On April 2, 2013, Pseudonymous Bosch's newest book - WRITE THIS BOOK - was released. To celebrate, Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena organized the event which was hosted at McKinley School. This was definitely not your typical author event. The Story Pirates performed an improvisational skit around the book. For more information about the Story Pirates, check out their website.
The whole performance was done as an improv skit with suggestions from children who were in attendance. I have seen various other improvisational performances before but I truly give kudos to the Story Pirates. Incorporating the ideas of the young audience into the skit was not easy, but the performers were amazing.
Isn't this "plot map" fabulous?! I want one. Part of the skit incorporated a lesson in various elements of storytelling. The car moved around as those elements were mentioned.
Here is a short clip of the Story Pirates as they perform WRITE THIS BOOK...
Here one of the performers is encouraging the audience to provide suggestions for the next part of the skit.
As characters were added to the skit (thanks to the suggestions from the audience), clothing changes were made.
And made again...
And, well, again...
Here the Story Pirates turn their skit about WRITE THIS BOOK into a musical...
At one point in the improv, the topic of genre came up. Below is a picture of a "genre wheel". I so want one of these. Brilliant way of creating one.
A student from McKinley came up and had a chance to "spin the wheel". The genre selected was then incorporated into the skit.
At the end, the Real Pseudonymous Bosch arrived and set everyone straight.
Here is Pseudonymous Bosch signing books.
Jax (she helped me write the review of WRITE THIS BOOK) & her friend Ella had a chance to take a picture with Pseudonymous Bosch. Of course, pictures were taken in Bosch's trademark style. :-)
This was one of the best author events that I have ever attend. Thank you to Pseudonymous Bosch, the Story Pirates, Little Brown Books for Young Readers, Vromans Bookstore, and McKinley School for creating such a memorable event.
Enter below for a chance to win a signed hard cover of WRITE THIS BOOK by Pseudonymous Bosch.
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Today debut author, Amy VanDerwater has stopped by to chat and share her thoughts about her new book Forest Has a Song and a little bit about her writing life. She has also shared some great ideas for celebrating National Poetry Month. Thanks Amy for stopping by.
Amy, your book is beautifully illustrated and the poetry is very lovely. In Forest Has a Song, all of the poetry is focused on nature. Do you have other topics you like to write about?
Thank you very much; I adore Robbin Gourley’s illustrations too! And yes…I often write about the small observations in my life such as hugging warm laundry fresh from the dryer or curling up with a dog. I love to write about play and questions and making things. Many of my poems explore the border of daily life and mystery – that in-between space. Many more are about connection; I am fascinated by how we are all connected to each other and to animals, to history and to plants, to art and to song.
I have recently had fun teaching children about writing cinquains. Is there a type of poetry that you most enjoy writing or teaching?
I like to write just to see what happens. For me, a poem often grows from a snip of thought or wonder or joy or just good-sounding words. I’m a notebook keeper, and I enjoy discovering what arises from my entries. I do like reading others poems and studying their forms, experimenting with those forms on my own. I always think of it as like trying on dress up clothes and seeing what fits. When I teach, I most want children to understand that we write not to fit a template, but to illuminate what matters to us.
When did you decide you wanted to write poetry? Do you write a lot of poetry as a child?
I did write some poetry as a child. I kept diaries here and there (when I was really little, Mom took dictation for me), and I remember loving the play of words. In sixth grade I wrote a poem about mothers that ended like this:
Mothers always yell at you/ like make your bed or tie your shoe/or pick up that sock you left on the ground/but mothers make the world go round.
I was very happy with that ending rhyme.
What is the question that you most frequently get asked by children who write to you?
I do not yet receive many letters from children…but maybe someday! - I (Alyson) suspect that will change now that your book is out. :-)
What suggestions would you give teachers for celebrating National Poetry Month?
Just fall in love. Begin each day of April by reading a fantastic poem “just because”. Choose nature poems, funny poems, sad poems…poems that span human experience. Our currently-crazed testing culture is not supportive of reading poetry for poetry’s sake, but we are teaching children with great minds and souls, and these minds and souls need poems. Children are hungry for meaning, and there is meaning in poems. From this meaning-place, our students will want to write, and then revise, edit, and maybe share their own poetry. Don’t worry about making every poem fit an activity or a form; just fall in love with words, let poems wash over and through you.
I share some ideas for sharing and writing poems at my blog, The Poem Farm, and you can find links to many poetry-happenings in the Kidlitosphere this month at Jama Rattigan’s Alphabet Soup -
and at Poets.org
I will also be the Author-in-Residence at ReaderKidZ for the month of April.
One thing I am always curious about is the writing habits and writing space of authors? Some work in their home or a writing space, and others in coffee shops. Some like music playing in the background and others have special snacks or beverages. Tell us a little bit about your writing space and habits.
I am not very organized, so alas, I have not made an organized or lovely writing space. I write anywhere: flopped in the grass, at a local bakery (background music is not good for me), stretched out on our living room floor, at my messy antique roll top desk. I do best when I’m in a rhythm, and this April, I’m getting back into writing rituals by drawing each day in my new sketchbook. I am hoping that poems will grow from these drawings which I will post daily at my blog.
If we were to get a peek at your “To-be-read” pile, what titles would be see in the stack of books?
Right now I am looking at Lewis Turco’s TURCO’S BOOK OF FORMS, a book that I’m not sure how I’ll attack. I’m finishing Ted Kooser’s THE POETRY HOME REPAIR MANUAL, am rereading THE TREE THAT TIME BUILT poems selected by Mary Ann Hoberman, and I am about to read MINDSET: THE NEW PSYCHOLOGY OF SUCCESS by Carol Dweck. I need a novel!
Cake by Luci Levere of Elm Street Bakery E. Aurora NY
Do you have any other future writing projects in the works? Anything you can share?
READING TIME, a collection of reading poems, will be published by WordSong at some point in the future, and I do have my fingers crossed for a couple of other manuscripts too…but those are still secret.
Thank you very much for hosting me here at KidLitFrenzy, Alyson. It has been a pleasure.
Description from GoodReads: A spider is a
“never-tangling dangling spinner / knitting angles, trapping dinner.” A
tree frog proposes, “Marry me. Please marry me… / Pick me now. / Make me
your choice. / I’m one great frog / with one strong voice.” VanDerwater
lets the denizens of the forest speak for themselves in twenty-six
lighthearted, easy-to-read poems. As she observes, “Silence in Forest /
never lasts long. / Melody / is everywhere / mixing in / with piney air.
/ Forest has a song.” The graceful, appealing watercolor illustrations
perfectly suit these charming poems that invite young readers into the
woodland world at every season.
My thoughts on the book:
Over the past few years, I have grown to love children's poetry. Initially, I wasn't a big fan of poetry in general. However, I started to put some concerted effort into reading children's poetry and discovered that there were some wonderful books out there. Now I look forward to discovering new books of poetry and sharing them with children. Debut author, Amy VanDerwater's Forest Has a Song is a beautiful addition to the world of children's poetry and it arrives to us just in time for both spring and National Poetry Month.
VanDerwater explores the forest and the changing seasons with each of her 26 poems. She has managed to capture the magical qualities of life in the forest with poems that are accessible to all readers. One of my favorite poems is entitled Moss:
Barefoot on this emerald carpet
toe-by-toe I squish across.
I softly sink in velvet green.
Oh how I wish for socks of moss.
As I read this poem, I could feel the soft, damp, coolness of the moss as my feet sank into it. Can't you? This is part of the brilliance of VanDerwater's writing. She has the ability to not only make the reader understand but to also see it and feel it.
VanDerwater's poetry is complimented by Robbin Gourley's gentle artwork. The combination makes for a beautiful book on multiple levels. Also, don't miss out on the book trailer created by VanDerwater's husband. It is a wonderful way to introduce readers to the book.
Forest Has a Song will make a wonderful addition to your school or classroom library, consider picking up a copy of at your local Independent Bookstore. And happy National Poetry Month - it almost here.
Check out the official book trailer:
*I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.
Thank you to BlueSlip Media for offering a copy of Forest Has a Song for giveaway. Don't forget to enter for a chance to win a copy of Forest Has a Songa Rafflecopter giveaway
Some great news - Ann Stampler has offered to sign and giveaway a copy of each book to a lucky winner. This giveaway is open internationally as well. For information about The Wooden Sword and The Cats on Ben Yehuda Street, check out my blog post here.
One of my absolute favorite YA books in 2010 was Hold Me Closer Necromancer by Lish McBride. I wasn't surprised that it was a William C. Morris Debut Award nominee. McBride's sense of humor and great ensemble cast of characters developed a special spot in my heart. Since reading the first book, I have had to wait patiently for the second one. I begged Macmillan for an ARC while I was out at ALA Annual in June 2012 and I was so excited when I actually held it in my hands. Of course, a little nervous too. All I will say is that book 2 does not disappoint.
On Tuesday, Necromancing the Stone hit bookstores and Macmillan is celebrating with a fabulous blog tour.
Today, I am excited to have Sam LaCroix stop by to answer a few questions.
(Note: The interview takes place between Book 1 and Book 2. There are no spoilers for Necromancing the Stone.)
So Sam, now that you have discovered that you are a Necromancer and you defeated Douglas – what are you looking forward to in your new life? Any particular changes for the better?
I’m looking forward to a time when strangers don’t try to kill me for unknown reasons and of course, naps. There are some bruises on my body that won’t heal for weeks. I feel like some really solid naptime has been earned. As for changes for the better—well, I get to leave my crappy apartment. Of course, I have to live in the Scary Death House, but hey, I think they have cable. So, there’s that. And I have a date with Brid this week. We’re going to the Drive-in. That makes up for all the bruises as far as I’m concerned.
As a Necromancer, how do you see your role on the council changing from how Douglas ran things?
Mostly, I’m going to try to not screw up. I think if I can manage that, I’m cool. Nobody likes necromancers. So I can’t see the council welcoming me with punch and pie and those little party blowers. Maybe if I keep a low enough profile, they’ll realize that I’m not as bad as the last guy…
After a few weeks pass and I haven’t killed anyone or tried to take anything over, I think they might notice that I’m different. At least, that’s the hope.
How are your mother and sister accepting your new role as Necromancer?
My mom is still freaked out. I mean, it’s not exactly news to her, but I kinda think she was hoping I’d grow out of it somehow. Yeah, like that’s a possibility. She’s like most moms, I guess. She just wants what’s best for me and for me to be happy, and she’s afraid my powers will get in the way of that. Let’s face it, she’s probably right, but it’s not like I can do anything about it.
I don’t think Haley cares. That’s not really Haley’s style. Things don’t faze her. I think she’s more interested in my inheritance from Douglas. She’s going to need her own car soon, and I now have several that I won’t be using. Of course, I’m going to give her one, but I’m not going to tell her that yet.
Do you think Brooke and Ashley will be hanging around you in the future or have they moved onto other things?
I think that it doesn’t really matter what I want. Brooke and Ashley are going to do what they want to do, period. I have very little say in things. That being said, Brooke likes bossing me around, so I can’t see her going anywhere, and I owe Ashley a lot of waffles, so I believe they’ll both be around for a little while.
Have you had much of a chance to talk with Ramon since he was changed into a were-bear?
I wonder how he is coping.
I’ve tried—and by “tried”, I mean I stare at my phone and will myself to hit the “call” button. I always end up putting the phone away. I mean, what do you say to someone who risked his life for you? Someone who almost died for you? I can’t imagine texting, “How are you ☺? Things been hairy? Lol!” can you? So it’s been radio silence on my end. But the pack assures me that he’s healing okay. A long way from healthy, but they’ve taken him off critical.
Ok, I have to ask – are you and Brid still together and how is her father and brothers accepting things between you two?
Have you ever dated a girl with four brothers? Four. And all of them can snap me like a twig. And then eat the twig. It’s nerve-wracking as hell. And her dad? You’d think the alpha of a werewolf pack would be all macho and bluster, but he just…stares at you. It’s like he can read your mind. They all terrify the hell out of me.
Of course, that’s not stopping me either. Brid is…well, she’s worth it. That’s all I can say. Totally and absolutely worth every fear-drenched moment.
Thanks Sam (and Lish) for stopping by the blog today and answering some questions.
Thanks to Macmillan we also have a special giveaway - a paperback copy of Hold Me Closer, Necromancer and a hardcover of Necromancing the Stone. The giveaway will run from September 20, 2012 to September 27, 2012. To enter, you must be 13 years or older and live in the U.S. or Canada.
