4 Kids | Attention All Authors

And yes, I'm talking to you! Let me explain.

Last night we hosted an Author Symposium at the Cesar Chavez Central Library. Six local authors shared their books, writing experiences, and signed books for the audience members. It was so awesome! And by the way, thanks so much to those wonderful authors: Paula Treick DeBoard, Mary Jo Gohlke, Britt Nunes, Danny Thomas Ruiz Dunne, and Alice Van Ommeren!! And I must also thank my BFF for sticking around to help clean up after all was said and done.

So of course that got me thinking. Why can't anyone with a story be an author? We've all got stories to tell. It's just a matter of sitting down and getting creative.

If you've got a story to tell (hip hip hooray, I say) and are looking for a little inspiration, check out Rocket Writes a Story by Tad Hills. You'll find this great book in the picture book section, but it's also very informative!  

Here are a couple of my favorite lines from this book:

"Rocket even liked the way books smelled. When he opened a new book, it smelled like a place he'd never been to, like a friend he'd never met."

When Rocket suffers a little writer's block, a little yellow bird shares some sage advice: "Stories need good characters. Or what about something that happened to you? Or something you really enjoy?" Gentle readers, take note: there are some great writing tips in those lines there. 

Rocket also enjoys collecting new words. He would write them down and hang them on his word tree. (Psst: another great writing tip!)

I know that you are all busy with the school year winding down. But when you have a few free moments to let your imagination run wild, think about what YOUR story might be. And start writing!

And don't forget! The Summer Reading Club starts June 1 and all libraries are hosting some super spectacular programs this year. Check out the calendar of events. Join us as we celebrate books and reading in the Fizz! Boom! Read! Summer Reading Club!

Happy reading...and writing!

Learning | Use Your Imagination

Do you like to color? I don't find time to color very often these days, but I like it. I remember how excited I was to get a pack of crayons with 64 colors when I was small. It had colors like "Sky Blue" and "Burnt Sienna!" So much better than my little 8-pack.

I have to share a story my sister-in-law told me a long time ago. Her son (let's call him Larry, instead of his real name) was in kindergarten, along with his twin sister (we don't really need to use a name, but if I had to make one up, I think I would like to call her Esmeralda.) The kindergarten teacher called my sister-in-law to tell her she wanted to talk to her about Larry.  She was really worried about him. My sister-in-law-- (Wow. I'm getting tired of typing that phrase over and over. Let's make up a name for her, too. Let's call her "Claire.") Claire asked why she was worried.  

The teacher showed her examples of Larry's art work. They were all done using only the black crayon. All the other children, including Esmeralda, were using other colors. The teacher thought Larry needed a psychiatric evaluation; she implied that Larry must be very disturbed. Claire did not agree.

Later, when Larry and Claire were at home, Claire said,"Hey, Larry! I see you like to color with the black crayon." Larry grinned and said,"YEAH! See how it slides across the paper faster than the other crayons?" Well, needless to say, Larry was not a troubled child. He has grown up to be a fine young man, and his creativity shows in his cooking. I wonder if he still likes the black crayon best.

The Wanderlust Librarian | The Art of Blogging

The Library Blog writers are a dedicated group of staff who have willingly given their time to write about topics they're interested in.  For this, I give much praise and love to the talented writers. All of the blogs are insightful, fun and embodies the life of its author. 

For me, writing about travel is liberating because it has unlimited avenues. As you can see by my Library Blog, I've written about a number of topics: staycations, eating at a weekly food truck gathering and taking pictures when traveling. 

Coming up with fresh, new content weekly can be hard....especially when there are so many ideas floating around in my head. There are so many topics I have in the blog hopper, that when people read my work before it's finished, it's not really indicative of what the final post will be. The library carries many books on blogging that are available in both print format and through our e-book catalog. Check out our titles here! 

Every writer has a different writing method. My personal process is fairly simple:

*cue another famous Library Bloggess list!*

1. A Picture is worth at least 500 blog words. It's no surprise that I love to take pictures. In fact, almost every photo on my blog are ones that I take. The inspiration of just one image can launch a huge idea for me. Though the picture is always the start of an idea, it's the last thing I add before I share it with you. 

2. The Word Spew : Many writers call this a first draft or a "vomit pass". It's a burble of words and ideas meant to invoke the spirit of the topic. It's not always grammatically correct or spelled perfectly but the pieces are all ready to be put together. Just look at the Spew like making a mosaic. There are a lot of little bits and pieces that are going towards making one unified topic. It's going to be a mess for a bit until things start to get put together. 

3. Making it Work is my process of taking all of the pieces and making them fit in a cohesive, entertaining and understandable post. In the Blog Mosaic, not all of the pieces will be used. They were useful at the time of the Spew, but they're just not useful for this specific project. 

4. The Read through / Edit is when I read the post out loud to see if things make sense, if things need to be moved or just taken out. 

5. Celebratory cup of.... is when I pat myself on the back for a job well done and get myself a cup of: (choose from the following) coffee, tea, chai, cocoa, water or juice. I like to remind myself that it's okay to get excited about finishing a project. 

My friend and fellow blogger, Lori, wrote on a similar topic just a few weeks ago. I was pretty excited because my post expands on her great post. It was fun and she had a great book to share about the topic.

Writing is an adventure. It requires one to use their creativity and voice to express their story. Like all adventures... every single one is different and takes a different path. It should reflect the personality and of the person who shares it.  

Use your words to carve your path! 
Writing adventures are out there! 

The Library Bloggess

Learning | Weird Writing Tips from Dan Gutman

 

If you are around books for school age children much, you have probably seen Dan Gutman's popular series, My Weird School. If you have seen them, you have probably laughed at some of the silly titles in the series, like Miss Mary is Scary! or Mr. Granite is From Another Planet!

I am pleased to say that Mr. Gutman has a new nonfiction book out, called My Weird Writing Tips. What can I say about a book whose introduction has the headline, "Don't be a dumbhead?" That's a pretty good tip right there. The characters from the My Weird School series are used to teach writing to kids, in cartoons to show which word to use when. There are even quotes famous people like Henry David Thoreau, Mark Twain, and P.D. James--all of whom know a thing or two about writing.

I like his discussions of where to get ideas for topics, the importance of taking the time to write something all over again the right way, and to keep studying the best writers. 

The cover of the book is says it's for ages 8 to 12, but I always look at such labels as guidelines.  I think I picked up a tip or two for my own grownup self here. 

Learning | Learning by Example

Recently, a very young man came to my desk with some books to check out.  "It's for my homework," he explained.  The thing is, he didn't even look old enough to be in kindergarten.  His grandmother noticed my surprise, and said he watches his 8 year old cousin doing homework every afternoon. She always gives him some paper and a pencil to "do his homework" beside the bigger boy.  

Sometimes, the best way to get ready to learn something is to observe it being done. I recall watching my older siblings reading, or learning to read.  I wanted to be just like them. Of course, my mother and father were good role models, as well. They sat in their matching armchairs in the evenings, reading.  They would trade books before taking them back to the library. 

I have compiled a short list of books about reading.  They are all entertaining, first of all, but I hope they might inspire somebody you know to catch the reading bug.

How to Teach a Slug to Read

Just as the title suggests, if you ever wanted to teach a slug to read, this is the book for you.  It consists of a list of strategies, with cartoon-caption quips from some little slugs. Clever parents will be able to glean some wise advice, if they read between the lines--and so will their children.

We Are in a Book!

 This adorable Elephant and Piggie book by Mo Willems is designed for beginning readers. If your child likes silliness, you need look no further.

The Bear in the Book
This beautifully illustrated story is about a boy's bedtime reading.  He has a book about a bear preparing to hibernate for the winter.  The bear steps out into the sunshine when spring arrives, but by that time, the little boy has fallen asleep. 

Another lovely picture book is The Lonely Book by Kate Bernheimer and Chris Sheban.  A library book is portrayed as an object with feelings. At first, it's very popular.  Later, it becomes sad when it sits neglected on the shelf.  Happily, it ends up in the possession of a child who repairs it and cherishes it.

How Rocket Learned to Read This is about a little dog named Rocket, who is taught to read by a little yellow bird.

Rocket Writes a Story 

What goes hand-in-hand with learning to read? Learning to write!

Rocket and his teacher, the little yellow bird, are back in this book.

I'm a dog lover anyway, so you can imagine how much I love Rocket, who goes around telling people, "I'm looking for words!" He collects words, writes them down, and hangs them on a tree. He decides to write a story. At first, it's hard to decide what to write. He finds inspiration in the pine tree.  He writes every day, and reads to the owl in the tree. The owl helps him to write the perfect ending.

Five Little Monkeys Reading in Bed You've probably seen other books about these busy little monkeys. They bounce on the bed, sit in the tree and wash the car, to name just a few.  Here, their mother has kissed them all goodnight and turned off the lights, but they decide to turn a light on and read some more.

But Excuse Me That Is My Book 

Lola has a favorite book, called "Beetles, Bugs and Butterflies (BBB.)"  She insists on checking it out every time she goes to the library, even though Charlie thinks she needs to broaden her interests. He shows her other books, and she can't find BBB! Which is her book--why would somebody else dare to check it out?

Arthur's Reading Trick D.W. bets her big brother that she can teach their baby sister to read. At first, Arthur thinks D.W. has bested him--until he realizes he's being tricked. It's not long before he turns the tables, and wins the bet.

Teens Only | I Can't Drive 55

but can I write 55? 55 words, that is?

Each January or February, Record columnist Mike Fitzgerald hosts a 55-Word Writing Contest. Every year I think....this will be my year! I'm going to win that contest! And every year, no such luck. I wonder if my chances would improve if I actually entered the contest!

They say practice makes perfect. So, today, I'm beginning my practice. I'm going to practice writing something in 55 words. Exactly. Not 54. Not 56. 55 words.

I hear you laughing. You try it! It's tougher than you think! For today's practice, I think I'll channel a little Dr. Seuss.

 

Do you like to read a book? 

Yes I do, in my reading nook.

I will read when I'm in school.

I will read out by the pool.

I will read while lying in bed.

I will read standing on my head.

Hey Mr. Fitzgerald, sakes alive!

Look at the word count: it’s fifty-five!

 

I know. I know. I need some help. A lot of help. Fortunately I work at a library, and we have books on how to write. Next step in my quest to win this 55-Word Writing Contest is to study up on writing.

Here is where I'll start:

Extraordinary Poetry Writing by Margaret Ryan. 

This book has innovative strategies and 

multimedia approaches to stimulate out-of-the box thinking

 and help us find our own voice!

Are you with me? Try it. 55 words. I dare you!

Until next Saturday, be well!