Last Chance!
To throw your name in the hat for those Chronicle World Almanac Kids Cards.
Not nearly so exciting as a Dyson vaccuum giveaway, I know, but hey, it’s free homeschool stuff!
Archive for March, 2007
Swallows and Amazons
Arthur Ransome charmed us with Swallows and Amazons, and we all wished we could be right there on Cormorant Island with the adventurers. But we wondered; is the setting of this book a real place? Could there really be a Cormorant Island? And what of Captain Flint and his trunk?
We weren’t the only ones to wonder apparently! Christina Hardyment, an author from England, has a new book out called Arthur Ransome and Captain Flint’s Trunk. You can read the preface here.
Ever Wondered what it takes to be an Author?
E just finished reading Princess Academy by Shannon Hale. He has taken to visiting an author’s web site after completing each book if one is available. In this case one was, and we both thoroughly enjoyed (read: laughed out loud) Ms. Hale’s writing history.
PS: You are truly a homeschooler if you didn’t even blink when I mentioned my SON reading a book with “princess” in the title!
Interview - Sylvia Long, illustrator, An Egg is Quiet
An Egg is Quiet written by Dianna Aston and illustrated by Sylvia Long took top honors for the children’s non-fiction book Cybil award. In considering this book, the Cybil judges showered praise (”lovely!” “breathtaking!”) on this title. With gentle text that flows seamlessly through images of eggs and their various hatchlings, the author and illustrator share the miracle of different kinds of eggs. The book truly is a work of art and reminiscent of 19th century field journal . In addition to birds’ eggs, readers get a glimpse of eggs that will eventually hatch into salmon, butterflies, crickets, and sharks. This is a picture book worthy of a snuggly nighttime read, but it could also conceivably be a young child’s first guidebook.
Illustrator Sylvia Long was kind enough to answer some questions about her life as an artist and the book itself:
Kris: Quick! Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Sylvia: I’m one of 5 children. I was a shy kid and since I was little, loved to draw and paint. I went to Maryland Institute of Art in Baltimore on a 4-yr. scholarship. I have two boys, Matthew and John, and recently a grand-daughter, Sophie Grace Long.
Kris: Most people don’t know that in the publishing world, the story often comes before the illustrations, and the illustrator is usually assigned by the publisher. Tell us how you came to be the illustrator for An Egg is Quiet. Did you collaborate with Diana, or was this project the result of book publishing serendipity?
Sylvia: My editor at Chronicle Books in San Francisco, Victoria Rock, knew I’m very interested in all things in nature, but particularly birds. When Dianna Aston sent her manuscript, An Egg is Quiet, to Chronicle, Victoria liked it and knew immediately that I’d like it, too.
Kris: Why do you think it is important for today’s children to be exposed to
the beauty of nature through books such as this?
Sylvia: More and more, it seems that children’s education takes place only in the classroom, online, or on TV. To get excited about nature, they have to be out In it - with someone who has passion for it, and knowledge about it. Once they start to look, they’ll see how amazing it is.
Kris: The artwork in An Egg is Quiet (and in the newly released A Seed is Sleepy) is gorgeous. What inspires you to create your artwork?
Sylvia: Doing the research about all the kinds of eggs and seeds. I love taking walks in all sorts of places, picking up seeds, rocks, feathers, bleached animal bones, snake sheds, shells, etc. I take lots of pictures, too.
Celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the Founding of Jamestown
Ann over at A to Z Home’s Cool has posted a brief article and pdf document of my “Make Your Own Pump Drill” activity on her site. The directions for making the pump drill are excerpted from Great Colonial America Projects You Can Build Yourself.
Turns out, Ann’s son Scott made a pump drill years ago and - like my kids - used the thing until it nearly wore out (of course, Ann has the distinction of also having Silicon Valley execs trying it out!). I wanted to include this project in my book, but the whole premise of the book is to utilize items that most families would have on hand. Ours was made of wood, but I used it for inspiration as I developed a method for making a pump drill that would work just as well and hold up to extended use. The pump drill in Great Colonial America Projects You Can Build Yourself is made from mostly recycled items, and the two I made have managed to drill quite a few holes and are still holding up!
If you decide to try this project, do let me know how it works for you!
Giveaway!
The nice folks at Chronicle Books sent me two World Almanac for Kids Puzzler Decks. These are pretty cool! They are decks of oversized cards (about 4″ x 6″) that fit into a handy paperboard case with a flip top. Inside, the cards focus on a particular skill such as reading or math, and are geared to different age groups.
The cards are bright and have simple graphics that accompany a question or a matching game. Kids are asked to match color words with images that are the correct color, place countries in order based on their population, or even solve secret codes. I could see these decks being a valuable diversion during plane rides and car trips.
I have two decks that I’d like to pass on to another family who can use these (only because they are too young for my kids!): Math, ages 7-9 and Reading, ages 5-7. Leave a comment and let me know which one you’re interested in. On the first of April, I’ll drop all of your names in a hat and choose the winners.
12 Million
That’s how many books will be printed in the first print run of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Wowza. And even more impressive (to someone like me who pays attention to this stuff, anyway) is the fact that this book - not even released yet - is holding court as Amazon’s number one seller. Wowza.
Aging Gracefully
I’ve been flipping through magazines a lot lately, between dentist appointments and waiting for B at the library. In O the Oprah magazine, I spotted a beautiful picture of an older woman wearing…nothing. It’s part of a new ad campaign for Dove Pro-Age. I love that Dove has become very realistic in its campaigning lately, using “average” women instead of super thin supermodels. I think this is wonderful - our kids need to see the reality of women, not the fantasy.
When I googled to find pictures to link to, I ran across this post at Kontrabida. I discovered that there is a related TV commercial that has actually been banned in the United States.
I must note that in both the television ads and the print ads, these women are not showing any more of their bodies than, say Paris Hilton did during that tacky, near-porn ad she did for Carl’s Jr awhile back. And yet the Dove commercial has been banned. So, what do you think? Too sexy? Too realistic? Refreshing? See for yourself.
[edited to removed embedded video, just in case it is offensive to some. I’ve linked to the commercial on You Tube, because the one on the Dove site doesn’t seem to be working]
Stop!
This is the stop sign at the driveway leaving Borders. Very decorative, don’t you think? The bougainvillea is growing up through the perforated pipe holding up the sign.
