fiction Archives - Page 623 of 666

More Than Enough
by April Halprin Wayland (Author) and Katie Kath (Illustrator)

In spare, lyrical prose, a Jewish family prepares for their Passover seder, visiting the farmer’s market for walnuts, lilacs, and honey (and adopting a kitten along the way!), then chopping apples for the charoset, and getting dressed up before walking to Nana’s house. The refrain throughout is “Dayenu”—a mind-set of thankfulness, a reminder to be aware of the blessings in each moment.

#kidlit Writing Lesson: the small details

As the story begins:

We wander the market
surrounded by colors–
dayenu

TURN THE PAGE

The word dayenu is repeated throughout the book. The poetic repetition in the refrain reinforces the concept and links each action in the story to the big idea:

We buy apples and walnuts,
lilacs and honey–
dayenu

The full meaning of the word dayenu is explained in the back matter and the Dayenu song is printed inside the back cover.

BONUS! Read an interview with April Halprin Wayland

Snippet: “I rewrote this 200-word story more than 34 times.”

Once Was a Time
by Leila Sales (Author)

Booktalk: The BIG Picture

In the war-ravaged England of 1940, Charlotte Bromley is sure of only one thing: Kitty McLaughlin is her best friend in the whole world. But when Charlotte’s scientist father makes an astonishing discovery that the Germans will covet for themselves, Charlotte is faced with an impossible choice between danger and safety. Should she remain with her friend or journey to another time and place? Her split-second decision has huge consequences, and when she finds herself alone in the world, unsure of Kitty’s fate, she knows that somehow, some way, she must find her way back to her friend.

#kidlit Writing Lesson: the small details

It felt like my intestines were going to come spewing out of my mouth. Dad hadn’t warned me about this part of time travel.

Because Dad has never done it. So he didn’t know.

When my retching finally slowed down, I inhaled a deep breath. Air. So I wasn’t in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

That was something at least.

I opened my eyes. I was lying on grass. It was hot.

That was as much as I could get right now.

After all of her father’s time travel talk, Charlotte realizes that she is the first one in her family to actually experience it.

It felt like my intestines were going to come spewing out of my mouth. Dad hadn’t warned me about this part of time travel.

Because Dad has never done it. So he didn’t know.

As her travel sickness subsides, Charlotte’s focus slowly moves outward.

When my retching finally slowed down, I inhaled a deep breath. Air. So I wasn’t in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

That was something at least.

I opened my eyes. I was lying on grass. It was hot.

That was as much as I could get right now.

The main character’s time travel experience begins with her physical reaction. Only then does it move outward and begin to describe her new world.