Tuesday, February 28, 2006
A Twenty-hug Day
Can you find me in this picture?
Today I visited Langley Elementary School in Hampton and I had a great time meeting Kari Stohler's fifth graders. They all read Lottie's Courage and had many questions for me.
Best if all, I got lots of hugs.
I had wonderful attention and great response from the students. Thank you, Readers. I'm so glad you liked Lottie's Courage.
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Beacon of Freedom Award
The Beacon of Freedom Award is a reader-chosen award. A committee from Colonial Williamsburg and the Williamsburg Regional Library select six books on American history from the period 1607 to 1865. Kids in local schools read the books and choose their favorite. The program is supported by a generous contribution from the Disabled American Veterans.
A bagpiper begins this year's ceremony.
A bagpiper begins this year's ceremony.
As last year's receipient of the Beacon of Freedom Award for Lottie's Courage, I was asked to say a few words at this year's award ceremony.
It was great seeing old friends and making new friends.
Congratulations to Doreen Rappaport and Joan Verniero and Illustrator Greg Call for this year's winner, Victory or Death! Stories from the American Revolution.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Young Readers are Special
In today's Newport News Daily Press, Beth Kephart, a columnist for The Chicago Tribune wrote about the trend of adult writers writing for kids:
"While some might claim that the wild success of the Harry Potter series has raised the stakes of -- and the interest in -- writing for the younger reader, I like to suggest that something else might also be at work, something about the very hospitability of the young readers' mind. For aren't young reader's typically blessed with capacious hearts and souls? Don't they tend to welcome the slightly askew into their midst? Don't they walk straight into topsey-turvy worlds, hail the wraith, admire the ghost, listen with care to the talking tree? Young readers, by and large, care more for stories than for labels. They censor less. They want the writer to get it right, or so it seems to me.
Writers work with the imagination; they see a warm reception for their dreams."
Beth Kephart wrote what I have long known: young readers are special.
"While some might claim that the wild success of the Harry Potter series has raised the stakes of -- and the interest in -- writing for the younger reader, I like to suggest that something else might also be at work, something about the very hospitability of the young readers' mind. For aren't young reader's typically blessed with capacious hearts and souls? Don't they tend to welcome the slightly askew into their midst? Don't they walk straight into topsey-turvy worlds, hail the wraith, admire the ghost, listen with care to the talking tree? Young readers, by and large, care more for stories than for labels. They censor less. They want the writer to get it right, or so it seems to me.
Writers work with the imagination; they see a warm reception for their dreams."
Beth Kephart wrote what I have long known: young readers are special.
Monday, February 20, 2006
On-line Resources for Kids' Writings
If you are doing lots of writing and want to get it published, look into Internet publishing. These are just a few of the many resources on line that are especially for kids.
http://www.kidsonlinemagazine.com/
http://www.liswa.wa.gov.au/funhouse/kidswrit.htm
http://kidsown.ie/index.php
http://www.kidpub.org/kidpub/
http://www.kidsonlinemagazine.com/
http://www.liswa.wa.gov.au/funhouse/kidswrit.htm
http://kidsown.ie/index.php
http://www.kidpub.org/kidpub/
Monday, February 13, 2006
Teen Writing Mentors
Check this out if you would like to have a writer as a mentor.
FundsforWriters has teamed with Absynthe Muse to provide mentoring for young writers trying to figure this stuff out. Available for ages 13-22. Visit www.mentoring.absynthemuse.com to join up.
FundsforWriters has teamed with Absynthe Muse to provide mentoring for young writers trying to figure this stuff out. Available for ages 13-22. Visit www.mentoring.absynthemuse.com to join up.
Monday, February 06, 2006
Nude Tree Walk
Saturday I went on a Nude Tree Walk. The trees are nude at this time of year, not the walkers. A biology professor at the College of William and Mary, Stewart Ware, taught about 35 tree enthusiasts how to indentify trees in winter. We learned how by looking at things like terminal buds, bundle scars, and bud scale scars we can identify different kinds of trees.
One of my life goals is to learn more about trees. Since I grew up in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State, one might think that I would be an expert on trees. Not so, and I'm not quite sure why.
I keep an eye out for classes on trees, but they are few and far between. As a result, I was delighted to spend two hours on Saturday learning about trees.
One of my life goals is to learn more about trees. Since I grew up in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State, one might think that I would be an expert on trees. Not so, and I'm not quite sure why.
I keep an eye out for classes on trees, but they are few and far between. As a result, I was delighted to spend two hours on Saturday learning about trees.
