Spanish Summer Language Fun

May is speeding by. Soon summer will be here and school vacation. 

What a perfect time to relax in the shade and read some new stories.

Or try a new language.

Look at the photo of Holly my dog enjoying Cinco de Mayo earlier this month.

What fun it would be to write a story about Holly dancing the day away! You could include some Spanish words into your story.

Do you know the Spanish word for dog?

perro

day=dia

danced=baila

The dog danced the day away = Baila el perro el dia fuera.

The sentence is arranged a little differently in Spanish with "danced" (baila) coming in front of "the dog" (el perro).

Can you find the words for "the day"?

Right! el dia

And that means fuera is the word for "away."

Try this free online English to Spanish translation site.

Type in a word or a sentence. The translator will transform your sentence for you.

Can you translate this sentence yourself?

El perro es blanco.

You already know what el perro means from above.

Change the "e" to an "i" in es and you'll have the translation for this word.

And your final clue: blanco is the Spanish word for the color of Holly's fur.

Hasta la vista!

Children's Book Week

Sorry it's halfway through the week already before I had the chance to remind you about CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK. Click on the link and you'll find a great bookmark you can print. 

Since 1919, Children's Book Week has been celebrated in the United States. Schools, libraries, publishers, bookstores and of course, children enjoy this special week, highlighting books and reading.

Click here if you want to help choose the next Children's Choice Book Awards

or here to see the 2008 winners' list.

What great children's books have I been reading this week?

IMMERSED IN VERSE: an Informative, Slightly Irreverent & Totally Tremendous Guide to Living the Poet's Life by Allan Wolf

The title says it all for this poetry how-to book. Discover your inner poet when you take this book out for a spin.

AND THEN THERE WERE EIGHT: Poems about Space by Laura Purdie Salas

These poems are totally out-of-sight! The author shares some star-worthy poems and gives insight into poetry lingo.

A POKE IN THE I: a Collection of Concrete Poems selected by Paul B. Janeczko

When is a poem also a picture? If you don't know, you'll want to dive into this whirl of words.

HOW TO TALK TO YOUR DOG by Jean Craighead George

The author explains dog walk, talk, and body language. You'll decipher your dog's messages in a flash. Fun and informative.

HERO CAT by Eileen Spinelli

Don't miss this sweet picture book highlighting a mother cat's heroic efforts to save her young kittens from a fire. This book is based on a true story. Both the artwork and writing are wonderful.

OK. Now it's YOUR turn. What incredible children's books have you been reading???

Snow Fun in Birmingham

Winter seems to be refusing to let go this year. It recently dealt an icy hand across much of the United States, even down into the South. My brother & sister-in-law, James and Lauri, live in Birmingham, Alabama--which rarely sees snow. But last week they received enough to play in for a short while.

Here are photos of their dog Mandy learning how to roll snowballs and the spirited snowman they all made.

If your area wasn't dusted with any of the white stuff and you'd like to play with some snowflakes, you can make some of your own. Click on this link from my website to learn how to make paper snowflakes. And when you're finished, here's a list of snowy reads.

Brrrrr!

Acrostic Poetry for Cold Dogs and Hot Dogs

Holly, my dog, says it's cold outside, so she'd rather stay inside.

A fun inside activity is writing ACROSTIC poems. They're a breeze--and not an icy, cold breeze either.

Start with an easy acrostic using your first name. Write the letters vertically, one underneath the other. Here's how Holly's name would look:

H

O

L

L

Y

Now, use each letter as the first letter for that line. Since we're using Holly's name, we'll make the poem about her.

Happy all the time

Often takes naps

Likes to explore

Loves to eat treats

Yip-yaps at birds and squirrels

If you want a challenge, make the lines work together--like a mini-story.

Happy dogs, like Holly,

Often give other pets and people

Lots of slobbery

Licks--which are really doggie kisses--and they aren't

Yucky at all!

And if you want a super-duper challenge, expand your ACROSTIC to more than one word. Try telling your poetic story using these words:

D

O

G

G

I

E

D

A

Y

C

A

M

P

Have fun and stay warm!

For more adventures with pets, visit Mayra Calvani's new blog:

http://petsandauthors.blogspot.com

Characters in Real Life and Fiction

Today over at the KIDLIT CENTRAL blog I've posted an entry about "Characters & Perspective." I take a couple of my characters along for an airplane ride. Monsters don't necessarily travel well.

Where do authors get ideas for their fictional characters? From real life, of course. We mix and match and makeup stuff as we go along to create just the right characters for each story. 

But when an author like me knows such a vibrant real life character like Lucy-- the Glamour Dog, then I  don't have to add much fictional flair to fashion a fun character. 

Take a look at this picture of Lucy after she decided to try Pink Bubble Gum lip gloss.

She's dog-gone adorable!

K9 Splash

Dogs galore raced to our local public pool today for their chance to enjoy the water and each other's company. My dog Holly (the cute white one, of course) is not too much of a water sport, but she does like to hang out with her canine friends. Although Holly was one of the smaller pooches at the pool, she mingled with the big and furry guys pretty well. After an initial period of scoping out the entire area--including the marked off kiddie playground whose barricades were much too high to keep out a short schnoodle, Holly ran circles around some of the large dogs. You can see how fast she is. I couldn't keep her in my camera shots.

What a great way to close down the pool for the summer! Going to the dogs isn't always such a bad thing.

If you'd like to share in another doggie adventure, you can find Bubba--from DOGGIE DAY CAMP--and me this Saturday at Fenton, Missouri for Founders Day. I will be joining other local authors at the Fenton Historical Society and Museum from 2-3:30 (#1 Church Street). I'm sure it will be a splashing fun day too.

DOGGIE DAY CAMP = Grammar Fun

Another 2 paws up review!

Wayne S. Walker, a reviewer at Stories for Children Magazine, gave DOGGIE DAY CAMP: VERB AND ADVERB ADVENTURES a wonderful evaluation:

Bubba the dog is attending his first day at doggie day camp, but he is shy. However, he slowly becomes interested and makes new friends as he engages in the various activities. In addition, he helps to teach readers (or listeners) about verbs and adverbs as well. This book is one of the pet grammar parade series. What a unique idea! As a book reviewer who has had to wade through some really bad grammar because many authors (and apparently some editors) do not know the ins and outs of the English language, I firmly believe that children need to be taught proper English grammar.

Studies show that beginning formal grammar studies for students under third or fourth grade can be counterproductive, but grammar concepts can still be gradually introduced to younger children if done gently. Story books such as this are a wonderful way to do so. There is an introduction that explains what verbs and adverbs are. At the end, there is a study guide that gives further information about verbs and adverbs and contains several fun activities for children that will help to reinforce what they have learned. I would hope that books like this will find a ready audience. They are sorely needed! I really like this idea.

Thank you, Mr. Walker! Bubba and I greatly appreciate your kind words in praise of DOGGIE DAY CAMP. To read more reviews, click here.

And remember, this Saturday morning (August 23) Bubba and I will be at the Leawood, Kansas Barnes and Noble store at 11:00 for storytime. I hope to see some of you there.

Praise for DOGGIE DAY CAMP

Teachers agree: Bubba the dog helps primary grade students learn English grammar.
“Adorable story and illustrations,” said one experienced teacher, and so it is. But shy Bubba —who looks a lot like a schnoodle—also conveys information to beginning readers.
As part of author Cynthia Reeg’s Pet Grammar Parade Series, he discovers verbs and adverbs at doggie day camp, as well as new friends and activities.
Children who have recently started school and often attend day camps during the summer should have no trouble identifying with Bubba, and primary teachers will welcome a warm and funny way to begin study of grammar.

Lee Braff
Editor, HeartLand Boating, and children’s writer

Museum of the Dog Visit

On Sunday, I did have the wonderful opportunity to visit the Museum of the Dog. Originally, the American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog was located in New York City. But by 1981, the Museum had already become too large for its location.

In 1987, the Jarville House in Queeny Park (St. Louis, Missouri) became the new home for the Museum. The Jarville House's history dates back to 1853 when John Renard, an early settler, built the home for his second wife. The red brick house is an example of Greek Revival architecture--one of the few remaining "outstanding examples" in the St. Louis area.

In 1989 a 14,000 square foot addition was constructed for the Museum, and the original carriage house was converted to the gift shop and offices. The completed Museum with its permanent collection formally opened in November 1990. It boasts "the country's largest collection of art, artifacts, and literature on man's best friend."

Some top-notch dogs are pictured at the Museum. Here are two: Barney & Miss Beazley, in the White House International Diplomats' Reception Room (by Constance Coleman, 2005)

This portrait shows none other than President George W. and Laura Bush's dogs.

Dog-Gone Amazing!

My staff & I didn't make it to the Museum of the Dog today due to other commitments, but rest assured that we will very soon. And we'll provide you with all the exciting de-TAILS!

My ever vigilant staff did find some amazing canine art work on the web today. No, not more portraits of dogs--rather art work BY a dog! Yes, that's right. The world famous Tillamook Cheddar. Tillie has brought scratching and chewing to a whole new artistic level. She's had exhibits in Europe, New York City, Los Angeles, and more. Tillie is a Jack Russell Terrier from New York City with a special gift for using her "teeth and claws" to create masterpieces. Tillie even has her own biography, Portrait of the Young Dog as an Artist by F. Bowman Hastie III. Click here to see more pictures of Tillie. The first picture shows her at work on a canvas.

What's that? Oh....my dog Holly just padded into my office with a paint brush in her mouth. I believe she's ready to create her own painting. Now if I can just stop her before she tries to open the paints.......

Museum of the Dog

Here are my staff--(from left to right) Herman, Holly, and Henry--working hard as usual.

In celebration of DOGGIE DAY CAMP and its wonderful illustrations by Kit Grady, they discovered a very special canine location--the MUSEUM OF THE DOG. This museum in St. Louis, Missouri, has the "world's finest collection of art devoted to the dog." More than 700 paintings and other art work--all about dogs!

Since the museum is close by, my staff has suggested a field trip. Check back next week. We hope to share with you our artistic dog adventures when we visit the museum.

In the meantime, why not try your hand at creating some dog art of your own. The library should have illustration books as well as books on all different kinds of dogs. I'll ask Kit how she came up with her illustrations for Bubba and his friends in DOGGIE DAY CAMP.

And if you just want to read a totally silly dog book, try Dav Pilkey's DOGZILLA.

DOGGIE DAY CAMP

I'm very pleased and excited to tell you that DOGGIE DAY CAMP: VERB AND ADVERB ADVENTURES, the second book in Guardian Angel Publishing's The Pet Grammar Parade Series, will be coming out soon. DOGGIE DAY CAMP explores verbs and adverbs with Bubba the dog.

Kit Grady created the amazing illustrations for the book. And like the first book in this series, KITTY KERPLUNKING: PREPOSITION FUN, this book also provides a study guide and lots of great activities. Already the teachers who have seen book love it and plan to use it in their classrooms.

Here is a clip from one review, Doggie Day Camp: Verb and Adverb Adventures is not only an entertaining story, but also an excellent resource to introduce grammar concepts to young readers and reinforce the use of verbs and adverbs to older readers. I'm looking forward to more books in Cynthia Reeg's grammar series.-- Kelly Secrease, 6th Grade Language Arts
Nettleton Intermediate Center
Jonesboro, Ar.

Walking on a Rainbow

Today I am excited to welcome my writer friend, Mayra. She'll share a bit of her literary journey with you--and celebrate the release of her new picture book, CRASH!

Walking on a Rainbow: How I Became a Children’s Book Author
By Mayra Calvani

I used to think writing children’s books was boring. Writing for those demanding, whining creatures? Are you kidding? Not for me. No thanks.

That was a few years ago.

Now, nothing fills me with more joy and excitement than writing a picture book or a novel for tweens. Writing for children is like stepping into a fresh, magical, innocent, marvelous world of color and words. Writing for children is, in fact, like walking on a rainbow.

So how did the change happen?

Easy. I had children.

I recently read an interesting post by another children’s author about how in order to write good children’s stories, one must know children. Of course, as always, there are exceptions to the rule, but in general, I find this observation to be true. This doesn’t necessarily mean that one must have children in order to write great children’s stories, but it does mean that one must interact with them, know their fears, fantasies, dreams. In sum, one must have a clear idea of what goes on inside their little heads and hearts.

In my case, having children brought out a tender, gentler part of me to the surface, a part I didn’t know I had. Suddenly, as I read to my little daughter every night, picture books, with their beautiful and evocative illustrations, began to appear very appealing to me. I don’t remember when the exact moment happened, the moment when I thought, ‘I want to write a children’s book.’ But I do know I went from extreme to extreme: from chilling horror to sweet picture books. Two very different worlds, but I’m able to switch from one to the other without much problem. On the contrary, each one serves as a refreshing break from the other. So I may work on a lovable children’s story in the morning, and dive into a disturbing werewolf scene in the afternoon. It’s fun, like having split personalities, without the crazy element (or at least, I hope so!).

So far, I’ve written four picture books. Two have already been published: The Magic Violin (http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/magic-violin.htm) and CRASH! (http://crashthepuppy.blogspot.com/) The other two are in the illustrating stages and will be released next year. I also have a finished tween novel in the editing stages and another one in progress.

The world of children’s book publishing is extremely competitive, to say the least. It takes hard work, dedication, perseverance and commitment to become a published author. I know the stakes, but once you step into that magical rainbow, there’s no turning back.

*****
Mayra Calvani (http://www.mayrassecretbookcase.blogspot.com/) is a multi-genre author, reviewer, dog lover, and animal advocate. A regular contributor to Blogcritics Magazine and American Chronicle, she is also the author of CRASH!, a children’s picture book about a little boy and how he learns to care and find the perfect name for his new golden retriever puppy. Check out her ‘Crash the Puppy’ blog at http://www.crashthepuppy.blogspot.com/.