Kidlit Conference Jeopardy

The answer is:

Sara Zarr, Story of a Girl
Kirby Larson, Hattie Big Sky
Alma Alexander, Worldweavers series
Laini Taylor, Faeries of Dreamdark: Blackbringer
Matt Holm, Babymouse
Anastasia Suen, Main Street School series
Adrienne Furness, Helping Homeschoolers in the Library
Carmen T. Bernier-Grand: Frida: Viva La Vida! Long Live Life!
Jen Robinson, “Growing Bookworms Newsletter”, guest blogger at PBS
Betsy Bird, School Library Journal book blog

“Who has registered for the Second Annual Kidlitosphere Conference, September 27, 2008?” is the question.

 
Will you be attending? Have you registered yet? Visit Kidlit08 for more details. If you register before August 1, 2008, you will receive a complimentary raffle ticket for the dinner raffle.

Happy Reading,

MsMac

 

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Top 10 Reasons to Visit Portland, Oregon

Top 10 Reasons to Visit Portland, Oregon

10. Voodoo Doughnuts where your can get married and eat your doughnut too.

9. We do not have sales tax.

8. Looking for leprechauns? They been seen at the “World’s Smallest Park”: Mill Ends Park (24 inches in size) on Naito Parkway.

7. Portland also has the largest forested city wilderness in the nation: Forest Park, 5, 000 acres in size.

6. Mt Tabor, an extinct volcano. Portland is one of two cities in the US with and extinct volcano within the city. The other one is in Bend, Oregon.

5. Portland is also known as “Beervana” for being the epicenter of micro brewing.

4. Cupcake Jones Nirvana! I will have some available at the conference.

3. Stumptown Coffee
2. Powell’s City of Books Plan to meet here on Friday night and then head to a local microbrewery for dinner
However, the Number One reason to visit Portland is:

THE SECOND ANNUAL KIDLITOSPHERE BLOGGING CONFERENCE:
“Bridging the Worlds of Books and Blogs”.

Great discussions about books and blogs! Great networking! Great fun!
For more information visit Kidlit 2008 or contact me at “macrush53 at yahoo dot com”.

Happy Reading.

MsMac

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Were We Cursed? An Author Interview with Katie Davis

Fifth graders interview with Katie Davis
The Curse of Addy McMahon author

Something I love about having a blog is discovering new authors (or new to me at least) via visiting the “Kidlitosphere”: home of authors, illustrators, and children/YA book reviewers.
A recent discovery was Katie Davis, author/illustrator of several picture books including Who Hops, Mabel the Tooth Fairy and How She Got Her Job, and Kindergarten Rocks. Katie has just published her first novel for middle graders titled, The Curse of Addy McMahon.
I went to her website to watch her book trailer (a very clever idea) about the book. Well, the whole scene in which Addy’s mother takes Addy on a shopping trip for a specific undergarment that a 6th grade girl might need took me back to that place, that 6th grade place when I received a very embarrassing birthday present from my parents.
I had to read Katie’s book,then pass it onto some fifth graders that I knew would enjoy the book.
This was perfect opportunity to use the new digital recorder received from the OASL Hull Grant in December. An opportunity to produce for the first ever “Check It Out” pod cast.
So…
Special speakerphone from the district. CHECK
Students who read the book. CHECK
Time and place to call. CHECK
Thursday, May 29, 2008, 9:00 AM -9:50 AM Katie Davis Interview. CHECK

Were we cursed? No, due to my inexperience and technical difficulties during the interview, the first pod cast is delayed. But here are five fabulous fifth graders interviewing Katie Davis:

Ahbre, Austin,
Brent, Melissa,
and Tasha: Good morning

KD: Good morning.

Austin: What sparked your ideas for this book?

KD: The article was about a storyteller in Latoon, Ireland who was trying to warn local officials about the potential danger revolving around the destruction of a white-blossomed hawthorn bush. The bush, it turned out, was rumored to be a fairy lair. Apparently, it stood in the way of a planned highway bypass, and if bulldozed, the fairies would curse the road and all who used it, causing crashes, death, and general mayhem.
I immediately imagined a girl here in the U.S. whose great-great-grandad chopped down a fairy lair back in Ireland generations ago. And even though the story was a long-standing family joke, what if she actually believed it just a little? She might blame the curse for all the crummy stuff in her life, even things that were her fault.

Ahbre: What were you thinking when you wrote the story?

KD: OMG, am I ever going to finish this book? But I was also thinking about the story and that I wanted to write a really awesome one.

Ahbre: Well, it was great.

Melissa: Was the book based off any personal experience?

KD: That is a good question. Actually have you ever been asked to “write what you know?”

Kids: Kind of, yeah.

KD: You will hear that a lot more as you grow up. It is not exactly what you know but you take elements that you know because you lived them and you put them in a story. For example, my father died of lung cancer and Addy’s father died of lung cancer but I was in my 20’s when my father died…the feelings like sadness that Addy felt, I definitely experienced that.

Boys: Ahhh..

Tasha: How long did it take you to write the book?

KD: It took 9 years to write the book.

MsMac: Wow, why so long?

KD: Tons of rewriting and the first 4 years there was a lot happening in the book. During that time, I also had seven picture books come out. I had never written a novel before and it was a real learning experience. In the beginning, there was a fairy and it was way too much.
One editor finally asked, “What about taking all the fantasy out?” “Oh man!” I thought, but I took it all out and made the story about the relationships.

Melissa: Was the best friend in the book like a best friend you had?

KD: Yes and we had a big fight. It was my fault and I had to say “I am sorry”.

Ahbre: If you had to write another book like Addy, what would it be?

KD: If Addy were in it? Like a sequel? I would want Addy and all her friends together. Then a fairy does show up and what would they do about it? I don’t think anyone has ever done a sequel in a different genre before. The first book is realistic fiction, and the second would be fantasy. Could be pretty cool!

Melissa: You might win awards because it would be totally new idea.

Brent: Wondering how long did you wait from the last draft to publishing.

KD: It felt like forever. I am curious how the boys liked it. Would they tell another boy they were reading this book?

Austin: I would.

Brent: I actually really liked it. I like how Addy and her friends went through different challenges and how they started a newspaper.

Austin: Yeah, I liked the newspaper, too.

KD: I am glad you like that part. Did you like the comics?

Kids: Yeah

Ahbre: It was a really good part because it showed what she was thinking.

Melissa: It is great for starting the chapters.

Brent: Actually gives you a picture of what the chapter is going to be.

KD: It was not always that way. First, Addy kept a journal, then a diary, and I was then going to have collage art and it was not until the very end that I realized I would do the comic strips.

KD: In June there will be a new website called autobiograstrip.com that you can go to and create your own.

Kids: Cool

Ahbre: If you had to write more autobiogra-strips, what would you have put in?

KD: Did you notice that all but the last one are about difficulties? By putting the tragic parts into the strip, it made them easier to take, and also allowed the comedy to shine, and stand on its own.

Austin: What was your favorite part of the book?

KD: I loved the “AddyWaddie” part. I was driving on my way to a school visit, and laughed out loud when I figured out that scene.

Kids: That is funny with the friends and the French tied in.

Ahbre: Did you have to take anything out?

KD: OMG, definitely. Do you know what authors call that? It is called “killing your babies.” It is hard to take out stuff. To make the whole thing better, you have to sacrifice.

Melissa: Did you have a certain purpose, did you want to send a message in this book?

KD: No, I never write a book to send a message. It is a deadly, deadly mistake that beginning authors make. But if kids get anything helpful out of it, I do hope they see that everyone has problems.

Brent: Wondering what your dream job was as a child.

KD: Well, I loved to draw and write but then I read about the first female police officer and I thought I wanted to become a cop. Then I figured I might get shot.

Austin: What did you like to read as a child? Did you read chapter books or comic books?

KD: I read comic books all the time. I had weird tastes. I read these romance comics but I also read many very scary horror books. Now I read lots of YA and MG books. My mother-in-law teases me because I read children’s books. But really, they are better written than many adult books. Kids are not going to put up with bad writing whereas adults feel obliged to finish the book.

MsMac: Katie, I have kindergarten coming in so you need to say good-bye. Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us today.

KD: Thank you. It was a pleasure. I am anxious to read this interview on your blog! Did I tell you that Addy is being considered for something? I cannot say but it involves a major television thing.

Kids: WOW!

So if you are from the television network and you are reading this, please, please, please
select The Curse of Addy McMahon. You can not go wrong.  You do not want to be cursed, do you? It gives reading a novel a completely new perspective with the original “autobiogra-strips. A book enjoyed by boys and girls, and parents will have fun reading as well.

It is on my list to nominate for the CYBILS in October.

Happy Reading.

MsMac

 

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Poetry Friday: Pod Cast Woes

Ahbre, Tasha, Melissa, Brent and Austin listening to Katie Davis.

a pod cast newbie
test looms over addled brain
summer explore time

This is the state of me.  Last week I did my first author interview with kids and author Katie Davis.  The students read her first novel, The Curse of Addy McMahon, published in April. Perhaps I have the curse. Sound quality was awful. I really wanted to get it right so following my discovery I called the students back.  I taped them as a round table discussion about the interview. Still sound quality when I uploaded to the computer.

What I wanted to do last weekend was spend time getting the pod cast to work.  What I had to do was study for the upcoming national boards test on June 14.  I know me.  To involve myself in the pod cast experiment would have consumed my time followed by panic for not studying.

So the pod cast adventure is on hold until summer.  I have written up the interview from my notes (thankfully I took notes) and will post the interview later today.  If you have not read The Curse of Addy McMahon, get it for your summertime reading.  It is a fun and original new entry to the middle grade world.

Poetry Friday is being rounded up by Sarah Reinhard

Happy Reading. I have to study instead of participating in the “48 Hour Challenge” at Mother Reader. Drat!

 MsMac

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Poetry Friday: Haiku from Mrs. Fisher’s Class

Here are three entries as a follow-up to the wonderful poetry unit that Mrs. Fisher’s class did.

A red velvet scarf
sits, alone and forgotten
awaiting winter.
Hannah

Alone, petite tree.
Overshadowed with weather,
An only child.
Marianne

Cheetah
Awaits patiently
still, silent. Staring at me
there in the moon light.
Alicia

 

Are they not great images?

I am very excited to have been selected to run a “Poetry as Writer’s Workshop” for my district’s teachers in August.  Now I have to get organized.

I have an orignal poem over at Deowriter today.

Happy reading.

MsMac

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Poetry Friday: Photos and Poems from After School Poetry Club

 

Bars
Bars so slippery they always give me blisters
But I still always do it anyway
I think they’re fun
I see warm and cool colors
Like blue and yellow.
by Trinity, 3rd Grade

Flowers in the garden

Flowers in the garden dancing in the sun
Oh how I love to see the pretty flowers in the garden
Bush leaves shake when the wind blows
Pink and blue flowers and green grass sways.
by Brooklyn, 1st grade

 

Playground

The swings go swinging
The slide goes dripping
The basket ball so lonely
Just going
Drip drop drip drop
by Sarah, 1st grade

Pretty Tulips

Pretty tulips in the garden
Little hearts hidden in the flower
If you look very closely you will see love
by Jaegan, 1st grade

Rain

Small green buds
Dragonfly heart beats
A slick of rain falls
Tulips shine.
by Clare, 2nd grade

Tulips look like fruit
Like juicy apples and peaches
The stems like leaves on a tree
by Ember, 1st grade

In a forest
Blue violet bells hang
Softly misted
by Tasha, 5th grade

These students (and some others) have been meeting after school to do photography and poetry.  These were their entries for the school art show.  Poetry Friday is being hosted at Becky’s Book Review.  Hop on over and see what others are sharing.

Will you be in Portland, Oregon, September 27, 2008?  Look here for more details.

Heading out for the weekend. Enjoy!

Happy Reading.

MsMac

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Poetry Friday: Getting a Book in the Mail

arrive home from school
book package, note in mailbox
way to end the day

I traveled 35 minutes each way to school so coming home this week to a book and a handwritten note was delightful.  I won a copy of The Llama Who Had No Pajama from Elaine during National Poetry Month.

It is such a great collection of poems by Mary Ann Hoberman.  I love the variety in the poetry forms and the poetry subjects. Plus there are 100 of them!! Love it!
Two favorites are haiku

Fireflies

Fireflies at twilight
In search of one another
Twinkle off and on.

Flamingo

Sea risen sunbird
O flaming flamingo, spread
Wide your red feathers

I know that I am going to spend a lot of time with this treasure. I see reading to students and reading it to my grand daughters. Thank you, Elaine.

Poetry Friday Roundup is at Two Writing Teachers.

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Poetry Friday: A Ring, A Drum, and A Blanket Poem

Last month Elaine at Wild Rose Reader suggested writing a poem with the words “blanket, drum, and ring” as a result of an interview with Janet Wong.  It was an assignment given by  the late Myra Cohn Livingston to her students (JW was one of them) in a master poetry class at UCLA. 

This poetry prompt eluded me all month!  I left a comment on Elaine’s blog and Janet Wong responded with a suggestion to have the students draw before writing.  So I did with Mrs. Fisher’s 4th grade class two weeks ago.  I brought in my mother’s Navajo story ring which she gave me months before her passing, a swatch of a Pendleton wool blanket and my father’s drumsticks as a visuals. They  drew and wrote.

This week, rather than me play editor, I took the class to the computer lab and they played with the line breaks.  Samples are here and others are on Mrs. Fisher’s Class Page.
I have to point out Kymberlee’s poem.  She sat for most of the time and felt stuck, “I don’t know what to write”. We chatted and then she wrote. Wow!

Outside a thin
Blanket
Of snow
Lays upon
The ground.
I look at my ring.
The snow so cold,
My ring looking so warm.
Then I look at the pattern
in the snow
then the pattern on my ring
so alike almost the exact same.
I couldn’t keep it off my
Mind until
My mom’s homemade soup
The same golden color as my ring. 
By: Alicia

Loud drums beating
in the park awaking
people with every beat. But
there is no drummer to this
drum. It is the spirit of the
tribes long ago.
People hear the drummer but
there is no site to see.
by Jacey

Heard in the distant,
The drum gets louder
And louder
get closer to the drum beat
When I get to it.
It was my
Heart that is making
The drum beat.
 by Kymberlee

Ring of fire surrounds the valley,
a black angel rises from the ground,
a white angel comes from the glistening heavens, and a voice as loud as 100 bombs exploding shouts go get him, Zinkof,
and the 2 angels start fighting.
Zinkof gets hurt
but has enough strength
to overcome his enemy.
by Tim

Personally, I still haven’t captured the poem for this prompt.  But wow, wow, wow to these fourth graders. Wow to the experience of bringing them into the computer lab and having them play with the line breaks.

Poetry Friday Roundup can be found at writer2b.

Happy Reading.

MsMac

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National Poetry Month: What I Discovered

It is the first time that I have saturated three grade levels (3rd-5th) with poetry all month.  It made sense, these students have been engaged in state tests all month.  I wanted library time to be a respite.  It was worth it.

I discovered:

conversations about poetry increased with staff and students.

one teacher wrote poetry with her students for “Poem in Your Pocket Day”.

I have poems for this blog until school is out.

a way to teach how to write the pantoum form with students. I did this for Earth Day.

I need to post more than Poetry Friday with poems. (and I will)

I may have connected with a third grade student for the first time when I published his haiku poem about hating haiku.

Students you least expect will deliver amazing words in poems.

This next week I am working with a fourth grade class to finish their “ring, drum, and blanket” poems.  I posted a comment on Wild Rose Reader about this poem eluding me.
Janet Wong posted a suggestion and I ran with it.  I am going to have the students revise a bit and I hope to have them for the post next week.  But some of the drafts are amazing.

As far as my own goal of 30 days =30 poems? I wrote 26 poems during the month.  Not quite my goal but I am learning lessons,letting go of my perfectionism.

I am really happy with my poem, “For My Granddaughter”.

Thank you, Elaine for the copy of The Llama Who had No Pajama.  I can’t wait to get it.

Kelly at Big A, little a is rounding up poems today.

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White is Wednesday Full of Poems

I discovered upon reading Elaine’s post at Wild Rose Reader that color poems were the exploration of the week at The Miss Rumphius Effect . This was the perfect idea for my third graders today.  Here are a few from Mr. Johnson’s and Ms Padden’s class:

Blue is the color of
Light blue sky all up above
Up, up it goes to the sky
Eight little white puffy clouds
Bright and happy
Eight white clouds with the sky
Reading a story of the sun
Reading about the clouds
Yellow so bright for the sun
–Bailey, 3rd grade

Brown is for bear
Even browner than ever
Are you afriad or are you not?
Run, run little bear
–Sierra, 3rd grade

Red, shiny bumper
At lightning speed
Cameras flash all over the stadium
Extreme crashing
Racing cars ZOOM
–Devon, 3rd grade

Yellow is the color of
the sun shining up high
a sunflower bending in the wind
a lemon, so sour
a star shining in the sky
the shine of the school bell
–Emily, 3rd grade

Red is the color of the sunset
Everybody can do anything
Anybody can win
Dreaming of darkness at night
–Forrest, 3rd grade

Blue is the color of my team
At bat, working hard
Shooting balls out of the park
Eating hot dogs at the game
Blowing hot-dogs
All of them cheer me
Losing by one
Last inning home run
–Tanner, 3rd grade

You are my sunshine
Entering my house with a bright light
Letting me see through the shadows of the dark
Luring me into the kitchen for some tea
Out to the porch I go with my tea
Wonderful, wonderful sun.
–Maya, 3rd grade

Happy Wednesday. Happy Reading.

MsMac

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