Kirby Larson's Blog, page 75

Awwww

I had a lovely visit to Woodbridge Elementary on Tuesday and though I forgot my camera (again!), I did snap these adorable drawings I found outside the kindergarten rooms. Too sweet!
 

Tax Day Dance

The deadline is technically on Monday, but my CPA husband is already boogeying.

Picture John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever without the white suit and as much hair. The moves are basically the same.

Favorite Book Dilemma

I love answering kids' questions. Even the ones about how old I am. (97.) But the question I get asked nearly every place I go is one I really hate to answer. It's the "what's your favorite book that you've written?" question.

Here is what I say: "That is like asking your mom, 'Mom? Who's your favorite kid? If you're an only child, it shouldn't be too hard for your mom to answer that question. But otherwise. . ." I know kids think I'm being cheesy/weasely, but I really don't have a favorite. I mean, if you're going to spend a year or more working a book, you've really got to love it, right?

How do you answer this question?

Packing Tips Needed

I travel a lot and am a complete mess at packing. Proof of Kirby's packing ineptitude
I leave in 9 days for Germany (5 days visiting Department of Defense schools; more about that later), France (a few days in Paris then on to Giverny and the Normandy Beaches) and finally London (via the Chunnel). Five days of work, a couple days of travel and about five days of play.
Please: share your top packing tips with me!

Winston Wonders

Even though I love people, you have to admit they are peculiar. For instance, my Two-Leggeds get all bent out of shape when I drink out of a puddle. They fuss and tell me I have a perfectly good bowl of water at home. And their point is? And don't even get me started on sharing. What's theirs is mine, right? I mean, I've peeked at the bathroom scale when She-Writer's stepped on it in the morning and it would do her good to share more of her meals with me. 
Now, any good dog knows about fun: chasing balls, squirrels, cats; rolling in something good and dead; playing keep away with She-Writer's new shoes. Most two-leggeds don't know this, but dogs are also avid readers. We love to read! It's fun and who doesn't like to have fun?
Evidently some educators in Florida. They've created a thick workbook for one of She-Writer's books. Here is the first page of thirty-six pages:

LEARNING CONTRACT FORM Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larsen (sic)
Dear _____________________________, (Student Name)
You and your teacher will agree on learning projects for you to complete after you read the book Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larsen. The activities will be chosen based on the goals of your Educational Plan (EP). Your teacher will help you understand the goals and pick appropriate projects. You and your teacher will agree upon the number of projects you will complete, a deadline for each project and a schedule to meet on a regular basis to discuss your progress (please complete grid below).
It is important to preview the project choices before you read the book and keep them in mind as you read. You may have a lot of ideas and questions as you are reading, so you may want to use a journal to jot them down.
Your teacher will give you a short test after you finish reading the book to make sure you understood the characters, events, and vocabulary.
ENJOY!

"Enjoy"??!! Does anybody else think this approach to reading is like being whacked with a rolled up newspaper? Does a child need to fill out 36 pages of exercises about a book? Does that sound like fun to anyone? Not me! I wonder: if a kid reads a book in a forest, and nobody is around to test her on it, would she still have read the book?
This Two-Legged approach to reading makes my brain tired. 

I'm going to go take a nap.

Thought for the day

"Service to others is the rent you pay for living on this planet."
― Marian Wright Edelman

I post this in honor of my amazing and service-oriented friends at Page Ahead (check out their fundraiser luncheon next month); Michele Torrey at Orphans Africa and Jane Kurtz at Ethiopia Reads. Good folks, all! Great causes, all!

Let the nail biting begin

This may seem like any normal day to you but to me. . . .
it's exactly 30 days till pub day for The Friendship Doll!!! 

(can you tell I'm excited and nervous?!)

Happy Birthday, Ted!

Grandpa Ted is always ready with a helping hand!
I have the world's most darling father-in-law. He showed his support of my writing way back when, giving me an IBM Selectric typewriter -- self-correcting! -- to help launch my career. I can't think of him without thinking of how he entertained all kinds of little kids with his "magic ball in the paper bag" trick. His first language was Swedish, spoken at home on the farm in Clearbrook, Washington, near the Canadian border; his second language was numbers, earning a degree in engineering AND in accounting. He's very, very smart but I always think of that line from the movie Harvey when I think of Ted: "I've discovered in this life you have to be oh so clever or oh so pleasant. I've spent many years being clever. I recommend pleasant." Ted has always found a way to be clever AND pleasant, endearing him instantly to anyone who mets him. And today he celebrates his 91st birthday!

Happy Birthday to a die-hard Cougar fan!

Thought for the day

"All endings are also beginnings. We just don't know it at the time." 
― Mitch Albom

Perseverance Pays Off

I won't tell you how long I waited in line. It was worth it.