Blog: #kidlit Book of the Day - Page 1337 of 1360

September 22, 2015September 22, 2015

Buddy and Earl

Buddy and Earl
by Maureen Fergus (Author) and Carey Sookocheff (Illustrator)

Booktalk: Buddy does not know what is in the box that Meredith carries into the living room. But when the small, prickly creature says he is a pirate — and that Buddy is a pirate too — the two mismatched friends are off on a grand adventure.

Snippet:
“Uh-oh,” said Earl. “We’re heading into a storm.”

“Uh-oh,” said Buddy.

“Can you hear the wind howling, Buddy?” cried Earl.

“I can hear it, Earl!” cried Buddy.

“Can you feel the waves crashing down on us, Buddy?” shouted Earl.

“I can feel them, Earl!” shouted Buddy.

Six Traits Mini Lesson

Traits: Organization How you organize the ideas in a story affects how readers experience each scene. This page has three character interactions. Earl talks like a pirate three times.

One:

“Uh-oh,” said Earl. “We’re heading into a storm.”

“Uh-oh,” said Buddy.

Two:

“Can you hear the wind howling, Buddy?” cried Earl.

“I can hear it, Earl!” cried Buddy.

Three:

“Can you feel the waves crashing down on us, Buddy?” shouted Earl.

“I can feel them, Earl!” shouted Buddy.

Buddy repeats Earl’s words each time he replies. Buddy is acting like a pirate, too.

Traits: Word Choice The verbs used in the dialogue tags help the writer build tension in the story. The first verb is the simplest one, the “invisible” verb said:

“Uh-oh,” said Earl. “We’re heading into a storm.”

“Uh-oh,” said Buddy.

The next verb used in the dialogue tag, cried, reflects the rising tension:

cried Earl.

“I can hear it, Earl!” cried Buddy.

The third dialogue tag verb, shouted, shows readers that the tension has risen even higher:

“Can you feel the waves crashing down on us, Buddy?” shouted Earl.

“I can feel them, Earl!” shouted Buddy.

One, two, three–with three examples the imaginary pirate ship sails into a storm. With three verbs, the story tension rises. With three interactions, both characters participate fully in the world of their own imaginary story.

In Western stories, three is the number that feels complete. Three is the number that feels just right. Give it a try in your next story.

September 21, 2015September 21, 2015

In Search of the Little Prince

In Search of the Little Prince
by Bimba Landmann (Author, Illustrator)

Booktalk: As a child, Antoine dreamed of flying. His dream was realized when he became a pilot, first serving France during World War I, then working as an international mail courier. As he wrote letters to his family describing the foreign countries he visited, he soon discovered that writing contained its own sense of adventure. His stories showed a childlike fascination with the world, culminating with The Little Prince, one of the best-selling books ever published.

This picture book biography begins on the endpapers with photographs of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and his family as a child and an adult. There is also a quote from his writings (shared below).

Snippet:
At Saint-Maurice I have a huge trunk. I’ve been filling it, ever since I was 7 years old, with my plans . . . with the letters I receive, with my photos. With all I love, think about, and want to remember. At times I spread them out haphazardly on the floor. As I look down, I am reminded of all these things once again. Nothing but that trunk is of importance to me. –Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Six Traits Mini Lesson

Trait: Ideas Whenever I visit a school, the first question that the students ask me, “Where do you get your ideas?” I have been asked this question so many times that I included the answer in the bio on my webpage!

What I love about the quote that begins this biography is his age. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry began writing as a child.

At Saint-Maurice I have a huge trunk. I’ve been filling it, ever since I was 7 years old

And what did he place into that trunk?

I’ve been filling it, ever since I was 7 years old, with my plans . . . with the letters I receive, with my photos. With all I love, think about, and want to remember.

All of that inspiration is saved, it is stored.. but it is not forgotten.

At times I spread them out haphazardly on the floor. As I look down, I am reminded of all these things once again.

And so the book begins with its own mini lesson on the trait of ideas. There is even a painting of the huge trunk with letters spilling out. This picture book biography is two stories in one. Readers will learn about Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s life and the creative process.

It’s Nonfiction Monday!