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.