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2021 Fall Writing Frenzy Entry

10/2/2021

   Awooooo!
   I do love a Halloween-themed writing contest!
     When I got word of this one, I couldn't resist. I plopped right down and spun this yarn in one sitting. Yup. There's nothing that gets my writing-rhyming juices flowing like a time-sensitive challenge. (Reminds me of my Madness Poetry days. *sigh*) And yes, my story/poem comes in at 200 words, on the nose.
     Without further ado (and with many thanks to the contest organizers), here's my entry for this year's Fall Writing Frenzy, sponsored by author Lydia Lukidis and agent Kaitlyn Leanne Sanchez. Also posted are the two photos that served as my inspiration.
     (p.s. Learn more about the Fall Writing Frenzy challenge here.)

Witchy Wishes
by Heather Kinser

A busy, in-a-tizzy witch
goes swishing on a broom.

The Happy Haunt is happening!
She hurries through the gloom.

The monsters are expecting her.
She mustn’t let them down.

But crowds of clouds confuse…
and Witchy loses sight of town!

Below, the spooks are waiting
for their Witchy to appear--

she conjures each a special wish
on Halloween each year.

A skull for every skeleton!
A fang for every ghoul!

A web for every spider!
“Just one wish,” is Witchy’s rule.

“Witchy’s running late!”
a gastly ghost begins to moan.

Werewolf howls, “With Witchy gone,
I’ll never get my bone.”

“I can’t have my linen bands,”
a mummy kid complains.

Zombie grunts, “Without our witch
I won’t receive my brains.”

A devil with a pitchfork
sheds a tiny, worried tear.

He makes an earnest, heartfelt wish
that Witchy will appear…

“I hope dear Witchy, safe and sound,
will join our party soon.”

Instantly…the witch appears
beneath a sliver moon!

“Apologies for being late!
My travel plans were cursed.”

She scans the eager faces,
“Little Devil, you go first.”

“But Witchy dear, I used my wish,”
says Devil.

“What a shame…

I’ll grant an extra wish reward--
a nice eternal flame!”

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A Lesson on Thin-Film Reflectors and Iridescence

11/13/2020

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In case you missed it, I was a featured author on Patricia Newman's "LitLinks" blog this past October. LitLinks is a terrific weekly blog that pairs STEM books with hands-on classroom lessons.
Check it out for a step-by-step guide on creating an iridescence effect that mimics the blue morpho butterfly. All it takes is paper, a shallow bowl of water, and a single drop of clear nail polish to create a thin-film reflector!

And for a microscopic look at 11 super-small animal features, get your hands on a copy of SMALL MATTERS: THE HIDDEN POWER OF THE UNSEEN. Introduce kids to scanning electron microscopes AND newly discovered microscopic animal features--all in one lyrical, photo-illustrated book.

Kirkus says ~ The “wow” factor in seeing variations in animal adaptations revealed through electron microscopy is compelling.

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10th Annual Halloweensie Contest Entry

10/28/2020

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Update: A SCARE A SKULL A SKELETON won 4th place in the contest!

Here's my entry for the always FUN Halloweensie contest, from Susanna Leonard Hill. This year's challenge was to write a children's story, in 100 words or less, containing the words skeleton, creep, and mask.
How'd I do? Leave a comment below (treats only, please; no tricks).

A SCARE A SKULL A SKELETON

a scare
            a skull
                        a skeleton
                                    I clatter down the street

a creep
            a crawl
                        a caterwaul
                                    I’m knocking for a treat

a rant
            a rave
                        an open grave
                                    I wear a scary mask

a trick
            a treat
                        a something sweet
                                    I TAKE! (and NEVER ask)

a bugaboo
            a witch’s brew
                        the treat I took is cursed…

a salty lick
            a yuck
                        an ick
                                    my brother is the WORST!

a snore
            a sleep
                        a sneaky peek
                                    a tippy-toe attack

a spider…
            SCREAM!
                        its Halloween
                                    and—yep!—I got him back

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"Through the Wardrobe" Tells the Origin Story of an Enchanted World

4/26/2020

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     I’ve had a chance to read an F&G of this beautiful book, which releases May 19, 2020. Through the Wardrobe: How C.S. Lewis Created Narnia, beautifully distills the formative events in the life of writer-theologian C.S. Lewis.
     We feel the power of Lewis' childhood imagination and of his invented worlds, and we come to understand that his imagination was his salvation in a difficult life—at boarding school, through war, and into adulthood.
     I came away from this book feeling as though The Chronicles of Narnia existed within Lewis all his life, bound to one day come alive on the page.
     Author-illustrator Lina Maslo enhances her story with charming and emotive drawings. My favorites are the one where Lewis performs theatrics for two young cousins who are sitting in a wardrobe (lots of vibrant purple on this page, and lovely woodwork); the one where Lewis lies awake after his mother’s death, a rich red carpet taking up most of the space, and the carpet design hinting of the lion and witch; and the page in the trenches in WWI, only the writer’s feet, knees, paper and pencil visible.
     This bio spans many rich and complex years in the life of the man who brought us one of our most enduring and beloved fantasy stories. Through the Wardrobe is sure to engage young readers, and there's plenty of historical depth here for readers to think about, write about, and research further.

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Trying My Hand at the 5th Annual "Valentiny"

2/7/2020

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      This year, the "Valentiny" contest challenge is to write a children's Valentine's story in 214 words or less, in which someone feels curious!
     Here's my 204-word entry--"What Do You Love?"
     Thank you, Susanna Leonard Hill, for offering this fun challenge. I LOVE my little story and am glad this contest inspired it.
     p.s. My debut book comes out on April 7. Check it out here!

WHAT DO YOU LOVE?

Valentine’s day is on the way.
I'm curious…
             what do you love?

If you are a cozy nest, do you love
             the dove?

If you are a lion keeper, do you love
             the zoo?

If you are the sky, do you adore
             the color blue?

Here’s one thing I know for certain. I love…
             YOU!

Scientists of every kind, of course, love
             curiosity.

Every speedy racecar driver has to love
             velocity.

Astronomers with telescopes adore
             the distant stars.

Of course if you’re a Martian, you must love
             the planet Mars.

Don’t you think it’s likely that a cow might love
             to moo?

(Here’s a heart-shaped Valentine, especially made
             for you!)

If you are a teacher, you for sure love
             learners learning!

If you’re a librarian, you love
             pages turning.

A diving oceanographer adores
             the deep, dark sea!

An astronaut in outer space is fond of
             gravity!

I’ve told you who I love the most.
             (Do you love me?)

A Valentine has just arrived!
             (I think it holds my answer.)

Like day loves sun,
             like snow loves cold,
                         like music loves the dancer,

like grass loves green,
             like hats love heads,
                         like branches love their tree,

now I know without a doubt--you love
             ME!

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Counting Is an Adventure with TWO DOGS ON A TRIKE

1/29/2020

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This is my critique partner's debut picture book. Lucky me...I've seen an advance copy.
SO fun!!! It's clever/adorable/hysterical...ALL the good stuff!
Look for it to zoom into bookstores on May 19, 2020.

TWO DOGS ON A TRIKE takes young readers on a fast-paced counting adventure that's sure to engage...and make numbers fun. In this one-to-ten and back again escapade, a runaway dog hooks up with one buddy after another in a canine transportation fest--clueless to the fact that the disapproving family cat is in hot pursuit.

The action escalates as the dogs up the ante, switching from a trike to a scooter to a bike to a trolley and so on. Fur and ears fly in the wind (and plenty of pizza is eaten) as the dogs zoom along--no two of them alike.

Illustrator Robin Rosenthal packs her characters with style, personality, color, humor, and a touch of irony. There's no shortage of visual details for young readers to pour over, and they'll love finding the deadpan cat on the margins of every scene.

With crisp, active rhymes and plot-twisting surprises, author Gabi Snyder has created a canine-counting playground! Little ones learning to read and count will want to pick this book up over and over, to experience the mayhem again--and have fun with words and numbers.

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My "9th Annual Halloweensie" Contest Entry

10/27/2019

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     All month long I've been stewing and brewing a tiny poem potion in my cauldron, and now it's ready to be served.
     The challenge? Write a 100-word (or less) children's Halloween story including these three key words--potion, cobweb, and trick.
     The sponsor? As always, the clever, generous, and talented Susanna Leonard Hill, who hosts this annual contest on her blog.
     The result? A rhyming story that was SO much fun to write!
     Thanks, Susanna, for the opportunity to participate. And good luck to my fellow contestants.

Adelaide sWitches Careers

Adelaide Witch isn’t partial to scaring.
She prefers generous giving and sharing.
Adelaide vows, “I will ditch evil potions,
conjuring up only happy emotions.
This Halloween, I will brew a new mission.
I’ll switch careers and become—a magician!”

First, the kids tremble, afraid of her show.
“Help us!” they yelp as they watch her wand glow.
Then—“Hocus-pocus!”—from down in the tip
of her hat, a white rabbit appears in her grip.
“More!” cry the children. She pulls from her glove
a cobweb that flies, turning into a dove.

That’s how one witch
traded tricks in
for love.

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Ogilvy ~ Cute & Inclusive

7/14/2019

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"Ogilvy paused and looked down at the clothes.
'I'm wearing the thing that I wear, I suppose'."

    Deborah Underwood pulls out all the rhyming stops in her newest book creation, Ogilvy.
     In a town where every-bunny wears either a sweater or a dress, Ogilvy wears a favorite garment that's simultaneously neither and both.
     This book is perfectly on-point with rhyme and kid-appeal, and it seamlessly layers in the broader topic of gender classification with a subtle and lighthearted touch.
     And man, is it ever cute! Just check out adorable Ogilvy, the book's namesake, on the cover.

llustrator T.L. McBeth scales way, way back, creating an almost entirely character-based book that focuses on feelings and reactions rather than setting and scenery. The pops of color and texture among white backgrounds and bold black lines are provided by photographic images of little knit sweaters (or dresses, or sweater-dresses)--to great effect.
Cleverly conceived and charmingly executed, this book pairs well with Neither, by Airlie Anderson. And in a world of shorter and shorter picture books, Ogilvy has just a bit more content, plus a fun rhyming structure and strong story construction, which makes me want to recommended it for multiple readings on home bookshelves.

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In "Hum and Swish" Art Speaks for the Artist

7/2/2019

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"Jamie and the sea are friends.
Jamie hums. The waves swish."

Here's a beautiful book that respects the timeless nature of childhood. As Jamie "makes" by the sea, people come and go. They ask questions, pass judgements, and expect her to name, classify, and justify her creation. How Jamie feels about this is all conveyed in Matt Myers' art. Her expressions and body language tell us everything. No words needed.

   Picture book writers, take note. This is how an artist can take emotional moments and run with them. When you understate the text in the peak emotional moments of your story, you do yourself, your reader, and your illustrator a favor. If you pick up a copy of this book, just look at Jamie's facial expressions. Seeing how she feels is far better than being told. When we see how she feels, we feel it too. A picture pulls the reader in.
   The story is 158 words, people. 158 words!
   Here's a great interview with Matt Myers and a brilliant quote--"A picture book is not called a word book, after all. If you love language, show your love by making a few words feel special. Let the pictures write a line for you."
   This is Myers' debut as both author and illustrator, and he does a superior job at both. Hum and Swish is a great mentor text for those of us who only write.
   With art that's both playful and rich in feeling, Hum and Swish turns a simple scene of a girl playing in the sand into a portrait of an artist that says something profound about creativity, childhood, and living in the moment.
   Oh, and it's from Neal Porter's new imprint at Holiday House so...no wonder it's good.

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"Flying Deep" - a lyrical deep-sea adventure

6/10/2019

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“Few humans have seen this blooming oasis. The vigor and variety of life is breathtaking.”

Wow! I wasn't expecting this book about the Alvin deep-sea submersible to be such a lyrical read.
Fascinating and well-researched scientific content is presented within the framework of a journey to the ocean floor and back. The book does a great job of making the reader feel present and active—this is not just a read, but an experience, with sensory details that engage, involve, and surprise.

Short, clear, lyrical sentences with easily digestible information are just right for young readers. The lyrical and figurative language in Flying Deep made this story feel like a literal, visceral journey. I love it as a read-aloud!

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