Just finished a great read. The Secret Life of Sparrow Delaney by Suzanne Harper is everything Publisher’s Weekly and Kliatt says it is. (Starred Reviews) Sparrow is a medium who meets a boy that’s rather unusal. He’s a “persistent, charming, infuriating ghost, who won’t let her be until she agrees to help him Move On.”
I couldn’t stop reading it. What fun!
So what have YOU been reading lately?
Happy Earth Day! Pick up a piece of writing by or about John Muir, founder of The Sierra Club and protector of our National Park System. I loved his biography by Ginger Wadsworth, John Muir: Wilderness Protector, and Muir’s very own words in The Wild Muir: Twenty-two of John Muir’s Greatest Adventures by the naturalist himself. Then there is always my own picture book about what Muir calls his most exciting experience. John Muir and Stickeen: And Alaskan Adventure is available in many libraries.
Writing exercises: 1. Go outside in nature. Sit beside a tree, walk in a park or in a forest, or skip rocks in a pond. Write a poem about something you see, feel, hear and appreciate. Use your senses. Remember that a poem isn’t just prose in poetry form. Get rid of unnecessary words and keep only the most important ones! 2. Who or what inspires you to treat your environment with respect? Why? How? 3. Write an anecdote about when you’ve seen someone DISrespect the environment. What happened?
(We miss you Trina!) If you aren’t familiar with this fabulous children’s book author/illustrator, make sure you check out her wonderful books. Start with her Red Riding Hood.
Writing Exercise: Has there ever been an experience in your life that had a fairy-tale quality to it? Ever create a fairy tale fantasy with you as a star? Here’s your chance! Write about one of the above for your prompt today.
I’m compiling a list of books for teachers that take place at the turn of the century. If you have a book that fits this category and it’s a PAL book (see the SCBWI website for guidelines . . . Scbwi.org ), let me know. Or, if you’d just like to suggest a fabulous one you’ve read, that’s fine too.
And for non-writers who are book lovers, just sent me a great historical fiction title for kids, set around the time of 1900. Thanks! Liz
Happy Birthday Eleanor Cameron! (1912-1996) A native of Canada, she spent most of her life in California. This children’s author is best known for The Mushroom Planet novels. Since 1992, GoldenDuck.org has presented the Eleanor Cameron Award for Excellence in Children’s Science Fiction.
Checking out their awards, I find Whales on Stilts by M.T. Anderson won in 2005. If you haven’t read it, it’s a hoot! If you are an adult, don’t be intimidated by a young adult book. It’s hysterical, and really, you can handle it . . .
Writing Exercise 1: Ever have a science fiction-type experience in your own life? See a strange being/light or have a bizarre happening? Write a paragraph or two explaining that event.
2. After reading some good science fiction to inspire you, try your own story or poem in this genre.
http://www.writersconferenceguidelines.com/
The above link is a great website for those of you interested in attending any writer conferences. Sometimes there is so much great free stuff on the web it is amazing, isn’t it?
Just like our public libraries. Don’t forget to visit them, too. Do you have your public library bookmarked on your computer? Do you know about the wonderful system of requesting books? Super cool. They also have a service where they recommend books to you. It’s like shopping! Frequently, I use Amazon for research, and then request those book from the library website. Just like Christmas, they appear at the library and I’m notified when to pick them up. Best part – – it’s free! http://ccclib.org/ This is the link to the Contra Costa Library system, where I live in the East Bay of California. What is the link to your library system? Google it and find out. Next, have fun requesting your favorite books. Find out your friends favorite books. I keep a wish list on my Amazon site so when I get “low” I know where to go for more great books!
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