tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58712749451669584722024-03-06T00:08:48.043-08:00AGY WILSON'S ARTAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509994260614947388noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871274945166958472.post-38863585695707817682013-08-17T11:36:00.001-07:002013-08-17T11:36:34.828-07:00This was the idea, and it was very quick. I may revisit it again, but it's a bit different. Remember if you want to print it out, save to your computer, then print from there! Have a wonderful weekend! A few quick things, and then I hope to get Nana's Gift done today and up at CreateSpace, second edition!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509994260614947388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871274945166958472.post-33282349582842203122013-08-17T11:30:00.001-07:002013-08-17T11:30:29.105-07:00Friday reviews a day late!Last weeks' computer crash has left me a little behind (and scrambling, I've lost all my documents I think). Reworking Nana's Gift in light of the positive reviews and seeing it in the Easy Reader sized format (nope doesn't cut it) and a week of 14 year old GISHWES festivities, so I will reserve the right to post book reviews ON or ABOUT. In a few weeks, with the advent of school, I hope to be able to PRE-write somethings and post on time. Just not at this time, so apologies... I'll make it up by reviewing some wonderful books, okay? This week I had a personal connection with all the books, so I don't even make the pretense of being partial.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/What-Floats-Moat-Lynne-Berry/dp/1416997636/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376760327&sr=8-1&keywords=What+floats+in+a+moat" target="_blank">What Floats in a Moat?</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="http://www.kidsreads.com%20%E2%80%BA%20authors%E2%80%8E/" target="_blank">Lynne Berry</a></i></b></span><br />
illustrated by <span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><a href="http://www.matthewcordell.com/" target="_blank">Matthew Cordell</a></b></i></span><br />
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2013<br />
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Archimedes (Archie for short) the goat has an important date at the castle and has to figure out how to ford the moat. Skinny the Hen makes for a perfect sidekick for Archie's solution testing theories. Funny, funny, I loved the whimsy of the drawings, and the dash of science the book provides. I also like the problem/solution aspect of the book, and think most kids would delight at not only the silly but the serious of this book (cleverly disguised as silly).<br />
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Other books by <b><i>Lynne Berry</i></b>: <b>Duck Tents</b> (illustrated by <b><i>Hiroe Nakata</i></b>); <b><span style="color: #073763;">The Curious Demise of a Contrary Cat </span></b>(illustrated by <i><b><span style="color: #073763;">Luke LaMarca</span></b></i>); <b>Duck Dunks </b>(illustrated by <b><i>Hiroe Nakata</i></b>); <b><span style="color: #073763;">Ducking for Apples </span></b>(illustrated by <b><i><span style="color: #073763;">Hiroe Nakata)</span></i></b><br />
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Other books by <b><i><a href="http://matthewcordell.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Matthew Cordell</a>: </i>Justin Case: Shells, Smells and the Horrible Flip-Flops of Doom (</b>written by <b><i>Rachel Vail</i></b>); <i><b><span style="color: #073763;">Bug Juice on a Burger</span></b> </i>(written by <b><i><span style="color: #073763;">Julie Sternberg</span></i></b>); <b>Justin Case: School, Drool and other Daily Disasters</b> (written by <b><i>Rachel Vail)</i></b>; <b><span style="color: #073763;">Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie</span></b> (written by <b><i><span style="color: #073763;">Julie Sternberger</span></i></b>); <b>Ollie and Claire</b> (written by <b><i>Tiffany Trelitz Haber</i></b>); <b><span style="color: #073763;">Forgive me, I Meant to Do It: False Apology Poems </span></b>(written by <b><i><span style="color: #073763;">Gail Carson Levine</span></i></b>); <b>hello! hello!</b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Patch-David-Slonim/dp/1596436433/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376761420&sr=8-1&keywords=Patch%2C+David+Slonim" target="_blank">Patch</a></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="http://www.davidslonim.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank">David Slonim</a></i></b></span><br />
Roaring Brook Press, 2013<br />
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A tale of true friendship, I find this joyous and uplifting in a kid-way. It's set up more like a bit of a Chapter book, and I think younger kids would appreciate that (goodness knows me and everyone I knew wanted to be older than we were, though I've spent the last forty years backpedaling...) Patches is the perfect dog who doesn't always do the perfect thing, a valuable lesson in friendship and moving on from dissapointment. The art is loose and happy with fresh colors, the words simple. The ideas profound and complex.<br />
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Other books by <b><i><a href="http://www.davidslonim.com/category/blog/" target="_blank">David Slonim</a></i></b>: <b>How to Teach a Slug to Read</b> (written by <b><i>Susan Pearson</i></b>); <b><span style="color: #073763;">You Think it's Easy Being the Tooth Fairy? </span></b>(written by <b><i><span style="color: #073763;">Sheri Bell-Rehwoldt</span></i></b>); <b>He Came with the Couch</b>; <b><span style="color: #073763;">Silly Tilly </span></b>(written by <b><i><span style="color: #073763;">Eileen Spinelli</span></i></b>); <b>I Loathe You</b>;<b><span style="color: #073763;"> Look Out, Jeremy Bean!</span></b> (written by<b><i><span style="color: #073763;"> Alice Schertle</span></i></b>)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bone-Comparing-Animal-Skeletons/dp/0761384642/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1376762020&sr=8-9&keywords=Bone+by+Bone" target="_blank">Bone by Bone</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="http://sara-levine.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank">Sara Levine</a></i></b></span><br />
illustrated by <span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="http://www.tsspookytooth.com/" target="_blank">T.S. Spookytooth</a></i></b></span><br />
Millbrook Press, 2013<br />
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This book would have delighted the nerdy kid in me and delights me now. Informative is understandable in yet a witty way, it's got visuals that are clear and fun, and loads of information to satisfy! I also liked the way it deepens the thoughts about our differences and similarities to other creatures in the world.<br />
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Other books by <b><i>T.S. Spookytooth:</i></b> <b>Sally's Bones</b> (written by <b><i>Mackenzie Caldenhead)</i></b>; <b><span style="color: #073763;">Mommy There's a Giraffe in My Room </span></b>(written by <b><i>Angela Lane </i></b>and <b><i>Patricia Stevens</i></b>); <b><span style="color: #073763;">The Small Bun: Blue/Band Phonics 4</span></b> (written by <b><i><span style="color: #073763;">Martin Wadell</span></i></b>); <b>Bible Birds and Beasties</b> (written by <b><i>Leena Lane</i></b>)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/I-Believe-Genevieve-Jenny-Craig/dp/1621570851/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376762695&sr=8-1&keywords=I+believe+in+genevieve" target="_blank">Jenny Craig's I Believe in Genevieve</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="http://www.jennycraig.com/site/clicktocall/?&s_kwcid=mmTC-1029084-14079912139-be-2310838642" target="_blank">Jenny Craig</a></i></b></span><br />
illustrated by <b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.wendyedelson.com/" target="_blank">Wendy Edelson</a></span></i></b><br />
Regenery Kids, 2013<br />
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I only review books I like and I was fully prepared to not care for this book. It's an old saw about people who become famous (and this happens in other arts as well) and write for children. But I love Wendy Edelson's art and wanted to at least see the book itself. It was not only engaging and well-written, I loved the positive information at the end. As a kid totally enamored of animals in general and horses in particular, the story interesting and the art just sparkles like jewels. I would have liked this for the art alone, Edelson is the kind of illustrator I just love, but the book itself is a wonderful addition to anyone's library and reinforces positive choices, changes and values.<br />
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Other books by <b><i>Jenny Craig</i></b>: <b>Jenny Craig's No Diet Required</b>; <b><span style="color: #073763;">The Jenny Craig Cookbook: Cutting Through the Fat;</span> Jenny Craig's What Have You Got to Lose: A Personalized Weight Management System</b>; <b><span style="color: #073763;">Simple Pleasures: Recipes to Nourish Body and Soul</span></b><br />
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Other books by <b><i>Wendy Edelson</i></b>: <b>A Baker's Dozen: A Saint Nicholas Tale</b> (written by<b><i> Aaron Shepherd</i></b>); <b><span style="color: #073763;">Hannah and Hickory: From the Land of Barely There</span></b> (written by <b><i><span style="color: #073763;">Stephen Cosgrove</span></i></b>); <b>On This Night (</b>written by <b><i>N. Steiner</i></b>); <b><span style="color: #073763;">Pobble's Way </span></b>(written by <b><i><span style="color: #073763;">Simon van Booy</span></i></b>); <b>Over the River and Through the Woods</b> (written by <b><i>Lydia Maria Child)</i></b>; S<b><span style="color: #073763;">aturn for my Birthday</span></b> (written by<b><i><span style="color: #073763;"> John Mcgranaghan</span></i></b>)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Razias-Ray-Hope-Girl%252019s-CitizenKid/dp/1554538165/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376763579&sr=1-1&keywords=Razia%27s+Ray+of+Hope" target="_blank">Razia's Ray of Hope: One Girl's Dream of an Education</a></b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://www.elizabethsuneby.com/about/" target="_blank">Elizabeth Suneby</a></i></span></b><br />
illustrated by <b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.suanaverelst.com/" target="_blank">Suana Verelst</a></span></i></b><br />
Citizen Kid, Kids Can Press, 2013<br />
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Razia dreams of going to school and learning, though she's surreptitiously been learning to read from her brothers. How to convince her traditional family to allow her to go. A great view into another culture, I like very much that Suneby makes note of the changes that has occurred in Afghanistan as well as showing Razia's dilemma without the judgment that could come with it. The illustrations are STUNNING, and have achieved that rare feeling for me--- I wish I'd done them. I think this an important book on many levels. Understanding different cultures, especially one we've been immersed in for the last twelve years, some of the trials facing others, and some great discussion about the world and the impact of education, each other, values and goals.<br />
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Other books by <b><i>Elizabeth Suneby</i></b>: <b>It's a... It's a... It's a Mitzvah</b> (with <b><i>Diane Heiman</i></b>); <b><span style="color: #073763;">The Mitzvah Project Book: Making Mitzvah Part of Your Bar/Bat Mitzvah Life and Your Life</span></b> (with<b><span style="color: #073763;"><i> Diane Heiman)</i></span></b>; <b>Origami Fortune Tellers</b> (with <b><i>Diane Heiman</i></b>, illustrated by <b><i>Christine Archer</i></b>);<b><span style="color: #073763;"> See What You Could Be: Explore Careers That Could be For You!</span></b><br />
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Other books by <b><i>Suana Verelst</i></b>:<b> Next Week When I am Big</b> (written by <b><i>Jaenet Guggenheim</i></b>)<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509994260614947388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871274945166958472.post-80341211637779845642013-08-14T09:50:00.002-07:002013-08-14T09:50:55.882-07:00It's a logo!My niece <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RamblingThoughts" target="_blank">Holly Ingalls</a> needed a logo for her professional <a href="http://ramblingthoughtsramblingholly.blogspot.com/2013/08/rambling-got-face-lift-with-logo.html" target="_blank">blog</a>. So I created one and it's a cute one I might add! Normally I have all kinds of jpegs snaps along the way of how I develop stuff, but my computer crashed this weekend and this and the coloring page were the things I'd not backed up (thank goodness they were the ONLY things). So I will unveil it and make a few points about what to look for in a logo. Though this one is a little bit involved, I think it's successful and will explain why below:<br />
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What makes a good logo? It has to read big as well as small. The image must hold up whether blown way up, billboard size or way down to letterhead size. It must have some kind of stickiness to it, something that's memorable. It could be the GRAPHIC nature like wave and colors of Coke or the swoosh of Nike or it could be an image that evokes a feeling whether nostalgic or some other "value", like Orville Redenbacker, Colonel Sanders or Wendy's. They have changed over the years, and now that they are more corporate owned, they're getting away from the image, but I would argue most people still remember those images and those connections and one of the reasons they feel the loyalty to the brand.<br />
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If you can relate the image to what you're selling that's wonderful, but not always necessary. Think Virgin. It's all over the place as to product, so the name is what's important, not what's being sold. It really depends on what you're gracing the marketplace with.<br />
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Holly had a specific thing in mind, and I like the colors of this (the colors of her blog, her idea) and the fresh feeling to it. She can use the lettering by itself, or the image alone and it would still hold (though I would suggest if she uses the text alone, she leave the thought bubbles) and I think it reads well together. It was very easy to do this, because she had a specific idea of what she wanted, so it was a pure joy, except for that whole computer crash thingie, to work with.<br />
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As to how I did this after losing it? I'd sent her the image before the crash so was able to recover it, though it was at such a low dpi. I show it in the smaller version so you can be the judge of whether it holds it's integrity and interest...<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509994260614947388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871274945166958472.post-85670495588305097992013-08-14T08:32:00.001-07:002013-08-14T13:46:01.487-07:00New project, different schedule, great review!Good morning! So I made a decision over night, which will of course set me back a bit time wise. My marvelous friend Cheryl Johnson let see a copy of Nana's Gift (I wasn't lying when I said I couldn't afford my own work, lol). It's not bad, but I know I can make it better. Last Friday in talking to Createspace, they said it would be no problem to revamp and offer it at the 8 x 10 size, the thing that bothers the most. I'm taking the time to do it in the next few days, because unexpectedly, I have interviews and blogs and interest, and I want to do the very best I can do right now. Michael Strickland has another wonderful review of Nana's Gift, and it is one of my prompts. <a href="http://voices.yahoo.com/young-peoples-pavilion-nanas-gift-offers-timeless-12265408.html" target="_blank">Young People's Pavilion</a>, with <a href="mailto:youpublish@facebook.com" target="_blank">Michael Strickland.</a>..<br />
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Any authors/illustrators interested in review can get in touch with <a href="mailto:youngpeoplespavilion@gmail.com" target="_blank">Michael</a>. Feeling great today!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509994260614947388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871274945166958472.post-41488580321102407022013-08-09T16:36:00.000-07:002013-08-09T16:36:18.831-07:00Reviewtown, USA...<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGAGMOhBMWWuWJSFXXTOUnAI4toF8e9TH1Plkv7dacinAPQ0Ij9qO_QHTgrC3-oPBrcSETntftkGIK42rl2vvCWm2CL4Db65PWhimrtTcSzTOJE9JF2IBJgCebmW-Y6HzDPnLEHwzocSo/s1600/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGAGMOhBMWWuWJSFXXTOUnAI4toF8e9TH1Plkv7dacinAPQ0Ij9qO_QHTgrC3-oPBrcSETntftkGIK42rl2vvCWm2CL4Db65PWhimrtTcSzTOJE9JF2IBJgCebmW-Y6HzDPnLEHwzocSo/s400/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz1.jpg" width="338" /></a></span></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Down-To-Earth-World-Footprints/dp/1459804236/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376082257&sr=8-1&keywords=Down+to+Earth%3A+How+Kids+Help+Feed+the+World" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Down to Earth: How Kids Help Feed The World</span></b></a><br />
<a href="http://www.orcabook.com/contributorinfo.cfm?ContribID=49" target="_blank"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Nikki Tate</span></b></i></a><br />
Orca Book Publishers, 2013<br />
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Grade level 3-7. This is a more advanced book, with many details about food and farming from around the world. A book with bite sized pieces of information, readable, fun details, some of it the kind that kids are just tickled to know about. I love the fact it brings home the process of FOOD, to kids, from the tidbits from Dark Creek farm, to the more esoteric why food prices or the impact of chemicals in farming in language that a kid can digest. (Get it, get it?) I think making this kind of information available to kids is so important, but doing it in a kid friendly challenge, this one succeeds admirably.<br />
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Other books by Nikki Tate: Grandparents' Day (illustrated by Benoit Laverdiere); Double Take (Karen Brain's Olympic Journey); Venom (Orca Sports); Rebel of Dark Creek (Stablemates 1); The Racehorse (Behind the Scenes); Razor's Edge (Orca Sports); Keeping Secrets at Dark Creek (Stablemates); Trouble on Tarragon Island (Tarragon Island Series)<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Making-Contact-Marconi-Wireless-Great/dp/1770493786/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376084339&sr=1-7&keywords=Making+Contact!" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></a>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Making-Contact-Marconi-Wireless-Great/dp/1770493786/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376084339&sr=1-7&keywords=Making+Contact!" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Making Contact! Marconi Goes Wireless</span></b></a><br />
<a href="http://www.monicakulling.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Monica Kulling</b></i></span></a><br />
illustrated by <a href="http://www.richardrudnicki.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Richard Rudnicki</span></b></i></a><br />
Tundra Books, 2013<br />
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Engaging book on the life of Guglielmo Marconi starts as a young boy with admiration of Ben Franklin and ends with the man successfully completing the first transatlantic wireless communication. The after math tells the next step, if there had been no wireless, all of Titanic would have perished, as it was Marconi's invention which hailed The Carpathia. Kulling skillfully writes of the journey from boy dreamer to grown achiever, in an easily readable style. I LOVED the use of color in this book, though sometimes I didn't care for the rendering of the figures. I thought the overall feeling of the illustrations, kind of old world really suited the subject matter. A good biography and great for the young scientist in the family.<br />
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Other books by <i><b>Monica Kulling</b></i>: <b>Eat My Dust! Henry Ford's First Race</b> (illustrated by <i><b>Richard Walz</b></i>);<span style="color: #073763;"><b> Les Miserables</b></span> (based on <span style="color: #073763;"><i><b>Victor Hugo</b></i></span>); <b>Escape North! The Story of Harriet Tubman</b> (illustrated by <i><b>Teresa Flavin)</b></i>;<span style="color: #073763;"><b> Lumpito and the Painter from Spain </b></span>(illustrated by <span style="color: #073763;"><i><b>Dean Griffiths</b></i></span>); <b>Mister Dash and the Cupcake Calamity</b> (illustrated by <i><b>Esperanca Melo</b></i>)<br />
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Other books by <i><b>Richard Rudnicki:</b></i><b> A Christmas Dollhouse</b>; <span style="color: #073763;"><b>Tecumseh</b></span> (written by <span style="color: #073763;"><i><b>James Laxer</b></i></span>); <b>Viola Desmond Won't be Budged </b>(written by <i><b>Jody Nyasha Warner</b></i>);<span style="color: #073763;"><b> Gracie, the Public Gardens Duck </b></span>(written by<span style="color: #073763;"><i><b> Judith Meyrick</b></i></span>);<b> Gus the Tortoise Takes a Walk</b> (written by <i><b>Erin Arsenault</b></i>); <span style="color: #073763;"><b>I Spy a Bunny </b></span>(written by <span style="color: #073763;"><i><b>Judy Dudar</b></i></span>)<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Jefferson-Builds-Library-Rosenstock/dp/1590789326/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376085396&sr=1-1&keywords=Thomas+Jefferson+Builds+a+Library" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library</span></b></a><br />
<a href="http://www.barbrosenstock.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Barb Rosenstock</span></b></i></a><br />
illustrated by <a href="http://johnobrienillustrator.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">John O'Brien</span></b></i></a><br />
Calkins Creek Books, September 2013<br />
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I loved this book. From the quirky muted illustrations to the story of a man's love affair with books. And a vital proponent of libraries in this country. I really wasn't familiar with the story of the Library of Congress, but what a pleasure, what a treasure! The author uses questions ("Guess what Tom saw in Paris?") to encourage audience participation and I could almost hear the chorus of responses from a young crowd. I very much liked the fact she also provided some context at the end of the book, about some of her personal recollections, some further events in Jefferson's life and the incongruity of Jefferson being a slaveholder and the writer of the Declaration of Independence.<br />
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other books by <i><b>Barb Rosenstock</b></i>: <b>The Camping Trip That Changed America </b>(illustrated by <i><b>Mordecai Gerstein</b></i>); <b><span style="color: #073763;">The Littlest Mountain</span></b> (illustrated by <i><span style="color: #073763;"><b>Melanie Hall</b></span></i>); <b>Fearless: The Story of Racing Car Legend Louise Smith </b>(illustrated by <i><b>Scott Dawson</b></i>)<br />
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other books by <i><b>John O'Brien</b></i>: <b>A New World: Dissension</b>; <span style="color: #073763;"><b>A New World: Takedown</b></span>; <b>Blockhead: The Life of Fibonacci </b>(written by <i><b>Joseph D'Agnese</b></i>); <span style="color: #073763;"><b>True Lies</b></span> (written by <span style="color: #073763;"><b>George Shannon</b></span>); <b>I Knew a Shy Fellow Who Swallowed a Cello</b> (written by <i><b>Barbara Garriel</b></i>);<span style="color: #073763;"><b> Did Dinosaurs eat Pizza: Mysteries Science Hasn't Solved </b></span>(written by<span style="color: #073763;"><i><b> Lenny Hort</b></i></span>)<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Patchwork-Garden-Pedacitos-huerto/dp/155885763X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376088098&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Patchwork+Garden" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></a>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Patchwork-Garden-Pedacitos-huerto/dp/155885763X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376088098&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Patchwork+Garden" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Patchwork Garden</span></b></a><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Patchwork-Garden-Pedacitos-huerto/dp/155885763X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376088098&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Patchwork+Garden" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Pedacitos de Huerto</span></b></a><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/331488.Diane_De_Anda%E2%80%8E" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Diane de Anda</b></i></span></a><br />
Illustrated by (illustraciones de) <a href="http://www.behance.net/kimazo%E2%80%8E%20Oksana%20Kemarskaya%20was" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Oksana Kemarskaya</b></i></span></a><br />
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Tonia lives in the city with her Abuela and they plant a small garden. Soon many children want what Tonia has, and together, they come up with a solution to make the children's dreams a reality. So many wonderful things to say about this book, I love the fact it's bilingual (I wish there were more). I love not only does Tonia come up with the solution, but the adults are a part of the solution in a respectful way. And I love the illustrations, when I think of illustrating when I first started out (Patricia Polacco, Maurie Manning) it's the tradition I find comforting, the skill, colors, handling of the subject is appealing. Another one that would be wonderful in a classroom.<br />
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Other books by <i><b>Diane de Anda:</b></i> <b>The Monster in the Mattress and Other Stories (El Monstruo el Colchon y Otros Cuentos)</b>; <span style="color: #073763;"><b> Stress Management for Adolescents: a Cognitive-Behavorial Program</b></span>; <b>The Immortal Rooster and Other Stories </b>(illustrated by<i><b> Roberta Collier Morales</b></i>); <span style="color: #073763;"><b>A Day Without Sugar (Un Dia Sin Azucar) </b></span>(illustrated by <span style="color: #073763;"><i><b>Janet Montecalvo</b></i></span>); <b>The Ice Dove and Other Stories</b>;<span style="color: #073763;"><b> Dancing Miranda (Baila, Miranda, Baila) </b></span>(illustrated by <span style="color: #073763;"><i><b>Lamberto Alvarez</b></i></span>)<br />
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Other books by<i><b> Oksana Kemarskaya</b></i>:<b> Planet Earth Projects</b>; <span style="color: #073763;"><b>The Secret Lives of Plants!</b></span> (written by <span style="color: #073763;"><i><b>Janet Slingerland</b></i></span>); <b>The Legend of the Vampire (Legend Has It)</b> (written by <i><b>Thomas Kingsley Troupe</b></i>); <span style="color: #073763;"><b>Goodnight Piggy Boo </b></span>(written by <span style="color: #073763;"><i><b>Catherine Solyom</b></i></span>)<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Apple-Orchard-Riddle-Margaret-McNamara/dp/0375847448/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376089257&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Apple+Orchard+Riddle" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Apple Orchard Riddle</span></b></a><br />
<a href="http://www.margaretmcnamara.net/" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Margaret McNamara</b></span></i></a><br />
illustrated by <a href="http://www.gbriankaras.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">G. Brian Karas</span></b></i></a><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Schwartz & Wade Publishing, 2013</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Mr. Tiffin and his students visit an orchard and gets the lowdown on all things apple.</span><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">While the kids explore the various features at the orchard (I liked the peeler myself), they ponder a riddle. McNamara is interested in how we process information differently and this informative book gently puts that forth. Karas' illustrations are fun, and very appealing (get it, get it?!) as they revisit their Christopher Award winning characters in this sequel.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Other books by <i><b>Margaret McNamara</b></i>: <b>The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot </b>(illustrated by <i><b>Mark Fearing</b></i>);<span style="color: #073763;"><b> How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin</b></span> (illustrated by<span style="color: #073763;"><i><b> G. Brian Karas</b></i></span>); <b>The Fairy Bell Sisters #3: Golden at the Fancy Dress Party</b> (illustrated by <i><b>Julia Denos</b></i>);<span style="color: #073763;"><b> George Washington's Birthday: A Mostly True Tale </b></span>(illustrated by<span style="color: #073763;"><i><b> Barry </b></i></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #073763;"><i><b>Blitt</b></i></span>)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Other books by <i><b>G. Brian Karas: </b></i><b>I like Bugs (</b>written by<b> <i>Margaret Wise Brown</i>); <span style="color: #073763;">Throw Your Tooth On the Roof: Tooth Traditions from Around the World </span></b>(written by <span style="color: #073763;"><i><b>Selby Beeler</b></i></span><b>); A Place Called Kindergarten </b>(written by<i><b> Jessica Harper</b></i>);<span style="color: #073763;"><b> Lemonade in Winter: A Book About Two Kids Counting Money</b></span> (written by <span style="color: #073763;"><i><b>Emily Jenkins</b></i></span>); <b>The High-Rise Private Eyes #1: The Case of the Missing Monkey </b>(written by <i><b>Cynthia Rylant</b></i>); <span style="color: #073763;"><b>Fractions = Trouble</b></span> (written by <span style="color: #073763;"><i><b>Claudia Mills</b></i></span>) </span></span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509994260614947388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871274945166958472.post-65262046929605704902013-08-09T11:18:00.001-07:002013-08-09T11:18:29.620-07:00Thoughts and comments on today's reviewsI'm becoming quite the commentator; twice in two weeks. But there were some thoughts that occurred over all when I chose the books this week.<br />
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I have some strong thoughts on subjects, and I think some things should be examined. For instance we want children to read, but too often we HURRY through our books for children. This will affect my book greatly coming up (and Nana's Gift to a lesser extent). If one hurries through the book, it's a stumbly tumbly effort more frustrating than most. I know because I often as other people to read my work to me, so I can hear it. Part of it is they are trying to "get through" it. But I've noticed adults doing this with children. Often times instead of engaging the story, they read through, rather pedantically, when the children are less interested or not invested, instead of becoming more connected to the story and characters, more often than not, people will hurry through or put the book aside. This is a message.<br />
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I LOVE the sounds of words, and try to write like music (wish I spoke Welsh, they do it naturally!). I do this deliberately, and hope when people (how's that for optimism) they take the time to savor the sounds, the rhythms, the stories, the characters, the events, the EXPERIENCE. I guarantee if you do, your audience will as well. Even if they audience is just you, but ESPECIALLY if it's a child.<br />
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We have got used to messaging. The popular message is school is stupid, a necessary evil, parents are stupid or incompetent. Smart people are geeks (and socially inept) and not as desirable. When you think of a lot of the things you value the very people who are denigrated are the ones who grow up to be the creative people. And just because you are one thing does not mean you cannot be another. We have lots of messages to kids, I personally think should be examined more closely, especially if they are receiving it via books or movies or social media. What is the story we tell them, and ourselves?<br />
<br />For so many education is a way out of poverty and provides opportunities. For the poor often, especially, and to get that education takes perserverance. I plan on another post in the future more in depth about this, but suffice it to say it was brought home when I found my grandmother on my mother's side had only completed sixth grade. Much of who she was (and I had a hard time with) made sense with that bit and another bit of information. The difference between my grandfather (on my father's side) who had similar circumstances and her, he read. He may have stopped his formal education, but he never stopped educating himself. I have to internalize and think on this more. I do believe her being a woman and the way we perceived education and grrls had something to do with it. But some of it was personality, no doubt.<br />
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So this week's batch of books are about SOMETHING. They are more educational. Some are for a bit of an older audience, who would probably want to sit down and savor the books themselves.<br />
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One book reminded me of my father who had lost his little finger in a cider press as a small child. Others made me think of my youth when I was excited to "know stuff". Always have done with that. I would much rather KNOW than not know, and it's only in fairly recent years, I've come to embrace the process of learning to know. Probably with the realization that KNOWING isn't an end product or even a destination, because it's one of the few moving goal posts I'm okay with.<br />
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I met a woman yesterday who will be heading up the local homeschoolers. I would easily recommend these books to her group of kids as well as to some adults, and thoroughly enjoyed this week's batch of books. Next week I will start mixing in the older books with the new books I've been reviewing, before the holiday books hit. I hope people enjoy them as much as I have, and find the reviews useful. Reading the books has subtly impacted how I'm approaching my work, and I readily urge people who are actively working in a genre to start this practice of read and review as well.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509994260614947388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871274945166958472.post-55400515179350395242013-08-06T12:41:00.002-07:002013-08-06T12:41:43.377-07:00 “Cussy!” I'm not REALLY naming him...This is the opening line to my midgrade, due date (hopefully) November 7th, of this year. It's the date of my elder daughter's birthday, and she's been one of my inspirations (don't worry second daughter, you are not secondary, I simply didn't want to wait til April!).<br />
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I'm actually proud of my beginnings and think I do them well. I also agree with the entire industry you need to do it well, especially with the competition out there. Grab them quick and try real hard to not let them go until the end of the book, no matter the age, one must be ruthless in your craft!<br />
<br />
I agree with Les Edgerton in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hooked-Write-Fiction-Grabs-Readers/dp/1582974578/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1375751512&sr=8-2&keywords=les+edgerton" target="_blank">Hooked: Write Fiction That Grabs Readers at Page One & Never Lets Them GO</a> you have to encapsulate your story in the opening, present the question part of the answer, doesn't talk down or gives up on our reader. And I think I did that with this opening line.<br />
<br />
I grew up an "Agnes", and not caring for my name at all. I couldn't change it (it was my beloved grandmother's beloved mother's name and I was the one doing the beloving). It took many years to get a little comfortable with it (I am AGY, and that was one of the best things that happened to me, it's fairly unique, is easy to remember, say, and I think friendly). But having the experience of despite my name it had me thinking about it from an early age, and I play a lot with names in my work. Why not, I've been called every rhyme in the book (and some really weren't flattering, lol)<br />
<br />
I had conversations with my cousin Susan and she felt she had to stand out because she felt a bit of the generic (and with a marvelous encouraging mother, she certainly did). I know I felt weird growing up, and people said that to me on a regular basis, I don't know if having a rather unique name furthered that along. 'Course if I'd been born a hundred years ago, my name was like the "Susan" of it's day so would have had a totally different experience with it.<br />
<br />
Many cultures assign great power to naming, bordering on mystical. Adam named the beasts and the world, Native Americans and other cultures have "secret" names that embody one's true spirit.<br />
<br />
I've had this conversation with people a number of times. We QUANTIFY everything. I think we have to, to maintain sanity. What we don't do often is to rexamine at regular intervals our labels. Once we label something most of us tend to really stop looking at it. But when we NAME something, especially individually, it provides connection, a new emotional resonance. It is the personal that creates empathy. Unless it's a perjorative name that we give to groups of something.<br />
<br />
The really odd thing is I wrote this book and then decided to make sure, do the research because I didn't want to stop seeing or feeling because I'd done this. Often times I was spot on. And the name issue for people who farm was right on. <br />
<br />
This book is about a young grrl during the early seventies who's world is turned upside down. She has a hard time fitting in, with her authoritative grandmother, and is uneasy about her place in the world as well as the world itself.<br />
<br />
I think you can tell a lot about her personality and needs just in those lines and it sets up some of the conflicts within. I hope the connections I made through this work seeps into the world, and it finds an audience. I also hope to do somethings I've not seen done in other books for this age group (though it's notorious that other authors and illustrator usurp me all the time, more than likely because it takes me so long to figure some stuff out, or I have to wait for the skill or the equipment to do the job). If you take the time to read the first chapter, I do hope you take the time to leave a comment on what you thought or share with me via Facebook or Twitter. I'm interested in knowing if this piques your interest, if you'd read further and any other thoughts you'd have....Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509994260614947388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871274945166958472.post-66025108282341587012013-08-06T12:41:00.001-07:002013-08-06T12:41:14.860-07:00The first chapter of Sara LeClere<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Chapter one</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Cussy!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I'm
not REALLY naming him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Scoot,
Cussed Cat! If Mimi catches you, she’ll swat you!” I scold Cussy away from the
squabble of hens and chicks. He loves to terrorize them. I don’t think he’d
actually hurt any of them. Not yet, anyhow, he’s still a kitten, and I can
still train him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I
peek back to the lace-curtained parlor windows, then upstairs to see if my
grandmother is nearby. Mimi would take to the broom if she sees Cussy heckling
the poultry.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">She’ll
have a fit if she sees me outside without my coat and mittens, even though it
is April first.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">April
fool’s— with the cold sunshine, sudden bursts of swirling wind and melting
piles of snow, it does look like April hasn’t decided whether to stick with
winter or head toward spring. I’m ready for spring. But Mimi is convinced it’s
winter, and I will catch pee-neumonia.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">And
she’ll have my hide if she thinks I named a kitten.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">She
would say it was because she didn’t need us going all soft on the barn animals.
There are no cats allowed in the house. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">But
I’m pretty sure it has to do with caring about stuff, and Uncle George not
being here. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I
think he should be doing the chores, here at home, making us all laugh, keeping
Mimi, if not happy with me, at least not niggling at me all the time. I just
keep my head down and try to help keep things moving along.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Thank
goodness for now, Mimi is nowhere in sight. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Quit
it!” I say. I throw a handful of chicken feed at Cussy. Five of the larger hens
flock him, squawking mightily. That gets him scrambling away.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“What
did I do?” I hear Marcia’s voice behind me. I hadn’t heard her bike’s gravelly
arrival with all the fluster of kitten and chicks. I stop and shake the rest of
the feed to the ground, turning.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Uh,
not you; talking to an annoying kitten,” I say. “I was going to call you when I
got through with my chores…”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Beat
you to it!” Marcia Canniless grins.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“I
didn’t see you coming,” I hope it sounds like a statement and not like I’m
pouting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Would
help if you’re turned in the right direction… you have to be looking for me to
see me, doofus!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">We
live on a hill on a snake of a road not too far outside of Wattingham, Maine
proper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I twist in the direction Marcia
came, looking past the barn and the outbuildings. I see both of Wattingham’s
bridges. The Covered Bridge in the far distance near the mill and only trailer
park and Stuttle’s halfway between us and the heart of town, where the schools,
college and stores are. Stuttle’s Bridge is about a quarter of a mile away. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Standing
like I am, now facing Marcia, on a clear day, I can see it no problem. But I
hadn’t looked that way very often this vacation; I was too busy with chores,
Marcia I’m sure with other stuff. Outside of a few ventures in town with Emily,
I’d pretty much been stuck here, helping with the farm and stuff, like cleaning
up and getting ready to plant the garden and taking care of the livestock.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Looking
now, I can see the Canniless’ big house in front of the road to the University of Maine’s smallest college, a little
further past Stuttle’s Bridge</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Some
people think Marcia’s stuck up. Probably because of that house or the way she
tells them to call her “Mar-CEE-yah” or sniffing when she makes a point, or
because her dad is Brahmin Boston. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I
guess I’m used to her and I like to think she’s just particular. There’s
nothing wrong with that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Marcia
flicks her hair back. It cascades like a river of gold. She cradles her bike comfortably
between long blue-jeaned legs and with her Scandinavian cable sweater which brings
out the blue of her eyes, she looks like one of those models in Seventeen or
something.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Or
maybe that other Marcia, from the Brady Bunch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I
blow some mouse brown, wayward strands of hair out of my eyes and swipe the
rest of the kernels from my hands on my stained overalls. I bet I would fit right
in on Hee-Haw.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The
littlest of the chicks come tootling over for the crumbs. I can’t help but
smile at their fuzzy fat bodies and twig legs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Want
to get together later?” she asks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“That
was why I was going to call you!” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">A
nippy breeze shoots through my t-shirt, goosebumps freckle my arms, my spine
spazzes with the chill.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“I
thought we could get together for our Civics’ project, we haven’t decided on a
topic,” I continued.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Today?”
Marcia’s gaze is already turned back to the road to the road to town. Her face
scrunches. “It’s not till next week and Ruth hasn’t even announced it yet;
plenty of time to figure something out. Anyhow, Mother told me I couldn’t hang
around the house this afternoon. She’s got one of her ‘Pulling Strings’
meetings.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I
grimace. “What about tomorrow, then? I want to make a decent presentation.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">It’s
true, Mrs. Ruth hasn’t assigned it yet. But Marcia and I always work together
and Marcia usually puts things off, till I’m scrambling to finish whatever it
is.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“I’m
sure it will be, Sara. You’re a born brainiac and artist, just like you’re a
born farmer! You can whip it out with your talent!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Maybe
we can work on it here, then?” I really want to get a head start, and I hadn’t
done anything fun or exciting all week. But then I like school, so I guess that
counts for weird too.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Naw,
Emily will get in the way,” Marcia purses her lips, shakes her head. “Why don’t
you come over later today anyhow? We can listen to my new Cat Steven’s album
and maybe figure something out.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The
comment about my sister Emily stung. She can’t help being slower, even if she
is two and a half years older than me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">But
Marcia did have a point. Em likes to be in on everything. Though Marcia is used
to Em’s differences, it is sometimes hard to not tick off one or the other of
them. Marcia’s trips to my house had been dwindling, and I could count the
number of times this year on two hands, including this one.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“I
thought you said your mom was throwing you out for the day?” I shake my head.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Sheesh,
Marcia must be in one of her “Mary-contrary” moods. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I’d
rather not fight, so I turn my attention to Stuttle’s Bridge. I notice an
orange and white truck lumbering over it. I concentrate hard, so she won’t see
me getting annoyed. I hear the engine from here, as gears scrape into place
like it is a bigger truck… like maybe one of those convoy trucks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Well
yeah, but that doesn’t mean I have to make it easy for her! We can leave when
she comes home and tells us to scram. Till then…”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Oh,”
I say. The truck rumbles by. Marcia and I watch it make its way past our hill
to three houses down on the other side of the street. It turns into Mrs.
Halliday’s driveway.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“You’re
still going to help me on the project, aren’t you?” I ask as we watch a woman
with dark hair get out of the truck.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“Of
course, you goose! Who else would help you? I think Iris Minnow is available,
ha, ha, ha!” Marcia mimicked Iris’s laughter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Poor
baggy clothes Iris, she’s forever giggling and smiling at her own secret jokes
and mumbling to herself. She weirds even Bubby Huff so people mostly just left
her alone. Yeah, I guess Marcia is my only choice.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I
don’t reply. Instead I watch the woman knock on Mrs. Halliday’s door. Poor Mrs.
Halliday had a stroke a few months ago and mostly stayed indoors now. Who is
this other woman--- a nurse? Or could she be a relative?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">It’s
a surprise to see the door open. The woman turns around at the door and motions
to the truck with her hand, beckoning someone to come. The door of the truck
flies open and two children—a tall girl and a toddler spill out of its cab.
They are the first Negro kids I’ve ever seen in real life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509994260614947388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871274945166958472.post-46794838174776594482013-08-03T20:33:00.000-07:002013-08-03T20:33:04.514-07:00The wonderful Peggy Ehrenkranz has put up my interview on her blog. If you have the time and are so inclined, check it out and the rest of her blog!<br />
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<a class="twitter-timeline-link" href="http://networkedblogs.com/NK6cy">http://networkedblogs.com/NK6cy</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509994260614947388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871274945166958472.post-45214378090440346302013-08-03T12:02:00.002-07:002013-08-03T12:02:48.369-07:00This week's coloring page...Thanks to Stephanie Lisa Tara and Nadine Hays I've got tropical on the brain. In the upcoming weeks, I'll be doing more freehand, interpretive imagery, for now because of Annie and the art I'm doing it will be more representative. Feel free to give me ideas of what you'd like to be able to color!<br />
<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509994260614947388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871274945166958472.post-42995933094995960792013-08-03T12:00:00.000-07:002013-08-03T12:07:40.773-07:00The view from here on reviewingI figured this is a good point to talk about my reviewing process and thoughts. Another way to get feedback. First I review for myself. I do often try to choose friends' books, but that's not the biggest consideration. But I learn so much from reviewing. And it forces me to stop, take the time to READ as well as process what I'm reading. I do come MOSTLY from an adult perspective (anyone who's talked with me knows this is true). But I also think about how a child may perceive it. I do choose things that I like, and will only review books I feel positively about.<br />
<br />
Which isn't to say I don't have criticisms. In the case of this blog I understand most people don't really have tons of time to read or review. I have a slight learning disability so though I read voraciously, between my poor eyesight and very slight dyslexia (usually it doesn't impair unless I'm preoccupied or tired or some other upset) this too colors the way I choose and look (or not) at things.<br />
<br />
<br />
My father was a paper engineer, so oddly enough it's one of the few things as a child that wasn't too dear to me. We had a closet I could go to and just pull it out. Do I wish I had that now. The joyous thing about that is I really did play and it's probably why I am a proficient draughtsman. When I had to pay for it, it of course became very dear, and now with the way our consumer society is, it's horribly dear.<br />
<br />
And from the writing/illustrating perspective I've only had the one dreaded rejection calling my work "slight" and that was more than enough. Yet there's such a fine line between Slight which is offensive to me not only to offer, but also to take valuable resources to send out. I've in other fields where people who came from wealth or achieved it, who wanted to fulfill a desire cast that $20,000 piece of giggly sculpture (truly I couldn't walk by it without laughing and if I think on it too much, I still will laugh. I described it to a friend recently and we both ended up guffawing--- how can you take a tableaux water fall that looks like a tongue hit with Novocaine, a "pioneer" sitting on a horse that looks like a dog and a raccoon cap that looks more like a bit of an asshat, seriously?) And yet very talented people couldn't afford to cast their sculptures even small ones. To this day I don't know if I should be offended or just keep on laughing, but it's a consideration.<br />
<br />
When you get to a certain point in your submitting process, if you're good enough it really becomes a matter of finding the right editor, what the market will bear, and even sometimes who you know. It's one of the reasons I'm now self-publishing and am open to self published materials. And make no mistake the vast majority of what we all do is repetitive and an exercise in expression, but it's not a shift in consciousness or means by any measure of the word, so it comes down often to degree.<br />
<br />
But the two things I was noticing in some of the books I was reading is how slight I believed some of the books to be. And some of the messaging was very subtle, but with my critical eye, I noticed right away because I'd sensitized to it thirty years ago.<br />
<br />
One book was one recognizable line from an animal and the punchline was different one. Granted the author probably described the action very well for the illustrator. But to me, it was slight. What was being communicated was equivalent to my closet full of paper. Had no value because there was no context, and I guess it was a way to get humor across, but New Englander that I was raised to be, I want my books to multitask, even while not hitting me over the head.<br />
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And there is a LOT of messaging. One book had an interesting idea for a mashup, but looking through the book, there was a slightly subliminal message. The male characters were well developed and did and was LOTS of things. The female characters were beyond secondary, and most of them negatively drawn. Literally, because they didn't have dialogue, but the judgments were drawn about busybody females. This was written by a woman, illustrated by a man.<br />
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I chose the books I did deliberately, because they dealt with larger issues, issues of today and with people but the lesson wasn't that sledgehammer of pronouncement. More often than not there was wiggle room for humor, forgiveness and thoughtfulness within the books I chose. Lion wasn't evil. And The King of Little Things was a page turner to me, because though I "knew" where Lepp was going with the book, I really loved the joy, humor, and the unexpected he inserted in the story. And that's what good story is. Even when it's expected, it really isn't. You have to honor and surprise your reader.<br />
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I see a lot of books that have little nutrition in them. Talking to a few people about my book Annie, I realize it may not do well not because I haven't paid attention to detail (and anyone who follows me knows that's not the truth and is obsession really an unattractive quality like everyone says?) But because most people no longer read for pleasure. And there it is. We've dumbed books and hurried our lives and in order to love my book, people will have to love the words and hopefully the images. Savoring the thought, the color, the image, the word, the sound, the meaning THAT is one of the powers and beauties of B O O K. It is why I do what I do, share what a share, and encourage what I do. I hope when people read my reviews, they know this is also a part of my process, not only for choosing the books (because I read books, and because of space and all kinds of considerations, I don't necessarily share).<br />
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If you write or illustrate the books, what really is your message to the world? Yeah, it's about money, and that is important. I looked recently at my other work Nana's Gift in hardcopy (THANK YOU CHERYL JOHNSON!) It's the wrong size. I will be redoing it before Christmas because I do love the book and it's worth the effort. But the personal as well as the professional message was there. (Now I have to make the technical message better, because I do believe in that Maya Angelou adage of when you KNOW better you DO better). Anyhow, I figured this might clarify a few things, and get off my bosom the gripe I've had coming for awhile. Slight is evidently a subjective thing (I KNOW, I KNOW, I DID REALLY KNOW THAT, lol). But I think it's time again in this dwindling avenue of a world to be critical of the CORRECT things, other wise we are being sold a bill of goods.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509994260614947388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871274945166958472.post-16496937753341494132013-08-03T11:28:00.003-07:002013-08-03T11:28:21.192-07:00Room with a review... or two-or few<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBFFs79SdDDXD57BJlJhOCo60jChg0DCqIbGyKHmgSVYGI2gbANYfudS3Hxw-IJE4N-hfMMRKqVcZEdrjvTc7eO7_5YytAVLbVT8SSNh1PtELVQfDbV7e8ZrvQEg7keFNzfrhtkZd8Vg/s1600/ZZZZZZZZZZZLion+vs+Rabbit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBFFs79SdDDXD57BJlJhOCo60jChg0DCqIbGyKHmgSVYGI2gbANYfudS3Hxw-IJE4N-hfMMRKqVcZEdrjvTc7eO7_5YytAVLbVT8SSNh1PtELVQfDbV7e8ZrvQEg7keFNzfrhtkZd8Vg/s400/ZZZZZZZZZZZLion+vs+Rabbit.jpg" width="354" /></a></span></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lion-vs-Rabbit-Alex-Latimer/dp/1561457094/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375550427&sr=8-1&keywords=Lion+vs+Rabbit" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Lion vs Rabbit</span></b></a><br />
<a href="http://www.alexlatimer.co.za/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Alex Latimer</span></b></i></a><br />
Peachtree, 2013<br />
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A fun and funny tale on...bullying. Lion is used to being the big foot on the steppe, the tangle in the jungle, the sortee on the savannah... sorry, this one made me giggle. Without being overly pedantic, Alex brings the big cat to heel, and I could see little one squealing. Alright, I showed this to my fourteen year old and the delightful snorts and squeals of delight, and my own reaction, perhaps it's a book appreciated best by the young at heart. I really loved the quirky illustration style and the humor of this book.<br />
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Other books by <a href="http://alexlatimer.blogspot.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank"><i><b>Alex Latimer</b></i></a>: <b>Penguin's Hidden Talent; </b> <span style="color: #073763;"><b>The Boy Who Cried Ninja</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6blAsSQt61pIA6aYXQQeixM-npvWUXSAlodzz61WsKLes1X15oWpwWqH3TJbZeFLEVA3G53kbpWBxbq3dY9_zJbXCaPiwH0pu9v86Za7ufdNeCsaOT9qH3HnMiXZLlFz0A8rgXyUys8/s1600/ZZZZZZZZZZZZXander's+Panda+Party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6blAsSQt61pIA6aYXQQeixM-npvWUXSAlodzz61WsKLes1X15oWpwWqH3TJbZeFLEVA3G53kbpWBxbq3dY9_zJbXCaPiwH0pu9v86Za7ufdNeCsaOT9qH3HnMiXZLlFz0A8rgXyUys8/s400/ZZZZZZZZZZZZXander's+Panda+Party.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Xanders-Panda-Party-Linda-Park/dp/0547558651/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375550708&sr=8-1&keywords=Xander%27s+Panda+Party" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Xander's Panda Party</span></b></a><br />
<a href="http://www.lindasuepark.com/" target="_blank"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Linda Sue Park</span></b></i></a><br />
illustrated by <a href="http://www.mattphelan.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Matt Phelan</span></b></i></a><br />
Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013<br />
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Xander plans a panda party that changes with every new challenge. Starting with his initial idea for a panda party-- but he's the only panda and one panda does not a party make. A sweet, fun tale, Linda Sue tells in a swingy rhyme, and Matt Phelan's watercolors are expressive, joyous and perfectly fit the style of the words. The social story doesn't hit you over the head, and the author's note at the end talking about the characters and showing the logic behind the changes in the story is interesting, fun and thank you so much for feeding my inner geek!<br />
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Other books by <i><b><a href="http://lsparkreader.livejournal.com/" target="_blank">Linda Sue Park</a></b></i>: <b>See-saw Girl </b>(illustrated by <i><b>Mou-Sien Tseng </b></i>and <i><b>Jean Tseng</b></i>);T<span style="color: #073763;"><b>he Single Shard</b></span>; <b>When My Name was Keoko</b>; <span style="color: #073763;"><b>The Kite Fighters</b></span>; <b>A Long Walk to Water;<span style="color: #073763;"> Bee-Bim Bop!</span></b> (illustrated by <span style="color: #073763;"><i><b>Ho Baek Lee</b></i></span>); <b>Project Mulberry;</b> <span style="color: #073763;"><b>The FireKeepers' Son</b></span>; <b>Archer's Quest</b>; <span style="color: #073763;"><b>Keeping Score</b></span><br />
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Other books by <a href="http://www.mattphelan.com/blog.html" target="_blank"><i><b>Matt Phelan</b></i></a>: <b>The Storm in the Barn </b>(Scott O'Dell award, YALSA great Graphic novel for teens, ALA Notable); <span style="color: #073763;"><b>Around the World</b></span>; <span style="color: #073763;"><b>I'll Be There</b></span> (written by <span style="color: #073763;"><i><b>Ann Stott</b></i></span>); <b>The New Girl and Me</b> (written by <i><b>Jacqui Robbins</b></i>);<span style="color: #073763;"><b> Rosa Farm </b></span>(written by <span style="color: #073763;"><i><b>Liz Wu</b></i></span>); <b>The Higher Power of Lucky</b> (written by <i><b>Susan Patron</b></i>, Newbery Award); <span style="color: #073763;"><b>Big George</b></span> (written by <span style="color: #073763;"><i><b>Anne Rockwell</b></i></span>); <b>Spilling Ink</b> (written by <i><b>Ann Mazer </b></i>and<i><b> Ellen Potter</b></i>); <span style="color: #073763;"><b>Flora's Very Windy Day</b></span> (written by<span style="color: #073763;"><i><b> Jeanne Birdsall</b></i></span>); <b>Where I Live </b>(written by <i><b>Eileen Spinelli</b></i>)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWIgvUTlQm5krLE-VgR2j3dvezOUSq0XPU60KKdgGn_O-e6YY85jqTnJ8xi1R-UmQhYZ96U0R2LqfmW1z0rDUkjczIhKb1AQjudA9_40mzoTTw0QMqYswLbGT0qFZ4X9Tmxwmf0sN6uCs/s1600/ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZWhimsy's+Heavy+Things.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWIgvUTlQm5krLE-VgR2j3dvezOUSq0XPU60KKdgGn_O-e6YY85jqTnJ8xi1R-UmQhYZ96U0R2LqfmW1z0rDUkjczIhKb1AQjudA9_40mzoTTw0QMqYswLbGT0qFZ4X9Tmxwmf0sN6uCs/s400/ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZWhimsy's+Heavy+Things.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Whimsys-Heavy-Things-Julie-Kraulis/dp/1770494030/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375552475&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Whimsy's Heavy Things</b></span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.juliekraulis.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Julie Kraulis</span></b></i></a><br />
Tundra Books, September 2013<br />
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Julie's book feels nostalgic, but in a good way to me. A metaphorical, sweet story, the illustrations embody the title in a sensitive way. It's a thoughtful story that could be used to talk with children about depression and dealing with harsh life events, or as a simple story to uplift. This is one I will keep for my personal library as a lovely reminder of how process the more difficult in life.<br />
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Julie's <a href="http://www.juliekraulis.com/blog/" target="_blank">BLOG </a><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/King-Little-Things-Bil-Lepp/dp/1561457086/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375553201&sr=1-1&keywords=The+King+of+Little+Things" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></a>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/King-Little-Things-Bil-Lepp/dp/1561457086/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375553201&sr=1-1&keywords=The+King+of+Little+Things" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The King of Little Things</span></b></a><br />
<a href="http://leppstorytelling.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Bil Lepp</span></b></i></a><br />
illustrated by <a href="http://www.davidwenzel.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">David T. Wenzel</span></b></i></a><br />
Peachtree, 2013<br />
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One of the advantages of reviewing books on my blog, I don't have to pretend any impartiality at all. I really loved the batch of books I reviewed, and in light of the ones I did not choose (the companion post to these reviews), I'm in deep thought about what is sent into the world and why. That's all well in good, I JUST. LOVE. THIS. BOOK. I love it on so many levels, I promise not to wax poetic about it, but will mention it in the other post and why it's so important. Suffice it to say, I hope this book does extremely well, I know children who sometimes FEEL as little as they are will most definitely delight and relate to this book. It's an important yet gentle reminder without the head bonking of a hammer to the noggin. Oh yes, and it's quite a delightful fun read, and the art sparkled for me. All of these books are keepers for me, they BELONG on my shelf.<br />
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Other work by <a href="http://leppstorytelling.com/blog" target="_blank"><i><b>Bil Lepp</b></i></a>: <b>Buck Meets the Monster Stick </b>(co-written by <i><b>Paul Lepp</b></i>); <span style="color: #073763;"><b>The Monster Stick and Other Appalachian Trail Tall Tales </b></span>(co-written with <span style="color: #073763;"><i><b>Paul Lepp</b></i></span>); <b>Half Dollar</b>; <span style="color: #073763;"><b>Inept Impaired Overwhelmed: Tall Tales from West Virginia and Beyond</b></span>; <b>Team Up! Tell in Tandem: A "How To" Guide From Experienced Tandem Storytellers</b> (co written with, <span style="color: #073763;"><i><b>Jonatha Hammer Wright, Charlotte Blake Alston, Judith Black </b></i><span style="color: black;">and </span><i><b>Jenny </b></i><span style="color: black;">and</span><i><b> Rick Carson</b></i></span>); <b>Mayhem Dressed Like an Eight Point Buck</b><br />
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I did something slightly different and will be doing it from now on (I may get ambitious on a rainy day and do this retroactively, but I do this now as good practice, honing my critical skills and as a service to get it out- or I don't get paid, so it'll have to wait, lol). If there's a blog, I will create another link in the other works or one specifically. I primarily do this for me (if you want to write something you should not only read it but know what's being offered is the way I feel about it). And when I started out, I wanted to know about process and all of it. Hence the links to the other things. So for my own sake if I ever want to come back and locate some of this info quickly (okay, just PRETEND the search engines need a tune-up!) or if someone is reading these reviews wants to know more about the books, the creators. Anyhow. Just so you know. The links to the tags under the titles go to the sites, the links in the lower are to the blogs, in case you want to get to know more about process....<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509994260614947388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871274945166958472.post-82966111473952092522013-07-28T16:07:00.004-07:002013-07-28T16:07:25.641-07:00Worth<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent">The sky, the stars, the sparkling jewel-strewn sea<br /> These are a few things valuable to me.<br /> The laugh, the cry, the pangful song<br /> Keep me engaged, string me along.<br /> Colors, sounds, smells, the world upon my skin<br /> moving through time with a skip, an ooze or a spin.<br /> I love it all, this place this space, presenting to my face.<br /> I take my hippo soul, my clunking drain and look for the grace.</span></span></h5>
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent"> </span></span></h5>
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent">Agy Wilson 2013 </span></span></h5>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509994260614947388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871274945166958472.post-72762582693644014052013-07-27T21:18:00.001-07:002013-07-27T21:23:23.134-07:00The Magic MoccasinsI did a little side job this week for a friend's short story. I thought I'd post the in-progress for the cover, because I was quite pleased with the way it came out (that happens but rarely). I will also post a small detail from the other illustration. I hope it sells well for him. He's trying to get back home, and I'm being selfish. I want his herbal books to become available.<br />
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and the snippet:<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509994260614947388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871274945166958472.post-87157001757167548282013-07-26T19:00:00.000-07:002013-07-26T19:00:15.189-07:00The view from here, REVIEW FRIDAY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0M0lCB1JS14_YL76J0sZJeUFG-JOte8Bn-YL5_ivJKAYdQOUKRWFEyWdbCjl3bEoqqDfoy6wWhH9Stbn2hpYRlY28DyUWqmYzMP8R2E-buSRZJ_UZO8bdqG5Dl8cqV0TX6fZw7JWDgg/s1600/zzrobot+rumpus+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0M0lCB1JS14_YL76J0sZJeUFG-JOte8Bn-YL5_ivJKAYdQOUKRWFEyWdbCjl3bEoqqDfoy6wWhH9Stbn2hpYRlY28DyUWqmYzMP8R2E-buSRZJ_UZO8bdqG5Dl8cqV0TX6fZw7JWDgg/s400/zzrobot+rumpus+blog.jpg" width="341" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Robot-Rumpus-Sean-Taylor/dp/1849396280/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374879003&sr=8-1&keywords=Robot+Rumpus" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Robot Rumpus</b></span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.seantaylorstories.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Sean Taylor</b></i></span></a><br />
Illustrated by <a href="http://www.rosscollins.net/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Ross Collins</span></b></i></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Andersen Press, USA, distributed by Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. 2013</span></span><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></i><br />
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I have loved Ross Collins style since seeing it in a friend's book The Three Grumpies (was actually just talking about this and robots with a friend. Wonder if Ross will only take titles that has something that will rhyme with BUMP in it, sorry, silly thought for the day). His style is humorous, surprising and reminds me of Bill Hoest, whom I love as well. So I was already predisposed to the book. But reading the rhyming stanzas, though alone I laughed a couple of times out loud. I know a lot of children who enjoy having their funny bones tickled and this is the book with wiggly fingers, robotic or otherwise.<br />
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Other books by <i><b>Sean Taylor: </b></i><b>The World Champion of Staying Awake</b><i><b> (</b></i>illustrated by <i><b>Jimmy Liao</b><b>); </b></i><span style="color: #073763;"><b>When a Monster is Born</b></span><i><b> (</b></i>illustrated by<i><b> <span style="color: #073763;">Nick Sharratt</span>);</b></i><b> Robomop </b><i><b>(</b></i>illustrated by<i><b> Edel Rodriguez); </b></i><span style="color: #073763;"><b>Huck Runs Amuck</b></span><i><b> (</b></i>illustrated by <i><b><span style="color: #073763;">Peter Reynolds</span>); </b></i><b>Boing </b><i><b>(</b></i>illustrated by<i><b> Bruce Ingman);</b></i><b> <span style="color: #073763;">The Grizzly Bear with Frizzly Hair </span></b><i><b>(</b></i>illustrated by<i><b> <span style="color: #073763;">Hannah Shaw</span>)</b></i><br />
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Other books by <i><b>Ross Collins: </b></i><b>The Music of Zombies: The Fifth Tale from the Five Kingdoms (Tales from the Five Kingdoms) (</b>author<b> Vivian French); <span style="color: #073763;">Dear Vampa<span style="color: black;">; When I Woke Up I Was a Hippopotamus (</span></span></b>author<b><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="color: black;"><i> Tom Macrae);</i><span style="color: #073763;"> Medusa Jones<span style="color: black;">; Beetle Blast (S.W.I.T.C.H.) (</span></span></span></span></b>author <i><b>Ali Sparkes)</b></i><b><br /></b><br />
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<i><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2j5y9xRxxynK3Wmtvr-ZKRT0DTz1scJzKlsSPPTbhxrCyZzY6xW6U8h-Te4rD0-WQ42e1ngN5tud9MTeDnMHGs6wONfheDqAdeBpf2qngHndwy52xhX0rHWBXyn7atGTJliUczS5Ib5o/s1600/zzjack+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2j5y9xRxxynK3Wmtvr-ZKRT0DTz1scJzKlsSPPTbhxrCyZzY6xW6U8h-Te4rD0-WQ42e1ngN5tud9MTeDnMHGs6wONfheDqAdeBpf2qngHndwy52xhX0rHWBXyn7atGTJliUczS5Ib5o/s400/zzjack+blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">J<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jack-Hungry-Giant-Right-MyPlate/dp/0823426025/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374879816&sr=1-1&keywords=Jack+and+the+HUngry+giant" target="_blank">ack and the Hungry Giant: Eat Right with My Plate</a></span></b><br />
<a href="http://www.loreenleedy.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Loreen Leedy</i></span></b></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Holiday House, 2013</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">The book starts off as the traditional tale of Jack's beanstalk adventures, but veers off into good manners and healthful eating. </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i> </i></b>The cast of characters are engaging and a little quazy, it's a romp through the food groups and good choices. The illustrations are active and kid friendly and this is a book easily read by a child on his or her own, as well as with an adult. It's a great introduction nutrition and climbing beanstalks-- should the opportunity arise. So to speak.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Other books by <i><b>Loreen Leedy</b></i>: <b>Crazy Like a Fox: A Simile Story</b>; <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Follow the Money!</b></span>;<b> The Great Graph Contest</b>; <span style="color: #073763;"><b>Seeing Symmetry</b></span>; <b>Subtraction Action: Look at MY Book: How Kids Can Write & Illustrate Terrific Books</b>.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Very-Inappropriate-Word-Jim-Tobin/dp/0805094741/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374879892&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Very+Inappropriate+Word" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Very Inappropriate Word</b></span></a><br />
<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Jim Tobin</span></b></i><br />
illustrated by <a href="http://www.speedbump.com/" target="_blank"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Dave Coverly</span></b></i></a><br />
Christy Ottaviano Books, Henry Holt and Company, LTD, 2013 <br />
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Michael is a child after my own heart, a collector of words. Some of his observations on words are quite wonderful and easily capture one of the things I love about them. But when he finds an inappropriate word some quite different consequences follow. The illustrations fit the book like *$()%@)$# glove! A humorous and quiet exploration of words and their power, most definitely from the child's perspective. I truly loved this book, and can't wait to read it to my grandson, a collector of sounds as well as words.<br />
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Other books by <i><b>Jim Tobin</b></i>:<b> Sue MacDonald Had a Book</b> (illustrated by <i><b>Dave Coverly</b></i>)<br />
Other books by <i><b>Dave Coverly</b></i>: <b>SpeedBump (three books)</b>; <span style="color: #073763;"><b>How to get a Monkey Into Harvard</b></span> (author <span style="color: #073763;"><i><b>Charles Monagan</b></i></span>); <br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/First-Little-Critter-Inspired-Kids/dp/1400322456/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374880230&sr=1-5&keywords=You+Go+First" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">You Go First</span></b></a><br />
<a href="http://www.mercermayer.com/" target="_blank"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Mercer Mayer</span></b></i></a><br />
Tommy Nelson, registered trademark of Thomas Nelson 2013<br />
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Little Critters meets Inspired Kids, Mercer takes a biblical quotation and makes it come to life. In this book the quote is "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you" Matthew 7:12 from The International Chidren's Bible. A larger lesson than "just" for Christians, the story isn't priggish or pedantic or hit you over the head. The story closely mimics a child's real desire to be first and explores the idea in a gentle way. I have always loved Mercer Mayer's two styles of drawing, and Little Critters are so fun and appealing.<br />
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Other works by <i><b>Mercer Mayer</b></i>:<b>The New Baby</b>; <span style="color: #073763;"><b>Just Me and My Dad</b></span>; a slew of <a href="http://www.littlecritter.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank">Little Critter </a>books; <span style="color: #073763;"><b>Me and My Little Brain</b></span> (<span style="color: #073763;"><b>Great Brain, Book 3</b></span>) (author <span style="color: #073763;"><i><b>John D. Fitzgerald</b></i></span>); <b>Frog Where are You? Boy, Dog, Frog)</b>; <span style="color: #073763;"><b>The Bravest Knight;</b></span> <b>East of the Sun and West of the Moon</b> (I love this book)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlrskN5BJ_igmr_j9bDMKMAFMnofOJapqxJS3iP-MIqC6bD5rSzvTNZrxULinSbf2HaUDTEotESfL1uu3TxQa7M1BgRfzbIcSPIzpcnY8_-53n6Hw0b9OZXKIZhUr-3OVfseSowma-pk/s1600/zz+kelly+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlrskN5BJ_igmr_j9bDMKMAFMnofOJapqxJS3iP-MIqC6bD5rSzvTNZrxULinSbf2HaUDTEotESfL1uu3TxQa7M1BgRfzbIcSPIzpcnY8_-53n6Hw0b9OZXKIZhUr-3OVfseSowma-pk/s400/zz+kelly+blog.jpg" width="314" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dress-Up-Mess-Up-Crafty-Chloe-DiPucchio/dp/144242124X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374880734&sr=1-2&keywords=Crafty+Chloe" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Crafty Chloe: Dress-up, Mess-up</span></b></a><br />
<a href="http://www.kellydipucchio.com/" target="_blank"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Kelly DiPucchio</span></b></i></a><br />
illustrated by <a href="http://heatherross.squarespace.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Heather Ross</span></b></i></a><br />
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Simon and Schuster, 2013 <br />
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Chloe may be crafty but she has a dilemma. She promised two different things to her best friends at the same time. going through the process of resolving the dilemma, in creative way is a reassuring way for kids to see resolution is not always a clear path. I love that a part of Chloe's wrestle isn't just pleasing her friends, Leo and Emma, or even Grandma, but herself. And she does a great job of it. There was a delicacy to Heather's drawings that kept Chloe grounded.<br />
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Other books by <i><b>Kelly DiPucchio</b></i>: The Sandwich Swap (Coauthor Queen Rania of Jordan Al Abdullah, illustrated by Tricia Tusa); Grace for President (illustrated by LeUyen Pham); Gilbert Goldfish Wants a Pet (illustrated by Bob Shea); Zombie in Love (illustrated by Scott Campbell); Sipping Spiders through a Straw: Campfire Songs for Monsters (illustrated by Gris Grimly)<br />
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Other books by <i><b>Heather Ross</b></i>: the Ivy Honeysuckle books (author Candice Ransom); Heather Ross Prints: 50+ Designs and 20 Prints to Get You Started (co author John Gruen); What Happened on Fox Street (Mo Wren) (author Tricia Springstubb)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509994260614947388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871274945166958472.post-87453340275558550922013-07-26T18:57:00.005-07:002013-07-26T18:57:58.226-07:00Coloring page...so speaking to the fabulous Kara at the Walker Memorial who had actually printed out the coloring page, she said there were a few issues to printing it. What she did and I suggest (sorry, I don't have a printer hooked up at the time or I would have pre-worked it out for you!) is to save to your computer, resize to suit and then print off. The advantage of such a thing too, is you can print of as many as you want, and resize as you want. Hope this helps if there's been any issues. I had fun doing this. I slightly went over my imposed limit (it was almost three instead of two hours). Anyhow for the dog and kitten lovers...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jxKLps6K2NeRJn5L_AGUpeBxY9DJn8gr55RrKRzUbgzzubjEtTGwJRyWIi4H9bhNyYa6_ChxMp86g3-nekDpKrFsoIwAF_-I3AR8TIzyuKV3XgIVTIorvbBuK5OHH5Vz-_GOlGO-iP4/s1600/Coloring+page+kittens+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jxKLps6K2NeRJn5L_AGUpeBxY9DJn8gr55RrKRzUbgzzubjEtTGwJRyWIi4H9bhNyYa6_ChxMp86g3-nekDpKrFsoIwAF_-I3AR8TIzyuKV3XgIVTIorvbBuK5OHH5Vz-_GOlGO-iP4/s640/Coloring+page+kittens+blog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509994260614947388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871274945166958472.post-18515290694539573982013-07-21T10:57:00.001-07:002013-07-21T10:57:49.728-07:00Readings, Bloggings and REVIEWING...I sometimes feel like I'm going in twenty directions at a time. Make
that twenty five! I reviewed Stephanie Lisa Tara's lovely book I'll
Follow The Moon on blog talk (and she credited me with helping her
achieve #1 in edownloads in her category-- WONDERFUL!). Still learning
Photoshop, nearly finished with Will Terry and Jake Parker's FABULOUS
Visual Storytelling course (final critique to do), and I can see an
improvement in my work, ALREADY and I'm STOKED.<br /><br />I'm blogging
regularly on eblog, and slowly building my readership. Reviewing books
every week, adding a coloring page, and writing about my process of
thinking, illustrating and writing. <br /><br />I'm often also wondering if I
should be Tumbling, Twitting, Wordpressing, Behancing, and Pinteresting
and wondering further, when I'm supposed to have the TIME, lol, because
I still write and illustrate BOOKS and make images for my various
online stores (new venture is offering my images as downloads for people
to put on their own favorite things, for dollars, on Etsy). Anyhow, I
neglect this. But received another wonderfully nice review on Nana's
Gift and thought I'd share here. Especially as I have no idea where to
post reviews of my books...<br /><br /><br />In a related question. I'm
thinking of publishing the blog I write on Eblog to my Goodreads, Tumblr
and Wordpress accounts. I know different people catch different posts.
Would it be offensive, or good sharing practices/marketing (how do you
know who I am and what I do without the blog?) Please feel free to
contact me with your thoughts here or on FB or through my Eblog, <a href="http://www%2Eagyart@blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.agyart@blogspot.com</a>, I'll be publishing this post there as well.<br /><br />ANYHOW, (and a mighty wooohoooo!) via Michael Strickland and the Young People's Pavilion:<br /><br />
In this heartwarming, touching, and beautifully written picture book by
Agy Wilson, Darlee Sims is left at Nana's for the weekend and at first
is not happy with it. But having fun with Nana, Pasha and Honey, Darlee
learns about her family, and best of all herself. With wonderful
illustrations that have a hand-drawn look, Nana's Gift offers a timeless
message about intergenerational family relationships.
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509994260614947388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871274945166958472.post-81120971176099945682013-07-20T21:58:00.004-07:002013-07-20T21:58:49.435-07:00The dream kanji colored...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZn3QgrY3r1mVOxL-08zv-NkApCg8h7hq99EIGUvR25cEkA6IWcc-yU11BKI7xDZhN0q0578M_lIL7AFTiJDcTkLR9Xin76ELwtk7dNwOHTHLWHjlwdUtmcMqbhGCBW6futaFwRuIrNK0/s1600/Cafe+Press+Dream+Kanji+Dream+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZn3QgrY3r1mVOxL-08zv-NkApCg8h7hq99EIGUvR25cEkA6IWcc-yU11BKI7xDZhN0q0578M_lIL7AFTiJDcTkLR9Xin76ELwtk7dNwOHTHLWHjlwdUtmcMqbhGCBW6futaFwRuIrNK0/s640/Cafe+Press+Dream+Kanji+Dream+copy.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509994260614947388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871274945166958472.post-65962698956225342002013-07-20T21:36:00.001-07:002013-07-20T21:36:59.747-07:00Coloring page, something different!I got the Photoshop up and running WITH pen sensitivity. I'm excited, though this doesn't look like much now. It's going to take some time to master it, but when I do, watch out, I hope my work will be something to see! Anyhow, I did this in honor of my horse loving friends, and I hope they'll take a look, print it off, like it, whatever rocks their horse! The point to these is to not spend more than two hours on them, so I will be doing a lot more as I feel a bit rusty!<br />
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Feel free to comment, and let me know if you DO print it off, how it works out, (and feel free to share the finished product with me here on on facebook!)<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509994260614947388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871274945166958472.post-21883674526111327422013-07-20T16:52:00.000-07:002013-07-21T09:39:49.363-07:00REVIEWS!!!!! Friends-ala-pal-ooza!My friend and children's librarian Nina Sachs has been holding F&Gs (fold and gathers for not in the know, they're used for corrections and advanced reviews) for me and I scored big time (two boxes full). I confess I picked out my friends (and some of them were Christmas and Halloween books, which I can't wait to review, but want to be a bit more timely about) and will review all 2013 books. Next week I will mix it up because it's great to see the new stuff, but there are so many WONDERFUL books, I want to keep interspersing the young and the old, because it's all GOOD!<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Youre-Wearing-THAT-School-Plourde/dp/1423155106/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374361890&sr=1-1&keywords=You%27re+wearing+that+to+school" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">You're Wearing <i>That </i>to School?!</span></b></a><br />
<a href="http://www.lynnplourde.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Lynn Plourde</span></b></i></a><br />
illustrated by <a href="http://www.suecornelison.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Sue Cornelison</span></b></i></a><br />
Disney/Hyperion Books, 2013<br />
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The illustrations are fun and delightful and remind me a little of Felicia Bond's adorable drawings.<br />
I love the joy and whimsy of the main character Penelope (she's a hippo after my own heart as well as having a similar fashion sense) as well as the worry and caution of her best friend Tiny (he's the kind of conscience I have)! Plourde expresses so well the angst and concerns of a first day of school in a lively manner. I love the ending of this book as well!<br />
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other books by <i><b>Lynn Plourde</b></i>: <b>Lost Trail: 9 Days Alone in the Wilderness</b> (<i><b>Donn Fendler</b></i> co-author, <i><b>Ben Bishop</b></i>, illustrator); <span style="color: #073763;"><b>Thank you Granpa </b></span>(<span style="color: #073763;"><i><b>Jason Cockrof</b></i><i><b>t</b></i></span>, illustrator); <b>Wild Child</b> (<i><b>Greg Couch</b></i>, illustrator); <span style="color: #073763;"><b>Only Cows Allowed </b></span>(<span style="color: #073763;"><i><b>Rebecca Harrison Reed</b></i></span>, illustrator); <b>Dino Pets Go To School</b> (<i><b>Gideon Kendall</b></i>, illustrator); <b><span style="color: #073763;">Pigs in the Mud in the Middle of the Rud</span> </b>(<span style="color: #073763;"><i><b>John Schoenherr</b></i></span>, illustrator)<br />
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other books by <i><b>Sue Cornelison</b></i>: <b>Bitty Baby Brave</b> (<i><b>Kirby Larso</b><b>n</b></i>, author); <span style="color: #073763;"><b>Sofia's Dream </b></span>(<span style="color: #073763;"><i><b>Land Wilson</b></i></span>, author); <b>We Share</b> (<i><b>Monica Bradford</b></i>, author);<span style="color: #073763;"><b> Paulo's Wall</b></span> (<span style="color: #073763;"><i><b>Rachelle Desimon</b></i><i><b>e</b></i></span>, author); <b>Tales of Beauty</b> (<i><b>L.L. Owens</b></i>, author)<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Day-Deep-Kevin-Kurtz/dp/1607186179/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374361433&sr=1-1&keywords=A+Day+in+the+Deep%2C+Kevin+Kurtz" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A Day in the Deep</span></b></a><br />
<a href="http://kevinkurtz.homestead.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Kevin Kurtz</span></b></i></a><br />
illustrated by <b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.eehunter.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank"><i>Erin E. Hunter </i></a></span></b><br />
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Sylvan Dell Publishers, 2013<br />
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For the burgeoning scientist or oceanographer, wonderful for homeschoolers this was such a fun read. The book comes with four pages of activities as well as more free activities online. Told in rhyme, it's a fairly quick read that journey's lower and lower to the depths of the ocean, descending all the way to 5,000 feet. The introduction to bioluminescence and the effects of being under pressure, the strange creatures adapting to their surroundings will intrigue kids, no doubt. I enjoyed Hunters illustrations, as the creatures could have been more fearsome, but her deft handling of light and color/contrast, it was a much safer journey than in the cage shown. I learned lots of new things, so I'm caught up on a few days of one of my life's goals: to learn something new everyday.<br />
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Other books by <i><b>Kevin Kurtz</b></i>: <b>A Day in the Salt Marsh</b> (<i><b>Consie Powell</b></i>, illustrator); <span style="color: #073763;"><b>A Day on the Mountain</b></span> (<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><b>E.E. Hunter</b></i></span>, illustrator); <b>Mortimer and the Powerful Sword</b><br />
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Other books by <i><b>Erin E. Hunter</b></i>: <b>The Great Divide</b> (<i><b>Suzanne Slade</b></i>, author); <span style="color: #073763;"><b>The Plateau: Voices of the Earth </b></span>(<span style="color: #073763;"><i><b>Maureen Dudley</b></i></span>, author); <b>Warriors, Omen of the Stars #1 and 2</b><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bugs-My-Hair-David-Shannon/dp/0545143136/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374361095&sr=1-1&keywords=Bugs+in+my+hair" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Bugs in my Hair!</span></b></a><br />
<a href="http://www.scholastic.com/titles/nodavid/davidshannon.htm%E2%80%8E" target="_blank"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">David Shannon</span></b></i></a><br />
Blue Sky Press, imprint of Scholastic, 2013<br />
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There seems to be a plethora of exclamation points in titles. This one is deserved (and from one of the original punctuationists!)Told with Shannon's signature humor and illustrations, it subdues the "ick" factor enough to move the story along. A common problem that receives scant attention, it's informative, funny, interesting, and best of all, defuses the "shame" of being a lousy person! A great service, this book, though I'm still itching, just like Mom!<br />
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Other books by <i><b>David Shannon</b></i>: <b>No, David!</b>; <span style="color: #073763;"><b>A Bad Case of Stripes</b></span>; <b>Too Many Toys</b>; J<span style="color: #073763;"><b>angles: a Big Fish Story</b></span>; <b>Alice the Fairy</b>; <span style="color: #073763;"><b>The Rain Came Down</b></span>; <b>Good Boy, Fergus</b>!<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Community-Soup-Alma-Fullerton/dp/1927485274/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374360925&sr=1-1&keywords=Community+Soup" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Community Soup</span></b></a><br />
<a href="http://www.almafullerton.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Alma Fullerton</span></b></i></a><br />
Pajama Press, 2013<br />
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Kioni has a herd of goats that goEVERYWHERE, like Mary and her lamb and are quite mischievous! It certainly makes soup day, when everyone should be collecting vegetables more of a challenge. Fullerton masterfully runs through the paces and emotions of tracking down the pesky, calico haired goats, her illustrations colorful and very tactile. Very different and visually appealing with her mixture of painted and reference materials, cloth and cut outs, I really liked the feel of the illustrations. And a recipe (and yes, I will be trying it, and I'm very biased as I love recipes in children's books!<br />
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Other books by <i><b>Alma Fullerton</b></i>: <b>A Good Trade</b> (<i><b>Karen Patkau</b></i>, illustrator); <span style="color: #073763;"><b>Libertad</b></span>; <b>In the Garage</b>; <span style="color: #073763;"><b>Walking on Glass</b></span>; <b>Burn</b><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Who-Goes-There-Karma-Wilson/dp/1416980024/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374359995&sr=1-1&keywords=Who+Goes+There%2C+Karma+Wilson" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Who Goes There?</span></b></a><br />
<a href="http://karmawilson.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Karma Wilson</span></b></i></a><br />
illustrated by <a href="http://www.shannonassociates.com/artist/annacurrey%E2%80%8E" target="_blank"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Anna Currey</span></b></i></a><br />
Margaret McElderry Books, Simon & Schuster, 2013<br />
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Wilson is best known for her impeccable rhyme, and though this is a mixture of prose and rhyme, it still reads easily as a poem. Louis Mouse loves his home and is settling in for the winter, when an ominous Scritch, Scratch, tap, tap, tap, intrudes. I really love the BeatrixPotter-y feeling to Currey's illustrations, and the refrain just begs to be repeated by young listeners.<br />
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Other books by<i><b> Karma Wilson</b></i>: <b>Bear Snores On</b> (<i><b>Jane Chapman</b></i>, illustrator); <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Bear Gives Thanks</b></span> (<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><b>Jane Chapman</b></i></span>, illustrator); <b>Bear Wants More</b> (<i><b>Jane Chapman</b></i>, illustrator); <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>The Cow Loves Cookies</b></span> (<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><b>Marcellus Hall</b></i></span>, illustrator); <b>Baby Cakes </b>(<i><b>Sam Williams</b></i>, illustrator); <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>A Frog in the Bog </b></span>(<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><b>Joan Rankin</b></i></span>, illustrator); <b>Never, Ever Shout in a Zoo</b> (<i><b>Doug Cushman</b></i>, illustrator)<br />
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Other books by <i><b>Anna Currey</b></i>: <b>When the World was Waiting For You</b> (<i><b>Gillian Shields</b></i>, author); <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>The Wishing Club: A Story About Fractions</b></span> (<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><b>Donna Jo Napoli</b></i></span>, author); <b>Dancing Magic (Silverlake Fairy School)</b> (<i><b>Elizabeth Lindsay</b></i>, author); <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Chick 'n' Pug</b></span> (<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><b>Jennifer Sattler</b></i></span>, author); <b>A Babysitter for Billy Bear</b> (<i><b>Miriam Moss</b></i>, author)<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hey-Charleston-Story-Jenkins-Orphanage/dp/0761355650/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374358696&sr=1-1&keywords=Hey+Charleston!" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Hey Charleston! The True Story of the Jenkins Orphanage Band</span></b></a><br />
<a href="http://www.annerockwell.com/" target="_blank"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Anne Rockwell</span></b></i></a><br />
illustrated by <a href="http://www.colinbootman.net/" target="_blank"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Colin Bootman</span></b></i></a><br />
Carolhoda books, a division of Lerner books, 2013<br />
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I don't know if the bias is because it's an inspirational time, inspirational subject, or because it's similar in feel in my w-i-p, but I JUST LOVE THIS BOOK. I was not aware of some of the pre-history of jazz, and this story is wonderful history and read. I thought I'd filled my learning quota with the other books, but I learned a lot from this book as well. Great connections to music, giving, integrity, it recounts the story of Reverend Daniel Joseph Jenkins, an orphan himself, taking on the plight of orphans at turn of the century South Carolina. His giving resulted in hope, self-sufficiency and a new art form. I had never made the connection for instance between The Charleston, and with one of the original mash ups, African and band music born from repurposed Civil War instruments. Just WONDERFUL.<br />
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Other books by <b>Anne Rockwell</b>: <b>Thanksgiving Day </b>(<i><b>Liz Rockwell</b></i>, illustrator); T<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>hree Bears and Fifteen Other Stories</b></span>; <b>Big George: How a Shy Boy Became President Washington</b>; <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>In Our House</b></span>; <b>My Flowers are Growing</b>; <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>100 School Days</b></span> (<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><b>Lizzy Rockwell</b></i></span>, illustrator); <b>The Gollywhopper Egg</b>; <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Clouds</b></span> (A Read-and-Find-Science book- Stage One) (<i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Frane Lessac</b></span></i>, illustrator)<br />
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Other books by <b>Colin Bootman</b>: <b>In My Momma's Kitchen</b> (<i><b>Jerdine Nolan</b></i>, author); <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Grandma's Pride </b></span>(Golden Kite Honors) (<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><b>Becky Birtha</b></i></span>, author); <b>Dad, Jackie and Me</b> (<i><b>Myron Uhlberg</b></i>, author); <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Don't Say Ain't</b></span> (<i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Irene Smalls</b></span></i>, author); <b>A Storm Called Katrina</b> (<i><b>Myron Uhlberg</b></i>, author)<br />
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Hopefully I'll have all my programs up and running by Monday, so will resume coloring pages. I'm sharing a bunch of my kanji designs which you can find at After Midnight Art Stamps (I think they still make them, but there's other images of mine there! Have a wonderful weekend all!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509994260614947388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871274945166958472.post-49555054365167525212013-07-15T07:43:00.002-07:002013-07-15T07:43:41.739-07:00I'm the new NEXT BIG THING blog!<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #5e5e5e; font-family: cursive; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
<a href="http://authorsandillustratorsinschools.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-next-big-thing-blog-tour.html" style="color: #74a3d0; text-decoration: none;">The Next Big Thing blog tour</a></h3>
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<span style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.4;">My thanks to <a href="http://www.lindakstanek.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank">Linda Stanek</a> for tagging me in The Next Big Thing blog tour! This blog tour began in Australia and features authors' and illustrators' current book projects. I really enjoyed her answers to these questions and hope I don't bore anyone to tears with mine.... Here we go.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span style="color: #454545;">1) What is the working title of your next book?</span></b></span></span></div>
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The two books I'm working on are: Duke Day for Annie and Sara, Leclere. I hope to have them out relatively the same time (within a month or so of each other).</div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Sara is a midgrade, and who knew my childhood is considered historical fiction. Okay, not all of it. However when talking with some writer friends about some of the inspirations for characters, some of the people who'd inspired my character Teedie was Ann and her family. In talking about Ann's childhood, most of my friends' hit me over the head with a wet noodle telling me I was missing one of the stories right in front of me (yah, I'm smart that way). I reconnected with Ann who was living at the Barron Center in Portland because her disease had progressed to the bed-ridden stage. She was still a ray of sunshine, inspiring, a positive energy in the face of any adversity. After talking to Ann, she was thrilled with the idea, and helped me until she passed away from multiple sclerosis. I've written extensively about this whole process here on this blog, so you can scroll if you'd like to learn a bit more.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span style="color: #454545;">3) What genre does your book fall under? </span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Sara is a historical midgrade fiction, for a slightly older or advanced reader. Annie is a historical faction picture book. It's based upon a real person, some real events in a real place. But because of the nature of it all (Old Orchard's face would sometimes change a few times a year from fires and natural disasters' for instance) there is a little artistic license.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span style="color: #454545;">4) What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hadn't thought about this one, lol, though I guess there are picture books made into movies (Polar Express and Hugo Cabret). I thought I was pretty good to sketch out my characters in my midgrade, they're real people and live in a real, though totally fabricated town, in my head.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Sara is a coming of age story as she struggles with all the problems a thirteen year old girl can have in such a tumultuous time, including wanting her sour grandmother's approval and how to keep the kitten she's attached to. In Duke Day, it's about a young girl anticipating and getting ready for a famous visitor in an active family and charming sea side town, in Maine.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">After years of the traditional route, I've decided to go the self-publishing route. The works have had a lot of editorial input, won scholarships and had good reader response, and I won't put it out unless it's the best I can do right now. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">The short answer is a few months. The truthful answer is a lifetime, and a number of years specifically. I needed to master Photoshop enough to make work I was comfortable with, and I'm looking for a specific feeling, that I've finally nailed. I also just finished a wonderful online course with Will Terry and Jake Parker, I know will benefit this and any future books on Visual Storytelling, so I'm stoked!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #454545;">Ellington is not a Street (Ntozake Shange, author, Kadir Nelson, illustrator) I love and look at Kadir Nelson and Floyd Cooper's work a lot, so though I can in no way compare mine to theirs, they did help inspire me. Or Duke Ellington: the Piano Prince and his Orchestra by Andrea and Brian Pinkney</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span style="color: #454545;">9) Who or what inspired you to write this book?</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">For Sara it was thinking how many mixed messages and conflations kids nowadays have to deal with. And though the times were very different, I realized I had pretty much the same challenges, perhaps this could be a way to relate history to the present, something I think needs to happen a lot more. We didn't get here all of a sudden. Knowing history helps us make more considered choices, I think. And the similar thought with Annie. The real Ann Cummings Searcy was a friend and an inspiration. She came from an accomplished family. Her grandfather was Shurtleff Emerson, the famous abolitionist and relative to Ralph Waldo. Duke had asked her to be a singer in his group, and her mother decided that wasn't the safest move for a lovely young woman, no matter how kind Mr. Ellington was, and instead she became the first state certified teacher in the Maine. Her brother was a well-known and respected local Republican and teacher in Scarborough, Maine and has a bit of highway named for him. He was a life long friend of Ed Muskie.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>10) What else about the book might pique the reader's interest?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I wrote the book in what I call syncopated rhyme which I hope is successful, in honor of Duke Ellingtion's signature style. Old Orchard Beach is not only a beautiful ocean side town, it's fun to see other times, I think, and this is an important bit of history that's not often reported on, the entrepreneurship of people like Ann's mom Rose Cummings.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18px;">I also hope people check out my first book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nanas-Gift-Agy-Wilson/dp/1475034547/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373864036&sr=8-1&keywords=Nana%27s+Gift%2C+Agy+Wilson" target="_blank">Nana's Gift</a>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thanks again, <a href="http://authorsandillustratorsinschools.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Linda</a> for tagging me! Up next the wonderful <a href="http://www.lisakopelke.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank">Lisa Kopelke</a>, author of Excuse Me! and Tissue Please! and A Younger Brother's Survival Guide!</span></span></span></div>
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<cite style="color: #185f18; display: inline-block; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px !important; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 1px; white-space: nowrap;"><b>lisakopelke</b>.blogspot.com/</cite><span style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 15px; white-space: nowrap;"></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509994260614947388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871274945166958472.post-74936685789663329192013-07-12T11:02:00.000-07:002013-07-12T11:11:27.815-07:00Viewed and reviewed.... and a slothful coloring page!Friday again! The weeks are passing too quickly! I'm changing it up a bit and putting the coloring page first and then my reviews. If you download, I hope you'll take the time to tell me how it prints and what you like! This week's coloring page is for my daughter Dominique who loves sloths (and Kara the assistant children's librarian at Walker Memorial Library, who also loves them, and yes, penguins are coming, perhaps a few times!). The inspiration for the page came directly from my friend <a href="https://www.facebook.com/happierthanabillionaire?fref=ts" target="_blank">Nadine Hays</a>' albums (personal and professional), she wrote <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Happier-Than-Billionaire-Quitting-Moving/dp/1463536100/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373652644&sr=8-1&keywords=Happier+than+a+Billionaire" target="_blank">Happier than a Billionaire</a> and its <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Happier-Than-Billionaire-The-Sequel/dp/1481098225/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1373652644&sr=8-2&keywords=Happier+than+a+Billionaire" target="_blank">sequel</a>.<br />
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Now to the reviews!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Walker-Wears-Pants-Reformer/dp/0807549908/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373646528&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=Mary+Parker+Wears+the+Pants" target="_blank">Mary Walker Wears the Pants</a></b></span><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.cherylharness.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank">Cheryl Harness</a></span></i></b><br />
illustrated by <span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="http://www.carlomolinari.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank">Carlo Molinari</a></i></b></span><br />
Albert Whitman & Company, 2013<br />
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Fascinating story of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker (b. 1832) one of the first female doctors and a Civil War hero. The writing is engaging, and this is more of a picture story book than a picture book, so would be for an older reader. The one pet peeve I had, and it's more of a personal thing (and perhaps because I've worked as a nurse), sometimes, the profession of doctor seems to be held in a higher esteem by the author than nursing, which denigrates the accomplishments of Barton, Dix and Alcott. They are DIFFERENT professions, and both are necessary. That being said, the story kept me interested and I loved the character, delicacy and arrangement of Molinari's illustrations.<br />
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Books by <b><i>Cheryl Harness</i></b>: T<b>homas Jefferson</b>; <b><span style="color: #0b5394;">They're Off!:The Story of the Pony Express</span></b>; <b>Ye Olde Weird But True: 300 Outrageous Facts from History</b>; <b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Remember the Ladies: 100 Great American Women</span></b>; <b>The Tragic Tale of Narcissa Whitman and a Faithful History of the Oregon Trail</b>;<b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> The Remarkable Ben Franklin</span></b>; <b>Abe Lincoln Goes to Washington: 1837-1865</b><br />
Books by <b><i>Carlo Molinari</i></b>: <b>How to Draw the Coolest and Most Creative Tattoo Art</b> (Velocity: Drawing, retold by <b><i>Mike Nash</i></b>); <b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol: The Classic Christmas Tale Retold with Magical Surprises </span></b>(<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Martin Gould</span></i></b>, adapter, <b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Chris Gould</span></i></b> co-illustrator); <b>Come Vento Nelle Risaie</b> (in Italian)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mighty-Lalouche-Matthew-Olshan/dp/0375862250/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1373647254&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Mighty+Lalouche" target="_blank">The Mighty Lalouche</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="http://www.matthewolshan.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank">Matthew Olshan</a></i></b></span><br />
illustrated by <span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="http://www.sophieblackall.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank">Sophie Blackall</a></i></b></span><br />
Schwartz & Wade Books, Random House Children's Books, 2013<br />
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I come from a family of book lovers and pugilists (not to mention French, lol) so I was already inclined to like this book. It was fun in a nostalgic way, and though a work of fiction it was born of a love of the era and in fact. The odd thing about this story, it's about fighting for what you love without violence, and despite the subject matter. The illustrations are charming, I love Blackall's style delicate, old-timey watercolor cut out illustrations they have a distinct flavor perfectly reflective of the text and story. And she mixes it all up with humor. A reluctant reader might like this book as well.<br />
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Books by <b><i>Matthew Olshan</i></b>: Finn; Marshlands: A Novel; Flown Sky<br />
Books by <b><i>Sophie Blackall:</i></b> <b>Ivy and Bean </b>books (<b><i>Annie Barrows</i></b>, author); <b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Ruby's Wish</span></b> (<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Shirin Kim</span></i></b>, author); <b>Mr. and Mrs. Bunny-- Detectives, Extraordinaire! </b>(<b><i>Polly Horvath</i></b>, author);<b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> Wombat and Walkabout </span></b>(<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Carol Diggory Shields</span></i></b>, author); <b>Big Red Lollipop </b>(<b><i>Rukhsana Khan,</i></b> author);<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Missed Connections: Love Lost and Found</span></b>; <b>Pecan Baby</b> (<b><i>Jacqueline Woodson</i></b>, author);<b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> Edwin Speaks Up </span></b>(<i><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">April Stevens</span></b></i>, author); <b>Meet Wild Boars </b>(<b><i>Meg Rosoff</i></b>, author)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beginners-Guide-Running-Away-Home/dp/0375867392/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373647895&sr=8-1&keywords=the+beginner%27s+guide+to+running+away+from+home" target="_blank">The Beginner's Guide to Running Away From Home</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="http://www.jenniferlaruehuget.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank">Jennifer Larue Huget</a></i></b></span><br />
illustrated by <span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="http://www.rednosestudio.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank">Red Nose Studio</a></i></b></span><br />
Schwartz & Wade Books, Random House Children's Books, 2013<br />
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I have a policy of only reviewing books I like. The reason is two fold. I know how hard it is to write and illustrate a book, so I don't want to be the one to dash someone's work or dreams-- there's enough out there to do that. Also I really don't like wasting my time on the negatives at this point. I nearly didn't review this book. The illustrations were very different. But by the fourth page, I was hooked. The illustrations are handbuilt studio sets interspersed with graphite drawings. Some of it very exaggerated, some feels "real". A bit disconcerting. Yet it goes with the voice of the book, the angst of the beleaguered middle-child, not named, who gives some of the best tips about running away, since I ran away (to the end of the drive, much as Huget's children) when I was six. The family feels like the family, and I found myself giggling.<br />
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Books by <b><i>Jennifer Larue Huget</i></b>: <b>How to Clean Your Room in 10 Easy Steps</b> (<b><i>Edward Koren</i></b>, illustrator); <b><span style="color: #0b5394;">The Best Birthday Party Ever </span></b>(<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">LeUyen Pham</span></i></b>, illustrator); <b>Thanks a LOT, Emily Post </b>(<b><i>Alexandra Boiger</i></b>, illustrator)<br />
Books by <b><i>Red Nose Studio</i></b>: <b>Here Comes the Garbage Barage! </b>(<b><i>Jonah Winter</i></b>, author); <b><span style="color: #0b5394;">The Look Book </span></b>(<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Chris Sickels</span></i></b>, author)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Scorpions-Strange-Wonderful-Laurence-Pringle/dp/1590784731/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1373648245&sr=1-1&keywords=Scorpions%21+Strange+and+Wonderful" target="_blank">Scorpions! Strange and Wonderful</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="http://www.laurencepringle.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank">Laurence Pringle</a></i></b></span><br />
illustrated by <span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Meryl-Henderson/e/B001IQZ97Y" target="_blank">Meryl Henderson</a></i></b></span><br />
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Another book I almost passed on. Not because it wasn't good, though, but I'd already reviewed a picture story book, and frankly, I wanted to draw! But seeing as The Beginner's Guide was a surprise, I figured I could at least take a look. I was hooked. I learned things I didn't know (Scorpions are born alive and a part of the arachnid family), and just LOVED the illustrations. If I hadn't set my mind on how I was going to work my w-i-p, I would be trying to do similar... Henderson's work is just gorgeous. For any science buff, eccentric kid (that would be me), this is a little bit more of a read, but I'm glad I took the time!<br />
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Books by <b><i>Laurence Pringle</i></b>: <b>Dog of Discovery: A Newfoundland's Adventures with Lewis and Clark</b>; <b><span style="color: #0b5394;">American Slave, American Hero: York of the Lewis and Clark Expedition</span></b> (<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Cornelius Van Wright</span></i></b>, illustrator, <b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Ying Hwa Hu</span></i></b>, illustrator); <b>Billions of Years, Amazing Changes: the Story of Evolution </b>(<b><i>Steve Jenkins</i></b>, illustrator, <b><i>Jerry A. Coyne</i></b>, foreward);<b><span style="color: #0b5394;"> Crows! Strange and Wonderful </span></b>(<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Bob Marstall</span></i></b>, illustrator); <b>Alligators! </b>(<b><i>Meryl Henderson</i></b>, illustrator)<br />
Books by <b><i>Meryl Henderson</i></b>: <b>Milton Hershey, Young Chocolatier (Childhood of Famous Americans)</b> (<b><i>M.M. Boch</i></b>, author); <span style="color: #0b5394; font-weight: bold;">Bats! Strange and Wonderful</span><b> (</b><i style="color: #0b5394; font-weight: bold;">Laurence Pringle</i>, author)<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509994260614947388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871274945166958472.post-71911032337835125142013-07-10T21:05:00.001-07:002013-07-10T21:26:02.439-07:00Make like a baby and head out!Crude joke that always made me laugh as a kid. But it's so appropriate for this post. I FEEL like a baby with lots of the processes, whether it's playing with Photoshop or learning the various social media (something a creative artist needs to do in order to get their work out). There was a time to say anything about my art or writing was to be considered "arrogant, and full of myself" but how do people know to support you, unless you share that with them, so I'm now in the uncomfortable mode of figuring out how to share my work without being too full of myself, because it's always been a bit of an "either or" for me. Anyhow, now that I'm beginning to blog consistently, I'd been brainstorming how to increase content. (one idea is asking some of my writing and illustrating friends about their process or studio-- something I'm nosy about, as well as likes, what do you think? Are you nosy about that stuff to? If so I want to think up some of the less asked questions and those that wouldn't take a long time or thought to respond to as most are very busy!). One idea was to take some of the things my friends love and have photos of, as well as my interests and combine them for my coloring pages. This week will be my daughter's love of sloths and my friend <a href="https://www.facebook.com/happierthanabillionaire" target="_blank">Nadine Hays</a> photos from where she lives (she's the author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Happier-Than-Billionaire-Quitting-Moving/dp/1463536100/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373489521&sr=8-1&keywords=Happier+than+a+Billionaire" target="_blank">Happier Than a Billionaire</a>). Next week is either turtles or horses, that kind of thing.<br />
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Anyhow, I'd promised to change the header out every few months, and wanted to keep that promise. It forces me to create new content, and means I'm practicing at becoming quicker at producing finished art. The wonderful class that I'm taking from the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/Schoolsadoptingschools/?fref=ts" target="_blank">School of Visual Storytelling</a> is winding down, and this is one of the assignments (way to go! three tiered multitasking!), though I added the book, because it fits the storyline of a distracted protag and my blog.<br />
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So a little bit of the process:<br />
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Now if I wasn't under a time constraint, what I should have done is a FEW versions of this. I could have made the silhouettes of the dog and perhaps the girl's face a little stronger, and that may have had a better impact. But I set the time limit on the header pieces at 5-7 hours. The first few may end up being rough, but I hope and suspect they will get better as I do more. When I used to work with colored pencils I worked in a grisaille fashion. That's laying the values in then laying the color on top. I work that way in Photoshop as well:</div>
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I'm trying more and more to lay the color in properly. Part of the problem is my programs aren't properly loaded, and the old computer I'm working on won't let me uninstall and reinstall anything, and it's not mine. This may or may not become a moot point next week, if MY old computer is fixed. But for now, one really shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. Next came the color. I'd been thinking of the spread for Annie I'm working on and will blog when it's finished, probably part one this week, the second part next week as I'll be redoing it to see if what I see in my head, I've figured how to render it) and thought I'd see if I could make it work in this piece. I could not. Hence next weeks's post and redo...<br />
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I could see room for improvements, and will make those changes and change out the bottom part of my banner to reflect the new character of the piece, as well as the fact that I write AND illustrate, though I'm tending to concentrate on the art process for now in my blogging. Expect to put it up sometimes today, either before or after my last heartbreaking class with <a href="http://willterry.com/" target="_blank">Will</a> and <a href="http://mrjakeparker.com/" target="_blank">Jake</a>. It was such a wonderful thing. I learned a great deal from the process, some of which most definitely will follow through in my work...<br />
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Check out my new header! And notice my new logo! A suggestion from Jake Parker, which I think is a great one, as I do a few different things. I had fun!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509994260614947388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871274945166958472.post-6061501761655311992013-07-08T17:22:00.001-07:002013-07-08T17:22:10.259-07:00On genius, daemons and amusing muses (reprint from my Facebook oped)<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.5px;">
When I was a kid and people talked about my "gifts" as if I were a monkey savant. Rarely was there praise for what I did, because it was a gift after all, and not something I'd actually worked for and no one wanted it "going to my head". Agnes could sing, could draw, do all manner of things in a surprising manner (so much so that if I was too "good" at it they took it away because it was "unnatural"). The adults deliberately praised other's abilities and rarely heard about my own, again that "swelled head." </div>
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There were tons of missed opportunities, and nurturing any talents I had was lackdaisickle at best. I worked hard, and if I wanted my "gifts" to grow, I was the one that invested in the money, time and effort. On this side of the fence, precious little was given to me, because the other side of the fence had stacked the deck, so it seemed.</div>
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To say I was a pissed off kid and young adult would be an understatement.</div>
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There were many other dark and dire sitiuations in my life that made my art a necessary tool to survival. But you wouldn't know that by my art. My truths and realities and thoughts and feelings were far too large or far too underground for me to instill into anything my hands created. </div>
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I detested the dank and dirty, the moldy and decaying of life, I wanted only to reflect the glowing and the affirming. I wanted--- want to only uplift, move on, move forward, do well, seek approval, BE LOVED.</div>
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As I grew up upon moving out, I wrestled with the idea of my art(s) being other than myself or being so totally me, that was how I defined myself. (Motherhood and my art, that's me, I dunno if I'll ever be able to see myself differently). I was able to acknowledge that often times it DOES feel like something other than me. </div>
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A case in point for a project I hope to bring to fruition this year. Duke Day for Annie.</div>
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A life-time in the making. A friendship, lots of conversations, admiration, I sat with Ann when she sang at Deli One often times, and later, my young daughters and I would visit her at the Barron's Center. Talking about another project (Sara LeClere, my midgrade novel, yep still in progress) I was chatting on a message board with friends about the sources for the characters and was talking about Ann and her family and how they'd informed my character Teedie and her family. A few pointed out that there most definitely a book in Ann's story. The more I thought about it, the more I realized they were right.</div>
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I interviewed her, took notes, drew some drawings. Motherhood, the loss of my mother and bunches of other things interfered. </div>
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Besides, what qualified me to tell her story? I mean yeah, I loved and intimately knew Old Orchard Beach. I knew, loved and understood Annie. I wasn't black though (yet we shared white and Native American roots), I hadn't lived during the Depression (but I could SEE it, FEEL it, from lots of conversations with my grandmother and others of her generation). And I wasn't a REAL writer. </div>
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Was I?</div>
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I went to work as a seasonal in hopes of being hired permanently (nope) at L.L. Beans. I ran into someone who knew Ann too, had worked at Deli One. Decided to bring in the working dummy to show him (he'd been an English Major way back when). I brought it in and showed him and he said "Yes it is sad, she died."I'd lost touch with her and had no idea. She'd died two days prior and her obituary was in the paper that day. I could feel myself get progressively sick from that moment on. By the time I got home I was massively ill. Within a day I was delirious with fever. I dunno if it was guilt or what. I remember though just being totally preoccupied with the fact that Ann had died and I hadn't known about it. And the lack of momentum of this project. Realize also I very rarely get a fever, but if I do, I should seek medical care (nope, didn't). Sometime, somewhere in the middle of the delirium a crystal thought, feeling, SOMETHING came to me. It was my story to tell, and Hillel echoed in my ears "If not me, then WHO?" </div>
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Then the first line came to me "Sun's up, Out of bed!"</div>
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The fever broke shortly after that and I've been working on it since. I dream or zone a lot of my work and ideas. So I DO work hard, but I also think this is a gift.</div>
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I've always been fearful people would find me a fraud. I don't know if that came from the fact that people treat me like a savant (I guess my outer demeanor and appearance is a weird reconcile to what they think of my work). Or whatever this thing that has been with me my whole life would decide to abandon me and I'm alone. I lost my singing voice (though I sing out of spite sometimes still). I see all kinds of things and usually differently, so it's been a strange wobbly line, this life of mine and I didn't know if I wanted to forget about it, or just embrace the difficult, the challenge, the fear or what I am-- different. Hence all this posts about embracing the fear. Yup, I decided.</div>
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Some have liked me BECAUSE of my gifts. My husband's first thoughts when I told him I sang and drew was "SURE, ya do!" He said he was pleasantly surprised because I actually did what I said I did. Of course there's been no money in it, and in this economy, that's a hard sell for a hard working man. The addendum to this post has been the marriage hasn't survived, and the double dog dare is to not let anger run my life. I've not been as successful at that one as I'd like to be.</div>
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But a friend just shared a clip from TED (I'll share it here too), and it was a little more of the transformation I hope to achieve at this point in my life. I'd been RESENTFUL of my muse, genius, daemon. I'd not honored that part of my soul, that aperture if it's not a part of me, then what let's that in, AT ALL. I've been so fearful and driven to try to find a way out of our dire financial straits I've just chased my bushy tail around in ever tightening circles. I've allowed other people to belittle me to the point where, even now, I struggle with not feeling a failure and worthless, when that isn't even MINE. I've always known I'm not, but have surrounded myself with poison fruit so I've never strayed far from the tether upon my neck, the making of pretty things.</div>
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Except my life has been far too rich for that. There are times I've been in the mire. Stood in the manure. Mucked through the decay. You can't have beauty without ALL of the experience. I've been derisive of "pretty" because it has little meaning. But beauty is something we can all see, accept, acknowledge and it actually has meaning to us. </div>
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Listening to Elisabeth Gilbert speak opened up something. Perhaps I am able to do the things I do not only because I'm remarkable, but because I see the remarkable in ALL that I see. And perhaps that is my purpose. Perhaps the genie that has fled, whether it's of me or out of me, will come and stand next to my heart if I start telling my truth and let the feelings shine. And perhaps if that works, that is my purpose. I've met so many who cloud their glow as I have done. It's sad when one loves thugs and browbeaters, because if they have the upperhand you WILL be beaten down if you stay. But if thugs and browbeaters learn to love themselves, then perhaps they can become the shining heros they were meant to be. For now, I've turned down the path of the road less taken, and my muse accompanies me, more and more often.</div>
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Have to go let my muse in. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D86x-u-tz0MA%26feature%3Dshare&h=fAQGEzAKO&s=1" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86x-u-tz0MA&feature=share</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509994260614947388noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871274945166958472.post-84659107543629070282013-07-07T10:28:00.000-07:002013-07-07T10:28:03.767-07:00Trepidation SundayI had been hoping to be knee deep in my book so it could be published by September. That deadline may still happen if I sit down and keep at it, but it may be slightly later. There is a fine line between acquiring skills, doing the research and taking the time to do your best work, and procrastinating.<br />
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One would think that weren't true, unless you realize somethings are just so big. There are about a ten projects in various stages, but after <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nanas-Gift-Agy-Wilson/dp/1475034547/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373217530&sr=8-1&keywords=Nana%27s+Gift%2C+Agy+Wilson" target="_blank">Nana's Gift</a>, this is the oldest and most dear.<br />
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It's genesis was when I was a young grrl, when I used to visit with Ann. She was inspirational in ways I have a hard time describing. I could call her "bubbly", but you might infer "frivolous" and perhaps it's a fine distinction, but she truly was effervescent. It was so hard to be depressed around her. When I would go to Deli One, I literally would have a dollar to my name to spend, but loved listening to the music (and had a bit of a crush on the jazz bass player), and it was the only social time I had, as I was in art school, dealing with family problems and working full-time, that covered my expenses. I would nurse one cup of tea, and sitting with Ann gave me cover or I would have been thrown out, but the restaurant did institute a one refill of hot water because of me.<br />
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Years later visiting The Barron Center, because Ann's multiple sclerosis had developed to the point she was bed ridden, she hadn't changed from the woman who shared her music and stories. There were times I'd go in, and she would be blind. The nature of the disease, she didn't know if she'd ever get her sight back. She was still Ann, the effervescent, the drop of sunshine. She spoke of how a town she taught school in, wrote a petition to not sell her a house because of the color of her skin, and how one grateful student's parent sold her the home she came to live in. She talked of how her brother had to go out of state (not Eddie, he was the only one to not go to college, but that was because he didn't want to, but Emerson, who has a strip of highway named after him in Scarborough, Maine). When he was friends with Ed Muskie, he had a bit of coverage, but when the University found out he was tutoring Muskie, the made the rule "no coloreds" could play the piano. She dealt with a life time of these attitudes, gracefully, full of humor, not letting anyone define her, so what chance did a stupid disease have?<br />
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And how do you honor someone like that? I spent a good portion of my time feeling not worthy. I'm a wicked whiner, sometimes. What I saw and heard in my head, I didn't really have the skill to accommodate. But I couldn't let it go. She was MY friend. Old Orchard Beach is one of MY favorite places, I know this place, people, history it's what I daydream about, all those lovely stories (remember all the other projects, lol).<br />
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The divide was so far apart.<br />
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The first line popped into my head though from a dream and I began writing. After she'd passed, more of the book "popped" in my head. A conversation with a couple of experts and their comments that I knew more about it than they did, further bolstered me. I didn't want it all to be lost.<br />
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After that I created a dummy. This is the original drawing from the dummy of the spread I'm working on now:<br />
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There was a lot of rewriting, some editorial comment and near misses, I stopped drawing and put it away, not sure what I wanted to do. Then I learned Photoshop and decided I could self publish.<br />
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I chose this spread as the first, there were few changes to be made, it was designed how I wanted it to appear. Also, the one that follows it should help me get into the "continuity" swing of things.<br />
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There are quite a few challenges for me with this book. It's a work of fiction and fact, so the facts have to be correct and the fiction plausible. And Ann is no longer here to corroborate. Old Orchard Beach changed from year to year, so getting a picture of what it actually looked like at the time was a challenge as well, and there's only one photo reference of Ann with Eddie. It is important to me, the character actually reflect her, in body and in spirit. Some of the editorial comment wanted more to do with Duke, but you know she didn't reminisce about that as much, other than the singing and him taking her on the rides. I won't manufacture what she didn't tell me. Another challenge, my life has fallen apart in the last few years, so piecing together what I have is even harder as some of it is scattered, and the means to get from here to there or even work on it has become a hurdle.<br />
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This is actually a history of people and my friend, I believe was an important part of that history, though she would probably denoue it. I will get this done (and hopefully all my other projects, daunting and wonderful in their own way), but realize I feel unworthy every step of the way. I fear I will spend my heart and soul on this, my desperation of situation my shine through instead what I want to: What it is to be a kid looking forward and embracing the possibilities and problems of her life. People will notice the book and then I will not only be the one thinking I'm unworthy of the project. Or worse, people won't notice at all.<br />
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But the words, "if not me, then who?" keeps ringing in my ears.<br />
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So, I waited for this class (that was a good choice, this will be a much better book for it.). I played with some of the angles per the lesson on perspective, trying to make it more dramatic (why do I want to say DRAW-MATIC, lol, I have such a punny brain!). It still didn't work.<br />
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I have the challenge of designing a book that can be printed so the spreads read together and well. But also the spreads can be divided in half and the book still reads well, in the e-format. I think I've mostly done this on the piece, especially in light of the spread/two pages to follow it. I realized I was putting off FINISHING IT. I decided I would write about it (accountability!) and then FINISH IT. I will share the next few incarnations and the finished piece in the next blog post. I shall embrace my freakin' fear, and I hope the love and honor I feel comes through the work. Wish me the best!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09509994260614947388noreply@blogger.com0