Every Husbands Nightmare - The DIY Wife

Ever had back trouble? Lower back pain is the worst; and it doesn’t take much – the slightest move the wrong way can take you out of commission for days. For me, recent lower back issues reinforced a few things:

· I’m not getting any younger;
· My sofa is pretty darn comfortable;
· And daytime television is - well... not very stimulating.

Daytime Television:
There I was, laying on my couch with my new best friends: a heating pad, a pain killer, a muscle relaxer and a steroid. While my new friends took the edge off my discomfort and set about to speed the healing process, nothing could relieve me from the pain of being held hostage by daytime television. I have one word for daytime programming: BORING!!! The Price Is Right, Let’s Make a Deal... Come on. Game shows, soap operas, talk shows. Even the movies on cable were lame. Ellen, Oprah, Tyra – a bunch of fodder on The View. It didn’t take long to get my own “view." Give me something interesting and informative to watch – something that will encourage me to do more things and make my life better. I kept helplessly clicking from one channel to another. Then I found it. Channel 207. The DIY Network.

DIY Network:
Bathtastic, Sweat Equity, House Crashers, Yard Crashers, Disaster House, Kitchen Impossible, Garage Mahal, Renovation Realities (the ugly side of renovation) – all of these are programs that show DIYers... well... DIYing. In one afternoon, I learned:

· How to install a toilet;
· Simple ways to give my home more curb appeal;
· How to determine if a wall is a load-bearing wall;
· Patching Hardwood Floors;
· Tips for installing accent lighting;
· How to use the newest cool tools;
· Installing tile.

And in between shows, DIY Network has these little 30-second instructional spots on everything from building a fire pit to replacing window screens. When my husband came home that afternoon, I began telling him how easy it would be to refinish this or replace that… Obviously, he thought that my new friends were having an adverse affect on me.

I’ll Show Him…
The following weekend, I was getting around much better. I had taken all my medications and had begun physical therapy for my back. The first cool front had blown in and it was a beautiful day. I wanted to open up the windows – but I couldn’t. The screens were old and the dogs had scratched huge holes in them. John had been putting off replacing them because we had five custom screens to replace and it was going to take two weeks and cost close to $200 to have them fixed. Then, I had a 30-second flashback. I did some quick measurements and calculations, then John and I got into the car and drove to our local True Value Hardward Store.

Turns out that our True Value hardware man was a woman. She quoted us a price of $185 for repairing the screens and confirmed that it would take two weeks to complete the order. Then I decided to show my savvy. I asked the woman if they carried a 36” inch stainless steel insect mesh. “Yes ma’am,” she said. Great! John, who is a contractor, nudged me and told me to be quiet. “I’ll need about 14 feet of the 36” stainless insect mesh," I said. "And what about that black strip that acts like a gasket and holds the mesh in place – the SPLINE?!?” “Yes ma’am,” she said. "Do you know what guage you will need?" I think it is a .180 round," I said. “Great!” John shot me a quizzical look. I gave the woman my calculations for the spline. “And I’ll need that special tool too – the splining tool… Yeah the splining tool. No not the metal one," I said. "I understand it can actually damage the mesh during installation. I’ll take the cheaper plastic splining tool. Thank you! You have truly been a person of true value to me.”

John and I headed to the register. The whole way I was being lectured on how I was probably going to end up costing us more money because I didn't know what I was doing. What do you mean? I just had a very knowledgeable conversation with another woman who knows her stuff. The cashier rang up our sale. "Twenty-seven dollars and eighty-three cents," she said. Wow! Is that all? That’s not quite $185 worth of material. I was beginning to second-guess myself. I had done the measurements and calculations twice and had added enough overage. Certainly I hadn’t miscalculated. Had I?

The lecture on the way home was less intense. After all, if I failed, the cost would be a minimal $27.83. We got home and John helped me removed the old screening. Then I got a small piece of plywood and laid it over the kitchen table. I placed the first screen frame on the plywood and unrolled the screen coil just enough to cover the frame. Then, I zipped around the frame with the convex edge of the splining wheel forcing the screen edges into the frame. After that, I took the spline and forced it into the frame edge using the concave edge of the splining wheel. In less than 15 minutes, I had replaced my first screen. Upon completing the last screen, I had exactly two inches of overage. I hadn’t miscalculated. For $27.83, I had done my first DIY project. I saved approximately $157 by doing the project myself and I did it in one afternoon. I opened my windows and felt the cool fresh air as it rushed through the screens and felt the satisfaction of a project done well, done quickly and done cost effectively. And...You can bet your sweet penny it won’t be my last DIY project!

Favorite Teachers...Revisited

Recently, having visited the wonderful teachers in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, I spoke of the wonderful teachers who reminded me so much of my favorite teacher, Clara B. Walker. [Posted: August 16, 2009] Mrs. Walker taught me in the third grade at Wooten Elementary School in Austin, Texas. At the end of the post, I mentioned that I might look her up so that I could tell her thank you. Well, I did!

The search for Mrs. Walker began with Google. Soon I found myself looking at ancestry records and the like. I would never find her this way. So I did what I would have done in the third grade. I found a telephone book and I searched for Walker, Clara. Bingo! It was definitely the Clara Walker I was looking for. I recall her telling us about her husband and recognized his name. I wrote down her address and telephone number.

The following week, I sent Mrs. Walker a copy of The Angry Thunderstorm, along with a letter. Not sure if she would remember me, I explained that she had taught me in the third grade and that I remembered her fondly. I shared my memories of her class and then, I thanked her for dedication to her profession. I explained that, through her, I had developed a love of poetry and writing that had lasted throughout the years. The book that she was receiving was a direct result of how she touched my life and how that one year as her student had shaped my being.

A few days later, I received a letter in the mail. I knew right away who it was from. The perfect cursive handwriting said it all. The first words I read were, CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! CONGRATULATIONS! The same enthusiasm she had shown in the classroom resounded in her handwritten note. She told me that she had shared the book with her friends and that they were interested in having a book of their own for the children in their lives. And...she asked if I would stop by for a visit.

Last week, after work, my son and I visited Mrs. Walker. She had invited approximately thirteen of her friends to her home and we had a private reading and an enjoyable evening full of conversation. It was such a privilege for my son, Ryan, who is in the sixth grade, to get to visit with my teacher. Believe me, he had plenty of questions for her.

Later that evening, on our way home, Ryan said, "Mom, you were lucky to have such a great teacher. Mrs. Walker is the nicest person I have ever met." Then it dawned on me...just as I had been in 1973, Ryan, too, had been touched by this wonderful woman. And...although she is retired from her profession, she will never cease to be a wonderful teacher!

P.S. - We hope to post pictures of our visit very soon!

Jelly Mom Book Review

The latest book review for The Angry Thunderstorm by Jelly Mom.

http://jellymom-bookreviews.blogspot.com/

Incredible Journeys...

Recently, I traveled with my children to a place I have visited often since my childhood - Velma, Oklahoma. That's where my grandparents lived. Anyone familiar with the State knows that much of Oklahoma remains rural. Velma is one of those tiny rural towns tucked along Highway 7. If you are traveling west on Highway 7 towards Lawton, don't blink or you just might miss it! Three generations of Cartwrights have stomped the ground there...several more are sure to follow.

For as long as I can remember, we have driven the same route to Velma. From Austin, we travel north up the IH-35 corridor to Ardmore. Then, we head west to Ringling. In Ringling, we head north for about ten miles to Pinto and turn left on County Road 53 to Loco. On the outskirts of Loco (again, don't blink because you'll miss it) is a four-way stop. There we turn right onto a narrow, poorly paved road. As many times as I have traveled this road, I still cannot tell you the name of it. I have always called it "the road to Loco." [I know what you are thinking - Loco is an odd name for a town. It got its name from what was then known as the "loco weed" that grew wild there. ] Anyway, we take the Loco Road until it dead ends into another road I have dubbed The Road to Granny Bea's House and we turn left. In less than a mile, the pavement turns to gravel and dirt. And just before you choke on all the dust flying around, on the left is a little yellow house with green trim - Granny Bea's house.

I spent many a summer at the little yellow house that sits in the middle of nowhere. Even though there wasn't anything to do (in terms of the things that kids do today), there never seemed to be a lack of things to do. My brothers and sisters and I would romp all over the countryside with our cousins. We ate watermelon on the porch seeing who could spit seeds the furthest. We would eat hand-cranked ice cream and wave at the few passersby on the dirt road. We would run through the dirt devils that would spin up the driveway. At night, we would sit around in the back yard telling scary stories while the coyotes howled in the acreage behind the house - or playing Ghost on the Raft. When it was time for bed, Granny would make us wash the red dirt off of our feet and douse off in the shower. Then we'd pile as many as four to a bed where we would go to sleep thinking about the fun we would have the next day. Each day seemed to be measured by having more fun than the day before. I cannot recall a time that I was ever bored.

Something was always cooking on the stove. We would wake up to the smell of bacon and fried potatos, biscuits and chocolate gravy. [Yes. Chocolate gravy - a chocolate sauce poured over hot, buttered biscuits. Don't knock it until you've tried it.] Chocolate gravy is some of the best stuff I have ever eaten. About the only thing that rivaled her chocolate gravy was her chicken and dumplings. Moist, juicy check swimming in a sauce that was not too creamy and not too thin. The dumplings never fell apart. They were fluffy but dense - little pillows of boiled dough that melded the flavors of the chicken and the broth. Perfection! Granny tried to teach me to make them once; but, to this day I have never been able to get my dumplings to come out like hers.

Today, in a time of X-Box and Playstations, iPods and cable, McDonalds and Burger King, netbooks and laptops, the little yellow house in the middle of no particular place still holds the same excitement for my children. They are always happy to visit. For a few days, the gadgets are traded for hide and seek, catching frogs, climbing on hay bales and chunking rocks. They play all day with their cousins. They romp around the countryside hooting and hollering to their hearts content. They sit in a circle and tell ghost stories and watch for shooting stars at night. And when it's time to go to bed, they wash the red dirt off of their feet and douse off in the shower; then pile as many as four at a time into a bed knowing they'll have just as much fun the next morning when they wake up.

Each time I stir up the dust driving down that little dirt road, something stirs inside my heart. Going to Granny Bea's house was always an incredible journey. Although she left us a few years ago and is gone from our midst, her presence still resides in the small community where she lived. There is the beauty shop where she had her hair fixed. Martin's Grocery Store. Or, the dance floor at picnic grounds where she would dance a jig or two. She loved to dance. And when her body would not allow her to dance any longer; she would sit at the picnic grounds in her lawn chair tapping her toe to the music and watching everyone else.

I have been many places - traveled by train, bus, airplane or automobile. I have seen the ocean, the mountains, the birthplace of America. But the most incredible journey for me is going back to Granny Bea's. Each time I go there, the car may be going forward, but I am traveling backwards through time to a place where children still run barefoot and play in the dirt. The sun kisses little freckled faces... and a grandmother's hug solves all the problems of the world.

Favorite Teachers...

Clara B. Walker. My third-grade teacher. I remember her distinctly - a robust, African-American woman with a jolly laugh who loved children and her job. She suffered with us through our struggles and celebrated our triumphs - not only with our curriculum - but in our lives. I recall her stopping by my home for a visit because she "happened to be in the neighborhood." She made it a point to visit all of her students. Becoming acquainted with our home lives and situations helped her to understand her students. She was my favorite teacher and her fingerprints have left their indelible mark in shaping the person that I am today.

I thought of Mrs. Walker recently during my visit to West Virginia where I met the fine teachers of Greenbank, Hillsboro and Marlinton at the 2009 Summer Reading Academy. I had been invited to perform a special reading of The Angry Thunderstorm and to introduce the curriculum for the book with the Reading Instruction Co. I was very honored to have been asked to present the book to such an extraordinary group.

I am not an educator. In fact, I am probably the worst candidate there could possibly be for this role. I love children and love entertaining them. However, teaching requires great patience and the ability to articulate and adapt for different learning types. Listening to the conversations during the professional development sessions, it was clear that, while I have always remembered Mrs. Walker fondly, I never appreciated her (as well as the other teachers who taught me) as much as I should have.


What struck me and took me back to my third-grade teacher was the level of passion these teachers have for their communites, their schools and their students. Their conversations ranged from shared struggles to sure-fired strategies that were working in the classroom - a collaborative group effort where nobody had the corner on the smarts. Instead, the only focus was becoming better advocates and teachers and developing strong readers. I was touched by both their experiences and their dedication to their profession - a profession that is built on a solid purpose beyond making money.




Thank you, Pocahontas County, for having me at your Summer Reading Academy. I am grateful for having had the pleasure and for the trip down memory lane. I am going to try and locate Mrs. Walker and see if she is up for a visit. I would love to personally tell her thank you.

Book Review: Follow The River by James Alexander Thom

Last week, I traveled to Pocahontas County, West Virginia, nature's mountain playground situated between the Appalachian and Allegheny Mountains. I accompanied my friend, Ann B. Fiala, Founder of Reading Instruction Co., to do a special reading for the teachers of several school districts within the county and to introduce the curriculum that Ann has created for The Angry Thunderstorm [much more about this exciting event in my next posting].

Before we boarded our flight as we were departing Austin, Ann gave me a copy of the book, Follow The River by James Alexander Thom. She told me that I might find the story interesting because the setting of the story takes place in the area we would be visiting. Now, anytime Ann B. Fiala gives me a book, I can always count on it being an excellent read and I gladly accept it. So...I began my journey reading about another woman's remarkable journey.

Follow The River is based on the true story of Mary Draper Ingles, a young pioneer woman captured by the Shawnee Indians during the French and Indian War in 1755. Late into pregnancy and due to give birth any day, Mary was led away along with her two young sons, her sister-in-law and another gentleman from her settlement. At the time, they were the only known survivors to follow the bloody massacre of family members and friends in the Draper's Meadow settlement. During her captivity, Mary would be taken some six hundred miles from her home across uncharted territory that had yet to be traveled by the white man. Three days into this journey, she gave birth to a little girl.

From the onset of her captivity, the young woman knew that if she were to survive, she would have to keep her emotions low and her wit strong. Dignity became her tool for survival. Memory and instinct became her determination. The dream of a return to Draper's Meadow [and to her husband whom she assumed to be alive] became her purpose.

The hardships she faced along the trail were equaled to the hardships she faced upon arriving at the Indian camp. She witnessed her fellow captors run the gauntlet. She was made to watch as some of the captives were burned at the stake. Her days were spent working endlessly for the two French traders, sewing shirts for trade with the Indians. Her sons were taken from her. She was sold to the two French traders and forced to work in the salt camp. The ultimate sacrifice came when she made the decision to leave her baby in order to make her escape and arduous journey home.

Follow The River leaves nothing to the imagination in this incredible account. The terrain. The scenery. The weather. The wildlife. [I read that the author actually walked the route of Mary Draper Ingles return so that he could provide the most accurate account possible.] As a visitor to this beautiful, inspiring, yet still somewhat wild part of the country, I was able to connect with the tribulations of this remarkable woman. While we often hear about resourceful men who settled our great nation, it was a welcome change to read a story about a woman who managed to do something that no man of her time would ever dare to do.

In Terms of Chocolate...

Check out Beth's Book Review Blog.

Beth has a unique way of rating the books that she reads. She rates them in terms of chocolate.

The Angry Thunderstorm received the Ghirardelli rating. As a chocolate lover, I couldn't be more pleased.

Thank you, Beth, for the wonderful review!

Reading More Into The Story...

Last week, I posted a link to Julia Lawrinson's Writing In The Margins blog titled Why I Write For Children. Julia perfectly articulated why most childrens' authors are passionate about writing for children - you have a direct relationship with readers who care passiontaely about what they read. Children have a relationship with books that is lost to most adult readers which makes writing for them so intense and wonderful.

As a new author, I couldn't agree more with Julia Lawrinson. I LOVE writing the story and have considered it the greatest joy - until today. Today I learned that reading the story to a group of children is, by far, the most rewarding part of the author experience.

This morning, I visited Tutor Time, an early childhood development center where my good friend, Faith, goes to school. (You may recall Faith from an earlier post.) I had the privilege of reading The Angry Thunderstorm to two different age groups - both were delightful.

Before we read the book, we talked about thunderstorms. I asked, Who is afraid of thunderstorms? Little hands went up all over the room. And why are you afraid of thunderstorms? Little faces and voices became animated, "The lightning scares me..." "The thunder is loud..." "I don't like the thunder or the lightning." Then I asked, Why do you think the thunderstorm makes lightning? Why do you think the thunderstorm makes thunder? Why do you think he brings rain? Why do you think the thunderstorm's winds blow so strong? When we began traveling down this new path of thinking, the focus went from what happens during a storm to why it happens. That is the point when we began reading the book.

When children read a story, their world become magical. They are transported into another realm and it is as if their little minds are soaking up every detail of this new place. In this world, the Thunderstorm is alive and he speaks directly to them telling them the big, important job he has to do; and why it takes such powerful strength to get it done. In this world, they are the child at the window experiencing the Thunderstorm's bad attempt at a first impression. When a child reads, they experience.

Today's reading was the most exhilerating and humbling lesson. I may have written the story. I may have read the story. But it is the Thunderstorm that held their hand and took them on the intense and wonderful journey from uncertainty to understanding.

Smoosh People! A Sophie-isticated Idea from a Sophie-isticated Entrepreneur...

Today, I would like to introduce you to a sophisticated young reader and entrepreneur named, Sophie. Sophie's mother and I have worked at the same agency for several years. In fact, I have known Sophie since she was a baby. I have always enjoyed hearing Sophie's mother share stories about her latest escapades - mainly because Sophie thinks differently than most children her age. Her inquisitive nature begs for answers, adventure and experience. Perhaps that is why, at her young age, there is always a glimpse of the older, experienced and cultivated individual that we will get to know in the years to come.

Not too long ago, I recieved an email from Sophie's mother. It read, "Supporting tiny entrepreneur! Sophie has designed and produced twenty SmooshPeople. She will be selling them for ten cents by my desk today, starting at 10:15 am. [P.S. - I'll reimburse the dimes...but she is very excited and I would consider it a great favor.]" I was excited. I didn't know what SmooshPeople were, but they sounded neat. So, I pre-ordered thirty of them. At 10:03 am, I received another email from Mom, "Tiny Entrepreneur had opening night jitters. SmooshPeople still at factory. Will update when she is ready to unveil. [P.S. - Thanks for your patience.]" While I have never known Sophie to be shy or have jitters about anything...being an entrepreneur can be stressful at any age. That said, I was happy to remain patient for my order.

The next morning...

I opened the next email from Mom. It read, "It's on! Spurred by YOUR interest, Sophie will be unveiling the SmooshPeople at 11:30 am in my area. [P.S. - For those of you who pre-paid, we will deliver your's personally.]"

I knew that Sophie's Mom had purchased The Angry Thunderstorm for Sophie. When I opened my bag of SmooshPeople, here is what I saw... Little Thunderstorm SmooshPeople. Each spongey SmooshPerson had black cloud hair. While you can't see it in the picture, each of their arms were painted lightning bolts. And their emotions went from grumpy to a little concerned. Then, from sad to happy...just like the book! I was THRILLED! Like the thunderstorms we encounter, each Smooshie is different and unique. I have them hanging on my peg board at work. It was the best five dollars I have ever spent. I know what you're thinking. I only ordered thirty of them... I threw in two dollars for shipping and handling.

He's A Little Black Rain Cloud...of Course!

Check out this little guy. What is he? Well he's a little black rain cloud, of course. Actually, he's a little pencil-top puppet that one of my creative colleagues dreamed up. Isn't he cute?

Not only is he cute, kiddos and parents alike have fallen in love with him; and he's very easy to make. See the directions below:

Step 1: Cut a pipe cleaner in half.
Step 2: At one end of the pipe cleaner, make a small loop.
Step 3: On the looped end, place a drop of glue (hot glue works best, but
use with caution).
Step 4: Glue a medium black pom-pom to the pipe cleaner loop.
Step 5: Put a dollop of glue on the pom-pom at each side of the pipe
cleaner.
Step 6: Glue a medium blan pom-pom to each side of the pipe cleaner. (He should start to
resemble a cloud.)
Step 7: Glue on two little google eyes.
Step 8: Out of felt, cut out a little lightening bolt mouth and glue it to the pom-pom cloud.
Step 9: Coil the pipe cleaner around the eraser end of a pencil.

Voila! A very simple and inexpensive project to work on with the kiddos that allows them to "touch" the story and engage with the main character. Have a reader's theater where the parent / teacher reads the narrative and kiddos read the storm's voice using their puppet.

We are always looking for neat ideas to share with the kids at our book signings and read alouds. If you have any ideas, we would love to hear from you.

Recovering...

There are different meanings for this one word. You can recover something that you have lost...like a bracelet or an old friendship. You can re-cover an old chair...something I have thought about frequently as I sit practicing another meaning of the word - recuperate.



Last week, I had surgery on my throat. Nothing major. A scar that will fade soon (I hope) and test results that were positive and promising. According to my doctor, my job now is to stay still, comfortable and quiet. Obviously, Dr. Austin has never been to my house.



The first few days were fine. I slept most of the time. Thanks to some great pain medication, I didn't much care about anything other than sleeping. Since my mother was there to help me out with things around the house, that is pretty much all I did. Thanks, Mom! I really appreciate it!



Having just released The Angry Thunderstorm in April, I completely understood the importance of staying quiet and letting things heal so that my voice would come back strong. I am sure the "quiet" was welcomed for my husband and my children. No discussion of bills or to-do lists. No yelling at the kids to clean their rooms. I think the hardest part about being quiet was not being able to root for the Texas Longhorn Baseball team as they played LSU in the College World Series - especially in a nail-biter like last night's Game One. I would have loved to have given the umpire at home plate some sound advice on calling. Instead, I sat on the couch agonizing quietly. We'll get them tonight. Hook 'Em Horns!



This morning, I resumed my perch on the couch; and instead of being restful, I am restless. I have spent almost a week perched here recovering and today, I honestly feel that my house would be better served with a recovery. I look around and everywhere I look, there is something that I could be doing. The floors need to be mopped. The laundry is piling up. The dust is settling on the furniture. And I am going crazy. Sorry Doc! Today, I might have to break the silence.

Interview with Rachel Henson, Illustrator

http://www.childrensbooksforstorytime.com/

Now That Was One MAD Storm...

There is a saying in Texas, "If you don't like the weather, just stick around a few minutes and it'll change." A hearty amen to that!

In fact, here in Austin, I have witnessed the most polarized weather scenarios - one inch of snow on the ground at eight o'clock a.m. only to be sixty degrees at noon - on Valentines Day. I have watched northern fronts become stationary raining buckets until cars could be seen floating down Sixth Street in front of my office. I have stepped outside in the summer to have my breath taken away by the brutal combination of heat and humidity. Perhaps that is what led my husband's grandmother to once proclaim, "Honey, never marry a Texas weatherman because they just can't help but lie."

Now, before I go rankoring all of the weather forecasters, let me say that my hat's off to you. Our forecasters do a really good job with all of their tools these days staying ahead of threatening weather and keeping people alerted. Here recently, the storms have been a little more than angry. They've been downright MAD. A good example is last Thursday.

It was beautiful and sunny all day - and lest I forget - it was hot! Skies were blue with very few clouds. If you would have told me at four o'clock that a few hours later, my children and I would be camped in an interior closet with funnel clouds swirling overhead, I would have probably called you a liar. Yet that is exactly where we found ourselves.

We had gone to dinner and saw that there were severe storms in the hill country. Usually these storms fall apart once they make it over the rolling hills. But this particular storm is what they call a super cell. We could see out of the window and it seemed that it had become a little cloudy. and we could hear thunder rolling in the distance.

When we left the restaurant, I turned to look back over my shoulder only to see the most menacing clouds I have ever seen. We raced home and turned to the local weather channel only to hear the terms "hook echo" and "rotation." First came the hail - and lots of it. Then, the winds went from very still to very high. Immediately, we grabbed the dogs and instructed the kids to get to the closet. We were sitting there quietly, listening to the wind and hail - my son's eyes were as big as saucers. It was at that time that my husband said, "Maybe you can write a story about a tantrum-throwing tornado." I threw a shoe at him.

A Touching Letter From My Niece To Her Sister...

Natural-born writers. Is there such a thing? Read this letter that my niece Bailey wrote to her sister, Shelbi, upon graduation. You tell me...

Dear Shelbi,As your little and only sister, I felt the need to tell you how much I love you and how proud of you I am. We have never had the best relationship, but you're still my hero. I still remember when we were little and you would wake me up in the middle of the night begging me to stop kicking you.

As we've grown, I've seen how great and strong of a person you have become. That is why I wanted to let you know you are my inspiration in life. You make me want to live life each day with no regrets, even when time get bad.

As I saw you walking across that stage today to get that diploma, my mind started to wander. I thought as I continue to grow, I want to bejust like her. She is loved by so many people and there is no one that doesn't like her (unless they are just jealous).

I saw you looking like Barney [Elgin High School's colors are purple and white] but still as gorgeous as ever. As you walked up to see the family, tears started forming in my eyes and I realized that our days in the house are numbered. Being able to see each others faces every day.I now regret every time I was ever mad at you and refused to speak to you. At that time, I didn't realize how short our time was together and how much I will miss you.

Shelbi, you have no idea how you make me feel inside. You make me feel safe knowing that I will always have someone there for when I need them an when I don't. I know that if I'm ever in trouble, you will be there for me. You have had the greatest impact on my life and had a huge part in making me the person I am and the person I hope to be. Every day, for thirteen years, you have taught me a useful lesson.

I will miss the days of dancing with you in your room like mad women to Whitney Houston. Playing dress up and putting panties on our head. Dancing in the driveway with the sprinkler; and comparing the size of our butts and our feet. But I also look forward to the days ahead when time and maturity will help us to become the greatest of sisters; when we will refuse to compare the size of our butts in comparison to the size of our hearts.

Have an awesome experience at Blinn. I'm proud of you!

Love,

Little Sissy

http://www.typeamom.net/children-and-fear.html#josc3071

Using Children's Literature to Teach Preschoolers

Children's literature provides an excellent tool for teaching preschoolers. Do not be afraid of picking a book with challenging words to read with your preschooler. Good vocabulary begins at an early age. Vibrant and dramatic imagery help build a strong understanding of words and their meanings. Pictures help a child learn to decipher circumstance and emotions. Use of rhythm and rhyme make for a fun read.

My Little Faith...

I received this email from a friend today and I just had to share it. But first, you have to know a little bit about Faith.

Faith got her name because she was a blessing to her parents. One of the prettiest little girls I have ever seen, she has big blues eyes that would melt butter. She is not only adored by her parents, she receives a lot of love and attention from her older sister, Tiffany...as well as Tiffany's countless friends. This beautiful 4-year-old girl takes all that love in, then she spreads it around. And when she accepts you into her heart, you become "hers." I am honored to be "my Miss Carol" to Faith; and, I can honestly say that "my Faith" has given this author a lifted spirit and a heartwarming smile.

Carol,

Thank you so much for the autographed books for Faith and Tiffany. I read The Angry Thunderstorm to Faith on Thursday for the first time. We had to read it twice before bedtime. Not only did she enjoy the story, she had to take the book to bed and sleep with it.

Friday is storybook day at her daycare. Faith insisted on taking The Angry Thunderstorm to school with her; and she made sure the whole class knew that "her Miss Carol" had signed her book. The teacher said the whole class of about twelve students (ages 3-4) sat and listened intently to the whole story. They all loved it! That alone says a lot about the wonderful story you have written and how the illustrations bring the characters to life. Twelve (3-4 year olds) sitting still for a whole book...now that's amazing!

I can't wait to read...woops! I mean Faith can't wait (LOL) for your next book. This is truly a wonderful story that I would recommend to anyone with children.

Faith's preschool would like for you to visit for an author day. Be expecting a call from them. Let me know when you set the date. I would love to take tiem from work the day of your reading.

Children's Books For Storytime and Beyond: Author Interview: Carol Henson Keesee

Children's Books For Storytime and Beyond: Author Interview: Carol Henson Keesee

How Can A Picturebook Be Used To Teach Reading?

My friend & colleague, Ann Fiala, keeps telling me much she likes The Angry Thunderstorm. Well, of course I liked hearing that.

Lately, she's also been telling me how much she appreciates The Angry Thunderstorm as an instructional tool. My first response (as a non-educator) was, Say that again. I'm glad you like it. I'm glad you are telling others about it. BUT, explain to me how it can be an instructional tool!
How can a picturebook be used to teach reading?

You may recall that Ann is the founder of Reading Instruction Co. She works with schools, districts, and state education departments all over the country to improve reading instruction. She seems to really know her stuff, so I waited patiently for her answer. Knowing how excited Ann gets when she starts talking about teaching reading, I expected a fairly verbose response. Here's what I learned...

A picturebook can be effectively used to teach reading to students of all ages. Paula Parkinson, a high school teacher, used The Angry Thunderstorm to review the literary elements before the final exam with her English I students recently. Some of the 9th graders who had been struggling with the entire concept of personification finally got it after they connected the text with the illustrations.The brevity of a picturebook works well in a 50 minute class period!

Fifth graders read the book to increase their fluency skills. First, they read it silently (checking with a partner or the teacher about pronunciation and/or meaning when they encountered unknown words). Then the teacher assigned Book Buddies and each pair of students read it aloud, taking turns with each page. They switched pages and read it to each other again. Then, they timed each student orally read the entire story. Wow, it was fun to read. There are lots of different ways to "say" those words (like R-r-r-r-o-a-r-r-r-r).

Kindergarten students loved listening to the text and carefully looking at each of the illustrations.
Three times, they begged, Please read it again? The teacher decided to record the book and let the students "read" the book while they listen to it at the Listening Center.

Well, Ann could have kept on telling me more ways a picturebook, especially this picturebook, can be used as an instructional tool; but, I finally said, I get it, I get it. The Angry Thunderstorm is a great story with wonderful illustrations, but when it helps kids become better readers, it is an instructional tool.

Children's Books For Storytime and Beyond: Book Review: The Angry Thunderstorm by Carol Henson Keesee

Children's Books For Storytime and Beyond: Book Review: The Angry Thunderstorm by Carol Henson Keesee

Lessons From Petey and Ralph

Life for me is like life for most people. During the week, there's a lot going on. I spend weekdays tackling deadlines in an advertising firm. Since we launched The Angry Thunderstorm, I spend time a lot of time talking to people about the book and promoting it through different channels. In the evenings, I have family activities which include my husband, two children and two dogs. Up until a few weeks ago, it also included two hamsters, Petey and Ralph. Sadly, Petey and Ralph left us for that great hamster ball in the sky.

Petey and Ralph were not your typical hamsters. They were mischievous. There were several times we had to form a search party because they had learned to pick the lock on their hamster ball and had become quite the escape artists. We began taping the ball at the end so they couldn't perform their Houdini act. Come to think of it, I think that may have been what did poor Petey in. Sidenote to self: Every now and then, you just need a good escape.

In their hamster ball, these comrades were fearless. At first our dogs chased them. It only took one wrong turn and they soon learned that the dogs would duck tail and run when that ball came rolling at them. Sidenote to self: Every now and then, it doesn't hurt to change your focus and direction, if only for a little while.

On a bright and sunny Saturday, Petey collapsed in the hamster ball. I assured my son that this is how Petey would have wanted it. Still, we were sad. But I think poor Ralph felt his loss the most. Two days later, I walked past my son's room to find Ralph running at warp speed around the cage. I stepped in to check on him just in time to see him keel over. Sidenote to self - Slow down and stop running in circles. The outcome can't be good.

So there you have it - the reason why my blog has sat silently for over a week. I have been practicing the lessons of Petey and Ralph. Did I mention that they were smart little hamsters?

Meet The Illustrator - Rachel Henson

Cramming for final exams is not the only thing on Rachel Henson's mind these days. Rachel, 17, is seeing her talents come to life in a new book, The Angry Thunderstorm, released April 1, 2009.

“Drawing has always been a pastime and a passion for me,” says Henson. “When my aunt told me that she had written a children’s book, I jumped at the opportunity to be her illustrator.” ‘So, last summer, while friends were spending time at the mall or at the pool, I was drawing,” says Henson.

The author (Henson’s Aunt, Carol Henson Keesee) readily acknowledges that the story would be nothing without her niece’s talent. “In order to bring the story to life, we had to bring the Thunderstorm to life,” says Keesee. ”How do you take something so inanimate and give it emotion and personality?” “It was not just a matter of drawing a picture; she had to conceptualize this character and translate him to paper in a way that children could identify with his change in character and mood.” How did she do? “She nailed it.”

The Angry Thunderstorm published by AuthorHouse®, is one of the few books addressing a child’s fear of storms. It is a comforting story that teaches children that great gifts come with all the racket that a thunderstorm brings; and helps them move beyond what is happening to understand why it is happening. The imagery is vibrant and dramatic and lends itself to a storyline that takes the reader on a journey from uncertainty to understanding—transforming the dreaded thunderstorm from foe to friend.

Recently asked what she hopes the book will accomplish, Henson responded, “I hope the book will help calm children’s fears of storms.” “I hope it will help parents explain why Thunderstorms are important.” More importantly – “I hope it will help me on my path to a rewarding career that I am passionate about.”

Recently I presented Top Ten Ways to Motivate Parents to Encourage Children to Read More! at the Tennessee Reading Summit in Murfreesboro, TN. During that session, I read The Angry Thunderstorm and talked about how parents and teachers can use this new children's book in a variety of ways.

It obviously calms children's fears and deepens their understanding about thunderstorms. The clever illustrations show the thunderstorm's true nature...and the text explains ways that thunderstorms help our world.

Writers (of all ages) are often able to more quickly refine their writing skills after seeing how an author personifies a subject in an amusing story. Both the text and illustrations of this book provide multiple examples of personification. One of the great things about picture books are the way snippets can be effectively used as springboards for further discussion.

It wasn't too long ago that a nasty tornado devestated parts of Murfreesboro, TN. Many of the conference participants talked about how timely this book will be to share with their children.

Consider making the opportunity to share this book with someone you love, or use it during writing instruction...even with Middle School students! It's the kind of book that many will find valuable...and for different reasons!

Ever Played Telephone?

Have you ever played Telephone? You know, the game where one would whisper a word or a phrase into their friend’s ear, “Sarah’s sister wears a red bow?” Then, the friend would whisper the same phrase into the next person’s ear – and so on… At the end, the last person to receive the secret would blurt out what they thought they had heard, “Sarah’s sister has a red nose.” More often than not, what was blurted was nothing like what had been whispered in the beginning; and, that’s what made the game fun!

There is a game played in marketing today that is similar to Telephone . The game is called Word of Mouth. Unlike Telephone, we want the message to stay intact as it spreads from one person to another. And we want it to spread as far as it can reach. Played well, Word of Mouth can generate a sea change of events for a product or a brand – or a book. Measuring Word of Mouth is a little tricky. Truthfully, I am not sure that anyone has cracked this code – not even those of us in market research.

That said, when we launched our word of mouth campaign for The Angry Thunderstorm, we decided that the best mechanism to measure the return was through book reviews. We have received several reviews; but, until this week, all of them were from our friends. [Friend Disclaimer: This statement is in no way intended to diminish the appreciation we have for our friends, their acts of unselfish kindness, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, or suitability of the reviews they have provided.]

Truth is, we hoped our friends would be as helpful and encouraging as they have been; and, we appreciate them. However, the true valuation would come in the form of unbiased responses received from those we do not know who have purchased the book in good faith based upon what they have heard. For three weeks, we waited. This week, our answer came in the form of three reviews from people we did not know.

“The Angry Thunderstorm is a book that will lead a child towards understanding a part of nature. A great way to dispel fears about thunderstorms. Writing in the poem format is especially suited for this book. A novel idea for a children’s book. I hope this author continues with this idea and produces more books about nature's happenings.” – C. Oldham

“This was a great book - my 2 year old was entranced by the story and pictures. Some of the vocabulary was too advanced for her, but this is definitely a book that can grow with her.” – M. DiGiovanni

”This book was very enjoyable - kids loved it! The excellent vocabulary and pleasing rhymes along with the delightful, detailed illustrations captivated everyone! It also gave us a chance for some discussions about Mother Nature and helped calm some nervousness about thunderstorms.” – L.V. Patrick

Whew! We can now rest easy and assured that our efforts are paying off. To: C. Oldham, M. DiGiovanni and L.V. Patrick (whoever and where ever you are), Thank you for taking the time to share your opinions about The Angry Thunderstorm!

For Gabriella

A nice letter from Manuel G. read:

My daughter, Gabriella, will be five years old this month. She is afraid of storms. This is a GREAT book for her and will be a birthday present. Thank you for writing this book. The illustrations are really cool!

Dear Manuel,

The Angry Thunderstorm was written with children like Gabriella in mind. Fear of storms is a common anxiety in children that sometimes follows them into adulthood. The purpose of this book is to help guide children beyond what is happening to focus on why it is happening in hopes of helping them understand why storms, while unpleasant, are necessary – and important!

When writing the story, it was important that the information be delivered in an honest and truthful manner, and told in an encouraging way. In the midst of all the racket, the misunderstood storm works very hard to give us many things we need to live and be sustained. This is reinforced through the illustrations. I will pass your compliment on to my neice, Rachel. She is a wonderfully talented young lady; and, without her talent, The Angry Thunderstorm would be just a story.

I hope Gabriella enjoys the book and that it helps her see this phenomenon in a different light.

Thank you so much for the kind note!

Carol

Things Are Happening!

The Hill Country Book Store
719 South Main Street

Georgetown, Texas 78626

512-869-4959

We are excited to announce our first book signing event hosted by The Hill Country Book Store, Georgetown. We have been invited to share The Angry Thunderstorm on June 13, 2009 from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm during Market Days. We would love to see you at this event!

The Angry Thunderstorm will blow into The Hill Country Book Store on June 8th. Be sure to stop by and get your copy of the book before the event.

2009 Pocahontas County Summer Reading Academy

July 29 - 30, 2009

We are looking forward to sharing The Angry Thunderstorm with the folks in Pocahontas County, West Virginia in July. We will provide more details for this event as they solidify.

What people are saying about The Angry Thunderstorm:

Everyone said, "Write a book." So I did.

Writing the book was the easy part. Working with my niece on the illustrations was the fun part. Publishing the book was the exciting part. Marketing it... well that's another story in itself.

Don't get me wrong. I knew all along that the book was not going to sell itself. I knew I was going to have to talk to people - constantly - which has never been a problem for me. (Although I am beginning to feel like a book pimp.) I knew that I was going to face rejection - which has always been a problem for me. But I think like a champion, dust myself off and keep going - trying to stir up that buzz that is critical in any marketing plan.

We put our PR plan in place and set about trying to get media focus. We have our outreach to school districts. My friend Ann Fiala, Founder of the Reading Instruction Company in Austin, Texas, has developed a vocabulary and reading curriculum for the book. The curriculm is free to school districts for a limited time. We are visiting book stores - all the normal things you do in a marketing campaign.

Then, everyone suggested that I twitter. "Excuse me," I said politely, "but twittering in public doesn't seem like the right thing to do." My grandmother warned me about twittering about and being a children's author and such... It was then that I learned how technologically unskilled I had become. I learned that people twitter all the time now - and in public. They twitter and they tweet. Sometimes they re-tweet. They build relationships with their twittering followers, but still re-tweet with other people. It sounds so sordid. But everyone also told me I shouldn't twitter unless I really knew what I was doing. So I didn't - not now anyway - because it is obvious that I don't know what I'm doing.

Then someone said, "Write a blog." So I did.

Teaching this Author a New Lesson

Our post today is a huge "shout out" to Ms. H and her fifth-grade students at Pond Springs Elementary School. For those of you who do not know Ms. H., she is my son's teacher. Ryan adores her and thinks that she is the best teacher ever. I happen to agree. Not only because she has helped Ryan improve his grades and test scores by leaps and bounds, but because she teaches more than reading, writing, science and math. She teaches integrity, respect and accountability - all those fine subjects that go into building great character - no matter how old you are.

Ryan has been waiting patiently to share the new book with Ms. H. Finally, we had the opportunity give her a copy of The Angry Thunderstorm. She was so excited and told me that she was going to read the book with her class. "Oh no," I said. "This book is for children ages two to eight," thinking that the fifth-graders would be much too advanced for the book. Much to my surprise, I was wrrr.... (can't seem to be spit it out) wrroo... (one more try) WRONG!

Ms. H led her students through a read aloud. Afterwards, the class talked about the literary language, especially the personification of the thundercloud. They discussed the main idea of the book and the message takeaway. They talked about concepting and why I might have decided to write this story. While her fifth-graders may have sat in her classroom, it was I who learned the lesson: Picture books are still very useful for upper grades - and enjoyable at any age.

Carol did an absolutely phenomenal job writing The Angry Thunderstorm. The story appeals to children on many levels~initially, the rhyme and rhythm of the text captures their attention. Then they become awed by the charming illustrations. Plus the message of the story not only reassures them that thunderstorms mean them no harm, but actually help our world.

Yes, my three granddaughters all loved the book and begged for it to be read again and again.
After finishing the book, Anna who is 3, showed me her favorite picture in the whole book was the illustration of the thunderstorm as he "crept gently away" because it showed that he really wasn't angry! Ally, age 5, enjoyed the sounds and motions and by page 3 on the re-read, she actually "R-o-a-r-r-r-r-e-d!" with the thunderstorm. Emily, age 6 and in Kindergarten, loved the big words, like phenomenon!

As I have worked with schools lately, I have told them a bit about the book. Everyone gets excited (and that's before they have even held the book in their hands)! I hope each of you and all the young children you know will soon get to hold this wonderful book and enjoy all the words and illustrations that make The Angry Thunderstorm a truly special book!

The Measure of a Truly Good Children's Book

Some of the most precious memories with my children are the times we spent reading together. Sitting together in the rocking chair or cuddled in the bed. Little heads pressed against my chest with tiny fingers twirling my hair as we read our favorite books. I delighted in their facial expressions as we journeyed with The Runaway Bunny, or stretched our arms wide with Nutbrown Hare in Guess How Much I Love You. I'll never forget the tears when my daughter came to understand why the young man, now grown, had snuck into the room to hold his mother in Love You Forever. These were our favorite stories. We never grew tired of reading them. One of these books would always be in the bedtime mix; and they were always read more than once.

We released The Angry Thunderstorm, on April 1, 2009. It is a wonderful story - beautifully illustrated by my niece who just celebrated her seventeenth birthday. We introduced the proof copy of the book in San Antonio at the National Title One Conference in February. As a new author, I was truly happy with the response we received from curriculum developers, reading specialists and teachers across the country. I thought, "Wow! Surely these people would not tell me it was a wonderful book were it not true." But it wasn't until I witnessed my friend Ann Fiala, Founder of the Reading Instruction Company, having a read-aloud with her granddaughters and The Angry Thunderstorm that I truly felt the Wow! of being an author.

As they read, I watched the little girls' facial expressions. I watched them draw closer to their grandmother as the storm reached his intensity. I watched them calm with the storm as he explained his important role in providing for mother earth and all of her creatures. But the ultimate reward came at the end of the story when I heard three little words - read it again!

I knew then that we had met the measure of a truly good children's book.