Children's Book Winners for the NAACP Image Awards

Congratulations to Nikki Grimes and Brian Collier for their picture book biography on our new President,

Barack Obama: Son of Promise Child of Hope. It has earned honors for OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK--CHILDREN

I had the wonderful opportunity to see the galley of this book last June while attending a writers' workshop in Arkansas. Ms. Grimes visited one day and shared not only the book with us but also insights into how she writes poetry. It was a fantastic presentation.

 

To read more about Ms. Grimes poetry tips, visit my blog archives.

Nikki Giovanni's poetry book, Hip Hop Speaks to Children, was awarded by NAACP for OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK--POETRY. It also earned a spot on BOOKLIST's TOP 10 ART BOOKS FOR YOUTH. Poetry Speaks to Children is another Sourcebooks publication that Ms. Giovanni contributed to as well. 

Acrostic Poetry for Cold Dogs and Hot Dogs

Holly, my dog, says it's cold outside, so she'd rather stay inside.

A fun inside activity is writing ACROSTIC poems. They're a breeze--and not an icy, cold breeze either.

Start with an easy acrostic using your first name. Write the letters vertically, one underneath the other. Here's how Holly's name would look:

H

O

L

L

Y

Now, use each letter as the first letter for that line. Since we're using Holly's name, we'll make the poem about her.

Happy all the time

Often takes naps

Likes to explore

Loves to eat treats

Yip-yaps at birds and squirrels

If you want a challenge, make the lines work together--like a mini-story.

Happy dogs, like Holly,

Often give other pets and people

Lots of slobbery

Licks--which are really doggie kisses--and they aren't

Yucky at all!

And if you want a super-duper challenge, expand your ACROSTIC to more than one word. Try telling your poetic story using these words:

D

O

G

G

I

E

D

A

Y

C

A

M

P

Have fun and stay warm!

For more adventures with pets, visit Mayra Calvani's new blog:

http://petsandauthors.blogspot.com

Some of the Best Children's Books

When there are so many good children's books out there, it's always great to get some help in narrowing your reading list. Of course, I wish I had time to read all of them, but I know that's impossible.

Here's the latest from the Association for Library Services to Children: 2009 Notable Children's Book Awards

These books are chosen for their quality and creativity for children ages birth to 14 years. One on the list that I just finished reading is STINKY by Eleanor Davis. This graphic novel for young readers pairs a monster boy and a human boy, and as it turns out, they have much in common. Fun illustrations and easy reading combine to make this selection a winner.

Be sure to check out more of the notable books on this list. And I'm always excited to hear about special books that you've discovered. 

Some sunshine + A good book = Heaven.

Lincoln's Poetry

Happy Birthday, President Lincoln!

Many people know that February 12 is Abraham Lincoln's birthday, but many don't know how much President Lincoln enjoyed poetry--both reading and writing it. A wonderful site to visit to learn more about the poetry he loved to read and some examples of poetry that he wrote can be found at The Library of Congress. 

President Lincoln wrote many of his speeches with poetic flourish. THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS is a wonderful example of his mastery of words and emotions. Click on the link above to view copies of the powerful speech. Follow this link to see a photograph of Lincoln at Gettysburg.

Many writers wrote poems about President Lincoln as well. Paul Laurence Dunbar, one of the first African-American poets to gain recognition in the United States, wrote a special poem about Lincoln. Dunbar compares Lincoln to Homer, from the famous Greek play--The Illiad and the Odyssey.

Why not try writing your own poem about President Lincoln. That would make a very special present for a very special President.

Reading For All Ages

I've read some wonderful books of late and would like to share them with you.

The first is a young adult historical fiction novel titled, I AM REMBRANDT'S DAUGHTER by Lynn Cullen. (Bloomsbury, 2007) Cornelia van Rijn, Rembrandt's illegitimate daughter, tells the story of her 16 years living with the famous creative genius. At the time of Cornelia's birth in Amsterdam, however, Rembrandt had fallen out of favor with art patrons. The story recounts the struggles of the family, especially Cornelia's search for her own identity and happiness amid the turmoil of poverty and the ever-present plague threat. Both romance and resilience play parts in this tender novel.

The second wonderful book is PSALMS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN by Marie-Helene Delval and illustrated by Arno. (Eerdmans, 2008) The title belies the fact that this beautiful book is a treat for all ages. 40 psalms are simplified for more easy reading and understanding. Arno follows this simplified approach with his colorful illustrations. The combination of text and pictures with the messages of love found in the psalms creates a truly powerful piece of literature. 

*For another example of introducing young children to Biblical verses, check out my book--GIFTS FROM GOD.

The third book is a picture book by one of my favorite children's authors, Karen Hesse.  SPUDS (illustrated by Wendy Watson--Scholastic, 2008) tells the story of a poor rural family, three children and their hard-working mother. When the mother goes to work one night--leaving the eldest child, Maybelle--in charge. The narrator--the middle boy, Jack--relates their exploits when they decide to harvest left-over potatoes from a neighbor's farm. They bundle up young brother, Eddie, pulling him in the old red wagon. They scramble in the dark to fill a bag full of potatoes, but when they return home they are in for a surprise. This is a touching story of a family working together to overcome their hardships. The illustrations evoke the 1930's setting with sweet vignettes.

The weekend is almost here. I hope you get some extra reading time in--perhaps one of these great books would be the perfect treat.