MotherReader

There’s a new meme in town. STEM Friday focuses on books that promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. And the round-up of posts is hosted at, well, STEM Friday.

Over the year I’ll be sharing the preschool program I created for the library and that I’m presenting once a month. The concept behind the program is to introduce science topics by combining fiction and nonfiction, songs and mini-experiments, action rhymes and hands-on times. As a preschool program the information conveyed is basic, and intended to encourage a questioning, observational approach to scientific topics. At the end, I leave up the mini-experiments for the kids to explore with me or a parent, and I explain that experiments should be done with a grown-up.

Wind and Air
Early Arrival Book: One Windy Wednesday, by Phyllis Root

Book: Flora’s Very Windy Day, by Jeanne Birdsall

Experiment: Catch the Wind
Open a large plastic bag. Make sure there are no holes in it. Spin around so it puffs up. Twist it closed to trap the air you caught. Explain how air takes up the space in the bag.

Book: The Windy Day, by G. Brian Karas

Experiment: The Wind Blows
Create your own wind with an electric or paper fan. Which items will move more from your wind? Try things like light things like leaves, feathers, cotton balls, tissue paper. Compare with heavier objects, like marbles, cardboard, pencils.

Book: I Face the Wind, by Vicki Cobb

Experiment: Wind on the Water
Fill a tray with water. Blow air across the water’s surface. Blow gently then harder. Waves form on top of the water. The energy from the moving air is transferred to the surface of the water. Now blow the boats across the water. Can you do it? You are the wind force pushing the boats.

Action Story: The Sun and the Wind
Tell the fable of the wind and sun who tried to remove a person's coat having the children blow for the part of the wind and make sun's rays with this arms for the sun. The storyteller is the person with the coat.

Experiment: Make the Wind
Make your own paper fan by folding a piece of paper over and over and stapling the end. Try out your fan on you and things around you.

Alternate Craft: Wind Sock
A wind sock lets you “see” the wind blow. Take a piece of construction paper and glue on five or six streamers. Curve into a tube and staple the ends together. Staple a handle on top. Hold it up outside and watch it move with the force of the air.

Wow, I almost forgot about Rock the Drop! Fortunately, my social media connections tuned me in, answering the eternal question "What has Twitter done for me lately?" So I went to my bookshelves - okay, book piles - to find something special to share with teen readers. Unfortunately, I had recently done a purge which made my search a little more difficult. But digging deeper, I am parting with some Bloomsbury ARC's so they can find new homes with a new readers.

The Fool's Girl
by Celia Rees

The book boosts of "a lush, epic historical novel with an added Shakespearean twist." Well, if that doesn't bring in the readers I don't know what will. In today's market it would be a better sell to add "and zombies" to the end of any description. But it would be unfair to dismiss this smart book for smart readers. Set in Shakespearean times - with actual Shakepeare included - the story follows the royal Violetta and her fool on a mission to find a holy relic and restore a kingdom. Spun from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, the historic details are well-balanced with adventure, intrigue, romance, and suspense.


Going Underground
by Susan Vaught

I'm in a tagline mood so... "When does falling in love become a crime?" With that question and the intriguing cover, the reader is pulled into the story of a good kid on the wrong end of a bad law created for the right reasons. Del is seventeen and digging graves without prospects for college or love because of something that happened three years ago that made him a social outcast - and a felon. Through flashbacks, the reader learns about his past and comes away with a timely cautionary tale. An interesting story based on real-life sexting cases, this is a book to open discussions and open minds about complicated issues.


Fallen Grace
by Mary Hooper

Continuing the trend, a bit from the jacketflap: "Mary Hooper's latest offers Dickensian social commentary, as well as malicious fraud, mysterious secrets, and a riveting read." Following my earlier note, let's add "and zombies" to this description and move some books. The Grace of the title is - along with her sister - penniless and struggling to survive in Victorian London. Giving birth to a stillborn baby conceived through terrible circumstances, sets Grace into a series of connections and let's say great expectations. (Dickens reference for the win!) A detailed historical setting, strong characters and plot twists make for a fun read.

My home library branch has recognized me as a star volunteer to my Fair County. I feel very honored and also a little bit guilty. After all, I spend maybe three hours a month on the Science & Stories program and an hour doing it. Now granted, when I do a children's program I am flippin' on fire, but I'm not sure about Star Volunteer. Meteorite Volunteer seems closer.

It is a well timed distinction for my service to the library system as I am thinking of going back to it. Not that it has been a choice in the last few years, because it hasn't. The system was still in the process of layoffs or the few random openings were too far from my home. But things may be changing in the near future, and I can only hope that my years of experience, my work in children's literature, my obvious passion, and hey, even my Star Volunteer recognition can trump some adjustments I might need in scheduling.

Leaving my program today, I felt so energized. Completing a great session is such a rush for me. I remember talking to colleagues who were ready to take a nap afterwards, but I always felt charged after storytimes. It's something I've really missed about my job. Honestly, I had more energy at home when I was working than I do now and I was also forced to budget my time better.

Anyway, I don't know what will happen or when, but for today I feel a little bit like a star. How about you? What's making your day?

I was going to give three bunny books to read if you missed the Easter selection at your local library, but then I looked up such books in my own library's catalog and found over three hundred picture book titles. Clearly, you don't need my suggestions as you would be much better off planting yourself in front of any picture book shelf and pulling out books at random - though as a hint, you'd have an easy time in front of the Rick Walton, Rosemary Wells, or Beatrix Potter books.

Now is the first week of National Poetry Month and there is so much going on, much of it listed at KidLitosphere Celebration of Poetry Month. Since this is the Thursday Three, I'll share three sample sites to start you off.

1. Irene Latham introduces a fantastic new activity in the KidLitosphere Progressive Poem. Watch a poem grow day-by-day as it travels across the KidLitosphere. If you lose track of the process, you can check the schedule for the next participant.

2. Greg Pincus brings back 30 Poets/30 Days with previously unpublished poems by favorite children’s authors. Some great poetry happens here, so don't miss it!

3. Author Amok offers a series 30 Habits of Highly Effective Poets with guest poets sharing their writing rituals. There will also be features on famous poets, writing prompts, and poetry.


It's coming to a close just as Poetry Month starts, but let me give a shout-out to Ed at Think Kid, Think! for leading us into the month with a spectacular Poetry Madness Tournament! Pitting poet against poet tournament style was certainly competitive, but it was at the same time a community building experience. And it was absolutely brilliant!

I am so ready to get back on track, if only I could find the track itself. I wouldn't have thought that when I wrote about taking a bit of a blogging break that I would be writing it from a high point of my search.

Then I felt like I was being pulled back into the working world, not altogether reluctantly. Yet didn't know which form that work would take. Well, last month was a tsunami of stay-at-home mom responsibilities that gave me pause. Teen needed glasses for the first time and started driving lessons. Tween had organizational issues with homework and you know, not turning it in, that needed addressing. Also Tween was cast in a community theatre musical revue, which is fantastic, but does require someone to drive her there a few times a week. (Pssst! Guess who that would be.) My husband hurt his back, and is still struggling with pain and stiffness. Meanwhile, I was both leading and managing cookie sales for two Girl Scout troops because my co-leader for each troop were having their own issues.

I came into this Spring Break week like I was sliding into home base - exhausted, relieved, and elated to have made it. All through this I was struggling with writing. Like, anything. I was getting writer's block on review summaries and Facebook updates. Even now, with most of the problems past, I feel clumsy on the keyboard. I'm not finding the flow I've always counted on. (Well, except for my Grow-Up post which I'll count as one of my new favorites.)

So today's post is one part explanation and one part inquiry asking this:

In terms of writing, how do you get back on track?

I'd love to hear from my writing friends, which is to say any or all of you.

With Easter on the horizon, I've been buying candy for our annual egg hunt. It started off years ago in our old neighborhood, but the girls came to expect it as another facet of the whole Easter bunny thing. Then just as we could have given it up by handing each girl a gift card to Aeropostle, my niece came along and the tradition continued. So the night before Easter you'll find me loading up a ridiculous amount of plastic eggs with candy fun packs, Hershey's kisses, and jelly beans. Oh, so many jelly beans. I would have estimated a million jelly beans, but with this book I now know better.

How Many Jelly Beans? A Giant Book of Giant Numbers
by Andrea Menotti, illustrated by Yancey Labat
Chronicle 2012, review copy sent by publishers
The first thing you notice about the book is the size. It's a large book, perhaps to emphasize the enormity of the mathematical concepts and certainly to accommodate the pull-out page in the back where one million jelly beans are represented. But at the beginning, we start with Emma and a reasonable number of sweets. But as her brother requests more, they continue to top each other with the number of jelly beans they would want up to a million. (Which Aiden has to admit is a bit much.) Very large amounts are conveyed with simple, bright graphics that make the numbers more real and understandable. It would be a particularly fun choice for a preschool or early education classroom. It would also be great in an Easter basket, but to fit you're going to need a bigger basket.

For more nonfiction selections, visit our Nonfiction Monday host, Rasco from RIF

I remember when I could be sliced to the core by the words, "Grow up." Delivered with an offhand, disdainful superiority that only a teenager can perfectly master, it was a phrase from my past. But not anymore.

After reading the NYT opinion piece on how adults should read adult books, the phrase jumped into my mind as clearly as if the author Joel Stein was sneering it over his shoulder in the high school cafeteria. Grow up. And I heard it like the wake-up call it was. Yes, it is time to grow up.

It's time to give up children's books. And I'm doing it.

Seriously, I'm not even sure what I've been doing all this time with apparently three thousand years of adult literature just waiting for me. Kidlit and YA can't give me the adult things that an adult needs in reading. For instance, sometimes there aren't enough big words. You know, like pretentious. And while there might be some sex in teen books, it's always played down and rarely described with "throbbing" or the naughty words for our... parts. Okay, so maybe that's not the literary argument, but it is adult.

How is it I've been straying from the subtle shades of literature that only an adult book can employ? I remember this book where the empty chairs in the room so clearly stood for the existential loneliness that lies at the core of each one of us, and yet that isn't revealed in the brightness of day but only in darkness. Though come to think of it, that may be from Goodnight, Moon.

Really the point is in the type of book that can lead us to discover our existential loneliness. Or even that can make us want to use the word existential in a write-up. Oh, and the ennui! How I have missed the ennui. Certainly we can all admit that a teen's struggle to define himself along the expectations of society, parents, and peers all while trying to tune in to his own ever-shifting internal compass is trivial when compared to that sad, bored woman who eats, prays and loves.

So I'm making a pledge with a few others, that as an adult I'll only be reading adult books starting today, April Fools Day.

I'm approaching today's post on Easter books like a wedding tradition - with something old, something new, something borrowed, and something out-of-the-blue.

The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes
by Dubose Heyward, illustrated by Marjorie Flack
A little girl bunny defies the odds to become an Easter Bunny, even though she isn't high-born or well, male. Her good upbringing, hard work, and perseverance take her beyond what others think a country bunny can do. You go, girl! I loved this book as a child, and it was one of very few books about Easter at the time. Of course, this was before every cartoon book and TV character got their own holiday story. Does this older tale still win over the young readers? With a wink, I have to say that it doesn't really matter. We parents have to reserve the right to share a few books just because they spoke to us as children, and I'll put this one top of my list for its great story, lovely illustrations, and classic classicness.

The Easter Egg
by Jan Brett
Seriously, I have to wonder what took Jan Brett so long to tackle an Easter story because this is a natural subject for her amazing artwork. Look at the possibilities in decorated eggs! And so she did, with this new book where a bunny finds that his real talent isn't in egg-decorating, but in something else altogether. It's a sweet story, and of course beautifully illustrated. If you like some behind-the-scenes, check out the short video where Jan Brett talks about her process - while holding a chicken. She also has a coloring pages and more fun at her website.

Junie B. First Grader: Dumb Bunny
by Barbara Park, illustrated by Denise Brunkus
Here's both the something borrowed (from a previous post) and out-of-the-blue (if you were expecting another picture book). Junie B. and her class are invited to an egg hunt at richie Lucille's house. There's a special prize if you find the golden egg, and that lovely prize is a playdate with Lucille in her indoor pool and everyone wants to swim in that fancy, hot water pool. But things take an unfortunate turn for Junie B. - as they often do - putting the poor girl in a pink bunny suit. A fun book for Easter, or really any time you need a laugh. As a little bonus today, I'll share my favorite passage:

"I just don't get it," Lucille grouched. "How could anyone forget the Easter Bunny? The Easter Bunny brings candy right to your door."
Lennie did a frown at her.
"He doesn't bring candy to my door, Lucille," he said. "The Easter Bunny is a different religion than me. I'm Jewish."
Shirley nodded.
"I'm Jewish, too, Lucille," she said. "I've never even been to an Easter-egg hunt before. What do you wear to something like that, anyway?"
Lucille stood up and fluffed herself.
"Well -- since the Easter Bunny and I are the same religion -- I'm going to wear a fancy Easter dress, Shirley," she said.
Shirley though for a minute. Then she nodded.
"Hmm. Then I guess I will wear a fancy Jewish dress," she said.
Lennie's eyes lighted up.
"Really, Shirley? You mean we have our own clothing line?" he asked.
He smiled.
"Then I think I will wear some fancy Jewish pants," he said.

Jewish pants. Love it.

Trying to catch up on some stuff this week, so pulling a post from the files.

Higher, Higher
by Leslie Patricelli
Bright colors suck the reader into the world of a little girl and her dad, and carry through into the world of her imagination. As dad pushes the swing, she indeed goes Higher, Higher passing the head of a giraffe, the top of a building, and the summit of a mountain. With a special extraterrestrial high five, she slows down and returns home again without ever leaving the swing. With very few words, it's more like a wordless picture book, where the story is contained in the illustrations. Even then, it's a simple story of bright and lively imagination, making it a great book for younger tots.

Hello Baby!
by Mem Fox, illustrated by Steve Jenkins
It would be hard to beat the combination of these two powerhouses in writing and illustration. Mem Fox gives us the simple, rhyming story of looking for baby and finding animals. Steve Jenkins lends his amazing artwork to each creature, making the porcupine prickly and the elephant wrinkly all with cut paper. Don't miss the deep and varied greens captured in the crocodile, with a glorious reptilian eye peering out. The word baby in the title should tip you off that this is indeed a book for the baby and toddler set. Older preschoolers would appreciate the artwork more, but they'll be ready for the many, many Steve Jenkins books for their age group. As a baby/toddler book though, it's way above average.

My Goldfish
by Barroux
If you're looking for something a little different for your youngster - simple yet interesting - then turn to the French. While the cover shows the bright colors and hints at the simple text inside, it can't prepare you for the first page where the goldfish is holding up the bowl with the text reading, "My goldfish is the strongest goldfish in the world." While keeping the same simple artistic features of the goldfish, we see the little guy in a Halloween costume, coming back from vacation sunburned, and even falling in love. There's even allusion to the day that the goldfish will leave the bowl and "finally swim with the great white fish." It's meaningful and imaginative, silly and strange, and in the world of very safe books for the littlest kids - absolutely exceptional.

There’s a new meme in town. STEM Friday focuses on books that promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. The round-up this week is hosted at, well, STEM Friday.

Over the year I’ll be sharing the preschool program I created for the library and that I’m presenting once a month. The concept behind the program is to introduce science topics by combining fiction and nonfiction, songs and mini-experiments, action rhymes and hands-on times. As a preschool program the information conveyed is basic, and intended to encourage a questioning, observational approach to scientific topics.
Rocks
Book: Rocks in His Head, by Carol Hurst

Hands-on "Rock Show"
Examine different kinds of rocks: from the garden, the ocean, caves, polished, carved, etc. Maybe kids can bring their own rocks.

Book: Rocks, Rocks Big and Small, by Joanne Barkan

Experiment: "Rock Layers"
Layer modeling clay lightly in sheets and press together to show how rocks can press made in the compression of layers.

Book: Let's Go Rock Collecting, by Roma Gans

Experiment: "How Does Solid Rock Melt?"
Fill a cup with warm tap water. Put a spoon in the cup of water. After 30 seconds remove the spoon, and put a chocolate chip in the spoon and see it melt. Though rocks are also solid, when they reach they’re melting point they become magma.

Book: If You Find a Rock, by Peggy Christian

Hands-on: "Rock Collector"
Look at different kinds of rocks. How would you put them in categores? By color? By size?
By name? Test rocks for hardness by scraping with a penny and piece of quartz. Scrape the rock across a surface to see if it makes a mark.

These books were nominated for the 2011 Cybils and reviewed from library copies.

Follow Me
by Tricia Tusa
Harcourt, 2011
"Swing into a daydream," states this lovely picture book, and indeed we do. A girl is swinging among the soft pinks, blues, and grays of her surroundings. With a flash of imagination, she is part of the greens of the tree and through the oranges of fall leaves. Time seems to stop or to flow endlessly like a dream, which ends with her back home, where mom is waiting. A beautiful way to look at colors, complemented with gentle, poetic text."Look at me, follow me into the curl of a breeze. I am caught in its folds." Sigh.

Blue Chameleon
by Emily Gravett
Simon & Schuster, 2011
A lonely chameleon changes colors and contorts his body as he tries to make a friend. For instance, looking to find a companion in a banana, he turns yellow and curves himself appealingly (Get it? ap-peeling-ly.) Fortunately, before he loses hope and perhaps his mind he finds a fellow chameleon and together they display all the colors of the rainbow. With very little text it's a simple book, but the fun comes from the character's attempts to fit in and the author/illustrator's clever take on a common book of colors. Brilliant.

The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse
by Eric Carle
Philomel, 2011
That "common book of colors" I just referred to above? That's what this book is. Yes, the colors are on animals not normally that color. But when you look at what else has been done with the topic and by this renowned artist, I cannot understand the buzz for this book at all. With little text and no story, a child artist paints animals in unusual colors. At each page turn, the reader sees the standard Carle artwork for each creature, including a blue horse. Okay, I'll give you that standard Carle is still a pretty great thing, and indeed the illustrations are vibrant and the message of creativity rings true, but I'd say it's not his best work.

It's the official Girl Scouts 100th birthday today, so as a proud member and leader I'd like to celebrate by sharing a new book for Nonfiction Monday hosted today by Rasco from RIF. The problem is my lead-in where I'd usually share a personal connection to the topic. As a long-time leader it's hard to know where to start. I was so proud seeing so many of my teens earn their Silver Award for service and then watching their induction to the National Honor Society as tenth graders. On the other hand I have now where I am leader and cookie coordinator of two troops - with both my co-leaders experiencing personal issues that are limiting their involvement - wrapping up the fourth cookie booth sale that I have personally had to staff. So there are highs and lows.

I've based a whole trip on the skill of campfire cooking, to learn that open fires were forbidden because of drought and have spent at least two camping trips in steady rain. I've slept on the floor of a museum and the balcony of an oceanfront hotel. Along with my troops, I've learned skills in cooking, archery, canoeing, first aid, and photography. We've studied aspects of art, law, music, finances, fashion, writing, theatre, science, sports, and child care. During the years we've organized service projects and collections that brought books to needy schools, mosquito nets to African homes, and art supplies to homeless children. This very month one troop will teach camping skills to younger scouts while the teens organize a social media campaign for concepts from the Girl Effect. If at times Girl Scouts gets reduced to cookies, crafts and camping, I know better. And books like this help us all know better.

Here Come the Girl Scouts!: The Amazing All-True Story of Juliette 'Daisy' Gordon Low and Her Great Adventure
by Shana Corey and illustrated by Hadley Hooper
Scholastic Press, 2012
reviewed from library copy

Finally! Here is a perfect book for girls to learn about the founder of Girl Scouts, Juliette Gordon Low, and the beginnings of the organization itself. Old-fashioned and engaging illustrations complement the easy-enough text to create a fantastic story of breaking barriers. Starting with Juliette Gordon Low as a young girl, we learn that she was an adventurous sort who found a way to bring camping, sports, and service to a population considered too delicate for such things. The values of Girl Scouts are interwoven in the biographical information as quotes from Juliette Low are incorporated into the lovely pages. A wonderful celebration of an outstanding woman and of Girl Scouts!

I think I'm having a mid-life crisis. But instead of buying a red sports car, hiking through Asia, or taking up with the cabana boy, I'm just kind of not blogging. Which while preferable to the other options, is also the lamest mid-life crisis ever.

The thing is, I'm getting itchy about not working. Turns out that I need that structure and social outlet to keep up my energy, physical and creative. At the same time, my daughters have never needed me more as a patient listener, a homework taskmaster, a supportive coach, and yes, the typical taxi service. It would be difficult, but perhaps possible, to find part-time work just during the day while they are at school. It's unlikely to be work I love, but it would get me out of the house. On the other hand, one of the reasons that I've been so available at those other tasks for my girls - especially the patient part of it - is because my own time is during the day, and their time starts at 2:30 p.m. They don't need me all the time, every day, but it's been nice to have that freedom for when they need me.

Like sitting in as the adult in charge while my teen directs the middle school play. (Our middle and high school are one combined school.) I had thought that the drama instructor would be the supervisor and I would fill in when she wasn't available. Apparently, she had never intended to be available, so I've been going to school for two hours, three times a week for the last two months. And it's been wonderful. I don't mind the time imposition, because I'm not really doing anything else. I love watching my teen direct and my tween act, and love getting to know the other kids. Teen has been amazing running this show, and I've been able to help with little things, like organizing the timeline, that have helped her grow as a director. Overall, I helped the play experience which a number of kids told me was "chaos" last year, so I'm glad to do that.

I also can't help but look at the drama instructor and thinking that I could do that job. But do I want to? I don't know. Go back to the public library - if I even can - with its demanding part-time schedule of the least convenient hours for new part-time staff? I don't know. I could take a class, but in what? I could write a book, but I can barely read one right now. My concentration is shot, my motivation is low, and my energy is drained.

I should make it clear that I'm not depressed. More like uninspired than unhappy. I'm hoping that the seasonal jolt that springtime brings will get me reading more, writing more, and figuring out a few things. Cleaning the closets, literally and emotionally. But I'm not there now, and despite the mild winter, spring feels far away.

For the KidLitosphere, Valentine’s Day is also a celebration of our love of books, with the announcement of the Cybils Awards. With months of evaluating and discussing books at an end, my Fiction Picture Book committee has selected our top winner:

Me... Jane
by Patrick McDonnell
published by Little, Brown

Me... Jane is a touching glimpse into the life of a young Jane Goodall as a curious girl with a love of nature, and books, and a stuffed chimpanzee named Jubilee. A unique combination of dreamy watercolor vignettes and nature-inspired vintage engravings complement a simple and evocative text. Every element of the book’s design, from its album-like cover and heavy yellowed pages to the inclusion of photographs and Goodall’s own childhood drawings, helps create a picture book that feels like a relative’s cherished scrapbook. Readers of all ages will take inspiration from a young girl who so fully follows her dreams.

Find all the rest of the winners at the Cybils site and place your orders for a bunch of new kid-friendly, blogger-approved books to arrive at your doorstop. Personal thanks go out to my panelists and judges, and thanks out to all of you who work for and support this unique and special book awarding venture we call Cybils!

As you are shaping your child's beginning home library, there are three types of books to look for in filling the bookshelves.

1. Classics
There are really two kinds of classics: the ones that you read as a child and the new classics that have come out in the intervening years. Your child's bookshelf should have some of both. Reading the books that you grew up on gives you a chance to share that connection with your child. Maybe these books don't honor the faster pace of today's child or use the latest research on teaching to the developing brain of a toddler. But they mean something to you, and that's important. Many also have a place as cultural reference that continues through generations. (Hello Man in the Yellow Hat.) Such books like Curious George; Madeline; Goodnight Moon, Corduroy, Where the Wild Things Are, Bread and Jam for Frances, and The Cat in the Hat belong on every child's bookshelf. You may have some books from your own childhood that are special to you that you should also share. New Classics are ones that you'll see featured at any bookstore, like Chicka Chicka Boom Boom; The Hungry Caterpillar, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!; Clifford the Big Red Dog; Guess How Much I Love You; and Fancy Nancy. Here's a hint on finding the New Classics: they often have a line of related merchandise. I'm not condoning it, I'm just saying'.

2. Mulitcultural/Diverse
Reading is one of the first ways that we see the greater world around us, so take the opportunity to widen that exposure with books that are diverse and multicultural. In looking for books featuring children of color, I've become fond of the illustrator Randy Cecil who used a great cast of characters in Looking for a Moose and How Do You Wokka-Wokka? (written by Phyllis Root and Elizabeth Bluemie, respectively). Kadir Nelson brings his art to life in every book he illustrates, but young readers will especially enjoy Please, Puppy, Please. Grace Lin incorporates Asian children and themes in the many, picture books she has written and illustrated - like in Kite Flying and you'll find Hispanic themes in the works of Pat Mora and Tony Johnson, among many others.

Explore the world without leaving home in the wonderful picture books of Barbara Kerley, with photos from National Geographic - like You and Me Together. Start even younger with the board books like Global Babies or broaden the concept with If the World Were a Village. Think about different kinds of families with The Family Book by Todd Parr (speaking of children of color, you'll see all the colors of rainbow represented here - literally) or And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell which tells the story of two male penguins who raise an egg together.

3. Art
If you're stuck on buying a book, look for the one with great art. I don't mean books with classic artwork in them - though I am fond of the Metropolitan Museum series - but instead books that have amazing illustrations. Step into the art of Steve Jenkins in books like Actual Size or the surreal world of David Wiesner in Flotsam or the perfect spareness of Peter Reynolds in Ish. Investigate the soft tone of Jon Muth or the lively colors of David Diaz. Compare the watercolors of E. B. Lewis to the scratchboard work of Beth Krommes. Find books that are illustrated with beauty, style, and creativity and you'll likely find yourself in possession of very, very good books.

(This post was previously published at PBS Booklights.)

I mean, other than us all being winners for participating, connecting, and learning during the Comment Challenge. I had fully intended to share the winning names selected from both those who reached one hundred comments and those that didn't. But as it turns out, I'm not going to because Lee Wind did it better... and he is the one providing the prize packages. So head over there for your Comment Challenge 2012 winners, and tune in next year to do it all again!

Thanks to all for being part of it and to Lee for keeping me ever inspired!

Why aren't people commenting on my blog? It's a common complaint, a question for the blogging ages. There are big picture answers that highlight content, engagement and connection. But today I want to focus on some concrete things I noticed as I was making my way through the Comment Challenge participants.

1. The commenting process is difficult. At this point, most bloggers are using some sort of filter that keeps spambots out. But I've noticed that some commenting systems are harder than others. For instance, I have no problem with the ones that want a Google ID, but I shy away if a Facebook login is requested. And I'm not even sure what Disqus is. A lot of this isn't in your control, but might be worth knowing.

2. The content isn't updated. I'm one to talk after my pathetic January posting schedule, but fresh content does matter. As I visited blogs during the Comment Challenge, I commented on the post that drew my attention most - and if I didn't have much to choose from then sometimes I didn't comment. There it is.

3. The content isn't varied enough. Maybe you are focused on branding your reviewer/illustrator/writer blog, but give yourself a little room to play in the bigger world of KidLit/YA literature. Throw in something personal, book recommendations, movie tie-ins, Kidlitosphere news - just something different from your norm to engage more people.

4. The post doesn't invite comments. I've struggled with asking questions at the end of a post, and generally avoided it myself for fear of leaving it dangling out there, unanswered. But what I'm thinking of is posts that give little to latch onto. Okay, an example is posting illustrations alone. Other than "Lovely," what have you given me to say?" But add to that posting where the idea came from, what you struggled to capture... whatever went into it that gives me a way to relate.

5. The blog is continuous self-promotion. Obviously, your blog will have some self-promotion for your achievements, but if that's all your posts are about then you are not inviting engagement. You're not even inviting return visits.


I'll be back soon with winners from the Comment Challenge. I apologize for the delay, but with SCWBI's conference, coordinating with Lee at the conference, and fighting a bad cold it just didn't happen. Soon.

You made it! As you finish up with your blog reading today, please check in here or with Lee Wind with your totals. We have fun prizes, so leave us your final stats even if you didn’t make it to five comments a day. We’ll be picking winners from among the 100 Comment Club and also winners from everyone who participated — which requires at the very least signing up and then signing out in today's comments.

I hope that the Comment Challenge has helped you connect to the community, find new blogs to read, and increased your comfort with commenting. This year with so many of the SCBWI folks participating, I found myself exposed to new ideas in writing and illustration that gave me a jump start on my own goals, so I thank you. My own comments aren't finished today as I'm making my way through the last blogs on the sign-up list (which were the first blogs, since I started in the middle). During the month, I made some great discoveries of new-to-me blogs and the commenting here has me feeling charged up for a new year of blogging. While the Comment Challenge has finished, I know that it's really just the beginning.

If you are looking for a way to be more connected to other kidlit bloggers, I can suggest no easier starting point than Poetry Friday. Started over five years ago, the meme host changes every week with the schedule available at KidLitosphere Central. The rotation allows more contributors to feature their site while sharing the workload of the event. Bloggers share original poems, reviews of poetry books, reviews of poetic picture books, links to poems at copyright protected sites, thoughts about poetry, poem writing tips, and more. Then the participants link to the host, submit their own link, and follow the other links to their heart's content.

Today I have a tricky poem from The Poke that you can only appreciate if you read it aloud - if you can:

Dearest creature in creation,
Study English pronunciation.
I will teach you in my verse
Sounds like corpse, corps, horse, and worse.
I will keep you, Suzy, busy,
Make your head with heat grow dizzy.
Tear in eye, your dress will tear.
So shall I! Oh hear my prayer.
Just compare heart, beard, and heard,
Dies and diet, lord and word,
Sword and sward, retain and Britain.
(Mind the latter, how it’s written.)
Now I surely will not plague you
With such words as plaque and ague.

The rest of the lengthy verse is here for a little English language fun, but honestly I couldn't make it even this far without getting caught up in the pronunciation. How did you do? The Poetry Friday round-up hosted at Wild Rose Reader.

I am really loving the Commment Challenge this year because it is getting me paying attention to the blogging world around me. As I make my way through the list of participants - I started in the middle if you're wondering - I'm discovering new-to-me blogs and fresh ideas on writing. Perhaps I've erred some in not focusing on my own blogging content, but there's something to be said for taking a step back and reflecting.

The commenting has been coming easy and keeping up the numbers has not been the challenge so much as making the time to do some concentrated blog reading. Along with tracking my comments, I've been keeping some notes about things I'm finding at different blogs. Carrie Pearson had a great post on responding to writing critiques. I was stunned by the work involved in an international list of reading/literacy charities at Playing by the Book and inspired by the 12 x 12 in '12 Picture Book Challenge that I learned about from Lori Degman and Stacy Jensen, and the writing excuses post at Pen and Ink may just be enough to get me to sign up for that challenge. If so, I'll have to thank Teaching Authors for getting me unstuck and On My Mind for giving me some story starters.

Oh, and there is so much more! I hope you've been enjoying your Comment Challenge experience. Let us know how it's going at the Official Comment Challenge Check-In with Lee Wind!