Laura Shovan's Blog, page 23
May 18, 2016
More List Poems from Northfield 3rd Grade
Welcome back to the Northfield Third Grade! Our poets are continuing to work on list poems, using Naomi Shihab Nye’s “Words in My Pillow” as a mentor text.
You can read more about the model poem and how the students are using it to create their own list poems at yesterday’s post.
Mackenzie is a great observer. Check out the details that appear in this list poem.
Words in My School Box
By Mackenzie M.
I hide words inside my school box.
Words that are crazy.
Paper clips
Cluttered
Eraser bits
No one can see them
but I find them waiting for me.
Like the school box hiding inside my desk.
No one can see it
but I know what’s in there–
Crayons
Glue stick
Pencil
Scissors
A hair clip
Tiny pieces of paper
Two markers are in there.
A bag is in there.
The words are playing together
when I am saying or thinking them.
Highlighters
tiny snowmen
broken rubber bands
lip balm
are in my school box.
My friends the words
stay at school when I leave.
But they never
go away.
***
I like the way that Jacqueline used the list poem to think deeply about patriotism and how it is connected to a sense of home.
Words in My Country
By Jacqueline P.
Words in my country.
Words are good–
Red
White
Blue
People can see it
but I find my home waiting for me.
Like the friends around me.
People can see it,
but I know that’s where I live.
Military
Freedom
Safety
Homey
Family
Laws
Bad guys are in there.
Good guys are there.
People play together
when I am saying this.
Fun
good
flag
freedom
is in my country.
My friends
are here
and my family
are here and they will
never go.
***
Reading Naomi Shihab Nye’s poem makes us stop and think about things we can’t see, but know are there. “Like the TUMMY hiding inside my body,” one line reads. Hailey used the idea of things we know without seeing in a musical list poem.
I Know Music Is Everywhere
By Hailey K.
I know music is everywhere.
Music that sounds good-
HARMONY
JOY
Like music notes that are hiding
behind my music piece.
No one can imagine how beautiful
music can be
but I can feel the beat rising
inside my body–
HALF NOTES
SHARPS
FLATS
HAPPY
ENJOY
FEELINGS are in there.
NOTES are in there.
The cymbals are dancing to the beat
when I’m playing them.
***
My own son, now 19, has cars on the brain. He’d appreciate all of the detailed information and specific words that Amitav includes in this list poem.
Words in My Car
By Amitav K.
I hide words inside my car.
Words that are fast.
Carburetor
Battery
Piston
No one can see them
but I f ind them waiting for me.
Like the brain hiding inside my body.
No one can see it
but I know what’s in there.
V8
Flat 4
Exhaust system
Brake liquid
Engine oil
Gas is in there.
Engine is in there.
The words are playing together
when I am saying or thinking them.
Lamborghini
Bugatti
Honda
Ferrari
***
When students have trouble coming up with a topic for this poem, I encourage them to write about something familiar. Haylee chose to write a school-related list.
Words in My P.E. Class
By Haylee S.
I hide words inside my P.E. class.
Words that smell bad.
Sweat
Filthy
Ball
No one can see them
but I find them waiting for me.
Like the sweaty place it is,
hiding inside my gym.
No one can see it
but I know what’s in there–
Bats
Glove
Jump rope
Running
Walking
Having fun
Sweat is n there.
Kids are in there.
The words are playing together
when I am saying or thinking them.
Teacher
Equipment
Hoops
Oops, I dropped the ball.
***
Thanks again to the Northfield staff and families for allowing me to share the students’ poems. Tomorrow, we are going to build on the idea of juicy, specific words when we create similes.
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May 16, 2016
List Poems from Northfield ES
Hello, Readers! After my new middle grade novel launched in mid-April, I took a month off from blogging.
In that month, I’ve visited schools and bookstores in Albuquerque, New Mexico, New York City, and Baltimore. Now I’m back in my own neighborhood, teaching at Northfield Elementary. I’ve been poet in residence with the Northfield third grade for ten years.
The first time I meet the poets, we work on a structured form, such as a list poem. This year, our first model poem was Naomi Shihab Nye’s “Words in My Pillow.” It’s from the list poem anthology, FALLING DOWN THE PAGE.
Read more about this book, edited by Georgia Heard, at the MacMillan website.
In the model poem, the speaker describes tucking words into her pillow before she goes to sleep. The third graders and I brainstormed our own list of juicy words, and figured out how we might change the topic of the poem, but keep some of its structure.
For instance, “Words in My Dog” might include specific nouns (TREATS, WATER, TONGUE), descriptive adjectives and verbs (BARK, FLUFFY, FAST, LICK), but it might also have “states of being” — things we can’t really see (LOVE, COMFORT, KINDNESS).
I am excited to share the third graders’ poems. Please be aware that these are first drafts. We will work on line breaks together on Revision Day.
Thanks to the educators and families at Northfield for allowing me to post the children’s original work.
Words in my Piano
By Michelle Z.
I hide words in my piano.
Words that sound good.
Music
Keys
88
No one can see them but I
find them waiting for me
whenever I hit a key. No one can see it
but I know it’s in there.
Sound
High
Low
Strings
The words are talking together
whenever I’m thinking them.
Metal
Wood
Bang!
is in my poem.
The words never leave but
sometimes I do.
***
Here is Christina’s poem. Christina opted to do her first draft as a cross-out. Here is what it looks like on the page, and typed up.
Words in My Heart
By Christina F.
I hide words inside my heart.
Words that feel good —
Love
Family
Caring
No one can see them
but I find them waiting for me.
No one can see it
but I know what’s in there —
Strong
Brave
Red
Cry
Beat
Shyness
Blood is in there.
A story is in there.
The words are playing together
when I am saying or thinking them.
Mine
Keep
Have
Stars
is in my heart.
My friends the words
go to bed before I do.
But they never
go away.
***
There’s a lot of action in Marcel’s poem.
Words in My Shoes!
By Marcel C-G
My shoes are
bored when I’m in class.
The pair wants to run like
lightning.
Whoosh! Colorful! Rubber wants to run!
Phew! Come on! Juicy wind is so windy!
Whee! Ahhhh, I’m too bored!
But if you run
they feel too
tired.
They also feel
sleepy.
At recess, they’re so excited
they’re going to die for it!
When I am in the cafeteria
they’re starving, but I can’t give
them food.
Rubber goes to sleep.
I’m sorry shoes!!!
***
Andy came up with some very inventive imagery for the opening of this list poem.
Words in My Dog
By Andy T.
There are words inside my dog.
Words that slide down her tongue
and come out of her mouth.
WOOF!
Bark!
Grrr!
Yawn
You can’t see them but they
are there. Like the feelings deep
down in my dog.
Hungry
Desperate
Sleepy
Bored
Energetic.
Feelings are in my dog.
Sad is there. Tired is there.
Some words are adjectives.
Some are good, some bad.
Stinky
Fluffy
Small
Cute
Sick
My dog’s friends the words
go to bed before her,
but will be waiting for her
in the morning.
***
I loved the way that Riley worked a recipe into this list poem.
Words in My Cake Mix
By Riley H.
I store words in my cake mix,
words that taste delicious.
Candy
Treat
Dessert
No one can touch them,
but I find them waiting for my return,
like the measurements in my brain.
2 1/2 cups flour
1/4 milk
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
Smarts are in there.
Patience is in there.
The words are forming a bond
before we sample or munch them.
Cookies
Donuts
Muffins
Crunch
are in my cake mix.
My ingredients the words
go away before I do,
baked in their pan.
After, I add sprinkles,
icing.
Then, we taste:
ALL GONE!
***
Last, Eve captures many of the reasons children enjoy playing sports together.
Words in My Soccer Ball
By Eve B.
I hide words inside my soccer ball.
Words that help me win the game:
TRY
CHAMPION
ENERGY
No one can see them
but I find them rooting for me on the bleachers.
Like the KICK in my foot.
No one can see it
but I know what it’s like:
STRONG
POWERFUL
HARD
BOOM!
WHOOSH
TEAMWORK is in there.
The words are passing to each other
when I am saying or thinking them.
TOGETHER
LEADERSHIP
HAPPINESS
are all in my soccer ball.
My friends the words,
I can’t kick them away.
But I would never try it,
not any day.
***
I’ll post more Northfield list poems tomorrow. If you have a question about this lesson or feedback for the Northfield poets, please leave it in the comments.
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April 14, 2016
Five Ways to Celebrate Poem in Your Pocket Day
This week’s host is my good friend Michelle H. Barnes at Today’s Little Ditty. Stop by for an over-sized pocket full of poetry links.
Happy Poetry Friday, everyone! I’m traveling to Albuquerque next week, where I’ll be visiting two schools — including a real Emerson Elementary.
That’s where I’ll be on April 21, which is national Poem in Your Pocket Day. Because I’ll be sharing the day with students, I’ve been thinking about some of my favorite ways to celebrate Poem in Your Pocket Day.
(You can read more about national Poem in Your Pocket Day at Poets.org.)
Check out the #My5thGradeAsHaiku prize pack, featuring a signed book and a Refried Beans hamster plushie.
But first — in case you missed it, I am running a poetry challenge to celebrate the launch of my first novel in verse for kids, THE LAST FIFTH GRADE OF EMERSON ELEMENTARY. All are welcome to tweet a #My5thGradeAsHaiku poem, or leave one in the comments of this post. Full details of the contest are here.
Ready for five favorite Poem in Your Pocket Day activities?
A Poem in Your Pocket Book Read Aloud
Margaret McNamara’s picture book, A Poem in Your Pocket, came out in 2015. It’s about a class of students preparing for a famous poet to visit. But it’s also about silencing our inner critics, letting poetry flow from what we see, experience, and feel. Make sure you have tissues handy. (I cry every time.)
BONUS: The end papers of this book include a great illustration of Poem in Your Pocket Activity #5.
Carry Poems in Your Pockets
Students can write their own poems to tuck into their pockets, or choose a poem they love.If you need ideas or ready made poems, try Poem in Your Pocket for Young Poets: 100 Poems to Rip Out & Read. This 2011 publication from Amulet is exactly what it sounds like. The tearable pages are small, a good size to fold and put in a pocket. It includes both well-known poems and surprises.
Bruno Navasky, who selected the poems here, says in his introduction: “Carry it with you. Keep it hidden, like a little bird, deep in your pocket. But be careful! Don’t forget it wants to get out. And maybe sometimes … you’ll let it fly.” Thursday is a perfect day to let that poem fly.
Our local community college celebrates Poem in Your Pocket Day with poetry police. The police will stop you and ask to see the poem you are carrying. Don’t have one with you? You get a ticket (which, I’m pretty sure, is a poem).
Revive an Old Book of Pocket Poems
The newest book of poems on my shelf isn’t new at all. Upside Down and Inside Out: Poems For All Your Pockets, by Bobbi Katz, was published in 1973. I’m many surprises in this book. There’s a series of “Things to Do If You Are” poems (“Things to Do If You Are a Flower” is my favorite) that I’m going to add to my school writing prompt repertoire.
I’m amazed at how modern the poems in this book are. Imagine what your students might say when discussing Bobbi Katz’s “School, Some Suggestions”:
If kids could be the teachers,
if kids could make the rules,
there’d be a lot of changes made
in almost all the schools.
First thing they’d stop the homework.
They’d never give a test.
They know that growing children
must have their proper rest.
They’d make the lunchtime longer—
let’s say from twelve to two,
so every growing boy or girl
had time enough to chew!
Read the rest of the poem here.
Also check out the collection Pocket Poems, selected by Bobbi Katz and illustrated by Marylin Hafner (Puffin, 2004).
Share a Poem about Pockets
My favorite poem about pockets is Calef Brown’s poem, “Eliza’s Jacket.” It’s from his wonderful 1998 book Polka Bats and Octopus Slacks.
Eliza and her pockets (filled with student poems) were on display at one of my school residencies.
Do not miss Daniel Pinkwater reading “Eliza’s Jacket” on YouTube.
I created a poetry prompt based on this poem where I ask students to imagine that *anything* could be hidden in their pockets. You’ll find the full writing prompt and students responses at this post.
Make a Wall Full of Pockets for Your Original Poems
If your students have caught the poetry bug, this is a fun way to display their poems. Kids and families love to pull out the poems and read them.
April 13, 2016
Laura’s Bookshelf: Genesis Girl
Over the past several months, I have grown as a reader. I’m not on literary tour of classic novels, or — finally — committing to reading every book I own. The books on my night-stand, in my purse, open as I drink my morning tea, have been 2016 debuts.
Reading books by friends in my debut author group means reading books I might not normally pick up. Normally, I avoid horror fiction, but I adored Kali Wallace’s book SHALLOW GRAVES. While I read the occasional mystery, I fell head over heals for Brittany Cavallaro’s Sherlock Holmes update, A STUDY IN CHARLOTTE.
What I’ve learned is that, more often than I like to admit, I had been judging books by their genre.
I was raised on Star Trek and Doctor Who, but when it comes to science fiction, I usually go for tried and true authors: Margaret Atwood, Ursula K. LeGuin, Kim Stanley Robinson, Frank Herbert. If it weren’t for my debut author group, I would not have tried Jennifer Bardsley’s wonderfully inventive YA science fiction novel, GENESIS GIRL.
GENESIS GIRL has a stunning concept that builds on our contemporary obsession with the internet, physical appearances, and advertising.
Blanca is a Vestal. She has spent most of her life in a tech-free school. Her picture has never been taken and shared on the internet. Her personal likes and dislikes have never been tracked, bought, or sold by companies or analytic firms. On the eve of her graduation from Tabula Rasa School, Blanca has one dream — to be bought by a firm and serve as the face, body, and soul of its media campaigns. But before she can graduate, an intruder snaps her photograph, spinning Blanca into a life where she must learn make her own, difficult decisions.
GENESIS GIRL just had its publication date moved up from fall to spring. Look for it in May. Here is the blurb from Goodreads:
Eighteen-year-old Blanca has lived a sheltered life. Her entire childhood has been spent at Tabula Rasa School where she’s been protected from the Internet.
Blanca has never been online and doesn’t even know how to text. Her lack of a virtual footprint makes her extremely valuable, and upon graduation, Blanca and those like her are sold to the highest bidders.
Blanca is purchased by Cal McNeal, who uses her to achieve personal gain. But the McNeals are soon horrified by just how obedient and non-defiant Blanca is. All those mind-numbing years locked away from society have made her mind almost impenetrable.
By the time Blanca is ready to think for herself, she is trapped. Her only chance of escape is to go online.
Author Jen Bardsley blogs at The YA Gal.
Recommended for high school and up.
Who will like it?
Fans of science fiction.
Readers who enjoy books that critique modern culture.
Adventure and mystery lovers.
What will readers learn about?
The value of thinking for oneself.
How the internet can negatively impact relationships.
The effects of living in an extremely controlled society.
The poem I’m pairing with GENESIS GIRL is a challenging one, but it will give mature teens who enjoy the social criticism aspects of this novel something to chew on. Take a look at the way personification is used to great effect in Wislawa Szymborska’s poem “Advertisement.”
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TRANSLATED BY STANISŁAW BARAŃCZAK AND CLARE CAVANAGH
I’m a tranquilizer.
I’m effective at home.
I work in the office.
I can take exams
on the witness stand.
I mend broken cups with care.
All you have to do is take me,
let me melt beneath your tongue,
just gulp me
with a glass of water.
I know how to handle misfortune,
how to take bad news.
I can minimize injustice,
lighten up God’s absence,
or pick the widow’s veil that suits your face.
What are you waiting for—
have faith in my chemical compassion.
Read the rest of the poem at the Poetry Foundation.
What else is on Laura’s Bookshelf?
TREASURE AT LURE LAKE, by Shari Schwarz (3/31/16)
THE LAST GREAT ADVENTURE OF THE PB&J SOCIETY, by Janet Sumner Johnson (3/25/16)
THE GIRL FROM EVERYWHERE, by Heidi Heilig (3/10/16)
THE DISTANCE FROM A TO Z, by Natalie Blitt (1/19/16)
COUNTING THYME, by Melanie Conklin (12/31/15)
FENWAY AND HATTIE, by Victoria J. Coe (12/24/15)
THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF CHARLIE PRICE, by Jen Maschari (12/3/15)
PAPER WISHES, by Lois Sepahban (11/19/15)
THE GIRL WHO FELL, by S. M. Parker (11/5/15)
SYMPTOMS OF BEING HUMAN, by Jeff Garvin (10/29/15)
SHALLOW GRAVES, by Kali Wallace (10/1/15)
MY SEVENTH GRADE LIFE IN TIGHTS, by Brooks Benjamin (7/22/15)
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April 11, 2016
Launch Day Challenge
Happy launch day to the Emerson Elementary School fifth graders! Today, Ms. Hill’s student poets finally graduate from work-in-progress to published book.
I’ve got something special planned for you, my friends.
Welcome to my Launch Day Challenge. It involves poetry, of course — this is National Poetry Month. It also involves hamsters. (I’ll explain that in a second.)
This is Refried Beans the hamster. He belongs to a 5th grade poet named Jason Chen. He’d better not eat one of my special launch day cookies.
CHALLENGE PROMPT: Write a haiku about fifth grade.
It can be about your favorite teacher, the funniest thing that happened to you that year, or something that you were proud of. All subjects are okay.
Strictly speaking, these poems will be senryu. Never heard of them? Read more about senryu here.
HOW TO SUBMIT: There are two ways…
Leave your haiku in the comments of this post.
Tweet your haiku with the hashtag #My5thGradeAsHaiku. Be sure to tag me (@laurashovan).
DEADLINE: The challenge runs until 4/26.
You’ve got two weeks. I’ll announce winners on the last day of National Poetry Month, April 30.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?: I’m glad you asked.
Check out this amazing THE LAST FIFTH GRADE OF EMERSON ELEMENTARY prize pack. It comes with…
Three haiku-writers will win this prize pack.
*a Refried Beans hamster plushie,
*a signed copy of THE LAST FIFTH GRADE OF EMERSON ELEMENTARY,
*a “Free Speech” pin,
*and a Save Our School button card.
ARE THERE ANY RULES?: I will select three prize-pack winners.
Be prepared — I may ask your permission to post winners’ and runners’-up haiku on my blog.
WHAT’S WITH THE HAMSTER?
If my book had a mascot, Refried Beans would be it. He is the only pet to appear on the cover (can you spot him in the third row from the top?), and he steals the show at the 5th grade science fair.
I can’t wait to read your #My5thGradeAsHaiku poems! Good luck and happy writing.
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Acknowledgments: Special Edition
Tomorrow is the official publication date for my debut children’s novel. I started working on what became THE LAST FIFTH GRADE OF EMERSON ELEMENTARY in July, 2008. You can imagine how many beta readers, paid-for critiques, SCBWI retreats, critique group meetings, and hand-wringing sessions it took to get me from idea to published book.
In the back of the book, after the story is over but before the list of poetic forms and writing prompts, you’ll find the formal acknowledgments. I limited thank yous to people who beta read in the year before the book sold, otherwise the acknowledgments could have doubled as a phone book
But now that launch day is almost here, there is one big “Thank you!” I wish I had included.
Today’s post is devoted to my parents.
They are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this summer!
My parents did not give me feedback on my book. I wouldn’t let them read it until the ARCs arrived.
I never cried on their shoulders about how hard it was when agents sent form rejects or said a verse novel wasn’t for them.
I didn’t do these things because I’m an adult, and proud of it, but sometimes that means I forget to thank my parents.
So, here is a great big acknowledgment just for you, Mom and Dad.
Thank you, Dad, for reciting “The Song of Hiawatha” and “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere” to us when we were little. You are such a great performer that I can still picture “the shining Big-Sea-Water” and hear the hoof beats of Paul Revere’s horse pounding through the night. You taught me to love the music of poetry.
A handmade birthday card, painted by my mother.
Thank you, Mom, for sharing your love of William Wordsworth’s “The Daffodils,” and for being an artist. Your tool is the paintbrush, mine is words. I pursued my dream of being a writer, encouraged by your belief that we should all follow our bliss.
***
When I left home for NYU’s Dramatic Writing Program, my parents gave me a special gift. I went hunting for it today. It’s dusty and some of the lines have faded. The butterfly in the corner is in tattered pieces. But I’ve saved the list poem they wrote for me all those years ago.
This week, when I publish my fourth book — the first from a major publishing house — I want to thank my parents for their faith in me.
My parents wrote this list poem nearly 30 years ago.
Why do I, Laura Elizabeth Dickson, write?
by Pauline and Franklyn Dickson
I write to heighten my own awareness of life.
I write to lure and enchant and console others.
I write to serenade my lover.
I write to be able to transcend my life, to reach beyond it.
I write to teach myself to speak with others, to record the journey into the labyrinth.
I write to expand my world when I feel strangled, or constricted, or lonely.
I write so that I can create a world in which I can live.
I write to integrate the different women inside me.
I write to solidify my inner convictions.
I write to balance two worlds — earth and imagination.
I write that I can communicate by way of the emotions, imagery, and myth.
I write in order to liberate other women, to inspire other women.
I write in order to grow and to reach my potential as a human being.
My writing is an inner journey, a quest for a center, a gift to the world.
–With Love from Mom and Anais Nin
I write to earn a living, to be financially independent.
I write to please myself, my parents, my family and friends.
I write to communicate!
I write to express myself, what I see, feel, and experience.
I write because I care!
I write to celebrate myself.
–Love, Dad
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March 31, 2016
Laura’s Bookshelf: Treasure at Lure Lake
National Poetry Month is finally here! For the first time in several years, I am not doing an April blog project. I’ll be a little busy with my book launch.
Let’s kick off the start of National Poetry Month 2016 with poet Amy Ludwig VanDerwater. Amy is hosting Poetry Friday today at The Poem Farm.
However, I am going to enjoy what the other Poetry Friday bloggers have to offer for our 20th anniversary NPM celebration. Jama Rattigan has a full listing of kidlitosphere projects and poems for National Poetry Month 2016 at Jama’s Alphabet Soup.
THE LAST FIFTH GRADE OF EMERSON ELEMENTARY is not the only debut middle grade novel launching on April 12. Three of my friends also have books releasing that day: Brooks Benjamin (MY SEVENTH-GRADE LIFE IN TIGHTS), Melanie Conklin (COUNTING THYME), and Shari Schwarz (TREASURE AT LURE LAKE.)
I’ve already blogged about MY SEVENTH-GRADE LIFE IN TIGHTS and COUNTING THYME. Today, it’s Shari Schwarz’s turn in the spotlight.
TREASURE AT LURE LAKE is about siblings Bryce and Jack. The boys tell the story of a grand, and sometimes harrowing, adventure in the woods in alternating chapters. Jack, the elder brother, is more interested in girls and his cell phone than in hiking to his family’s out-of-the-way cabin. Bryce, a natural rule-follower, is willing to take a few chances if it means impressing his newly hard-to-impress older brother. Throw in some tension between their parents — both of whom decide last minute not to make the trip — and an outdoorsy Grandpa, and you have the makings of an epic family story.
I’m recommending this book for MG readers. It’s a great choice for summer vacation. There are funny moments (someone gets nuzzled by a curious elk), a mysterious map, and some danger. What makes this book solidly middle grade is that adults, especially Grandpa, are a reassuring and loving presence that balances the scary moments.
TREASURE AT LURE LAKE launches on April 12. Here is the blurb from Goodreads:
An epic adventure—that’s all Bryce wants this summer. So when he stumbles upon a treasure map connected to an old family secret, Bryce is determined to follow the clues to unearth both, even it means hiking in the wilderness in the middle of nowhere. Bryce must work with his bickering brother, Jack, or they may never see the light of day again!
Who will like it?
Kids who like adventure stories.
Children who are trying to navigate changing sibling relationships.
Boys and girls who love the outdoors.
What will readers learn about?
How a family secret can affect children.
Outdoor survival tips!
Siblings may get annoyed with us, but they will always love us.
The poem I’m pairing with TREASURE AT LURE LAKE is one of Mary Ann Hoberman’s family poems. I think this one captures Jack and how he sees his relationship with Bryce.
Brother
I had a little brother
And I brought him to my mother
And I said I want another
Little brother for a change.
But she said don’t be a bother
So I took him to my father
And I said this little bother
Of a brother’s very strange.
But he said one little brother
Is exactly like another
And every little brother
Misbehaves a bit he said…
Read the rest at the Poetry Foundation. And check out Mary Ann Hoberman’s book Fathers, Mothers, Sisters, Brothers.
Since we share a launch day, Brooks, Mel, Shari, and I have been doing some interviews together. Here is a fun one at the website Kidliterati. We’re running a giveaway of *all four books!* which you’ll find at the end of the Kidliterati post.Tweet
March 25, 2016
Laura’s Bookshelf: THE LAST GREAT ADVENTURE OF THE PB&J SOCIETY
Birthday girl Heidi Mordhorst is this week’s host! Help her celebrate at My Juicy Little Universe.
Happy Poetry Friday!
I spent the past week doing a local book tour with three other debut authors. We had a blast.
The other middle grade novelist in the group was Janet Sumner Johnson, author of THE LAST GREAT ADVENTURE OF THE PB&J SOCIETY.
Getting ready for a Skype visit with Forcey Christian School. It was team spirit day! I talked Janet into putting on my Ravens jersey.
Janet is from Oregon, and she stayed with me and my family. Boy, did we hit it off! Not only do our book titles sound similar, Janet’s book and mine have some overlapping themes. This made the school Skype visits we did together very interesting.
The novel is about best friends Annie and Jason. Although Annie’s act first-think later personality makes this book laugh out loud funny, there are serious issues just under the surface. Jason learns that his family might lose their home to foreclosure. He is coping with his own stress and confusion, but also with a father who is handling the situation poorly. Annie is determine to save Jason’s house, so he won’t have to move away from her (and their ritual burial of smooshed PB&J sandwiches).
This book is perfect for MG readers. It’s funny, silly, and has a treasure map, but it also deals gently with the problems that real children face. While I was book-talking with Janet last week, I loved what she had to say about her book: Children are often left out of serious adult conversations — especially about money. But they are aware of and can feel the stress their parents are going through. In Jason’s character, Janet creates a boy who is sad, confused, but still hopeful, and still devoted to his zany, joyously immature best friend, Annie.
THE LAST GREAT ADVENTURE OF THE PB&J SOCIETY launches on April 1. Here is the blurb from Goodreads:
Some things are better together. Like peanut butter and jelly. Or Annie and Jason. So when her best friend’s house is threatened with foreclosure, Annie Jenkins is bursting with ideas to save Jason’s home. She could sell her appendix on eBay. (Why not?) Win the lottery. (It’s worth a shot!). Face the evil bankers herself. (She’s one tough cookie, after all.) Or hunt down an elusive (and questionably real) pirate treasure. Whatever the plan, it has to work, or this is undoubtedly THE LAST GREAT ADVENTURE OF THE PB&J SOCIETY.
Janet’s first sighting of her book in the wild.
THE LAST GREAT ADVENTURE OF THE PB&J SOCIETY is appropriate for third grade and through younger middle schoolers.
Who will like it?
Kids who like humor based in reality.
Fans of friendship stories.
Children who, like Annie, are not in a rush to grow up.
What will readers learn about?
How a family’s financial problem can affect children.
How to cope with change, especially a close friend moving away.
Sometimes “think before you act” is good advice.
The poem I’m pairing with THE LAST GREAT ADVENTURE OF THE PB&J SOCIETY is an ode. To what? What else! Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The poem comes from a great website where teens can share their creative writing, Teen Ink.
Ode to a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
by a Teen Ink Contributor from Pennsylvania
Oh, my double breaded friend,
We meet again.
I crafted you last night, right around 7,
put you in a plastic bag,
and set you in the refrigerator,
where you spent the night
conversing with the cream cheese,
ignoring the mustard.
This morning I placed you
In my lunchbox along with
The Jell-O cup, the spoon, and two napkins,
Where you will spend majority of your day.
Into my locker
I slam the door shut.
Every time you hear my combination slide and click
You anticipate my taking you,
But not yet.
You wait patiently;
Listening to laughter and gossip in the halls
The stories you could tell.
Read the rest of the poem at Teen Ink.
My good friend (and food poetry aficionado) Jama Kim Rattigan has done not one, but two, posts on the joys of PB&J. You will find more delectable PB&J poetry at this post and this post.
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March 21, 2016
Laura’s Bookshelf: Special Giveaway Edition!
It’s only three weeks until the launch of THE LAST FIFTH GRADE. Good thing I don’t have to wait alone. Three other debut middle grade authors are celebrating book birthdays on April 12, 2016.
We’re calling ourselves #April12thMGShelf.
Together, we are giving away a shelf-worth of new middle grade books, all four of our titles, to one lucky winner. Skip to the bottom of this post for giveaway details.
We are also visiting four blogs (plus one “B side” blog with bonus info) over the next three weeks.
First, let me tell you about the books.
COUNTING THYME is about Thyme, a middle schooler who moves across the country to New York City, where her little brother is going through a cancer trial. It’s an upbeat story about how a family copes, adapts, and does their best to feel “normal” when there is a crisis. Melanie Conklin is the author. She has paired up with the non-profit Cookies for Kids’ Cancer for some fundraisers. You can read my full post about the book here.
MY SEVENTH-GRADE LIFE IN TIGHTS by Brooks Benjamin is about Dillon, also a middle schooler. Dillon longs to take dance classes at a prestigious studio in town. However, his dance crew/best friends dislike the studio or the kids who dance there. When Dillon has a chance to compete for a scholarship to the studio, he has to decide whether to go for it at the risk of losing his crew and his own unique dance style. My post about this book is here.
THE LAST FIFTH GRADE OF EMERSON ELEMENTARY is my new novel-in-verse for children. If you read this blog, you already know about my book. I just received the Teacher’s Guide and can reveal (exclusive information alert!) it was created by none other than Sylvia Vardell of the blog Poetry for Children. Pre-order a signed copy from the Ivy Bookshop.
TREASURE AT LURE LAKE by Shari Schwarz is a family adventure story. Brothers Bryce and Jake hike deep into the woods with their grandpa, to spend a few weeks at their family’s secluded cabin. There, they have to deal with sibling rivalry, a hungry bear, a curious elk, and an old family secret. I’ll be blogging about this book soon.
#April12thMGShelf Blog Tour Details
— Sub It Club: March 22nd, Topic: Path to Publication
— Kidliterati: March 29th, Topic: #April12thMGShelf Talk Books, Writing, and Inspiration
— KIDLIT411: April 1, Topic: Friday bonus feature
— MGM: April 4, Topic: Brooks Benjamin pairs videos with our books
— Mixed up Files: April 7, Topic: Interviews
You will find the book giveaway at Melanie Conklin’s blog. Click here to find the post and enter!
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March 14, 2016
The Last Fifth Grade ARC Giveaway!
Make mine banana cream.
Happy Pi Day, poets and friends! I’ve got a slice of something special for you today.
To help celebrate the 20th anniversary of National Poetry Month, I’m giving away a signed ARC of THE LAST FIFTH GRADE OF EMERSON ELEMENTARY. The giveaway starts today and ends on April 1.
You’ll find details and giveaway instructions at Goodreads.
What would the Emerson Elementary 5th graders be reading on Pi Day? How about my friend Jean Meyers’ poem, “I Prefer Pi”?
I PREFER PI
Oh pi, we celebrate you,
you, discovered by Greek mathematicians,
you, come down to us through the centuries,
unchanged, unchangeable.
Without you, pi,
how would we get through fifth grade math?
Or how could we make crop circles?
Or those things the New Englanders call rotaries?
Without you, would cookies be round?
Would we have wedding rings?
You look so sturdy there, pi,
with your two firm legs
and the little table across the top.
You are just the right spot, pi,
for afternoon tea, served with —
of course, my favorite —
raspberry pie.
by Jean Meyers, from You Are Here Too
All rights reserved.
(Some of you will see a little joke at the end of the poem, but it was written and published long before Raspberry Pi came on the scene.)
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