by Veronica Bartles When Tara asked me to write a blog post for Storystorm about Inspiration, I knew this would be my Finest Achievement Ever. I’m so excited to share with you my brilliant, awe-ins…
Source: Storystorm Day 18: “Bake it Up, Shake it Up” by Veronica Bartles
Mentor texts? Fractured fairy tales? I want to do one of these! Love it!
by Marcie Colleen When Tara asked me to blog for Storystorm I knew right away that there were two points I wanted to make. Ideas can come from the most random and wackiest places. A good idea is in…
Source: Storystorm Day 14: “Guard Your Ideas Like Gold” by Marcie Colleen
Great ideas are like gold! Keep them safe!
by Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell
It Came in the Mail
By Ben Clanton
(Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2016)
Who doesn’t love mail and wish for something exciting to show up in the mail box?
Liam does, that’s for sure. But, as he put it, after checking daily (and more), he got diddly-squat.
After an idea brainstorm, Liam decided he needed to write some mail in order to get some. So Liam wrote a letter to his mailbox and asked for something BIG.
The mailbox delivered.
And delivered. And delivered. Until finally, Liam had so much mail, he had a different problem to solve.
I love It Came in the Mail. Lots of wonderful illustrations filled in the blanks and added details for readers to enjoy. Liam and his buddy, Jamel, were fun characters. The common thread of a childhood wish (to get mail, just like a grown-up) was solved in a very inventive way!
Readers will love It Came in the Mail. Who knows? Maybe your child will even want to write a letter to the mailbox. Just be prepared for an answer.
KID KANDY:
Write a Letter
Materials: writing paper, pencil, crayons, envelope, stamp
1. Choose the person (friend, aunt, uncle, grandma, grandpa, dad, mom, or the mailbox) for whom you want to write a letter.
2. Write a letter to that person.
3. Decorate the letter.
4. Fold the letter and place it in the envelope. Ask an adult to help you address the envelope and place the stamp in the correct place.
5. Mail the letter.
6. Wait.
7. Check the mailbox for an answer. Every day.
P.S. You can write more letters while you are waiting. Or draw pictures of what you think you will get in the mail. Or use your imagination to think of things you’d like to see come out of the mailbox.
Getting mail is so much fun! I’d love to hear what showed up in your mailbox!
By Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell
Chester
By Melanie Watt (and Chester)
(Kids Can Press, 2007)
Chester is a cat.
Not just any cat, but a very talented, imaginative, and creative cat.
Chester loves to be in the limelight. He also has ideas about what type of limelight and focus he wants.
And while Chester is all of the above, he is also – gasp – somewhat NAUGHTY!
Meet Melanie Watt, the author who is trying to tell the story of Chester, a very large calico cat who carries his own red correcting pen. At all times.
Meet Chester, the star of the book, who repeatedly hijacks the story and turns it to his own purposes.
Chester and Chester’s Back! are delightful, funny, and imaginative picture books. The voice of Chester interacts seamlessly with the author’s voice of Melanie. Kids will love Chester and his antics.
But beware, kids might get some ideas from Chester!
KID KANDY:
Make a Paper Plate Chester
Materials: wax-free paper plates, construction paper, scissors, glue, markers, crayons
1. Draw a cat face on your paper plate. Include eyes, nose, whiskers, and mouth.
2. Color your cat Chester colors (or any color you like – that’s what Chester would do).
3. Cut ears, paws, and a tail from construction paper. Glue them in place.
4. Cut a pen from construction paper. Make sure it is red! Glue it to Chester’s paw.
Now you have your own Chester. Both of you can make up your own stories!
Meow!
Chester’s Back!
(Kids Can Press, 2013)
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The cow who climbed a tree! |
By Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell
The Cow Who Climbed a Tree
Story and Illustrations by Gemma Merino
(Albert Whitman & Company, 2015)
Aha! Who wouldn’t love a cow who climbed a tree?
And why would this cow climb a tree anyway? Really? Just picture it.
The Cow Who Climbed a Tree is a wonderfully illustrated book about a cow who was insatiably curious. About everything.
Her sisters? They were only interested in grass.
But this cow had more exciting things on her mind. What about this? Or that? Why not this?
One could say that this cow, Tina, had a great and wondering imagination, to which her sisters always replied with scorn: Impossible, ridiculous, nonsense.
But The Cow Who Climbed a Tree did not give up.
I love this story about a cow who kept dreaming and exploring and doing in spite of the lack of belief from those around her. I think young readers will be encouraged to hold onto and follow their dreams regardless of what others think.
Go, Cow!
KID KANDY:
Climb a Tree
(If you don’t have a tree, paint one with watercolors! I fell in love with the illustrations in this picture book. Paint me a tree like Gemma did!)
Head outside and find a strong, tall tree. Make sure you have good pants and a shirt on to protect your knees and skin.
Climb that tree! Pretend you are Tina, a cow, and you are going to climb that tree. Of course you don’t have a tail or cloven hooves, but you can pretend!
Look for finger and toe holds. Rest against the trunk and sitting on top of branches. Watch out for pitch – it’s very sticky. See how high you can get before you are too far.
Was it fun?
I used to be a champion tree climber. I’ve put holes in many a pair of pants from stray branches and broken off bits. And it was never as easy getting down as it was getting up. So do be careful.
Love, Laughter, and Life 