Now read this!

The South Sound Reading Foundation held a Literacy Family Education celebration last night at a local elementary school. As a volunteer for SSRF, I had the honor of spending time with about 100 kids flinging beads and having fun as they made 20 Minute Bracelets to remind them to read 20 minutes per day.

Happy to be Reading and Beading

 

Who says boys don't bead?

Not to brag, but the South Sound Reading Foundation put more than 33,000 books in the hands of kids and families last year.

Tonight, it's brain development night at the SSRF workshop for volunteers. I hope to have a little brain development happening for myself.

One Agent's Wish List

Agent Chris Richman (Upstart Crow Literary Agency) has posted his wish list for 2010. It offers great insight into how important it is to know what specific agents are looking for. In Richman's case, he's not interested in fluffy bunny picture books or any picture books at all, but he is definitely interested in witty humor for middle grade readers (barfing and farting need not apply) and that ever elusive something new.

If there's anything I've learned, it's that sometimes the most I can do is not send something in if it's the wrong something for a particular someone--no matter how urgent the desire. As Bruce Holland Rogers once remarked on the topic of not appearing desperate (and I paraphrase): Knowing the business of writing may not get you published, but it will greatly reduce your chances of appearing crazy.

Other than doing my best to learn the craft of writing for kids, not appearing crazy is one thing I can hope to control (sort of).

Eew...Arthur!

ShelfTalk recently pointed out the transformations of cover illustrations over time, the most notable makeover being the ironic shortening of Arthur's nose (You remember? The little aardvark dude who made his debut with a story of self-acceptance?).

What's not being discussed is his skin lightening--from natural nut brown to corporate white. Check it out:

Back in the Day

Prepped for Corporate Success

Now, I ask you...

Things that make you go ahh...

For years, I feared poetry of any kind--free, fixed, formal, casual, shabby chic. You name it. I resisted learning it, writing it and trying to understand it. My brain would go numb and the blood would rush from my limbs in an effort to preserve my vital organs. I understate the situation, of course. The fear was paralyzing. When I signed up for craft of poetry, taught by Carolyne Wright, I announced that I'd already filled out my drop slip.

Thank goodness for program requirements. If it hadn't been for that class and the strong influence of poetry at the Whidbey Writers Workshop, I'd still be butchering language like nobody's business. At our recent residency, several presenters stressed the importance of learning poetry to create sound and rhythm in prose.

The fabulously entertaining George Shannon (Tippy Toe Chick—Go! Wise Acres, The Secret Chicken Club, White is for Blueberry, to mention just a few) talked about the role of words as the soundtrack to a story.

George Shannon reads from his book White is for Blueberry

According to George, "Language is nestled in sound. Our job is to evoke meaning through sound and rhythm, not tell. If I were to tell everything, there's nothing left for the child to invent." To illustrate, he tapped out the rhythm of two picture books to see if we could identify what kind of story was being told. One person said the second book made her want to fall asleep. It turned out to be Goodnight Moon. Score one for rhythm!

Elizabeth Wales agreed. As an agent for writers of adult literary fiction and non-fiction, she had this to say: "For a manuscript to catch my attention, it has to have that beautiful rhythm and distinct imprint all its own. A consistent voice and consistent rhythm." The simple fact is that words of any genre have to sing.

I think that's why I'm so drawn to books with a beautiful voice. As much as I loved this year's Newbery winner, When You Reach Me, it lacked that feeling I crave when reading a story. This is not to say that it didn't deserve to win, it's just that I always knew I was moving through a plot. Although its complex storyline was skillfully executed, the language and pacing didn't make me go "ahhh." In contrast, this year's Caldecott winner, The Lion and The Mouse, put me over the moon with its music—and it didn't even have fully formed words.

Sound and rhythm transcend the mechanics of plot and evoke emotion and meaning beyond the rigid reach of the brain. I can't say I'm able achieve it in my own writing at this point, but thanks to overcoming my fear and loathing of poetry, I've certainly got my ear to the grindstone.

Felicidades

Congratulations to Carmen T. Bernier Grand for winning a Belpre Honor for DIEGO! Woof!

Carmen after 10 days of working like a dog at the Whidbey Writers Workshop

Carmen may not make a mint teaching us how to write for kids, but she does win our heartfelt affection!

Acceptance of a Different Sort

Having just returned from a 10 day writing residency on Whidbey Island, I'm faced with one lovely rejection and one reluctant acceptance. The lovely rejection comes from the editor of a major kids magazine who sent me a letter with a real signature in ink. Ink! (I checked very carefully). If I could mail a hug, I would do just that.

The reluctant acceptance comes from having ditched my thesis project after realizing that, no matter how much I want to write lovely, heartfelt stories, it's just not me. The revelation came as no surprise to a classmate who shall remain nameless (Stephanie Lile) and faceless (see below).

Steph (r) and Me (l) at each other's throats (but in a very friendly, bloodless sort of way)

To paraphrase her reaction to the news that my thesis novel--humbly entitled "An Award Winning Instant Classic"--was destined for the drawer:

[laughter...coffee snorting through nose]
A tender, heartfelt novel? You?

God bless her pointed (but brilliant) little head. What's taken me forever to accept, she's known all along: I'm more comic candy than timeless classic (and yes, sometimes a smidgen disturbed). My new thesis novel reflects the real me, and I akshually feel relieved to dash my own dream. It's been horrible wanting to write what comes unnaturally. I may not be what I want to be, but I yam (sigh) what I yam.

Stephanie Hammer (1of2) and Me (2of2)--after the mind meld.

P.S. I can't say enough good things about the exceptional goodwill and support of my fellow students and faculty at Whidbey. I'd especially like to thank the genuisy Stephanie Hammer (aka 1of2) for getting me through Short Forms last semester.

Will Write 4 Food

Location: Whidbey Island Correctional Facility for Writers
Status: Day 7

Whidbey Writers Workshop faculty Lawrence (Larry) Cheek, Bruce Holland Rogers, Bonny Becker and Kathleen Alcala share tips for surviving as a writer. Winner of most creative means to an end: Bruce Will Writeforfood.

Legendary Poet Tess Gallagher enthralls. (Yes, that's Holly Hughes to the right!)


I offer tips on picture book writing (yeah, right) to Tess Gallagher.

More pictures and updates to follow in the coming days. For now, I must resurrect some life from the rubble of my writing.

Check it out

I have official good news on two fronts:

My creepy kid short story, The Collector, has been accepted by Soundings Review; and (even better for my gas tank) I received my first check for kids lit reviews that will appear in the next issue of Columbia Kids, an online publication of the Washington State Historical Society.

Oh yeah, we gon shut. it. down.

As much as it pains me...

If you must look: Over on Greetings from Nowhere, Barbara O'Connor (The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis, Greetings from Nowhere, How to Steal a Dog) has got me hooked on her quest to find the rare and potentially toxic Cafe Francais International Coffee with a BLUE label. Apparently, the new and improved recipe isn't cutting it.



Typically, I would be deeply concerned about the stability of someone who drinks instant coffee; and to be honest, I am. But I'm more horrified that she might not find what she needs and then may not write and then, well...I'll need to check but it just might be one of the seven signs of the Apocalypse.



It goes against every moral grain of roasted bean inside my caffeinated cells, but I think we need to pitch in and search the shelves of run down, claptrap, dust-drenched mom and pop roadside establishments throughout this nation and get her these %#!@ tins ASAP—if for no other reason than I haven't been this entertained since last month's Man vs. Food marathon (did anyone catch the grease truck fat sandwich challenge? five pounds in 45 minutes!).



So leave this site and rush over to Barbara's blog. While you're busy saving civilization (such as it is), I'm off to Whidbey Island for ten days of intensive learning and sleep deprivation (fueled by real coffee).

Top Ten Challenge

Over on A Fuse #8 Production, Betsy Bird is taking votes for Top Ten Chapter Books of all time. I've already submitted my list, so now it's time to turn my attention to my reader. If I may twist your arm until it burns, I'd like to encourage you to vote for Harriet the Spy as number one.

You may feel compelled by personal or professional standards to vote otherwise. So I'll leave you with this thought:

If Harriet the Spy is not your favorite, you might end up in a basket heading straight into the flaming bowels of hell with nothing to read but Twilight.

I'm just saying'...

Review: The Magician's Elephant

The Magician’s Elephant
By Kate DiCamillo
Illustrated by Yoko Tanaka
Candlewick
$16.99
Ages 9-12

I hold to the belief that what a story means (as in message) is less important than how it makes the reader feel. After all, a well-crafted story can mean many things to many people. However, in the case of Kate DiCamillo’s The Magician's Elephant, meaning and magic unite to create a mystical sensation of wonder, love and possibility beyond everyday imagination. It’s an emotionally evocative, fairy tale journey for the reader.

Weird and wonderful characters populate this mystical world in which the inexplicable appearance of an elephant weaves together the lives and aspirations of people seeking love and a sense of belonging.

One of the reasons I fell in love with this mesmerizing tale of a boy’s quest to find the sister he never knew is because of its language—the poetic repetition and building of speech patterns, such as the following instructions by the feverishly delusional soldier, Vilna Lutz ,to his ward, Peter Duchene:

“You must ask the fishmonger for two fish and no more….Ask him for the smallest ones. Ask him for the fish that others would turn away. Why, you must ask him for those fish that other fish are embarrassed to even refer to as fish!”

Even the elephant has his own special syntax, which is so very elephanty it feels utterly authentic.

To cap it off, the narrative is brought to luminous life by Yoko Tanaka’s illustrations. As with the words, the images evoke an emotionally resonant tale.

Simply put, The Magician’s Elephant is miraculous.