Sandy Brehl's Blog, page 4

New (Virtual) Friends: Kid Book Reviewers

 

The world of “kid lit”, books for young readers, is overflowing with the most generous, open, and enthusiastic people on the planet. That may sound like an opinion, but I’m convinced it’s a fact.

These people devote time, energy, creativity, and enthusiasm to reading, writing, discussing, recommending, editing, illustrating, teaching and learning about books for tots to teens. As a result they  are immersed in oceans of love, truth, humor, heart, and curiosity on a daily basis, which spills out into and onto everyone they encounter.

I’m reminded of that on a daily basis when I read blogs (and add to my library hold list), learn of book donations to flooded schools in Louisiana, receive helpful notes from a critique partner, and read reminders about the amazing opportunities to learn and grow at an upcoming conference. As I prepare for the release of Bjorn’s Gift I’m even more aware of the support from all sides. 

In this case I’m referring to my new virtual friends, the young sibling reviewers Olivia and Oscar. They have been so generous in their support, not only hosting a two-book giveaway, but also asking for an interview. This one was especially fun for me because their questions took me back to some nearly buried reading and writing memories. I hope you’ll enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed my conversation with them.

Thank you, Olivia and Oscar, for this fun interview. (here)

Save the Date: Book Birthday party for Bjorn’s Gift

What do you do on a Sunday afternoon in Wisconsin when the Green Bay Packers have a BYE week? Have a  BOOK BIRTHDAY PARTY!
That’s Sunday, October 2, at 2:00.
Refreshments
Door prizes
Save the date and come for the fun!

Click the word Invitation below to download, keep, or send to a friend.

Invitation: Bring a friend!

Hope to see you there!

Two-Book Giveaway (Odin’s Promise and Bjorn’s Gift) from Kid Book Reviewer

The excitement continues with this announcement from “kid-reviewers” Olivia and Oscar, new (virtual) friends and avid readers whose blog is KID BOOK REVIEWER, (Click here.) 

Entering is easy-peasy, and even under-eighteens can enter with parental approval. What fun back-to-school news to share with kids in classrooms. I encourage you (and kids) to subscribe, too, so that their posts can reach you directly. Less-than-enthusiastic readers and writers (I don’t like that label “reluctant”) might welcome recommendations from other kids, add comments, and use their reviews as models for writing/recommending favorite books they discover.

 

The giveaway runs until September 30, just in time for the official release date for BJORN’S GIFT. As soon as they send me the name of the winner I’ll be signing both books and sending them out in the mail. 

Good luck!

“First Day of School”: My Interview with Todd Burleson

Tots to teens to college kids are heading off for their first day of school. Today my own “offspring”, BJORN’S GIFT, has it’s first blog post in the countdown to release day, October 5. Having that post hosted by none other than TODD BURLESON, SLJ’s SCHOOL LIBRARIAN OF THE YEAR is an honor and a joy! Thank you, Todd, for your intriguing questions, kind words about the book and the resources on this site, and for the inspiration you provide in all you do.

Todd Burleson, school librarian, media specialist, and wonder-grower at Hubbard Woods Elementary School in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

You can learn more about Todd, (and I urge you to do so) by reading his recent “HOW DID I GET HERE?” post  (here) following the announcement of his award.

If you want to read more of what our interview/conversation was about, you can find it on the GROGBlog post, here.

Thank you, Todd (and your blog-mates) for your warm welcome and exciting start to this countdown. 

And please stay tuned for more in the coming days!

 

Sequel Countdown: BJORN’S GIFT

 

Start spreading the news…  beginning today.
After many busy weeks,
it’s time to start celebrating the launch of
BJORN’S GIFT,
book two in the trilogy of ODIN’S PROMISE.

Crispin Books/ Imprint of Crickhollow Books. October 5, 2016

Stay tuned for frequent updates and details:


Save the date for a book birthday party


Guest posts and interviews


Book giveaways


Reviews


Teaching resources


Extra background and content


and more.


And TUSEN TAKK for your interest and support!

 

 

What a Surprise Opportunity!

News to me!
Amazon is currently offering a FREE Kindle version of ODIN’S PROMISE, and  I have no idea how long the offer will last.

If you were hoping to read it before Book Two in the eventual trilogy releases, BJORN’s GIFT, snatch  up this free offer HERE!

I was waiting another week or two to post here in order to include a cover reveal, a blog tour schedule, and details of the October 5 release of BJORN’S GIFT, but this news can’t wait.

If you want to be sure to keep up with all the “breaking news”, consider subscribing on the sidebar to have newsletters sent directly to your email.

 

Social Justice: More than a Tagline

 

I’m very excited and proud to participate in our recently launched group blog, TheStoriedPast. org.  

 

 

I’m sharing the platform with three writers whose work I admire and whose friendship I value:  Stephanie Lowden, and Hilda and Emily DeMuth. The site is hosted by our editor and “story doctor”, Philip Martin. We hope you’ll enjoy the  interviews, reviews, reflections, and reader interactions enough to follow the blog and join in the conversation.

For example, a recent post features the Birchbark series, which portrays Ojibwa family life in the mid-1800s. Emily DeMuth Ishida’s post featuring books about Japanese internment camps during World War II generated a lively discussion in the comments. 

Here’s hoping you’ll check us out, subscribe, join the conversations, and suggest other titles and topics for us to explore. In the current political and civic news you may have noted frequent references and comparisons to times and figures in history. Reading and reflecting on those periods through historical fiction and biographies offers an effective way to open conversations about difficult subjects.

In times like these when expressing an opinion can trigger heated arguments rather than reasoned debates, discussing books allows us to sidestep the intensity of current events while pursuing important topics. Issues of racism, isolationism, scapegoating, and other social justice concerns appear across time and cultures. Stories with engaging characters and powerful plots provide rich opportunities to explore our values, prejudices, patterns, and presumptions through eyes other than our own. 

Here’s hoping you’ll check us out!

 

 

 

 

 

Author Festival News: Greendale, Wisconsin

News seems to come in bunches, and that’s especially exciting when the news is all good.

A recent post announced my venture into a new group blog focused on historical fiction, interviews, and reviews (The Storied Past, here). I hope you’ll take a look, if you haven’t already done so, and even subscribe to get each new post delivered to your inbox. 

While I’m inviting your participation, here’s news anyone in SE Wisconsin will want to know: Greendale Public Library Foundation is sponsoring their inaugural AUTHOR FESTIVAL for young readers. I’m delighted to be one of ELEVEN Wisconsin authors and illustrators scheduled to present programs throughout the day. Details (and a schedule that’s easier to read) can be downloaded here. This coincides with the annual SPRING INTO GREENDALE celebration featuring special events and attractions in a charmingly historic downtown village. (Details here.)

Here’s a description of my part of the program that day:

12:45-1:15 Free workshop for ages 8 to adults by author Sandy Brehl, includes a fun writing activity to better understand fact and imagination in historical fiction, and a simple listen/tell participation activity. 

There will  be something for everyone of every age, including a craft table, contests, and book sales by Boswell Books with author signings throughout the day. 

 

I’m looking forward to seeing old friends and making lots of new ones that day. With any luck at all I hope to share even more news by then, including the title of Book Two in the Norway Occupation trilogy and some options for staying connected more often in the future. Anything you care to do to help spread the word about this festival is welcome.

 

Fun, Fiction, and New Friends

I knew as soon as I set foot inside this gorgeous New Berlin school that my welcome would be every bit as warm and bright as the  building itself.

I was looking forward to spending a full day  with sixth grade writers, working together on ways to make historical fiction as strong and appealing as possible.

What I found when I arrived were highly motivated, enthusiastic, focused, and talented writers. Take a look for yourselves:

Their stories were well-anchored in history, ranging from the Revolutionary War to the era of slavery to the Holocaust to Pearl Harbor. The comprehensive instruction they’d received before my visit resulted in stories filled with heart, action, historic details, flashbacks, and compelling fictional characters living through troubled times and circumstances. 

I enjoyed every minute of my visit and only wished i could have conferenced with every student there. Talking with them about their drafts and their intentions provided me with fresh ideas, too, and I’d welcome any of them as partners in my own writing life. 

Deepest thanks to Ms. Bruins and the other teachers for the invitation, and to the young writers who willingly shared their  work with me. That requires a high level of confidence and trust, plus a willingness to learn. All those valuable writerly qualities were shared in abundance on a day I won’t forget. Tusen Takk!

World Read Aloud Day: Join the Fun for Literacy

During school visits I often tell kids that I was a born reader. I can’t take credit for that, but my parents can. They read to me, and my siblings, every night. Night after night. With interesting voices. With expression. With enthusiasm. 

I grew up in a time and situation that had few books for kids, yet the ones we had were endlessly entertaining. Not because they were new and shiny but because my parents ignited these nightly read-alouds with love. 

Why should I make the argument further when literacy guru DONALYN MILLER does such a wonderful job in this post for Scholastic. Click here

You never outgrow your need to be read to… ever. And yet some kids have never experienced this. Even teachers who value daily read-alouds in school are finding themselves forced away from the practice due to artificial mandates of time and academic content. 

Visit litworld.org/wrad to register your participation, check out LitWorld’s free resources, and learn more about the mission and value of reading aloud to others, even if they are perfectly capable of reading for themselves. 

Was your literary life affected by being read to aloud? Did it shaped you as a reader? Do you read aloud to others?  I’d love to read what you have to say about your own experiences, and your plans to participate in

WORLD READ ALOUD  DAY!