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I recently discovered One Book Two Book, a delightful blog by Kelly Phillips Erb. Here you'll find information, updates and resources concerning children's books. Kelly is the mom of three children under the age of five and keeps up to date with what's going on in the children's book world.
Her recent post, JK Rowling is "Entertainer of the Year," is a good follow-up for my previous Harry Potter post. Even though I haven't been able to get into those books and movies, Ms. Rowling should be commended for bringing so many youngsters (and adults) to enjoy reading.
Kelly also had another fun post, Our Bedtime Tradition, about story time in the Erb household. This reminded me of the three generations of reading in my family. It even may date back to my mom's childhood.
Mother read to my sister, brothers and me at bedtime. My husband and I read to our daughter. If we tried to skip a part we'd hear, "You aren't reading all of it!" My daughter and son-in-law have always read to their children, who now are avid readers themselves.
What are your bedtime story traditions?
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Is Harry Potter for Everyone?
When the first Harry Potter book came out, my daughter, son-in-law, and 5th grade granddaughter devoured it. I thought, since it was so popular, I should read it, too.
However, I couldn’t get beyond the first couple of pages. I found it boring!
Also, it didn’t seem to fall within the guidelines that we authors are told in writing classes…”Catch the editor and reader’s attention in the first sentence, first paragraph, especially the first page.” The older style of writing, with a couple of pages of description and no lively action, is no longer the type that appeals to editors. If you haven’t caught their attention by the first paragraph or so, your story may not have a chance of making it.
However, this doesn’t seem to be the case with the first Harry Potter book. Whatever captured the first editor’s attention, seems to have been enough…and the rest is history.
(But I still couldn’t become engrossed in the book…perhaps because I’m not a fan of science fiction and fantasy.)
Since my granddaughter loves the books and other fantasy ones, I'll get some input from her.
However, I couldn’t get beyond the first couple of pages. I found it boring!
Also, it didn’t seem to fall within the guidelines that we authors are told in writing classes…”Catch the editor and reader’s attention in the first sentence, first paragraph, especially the first page.” The older style of writing, with a couple of pages of description and no lively action, is no longer the type that appeals to editors. If you haven’t caught their attention by the first paragraph or so, your story may not have a chance of making it.
However, this doesn’t seem to be the case with the first Harry Potter book. Whatever captured the first editor’s attention, seems to have been enough…and the rest is history.
(But I still couldn’t become engrossed in the book…perhaps because I’m not a fan of science fiction and fantasy.)
Since my granddaughter loves the books and other fantasy ones, I'll get some input from her.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Capturing Young Readers in the Electronics Age
Teachers I talk with, as I do substitute teaching and conduct writing workshops in schools, find it challenging to keep many youngsters interested in reading. They mention that it seems fewer of them like to read…or they don’t read so much at home.
“We have to compete with TV, video games, and movies to hold their attention,” one teacher remarked to me. “I feel I have to be an entertainer.”
When assigned something to read at school, many students groan, while a few (like my granddaughter) consider this an enjoyable respite from other school work.
Parents may find the same situation at home and need to make an effort to get their children away from electronic and television games. Here are some suggestions that might help to encourage reading,
*Let children see you reading
*Read to young children
*Set aside a family reading time
*Have children read to one another
*Encourage children to act out stories
*Participate in reading programs at the local library
*See if your school has extra reading programs...like the Saturday mornings (in March) Reading Enrichment for grades K-8. Our grandkids have thoroughly enjoyed this.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
The Idea for Sarah Jane's Daring Deed
Readers often ask, "Where did you get the idea for the story?" This is such a frequent question when I'm giving author visits, doing presentations, teaching workshops, and attending book signings, that I thought blog readers would like to know about the "story behind the story" and have some idea how one children's authors thinks.
Sarah Jane's Daring Deed, which has becme one of my favorites, resulted from research I was doing for a column on local history for a weekly newspaper. As I read about the lives of the early pioneers sho settled the region of New Hampshire where my family and I reside, I wondered, "What was it like for youngsters to live here during that time?"
As I pondered upon this, the story of Sarah Jane evolved. She and her family settled in the latter 1700s or thereabouts far from their city home. Because I live in New Hampshire and my research was focused here, the story, in my mind, took place here.
The story was published in four church school magazines for youngsters. (I retained the rights.) Possibly it appealed to editors all over the country because I didn't name the town or state where Sarah Jane lived and encountered Little Fawn. Therefore, it could have been set in many areas where blackberries grew. (In the opening scene, Sarah Jane is picking them.)
When I was asked to compile an anthology of my children's stories, Tales of Adventure & Discovery, I chose this one as the lead story. It's a story I've always enjoyed and children do when I visit schools and libraries. My daughter even made dolls of Sarah Jane and Little Fawn to accompany me to school.
(c)2006
(If you have questions about Sarah Jane and my programs for schools and writers' groups, e-mail me: me.allen@juno.com. Type "Sarah Jane's blog" in the subject line. )
Sarah Jane's Daring Deed, which has becme one of my favorites, resulted from research I was doing for a column on local history for a weekly newspaper. As I read about the lives of the early pioneers sho settled the region of New Hampshire where my family and I reside, I wondered, "What was it like for youngsters to live here during that time?"
As I pondered upon this, the story of Sarah Jane evolved. She and her family settled in the latter 1700s or thereabouts far from their city home. Because I live in New Hampshire and my research was focused here, the story, in my mind, took place here.
The story was published in four church school magazines for youngsters. (I retained the rights.) Possibly it appealed to editors all over the country because I didn't name the town or state where Sarah Jane lived and encountered Little Fawn. Therefore, it could have been set in many areas where blackberries grew. (In the opening scene, Sarah Jane is picking them.)
When I was asked to compile an anthology of my children's stories, Tales of Adventure & Discovery, I chose this one as the lead story. It's a story I've always enjoyed and children do when I visit schools and libraries. My daughter even made dolls of Sarah Jane and Little Fawn to accompany me to school.
(c)2006
(If you have questions about Sarah Jane and my programs for schools and writers' groups, e-mail me: me.allen@juno.com. Type "Sarah Jane's blog" in the subject line. )
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Teachers Enjoy Using Tales of Adventure & Discovery
Teachers mention they like to read my stories from Tales of Adventure & Discovery (an anthology for children) to their students. It's gratifying to know teachers and their students find the stories enjoyable, entertaining, and educational. A coloring book, with illustrations and excerpts from the anthology was a logical next step for me.
The first story in the book, Sarah Jane's Daring Deed, has been very popular with youngsters when I read them stories and teach writing workshops. I often use it as a springboard for their own writing. Because this story set in pioneer days, I often tie the story in with history they may be learning at school. I'm currently in the process of developing a picture book version of this story.
One teacher purchased my book when I taught a writing workshop for educators. Other teachers in her school wanted to know where she had obtained it. So the school ordered a dozen books for the teachers to use.
The first story in the book, Sarah Jane's Daring Deed, has been very popular with youngsters when I read them stories and teach writing workshops. I often use it as a springboard for their own writing. Because this story set in pioneer days, I often tie the story in with history they may be learning at school. I'm currently in the process of developing a picture book version of this story.
One teacher purchased my book when I taught a writing workshop for educators. Other teachers in her school wanted to know where she had obtained it. So the school ordered a dozen books for the teachers to use.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Selecting Picture Books for Children
“Mary, the children like illustrations that look like something they could draw. Adults select books with lovely art,” a children’s librarian mentioned when she looked at the illustrations in my anthology, Tales of Adventure & Discovery. I’d apologized because they were so simplistic.
Later, a first grade teacher said much the same thing when she saw my illustrations. She explained that her students gravitated to the books in the classroom or library with the simple black and white or cartoon drawings.
“You really mean this?” I asked. Then I explained about the librarian and her discovery about youngsters and book art.
I notice, too, that my grandson, now 11 years old, generally has selected books with cartoon type characters or those drawn with simple lines. He doesn’t attempt to draw pictures to accompany the stories, but these seem to capture his attention and imagination.
A friend said she realized, with her seven children, that at the younger years, up until about 8 years old, they liked to watch movies with animated characters and lost interest in the ones with real actors. Once they were older, they watched both equally.
It would be interesting to hear what you’ve noticed with the youngsters in your life…whether you’re a parent, teacher, librarian, friend, or bookstore owner.
Later, a first grade teacher said much the same thing when she saw my illustrations. She explained that her students gravitated to the books in the classroom or library with the simple black and white or cartoon drawings.
“You really mean this?” I asked. Then I explained about the librarian and her discovery about youngsters and book art.
I notice, too, that my grandson, now 11 years old, generally has selected books with cartoon type characters or those drawn with simple lines. He doesn’t attempt to draw pictures to accompany the stories, but these seem to capture his attention and imagination.
A friend said she realized, with her seven children, that at the younger years, up until about 8 years old, they liked to watch movies with animated characters and lost interest in the ones with real actors. Once they were older, they watched both equally.
It would be interesting to hear what you’ve noticed with the youngsters in your life…whether you’re a parent, teacher, librarian, friend, or bookstore owner.
Mary Emma Allen Introduction
Who am I to write a blog on books for tots through teens? Why would I want to do this?
Reading children’s books and writing stories for young people have interested me since childhood. I still have a story I wrote when I was 11 years old and another from an 8th grade English assignment. (I won’t mention how many years ago this occurred, except to say I now have a teenaged granddaughter who enjoys reading and writing, too.)
I’ve had stories published in more than 200 children’s magazines and anthologies, including Tales of Adventure & Discovery. (This latter contains only my stories.) I also illustrated this book and a coloring book that accompanies it. The picture book, Sarah Jane’s Daring Deed, is under production. This story is one youngsters particularly like when I give presentations in schools and libraries.
Children’s Literature was my favorite class at SUNY, New Paltz, NY (USA), where I received my teaching degree. When I showed the instructor some of the children’s stories, she encouraged me to continue with my writing. So my interest in reading and writing children’s stories continued. Currently, in addition to writing for children and adults and conducting workshops, I do substitute teaching in grades K-12. So I'm involved with readers of all ages.
I live in a multi-generational home in New Hampshire, with husband, daughter, son-in-law, two grandchildren and assorted pets. I also come from a family of readers and writers, since my grandfather was a published writer and my mom and grandmother kept journals. My daughter and granddaughter also has had some of their writing published.
Reading children’s books and writing stories for young people have interested me since childhood. I still have a story I wrote when I was 11 years old and another from an 8th grade English assignment. (I won’t mention how many years ago this occurred, except to say I now have a teenaged granddaughter who enjoys reading and writing, too.)
I’ve had stories published in more than 200 children’s magazines and anthologies, including Tales of Adventure & Discovery. (This latter contains only my stories.) I also illustrated this book and a coloring book that accompanies it. The picture book, Sarah Jane’s Daring Deed, is under production. This story is one youngsters particularly like when I give presentations in schools and libraries.
Children’s Literature was my favorite class at SUNY, New Paltz, NY (USA), where I received my teaching degree. When I showed the instructor some of the children’s stories, she encouraged me to continue with my writing. So my interest in reading and writing children’s stories continued. Currently, in addition to writing for children and adults and conducting workshops, I do substitute teaching in grades K-12. So I'm involved with readers of all ages.
I live in a multi-generational home in New Hampshire, with husband, daughter, son-in-law, two grandchildren and assorted pets. I also come from a family of readers and writers, since my grandfather was a published writer and my mom and grandmother kept journals. My daughter and granddaughter also has had some of their writing published.
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