Sharon Creech's Blog, page 20

New Book Jackets

Most of my books will receive new covers over the course of the next year or two - updating and unifying the 'look.' 
Above are the first five to get their makeover plus the new book (The Great Unexpected.)
What do you think?
Do you have a favorite?

The Basketball Poets, continued

MoreBasketball Poets:

In previous yearsthere were more girls in this groupbut now it seems the boysare in the majority.
I liked this sign over the gym door:

The Basketball Poets

In honor of World Read Aloud Day(today)
I had the privilege of making my annual visitto the Basketball Poetsof Supply, NC.
The current group are middle schoolerswho combine reading and writing poetrywith playing basketball!
I know, unusual, mm?
And very, very cool.
Here are a couple of the poetsreciting their poems:


(more pics of poets to come)
After they recited their poemsthey moved out on the court.

I sure love this group.
Here is their coach and the founder of the Basketball Poets,Marty Mentzer (at left):

That's me on the right.
What a day!

New Book: The Great Unexpectecd

Sneak peak at the newest:
THE GREAT UNEXPECTED
!
To be published September 2012
!
(The above is the advance review copy - ARC -which arrived today.)
!

An ARC, an ARC, my Kingdom for an ARC . . .

Look at this treasurethat came in the mail today:
an Advance Review Copy (ARC)of Karen Hesse's new book:
safekeeping
!
It looks enticing:"a novel of tomorrow"
with generous dosesofKaren Hesse's own photographs
!
I am eager to begin.
!

Spring and Focus

Hellooooo, Spring!
Come on in.
You are always welcome here.

I'm always intrigued by how a writer chooses to begin a story,especially with what focus:will it be far out, giving the lay of the land,as in movies when the camera begins high up and gradually moves in closerand closer and closeruntil it focuses onthe main character?
Or will it begin close upimmediately putting the focus ona central personor image and later moving outto give us the lay of the land?

In paintings and photographs, too,I like to think aboutthe artist's choices:where is he/she directing our focusand why?
It is spring in North Carolina,a good timeto think aboutbeginnings.

So Much Depends Upon a Teacher

Yesterday, I showed this photo of a box of treasures that came from a school in Texas:


This isn't just a random collection of 'stuff' - each item feels specially chosen and warmly offered, from the school tee-shirt (which I've already worn proudly) and thermal drinking cup (they know I drink tea and water while I write) to the fine, fine chocolates (they know I love chocolate) –



that come with this warning

(they have a sense of humor)
and these seeds

"seeds of esperenza and morning glory"to be scattered (representing hope)
Clipped to the top right of the card isa trio of trinketsrepresenting cats, dogs, journeys(Love That Dog, Hate That Cat, and many journeys)
and letters, amazing lettersfull of enthusiasm and humor and warmthListen to this one line:
"I like to say your name, it has a creek in it like a door closing real slow."
Referring to my Skype session with them, one says:
"All of the love and happiness imported straight from New York makes me flabbergasted!"
And poems - how about this one:
So much depends uponTacosWe gobble themwe make themwe fight over themTACOS.
And of course, also in this box of treasures,this perfect little red wheelbarrow

which refers to the William Carlos Williams poemthat means so much to the boy in LOVE THAT DOG:
so much depends/ upon / a red wheel / barrow // glazed with  rain / water // beside the white / chickens
This is a school with such a good feeling about it, from the teacher and students with whom I bonded several years ago, to their librarian and principal and fellow teachers and students - and there are more schools like this out thereones where the administration and teachers and librarians set the toneand so much depends upontheir energy and compassion and enthusiasm
and you can feel itin the studentsin their wordsand their actions
and I feel honored to know them.
They are changing children's lives:so much depends upon themso very very much.

Teachers and Librarians

Above: a box of treasure from a school in Texasa box full of words and thoughts and gifts  and loads of warmth
I'm going to write about this schooltomorrowbut for nowI'd like to saluteteachers and librarianseverywherewhomake all the differencein a child's life.
Did you havea teacher or librarianwhomade all the differencein your life?
Mm?

The Habit of Seeing

"I like to change my habit of seeing."
I think it was the musician John Cage who said thisbut it might have been another musician or artist or writer.

Maybe you are working on a bookand the intricate pieces of it are becoming as tangled as a mangrove forest(above)
Maybe you change your settingso that everything is new again
Maybe you kick off your shoes

and walk in the sand
Maybe you ponder the wildlife


And visit old friends(wildlife of another sort)
Maybe you contemplatethe blue green oceanand the white white sand

Maybe you do all thatand restore your mindand your soulso that your story or song or paintingrealigns



so that you see your way aheadcalmly and clearly.
Maybe.
Beaming you all sun and sand and blue green water.

Invasion of the Children

This past weekendthree of our great-nephews bounded onto the scene.
Invader number one:


Zoom zoom zoomfrom here to thereand there to hereup and over and underjump and run and gather.
Invader number two:

Find sticks and pineconesbring them to the yardmake beds and fire pits and fortszoom zoom zoom.
Invader number three:

Find the remotefind the crayonsfingers here fingers therezoom zoom zoom.
Gotta love 'em.Gotta gotta gotta.