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I rarely post about my writing projects under contract because I thought it would either sound like bragging, or it would bore you to death, or both. But I really like reading other writers' and illustrators' posts about their projects and processes, so in 2008, I plan to post periodically about the specific writing I'm doing.

A few weeks ago, I was thinking that I needed to round up some assignments for after the holidays, as I had no projects under contract (and, therefore, no projected income!). The night before I was going to email a publisher I work with regularly, I got an email from that very publisher offering me an interesting project. I jumped on it, because it sounds neat.

I'm going to write a set of four science song books. These are for young kids, around 2nd or 3rd grade. The publisher will give me the four science concepts, and I will create lyrics to go to some copyright-free (I assume) tunes. They are rhyming verses, but they aren't poetry. The books are described as "sing-along lessons."

The publisher sent a batch of sample books they've done on history topics (these will be their first science ones). They thought of me because of the poetry books I did this past year for Capstone Press. Anyway, the samples are fun. Some work better than others, and I'm going to study my favorite one or two...the ones that flow smoothly and are clever to boot.

Here's a sample (not the beginning, though) from Bring Us Water, Molly Pitcher!, to the tune of "She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain." The book is about the Battle of Monmouth during the War of Independence. The text is by Michael Dahl.

Oh! The cannons crack
like thunder in the sun.
Oh! The cannons cook
like ovens in the sun.

Oh! The sun is hot as blazes.
A faint soldier up she raises.
Molly Pitcher lifts
that soldier in the sun.

"Molly Pitcher!
Your poor husband
has gone down!
Molly Pitcher!
Your poor husband
has gone down!

For a hidden British soldier
shot your William in the shoulder.
Molly Pitcher! Now he's lying
on the ground!"

Short sidebars on some spreads give an extra sentence of explanation or detail, and an introduction and a Did You Know section at the front and back give more background.

This will be like a puzzle. Fitting in enough content information to be a lesson, but matching lyrics to some folk song that kids will already know. What a cool learning device. I actually can't wait to get started on this.

Now, I'm off to research copyright-free music. The sample books used "She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain," "Row, Row, Row the Boats," "Yankee Doodle," "This Old Man," "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean," and "Over Hill, Over Dale." 

Hope you all had a great New Year's celebration! The kids are back to school today, and I'm looking forward to the quiet house.

 Friday after I took my sister to the airport, I started sorting through all the library books I'd checked out for my Saturday Loft workshop on Writing Children's Nonfiction Books for the Educational Market. I put together series, chose books to show various topics covered for different age ranges, marked passages I'd read aloud to prepare for a writing exercise, made sure I had all my overhead transparencies, etc.

The high Saturday was 7 degrees, but road conditions were good. Only a few of the registered 23 students didn't show up.

It was a great class with smart, well-qualified writers. The class was full of lots of teachers, journalists, PR people, etc. They asked lots of questions and seemed very happy with the workshop, and many stopped me on their way in or out of class, in the bathroom, after lunch, etc., to say how much they were learning. 

I love that feeling. When you teach kids, it's rewarding, but the kids themselves rarely tell you, "Thank you for putting together all this information for  us." (Ha--I only remember one suckup student, Allen, actually saying that. Others showed it by coming to class early, spending time in my room before school, asking for extra credit projects even if they already had an A, etc.) But teaching adults, especially on a topic that's not covered much, like writing for the education market, really gives you a lot of kind and excited feedback. Only two women in the back looked bored and/or hung over and spent much of the day whispering behind paper. What can I say? There's at least one in every class. But they weren't disruptive, so I ignored them.

Anyway.

Here are a few pictures from the workshop.



Students listen to my special lunchtime guest speaker.



Nick Healy, Editorial Director of Picture Window Books and Compass Point Books, volunteered to come explain those companies' editorial process to my workshop. He drove up from Mankato, 1-1/2 hours south of Minneapolis, which was great of him. He was a huge hit!



Students choose their door prize books at the end of the day.

I've invited students to email me any questions they have in the coming week, and if I receive any, I'll post and answer them here on the blog.

I always breathe a sigh of relief once an all-day workshop goes well. I imagine all sorts of disasters that could happen. I know lots of you teach writing to adults and/or do school visits. Any memorable moments (good or bad) you can share with me?