Christmas Book Review: Bear Stays Up For Christmas

 

 

"The day before Christmas,

 

snuggled on his floor,

 

Bear sleeps soundly

 

with a great big snore...."

 

Bear's friends are determined to keep Bear awake for Christmas! So they wake Bear up and have him help them find a Christmas tree, bake cakes, hang up stockings, and sing Christmas songs. Bear stays up -- by discovering that giving is one of the best Christmas presents!


Received a 4.21 stars out of 5 on:

 http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/756342.Bear_Stays_Up_for_Christmas


This review written by: Joanna Marple
Some authors just have it – that ability to write stories in rhyme for young children that simply dance off the page and spill off the tongue with a tempo and fluidity that make them so easy to read aloud and so captivating for a child to listen to. Karma Wilson is one such author.

The scene is set – will Bear hibernate through yet another Christmas day, or will his faithful band of animal friends manage to keep him awake? Having read quite a few now in the Bear series, I, like all children, can’t wait to see what this group of friends will get up to – Mouse, Mole, Hare, Gopher, Badger, Wren, Raven, and, of course, Bear. Jane Chapman’s illustrations of these forest animals are rich, full of emotion and wonderfully flesh out each of the characters, partnering perfectly with the text.

Well, everyone pitches in to keep Bear awake as they go through the typical pre- Christmas day preparations of finding the tree, decorating it, hanging up stockings, singing carols…. Finally, as Christmas Eve comes to a close, all the animals are weary from their festive exertions and fall asleep. Bear alone remains awake now, and in the usual spirit of friendship of all the Bear books, he busies himself with making Christmas surprises for his friends. He does not, however, see the biggest surprise of all, Santa making a visit that Christmas Eve night!

Karma manages to vary pace and tone with her rhyme, and yet adds enough predictability to engage pre-K children with ease. The illustrations are truly priceless, filling each two-page spread with warm brown tones of the lair’s interior or purples and blues of a snowy midwinter’s night, and bringing each animal to lofe.


Happy 'American' Thanksgiving!

Best Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is here, so our minds have turned
To what time has taught us, to what we've learned:
We often focus all our thought
On shiny things we've shopped and bought;
We take our pleasure in material things
Forgetting the pleasure that friendship brings.
If a lot of our stuff just vanished today,
We'd see the foundation of each happy day
Is special relationships, constant and true,
And that's when our thoughts go directly to you.
We wish you a Thanksgiving you'll never forget,
Full of love and joy—your best one yet!
By Joanna Fuchs  

 

Tips for Writing Short Stories

With short stories, it is important to focus on reaching the conclusion quickly and engaging your readers with an interesting beginning.  What you don't want, is to have many different conflicts going on.  Try to write your story surrounding one conflict.  Drive towards an unexpected end.  The idea is to capture your audience right away and have them riveted until they are finished reading.

1. Who is your protagonist? (Are they unique enough)
2.  What significant actions define this protagonist at the beginning of your story?
3.  Are there any unexpected consequences that arise, due to the actions that define your protagonist?
4.  What details from your setting, dialog, and tone assist you in telling the story?
5.  Is your ending, concerning your protagonist's journey, surprising to the reader? (The reader shouldn't be able to guess the ending right away)

You want to generate an emotional response from your reader.  Don't only look to your emotions when writing.  How will what you are writing, engage your reader?  All of these things are crucial.

About your Character

Appearance. Gives your reader a visual understanding of the character.

Action. Show the reader what kind of person your character is, by describing actions rather than simply listing adjectives.

Speech. Develop the character as a person — don’t merely have your character announce important plot details.

Thought. Bring the reader into your character’s mind, to show them your character’s unexpressed memories, fears, and hopes.

Point of View

First Person. “Unites narrator and reader through a series of secrets” when they enter one character’s perceptions. However, it can “lead to telling” and limits readers connections to other characters in the short story.

Second Person. “Puts readers within the actual scene so that readers confront possibilities directly.” However, it is important to place your characters “in a tangible environment” so you don’t “omit the details readers need for clarity.”

Third Person Omniscient. Allows you to explore all of the characters’ thoughts and motivations. Transitions are extremely important as you move from character to character.

Third Person Limited. “Offers the intimacy of one character’s perceptions.” However, the writer must “deal with character absence from particular scenes.”

Perfect Quote:

"Make your readers hear the pauses between the sentences. Let them see characters lean forward, fidget with their cuticles, avert their eyes, uncross their legs."  -Jerome Stern


Happy Writing my Friends!

Do I have a thrill for you!?

I have recently undertaken something different than I am used to.  I kind of like what it's doing to me.  (chuckle)  I get a sort of high out of being challenged in new things, and this certainly falls into that criteria.  What is this new "thing" that I am referring to?  (Deep breath)  Can you handle it?  I know that you are all used to me writing children's stories, and I do intend on continueing to do so.  However, I am also exploring the wierd and creepy world of writing short story thrillers! 

WHAT?  You may ask in complete shock.  I know...I didn't think that I could commit to writing outside of my genre.  It has taught me many things though.  I am growing as a writer all the time.  Who says I should stick to one thing?  I have decided to enter a short story into a contest.  I am very excited about this opportunity.  Winning this contest could mean big things in store! 

Interesting factoid:  Roald Dahl is not only known for his amazing children's books.  He is also known for writing some adult stories as well.  Some that are quite spooky I may add. 

So you see, by trying this new genre out, I am forcing myself out of my comfort zone.  It's great!  I feel so fantastic about it.  My dear friends/family/supporters...I will keep you updated on this new journey of mine!

The Witch by Jack Prelutsky

THE WITCH
by Jack Prelutsky
She comes by night, in fearsome flight,
In garments black as pitch,
the queen of doom upon her broom,
the wild and wicked witch,
a crackling crone with brittle bones
and dessicated limbs,
two evil eyes with warts and sties
and bags about the rims,
a dangling nose, ten twisted toes
and fold of shriveled skin,
cracked and chipped and crackled lips
that frame a toothless grin.
She hurtles by, she sweeps the sky
and hurls a piercing screech.
As she swoops past, a spell is cast
on all her curses reach.
Take care to hide when the wild witch rides
to shriek her evil spell.
What she may do with a word or two
is much too grim to tell.

Read more at http://www.theholidayspot.com/halloween/poems.htm#17BcCGLHsXqaMhH0.99

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

I wish all my canadian friends a Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you had a wonderful long weekend! Make sure if you have not already, enter your name for the free children's bookdraw!

www.authormandyhunter.com

10 Halloween Activities to try with your Kids

If you enjoy Halloween with your kids, then start early by getting them excited with fun, spooky activities. 

1. One night, try to have a campfire and roast marshmallows.  Tell ghost stories appropriate to their age (this could even be done in the backyard). 
2. Make a blanket tent in their bedroom just above where they sleep and pick their favorite Halloween books. Snuggle up and read them together with a glass of milk.
3. Play hide and go seek in the dark with flashlights.
4. Wear festive pajamas and have a pillow fight.
5. Make up a fun play about ghosts (use blankets as a cover, easy costume).
6. Make Halloween treats to bring to their school (or for you to enjoy with them at home).
7. Make a Halloween craft together and gift it to someone.
8. If you have their Halloween costume and you don't mind letting them wearing it early, copycat Easter, and hide some ghoulish treats for them around the house for them to hunt!
9. Make Halloween sock puppets and play silly games with them. Change your voices just to add some funniness to it.
10. Paint your faces with Halloween designs.

Spiced and Hot Apple Cider

INGREDIENTS:

2 quarts of apple cider
6 cups cranberry juice
1/4 cup of packed brown sugar
4 Cinnamon Sticks
1 1/2 tsp full cloves
1 lemon thinly sliced

PREP:

In a large pot, combine apple cider, cranberry juice, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, cloves and lemon slices. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. With a slotted spoon, remove cinnamon, cloves, and lemon slices. Serve hot.

This is so perfect for those chilly times, and would also make a great Thanksgiving drink! Enjoy!