Hear Ye, Hear Ye! It's Children's Book Week!

May 12 through May 18.

Hosted by the Children's Book Council. Go visit their website to learn all about it. Also, check with your local library. I am sure they have some wonderful things in store to celebrate.

Color Me!

Purchasing coloring books online is a common occurrence. Also, many sites have single pages that can be printed out for coloring. I have found a few sites to print out coloring pages drawn by illustrators of children 's books such as Elizabeth Dulemba. She places one coloring page for children each Tuesday on her blog for printing and coloring. I have printed several for my grandchildren.

Read the article below: Coloring Books - Online Books, by Elizabeth Ashe. Her website also lists resources to help you find quality books for children at affordable prices.

It seems that you can find everything and anything online these days, but can you find coloring books? A quick search will reveal that coloring books are indeed online and there are quite a few options that appear for them.
Some of these options include: online coloring books, jumbo coloring books, and coloring books for purchase.

Online coloring books - This is a new phenomenon known only to the online generation, kids prior to this day in time never knew the option of printing out virtually endless amounts of coloring pages for their coloring pleasure. Nowadays, kids can log on to their favorite kid's programs website and either color pictures of their favorite characters right there on the computer screen and print them on their printer, or they can print out the blank coloring page and color with crayons. Now that's options!

Jumbo coloring books - Also a new but very fun idea is the jumbo coloring books that are available today both in your local discount store and for purchase online. These huge coloring books can create hours of fun for your child. Available again with their favorite cartoon characters and these are larger than life. Kids can spend hours coloring in these extra large books.

Coloring books for purchase online - Does your child have a favorite cartoon character or maybe they have a love for tiny horses, sheep dogs or some other unique animal. Online you can find an array of coloring books available for purchase that you may not find anywhere else.

Elizabeth Ashe is a mom of four that would love to show how to find great cheap books online. To learn more visit http://www.bestchildrensbooksonline.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Ashe

Write it down,

Carma

Walk Two Moons: Newbery Medal Winner Book Review

Title: Walk Two Moons

Author: Sharon Creech

Hardcover: 280 pages

Ages: 9 to 12

Publisher: Harper Collins

ISBN: 0-06-023334-6

ISBN: 0-06-023337-0

Walk Two Moons is the tale of thirteen year old Salamanca (Sal) Tree Hiddle and her trek from Euclid, Ohio to Lewiston, Idaho with her zany grandparents. Through humor, wit and poignancy Walk Two Moons addresses dying, loving and grieving. I loved this story. The plot twists, satire and charming characters come alive on every page. Another great facet about Walk Two Moons is how the main character, narrates a parallel story of grief and love while she sorts out her own heartaches.

Sal’s mother leaves home without warning and Sal experiences a feeling of abandonment even with all the post cards her mother sends to her. When Sal’s father announces her mother will not be coming home, Sal is devastated. Still, she and her father move to Euclid, Ohio against Sal’s desire.

Sal’s grandparents, Grams and Gramps Hiddle are determined to help Sal get to Lewiston, Idaho before her mother’s birthday. However instead of following a direct route they follow the scenic tour bus route.

In order to pass the time and keep her mind off of her Gramps crazy driving, Sal narrates the story of her friend Phoebe’s mother who also left home. Phoebe is adamant her mother did not leave home on her own accord rather Phoebe believes her mother has been kidnapped by a lunatic who delivers notes with strange messages like “Don’t judge a man until you’ve walked two moons in his moccasins.”

Additionally, Walk Two Moons provides a glimpse of how families can react differently to similar circumstances and still hold on to a solid foundation of love and warmth. As you begin to learn about Sal’s grandparents and the deep love they share you also learn about Sal’s friend Mary Lou and her family who are openly rambunctious and affectionate with each other in comparison to Phoebe’s family who are uncomfortable with outward signs of affection.

Creech’s talent to write two story lines simultaneously is the essence of Walk Two Moons. There are so many things to admire about this book that a mere few lines of plot description will not do it justice. However, just when you think you know where the plot is headed, Creech drops a few surprises on you and a curve ball is thrown right between the pages. Walk Two Moons speaks on a level that all middle grade students can relate too. The plot unfolds nicely and yet the end is still a surprise. Don’t be surprised if a small tear trickles down your cheek too.


Author Sharon Creech was awarded the 1994 Newbery Medal award for Walk Two Moons and Newbery Honor Book for The Wanderer. She is also the first American to win the Carnegie medal for her book Ruby Holler. For nine months of the year she lives in England and teaches American and British literature. You can visit her website at http://www.sharoncreech.co.uk/

Write it down,

Carma

Web Links and Children's List Links

While writing my book review of Sharon Creech’s Walk Two Moons, I ran across a great website. BloomsburyUSA. This site was launched in 1998 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. An England based publishing company and independent publisher. Its USA children’s list was launched in 2001.

I love looking through their children’s catalog. I have been told by many professionals that it is wise to read publishers catalogs before sending out queries. Reading publishing catalogs will give you a sense of the type of books they are interested in.

Also click here for free online data of reference books.

Write it down,

Carma

Suzanne Lieurance: Children's Author, Coach & Radio Show Host

It gives me great pleasure to interview Suzanne Lieurance of The Working Writer's Coach. Suzanne is a multi-talented and multi-faceted writer. In addition she is an extremely motivating writing coach. Through her weekly teleseminars, students are inspired to be the best they can be. Take a class from Suzanne Lieurance and you too will feel the charge of energy careening over cyber space.

Q: I ran across your Working Writers Coach Blog back in March 2007 and I kept being drawn back to it. Actually I think it was when I subscribed to the Morning Nudge that kept me going everyday and still does. Tell us how The Morning Nudge came about.

A: As a writing coach, I like to encourage my clients to get a little writing done every single day. When I first started coaching, I was sending out a weekly newsletter, but I suddenly thought how much more helpful it would be to my clients and other writers by sending them something every week day. That’s how the Morning Nudge came about.

I have a friend who calls it “The Morning Shove” because some days I just want writers to stop making excuses for not creating the writing life of their dreams. The only way to become a writer is to write! And the purpose of The Morning Nudge is to remind readers of that every day.

Q: What are your writing habits? Do you work on an outline before starting the actual story?

A: I write something every single day. When I’m working on a book length manuscript I work from an outline whether the book is nonfiction or fiction. However, even with an outline I find that many surprises pop up as I’m writing. And that's part of what makes the writing process so much fun.

Q: Is one genre easier to write than another? Why or why not?

A: For me, fiction is more difficult to write than nonfiction because I have to really, really focus on the world I’m creating when I’m writing fiction. I have to sort of enter this world, and it takes me a while at the keyboard before I’m able to do that fully. But once I’m there in my fictional world, I don’t want to come back to the real world, so I try to write for hours at a time.

When I’m working on nonfiction, I’m able to do that in short bits of time here and there. So it’s easier for me to get a lot of nonfiction writing done in a short amount of time.

Q: You always have a project or two in the works. The Locket just came out so tell us a bit about your other soon to be published stories. What was your inspiration for these stories?

A: Right now I’m working on another historical novel for Enslow. I’m also working on a nonfiction book with two other coaches, and I’m reworking several picture book manuscripts. I also write my own materials for my coaching programs, including materials for the Working Writer’s Summer Bootcamp that starts June 2, 2008.

What inspires me the most - for anything I write - is people who do incredible things. I want to write things that show everyone how we can ALL do incredible things if we follow our passions and believe in ourselves.

Q: Which element of historical fiction writing comes more naturally for you—plot, characterization, description, dialogue? Which one gives you the hardest time?

A: Characterization comes easiest for me. I have to “feel” what the character is going through in order to write about this person. But I can generally do that.

Description is sometimes difficult with historical fiction because every detail about the time and place must be accurate even though the actual events are not all true.

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring children’s writers who are trying to break into the field?

A: First, take a course or workshop to learn the basics about writing for children. Next, join or start a critique group for children’s writers and be sure there are at least a few published children’s authors in the group. Third, read, read, read all the children’s books you can. Finally, write, write, write!

Q: Who is Suzanne Lieurance, the lady? Describe an ordinary day in your life.

A: I think the essence of who I am involves teaching, coaching, and motivating others every single day. This may sound strange, but I don’t think I have ordinary days. To me, every single day is special because every day I wake up and get to do what I love to do most - write, coach, and help others in some small way.

But the best part is, I get to do all this no matter where I am, so I can work from home in my pjs if I want - and I often do want to write in my pjs. I think pjs are totally underrated.

Q: Have you ever suffered from writer’s block? What seems to work for unleashing your creativity?

A: I don’t have trouble being creative. What I have trouble with sometimes is staying focused on ONLY the project at hand. My mind can get to racing a mile a minute if I don’t control it. So, I meditate and write in my journal every morning in order to get focused before I work on the day’s writing project.

Talking with other writers and other coaches unleashes my creativity.

Q: What type of books did you read as a child? Did you like to do book reports on them?

A: I always loved books about animals when I was a child. My favorite book was called The Magic Pin and it was about a little girl who found a pin that was shaped like a horseshoe. Whenever she put this pin on her shirt or dress she could talk to animals. I just thought that having a pin like that would be the coolest thing since animals were everything to me when I was a kid - dogs, especially.

Q: How do you set about promoting your books? How many hours a week do you spend on book promotion?

A: I promote my books in a variety of ways. Mostly through school visits and speaking at writers’ conferences and other events, plus through my websites and blogs. However, I probably spend more time every week promoting my coaching than I do promoting my books. Nowadays, I seem to be a coach who also writes, even though I started out as a writer who also coaches.

Q: What type of book promotion seems to work the best for you?

A: Speaking at conferences and making author visits to schools seems to work best for me as a means to promote my books. But I also like networking with other children’s authors, illustrators, and editors to help get the word out about all sorts of books for children, not just mine.

To find out more about my books for children, visit my author website at http://www.suzannelieurance.com and to find out more about my coaching visit http://www.workingwriterscoach.com and sign up for a free subscription to The Morning Nudge at either site. Also, be sure to listen to my talk show about children's books, LIVE on blogtalkradio every weekday afternoon at 2:00 central time - http://www.blogtalkradio.com/bookbitesforkids

Thank you Suzanne.

Carma

Blog Talk Radio Interview

Monday through Friday Suzanne Lieruance of The National Writing for Children's Center and the Children's Writer's Coaching Club hosts a half hour talk show interviewing children's writers and illustrators at 2 p.m. central time and 12 noon pacific time. There is always something to learn. I compare these interviews to a mini seminar. Interviews are archived for later listening if you don't have time to listen live.

Suzanne will be interviewing Harold Underdown, children's writer/editor/publisher for four consecutive days. May 6 through May 9, 2008. That is two hours of choice tidbits and information for free! Harold's new book The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books (third edition) will be out soon. My copy is on its way.

If you would like to ask Harold Underdown questions go to Blog Talk Radio and call in. The phone number is listed on the website.

Write it down,

Carma

The Locket, Surviving the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Book Review

Title: The Locket, Surviving the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

Author: Suzanne Lieurance

Hardcover: 160 pages

Illustration credits: Library of Congress

Locket: Joan Loitz, Shutterstock.com

Cover Illustration: Original Painting by Corey Wolfe

Ages 9 - 12

Publisher: Enslow Publishers, Inc.

ISBN 13: 978-0-7660-2928-6

ISBN-10: 0-7660-2928-X

The Locket Surviving the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire is a historical novel written for ages 9 to 12. It tells the story of Galena, an eleven year old Russian-Jewish immigrant who lives in New York City in 1911 with her family and works at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory with her older sister Anya. The factory pays low wages, has horrendous working conditions and employs under age children like Galena.

In the early 1900’s joining the union is a dangerous thing to do but Anya longs to improve working conditions for abused workers. Soon a horrible fire erupts and destroys the Triangle Shirt Factory and shatters a young girls dream.

Author, Suzanne Lieurance weaves together the fictional and non-fictional aspects of this historical story with ease. By blending dramatic factual accounts of a historical event using realistic fictional characters, Lieurance brings the reader inside the ill-fated factory. Lieurance’s account is truly a step back in time to understand how a young Jewish immigrant girl uses the support of her Jewish traditions, family and friends for inspiration to fight for workers rights.

The Locket also has an educator's guide available for teachers and parents. Go to Enslow Publishing and click on "what's new". Scroll down to Historical Fiction Adventures and click on The Locket. Next click on “Free educator’s guide." This guide is a fantastic supplement with additional reading suggestions, discussion questions and other activities.

I will be interviewing children’s author Suzanne Lieurance later in this week so be sure to check back often. You don’t want to miss hearing what this motivating author has planned next for her readers.

Write it down,

Carma