Book Review - The Candy Shop War - Brandon Mull

The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull is a fantastic novel. Go over to The National Writing for Children Center to read my review. Then pick up a copy of The Candy Shop War for yourself and read it.

Also, Brandon Mull is the New York Times bestselling author of Fablehaven. Book three is due out this summer. Check out the Fablehaven website here.

Three Ways to Ignite Your Writing

I know writers are always looking for tips and information in order to further their craft of writing. There is an excellent article by Jesse Hines at Copyblogger on how to make your articles and stories come alive. Jesse Hines gives examples on three ways to tweak your writing with resumptive, summative and free modifiers. It's a great brain tweaker.

This is an excellent article and I highly recommend writers of all genres read it.

Also his blog on June 2 Five Tips for Good Writing from C. S. Lewis is outstanding. The study of your craft is never over.

Write it down,

Carma

Prize in Children's Literature - $10,000

I have some exciting news. Straight from Children’s Book Insider in the “At Presstime” section, comes this gem.

Milkweed Editions is currently accepting submissions for the 2008 Milkweed Prize in Children’s Literature, for the best manuscript for children ages 8 – 13 that Milkweed accepts for publication during the calendar year by a writer NOT previously published by Milkweed. Submissions must follow regular guidelines for middle grade novels and be received by Milkweed by the end of 2008.

The $10,000 cash advance is part of any royalties agreed upon in the contractual agreement negotiated at the time of acceptance. For more details go to http://www.milkweed.org/

Also Milkweed is accepting novels for ages 8 – 13 that are between 90 – 200 pages. No picture books or poetry for this age group. Visit the web site for more information and submission guidelines.

There is more…..

Fun For Kidz is an activity magazine that publishes 6 times a year for ages 6 – 13. They are looking for activities that deal with timeless topics such as pets, nature, hobbies, science, games, sports, careers and simple cooking. Each issue revolves around a theme. They are looking for lively writing and need articles of approximately 500 words. Articles accompanied by good photos are given preference.

For upcoming theme lists go to http://www.funforkidzmagazines.com/

The CBI is such a great newsletter. If you would like to learn more about this great newsletter and how to subscribe, surf on over to Write 4 Kids

Write it down,

Carma

Brain Exercises for Children

The mind is a beautiful thing - especially a child's mind. The following article by Sarah J Holt explores a variety of ways to exercise a child's brain so they will develop better learning skills. It wouldn't hurt the adults either. Enjoy the article.

As children are growing up they are developing thinking, as well as behavioral, patterns. Using these 6 brain exercises for children is one way to help them develop these skills for better functioning and mental abilities for life.

Word Searches/Crosswords

They make many books for kids that contain word searches and crosswords. These are great activities for children to exercise their brains by using the focus and thinking that they require. Crossword puzzles are also a great family activity, where one person can read off the clue and tell how many letters are involved and everyone else can guess.

Memory Exercises

Working with memory exercises can be one of the easiest brain exercises for children, since it can be done in the car while driving or almost anywhere else. Starting when they are young we naturally do these exercises by teaching them how to spell their names, and what their phone numbers and addresses are. We can expand on this by having them work on remembering poems, songs, and the names from family trees.

Memorizing helps children use their brain to focus and retain the information. It also is a very useful skill since a lot of education is based on memorizing, such as learning the number facts for math or learning a list of spelling words.

Obstacle Courses For The Brain

We all have heard of obstacle courses that require physical exercises, but we can also set up ones that include brain exercises for children. An obstacle course for the brain can combine both physical and brain exercises, or focus exclusively on the latter. You can make stations along a physical obstacle course where they can only proceed to the next station after they complete a mental task, such as a short crossword puzzle or word problem. You can also set it up where they have stations throughout the house where they have to complete a series of mental tasks all lined up along the floor or a table.

Write Or Draw Left-Handed (Or Right-Handed)

A great way to exercise the brain is to use the non-dominant hand for writing or drawing. This can be fun to see who can tell what was written or drawn afterwards. Another option is to draw a picture where one-half is done with the dominant hand and then afterwards it is copied onto the other half by the non-dominant hand. These are brain exercises for children that encourage both sides of their brain to work together.

While brain exercises for children can be simple and fun the payoffs can be huge. By using these brain exercises the children are learning to exercise an important part of the body.

Sarah Holt writes for IncreaseBrainpower.com. For more Math Games, and to get the Brain Power Newsletter and other free gifts, visit: http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_J_Holt

How about you? Do you have any special brain games?

Write it down,

Carma

39 Tips for a Productive Life

Take some time during the course of this summer and practice at least ten of these regularly. You will be a better writer, parent, spouse and citizen.

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep.

4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today.

5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

6. Play more games and read more books than you did in 2007.

7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai chi, and prayer. They provide daily fuel for our busy lives.

8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.

9. Dream more while you are awake.

10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

11. Drink green tea and plenty of water... Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.

14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like college kid with a maxed out charge card.

17. Smile and laugh more.

18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

23. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words:’ in five years, will this matter?'

26. Forgive everyone for everything.

27. What other people think of you is none of your business.

28. GOD heals everything.

29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change!

30. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

31. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

33. The best is yet to come.

34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

35. Do the right thing!

36. Call your family often. (Or email them to death!!!) Hey I'm thinking of ya!

37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: 'I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.

38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney world and you certainly don’t want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.

Write it down,

Carma

Memorial Day: In Remembrance

Peace is not a relationship of nations. It is a condition of mind brought about by a serenity of soul. Peace is not merely the absence of war. It is also a state of mind. Lasting peace can come only to peaceful people.
Jawaharlal NehruIndian politician (1889 - 1964)

We hold in our hands, the most precious gift of all: Freedom. The freedom to express our art. Our love. The freedom to be who we want to be. We are not going to give that freedom away and no one shall take it from us!
Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider, Northern Exposure, Cicely, 1992

Write it down,

Carma

Book Review: The Higher Power of Lucky/ Newbery Medal Winner 2007

Title: The Higher Power of Lucky

Author: Susan Patron

Hardcover: 134 pages

Ages: 8 to 12 years

Illustrated by: Matt Phelan

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

An Imprint of Simon & Schuster

ISBN: 13: 978-1-4169-0194-5

ISBN: 10: 1-4169-01949-9

Lucky Trimble is ten years old and lives in the desert town of Hard Pan. CA (pop 43) with her dog, HMS Beagle and her French guardian, Brigitte. Lucky spends her spare time eavesdropping on twelve-step programs like Alcoholic Anonymous and smokers anonymous where she learns about a higher power that helps people when they hit rock-bottom.

Lucky yearns to find her own higher power that will help her stop Brigitte from going back to France and putting her into an orphanage. At least that is the conclusion Lucky has jumped too. Lucky is tenacious and vulnerable and has a tendency to jump to conclusions. But first she needs to find her higher power because she knows her rock-bottom will be here soon.

Lucky is suspicious that Brigitte is tired of taking care of her and wants to leave Hard Pan and go back to France. Lucky begins to pile up evidence that Brigitte will leave any day now. This gives Lucky a sense of urgency to hurry and run away before Brigitte has a chance to leave. Even the warnings of an approaching dust storm will not deter Lucky from her destiny with her higher power.

This is a complex story with a lot of back story but Patron makes her characters charming. The young characters seem to be older but they are all dealing with unusual conditions forcing them to accept the harshness of life earlier than most. Lucky’s best friend Lincoln Clinton Carter Kennedy has a knot tying fetish and five year old Miles who lives down the street is an orphan addicted to cookies and Lucky has not yet come to terms with the death of her mother or abandonment by her father.

About the Author:Susan Patron is also the author of Maybe Yes, Maybe No, Maybe Maybe (an ALA Notable Book, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, 1993 Parent’s Choice Award and a New York Public Library Children's Book List selection) and four picture books. She has spent most of her life at the Los Angeles Public Library, both as a child and an adult. She is currently their Juvenile Materials Collection Development Manager.

Write it down,

Carma