Nancy I. Sanders's Blog, page 46

New Early Reader Bible Stories

As you may or may not know, I love helping kids learn how to read. That’s part of the passion behind my love for writing early readers like the early chapter book we just wrote in March.

I hope it’s your passion, too. (I’m guessing it is!)

I remember when my two sons were little, there wasn’t much out there to help them at the very, very start. Even before they could read enough words to handle the Bob Books.

That’s when my idea for One Sentence Storybooks was born. I developed a way to tell a simple story using repetition and four key new vocabulary words over several different pages to build up to be a single sentence that comprised the entire story. And for some wonderful reason, it clicked. It worked!

That was more than 20 years ago. It took a long time for this idea to come out in full-color book form that little ones could hold in their own hands and read, but the concept still works. I’m hearing from parents whose kids are gaining confidence and skill in reading. Plus, the fact that these little books have a faith-building focus makes them even more special.

Occasionally on upcoming posts here on my blog, I’m going to share with you what parents are saying about these books and the difference it’s making in the lives and hearts of their precious early readers. To start with, I invite you to visit the site of The Proverbs 31 Mama! Hop on over to her site and see she thinks about these books. (Be sure to say “hi!”)

Plus, if you have a child who is learning to read, visit my book’s site for free printables you can download with faith-building and reading activities. (Click on the link for READING FUN AND FAITH-BUILDING ACTIVITIES once you get there.)

And if you’ve got a passion for writing early readers (or are thinking about getting started) I hope these blog posts will motivate you to pursue your passion and write and submit for this very rewarding market.

Filed under: Beginning Readers, Virtual Book Tour

Book Review: Only God Can Make a Kitten

Only God Can Make a Kitten

By Rhonda Gowler Greene

Illustrated by Laura J. Bryant

Summary

What an adorable book! This 32-page picture book begs to be read to a little one while snuggling on your lap. With sweet rhyming text, the soft and tender illustrations are the perfect compliment! A mother and her two children romp and explore the outdoors. Climbing on rocks, swimming in the sea, and discovering a newly sprouted seed, every step of they way they conclude that only God can make each one. (After reading this, I’m itching to go outside and play with children and worship God in the beauty of his creation.)

What I Like

I like the affirmation of truth this teaches little ones that God is the great designer and creator. I especially like the fun word-play and sense of wonder the text brings. For example: “Mama, look! A tiny sprout! Who made this sprig of spring pop out? He who knows our every need. Only God can make a seed.” A great read-aloud. But even more than this, the beautiful and soft illustrations are filled with joy and discovery. And of course, it includes the fact all cat-lovers will adore…“Mama, look! A little cat! Who makes it purr and curl like that? He loves animals, it is written. Only God can make a kitten.” A treasure I highly recommend for many times of reading together and sharing the truth about Creator God.

-Thanks, BookLook Bloggers for another wonderful free book in exchange for my honest review!

Filed under: Book Review

Challenge: Write a Chapter Book in One Month

The end of the month is in sight! How did you do with CHABOOCHA, the Chapter Book Challenge to write a chapter book in just one month? I want to give a big thank you to Becky Fyfe, our fearless leader and coordinator of this yearly event.

If you’re not yet done or even close to finishing, don’t despair. Just pick up where you left off and go for the finish line!

And if you’ve been following along here on my blog and have been using THE RED FLYER ROLLER COASTER as your mentor text, it’s time to finish up your manuscript and submit it.

EDITING

For starters, let’s talk about editing your manuscript. CLICK HERE to read an awesome (and fun) checklist by Lee Wardlaw for editing and revising.

FINALIZING YOUR MANUSCRIPT

Let’s also talk about finalizing your manuscript. It needs a chapter title for each chapter and also Table of Contents at the front of your book. Don’t worry about page numbers for your table of contents. You won’t know that until the book is typeset and illustrations are added in.

Go over the submission checklist from the last time we submitted a nonfiction early reader to Kaeden Books to make sure you have all your ducks in a row.

COVER LETTER

Go ahead and type up your cover letter. (Especially remember to include your SASE and the extra fun, super-duper strategy I recommend in the cover letter.)

And then pop it in an envelope and submit it in the mail.

Then dance a happy dance. Pick up your favorite feline writing buddy, kiss him on his furry little head and say, “We did it!” (Well, actually, you did it. He just shed furry hairs all over it and took a nap on the envelope after you addressed it and put it on the counter to be there when you’re ready to go to the post office.)

And then get ready!!!!! Our next writing adventure here on my blog will be to write an early chapter book and submit it to a publisher who offers royalty contracts to their authors. (Think 10,000 words or less. You can do this!)

We’re going to take our time. No rushing for this next adventure. We’ll just complete one task at a time.

We’re going to go step by step along the journey. No questions left unanswered…All you gotta do is ask them!

I’ve had a number of chapter books published with publishers big and small–both nonfiction and fiction! I’ve been flown to a publishing house to meet with their editor and marketing and series creator to brainstorm outlines for 3 chapter books so I’ll be sharing firsthand and insider experiences and more on how to create and write a chapter book from beginning to successful end.

So if you didn’t have the chance to write a chapter book this month because of your crazy schedule or you just weren’t sure where to start, plan to join in on the upcoming fun!!!!!

(I hope you’ll join in. You’ll be happy you did. And we’ll be happy you did too!)

Filed under: Uncategorized

Challenge: Write a Chapter Book in One Month

As we’re finishing up our back matter for our early chapter book, here are some tips to make it easier.

Creating the Abbreviated Word List

To make a list of 48 of the more challenging vocabulary words in my story, I opened up my story in a document and moved that open document to the left side of my screen. I changed the text to be 150% and made the document as small as possible to fit on my screen.

Then I opened up a new document and put it on the right side of my screen. I sized this document as small as possible so that both documents were now side by side.

Starting with Chapter 1 on the left document, I read through it and added long or difficult vocabulary words to the blank document on the right. I also numbered these with the automatic number system. I spread out to find words in every chapter until I had 48 words listed. Then I deleted the numbers and copied these words and pasted them at the end of my story in the document on the left.

Writing Discussion Questions

For the Discussion Questions in the back matter, I actually copied some of the questions in our mentor text, THE RED FLYER ROLLER COASTER, and used words from other questions. I know enough about Common Core State Standards to recognize the wording they like in this section supports the second grade English language arts standards for reading literature.

My story is about a little boy who finds an abandoned baby raccoon in the woods. Here is a sample of some of the questions I wrote for my back matter:

Before Reading:

* What do you think happens to wild animals that need help?

During Reading:

* How do you think Landon felt when he found the baby raccoon in the hollow oak tree? Use examples from the story to explain your answer.

After Reading

* Have you ever wanted to help an animal? Describe your experience.

Once you write the back matter to include with your manuscript, you’re on the home stretch! Time to finish this baby up and put it in the mail. I’ll post more on that in upcoming posts, so stay tuned!

Filed under: Beginning Readers, Chapter Books

Challenge: Write a Chapter Book in One Month

This week as we’re wrapping up our early chapter book to submit to Kaeden Books, it’s time to write the Back Matter.

In our mentor text, THE RED FLYER ROLLER COASTER, there is one last page of text that is printed on the inside of the back cover. It has an Abbreviated Word List. It lists the Word Count. It also has three sets of discussion questions for a parent or educator to use. All of this is called Back Matter.

Does your mentor text have Back Matter? If so, this is the time to work on it.

If you are using the same book as I am and following along here on my blog, here is what you’ll need in the Back Matter you include with your manuscript:

1. Abbreviated Word List of 24 words in alphabetical order. If you know how to format columns within your document, you can put this in 6 columns. (If not, a single column is fine.)

2. Word Count: THE RED FLYER ROLLER COASTER has 2600 words so you want to make yours as close to that as possible.

3. Discussion questions:

Before Reading: 2-3 questions

During Reading: 3 questions

After Reading: 3 questions

Let me know if you have any questions about this!

Filed under: Beginning Readers, Chapter Books

Challenge: Write a Chapter Book in One Month

If you’ve been following along with my calendar here on my blog to write an 8-chapter early chapter book using THE RED FLYER ROLLER COASTER as our mentor text, we’re flying into the home stretch now!

If you’ve fallen behind as I have, you can do this! Just start where you dropped off and schedule time to write on your calendar this week.

Also, this week is the time to edit your book and make it shine. If you belong to a critique group, take it and ask for feedback. If not, ask a young child to read it and give you feedback.

Plus, this is the week to start writing the back matter. First of all, read the back page in THE RED FLYER ROLLER COASTER. This will help you write a similar section in your manuscript. I’ll post some tips on how to do this in an upcoming post this week.

Have fun!

Filed under: Beginning Readers, Chapter Books

Challenge: Write a Chapter Book in One Month

How are you doing with ChaBooCha and the Chapter Book Challenge? If you’re following along on my blog and writing an early reader chapter book did you finish your last chapter yesterday?

I’m still not done! Sometimes life gets so busy and you have to attend to other things. That happened to me this week.

The art galleys came in for a set of 10 early readers that will be published soon. I had to drop everything and pore over 120 pages of cute and adorable illustrations. What fun! And then I had to write a dozen pages of little “games” and simple “activities” for the books that we’d been waiting for the galleys to come in because the games and activities were based on the art.

Whew! That’s all done and turned into my editor.

So here I am, back again at the Chapter Book Challenge. I’m picking up right where I left off and am moving full steam ahead.

How about you? If you haven’t finished the challenge, don’t despair! Just pick up right where you left off and move forward full steam ahead.

These challenges are here to motivate you and encourage you, not to defeat you or make you feel like you’ll never succeed.

So wherever you are today, just take the next step. And then the next! And most of all, have fun with what you’re doing.

Happy writing!

Filed under: Beginning Readers, Chapter Books

WriteShop: A Writing Curriculum that Rocks!

As some of you may know, I’ve had the amazing privilege of working with the publishers of WriteShop to help write their Primary and Junior curriculum for elementary kids. Can I tell you how much fun it was to take all the techniques and skills I’ve used during my career as a writer and put them into a hands-on incremental curriculum for kids that’s fun, engaging and teaches them to love writing as much as I do?!!!!!

As most of you may NOT know, however, right now they are having a free give-away contest of a COMPLETE WRITESHOP CURRICULUM SET!!!!! This is such an amazing opportunity. I just had to share this exciting news with you. If you are a homeschooling mama (or dad) or know someone else who is a homeschooling parent, and you want to have a chance to win this amazing curriculum, just hop on over to one of these blogs and register to win today. Plus you can read the reviews they posted of the curriculum and how their kids really do love it and are learning to love to write.

THIS READING MAMA

TEACH BESIDE ME

GRATEFUL FOR GRACE

Filed under: Free Giveaway, Writing Curriculum

Challenge: Write a Chapter Book in One Month

As we’re working on writing chapters 5 and 6 yesterday and today, I wanted to share a couple of tips with you.

#1. Usually around this spot in my manuscript I discover I don’t really like what I’m doing. It helps to remember that this is a first draft. If I can just get the first draft written from the beginning to the end, I can go back in and fix things later. It’s okay to have lousy spots now.

#2. I like to start my writing sessions each day usually by reading over what I wrote the day before or even earlier. I like to go back and fix glaring spots that bug me. For example, originally I had 2 adult characters named Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones. I totally deleted Mr. Smith and combined his lines and character with Mr. Jones. I felt this was simpler for a kid’s book at this reading level. Then I also changed Mr. Jones’ name to “Construction Boss” similar to how “Measuring Man” is named in our mentor text, THE RED FLYER ROLLER COASTER.

#3. I’m keeping a short character log with notes about each different character such as “Construction Boss” speaks in short sentences and barks out commands because he’s used to giving orders to his crew. Then I go back over what I’ve written and fix Construction Boss’s lines to make sure they are as short as possible and in a command tone as much as possible. This is helping my characters to each have a distinct voice.

Also, in these two chapters (5 and 6) we want to make sure our characters are heading toward the end of the book and they are directly influenced or dealing with the change that happened at the turning point to get them moving toward the conclusion of the main story problem.

Happy writing!

Filed under: Beginning Readers, Chapter Books

Challenge: Write a Chapter Book in One Month

If you look at the plot chart for THE RED FLYER ROLLER COASTER, the mentor text I’m using along with some of you for our CHABOOCHA Challenge this month, you’ll see that Chapter 4 is where the turning point happens.

Here are some tidbits of info about a turning point:

*This is the middle of the book.

*This is where something happens that changes the main character in some way that it propels her to the end of the book and the conclusion of the main story problem.

*This is the place some authors claim is like the door of no return. Something happens and the main character will never be the same.

Here in our mentor text, the turning point is where Sophie Bean’s legs start hurting. We don’t know it and she doesn’t know it but this is where the solution to the entire story arc will generate from: she’s starting to grow tall enough so that by the end of the summer she’ll be able to ride the roller coaster!

So if you’ve already written your Chapter 4 or are just getting ready to start, make sure you have the turning point in here.

Then on Monday we’ll write Chapter 5 and start moving our main character toward the ending. Yay!

Filed under: Beginning Readers, Chapter Books