getting the sense of an ode. You're supposed to be praising me. You have to set the mood."
"I'll set a mood all right."
Phyllis ignored me and gazed out the window. "Maybe something like:
Phyllis, your fur is so fineYour eyes sparkle like finest wine..."
"
Hacksputtercough! I'm sorry. I just had to gag a little there."
"It's better than yours!"
"How do you know? You won't let me get past the first line!"
"Here's what we'll do," said Phyllis. "I'LL write a poem and YOU write a poem and then we'll see whose is better."
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
tap tap tap tap tap tap tap
"Stop tapping your pen!"
"Stop talking!"
Hmmpphh!
* * * * * denotes passage of time * * * * *
"I've got one," said Phyllis. She cleared her throat and read,
Roses are redViolets are blueI can write poemsWay better than you!"Well in that case," I shot back,
Two poems diverged in a snowy woodAnd I,I chose the better one...Which was not yours!"Hmm..." Phyllis said primly. "I don't think we're there yet. Ready, set, write another one!"
* * * * * denotes passage of time * * * * *
"How about this?" said Phyllis.
So much depends
upon
a brown groundhog
Seeking shadows
Beside a green
pine tree
"Hey, that's not bad!" I said.
"Let's hear yours," said Phyllis.
Phyllis is the thing without feathers (I began)
"What kind of thing is that to say?" demanded Phyllis. "I'm a groundhog! Of COURSE I don't have FEATHERS!"
"You're interrupting!" I grumped. "Are you going to let me read it or not?"
"Fine. Read. But I don't think there's much hope for this one." She snickered.
I glared, and started again:
Phyllis is the thing without feathers
That perches in the burrow
And searches the air with her nose
for signs of spring.
Phyllis patted my hand. "It's okay that you're not very good at this. You're trying. That's what's important." She stuffed a strawberry in my mouth. "Let's keep practicing. Maybe you'll get better."
* * * * * denotes passage of time * * * * *
"Done!" I said.
"I was done first three times in a row," said Phyllis. "That means you have to read first."
Really, it is hard to follow groundhog logic. Actually, groundhog logic is probably an oxymoron.
I sighed. "Okay. But let me read the whole thing. Don't interrupt."
"I would never do that," said Phyllis sweetly. She sat up on her haunches and prepared to listen attentively.
AN ODE TO PHYLLIS
by Susanna
Beauty, wit, charm, graceFuzzy little marmot faceUnsurpassed intelligenceNever-equaled weather senseEven though you're not a boyYou're Punxsutawney's pride and joyMy furry friend, you know it's trueThere's no one else on earth like you!Phyllis jumped in my lap and gave me a hug. "See? I KNEW you could do it! Now I'll read mine."
ODE TO PHYLLIS
by Phyllis
Lavender's blue dilly dilly lavender's greenIt's really true dilly dilly I should be queenLavender's green dilly dilly lavender's blueI'm a Punxsutawney dream-come-true."Yeah," I said. "You should have quite while you were ahead."
"Yeah, probably," said Phyllis. "But never mind. Happy birthday to me!"
Happy Birthday, dear Phyllis,
Happy Birthday to you!!!
And now, Phyllis and I are looking forward with GREAT anticipation to reading YOUR poems for Phyllis, and hopefully seeing some videos too (no pressure, Erik) since we totally failed on that score!
If you wrote a poem for Phyllis, and or have photographs, drawings, videos, or other fun feature accompaniments, please add your post-specific blog link to the list below, or post your poem etc in the comments, or
Email it to me and I'll post it for you so that we can all enjoy everyone's creativity!
Maybe Phyllis and I will pick some top finishers, or maybe we'll have a vote later in the week, but either way, some people will win a signed copy of PUNXSUTAWNEY PHYLLIS (if there's anyone left on earth who doesn't already have one or who wants another for someone), a signed copy of Pat Miller's wonderful SUBSTITUTE GROUNDHOG along with audio CD!, and there will be some other non-groundhog-day-related picture books up for grabs too.
Happy Groundhog Day to everyone! May spring come early in your hearts, even if the weather outside fails to comply! :)
Have a marvelous Monday! :)
CLICK ON THIS BUTTON TO START YOUR QUEST!
WATCH THE VIDEO TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE READING QUEST.
Happy New Year from all the Authors in the Ultimate Reading Quest! This year myself, and all the Quest authors, want you to enjoy your reading experiences more than ever! So in 2015, the Ultimate Reading Quest has more, more, more! More authors and more books, means more mystery, more danger, more intrigue and more edge-of-your-seat adventure awaits you! We want you, our readers, to be able to fill that Kindle, tablet or E-reader you got for Christmas, with fabulous reads to take you through 2015. The Quest is so much fun! Who doesn't love searching for treasure? The ULTIMATE READING QUEST is about finding books that are “perfectly” suited to your reading taste by clicking on choices. To thank you for participating, the authors have decided to give away oodles of prizes for free! Enter your name to win Amazon cards and free books from authors! Plus a whole store of treasured books are just waiting to be discovered by you!
Enjoy your journey as you travel through the QUEST!
Don't forget to enter the raffle on the first page of the Quest. And please leave comments or questions for the authors of the Quest. We would love to hear from you. What are you waiting for? Click on the button above or below to get started on your
QUEST for the next ULTIMATE READ!
Happy Friday, Everyone!
Yes, yes! I know what day it is!
Normally, I would tease you for a while and pretend I didn't know what brought you to this neck of the woods or what you were after, but not today.
Nope.
Today I'm going to get straight to the point.
No beating around the bush.
Nosirree Bob!
I'm going to give you what you came for . . .
. . . just as soon as we come up with an answer to that eternal burning question: whose idea was tinsel anyway and does anyone actually use it?
Because seriously, that stuff is as bad as Easter grass! It gets everywhere!
In your hair! In the carpet! On the dogs...
And who has the patience to separate it out into single strands to drape artfully over the limbs of your Christmas tree? (And let's face it, it does not have the same effect if you just glob it on in clumps...!)
And we're not even going to TALK about if you have cats! By golly! That's just a disaster waiting to happen!
You're all writers! Let your imagination run amok with the idea of cats, tinsel, Christmas trees...
Yikes! Truly, I shudder to think!
So anyway, where was I?
Oh, yes!
I was not beating around the bush.
I wonder what bush it is that I'm not beating around?
Is it the same as the bush in "Here we go 'round the mulberry bush?"
Or maybe the bush that a bird in the hand is worth two birds in?
I'm guessing if there are two birds they are turtle doves, because that's how the song goes. You know, "On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me two turtle doves..." Yeah. Like that.
Except not a partridge, because he was in a pear tree and we are certainly not beating around the pear tree!
Boy! All this not beating around things is making me a little dizzy!
So maybe I'll stop and just tell you about
The 4th Annual Holiday Contest!!!
:)
I was once again thrilled to see so many wonderful stories! Really! It is amazing and inspiring, not to mention VERY entertaining! There is just so much talent out there amongst you all!
But with large entry numbers, all of high quality, come hard choices. My assistant judges and I worked hard to winnow the total down to a manageable number of finalists that we felt were truly all-around deserving of that distinction, and those were the ones we presented to you on Tuesday for your vote.
There were, however, many other entries that were outstanding in certain areas even though they might not have qualified all-around for one reason or another.
So my assistant judges and I would like to award recognition and a small prize to the following authors for the following merits:
1. For
Honorable Mention In The Competition As A Whole:
Leslie Tribble for
The Perfect Christmas Tree Anne Bromley for
Christmas Eve At Gate 25 Lauri Meyers for
Jimmy Cantore Steals Christmas2. For
Fabulous Fun Kid-Friendly Stories (That Sadly Fell Short On The Weather Element But Were Too Good Not To Recognize!): Stacy Jensen for
How Do I Fix This? Bridget Magee for
Dear Santa Margaret Greanias for
A Little Christmas Wish Pam Vaughan for
My Snowman Is Sick Jim Jones for
Snowflake...A Christmas Tail3. For
We-Loved-It-But-Thought-The Humor-Was-A-Little-Too-Grown-Up :)
(and seriously, these were terrific entries, well written and funny!)
Mike Allegra for
Carbon Christmas Heather Preusser for
Dreaming Of A White Christmas Kristen Foote for
Polar Warming Hilary (Swann?) for
No Sweat Santa 4. For
Sweet Stories That Exemplified Christmas Spirit: Sharon Wilson for
A Little Christmas Miracle Patricia Corcoran for
The Christmas Miracle Sally Suehler for
Just Ice And Snow 5. For
Fantastic Word Play: Amy Ozay for
Rain, dear6. For
Best First Line:
James Lloyd for
Pablo's First Christmas 7. For
Best-Written Original Point Of View: Carol Lescinski for
The Best Christmas (excellent stuffed dog POV!)
Summer Hinderer for
The Snow Miracle (POV of gingerbread people in Gingerbreadville!)
and
8. The
Keep Up The Great Writing Award goes to:
Ms. Leach's First Grade for
Hopeful Christmas Eve And first graders, your special prize will be Happily Ever Madlibs and Once Upon A Madlibs, which we hope you will enjoy doing as a class on days when you can't go out for recess or something :) as well as 2 StoryWorld Create-A-Story Kits:
Quests And Adventures and
Fairy Magic which can be used in lots of fun ways to inspire writing and storytelling (and for even more fun you can pull cards from both decks to expand possibilities!) Thank you for writing another wonderful story for all of us to enjoy!
Congratulations to all of you for fantastic elements of your stories! You may all
email me at susanna[at]susannahill[dot]com to collect your prize, which is your choice of
one of the following: (the titles are all links so you can go see what they're about)
For Kindle:Picture Books: The Write Way by Laura Salas and Lisa Bullard OR
The Easy Way To Write Picture Books That Sell by Robyn Parnell OR
The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide To Character Expression by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi , OR
The Postitive Trait Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide To Character Attributes by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi, OR
The Negative Trait Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide To Character Flaws by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi, OR
The Ultimate Fiction Thesaurus by Sam Stone OR
In paperback:Show & Tell In A Nutshell: Demonstrated Transitions From Telling To Showing by Jessica Bell OR
The Six Senses In A Nutshell: Demonstrated Transitions From Bleak To Bold Narrative by Jessica Bell OR
Adverbs And Cliches In A Nutshell: Demonstrated Subversions Of Adverbs & Cliches Into Gourmet Imagery by Jessica Bell OR
Creating Extraordinary Characters by Angela Hunt, OR
And now...
...the moment you've all been waiting for...
The announcement of the WINNERS OF THE 2014 HOLIDAY CONTEST as voted on by you!!!
rat-a-tat-rat-a-tat-rat-a-tat-rat-a-tat-rat-a-tat
DDDRRRUUUMMM RRROOOLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!
In First Place...
Winner of the whole shebang...
who gets first choice of all the prizes...
Randy Sonenshine
for The Rumbledy Jumbledy Holiday Feast!!!
Congratulations, Randy, on a fabulous and fun entry that was clearly very popular!!! :)
In Second Place...
Elaine Kiely Kearns
for 'Twas The Stormy Night Before Christmas
Congratulations, Elaine!! You get first choice of the prizes that are left after Randy makes her choice.
In Third Place...
Katey Howes
for Snow Swirls
Congratulations, Katey! You get first choice of the prizes that are left after Randy and Elaine choose theirs.
In Fourth Place...
Julie Abery
for Santa's Satnav
Congratulations, Julie! You get to pick after Randy, Elaine and Katey.
In Fifth Place...
Anika Denise
for Little Christmas, BIG SNOW
Congratulations, Anika! You get to pick after Randy, Elaine, Katey, and Julie.
In Sixth Place...
Bronwyn Deaver
for Jack Quits
Congratulations, Bronwyn! I'm sure you get the idea of how the prize picking goes by now :)
In Seventh Place...
Sylvia Liu
for Polar Woes
Congratulations, Sylvia! You get to pick next :)
In Eighth Place...
Amelia Shearer
for The Night The Sun Stayed Up
Congratulations, Amelia! You get to pick a prize after Sylvia!
In Ninth Place, we have a tie! between
Johnell DeWitt and Teresa Robeson
for A Djiboutian Christmas Sandstorm Santa
Congratulations, Johnell and Teresa! You get to pick next!
In Eleventh Place...
Kirsten Bock
for Hurricane Coal
And in Twelfth Place, rounding out the top dozen of these amazing finalists and the 100 Holiday Contest Entries for 2014...
Carol Ann Martin
for Wish You'd Been Here
All the winners should email me at susanna[at]susannahill[dot]com with the subject heading Prize Winner so we can work out details for you to receive your prizes! And for your convenience, the whole prize list is included at the bottom of this post.
Congratulations again to all our winners - it was a stiff competition!! - and congratulations to EVERYONE who wrote and entered a story in the contest. You all deserve a huge round of applause, a tinsel parade (clumpy or stringy, however you like it :)), and a large amount of Figgy Pudding (which truthfully I don't know what that is, but apparently it's something we all want some of :))
Thank you to everyone who helped make this contest SO MUCH FUN, whether by writing an entry, reading people's stories, leaving comments for the authors, and/or voting in the finals. It's because of all of you that this contest was such a success, so many, many thanks from the bottom of my heart!
As I... hmm... maybe didn't mention...?, I'm taking a little blogging break so I can spend time with my family - I've got cookies to bake, Christmas presents to shop for and wrap, and my sister and her family are arriving form Georgia on Monday! :) - so I will see you all in a couple weeks - most probably Wednesday January 7th for Would You Read It unless I have something really important to impart on Monday the 5th... but I'm not really foreseeing that :)
So now, I want to wish you all a happy and healthy holiday filled with love, laughter, joy, and family, and a happy, healthy and successful new year! It is a pleasure and a privilege to get to spend time with you all, and I'm happy and grateful to know each and every one of you!
Looking forward to all the things we'll do in 2015!
Happy Holidays, and all best wishes for a wonderful New Year!!!
Love,
The Prizes!!!
- A picture book manuscript read and critique by Shari Dash Greenspan, Editor of the multi-award winning
Flashlight Press! I encourage you to sign up for their newsletter
HERE!
- A website or blog design or redesign by
Arturo Alviar.
Arturo will design (or redesign if you already have one that needs updating or a new look) a website or blog for the winner of this prize. The site will be built on Wordpress so that after he is done designing it, the winner can manage it themselves with ease. Arturo will include a Home/Welcome page, an About Me/Bio page, a Works/Books/Gallery section, and a Contact section (4 pages total), as well as a blog section if the winner would like to have that integrated with the new site. Different organizations can also be made, for example if the winner would like a "Services" section with separate "School Visits" and "Critiques" pages, or a "Works" section divided into "Black and White" and "Color" illustration galleries. The winner can choose any of the Wordpress themes (if they choose one that isn't free, the cost of the theme will be covered by them), or have Arturo choose a theme based on their vision, and Arturo will modify it based on their color and layout preferences (some themes will have more constraints than others). Arturo can also design a personalized banner or header image to customize the website. If you already have a website and/or blog and prefer a redesign to update, refresh, or just redecorate, Arturo is willing to work with Blogger, Wix, Drupal, and Wordpress. - Enrollment in
Making Picture Book Magic (my online picture book writing class - in March or a later month to be mutually agreed upon by the winner and me)
- A picture book manuscript critique by fabulous author
Amy Dixon, author of MARATHON MOUSE and the forthcoming SOPHIE'S ANIMAL PARADE.
- A picture book manuscript critique from
Katy Duffield, author of more than 20 books for children including
Farmer McPeepers And His Missing Milk Cows (Cooper Square Publishing 2003) and upcoming titles
Loud Lula (Two Lions) illustrated by Mike Boldt and Aliens Get the Sniffles, Too (Candlewick) illustrated by K.G. Campbell. - A picture book manuscript critique (rhyme or prose) from Penny Parker Klostermann who, after extensive experience critiquing for writing partners, members of various kid lit groups, and clients of Erin Murphy Literary Agency, is opening her own critique service!!!
Penny Parker Klostermann writes picture books and poetry. Her debut book, THERE WAS AN OLD DRAGON WHO SWALLOWED A KNIGHT, is coming from Random House Children’s, August 2015. Penny is represented by Tricia Lawrence of Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Click HERE to learn more about her critique service.
WOO HOO!!! Let the joyous news be spread! It's time for. . .
The 4th Annual Holiday Contest!!!!
 |
| Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! |
Oh the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
And since we've no place to go
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
The Contest: Write a children's story (children here defined as approximately age 12 and under) in which wild weather impacts the holidays! Your story may be poetry or prose, silly or serious or sweet, religious or not, based on Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or whatever you celebrate, but is not to exceed 350 words (I know! So much freedom after the Halloweensie Contest :)) (It can be as short as you like, but no more than 350!) Any kind of weather will do: sun, rain, sleet, heatwave, blizzard, tsunami, monsoon, hurricane, hail, tornado, etc! Weather may be atypical for your setting (rain in Maine, frost in Florida), it may be extreme (blizzard instead of regular snow, drought instead of lush greenery), or it may be unheard of (spring flowers in Antarctica, snow in the Sahara, bathing suit weather at the North Pole), but whatever you choose, make us feel the impact on the holidays! The wild weather may be a hindrance, a wish-come-true, a threat, a pleasant surprise, etc. The field is wide open! Have fun! The wilder and wackier the better! No illustration notes please. (And yes, if you feel compelled to submit more than one entry you may, just remember you're competing against yourself!)
Post: Your entry should be posted on your blog between right now this very second and Friday December 12 at 11:59 PM EST, and your post-specific link should be added to the link list below. This post will remain up through Sunday December 14 (no WYRI or PPBF this week) so there will be plenty of time for everyone to post their entries and visit each other and enjoy all the other entries. If you don't have a blog but would like to enter, please copy and paste your entry into the comment section below. (If anyone has trouble commenting, which unfortunately happens, please
email me and I'll post your entry for you!)
The Judging: My lovely assistant(s) and I will narrow down the entrants to 10-12 finalists (depending on the number of entries) which will be posted here on either Monday December 15 or Tuesday December 16 (depending on the number of entries :)) for you to vote on for a winner. The vote will be closed on Thursday December 18 at 5 PM EST and the winners will be announced on Friday December 19. Whoever gets the most votes will be first and so on down to tenth place. Judging criteria will be kid appeal/kid-friendliness, creativity of weather use in plot, quality of story, quality of writing, and originality.
The Prizes!: In the spirit of the holidays, winners will be named for 1st - 10th place. In addition to the incredible fame of being able to say you won (or placed in) the Pretty Much World Famous 4th Annual Holiday Contest, the following AMAZING prizes will be awarded: (items in color are links for more info!)
- A picture book manuscript read and critique by Shari Dash Greenspan, Editor of the multi-award winning
Flashlight Press! I encourage you to sign up for their newsletter
HERE!
- A picture book manuscript read and critique by Jennifer Mattson, Agent at
Andrea Brown Literary Agency!
- Enrollment in
Renee LaTulippe's highly praised and recommended
Lyrical Language Lab Course (in a month to be mutually agreed upon by the winner and Renee) ($249 value!)
- Enrollment in Jon Bard and Laura Backes's fantastic
Kindle Kids Mastery Course ($197 value!)
- A website or blog design or redesign by Arturo Alviar.
Arturo will design (or redesign if you already have one that needs updating or a new look) a website or blog for the winner of this prize. The site will be built on Wordpress so that after he is done designing it, the winner can manage it themselves with ease. Arturo will include a Home/Welcome page, an About Me/Bio page, a Works/Books/Gallery section, and a Contact section (4 pages total), as well as a blog section if the winner would like to have that integrated with the new site. Different organizations can also be made, for example if the winner would like a "Services" section with separate "School Visits" and "Critiques" pages, or a "Works" section divided into "Black and White" and "Color" illustration galleries. The winner can choose any of the Wordpress themes (if they choose one that isn't free, the cost of the theme will be covered by them), or have Arturo choose a theme based on their vision, and Arturo will modify it based on their color and layout preferences (some themes will have more constraints than others). Arturo can also design a personalized banner or header image to customize the website. If you already have a website and/or blog and prefer a redesign to update, refresh, or just redecorate, Arturo is willing to work with Blogger, Wix, Drupal, and Wordpress. - Enrollment in
Making Picture Book Magic (my online picture book writing class - in March or a later month to be mutually agreed upon by the winner and me)
- A picture book manuscript critique by fabulous author
Amy Dixon, author of MARATHON MOUSE and the forthcoming SOPHIE'S ANIMAL PARADE.
- A picture book manuscript critique from
Katy Duffield, author of more than 20 books for children including
Farmer McPeepers And His Missing Milk Cows (Cooper Square Publishing 2003) and upcoming titles
Loud Lula (Two Lions) illustrated by Mike Boldt and Aliens Get the Sniffles, Too (Candlewick) illustrated by K.G. Campbell. - A picture book manuscript critique (rhyme or prose) from Penny Parker Klostermann who, after extensive experience critiquing for writing partners, members of various kid lit groups, and clients of Erin Murphy Literary Agency, is opening her own critique service!!!
Penny Parker Klostermann writes picture books and poetry. Her debut book, THERE WAS AN OLD DRAGON WHO SWALLOWED A KNIGHT, is coming from Random House Children’s, August 2015. Penny is represented by Tricia Lawrence of Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Click HERE to learn more about her critique service. -
2015 Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market, a signed copy of
Boy And Poi Poi Puppy by Linda Boyden, and a $25 Amazon Gift Card.
- a pack of Deb Lund's amazing
Fiction Magic Cards - another pack of Deb Lund's amazing
Fiction Magic Cards
The Contest Winner will have first choice of the prizes. 2nd place will have next choice of what's left and so on. (I'm doing it this way in the hopes that no one will get something they already have and also because I think all the prizes are fabulous and I wouldn't want to make anyone feel less valued by giving them as 6th place as opposed to 1st.)
So let's get the Holiday Party started! :)
I want to warn you in advance that this may actually be the worst story I've ever written - embarrassing for me, but very comforting for anyone who is worried about the quality of their story - I can say with complete confidence that ANYTHING you write will be better than this sample! :)
Almost Not Christmas
(332 words)
Three days before Christmas a southerly breeze
Heated the earth to one hundred degrees!
“My goodness!” said Santa. “This just isn’t cool!”
And he sent all his reindeer to chill in the pool.
The heat wave refused to let go of its grip
In time for his once-a-year Christmas Eve trip.
So as Santa took off for his round-the-world flight
He clucked to his team and sang into the night:
“Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now Prancer and Vixen!
On Comet! On Cupid! On Donder and Blitzen!
Let’s hope we can get all our Christmas chores done
Without melting like popsicles left in the sun!”
But HEAT didn’t trouble St. Nick as he drove.
As his journey continued, the temperature dove.
And YOU know what happens when warm and cold meet –
-- Fog tiptoes in on its little cat feet!
At dawn Christmas morning young children stopped short
When they heard this unthinkable Special Report:
“This just in! Here’s the hot-off-the-presses news scoop!
Santa is lost in that murky pea soup!”
Santa lost? When he’d battled that wild weather night
To ensure each child’s Christmas was merry and bright?
From North Pole to South, from New York to Japan
Christmas morn was abandoned to think up a plan.
In pajamas or nightgowns, in socks or bare feet,
Kids spilled from warm houses and met in the street.
“Santa comes through for us year after year.
It’s our turn to give him some Christmastime cheer!”
Puerto Toro* to Nunavuk* in a straight line
They climbed to their roofs with whatever would shine.
They lit up a beacon as bright as could be
With candles and glowsticks and lights from their tree.
An arrow of light that would gleam through the gloam
So Santa could finally find his way home.
“It’s official!” the newsfolk were happy to say.
“St. Nick made it back with his reindeer and sleigh!”
At last, filled with joy, kids began to unwrap
And Santa? He took a long afternoon nap!
*In case you're wondering, Puerto Toro, Chile is the nearest settlement to the South Pole, and Alert, Nunavuk is the nearest to the North Pole :)
I have another equally bad half-finished story in prose that I might swap out for this one at some point during the week if I just can't stand it any more :)
So now! Is everyone filled with confidence about their entries? I certainly hope so after that display! Never let it be said that I'm not willing to make a fool of myself for you guys :)
I can't wait to read all of your (much better!) stories! I hope there will be a lot - the more the merrier! And there are still 4+ days to write, so you have time if you haven't written yet and want to join the fun. Feel free to spread the word to your writing friends as well.
Remember to put your
post-specific link (not your general blog link or people will find the wrong page if you post again before the contest is over) in the list below!
And as stories come into the comment section I will catalogue them here.
Good Morning and Happy December, Everyone!
You're probably all surprised I'm posting today, given that my Monday posts have been practically nonexistent extremely sporadic somewhat occasional since the summer.
I'm surprised too!
I had no idea I'd be here!
I thought I'd be taking Princess Blue Kitty to get her oil changed, but no! Here I am!
Because you know what I realized over the weekend (being the extremely Aware and Observant person I am)?
Today is December 1st!
And that makes today . . .
. . . my 4th Blogiversary!
I couldn't very well let that go by without even a little whispered yippee! :)
It's hard to believe that a mere four years ago this blog was nothing but a newborn whippersnapper, whose little cries for attention went pretty much universally unheard and unacknowledged. And look at it now! 4 years old... and still pretty much a voice in the wilderness :) but lucky enough to have made some loyal and beloved friends! :)
Since I spent most of last week driving Princess Blue Kitty through the Berkshires to Beantown, and entertaining a houseful of family, and barely online at all (due in large part to having no internet for days because of the snow), and hence missed most of the Thanksgiving posts that were up around the web from all you guys, I mostly wanted to take the opportunity of my blogiversary day to say how much I enjoy getting to spend time with everyone who visits my blog, what wonderful, amazing people I think you all are, how grateful I am for the fact that you come to visit so dependably, so ready to take part in whatever is going on, so generous with your time, your wisdom, and your good humor, and how very, very glad I am to know you all! Thank you all, because really it's you who make this blog what it is!
Here's a little present for you. Open it up, and inside is the thing you would most like to have today. It can be anything from 10 minutes of peace and quiet to a book contract - you get to choose :)
Whatever it is, ENJOY! :)
(And feel free to tell us in the comments what was in your gift box! Health and well-being of your loved ones and yourself is automatically assumed :))
And now, as long as we're all here and not getting our oil changed, what better time to give you a little update on the
Holiday Contest prizes?
It is indeed true that there will be two other picture book manuscript critiques available:
- a picture book manuscript critique from Katy Duffield, author of more than 20 books for children including Farmer McPeepers And His Missing Milk Cows (Cooper Square Publishing 2003) and upcoming titles Loud Lula (Two Lions) illustrated by Mike Boldt and Aliens Get the Sniffles, Too (Candlewick) illustrated by K.G. Campbell.
- a picture book manuscript critique (rhyme or prose) from Penny Parker Klostermann who, after extensive experience critiquing for writing partners, members of various kid lit groups, and clients of Erin Murphy Literary Agency, is opening her own critique service!!!
Penny Parker Klostermann writes picture books and poetry. Her debut book, THERE WAS AN OLD DRAGON WHO SWALLOWED A KNIGHT, is coming from Random House Children’s, August 2015. Penny is represented by Tricia Lawrence of Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Click HERE to learn more about her critique service.
In addition, we have a pretty unique and special prize on the table for one lucky person! The opportunity to have an author/illustrator website or blog built (if you don't have one yet) or redesigned (if you have one but would like to redecorate and/or improve function) by Arturo Alviar, a very talented computer science and web design major. Full details on this to come, as well as links so you can see examples of his excellent work!
Pretty exciting, don't you think???!!!
I hope you all have your Holiday Contest entries well underway, unlike Yours Truly who has yet to give even a moment's thought to her sample. You know, it occurs to me that I may have to have a little talk with Yours Truly. She has very bad work habits. This leaving-things-to-the-last-minute has really got to stop. It is very un-Zen. I'm going to sit her down and point out the error of her ways. Yessirree bob! I feel certain I can make her see reason. I'm going to add that to my to-do list.
Right after "eat left-over pie" :)
Have a magical Monday, everyone! :)
By: Martha Alderson, M.A.,
on 11/17/2014
Blog:
Plot Whisperer for Writers and Readers
(
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Add a tag
Thanks to a very generous benefactor, we are taking PlotWriMo: Revise Your Novel in a Month on what appears to be developing into a massive blog tour beginning December 1st through the 5th!
Seven years ago, I began offering the beta version of
PlotWriMo for novelist word drunk from
NaNoWriMo. Over the years I continued refining and perfecting the steps to help writers revise all those words generated in November into a compelling story with a plot (and all other novelists and memoirists and screenwriters alike struggling to create a pleasing form for their readers)
Earlier this year, I partnered with
Jill Corcoran who brought her insight and love of concept and knowledge of the inside of publishing. Together we created an entire video series of the program. The feedback and "ah ha" moments we have received have been enormously rewarding and makes all the time and hard work worthwhile.
Sample of feedback:
"Jill (video 4, I think) explained what agents meant when they say "They didn't connect" and it was like a lightbulb had been screwed in my head-- I failed to meet all of the essential elements of a scene. There was always something about my former MS that I could never pinpoint that felt off, and that was just it! I needed more emotional development, conflict/ tension, dramatic action and clear goals PER scene."
"I watched the Revise Your Novel in a Month videos and really began to understand the difference between crisis and climax and the key ways to develop each part of the plot."
"PlotWriMo is the closest “formula” for structuring a book I’ve ever discovered. It’s like an algebra equation for writing – if you’re missing any of the energetic markers you can’s solve for X."
"It’s helped me re-envision my own work and I can’t stop myself from dissecting every movie and book I’ve read since."
"I've learned a lot through the PlotWriMo series. I've always struggled with revision, but the PlotWriMo series has helped me organize my revision so that I am going deeper than I ever have before at making my story shine."
"Now, what did I learn from the videos? Goodness, what did I not? It's all about the structure. Being a pantser doesn't work when you are revising (Not sure it would work for me - ever), but you have to be clear in your journey. I also learned to forgive myself. To keep writing. And that we can learn from our mistakes and become better writers."
"I watched PlotWriMo and learned about EMs, concept and that the antagonist OWNS the middle."
“Ah, ha” Moment: The exercise of writing down all of the themes, and getting down to the grittier ones. And when I found my darker theme was about loss, and the threat of losing someone you love. I couldn’t believe when I went back and looked at the Energy Markers and found that common theme. I’m working on deepening the scenes with metaphors and thematic significance."
"Don't start drafting until you're happy with the concept and markers."
"As for what I learned, viewing both the crisis and the climax from my antagonist’s point of view gave my story dramatic action and the depth it needed to bind the story and pull in the reader."
"Yet my greatest aha moment came with the challenge of writing the concept, giving my story definition. As a young woman I took my family on some exciting adventures, wounds and all, and the only dream still intact in the end was my passion and desire to be a writer. I couldn’t just throw out my concept because it wasn’t good enough, or my life wouldn’t be either. Crafting my concept, meant validating what I had done and why, all the parts and pieces."
"I really had an "aha moment" when Martha Alderson talked about the end mirroring the beginning."
The icing on the proverbial cake was the news that one writer secured an agent (having the amazing opportunity to chose from 3 offering her contracts). As she writes: "No word of lie - it is absolutely thanks to Jill Corcoran and Martha Alderson! The last round of revisions changed everything! I just thank god I have the videos and future classes for other books! I have worked like a dog on this book, but the videos and Martha's book really changes everything. The advanced workshop kicked my butt in the best way possible and made me really rethink some things and made the work so much better!"
The tour begins December 1st through the 5th so if you'd like to add your blog to the tour, please
sign up ASAP. We're using the opportunity to spread the word about writing and revising stories and about A Path to Publishing in general. Jill and I will visit all the participating blogs, comment and award prizes. (If you'd like to simply follow along on the tour, I'll list the participating blogs during the tour.)
See you soon!
For help about the Energetic Markers to write toward every week of
NaNoWriMo.
The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling StoriesFor plot prompts to move your writing everyday and reach each major turning point:
The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing. To complete write your story in a month, complete 4 prompts everyday. (As one writer proclaims: The PW Book of Prompts is my lighted path…)
For plot help and resources during NaNoWriMo
:
1) The Plot Whisperer Workbook: Step-by-step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories2) The Plot Whisperer: Secrets of Story Structure Any Writer Can Master3) The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing. ~~~~~~~~To continue writing and revising (and, lots of writers are finding PlotWriMo the exact right resource to help pre-plot for a powerful first draft. Knowing what to look for in a revision helps create a tighter first draft):-
- PlotWriMo: Revise Your Novel in a Month
~~
View your story in an entirely new light. Recharge your energy and enthusiasm for your writing. 8 videos (5.5 hours)+ 30 exercises
Good Monday, All!
So nice of you to pop by!
Remember on Friday I told you I had exciting news to share?
I'm guessing that's why you're here.
Because of the exciting news I promised.
I said, "Come on over as soon as you wake up!"
And look! Here you are!
You're so wonderful :)
Okay!
Exciting news!
Guess what I did?
No, really! Guess!
Never mind. I'll tell you.
I made up a song!
Yep!
It's true!
Want to hear it?
Well, not actually hear it - I didn't have time to make a video or a recording - but hear it in the sense that I can tell you the tune and the words and you can imagine me singing it to you...
Yes? Are you ready?
Okay. The tune is "The Bear Went Over The Mountain" (because I live on a mountain, as you may recall, and I saw a bear a little over a week ago, which you may also recall.)
Ready?
OH. . . !!!!!!!
The dog went over the mountain
The dog went over the mountain
The dog went over the mounTAIN....
Because she saw a bear!
WOOF!
There!
What do you think?
Are you amazed?
I'm pretty amazed with myself, I have to tell you. It's not every day someone writes a song like that! (Hey! Did someone say, "Thank goodness!"? I heard that! Keep it nice, people. We can't all be as musically gifted as I am, but that's no reason to unleash the green-eyed monster!)
So I can now add "Songwriter" to my resume!
Happy sigh :)
Alrighty. See you on Wednesday for Would You Read It.
Unless you've got nothing to do right now. . .
. . . and you're feeling reluctant to leave because you enjoyed my song so much that you want to hear it again. . .
. . . and you're also thinking that maybe... just MAYBE... you'd like to hear about. . .
(Oh, golly! That was fun while it lasted! Hehehe!). . .
The 4th Annual Holiday Contest!!!!
|
| Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! |
Oh the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
And since we've no place to go
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
The Contest: Write a children's story (children here defined as approximately age 12 and under) in which wild weather impacts the holidays! Your story may be poetry or prose, silly or serious or sweet, religious or not, based on Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or whatever you celebrate, but is not to exceed 350 words (I know! So much freedom after the Halloweensie Contest :)) (It can be as short as you like, but no more than 350!) Any kind of weather will do: sun, rain, sleet, heatwave, blizzard, tsunami, monsoon, hurricane, hail, tornado, etc! Weather may be atypical for your setting (rain in Maine, frost in Florida), it may be extreme (blizzard instead of regular snow, drought instead of lush greenery), or it may be unheard of (spring flowers in Antarctica, snow in the Sahara, bathing suit weather at the North Pole), but whatever you choose, make us feel the impact on the holidays! The wild weather may be a hindrance, a wish-come-true, a threat, a pleasant surprise, etc. The field is wide open! Have fun! The wilder and wackier the better! No illustration notes please. (And yes, if you feel compelled to submit more than one entry you may, just remember you're competing against yourself!)
Post: Your entry should be posted on your blog between Monday December 8 and Friday December 12 at 11:59 PM EST, and your post-specific link should be added to the link list on the official holiday contest post which will go up on my blog on Monday December 8 and remain up through Sunday December 14 (no WYRI or PPBF during that week.) If you don't have a blog but would like to enter, please copy and paste your entry into the comments on my December 8th post. (If anyone has trouble commenting, which unfortunately happens, please email me and I'll post your entry for you!)
The Judging: My lovely assistant(s) and I will narrow down the entrants to 10-12 finalists (depending on the number of entries) which will be posted here on either Monday December 15 or Tuesday December 16 (depending on the number of entries :)) for you to vote on for a winner. The vote will be closed on Thursday December 18 at 5 PM EST and the winners will be announced on Friday December 19. Whoever gets the most votes will be first and so on down to tenth place. Judging criteria will be kid appeal/kid-friendliness, creativity of weather use in plot, quality of story, quality of writing, and originality.
The Prizes!: Well, I hope these prizes are going to knock your socks off!!! In the spirit of the holidays, winners will be named for 1st - 10th place. In addition to the incredible fame of being able to say you won (or placed in) the Pretty Much World Famous 4th Annual Holiday Contest, the following AMAZING prizes will be awarded: (items in color are links for more info!)
- A picture book manuscript read and critique by Shari Dash Greenspan, Editor of the multi-award winning
Flashlight Press! I encourage you to sign up for their newsletter
HERE!
- A picture book manuscript read and critique by Jennifer Mattson, Agent at
Andrea Brown Literary Agency!
- Enrollment in
Renee LaTulippe's highly praised and recommended
Lyrical Language Lab Course (in a month to be mutually agreed upon by the winner and Renee) ($249 value!)
- Enrollment in Jon Bard and Laura Backes's fantastic
Kindle Kids Mastery Course ($197 value!)
- Enrollment in
Making Picture Book Magic (my online picture book writing class - in March or a later month to be mutually agreed upon by the winner and me)
- A picture book manuscript critique by fabulous author
Amy Dixon, author of MARATHON MOUSE and the forthcoming SOPHIE'S ANIMAL PARADE.
- (Hopefully) 2 or 3
PB MS Critiques from other fabulous authors - TBA
-
2015 Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market, a signed copy of
Boy And Poi Poi Puppy by Linda Boyden, and a $25 Amazon Gift Card.
I can't thank these editors, agents, authors, and other industry professionals enough for their incredible generosity! Please visit their sites, spread the word of their classes, buy and recommend their books to your friends with kids, and show your appreciation to them in any way you can!
And now! Sharpen those pencils! Top off those coffee mugs! Get those derrieres in your chairs! And start writing those prize-winning entries!!!
I can't wait for the festivities to begin! :)
Tiger eye and mandrake root! It's finally time for
The 4th Annual HALLOWEENSIE CONTEST!!!!!
aahhhrrrooooOOOOO!!!!
|
| courtesy google images |
The Contest: write a 100 word Halloween story appropriate for children (title not included in the 100 words), using the words
pumpkin,
broomstick, and
creak. Your story can be poetry or prose, scary, funny or anything in between, but it will only count for the contest if it includes those 3 words and is 100 words (you can go under, but not over!) Get it? Hallo
weensie - because it's not very long and it's for little people :) (And yes, I know 100 words is short but that's part of the fun and the challenge! We got nearly 80 fantastic entries last year so I know you can do it!) Also, you may use the words in any form - e.g. creak, creaky, creaks, creaking, creaked.
No illustration notes please!Post your story on your blog between right now this very second and Friday October 31st by 11:59 PM EDT and add your post-specific link to the list below. There will be no Would You Read It Wednesday or Perfect Picture Book Friday this week, so this post and the list of links will stay up all week for everyone to enjoy. (I hope you will all visit each other! :)) If you don't have a blog and would like to enter, you can simply copy and paste your entry in the comments section below. (Or, if you have difficulty with the comments, which unfortunately sometimes happens, you may
email your entry to me and I'll post it for you!)
The Judging: in a grueling, marathon weekend, my lovely assistants and I will narrow down the entrants to 3 top choices (hee hee hee - okay, who are we kidding? :)) which will be posted here and voted on for a winner on Monday November 3rd. The winner will be announced in a special Thursday post on November 6th. If we get more than 20 entries, I will post 6 finalists and give prizes for 1st through 3rd. If by some chance we get the kind of turn out we did last year, all bets are off. I may post as many as 10 finalists and I'll probably end up giving everyone a prize :) But we'll cross that bridge when we get to it :)
The Prizes: we've got some seriously amazing prizes! (words in color are links to more info)
-
Julie Hedlund's fantastic new course
How To Make Money As An Author, interesting, educational and suitable for writers at any stage of their career
- a 2015 membership to
Children's Book Insider, an absolutely fabulous resource for kid lit writers of all kinds, generously offered by
Jon Bard and
Laura Backes - a picture book manuscript critique from the renowned
Alayne Christian (prose only, 800 words or less)
Alayne Kay Christian is an award winning author of BUTTERFLY KISSES FOR GRANDMA AND GRANDPA. She is represented by Erzsi Deak of Hen&Ink Literary Studio. To read more about Alayne, her critique service, and her books visit her websites and blog.
- a picture book manuscript critique (rhyme or prose) from
Penny Parker Klostermann who, after extensive experience critiquing for writing partners, members of various kid lit groups, and clients of Erin Murphy Literary Agency, is opening her own critique service!!!
Penny Parker Klostermann writes picture books and poetry. Her debut book, THERE WAS AN OLD DRAGON WHO SWALLOWED A KNIGHT, is coming from Random House Children’s, August 2015. Penny is represented by Tricia Lawrence of Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Click HERE to learn more about her critique service.
- a picture book manuscript critique by Tracey M. Cox! Tracey offers a full critique on a fiction PB, 800 words or less, which will include overall impression and line-by-line on a prose only pb ms. She will also include thoughts and marketing ideas that she thinks about and if she can think of references, she'll add them also. Tracey M. Cox has been writing professionally since 2000 and is an author of 6 picture books. She is an active member in the children's literature community and explores how to self-market on little to no budget.
Website: www.traceymcox.com
Blog: www.traceymcox.wordpress.com
- an e-pub or PDF copy (winner's choice) of
Linda Ashman's
Nuts And Bolts Guide To Writing Picture Books - a personalized signed copy of
I WANNA GO HOME by Karen Kaufman Orloff, the latest in the brilliant PB series that began with I WANNA IGUANA. (Reviewed
HERE for PPBF)
- a personalized signed copy of
I AM COW HEAR ME MOO by Jill Esbaum (reviewed for Perfect Picture Books
HERE and
HERE - yep, it's so popular it got reviewed for PPBF twice :))
- a personalized signed copy of
NINJA RED RIDING HOOD by Corey Rosen Schwartz, the riveting follow-up to THE THREE NINJA PIGS. (Reviewed
HERE for PPBF)
- a PDF copy of Ryan Sias's
A Spooky-Doodle E-Book,
"doodle pages, drawing lessons and writing prompts inspire kids to invent their own stories, characters and artwork."
Please join me again in thanking these very generous authors and other writing professionals for contributing their books and writing expertise as prizes by visiting their websites and blogs, considering their books and services for holiday or other gift purchases, rating and/or reviewing their books on GoodReads, Amazon, B&N or anywhere else if you like them, or supporting them in any other way you can dream up :)
Now then. Time for my sample entry which I provide because I would never ask you to do anything I wouldn't do myself. Also, in case anyone is worried about the quality of their entry they have only to read my foolish attempts to be filled with confidence that their's is MUCH better! I have to confess, I was really down to the wire this year (my schedule is a little bit nuts!), so, ahem, yeah.. I'll be proofreading after I post since I'm out of time :) (And I usually do one rhyme and one prose, but I don't have a prose one this year... yet... if I have time maybe I'll write one and add it during the week :))
So without further ado:
A Halloween Dare (100 words)
Haggie Witch just had to go
To the Broomstick Rodeo
And prove she had the skill and pluck
To ride a broomstick bronco's buck.
Her sister said she’d fall headlong.
Haggie vowed to prove her wrong!
Haggie’s heart quailed in her chest
But she had to face this test.
The gate sprang open with a creak
Out shot Haggie like a streak.
The broomstick bronco pitched and rolled,
Lunged and plunged quite uncontrolled!
But Haggie rode that fireball
Just like a pro and did not fall.
“I win, Sis, you can’t deny
you owe me a pumpkin pie!”
Pirate Ploy (100 words)
Halloween
A pumpkin moon
A ghostly ship
A still lagoon
Tattered sails
Like swirling mist
Ancient rigging
Creaks and twists
Skull and crossbones
Striking fear
Warning sailors
Far and near
Captain Jack
Comes thump-a-peg
Limping on
His broomstickleg
“Steady now,”
breathes Captain Jack,
“Mustn’t blow
our sneak attack!”
Silently
The ghost ship glides
Closer . . .
Closer . . .
On the tides
Guided through
The murky blue
By the ghastly
Skeleton crew
Stealthily
it comes abreast
Lurking
uninvited guest
Nearing windows
warm with light
no idea
of their plight.
Captain Jack
deceit complete
shouts, “Mrs. Johnson! Trick-or-treat!”
Everyone feeling better about their stories now? I should certainly HOPE so! :)
I can't wait to read all of yours! I'm so looking forward to them! I hope there will be a lot - the more the merrier! And there are still 4 days to write, so you have time if you haven't written yet. Feel free to spread the word to your writing friends as well.
Remember to put your post-specific link (not your general blog link or people will find the wrong page if you post again before the contest is over) in the list below!
Happy Writing and Happy Halloween!!! :)
There are already 4 entries in the comment section below from Barbara, Eric, Lata, and Nomie, so you won't want to miss those!
Happy Monday, everyone!
I hope you all had a lovely weekend!
Last week I told you I had something exciting to tell you today and I do!
Are you ready?
dddddrrrrruuuuummmmmrrrrrooooollllllllll!!!!!
This week . . .
. . .
. . . Stop & Shop bath tissue is on sale for $.75 off!!!
I know! It's not every day you get such incredible news!
So bring the van and load up, alrighty? I knew you'd want to know!
Okey-dokey, then.
Thanks for stopping by.
I hope you all have a Marvelous Monday :)
See you on Wednesday for Would You Read It.
Bye.
Buh-bye now.
Bye! :)
Oh, but wait. I guess there was one more thing. . .
Apparently I'm becoming very nice in my old age, because here it is, only October 6, with a full 3 weeks to go, and I'm announcing. . .
DUHN DUHN DUHN. . . !
The 4th Annual HALLOWEENSIE CONTEST!!!!!
That's right! It's about that time!
|
| courtesy google images |
The Contest: write a 100 word Halloween story appropriate for children (title not included in the 100 words), using the words
pumpkin,
broomstick, and
creak. Your story can be scary, funny or anything in between, poetry or prose, but it will only count for the contest if it includes those 3 words (you can count candy corn as one word) and is 100 words (you can go under, but not over!) Get it? Hallo
weensie - because it's not very long and it's for little people :) (And yes, I know 100 words is short but that's part of the fun and the challenge! We got nearly 80 fantastic entries last year so I know you can do it!) Also, you may use the words in any form - e.g. creak, creaky, creaks, creaking, creaked.
Post your story on your blog between 12:00 AM EDT Monday October 27th and Friday October 31st by 11:59 PM EDT and add your post-specific link to the list that will accompany my October 27th post. There will be no Would You Read It that week, and no PPBF, so the post and the list of links will stay up all week for everyone to enjoy. If you don't have a blog and would like to enter, you can simply copy and paste your entry in the comments section of that post once it's up. (Or, if you have difficulty with the comments, which unfortunately sometimes happens, you may
email your entry to me and I'll post it for you!)
The Judging: in a grueling, marathon weekend, my lovely assistants and I will narrow down the entrants to 3 top choices (hee hee hee - you know how much trouble I have with only 3, so we'll see) which will be posted here and voted on for a winner on Monday November 3rd. The winner will be announced in a special Thursday post on November 6th. If we get more than 20 entries, I will post 6 finalists and give prizes for 1st through 3rd. If by some chance we get the kind of turn out we did last year, all bets are off. I may post as many as 10 finalists and I'll probably end up giving everyone a prize :) But we'll cross that bridge when we get to it :)
The Prizes: yeah... I'm still working on the prizes :) Feel free to chime in in the comments if there's something you'd particularly like to win! :) But prizes will include:
-
Julie Hedlund's fantastic new course
How To Make Money As An Author, interesting, educational and suitable for writers at any stage of their career,
- a 2015 membership to
Children's Book Insider, an absolutely fabulous resource for kid lit writers of all kinds generously offered by
Jon Bard and
Laura Backes,
- a picture book manuscript critique from the renowned
Alayne Christian (prose only, 800 words or less),
- an e-pub or PDF copy (winner's choice) of
Linda Ashman's
Nuts And Bolts Guide To Writing Picture Books.
- a PDF copy of Ryan Sias's
A Spooky-Doodle E-Book,
"doodle pages, drawing lessons and writing prompts inspire kids to invent their own stories, characters and artwork." Plus whatever else I dream up in the meantime :)
I hope those fantabulous prizes fill you with enthusiasm for the contest!
So sharpen your pencils!
Get your butt in that chair!
See what amazing, knock-your-socks-off story you can dream up!
It's a chance to hone your writing skills, practice your craft, write to specifications and a deadline, win amazing prizes, AND get to read and enjoy the wonderful stories written by all your fellows :)
Many thanks to Julie, Jon and Laura, Alayne, Linda, and Ryan for their very generous prize offerings!
I literally cannot wait to read your stories!!! :)
Now, for real, have a Marvelous Monday everyone! :)
By: Molly,
on 9/12/2014
Blog:
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Looking for a fantasy read that’s great for the classroom this fall? One stellar recommendation is The Copernicus Legacy: The Forbidden Stone by bestselling author Tony Abbott – now in paperback!
A perfect pick for kids who love Percy Jackson, Kingdom Keepers, or Seven Wonders series, The Copernicus Legacy is a Da Vinci Code-style story for young readers. The book follows four kids who stumble upon a powerful ancient secret of the famous astronomer, Nicolaus Copernicus. Protected by notables throughout history, it now falls to our young heroes to become guardians of Copernicus’s secret, racing across the globe, cracking codes, and unraveling centuries-old mysteries in order to prevent it from falling into the hands of a vast and evil shadow network called the New Teutonic Order.
It’s the worldwide adventure and historical scope that makes the series both page turning and educational, earning it many great reviews including a starred review from Kirkus: “With engaging characters, a globe-trotting plot and dangerous villains, it is hard to find something not to like. Equal parts edge-of-your-seat suspense and heartfelt coming-of-age.”
There’s even a downloadable Common Core-aligned activities guide and star map poster so you can bring the adventure into the classroom.
Veteran children’s book author Tony Abbott is no stranger to epic adventure series having written over a hundred books including The Secrets of Droon. The Copernicus Legacy will include six full-length novels and six shorter novellas, each told from the perspective of one of the kids. The first novella, The Copernicus Archives #1: Wade and the Scorpion’s Claw, is available now and the next full-length novel, The Copernicus Legacy #2: The Serpent’s Curse, will be out on October 7.
To celebrate the launch of the next books in this exciting series, on Saturday, September 13th, Tony Abbott will be leading a scavenger hunt at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, where four lucky winners of a national sweepstakes will work together to find hidden clues amongst the exhibits, crack codes, and earn prizes. You and all readers across the country will have another chance to win a trip to New York for the second Relic Hunt starting October 7 at www.thecopernicuslegacy.com!
After the Relic Hunt, Tony Abbott will be signing copies of The Forbidden Stone at 2:30pm at the Barnes & Noble on 82nd and Broadway in Manhattan. The Barnes & Noble event is open to the public, and we invite you to join us there for a pizza party! It’s no mystery—the whole family will be in for good food and fun!
Something rather nice happened a few weeks ago. I hacking away at the coal face, trying to complete the edits for the third book in my Wild Thing series, when the publisher of my previous book, Wolfie, called to tell me that it had just won a prize – a Fantastic Book Award.
Writing is a funny kind of profession. It’s lonely, insecure, there’s no pension, and you never know if the next book will be taken on – but, being so unpredictable, it does produce its golden moments.
It was a real treat, winning the award. I got a certificate, a fountain pen, letters from the child judges. Best of all, I was invited to the presentation ceremony to meet some of the participating children. I heard what they thought about Wolfie, read their reviews, was stunned by their wonderful Wolfie board games and illustrations, signed their books and led a workshop brainstorming magic animal stories. (I’m tempted to steal some of their brilliant ideas!)
 |
| Celebrating the award! |
I also got to meet the lovely folks at
Lancashire School Library Services (Lancs SLS) who actually run the award.
So, at this point, you’re probably wondering what this all has to do with the title – Emma supports School Library Services because they gave her a nice day out?
No, no, and no. Encouraging authors, nice though it is, is only a side effect of what School Library Services (SLSs) do. First of all, the point of regional book awards, like the
Fantastic Book Award (FBA), is not really about the prize. It’s about the process. And that means the children reading, discussing –
enjoying – the books.
It’s all about bringing books and children together. And that is what every School Libraries Service aims to do.
 |
| My winning book! |
To which some might say – why can’t schools do this without a School Library Service? Just consider the following facts:
- most primary schools don’t have a librarian
- most primary schools have limited space for a library, and limited stock
- most primary school teachers are not experts in children’s literature, and so primary schools rarely have someone who can choose stock and advise children on which book to read.
I know these things because I regularly visit primary schools, and have encountered many “libraries” that consist of little more than a handful of Roald Dahls and Dick King Smiths. I do meet teachers and teaching assistant who are passionate about children’s books and reading – but it is through their own personal interest. Wide knowledge of children’s books does not seem to be considered a key part of the job or its training. (I don’t blame hard-pressed teachers – I do blame an education system which has given so little priority to encouraging children’s reading.)
It’s the children that suffer. Here are some of the things that I have witnessed first hand, the result of primary schools without librarians:
- a Year 3 child struggling and failing to read an ancient copy of Thackeray’s The Rose and The Ring from the school library. Nobody was aware that this was not in fact a young child’s read. - a boy giving up on a non-fiction book in disgust because its classifications of dinosaurs was decades out of date. - a school library that was revamped by parent volunteers, but where there was no library time, and no chance for children to borrow books, because there was no staff member to oversee this. - a school which was over 60% non-white, but where none of the books on the shelves had characters of the same ethnicity/religion as these pupils. Here, by contrast, are some of the things I’ve seen with a designated school librarian:
- children’s reading being guided in a good way – e.g. if you like this, then perhaps you’ll like that: if you like The Rainbow Fairies, maybe you’ll like these books by Emily Rodda (also about fairies but more challenging). - children able to say “I’m interested in Monet/dinosaurs/space/Greek Myths” and immediately being given something age appropriate that reflects their interest. - regular library times, for quiet reading, but also finding out what library does and how to use it. - a wide range of stock which does not rely completely on just a few well established authors, and which reflects all ages, abilities and interests. It’s hard for individual schools to tackle these issues alone.
The Society of Authors has been campaigning for every school to have a librarian, a campaign I HUGELY support, but the truth is it’s not going to happen any time soon.
Meanwhile School Library Services (SLSs) provide back up. They are the infrastructure on which individual schools can rely.
What does that mean in practice? Well, the first thing I saw when I visited my local SLS in Leeds was a huge warehouse full of books. There were shelves and shelves in all kinds of categories – and all of these books are available to, and regularly sent out by the box load, to the schools that subscribe to the service.
(A bad back must be an occupational hazard in a SLS!)
A school could phone up and say, “we’re doing a project on transport for Year 4” or “we’re struggling to find books for reluctant readers” or “we need books with Muslim characters” and the SLS would help. SLS staff know the stock. They can advise schools on how to access it, how to create a better school library, and how to create a reading culture in schools. They also organize author visits – so that children can meet authors face to face, and teachers can hear about new books too.
They also organize regional book prizes – like the
Fantastic Book Award (FBA). For the schools and children involved, the FBA meant a chance to:
- meet in a weekly group to read and chat about the shortlisted books (chosen to reflect a range of abilities and interests)
- read purely for pleasure and to do other fun things, like post reviews online
- spread the word about the books in school
- let teachers know which new books are out there, and which their pupils enjoy
- engage in activities like drawing the characters in the books, designing board games and eating chocolate muffins at lunch time! All these things help make reading “cool”.
- correspond with authors and meet them in person.
After the event, I was sent feedback from the children. Here’s a couple of quotes:
This morning was brilliant. Especially when we made the story with Emma Barnes, it was fantastic!
I think today was probably the best day in my life because I saw a real life author!Unfortunately, School Library Services are closing. Schools have to subscribe to their services – if they don’t subscribe, the service closes. Many parents don’t know what an SLS is or does, so won't protest – which must make them a soft target for cuts. In my own area, Bradford SLS closed in 2012, and
North Yorkshire SLS is to close next year. Who will step into the gap? Public libraries? They may try (I recently did a wonderful schools’ event organized by Oldham Libraries) but public libraries are also subject to deep cuts.
At a time when the value of reading for pleasure is being recognized and acknowledged –
the research evidence for its benefits keeps mounting – it's bitterly ironic that the services needed to support it are being reduced. I just hope that the politicians and public see what's happening before it's too late.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Emma's new series for 8+
Wild Thing about the naughtiest little sister ever (and her bottom-biting ways) is out now from Scholastic. The second in the series,
Wild Thing Gets A Dog is out in July.
"Hilarious and heart-warming" The Scotsman
Wolfie is published by Strident.
Sometimes a Girl’s Best Friend is…a Wolf. "A real cracker of a book"
Armadillo "Funny, clever and satisfying...thoroughly recommended"
Books for KeepsEmma's
WebsiteEmma’s
Facebook FanpageEmma on Twitter - @EmmaBarnesWrite
WOO-HOO!!!
Can you believe it?
In spite of the fact that Perfect Picture Books goes on vacation every summer, we are now celebrating the 100th week of Perfect Picture Book Fridays! (Just in time to go on summer vacation again :))
100 weeks of fabulous picture books with resources of all kinds to make them easy for parents and teachers to use at home and in the classroom!
100 weeks of highly recommended books listed alphabetically and by theme to make it easy for gift-givers to find the perfect picture book for that special little someone!
100 weeks of perfect examples that we, as writers, can study and learn from!
To date, we have picture books listed in 226 themes/categories.
And we have - get this! - 2055 Perfect Picture Books on our list!!!
(Or, we would if I ever got caught up updating! Which is on my to-do list for this summer along with about a million other things :))
For those of you who haven't noticed yet (because I haven't announced it because I'm not finished with it :)), Perfect Picture Books is now on Pinterest. I'm hoping it will make it easier to search. But it's a work in progress and far from complete! If you want to check it out, here's the link: http://www.pinterest.com/susannaleonard/
So really, after all the hard work you guys have put in, all the wonderful picture books and resources that are now available to teachers, parents, writers, and gift-givers everywhere, I think we should celebrate!!!
First, we need cake (obviously!) :)
Next, we need streamers. . .
. . . confetti. . .
. . . and balloons!
And last but not least, we need prizes for all the amazing bloggers who have contributed so devotedly week after week to this effort! So let's do today's Perfect Picture Book, and hopefully by then I will have thought up a plan. I'll meet you down below after you're done reading about this delightful book!
Title: I Am Cow, Hear Me Moo!
Written By: Jill Esbaum
Illustrated By: Gus Gordon
Dial (Penguin Group), May 2014, Fiction
Suitable For Ages: 3-7
Themes/Topics: honesty, courage, animals
Opening: "
Nadine was a truly remarkable cow.There was nothing
she feared - so she claimed, anyhow."Not lightning?" asked Starla. "Loud noises? A rat?""I'm not scared," Nadine boasted, "of any of that.""The woods?" asked Annette. "'Cause that place scares me stiff.""Not me," bragged Nadine with a proud little sniff."As a matter of fact, just to prove it, let's go!"(She was certain her meek-hearted friends would say no.)
Brief Synopsis: Nadine boasts that she isn't afraid of anything! When her friends call her bluff, she learns that sometimes acting brave can make you feel brave... and sometimes it can't! And when she's hailed as a hero for saving her friends, she has the choice to 'fess up and admit she was just as scared as they were or let her friends believe what they want. Which do you think Nadine chooses? :)
Links To Resources: this book will give parents and teachers a great opportunity to have discussions about what courage is, and what makes a person brave. Is it not being afraid? Or is it going forward in spite of your fear? It will also give an opportunity to talk about honesty. Is is okay to lie if it ends up being the truth? Is it okay to let people believe something good about you even if it's not exactly deserved? Talk with kids about things they're afraid of. What do they think could make them feel braver? Ask kids if they've ever lied about something and gotten caught? How did they feel?
Classroom Activities: Honesty,
Classroom Activities: Courage.
Why I Like This Book: Nadine is so full of herself, so spunky and fun, and so believable because haven't we all met kids (or adults :)) who can bluster their way through just about anything?! Kids will relate to this confident bovine who pretends not to be scared of the Deep. Dark. Woods. only to discover that she really isn't afraid... until the sun goes down! Things unravel a bit (I don't want to spoil it :)) but she ends up saving her friends (completely by accident) and is hailed as a brave hero... an illusion she chooses not to discourage :) The art is lively and entertaining, and the story is fun and full of humor!
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit
Perfect Picture Books.
So. About those prizes! Since we're celebrating Perfect Picture Books, I'd like to give away a few :) I wish I could give everyone a prize, but I have yet to become one of those authors who makes millions of dollars :) Instead, I've chosen a few books that have been widely well-received that I hope you guys might want to win:
Journey by Aaron Becker (Candlewick)
Mr. Wuffles by David Weisner (Clarion)
Warning: Do Not Open This Book! by Adam Lehrhaupt, illus. by Matthew Forsythe (Simon & Schuster)
The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli (Disney/Hyperion)
On A Beam Of Light: A Story Of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne, illus. by Vladimir Radunsky (Chronicle)
Mitchell Goes Bowling by Hallie Durand, illus. by Tony Fucile (Candlewick)
The Dark by Lemony Snicket, illus. by Jon Klassen (Little, Brown)
This Is The Rope: A Story Of The Great Migration by Jacqueline Woodson, illus. by James Ransome (Nancy Paulsen Books)
Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio, illus. by Christian Robinson (Atheneum)
+1 - If you'd like to win one of these fabulous books, please leave a comment below.
+1 - If you follow the Perfect Picture Books Pinterest Board, you'll get an additional chance to win (if you already follow, please remind me, if you don't already follow, there's no time like the present :))
http://www.pinterest.com/susannaleonard/+5 - If you've posted 50 or more Perfect Picture Books on your blog over the course of the past 100 weeks, tell me that and I'll give you 5 additional chances to win! (Scout's Honor - I don't have time to count! - but I think I know who qualifies :))
(And if there's a book your particularly hope to win or one that you already own, feel free to let me know.)
Please leave your comments/follow the Pinterest Board/let me know if you've posted 50 or more PPBs etc. by Sunday June 15 at 5 PM EDT. Names will be entered the appropriate number of times into random.org and 9 winners will be randomly chosen and matched with the books.
My deepest thanks to all the bloggers who have supported this effort so whole-heartedly, and to all the readers who come by to share our love of picture books every week! Perfect Picture Books would not exist without you!
And maybe we'll have another celebration/giveaway in September when we start up again because I'd really like to spread the word about PPBF but now is a dumb time since we're about to go on Summer Vacation! :)
PPBF bloggers please be sure to leave your post-specific link in the list below so we can all come visit you one last time before summer!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone, and I look forward to hearing from you all in the comments!!! :)
Good Morning, Everyone! Happy Monday!
As you can see, I survived my In-Real-Life teaching experience this weekend! I would tell you about it, but I'm suffering selective amnesia and besides, we've already got something else on the agenda for today, so it will have to wait :)
Today it is my pleasure to host Clara Bowman-Jahn and Susan Elwood on the final stop of their blog tour for Edmund Pickle Chin - A Donkey Rescue Story, their wonderful new picture book!
The previous stops on the tour (listed below for your convenience) covered animal mistreatment, collaboration, a book review, an author interview, and an interview with Edmund himself :) Make sure you visit them and follow the instructions because there are PRIZES involved! :)
Today, we will hear about how teachers can use Edmund in the classroom.
Please help me welcome Susan Elwood!
Hi Susanna, it’s a pleasure to be your guest!
Edmund Pickle, A Donkey Rescue Story, may be a children’s picture book, but it is packed with opportunity for teachers to use in the classroom in various subjects and themes. I can see the opportunities spilling over into not only in the kindergarten and first grade classroom but the second and third as well. For the younger grades it has the days of the week built right in, along with an adventure Edmund has for each day. The days of the week also allow for the children to see that Susan, Edmund’s care giver in the story did not get results in a day, that it took a period of time (and patience).
There’s the cause and effect lesson. Each and every one of us are responsible for our actions toward others and the results it may bring, and that includes our actions toward creatures. For those children who don’t have the opportunity to have pets, it teaches that all creatures respond to the way they are treated, be it positively or negatively. Compassion toward others goes a long way.
Bullying is a serious topic in schools now a days and this book talks about a donkey trying to overcome this obstacle and how with patience from his care giver he is able to blossom and give back. It shows team work and patience.
Ah patience! It seems with all the immediate results children can get now days with numerous technology devices, instant gratification is accepted. Sometimes that doesn’t come quickly when we are dealing with real life. Susan the care giver dedicates the time needed to bring on the results she hopes for Edmund.
As far as my hopes on what the book will do for rescue animals, first and for most I hope it teaches the older children that places like Evermay Farm exists. That there is an option to abuse and neglect. I hope the book will impress upon them that animals have feelings and needs. My hope is that the younger generations grow up showing compassion and not looking the other way, when they could step in and make a difference.
The book was written in hopes on drawing attention to a small rescue/sanctuary called Evermay Farm, which I founded about a year ago. The book was written to bring attention to the nonprofit and help with donations, but also, for me at least, to teach children compassion and patience.
In the end....I hope they enjoy it as a story with a happy ending, because every child deserves
one!
So happy to have had this chance to chat!
Susan April Elwood co-author Edmund Pickle Chin,A Donkey Rescue Story
Thank you so much, Susan! I'm sure teachers will find that very helpful and informative!
And now, the moment you've all been waiting for. . .
Prizes - From Clara And Susan!
Thanks so much for reading Friends! For all friends of Edmund are my friends. Below please find our links and the tour. Read every post, follow the blog and comment for prizes. The reader who follows each blog and comments on each stop of the tour will get first prize. And if there are many winners, hurray! We will deliver!
First prize is a print book of both Annie’s Special Day and Edmund Pickle Chin. Second prize is either a print copy of Edmund or of Annie, you get to pick. Third prize is a copy of the ebook of Edmund Pickle Chin, a Donkey Rescue Story.
For Susan April Elwood:
For Clara Bowman-Jahn
BLOG TOUR DATES
June 9: Teacher info and guide — right here :)
About the Authors:
 |
| Clara Bowman-Jahn |
Clara Bowman-Jahn worked as a registered nurse for thirty two years finally trading that job for her true love, writing. Clara’s short stories have been published in three anthologies, Campaigner Challenges 2011, The ‘I’ Word and Charms Vol. 2. She is also the author of Annie’s Special Day a children’s picture book. Her second Picture book, a true story, called Edmund Pickle Chin, a Donkey Rescue Story, is co-authored with Susan April Elwood.
When Clara is not writing, she teaches ESOL to adult students through a library program. She also likes taking long walks with her husband, blogging, and reading books. She is a member of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Julie Hedlunds Picture Book Challenge 12x12, Susanna Leonard Hill’s Making Picture Book Magic; Pennwriters, Bethesda Writer’s Center and Round Hill Writer’s Group. She lives in rural Loudoun County, Virginia with her brilliant husband, and two fat cats. She is the proud mother of two wonderful grown sons and a grandmother to a delightful grandson.  |
| Susan April Elwood |
Susan April Elwood has worked with children for over twenty years in Northern Virginia as a preschool teacher, kindergarten assistant, and a library assistant. With her passion for animals it made perfect sense to combine the two and write an animal story for children, teaming up with author Clara Bowman-Jahn.
Susan and her husband Tom moved from Northern Virginia in 2007 to central Georgia where they founded Evermay Farm, a non-profit rescue for farm animals. This is the setting for the book titled, Edmund Pickle Chin, A Donkey Rescue Story. The story is based on Edmund a donkey, the first of many animals to call Evermay Farm home. Susan and her husband Tom have two treasured sons, a wonderful daughter-in-law and a precious grandson. In her free time, Susan enjoys photographing animals and antiquing.
www.evermayfarm.orgThank you all so much for joining us today!
Have a marvelous Monday, everyone! :)
Ack! I had a whole post to do about 48 Hour Book Challenge prizes, but it's been one of those mornings. And by that I mean specifically one of those mornings where I sort of forgot that I have to get to work today for a meeting at 1:00 p.m. So, I'm going to do this in pieces and it won't be thorough and I'll remind everyone that 48 Hour Book Challenge isn't about the prizes, but an opportunity to share an experience as a community from the comfort of our own homes doing what we love to do, i.e. read, while also advocating, promoting, and otherwise celebrating diversity in children's and young adult literature in this year's connection to #WeNeedDiverseBooks.
Meanwhile, I'll be going back to my email later this afternoon to pull together the prizes that I know are there but don't have time to write about this very instant. But hey, how about the timing on this lovely package from Abrams Books today?
It's now a prize! See how easy it is to become a prize in the 48HBC? Have something you'd like to contribute? Drop me a line at MotherReader AT gmail DOT com.
Oh, and sign up to participate in the
48 Hour Book Challenge!
Links to material on Amazon.com contained within this post may be affiliate links for the Amazon Associates program, for which this site may receive a referral fee.
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