Picture Books of the Day

Anastasia Suen's Picture Book of the Day blog [http://picturebookoftheday.blogspot.com/]is a great place to study the variety of children's picture books in print. Each day a different book is featured as an example of 6 writing traits, organization, voice, conventions, word choice, ideas, sentence fluency. Here's a link explaining these 6 writing traits in more detail: http://www.kent.k12.wa.us/staff/LindaJancola/6Trait/what.htm

What picture book am I reading today? GRANDPA'S GAMBLE by Richard Michelson/ illustrated by Barry Moser. In it a Jewish grandfather reveals the touching story of his past to his grandchildren. This book has an interesting voice, told through the eyes of the grandson--who at first belittles his grandfather until he comes to understand what has made his grandfather the prayerful man he is.

ACROSS THE ALLEY and HAPPY FEET: THE SAVOY BALLROOM LINDY HOPPERS AND ME are two other picture books by Richard Michelson that I enjoyed. He has others as well. Hope you are able to read some of them.

And tomorrow I hope to attend a reading by Richard Michelson. Tune back in for an update.

KITTY KERPLUNKING Earns a Rave Review

Preppy the kitty in KITTY KERPLUNKING: PREPOSITION FUN is a huge success with the OASIS tutors. They have loved reading your story to their students and engaging them in language play using prepositions. Each page provides a rich visual and literacy experience for the students in a fun and lighthearted manner. Thank you for providing the instructional materials at the back of the book. These extension activities help to solidify appropriate practice for using prepositions. The study guide helps tutors understand the proper use of prepositions and how to interject them into student writing. I look forward to hearing more from the tutors and their experiences with the book. I also look forward to future books from one of Missouri’s new authors.

Tamara Rhomberg, Coordinator
K-5 Reading Intervention, OASIS, Title I
Rockwood School District
St. Louis County, Missouri

Website Updates

Fresh off the Presses!

Special Website Updates just in time for the start of a new school year.



KIDS, look for Super Smoothies -- a cool recipe for snacking http://www.cynthiareeg.com/kids/smoothy.html

Recycling Reading -- a list that will lead you to the Green http://www.cynthiareeg.com/kids/recycle_read.html

Paper Bag Book Cover -- a fun way to recycle and care for books
http://www.cynthiareeg.com/kids/paperbag.html



PARENTS & TEACHERS, look for Green Schools -- learn how to have Zero waste in schools
http://www.cynthiareeg.com/teachers/green.html




Plus, new ordering information for both KITTY KERPLUNKING AND GIFTS FROM GOD http://www.cynthiareeg.com/writings/books.html



Stop in for a visit!

Holly the Dirty Dog

I thought I'd been transported today inside the pages of one of my all time favorite picture books, HARRY THE DIRTY DOG by Gene Zion, when I picked up my nearly 10-month-old Holly from her adventures at Doggie Day Care.

Holly loves nothing more than romping the day away with doggie friends. When I dropped her off at ten o'clock in the morning at Kennelwood, she was a white dog with just a few light spots of apricot. But when I picked her up at four this afternoon, she was an apricot brown dog with just a few spots of white still peeking through.

This new brown dog barked like Holly. She tried to jump up and kiss me like Holly. And she even had on Holly's new red and blue collar. So I took the mystery dog home, gave her a thorough scrubbing, and --voila--there was Holly!

According to Holly's report card from Kennelwood, here's some of the things she enjoyed doing today:

Explored, wagged and sniffed

Joined the bark festival

Took in some leisurely nap time

Inspected all the exciting toys

Chatted with my neighbors

Found a new best friend

Dreamt of you

Did some sunbathing

Dog gone it, did you have this much fun today? I hope so.

An Enchanted Evening with Gail Carson Levine

I spent a magical evening last Friday, the 10th, listening to Gail Carson Levine read from her latest book--Fairy Haven and the Quest for the Wand--and she also answered many questions from her excited young fans.



Here's a few of the questions and answers in very random order:



Which is your favorite book?

Dave at Night (because it was inspired by her father who was also an orphan, like Dave)



What are some ways you use to convey characters?

Speech

Filling out a character questionnaire

Talking to the character--asking her/him questions



What are some of your favorite stories?

Pride and Prejudice

Anne of Green Gables

Peter Pan

Hat Full of Sky



Where do you get your inspiration?

From the books I read as a child, especially fairy tales



If you'd like more information on Ms. Levine, here's a link to her website:

http://www.harperchildrens.com/authorintro/index.asp?authorid=12385

Good Review

I couldn't wait to share the first review on my new picture book, GIFTS FROM GOD, with photo art from MarySue Roberts. Published by Guardian Angel Publishing.

You can check it out on Amazon at this address: http://www.amazon.com/Gifts-God-Cynthia-Reeg/dp/1933090332/ref=sr_1_45/102-7427916-0340900?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186435927&sr=1-45

But here's a copy of the rave review:

Great Little Book , August 6, 2007

By M. H Furlong (Centerville, OH)

I have two children (6 and 3) and they both love this book. It is very well done and every picture explodes with color and happiness. If only church was as fun for kids as this book is!

Thankful

As a part of staying positive, I'm trying to do a THANKFUL list at least once a month. Of course, I take too much for granted each day. So here's a list of today's THANKS:

• a ladybug in the grass


• getting off a requested sub to an agent


• receiving a request for submission from said agent


• a dinner date with my husband and family


• 3 Rose-o-sharon bushes all in bloom--one white, one pink, one lilac


• a cool library on a hot day


• online writing buddies


• tug-of-war games with my dog Holly (she's always wins)


• pre-season football starting in just a week (I love football!)


• silly kitty cat in a sack (that's Henry)


• an email from my sister-in-law, Wil, that made me laugh


• cuddle time with purr-master Herman (my other cat)

Oh, and one big piece of GOOD NEWS to be THANKFUL for:

a contract for one of my short stories The Emily Explosion from Blooming Tree Press!!!

The story was one of five finalists chosen from the Smart Writers Contest. It will be published in an upcoming anthology.

Once again the 3 P's have prevailed. (hint: read my prior blog entry)

The Three P's

Starting a new month seems to encourage a fresh beginning--or a renewed continuing...

For a writer, I think it's always important to remember The Three P's:

PATIENCE
PERSEVERANCE and
a POSITIVE ATTITUDE

So it was delightful when I came across a prayer written by St. Clare of Assisi that echoed these same intentions.

What you hold, may you always hold.
What you do, may you always do and never abandon.
But with swift pace, light step, and unswerving feet,
so that even your steps stir up no dust,
go forward
securely, joyfully, and swiftly,
on the path of prudent happiness,
believing nothing,
agreeing with nothing
which would dissuade you from this resolution
or which would place a stumbling block for you on the way...