[my writing life] Waiting for Water

Water Can Be… (Millbrook, 2014) doesn’t come out for eight more months, but it’s been front and center for this past couple of weeks. First, I got to see the fantastic finished art by Violeta Dabija (I hope to get to share a sneak peek soon). Then, I wrote the dedication (to my parents–both nature lovers of the first order). Finally, I’ve been checking over copyediting questions and working with my editor on one rhyming pair that has been a bit imperfect all along. The art is complete, so the concept can’t change. So we’re debating whether to keep the original text or replace it. I’ve fussed with this pair numerous times. I came up with several options, but we have decided to stick with the original. One of the things I love about picture books: the amount of time and consideration that goes into four small words. Next up…marketing materials. I need to get started this summer on a book trailer, teaching guide, etc. So excited!

P.S. I got to have lunch Friday with Carol Hinz, my editor from Millbrook, and take a tour of Lerner’s offices–will share a few pics soon.

[nonfiction monday] Finding Hope (by Michelle Myers Lackner)

Finding Hope
by Michelle Myers Lackner, photo-illustrated
Adventure Publications, 2013

In 2010, Minnesota children’s writer Michelle Myers Lackner ended up with an international news sensation happening literally in her back yard. So what did she do? She wrote a book, of course.

25,000 people witnessed via webcam the birth of black bear Hope in northern Minnesota. And when Hope became separated from her mother, the whole world watched the drama unfold and celebrated their reunion.

In this picture book inspired by the real events, Lackner tells the story of Hope’s first entry into the real world and her scary separation from her mother, Lily. The bears were part of a research project of the North American Bear Center, so the entire separation and effort to reunite the bears was well recorded and documented.

The book features captivating photography of Hope and Lily–most of them still captures from video. If the image of Hope and Lily’s reunion doesn’t touch you, you don’t have a pulse!

And engaging, sensory language makes the text both engaging and appealing for young readers/listeners:

Hope scooted down the tree. She peered between branches and spied some sweet blueberry blossoms.

This book is a winner–a great choice for storytimes with themes of motherhood, being lost, bears, woods, and love.

[Full disclosure: Michelle Myers Lackner is a writer friend of mine, and I'm thrilled to share this new book of hers.]

Extension ideas for Finding Hope:

• Meet Lily, Hope’s mom. Click on Live Cameras at the Bear Center’s website to watch videos and slideshows and check out the live webcam into Lily’s den (during certain seasons).
• Discuss safety in the woods. Play some online games and review hiking safety tips from HikeSafe. Perhaps make a poster or bulletin board display with safety tips.
• Put it on paper. Write a story, report, or poem about bears–in a group or individually.

(Review copy of Finding Hope provided by the author–though she didn’t know I was going to review it.)

Jennifer at The Jean Little Library has the Nonfiction Monday Roundup. Go learn something fun!

[nonfiction monday] The Long, Long Journey (by Sandra Markle)

The Long, Long Journey: The Godwit’s Amazing Migration
by Sandra Markle, ill by Mia Posada
Millbrook Press, 2013

Oh, how I love Sandra Markle’s nonfiction picture books, and this one is no exception. She follows a female godwit from birth through its long migration from Alaska to New Zealand. As usual, Markle combines great facts with scene-setting details to put us right there in the thick of amazing nature:

“Crackle! Crackle! Crunch! The little female bar-tailed godwit at last breaks free of her egg. She steps into the world on long, wobble legs. It’s nearly midneight, but it’s June in Alaska and still light. A cool wind blows the chick’s downy coat. She shivers, lifts her beak, and squeaks, ‘Peep! Peep! “

We see the young godwit struggle with dangers and exhaustion, and we are rooting her on. Markle makes kids care about nature and wildlife, and that’s an awesome thing.

Great backmatter and delicate cut/torn paper and watercolor illustrations by Mia Posada round out a wonderful book.

Extension ideas for The Long, Long Journey:

• Make some art. Have kids paint a watercolor picture and then cut construction paper shapes to add a few details to accent.
• Measure it. A young godwit flies more than 7,000 miles nonstop on its migration. Pick a point 10-50 miles from your school that most of your students know. Then divide it out and ask kids to image running back and forth from school to that point X number of times without taking a single break!
• Get seasonal. Talk about the seasons being opposite in the Southern Hemisphere. How would it be different to have Christmas or Hannukah during summer? To have winter in July?

(Review copy of The Long, Long Journey: The Godwit’s Amazing Migration provided by my local library.)

The Nonfiction Monday Roundup is at Perogies & Gyoza today–check it out!

And I have giveaway results! Joanna Marple won–congratulations! And Cathy Ballou Mealey, please contact me regarding a copy for your son’s school, too.

Randomizer says #5, Joanna Marple, wins my giveaway copy of TEMPLE GRANDIN!

[what's up wednesday] It’s All Good

Everything is up! My mood, my blood pressure, my stress level. OK, that sounds bad. But we’ve got the big graduation open house for our younger daughter this weekend, and I’m told the attendee count could get as high as 200. Holy moly. But meanwhile, last week was lovely. Here’s what I’m happy about.

1. A Leaf Can Be… is on the NCTE Notables list! Whee! Attending NCTE last year and taking part in the Notables session for BookSpeak was one of the highlights of my year. That’s one to check off on my list of writing dreams for the year!
2. Check out the beautiful vase my daughter Annabelle painted for me for Mother’s Day!
3. I got to spend time revising A Rock Can Be…, which will be my third Can Be… book! (Water Can Be… comes out in 2014.)
4. I got official notification that BookSpeak is on the shortlist for the Beehive Award – Poetry Category (Utah’s children’s choice award). Fun!
5. And look at the shirt my husband, Randy, designed and ordered! And Mother’s Day in general was wonderful, full of family, thoughtful gifts, and a delicious Italian dinner at Biaggi’s.

I don’t think weeks get much better than this–ok, except for the grad party stress. So, how was your week?

[nonfiction monday] Temple Grandin–Giveaway!

Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World
by Sy Montgomery
Houghton Mifflin, 2012

One of my many jobs over the years was working as a personal care assistant for young adults, several of whom had autism spectrum disorders. So I had heard a bit about Temple Grandin and her work. But after reading this book, I feel like I know Temple. It’s a great biography that doesn’t only reveal facts, but also makes you feel like you’ve met and talked with the person in real life. This biography is inspiring and engaging…and it deserves to be in a classroom or library where many upper elementary students can read it. That’s where you come in:>)

I’m going to give away my signed (by the author) copy that I won on Loree Burns’ blog (see her post about the book here). To enter, I’m going to ask you to do at least one of the following things, then Comment and let me know what you did. You have all week to enter. I’ll use Randomizer.org to pick the winner. Since Loree is the one who sent me the book, which I had actually heard great things about but had just never gotten around to, I’m going to make the tasks apply to Loree and me where applicable. Here are your options. Just pick whatever’s easiest and most appealing to you.

• Subscribe or follow both my blog and Loree’s.
• Post about this giveaway on your own blog.
• Follow @LoreeGBurns and @LauraPSalas on Twitter.
• Tweet about this giveaway.
• Sign up for my e-newsletter (I have one for educators and one for writers).

Giveaway Rules:

1. Please do at least one of the tasks above. We’re on the honor system here, but I trust you:>)
2. Entry deadline is Friday, May 17, at 5 p.m. U.S. Central Time.
3. I’ll announce the winner on Monday, May 20. Please check back then to see if you won and give me the shipping info.
4. I’ll ship anywhere in the continental U.S.

Good luck! And thanks again to Loree, whose outstanding nonfiction books always inform and entertain, too! Julie at Instantly Interruptible has the Nonfiction Monday roundup this week! Go learn something cool!

[nonfiction monday] You Never Heard of Willie Mays?!

You Never Heard of Willie Mays?!
by Jonah Winter, ill by Terry Widener
Schwartz & Wade Books, 2013

I’m not a baseball fan. I just don’t care much about it. And while I’ve definitely heard of Willie Mays, I didn’t know much about him. But I met cool illustrator Terry Widener last year in Texas, and I saw great reviews for this book, so I had to check it out.

The lenticular cover bringing Mays’ swing to life is a fun start to a really good book. Of course, it gives lots of info about Willie Mays, but the story illuminates a lot about American history, racial prejudice, and civil rights. And it does it all in a folksy, storyteller style. Here’s the opening:

You never heard of Willie Mays?! THE Willie Mays?! Oh, geez, where to begin?

As with most narrative nonfiction, there are anecdotes that probably can’t be confirmed 100%. Winter handles that perfectly with the use of phrases like, “As the story goes,” and “Word was,” and “Legend has it.”

The art is fantastic. The spread that shows Willie Mays mimicking Joe DiMaggio’s batting stance is wonderful. The book is about light and dark, on many different levels. On the opposing page, the contrast between the water fountain labeled Whites and the one labeled Coloreds says a whole lot.

Sidebars and backmatter add lots of baseball and history support. I had no idea what a putout was, for instance. Luckily, the glossary explained it.

This will be an easy sell to baseball fans, of course. But the story and the struggle of Willie is sure to bring even non-baseball-fans like me to their feet.

Extension activities for You Never Heard of Willie Mays?!:

• Make a baseball card. Choose a person (famous or not), and create a baseball card to celebrate his or her accomplishments. These would make a great bulletin board display.
• Read some baseball poems. Listen to me read J. Patrick Lewis’ powerful “The First” here. Read Pat’s “The Slugger” here.  On a lighter note, enjoy Douglas Florian’s Poem Runs: Baseball Poems to celebrate baseball season.
• Be broadcast journalists. There are several super fun quotations of announcers reacting to plays by Mays. Have kids pair up and create presentations where one kid demonstrates something (anything–could be a hobby or something content-related) and the other kid does the play-by-play for the class. “He picks up the hula hoop. He tests its weight. Look at that grip! He steps inside–he’s in the zone now. Will it circle? Will it twist? It will! The crowd is on its feet!”

Anastasia Suen at Booktalking has the Nonfiction Monday roundup! Go learn something cool!

[review copy of You Never Heard of Willie Mays?! provided by my public library]

[nonfiction monday] Minette’s Feast

Minette’s Feast:
The Delicious Story of Julia Child and Her Catby Susanna Reich, ill by Amy Bates
Abrams, 2012

Although I’m a big fan of Chopped, Hell’s Kitchen, Top Chef, Cupcake Wars, etc., I do not actually like to cook. So I knew next to nothing about Julia Child, other than having seen her kitchen at the Smithsonian with writer friend Kelly Fineman! However, based on blogger Jama Rattigan’s undying love for food and the woman, I proposed a biography poem about Child to an assessment company I’m writing for. One of the books I read for my research was Minette’s Feast: The Delicious Story of Julia Child and Her Cat.

And I loved it. This is the story of Julia Child’s cooking journey told through the eyes of her cat, Minette–the best-fed kitty in Paris! Kids will love Minette’s adventures and her singular focus on her favorite feast–mouse. And meanwhile, they will learn about Julia Child and the magical food she created.

Julia spent mornings at the marketplace, buying meat from le boucher, bread from le boulanger, milk and cheese from la cremiere, and cake from le patissier.

Afterward, she’d make a splendid lunch for herself and Paul, and offer Minette the leftovers.

Minette might even take a nibble.

But of course, mouse and bird were much preferred.

Reich has fun with language in this book, with a pinch of rhyme, a dash of alliteration, and a gallon of good words, all mixed up to make a delicious book. It’s a great introduction for kids who have never heard of Julia Child.

Extension activities for Minette’s Feast: The Delicious Story of Julia Child and Her Cat:

• Get cooking! Arrange a class field trip to the cafeteria and make something. Perhaps pain perdu (French for French toast). Julia Child was most famous for her French cookbook, so fixing something with French flare would be fun.
• Write like a cat. Have your students pretend to be cats. After some meowing and strutting, brainstorm what a cat would think about their daily lives. What would a cat have to say about: breakfast? the school bus? school? computer lab? baseball practice? piano practice? bedtime stories? Individually or as a class, write a story or poem from a cat’s point of view about a kid’s life.
• Pair it up. Pick another picture book to pair this with. For the cat angle, you can’t go wrong with Lee Wardlaw’s fantastic Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku. To learn more about Julia Child, check out Jessie Hartland’s picture book biography, Bon Appetit! The Delicious Life of Julia Child.

Anastasia Suen herself at Booktalking has the Nonfiction Monday roundup! Go learn something cool!

[review copy of Minette's Feast: The Delicious Story of Julia Child and Her Cat
provided by my local library]

[nonfiction monday] Here Come the Humpbacks!

Here Come the Humpbacks!
by April Pulley Sayre, ill by Jamie Hogan
Charlesbridge, 2013

I love whales! When my husband, Randy, and I took a short trip to Boston a couple of years ago, a whale-watching excursion was the coolest thing we did!

April Pulley Sayre’s Here Come the Humpbacks! is a gorgeous book covering the annual migration of humpback whales. Not only is it incredibly informative, but it’s beautifully written, too. Here’s a snippet from the beginning:

A female humpback swims away to quiet shallows. Her blue-gray head, bumpy as a pickle, lifts and looks. It is February. She is expecting–something big, something soon. The time has come.

The fonts/typefaces organize the story. For babies and toddlers, you could just read the largest phrases, which also serve as subheadings for the different stages of the journey. “Here comes a humpback!” “Here breathes a humpback!” etc. Short, dynamic statements and art in deep blues and greens will enchant kids.

For preschool through second grade, you can read the main text, but probably not in one sitting. So those subheads will give you good stopping points. And there are interesting sidebar notes and endmatter to introduce in various readings, too.

This book shows kids not only the big picture of humpback whales’ cycle of childbirth and migration, but also the fine details that kids will be fascinated by (ok, grown-ups, too). Did you know that a mother humpback whale loses ten tons of weight from May to the next April, when she arrives at her feeding grounds?

I generally donate my review copies of books to schools I visit, but I confess I’ll be holding onto this one for a while longer yet, just to savor the words and art a little more:>)

Extension activities for Here Come the Humpbacks!: :

• Map it out. On a globe or a world map, trace the path of the humpback whales described in this book.
• Take a deep breath. Humpback whales usually come up for air every three to five minutes, though scientists estimate they can hold their breath up to 35 minutes! Make a breath-holding chart for your classroom, and record how long each kid can hold his or her breath. I made it to 40 seconds before I thought my lungs would burst.
• Music appreciation. Listen to some humpback whale songs. You can hear a brief example here at National Geographic or a much longer example here. It could be fun to listen to the longer one and brainstorm with your class what the various noises sound like: seagulls, children crying, cows, and creaking doors on scary houses are some of the sounds I “heard.” This could just be a fun listening activity or you could write a poem or story inspired by the song. Perhaps the kids could write a “translation,” an English version of what they think the whale is saying.

Jen at Perogies & Gyoza has the Nonfiction Monday roundup! Go learn something cool!

[review copy of Here Come the Humpbacks! provided by the publisher]

[nonfiction monday] Too Hot? Too Cold?

Too Hot? Too Cold?:
Keeping Body Temperature Just Right
by Caroline Arnold, ill by Annie Patterson
Charlesbridge, 2013

As someone who was born and raised in Florida and hates hot weather (which explains why I now live in Minnesota:>) I am keenly aware of temperatures and my body’s reaction to them. This fun science book offers clear, concise, and sometimes surprising details about why and how our bodies and animals’ bodies control or affect their temperatures.

Each spread has a main topic, like “Warm-Blooded Animals,” “Sweating,” or “Fur, Hair, and Feathers.” Then a couple of paragraphs give the main points about that topic as it relates to body temperature. Each spread also contains two or three brief sidebars that give nifty nuggets of knowledge or more details about the main topic. Here’s one sidebar example:

Fever. When you are sick with an infection, your temperature may go up a few degrees. This is called a fever. Fever is the body’s way of fighting the infection. Most germs that cause infections cannot live at higher than normal body temperature.

I had no idea. I think I assumed fevers were caused by the hard work your body was doing to fight off the germs. Like how you sweat and get hot from a good zumba class. Apparently, I was wrong:>)

This book is full of great info, and the interior art is lovely. I’m not big on the cover art, but that’s probably just because I really don’t care much for art of people. This would be a terrific addition to your science library.

Extension activities for Too Hot? Too Cold?: Keeping Body Temperature Just Right:

• Create a body map. Have your students trace each other on rolls of bulletin board paper. They each cut out their own shape and do body maps of ways they stay cool or warm. They could draw on goosebumps, sweat, scarves, mittens, etc. If you like, each kid could pick a specific month and then do the body map to match a typical day in that month.
• Research here and now. Brainstorm a list of common animals in your area–squirrels, geese, whatever. Then use your library and local resources (like a nature center at a park) to learn about how those animals remain safe and comfortable in whatever whether you are having now. If possible, go on a nature walk and look for examples, like turtles basking in the sun, or ducks huddling together in a lake.
• Write a story or a poem about a kid who was no longer warm-blooded. What silly or clever or outrageous things might he or she do to control body temperature on a day with some kind of extreme weather? Carry a mug of hot cocoa around? Get a gorilla to hug him all day? Make a cool suit of ziploc bags filled with ice? Be creative!

Sally’s Bookshelf has the Nonfiction Monday roundup! Go learn something cool!

[review copy of Too Hot? Too Cold?: Keeping Body Temperature Just Right provided by the publisher]

[what's up wednesday] AmeriCorps, Kites, and the Hunger Games of Poetry

It’s time for What’s Up Wednesday, in which I share 5 miscellaneous things from the previous week!

1) I started a weeklong school visit last Friday, and I spent the day writing group poems with kindergartners and 1st graders. So much fun!

2) My daughter Maddie got accepted into AmeriCorps! She’s been waiting for months to hear, and she’s ecstatic to know what her plan is for next year.

3) A Leaf Can Be… has been named the Golden Kite Honor Book for Picture Book Text by the SCBWI! Writers and illustrators made up the judging committee, and I am just so thrilled! This book has gotten some lovely recognition lately, and I’m always at least half-convinced that it’s just being carried by its gorgeous artwork by Violeta Dabija. Receiving an honor that’s based solely on the text is both a shock and a wonderful confidence booster!

4) My husband, Randy, had neck surgery last Tuesday. Everything went fine, but the pain afterward is a bit more than anticipated. So, home life is chaos right now!

5) I’m taking part in March Madness Poetry again this year. Woot! This public, bracketed demonstration of poetry-war is fun but intimidating. On my 15 Words or Less Thursdays, the poems are supposed to be quick and sketchy. But in this “Hunger Games of poetry” tournament, your goal is to write a terrific poem overnight and knock out your opponent by popular vote. Gulp. Check out the site and spread the word to teachers. Organizer Ed DeCaria has great ways for schools to get involved.

So… (try to picture Joey from Friends here) how you doin’?