In a recent post, Nic Bottomley, founder of Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights in Bath, included The Day Louis Got Eaten by writer/illustrator John Fardell in his list of top-ten picture book recommendations. So I borrowed Louis from the library, and then had the following e-mail exchange with the author (reprinted here with his permission). Dear Mr. Fardell, Since the […]
Parents and Kids “Trying Books On” Together
An independent bookstore owner explains why shops like his are a magical part of childhood Twice winner of the Bookseller Industry Award for the Independent Bookshop of the Year, Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights in Bath, Somerset, is almost as much a reason to visit that famous city as the Roman Baths themselves. Invitingly laid […]
Write This! competition – November entry
When my 9-year-old falls short of a goal (and even when he succeeds), I usually say something along the lines of, “The hard part isn’t making it across the monkey bars. The hard part is not making it across the monkey bars 999 times, and then trying again.” This is a loose variation of an Edison quote, I think, […]
Sandra Horning Interview and Book Giveaway
Award-winning children’s author, Sandra Horning, was inspired to write her first published book, The Giant Hug (2005) by a real-life hug she shared with her toddler son. Her subsequent children’s books, Chicks! and The Biggest Pumpkin have both drawn on her experiences as a mother — raising chicks with her children, and taking them […]
Write this! – An inopportune time to get the hiccups!
Every month, the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators hosts Write This, a challenge to writers: Respond to a prompt in 50 words or less. The top 20 entries appear in an online gallery. This month’s prompt was, “In 50 words or less, portray an inopportune time to get a case of hiccups.” […]
Writer Mother profile: Jennifer F Steil
The Ambassador’s Wife is a novel as adventurous as its free-spirited protagonist, Miranda. With confidence and evident enjoyment, author, Jennifer F Steil explores the methods and strategies of high level diplomacy; the possibilities and dangers of cross-cultural friendship; and–centrally–motherhood, in its many complex, and conflicting incarnations. Set in the fictional Middle Eastern country of Mazrooq, Steil’s first […]
Book making project: Making my daughter’s story into a book
These days, I find that most of my ideas for story-based activities with the kids come organically from them, rather than owing anything to my pre-planning. In this case, my 8 year old son suggested at lunch that we each tell a story about our favourite food. My four year old daughter launched into a […]
I Will Survive (Just About…)
These days, I blink back tears when people try to make me laugh. I am too edgy to eat proper meals, and crave supersized sundaes with extra hot fudge. For breakfast. I tune out during business strategy meetings and scribble wish lists into the margins of my legal pads — “Good sense of humour. Cooks […]
Games to Encourage Early Readers
Thanks to Family Interest Magazine for publishing my article on games to encourage early readers (p. 13 — full text copied below). I would love to hear from others about your tried and tested ideas, so please comment! Games to Encourage Early Readers by Joanna Norland Early readers can be reluctant readers. Here are some games […]
Writers Development Group Meeting, 8 July 2012
Participants’ Personal Projects Take Shape! Writers development group participants devise personal writing projects to develop over the year. At this month’s meeting, I was thrilled when members shared their burgeoning work — including a whimsical set of children’s poems about ‘what’s inside a tortoise’s shell’ (if you’re lucky, he’ll invite you in for tea) and a […]
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