FUN STUFF: Tara Lazar Visits Second Grade Class on Virtual Book Tour

Last week my daughter’s second grade class had the great pleasure of a free and fabulous 30-minute Skype visit with the talented and funny Tara Lazar. Tara’s debut picture book, THE MONSTORE  (Simon and Schuster, 2013), hit shelves June 4th and she’s been celebrating with blog posts, book signings, and virtual visits to classrooms all over the country. Tara’s visit to Room 8 was the perfect culminating activity for these fun-loving, hard-working, inquisitive second graders. All year, my daughter and her classmates have been honing their reading and writing skills. They’ve discussed what it means to be an author, never imagining they’d actually get to meet one!

Excitement buzzed in the days leading up to Tara’s visit. Ahead of time, the students read and thought about the story, then brainstormed questions to ask Tara.  My daughter was especially excited because they also got to vote on what type of pajamas Tara would wear for the visit. They chose ice-skate pajamas.

Here’s a shot of my daughter’s teacher standing by the class questions just moments before the visit began. Just out of view the children sat on the floor facing the smartboard, oozing silent excitement as they waited for Tara to appear.

Then, with the squeak of a rubber ducky (which Tara held), there she was!  And what a treat! In the fastest thirty minutes I’ve ever experienced, Tara first introduced herself, using those cute pajamas as an ice breaker.  Turns out she used to be a professional ice skater!

Next she read THE MONSTORE with tremendous and delightful expression. Then, she opened the floor for questions, answering each one in a wonderfully kid-friendly way. For example,  ”How long did it take to publish THE MONSTORE?” they wanted to know. “More than half your life!” she replied, making the kids do the math.

Finally, she had a parting assignment for the kids to create the monster they’d pick if they could could go to THE MONSTORE.  What would its name be?  What would it look like? What would its talents be?  She even offered to post their monsters on her website!  How cool is that?!  (From the expressions on the kids faces, I’d say very cool.)

Thank you, Tara, for offering these wonderful virtual class visits. What a great way to get kids excited about reading and writing!

For more information on Tara visit her blog.  You can purchase her book online or at your favorite independent bookstore.

The BOWLING BALL: Finding Creativity in the Crud

Lately, my 12 year old and I have been taking after-dinner walks together.  The excuse, not that we need one, is that our sweet dog prefers walking in a little pack.  She clips along faster and sniffs with greater joy when my son is along.  Maybe that’s because he, too, loves exploring. Whereas, I skirt fallen trees or babbling creeks, my son and dog see those as opportunities to investigate.

It was on one of these  back-woods adventures that my son spotted his latest “must-have” treasure. I don’t even know how it caught his eye, for it was almost completely buried beneath spring grass and old decaying leaves at the base of a tall oak.  ”Yuck, don’t touch it!” I started to say, but it was too late. He was already holding the cruddy old bowling ball snug against his shirt with two hands. It was so worn, it didn’t even have paint on it. In fact, it looked rather prehistoric, a stony rain-pitted sphere with three finger holes.

Of course, he wanted to keep it. But, you have to understand our basement and back yard are already full of found-treasures. There’s the old shutter my son turned into a ramp and the old lawnmower wheels that, with an old discarded crate, became a wagon. Then up in his room, we have more “upcycled” creations including a space vehicle made from straws, clay, and old juice cartons.

So, in a selfish attempt to preserve some aura of serenity and beauty at home, I said, “No, honey, it’s just more clutter.”

Then, bless his freckles, he sighed, “Come on, Mom. Please? I’m a creative kid. I’ll invent a new lawn game or something.”

And, you guessed it, I caved (pun intended). But I’m actually glad we took that ball home. Not only has it inspired lots of fun outdoor play, it has also reminded me that inspiration can be found everywhere, even in the seeming grit and crud of daily life. Arguably, the best ideas are the ones that seem a little messy at first.  They’re the ones that end up gripping the reader with their unexpected freshness.

This week, don’t overlook that messy bit of inspiration that comes your way. Instead, lug it home. Roll it around, wrestle with it, let it sit in the living room, grit and all, and maybe, just maybe it’ll inspire your creative side in new and unexpected ways.

Happy Writing!

GUEST BLOG: Cutting the Deadwood with Pam Brunskill

Today it is my pleasure to have talented children’s writer Pam Brunskill as my guest.  Pam and I met through NJSCBWI and quickly became trusted critique buddies and friends.  She has a keen editorial eye and today will be chatting about the importance of editing our work.  Take it away, Pam!

My family and I are preparing to move, and nearly every person I tell says how great it will be to de-clutter.  These perky optimists don’t acknowledge how emotionally draining it is to clear out the pack-n-play, my father’s record player, and the first computer my husband and I purchased. Every time another pile leaves the house, it feels like a part of me is being ripped away. But the reality is that all of these things are just deadwood.

Deadwood—the dead branches on a tree.  In writing, it’s the term I use to describe words and phrases that don’t add to the plot or theme in a story.  While these words may have been necessary in crafting the plot and in understanding a character, if they slow the pacing and don’t further the story in any way, they have to go.  When I taught 6^th grade Language Arts, I cheerfully told my students, “Cut the deadwood,” and a flash of something akin to pain would cross their faces.

For some writers, cutting deadwood is just as difficult as it is for me to shed my things.  Metaphors that took hours to craft, phrases that make you laugh out loud, or names of characters that make you sentimental can all be powerful motivators for wanting to keep such words.  If you’re one of these writers, hitting the delete key can feel like a part of you is being ripped away.

But, trees flourish without deadwood.  And, if I’m honest with myself, I like walking into a de-cluttered room.  It feels fresher, freer, and more inviting.  If you struggle with cutting deadwood in your writing, cut and paste those favorite phrases into a file for future reference.  But they’ve served their purpose for the present story, and your main idea will be stronger without them.

You can thank me later for all the deadwood I cut from this post.  I’m sure you don’t miss it.

And I don’t either.

Pam Brunskill is a former 3rd and 6th grade teacher as well as an instructor in Bloomsburg University’s Early Childhood and Adolescent Education Department. She is currently pursuing publication for some of her picture books, which she hopes will be enjoyed by children, parents, and teachers alike. Look for her article, “Flopping Frogs,” this September in Highlights for Children.

You can find her on Twitter @PamBrunskill.

SPREADING A LITTLE WRITERLY LOVE: Thank you, Linda Strachan!

Last week I received a beautiful signed copy of Linda Strachan’s picture book WHAT COLOUR IS LOVE? First published in 2004, it’s the darling story of a little elephant who asks his jungle friends what color love is. No answer, however, seems quite complete until his mother chimes in. I don’t want to spoil the end, except to say it’s charming. Delightful as the story is, my copy has an extra special twist – it’s in Portuguese!

There’s a neat bit of back story here. I first learned of Linda Strachan and her delightful QUAL É A COR DO AMOR (that’s the Portuguese title and doesn’t it just roll off the tongue divinely) at Picture Book Den, a top-notch blog written by an independent group of picture book authors from Britain and Ireland. They post twice weekly on topics that are all picture book related. Last October Linda Strachan posted a piece about how over the years several of her books (and she has published some 50+ books for all age levels) have been translated into other languages including French, Portuguese and Irish Gaelic. In celebration of the 10th edition of the Portuguese edition of WHAT COLOUR IS LOVE, Linda offered a giveaway.  All one had to do was comment, which I did.  I requested a Portuguese edition because my father, who grew up in Brazil, speaks it fluently.

But October ended badly here with Hurricane Sandy and we were without power for over a week.  By the time our power returned, I was in forward motion and didn’t ever check back to see if I’d won the giveaway. Then, a few weeks ago, I was again reading a Picture Book Den post by Linda Strachan and again I commented.  She recognized my name and got in touch with me.  Long story short, I am now the grateful recipient of a Portuguese edition of Linda’s lovely picture book.  My parents are visiting for a few days and listening to my father read it to my children has been LOVE-FILLED music to my ears.  Thank you, Linda, for spreading the love and following up with me!

For more about Linda and her impressive collection of published books visit her website.

CONTESTS: Adding Flowers To Your Writerly Bouquet

Each year, I sit down and list my writing resolutions for the coming year.  This year, in addition to challenging myself to a daily mix of picture books and poetry, I’ve set a goal to enter at least two children’s writing contests.

Why? Because contests are a fun way to stretch myself by writing to the contest requirements.  They also provide nice change of pace from picture books and poetry. I’ve entered contests in the past – both the Highlights Annual Fiction Contest as well as several of the Children’s Writer contests.  I even won the grand prize, once, a long time ago, when the Children’s Writer ran history profile contest.  But even in the non-winning years, the entries I have written have helped shape my voice and skill as a writer. Here are three well-recognized, legitimate contests for children’s writers that I recommend, if you, too, decide that you’d like to stretch yourself in this way.

Highlights for Children Annual Fiction Contest.  Contest themes vary from year to year.  This year’s call was for stories for beginning readers, up to 500 words. All entries must be postmarked between January 1 and January 31 of the contest year and be previously unpublished. Winners are announced in June. There is no fee to enter. Click here for more details. http://www.highlights.com/highlights-fiction-contest

Pockets Annual Fiction Contest.  Entries accepted any time between March 1 and August 15 of the contest year. There is no theme, but you should read their writers’ guidelines to get an idea of their style and needs. Entries must be between 750 and 1,000 words. Winners are announced November 1.  There is no fee to enter. Click here for more details. http://pockets.upperroom.org/write-for-us/annual-fiction-contest/

Children’s Writer Contests. The themes of these contests varies.  Past themes include middle-grade mystery, and poetry or verse story. The current contest is for a fiction piece about exploration for kindergarteners, up to 150 words. Contest entries must be received by July 12.  Winners will be notified in the October 2013 issue of their newsletter.  There is a $15.00 entry fee, which entitles you to an 8-month subscription to their top-notch newsletter about trends and tips in the current children’s writing market. Click here for more details.  http://www.thechildrenswriter.com/af627

EDITOR INTERVIEW: From Sub” to “Pub” – A chat with Joelle Dujardin, Senior Editor at HIGHLIGHTS FOR CHILDREN

On a chilly October afternoon in 2011, I mailed a rhyming rebus entitled “Mouse House” to the Editorial Offices of Highlights for Children. A few days later that rebus arrived. I am certain it was one of many submissions to arrive that day. Writers like me may wonder what happens to those submissions after they arrive. To shed some light on the journey a submission makes from inbox to publication, here’s Joelle Dujardin, senior editor at Highlights for Children. She currently edits fiction and poetry. Welcome, Joelle. Let’s get started.

Laura:  How many submissions do you receive a month and what’s
the first thing that happens to a submission once it’s received?

Joelle: We receive several hundred submissions a month. Once a manuscript is received, it’s logged into our database, then passed along to the appropriate editor. We sometimes have an outside reader assist with fiction submissions addressed to “Manuscript Coordinator,” but if a piece of fiction has my name on the envelope, it will be passed directly to me.

Laura: Using “Mouse House” as a sample case, can you describe the selection process?  What percentage of submissions get accepted?

Joelle: We purchase approximately 3% of the submissions we receive. We wish we could purchase every good manuscript we see, but space in the magazine is limited, and it would be a disservice to writers to accept more than we could ever hope to publish. If a manuscript is exceptionally well written, feels appropriate for Highlights, and is not like anything else we have in our inventory, we often share it among the editors here. After that, we might accept the manuscript, decline it, or ask for a revision.

Laura: After acceptance, I’ve heard that all accepted pieces are filed.  How is the actual publication of a piece, such as “Mouse House”, determined? What is the lead time?

Joelle: Purchased manuscripts go into what we call an “active inventory,” which we visit repeatedly when making decisions about upcoming issues. Because we like to balance each issue so there’s a variety of content, manuscripts can sometimes wait a while before they make it into the magazine. “Mouse House” was purchased in early 2012, then took a fairly fast track into the May 2013 issue. That may seem like a while, but we actually started planning for the May issue more than a year ago. From our perspective, “Mouse House” made it into the magazine nearly immediately.

Laura:  Once the publication date is set, what happens next?

Joelle: After the publication date is set, the primary editor does an initial edit, then passes the manuscript on to a copy editor and a secondary editor for additional suggestions. The primary editor makes more changes, writes up art notes, then sends the piece to the art department. The art department lays out the copy, which is then shared with the author. (The author at that point has an opportunity to make comments.) Once the editor approves the layout, the art director chooses an illustrator. The art director and editors review sketches before the illustrator is given approval to create the final art. Then the entire piece is reviewed once more by a few editors at composite-proofs stage.

Laura: Thanks for taking us on a journey from submission to publication. Before we wrap up, what’s your number one piece of advice for aspiring children’s magazine writers?

Joelle: Research the market before sending out your stories. There are so many different magazines publishing wonderful work, and knowing where your stories fit best will give you the greatest chance of success.

Laura:  Thanks so much, Joelle, for taking time to enlighten us on what happens in the journey from submission to publication.  Writers interested in learning more about submitting work to Highlights for Children should check out their editorial guidelines and current needs.

MOTHER’S DAY CRAFT: Tea for Two and Book Marks Too!

As class parent for my daughter’s second grade class, I wanted to put together a Mother’s Day craft that was purposeful, unique, and easy-to-make. That’s a tall order, but almost immediately my art-loving eight year old said, “What about watercolor book marks?” And I answered, “Great idea!”

For fun, we decided each kid will make not one, but two, bookmarks, matching in every way except for size. For gift-giving pizazz, we’re packaging them in clear cellophane bags tied with ribbon. The package will include two tea bags along with a pre-printed poem.

Mother’s Day is still a week away, but I have feeling these will be a colorful hit. So be our guest and make your own.  Happy Mother’s Day!

Mother/Child Book Marks (with Tea)

What you need:

thick watercolor paper cut into mother-sized and child-sized book marks

watercolors and brushes             jars or cups with water for rinsing brushes

assorted colored and textured yarn     pencil or pen (for note on back)

hole puncher        tea bags             clear gift bags and printed gift tag (see poem below)

How to make them:

First, have each child write a sweet note on the back of the “mother-sized” book mark.  Then have them sign their names and date each book mark.

Second, have the children place the book marks side by side and right side up.  Then using watercolors paint have them paint matching designs on both.  (Tip:  Encourage children to rinse brush in water between colors so book mark colors don’t get “muddy”.)

Once the paint has dried, punch a hole in the bottom of the book mark. Loop, then tie, several colorful yarn or ribbon strands for the tassel.

Finally, have the kids place their mother/child bookmarks, along with two bags of tea, in a clear cellophane gift bag.  Tie the bags shut with festive ribbon along with an optional pre-printed tag using the poem below.

It’s Mother’s Day

Hip-hip-hooray!

Let’s find a spot

To read today.

Side by side,

Just you and me

With book marks

And two cups of tea!

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

Love,

Child’s name

Beetle Legs and Onion Grass

On a recent walk, my kids noticed how much Sophie, our cockapoo, uses her nose and ears. It’s first with nose and ears, not eyes, that she notices that cottontail bunny or crinkling leaf or sweet clover.  She even sniffs out long forgotten, and apparently smelly, tennis balls, hidden deep in our pachysandra.

Just for fun, my kids and I sometimes close our eyes and try to soak up the world from Sophie’s perspective. When we do, it’s amazing how heightened our others senses become. Here are some of the things we’ve noticed:  flags flapping, gate hinges creaking, wild onion smells so pungent you can almost taste them,  fresh coffee wafting out the neighbor’s kitchen window, the tickle of beetle legs on bare skin, and the cool caress of wet grass between our toes.

As writers for young children I think we could all benefit from closing our eyes sometimes.  I don’t mean burying our heads in the sand so that our writing is sappy and disconnected from reality.  Of course not.  What I mean is that my writing, at least, tends towards the visual if I’m not careful. But when I’m intentional (and close my eyes) my other senses kick in and my writing is enriched. Using multi- sensory imagery is especially important in picture books and other illustrated pieces, such as poems for magazines, where the illustrations already provide plenty of visual detail. So, go ahead, close your eyes and feel those other senses kick in. That’s my plan this week. Happy writing all!

Picture Books with P.U.N.C.H.: Parallel Story Structure

When I was little, Robert McCloskey’s BLUEBERRIES FOR SAL was my all-time favorite read-aloud book. Like little Sal, not only did I love blueberries, but I thought my mother and I looked a lot like Sal and her mother. I never tired of hearing how Sal and her mother got mixed-up with a bear cub and her mother while picking blueberries on Blueberry Hill.  Re-reading this old favorite as an adult, I realize the magic behind that story is its parallel structure.

In parallel story structure two story lines run side by side within the text by means of alternating page spreads and/or alternating texts. Unlike true parallel lines, however, the story lines in these books always intersect at some point. The parallel structure picture books I read shared some, or all, of the following characteristics.

PARALLEL DESIRE/PROBLEM  Giving the characters in the parallel stories a common problem or desire is the first, and most important, ingredient in good parallel storytelling.  It’s the key that links the two story lines and gives the story its heart.  In BLUEBERRIES FOR SAL, both mother/child pairs want to gather blueberries for winter.  In SNOW GLOBE FAMILY, by Jane O’Connor, both families desire a big, exciting snowstorm.  In THE DOG WHO BELONGED TO NO ONE, by Amy Hest, both the girl and the dog are lonely. This shared desire/problem provides the author a wonderful, and natural, way to instill empathy in young readers or simply to instill an awareness of “other” versus “self” and the idea that others have thoughts/feelings just like we do.

PARALLEL WORD CUES  One way to facilitate parallel storytelling is to use transition words such as “meanwhile”, “also”, and “too” to indicate each time the tale switches. This strategy had a particularly humorous effect in MEANWHILE BACK AT THR RANCH, by Trinka Hakes Noble, because it highlighted, in an almost dead-pan way, the hilarious contrast between what was happening at the ranch with what was not happening elsewhere.

PARALLEL SENTENCE STRUCTURE  Using similar sentence structure is another effective, and very poetic-feeling, way to create a sense of connectedness between the parallel story lines. The opening of Jane O’Connor’s SNOW GLOBE FAMILY is a perfect example.  Spread one reads: “In a big house on a hill lives a family – a mama, a papa, a boy, a girl and Baby.”  Then, with similar structure, spread two reads: “”Inside the snow globe lives another family. A very little family – a mama, a papa, a boy…etc.” This echoing continues throughout the text.

PARALLEL ILLUSTRATIONS  Parallel illustrations are another way to convey contrasting yet, connected, story lines. In the books I read, this was done the most beautifully in Debi Gliori’s THE SNOW LAMBS, a heartwarming story about a little boy waiting at home, wondering if his sheepdog is safe in the storm.  With no parallel text, the sheepdog’s story is told exclusively through the illustrations, which parallel perfectly what the boy is worrying about in each spread.

YOUR TURN!

Having pondered the intricacies of parallel structured stories, I now challenge you to brainstorm plots that might be enhanced by a parallel form. Then get writing!

And if you have any parallel structure picture book titles to add to my list (which is posted above under the tab STORY STRUCTURE INDEX), please let me know.

ILLUSTRATOR SPOTLIGHT: Susan Mitchell

Squee! Last week the mailman delivered the May issue of Highlights for Children which includes my poem, “Mouse House”. It’s on page 27, if you care to take a peek. The editorial team did a wonderful job with layout and lettering.  But what I especially admired was their choice of artwork. Susan Mitchell’s delightful rendering of my little mouse beautifully enhances the text.  In fact, I was so smitten by her creative use of a little needle-felted wool mouse set in a collage-style setting made from scraps of nature including moss, twigs, bark and leaves that I couldn’t resist looking her up on the internet. I quickly found her at www.Susan-Mitchell.com.

Oh my, is she talented! Not only does she create whimsical woolen creatures, she also paints, designs greeting cards, and has illustrated nineteen picture books, including her latest two, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOLE and MOUSE’S SOCK TREE, both written by Paula Metcalf, and both released in the U.K. this month. Her magazine clients include Highlights for Children, Chirp Magazine, Clubhouse Jr., Readers’s Digest, and Ladies Home Journal. She also has an Etsy shop where she sells her delightful wool creatures and whimsical prints.

At bedtime that night, my daughter and I snuggled down for story time. “Let’s each pick something extra special,” we agreed.  Not surprisingly, I picked page 27 of the May issue of Highlights for Children. My daughter, who’d just been to the school library that afternoon, selected a colorful picture book she was eager to read.  First we read “Mouse House” – aloud and in unison. Then together we examined, for quite some time, all the delightful details of Susan’ Mitchell’s illustration. “That mouse is so cute!” my daughter cheered. “Aww, look at his little bed.”

Then, it was time to read her choice, CLAIRE AND THE UNICORN HAPPY EVER AFTER  by B.G. Hennessy.  Together we examined the cover which depicts a whimsical girl in pigtails riding a magical unicorn over sparkling pink clouds.  And just below those pink clouds in lime green letters glowed a newly familiar name: Susan Mitchell!  After marveling at the coincidence, and our great taste in illustrators, we took turns reading the text, amazed, again, at Susan’s creativity and talent.

Thank you, Susan, for enriching our day with your heartwarming artwork.  Three cheers for creativity and three cheers for Susan Mitchell from your two newest fans!

Photos provided by Valerie Rosen. http://www.valerierosen.500px.com