Remembering Childhood

By Susan Berger

Well...Tis the season. I love the holidays. I love the lights and the songs and the feelings of good will and anticipation.

 

I do not love the tension, the anxiety of trying to do everything right and on time. Of finding the perfect present. The illusion that there needs to be more money. I wish I never felt those things, but I do sometimes.

Twenty years when my children were young and I was a harried mother, I wrote this poem:

Christmas

The Carols are caroled. The gingerbread's made.

The turkey's not bought yet. The bills are half paid.

The kids are both fighting. The gifts are not wrapped

It's six days till Christmas and we are all zapped!

 I want back my childhood, the joy and delight,

The magic and wonder of Christmas Eve night.

It's odd being grown and the mother of two.

What quality time? I'm just running a zoo!

 

Oh I wish that a Fairy was sitting right here,

She would just wave her wand and make Christmas appear.

She'd sparkle the gifts and then light up the tree.

And I'd look, and I'd marvel, and I would be free.

Still, at night, when I gaze at each young sleeping face,

I know that, for me, there is no other place.

So I cling to bright moments and take them for proof

That reindeer still land, in our dreams, on the roof.

I think at this time of year we. as writers, need to remember our childhood. Or as William Goldman, author of The Princess Bride, might have put it:

Childhood: The Good Parts Version.

 We need to remember a time when the world was full of wonder. We need to remember the magic. How it felt to believe.

I still remember joyous anticipation I felt as a child when the TV news anchor reported Santa had been sighted.

I remember lying in my bed tense with excitement staring up at my neighbors peaked snow covered roof, sure I would spot the sleigh and those tinkling belled reindeer any moment.

My believing memories fuel my writing. I want to play in my writing with other believers in a world when anything is possible.

Have you got a special believing memory you can share with us?

I hope so. Happy Holidays. These last two pictures are from this year's Gingerbread House Decorating Party, one of my favorite Christmas traditions now in its 31st year.

Hanukkah Reads from Hilde’s Hacienda!

by Hilde Garcia

It’s the second night of Hannukah and there’s still plenty of time to find good Hannukah books and order online!

With over night shipping at your fingertips, you’ll be able to get your books by the 8th night before the sun dips.

Here are the tried and true favorites at my house.

Here’s hoping they are for you, whether they are to gift or for your little mouse.

PRE SCHOOL CHOICES

1. This is the Dreidel by Abby Levine

This story is told in the style of There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. Each page builds on the next as it tells Max’s story of how he celebrates Hanukkah. It also includes a mini dictionary of some Hanukkah terms.

2. On the First Night of Chanukah by Cecily Kaiser
We all remember the familiar song, The Twelve Days of Christmas. Well this book introduces the eight nights of Hanukkah. And on the fifth night instead of 5 Golden Rings, we get 5 Chocolate Gelt. Yummy.

3. Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah by Susan L. Roth
This very soothing song encompasses a very popular melody, O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree and tells the young reader about lighting candles for eight days. The illustrations are beautiful, done by ???

4. I Have a Little Dreidel by Maxim Baum

This is a great songbook, where you sing the dreidel song as you read it. This book has ten verses to describe an entire Hanukkah experiences as well as a recipe and how to play the dreidel game. It even has the sheet music at the very end to play the dreidel song yourself.

KINDERGARTEN- 2nd GRADE

1. A Chanukkah Guest by Eric A. Kimmel

Poor Bubbe Brayna! Her eyesight isn't very good and she ends up sharing her latkes with a very hairy guest, a bear. This story will certainly make you laugh!

2. Mrs Greenberg’s Messy Hanukkah by Linda Glaser

Rachel doesn't feel like it will be Hanukkah without her neighbor Mrs. Greenberg or any latkes. Her parents are too busy with errands so she devises a plan. And what a messy plan it is. Rachels good sentiments in the end teach her parents a great lesson and brings happiness to Mrs. Greenberg for Hanukkah.

3. The Magic Dreidels, A Hanukkah Story by Eric A. Kimmel
A great story about the consequences of our actions that will have your child rooting for Jacob all the way. And who wouldn't want magic dreidels that make latkes?

4. Latkes, Latkes, Good to Eat, A Hanukkah Story by Naomi Howland
This is told in the spirit of Tomie dePaola’s, Strega Nona. It includes a recipe and the origins of the holiday too.

3rd - 5th GRADE

1. Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric Kimmel

This is one of my favorite stories. It’s a great story about how Hershel outwits the goblins to restore Hanukkah to the neighboring village of Ostropol. It shows that our greatest weapon is not strength but intelligence.

2. Zigazak, A Magical Hanukkah Night by Eric Kimmel

A marvelous story of how the Rabbi of Brisk rids the town of two pesky Hanukkah devils that were ruining the town’s celebration. This book has great potential for interactiveness as my children love to repeat zigazak all throughout the story. It also exemplifies for young readers how you can solve problems with your wits and not your fist.

3. Hanukkah, Shmanukkah! by Esmé Raji Codell
A fabulous retelling of Scrooge’s tale. The Rabbi of Hannukah Past arrives to transport Scroogemacher “to hotzeplotz and back to see that Hanukah is nothing to sneeze at.”

4. Hanukkah by Miriam Chaikin
A historical account told simply but honestly about King Atiochus’ hatred for the Hews. This book gives dates, facts and beautiful illustrations by Ellen Weiss that are akin to historical depictions with just the right touch of color to catch a young reader’s interest. We learn in this book that Hanukkah means to dedicate.

FOR EVERYONE

1. The Eight Nights of Hanukkah by Judy Nayer

This storybook not only includes the story of Hanukkah  as it is told by one family, but gives you many Hanukkah activities and traditions that you can share with your children. Each night in the book is interspersed with an activity. Among the activities are how to make a dreidel, latkes and Hanukkah cards. It tells you of the history and meaning of the holiday. It shares with you the song and the prayer for the candles. Children can make Star of David picture frames and a Maccabee shields. There is also a Hanukkah memory game you can create as well as a gelt holder for all those chocolate coins.

No matter what you celebrate, have a safe and happy season of holidays and may you have light in everything you do and that you leave a magic sparkles everywhere you go.

Dispatch #4 - FFR: Fiction Fusion Reaction

Foreign Correspondent in Disguise

by Lupe Fernandez

In October, thanks to my various confidential contacts, I attended Family Day at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory here in Northern California. Formerly a Navy air station, the Lawrence Livermore Lab was founded in 1952 by physicist Ernest Lawrence for "strengthening the United States’ security through development and application of world-class science and technology..."

The Sun

One facility that intrigued me was the National Ignition Facility. No, it's not used to develop a better cigarette lighter, but to create a self-sustaining nuclear fusion reaction - the power of the sun.

Official Sticker

Unfortunately, no cameras were allowed on the lab property, so this foreign correspondent had to smuggle out a technical drawing.

Top Secret Diagram of NIF Device

The design of the NIF brought to mind the various elements required to be targeted to create literary chain reaction.

The Lawrence Livermore Lab has yet to create a fusion reaction, imitating the nuclear furnace of the stars. But the writer must target various elements toward a common goal of creating a manuscript, and then, if a literary chain-reaction occurs, a successful novel.

Hypothetical Literary Fusion Diagram

As the NIF calibrates and tests its lasers to fuse hydrogen atoms into helium atoms, thus liberating energy, what other artistic beams must the writer aim, calibrate, test, dismantle, fund, construction, calculate and ponder to fuse such different literary elements into a a stellar novel?

This writer would like to think X. Xxxxx and X. Xxxxxxxx (names obfuscated for national security) for allowing me access to the lab.

Good Reads for Gifting

by Kris Kahrs    

Hey, let's do something really radical this year and buy our Hannukkah and Christmas presents a little ahead of time instead of at the gas station while filling up two hours before the big event.  In this spirit, we here at The Pen and Ink Blog have some inspired suggestions from vintage books blogs, illustrators of kid's books, award shortlists, tucked away indie bookstores and more.

Peruse and delight in the variety you'll find and give to your favorite someone.

1) Twenty of the Most Beautiful Bookstores in the World by Emily Tempest via Flavorwire.  Are bookstores your place of worship and books your religion? Then check out this post featuring a bookstore in a former Dominican church in Maastricht, Holland and the Librería El Ateneo Grand Splendid, a converted movie palace in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  Ugh, so hard to go back to the Barnes and Noble in Burbank.

2) Book By Its Cover.  This blog features a carnevale of wonderful kidlit books with innovative illustration.  One of my son's favorites, the Follow the Line series is spotlighted here. Take a gander.

3) The Redhouse Children's Book Award Shortlist.  Not only can you vote for your favorites on this site, but you can also buy them and what better way is there to show your support?  My vote went to "Dog Loves Drawing" by Louise Yates.

4) Curious Pages.  For the rebels among us who need to get their freak on, there is Curious Pages.  A wonderful blog about 'recommended inappropriate books for kids'.  At this blog you will find all of the books you read as a kid, including the ones that are no longer deemed appropriate.

5) We Too Were Children.  What do Upton Sinclair, James Joyce and Langston Hughes all have in common?  Why they are children's book authors, of course!  At this blog, written by author, Ariel S. Winter, you'll be surprised to learn that many of your favorite classic literature authors also have a kid's book lurking in their past! 

6) The Art of Children's Picture Books.  Another blog for the Illustrator's out there or just for the lovers of wonderful illustration in all of us.  The illustrations alone are so detailed and fantastic that I felt I could tell the story from the image without ever having read the book.

And Now Some Places to Buy Your Faves:

7) Elwood & Eloise.  You don't get much more independent than an Etsy Shop.  Right now, E&E has a Cyber Monday sale on, 20% off your purchase of 2nd loved books.

8) The New York Review of Books.  At the opposite end of the book store spectrum, the NYRB has a 20% off special going on now also.

9) Books of Wonder.  This online catalog of a NYC bookstore also has an 800 number to make your ordering easy.  They claim they know 'just what your kids will love' and they are right.  They have new William Joyce, Mo Willems and Patrick McDonell.  They also sell backpacks, art and old and rare books too.         




Enjoy and remember to support your indie booksellers!

First Paragraphs with Links to the Books

By Susan Berger

These are the answers for the First Paragraphs posted on November 5^th.

Both the pictures and the titles link to the books on Amazon.  The names of the authors and illustrators are linked to their websites. (Phew! A very Linky post.) I hope these  first paragraphs inspire you to read some of them.

1. Frannie James often dreamed about her missing mother. Nothing warm or fuzzy, of course, more like reruns of a half forgotten TV series. It was happening again. Her hands clenched as she slept. Would Mom smile? Just one loving smile….Please

The Revenge of Thelma Hill by Margot Finke

I really enjoyed this young teen ghost mystery. Margot is the author of several picture books. This is her second mid grade book. She also gives wonderful writing advice.

2. “Hurry Zachary, bring me a diaper,” cried Mom. 
    “In a minute Mom. I’m feeding the bird,” said Zachary.
     “I need it right now,” Mom yelled.

  

ShSh Sh Let the Baby Sleep by Kathy Stemke. Illustrated by Jack Foster.

Sh Sh Sh Let the Baby Sleep was awarded a silver medal in the 2012 Literary Classics awards. Kathy has included several games to play at the end and I love Jack Foster's illustrations.

3. You need something?

I can get it for you.

You have a problem?

I can solve it.

That’s why they come to me. By “they” I mean every kid in the school. First Graders up to eighth graders. Everyone comes to me for help and most of the time I’m happy to provide it. For a small fee of course.

TheFourth Stall by Chris Rylander. 

Winner of the 2012 Sid Fleischman Award for Humor. Chris spoke at the 2012 SCBWI Summer Conference and he is as funny in real life as he is in this book. Great boy middle grade read. The sequel will be out soon.

4. I am lucky my sister is my best friend.

We do everything together.

Tengo suerte de que mi hermana sea mi    mejor amiga.Hacemos todas las cosas juntas.    

                           

J’ai de la chance parce que ma sœur est  ma meilleure amie.On fait tout ensemble.

 My Sister Is My Best Friend by Nicole Weaver. A trilingual story. Illustrated by Clara Batton Smith.
This book received a Special Category award from the 2012 literary classics I love the trilingual format and had fun comparing and contrasting the sentences.

5.   The movement of the train rocked me like a lullaby I closed my eyes to the dusty countryside and imagined the sign I knew only from stories. The one just outside of town with the big blue letters: MANIFEST: A TOWN WITH A RICH PAST AND A BRIGHT FUTURE.

Moon over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool. This book does everything they tell us not to do as authors: It’s an historic novel told in several voices and in newspaper clips. It jumps back and for between 1917 and 1936 and it’s wonderful! It’s also the 2011 Newbery Winner

6. Logan
Logan didn’t have to open his eyes to know that morning had arrived. The sweet smell of cotton candy wafting into his room worked better than any alarm clock. He rolled over so his nose nearly touched the air vent.

 The Candy Makers by Wendy Maas.  My friend Caitlin Lovejoy, passed me this book and I can’t thank her enough. Wendy tells the same story from the POV of each of the four candy makers. The final chapters are told in third person as together they solve the mystery. I couldn’t put it down.

7. Natalie Isabelle Cailean Edwards bounded up the steps of Carver Middle School with a spring in her step and a welcoming smile on her face. She walked down the hall greeting her fellow eighth grade students. “Good morning, Cecil. How’s your dog recovering from his surgery?”


Save the Lemmings by Kai Strand I met Kai in Bend Oregon before she sold her first book, The Weaver. I bought a kindle copy of Save The Lemmings and devoured it. Fun read.

8. Jessica sat at the breakfast table of the grandparents’ beach house. She missed Mommy and Daddy. A tear dribbled down her cheek and fell into her cereal. “How long is a week, Grandma?” 

Fantastic Flight   by Barbara Bockman, illustrated by Jack Foster

This charming book is a gold medal recipient for preschool books in the 2012 literary classics.


 

10. “Isn’t it cool living by the beach?” Bella asked her best friend, Britt.

“Yeah,” agreed Britt. “There’s always a surprise.”

“Britt, look!” exclaimed Bella. “Here is a surprise. A sea turtle. They’re not usually on the beach in daylight.”

But there she was. A beautiful Loggerhead.

Sea Turtle Summer by Nancy Stewart. Illustrated by Samantha Bell.

Gold Award Recipient in the 2012 literary classics. I loved this story of the girls saving the turtles and Samantha Bell’s illustrations are a perfect complement to the words. Samantha illustrated my book GrowingUp Dreams and I am the proud owner of two of her lovely original drawings.

11. In the bright buzzing room

There was an iPad

And a kid playing Doom

And a screensaver of-

A bird launching over the moon

Goodnight iPad a Parody for  the next generation.
Written and illustrated by Ann Droyd (a pseudonym for David Milgrim.)

I saw this book at Barnes and Noble and bought two copies: One for me and one for my new granddaughter and her electronically obsessed father.  

Happy Thanksgiving to all. 
I am most thankful that this post is done.

Dispatch #4 - Author Mary Elizabeth Anderson In Conversation

Mary Elizabeth Anderson

by Lupe Fernandez

Your intrepid foreign correspondent attended the 2012 SF North & East Bay Region SCBWI Fall Conference held in Oakland, CA. Now I could tell you about the conference, but I've been sworn to secrecy. Or I could tell you about the immature red-tailed hawk spotted on a tree eating a rodent, but this is not a nature post.

I can tell you about how I met author Mary Elizabeth Anderson. I was extolling the virtues this illustrious blog to some ladies sitting in the row before me, when one of the women turns to me and says, "I'm an author. Interview me." What a coincidence? Meeting an author at an SCBWI Conference.

Mary Elizabeth Anderson, a resident of Nebraska, has extensive experience with children as an elementary school teacher and volunteer leader with various youth organizations. In Gracie Gannon: Middle School Zero, young Gracie Gannon has her life full of bullies, her mother's health, finding friends and strengthening her self esteem.

What inspired you to write Gracie Gannon: Middle School Zero?
Several different people inspired me to write "Gracie Gannon." I had a classmate all the way through my school years who was bullied. I never stood up for him, I was one of the innocent bystanders. I also had a nephew who was bullied in a similar fashion, and I dealt with these issues when I taught school. I knew "Gracie" was a book I had to write and my favorite type of fiction writing is dealing with "issues." I always hope readers will pull a little out of the stories that will help them deal with the bumps in the road of life.

You balance a lot of issues in the book - bullying, breast cancer, hearing impairment, alcoholism – with the life of Gracie. How did you keep these topics from overwhelming the narrative?
Of course I wanted to keep the story moving and keep the readers interested. I thought the best way to do so was to present problems/issues that they hear about in their life. While many of the kids won't necessarily need to deal directly with these issues, they will be made aware of them in this book. I wanted Gracie to portray a strong protagonist (although she does have faults) who could deal (and help others) with these topics. I had to present light-hearted scenes as well in order to keep the pace.

What kinds of reactions have you gotten from young readers?
I've received letters from readers who ask me when my next story about "Gracie" will be available. This makes me happy. I know they liked my character. When I present at schools and read the first six pages or so, many times children ask me if I can continue on. (I then know I've captured their attention.) I usually need to stop reading around that point and we do a Q and A.

The Shenandoah, Iowa Public Library

As a child, what part of the library was your favorite section? How about as an adult?
Wow. I've always loved all parts of every library I've ever visited. Of course when I was young I ran to the children's section, sat on the floor and started pulling book after book off the shelf as fast as I could in order to find the perfect books to check out that day. As an adult, I still wander through the children's section first and then look at the "latest books that have come out" table to find some adult reading. Right now I am reading Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard.

You’ve written non-fiction books. Did writing fiction present different challenges? What literary techniques remained the same?

Yes, my first published book "Link Across America" is considered non-fiction. I much prefer writing fiction. I love developing characters and seeing what will happen to them throughout the book. As far as literary techniques, I find non-fiction to be harder because you need to do so much research. Not so with fiction.

Anything else you’d like to say to our readers?
Today I am sending another novel off. It's titled What To Do About Miguel and is a sequel to "Gracie Gannon." However, it can serve as a stand-alone, and I am presenting it as such. It does deal with the same characters. I do have the third book in the series written in rough draft form. We'll see if "Miguel" gets picked up before I spend lots of effort on the third book at this time. Hopefully readers of your blog will want to pick up a copy of Gracie Gannon: Middle School Zero. I also hope they'll take a minute to view my website at: www.meanderson.com.

_______________________

We would like to thank Mary for granting us this interview. 
So go forth, dear readers and read her book.

First lines

by Susan Berger

I haven’t done a first line post in a while. This time I’m taking lines from books I read within the last two months. Some of them are prize winners. A couple I bought at the SCBWI Summer Conference. Two were urged on me by friends. See if these first paragraphs, or, in the case of picture books, first pages, make you want to read on.  Answers in two weeks.

1.      Frannie James often dreamed about her missing mother. Nothing warm or fuzzy, of course, more like reruns of a half forgotten TV series. It was happening again. Her hands clenched as she slept. Would Mom smile?  Just one loving smile….Please

2.      “Hurry Zachary, bring me a diaper,” cried Mom.
“In a minute Mom. I’m feeding the bird,” said Zachary.

“I need it right now,” Mom yelled.

3.      You need something?

I can get it for you.

You have a problem?

I can solve it.

That’s why they come to me. By “they” I mean every kid in the school. First Graders up to eighth graders. Everyone comes to me for help and most of the time I’m happy to provide it. For a small fee of course.

4.      I am lucky my sister is my best friend.

We do everything together.

         Tengo suerte de que me Hermana sea mi major amiga.

         Hacemos todas las cosas juntas.

                J’ai de la chance parce que ma sœur est ma meilleure amie.

                On fait tout ensemble.

5.      The movement of the train rocked me like a lullaby I closed my eyes to the dusty countryside and imagined the sign I knew only from stories. The one just outside of town with the big blue letters: MANIFEST: A TOWN WITH A RICH PAST AND A BRIGHT FUTURE.

6.      Logan

       Logan didn’t have to open his eyes to know that morning had arrived. The sweet smell of cotton candy wafting into his room worked better than any alarm clock. He rolled over so his nose nearly touched the air vent.

7.      Natalie Isabelle Cailean Edwards bounded up the steps of Carver Middle School with a spring in her step and a welcoming smile on her face. She walked down the hall greeting her fellow eighth grade students. “Good morning, Cecil. How’s your dog recovering from his surgery?”

8.      Jessica sat at the breakfast table of the grandparents’ beach house. She missed Mommy and Daddy. A tear dribbled down her cheek and fell into her cereal. “How long is a week, Grandma?”

9.      “Isn’t it cool living by the beach?” Bella asked her best friend, Britt.

“Yeah,” agreed Britt. “There’s always a surprise.”

“Britt, look!” exclaimed Bella. “Here is a surprise. A sea turtle. They’re not usually on the beach in daylight.”

But there she was. A beautiful Loggerhead.

10.   In the bright buzzing room

There was an iPad

And a kid playing Doom

And a screensaver of-

A bird launching over the moon