Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Visiting Pocahontas Middle School
What could be better than spending the day, as I did today, with over 600 fifth and sixth graders in Powhatan, Virginia? Media Specialist Regina Hart arranged my day-long visit. I talked about becoming an author, historical fiction, my books, and the importance of research. I had a great day. Thanks for inviting me!
Students were attentive.
What great-looking kids!
Students were polite.
I got good questions.
It is always fun to meet readers.
WHAT A SPECIAL DAY!
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Spring has Arrrived!
I should have picked a new bouquet of daffodils yesterday.Two days after the arrival of spring, Williamsburg got more snow last night than we've had all winter. One of my favorite lines from a poem by A. E. Houseman goes like this:
Since to look at things in bloom,
fifty springs leaves little room,
about the woodland I will go
to see the cherry hung with snow.
What he is writing about, of course, is the beauty of snow-covered trees in winter. He is not writing about my crabapple tree pictured here in bloom and covered with snow.
Surely, there is a poem in this picture.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
A Garden in your Pocket
A Chinese Proverb says: “A book is like a garden carried in the pocket.”
What a lovely thought!
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Write Your Own
I gave a talk yesterday at the Virginia Educational Media Association Regional Meeting in Weyer's Cave, Virginia. While there, I had the opportunity to look over lots of new books for kids. I was intrigued by a series from Compass Point Books called Write Your Own.
These books by Tish Farrell are "how to" books for young writers. There are six titles on how to write a fantasy story, historical fiction story, mystery story, adventure story, realistic fiction story, and science fiction story.
Writers, ask your school or public librarians about these books. They looked great!
These books by Tish Farrell are "how to" books for young writers. There are six titles on how to write a fantasy story, historical fiction story, mystery story, adventure story, realistic fiction story, and science fiction story.
Writers, ask your school or public librarians about these books. They looked great!
