Kate Morton - The Distant Hours Trailer

It started with a letter. A letter that had been lost a long time, waiting out half a century in a forgotten postal bag in the dim attic of a nondescript house in Bermondsey ... Edie Burchill and her mother have never been close, but when a long-lost letter arrives one Sunday afternoon with the return address of Milderhurst Castle, Kent, printed on its envelope, Edie begins to suspect that her mother?s emotional distance masks an old secret. Evacuated from London as a thirteen-year-old girl, Edie?s mother is chosen by the mysterious Juniper Blythe, and taken to live at Milderhurst Castle with the Blythe family: Juniper, her twin sisters and their father, Raymond, author of the 1918 children?s classic The True History of the Mud Man. In the grand and glorious Milderhurst Castle, a new world opens up for Edie?s mother. She discovers the joys of books and fantasy and writing, but also, ultimately, the dangers. Fifty years later, as Edie chases the answers to her mother?s riddle, she, too, is drawn to Milderhurst Castle and the eccentric Sisters Blythe. Old ladies now, the three still live together, the twins nursing Juniper, whose abandonment by her fianc? in 1941 plunged her into madness. Inside the decaying castle, Edie begins to unravel her mother?s past. But there are other secrets hidden in the stones of Milderhurst Castle, and Edie is about to learn more than she expected. The truth of what happened in the distant hours has been waiting a long time for someone to find it.

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Books That Boost Your Child's Growth

Books are necessary in a child's life. Books are introduced in the life of a child early in life to encourage the child to develop a good reading culture since there are different levels of learning that takes place through reading books. Children literature is very simple and easy to understand basing on the level of brain development and concentration they have.

There are different types of books suitable for the different ages of children. The books written for children use languages and animations like cartoons and pictures to help the content of the articles memorable as they read. The books are always accompanied with colorful drawings and art work that interest children. Children between the ages of four and eight have books that have fewer words and more pictures. As they grow this is reduced and the words are increased. The titles are also interesting and their covers given good colors to encourage the kids to want to read.

When shopping for books for your children, it is advisable to shop with them and allow them to choose the books they want unless they have been requested by the teachers. This will encourage them to read the books they chose. You can look at the best books on the Internet and check whether they are available in your stores. There are books that can be found online to ensure your child gets the books that are necessary for their growth. Read along with the young kids and guide the ones who can read on their own. The story books are the children's best books followed by fiction and magic, games and activity books, and the schools books. Develop the child's reading culture early and be an example to them by reading your own books or their books together. Create a friendly environment for reading by reducing noise, having enough books for the children to read and encouraging them to read.

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How to Choose Good Books

Good books show their standing through high sales figures and high search figures on the internet. The 5 most popular categories based on these criteria (in descending order of importance) are Children's books, Management books, Fiction books, Books on Business and, Sales books.  

Children's books are a popular choice as gifts. They are valuable as they help develop the child's reasoning and imaginative abilities and expand his/her vocabulary. They also aid in instilling sound moral values.  

But choosing the right book for a specific child can be a challenge and the following guidelines should help.  

Children can be grouped into categories according to their approximate age and a useful grouping is that of preschool, junior school, high school and young adults. This broad grouping should allow the preliminary elimination of certain books.  

Next, any book with sensitive content can be eliminated. This would include all books which would not be in line with the family's values e.g. those which promote a specific religious point of view and those which require maturity to handle such as gratuitous violence and sexuality.  

The gender of the child will further eliminate additional types of books.  

Management books relate to the effective and efficient activities involved in the operation of a business. They cover the common activities of  Business Intelligence Management, Financial Management, Human Resource Management, Information Technology Management, Marketing Management, Production Management, Service Management and, Strategic Management,  

It should be noted that most of the books are either heavily skewed towards theory, which makes it difficult to put their content directly into practice, or are based on case studies of organisations which were successful in the past.  

Case-study based books are also normally those which make the bestseller lists but suffer from two basic defects. Firstly, their content reflects the author's definition of success and success factors. Secondly, they use the past to suggest future "success" managerial actions. These two defects are reflected in the fact that the majority of these so-called successful companies used as examples are usually no longer so successful when looked at today. Further, that the application of these identified "success" factors in similar organisations rarely result in the required improvement.  

Management books are nevertheless important and serve a valuable function as long as the reader realises that their content has to be adapted to his/her unique situation and uses their content as broad guidelines.

Fiction books are those which feature invented stories and consist of the following sub-categories:  

Horror fiction whose aim is to frighten the reader by exploiting his/her conscious and/or unconscious fears. The best known authors are Stephen King, Dean Koontz and Clive Barker.  
Mystery fiction which are usually based on a main character trying to solve a crime. It has three sub-categories which are crime, detective and spy. Successful authors in this category are John Sandford, Michael Connolly, Robert B Parker, Sue Grafton, Kathy Reichs and James Lee Burke.  
Romance fiction which usually feature a lover having to overcome great hurdles to be with the love of his life. Authors in this category are Danielle Steele, Barbara Cartland and Daphne Du Maurier.  
Science fiction/Fantasy books which have stories set in imaginary worlds using advanced technologies. This category has increased in popularity due to films such as Star Wars, Star Trek and, more recently, The Matrix and successful authors include J.K. Rowling, Arthur C. Clark, Ray Bradbury and J.R.R. Tolkien. 
Suspense/Thriller fiction which commonly features a character exposed to constant threat whilst up against a villain. The best known authors in this category are Clive Cussler, Lawrence Sanders, Frederick Forsythe, Richard North Patterson and Tom Clancy.  
Western fiction about life on the American frontier. Louis Lamour is the best known author of western fiction.  
Woman's fiction which tends to focus on relationships. They usually feature a strong woman character that triumphs in extremely difficult circumstances. Authors in this category are Judith Krantz, Rebecca Wells and Barbara Taylor Bradford.

Books on Business are distinguished from Management books in that they are slightly more of an academic nature and cover subjects which are universal  Common recent examples of these are ethics, organisational structuring, the state of the world markets and international financing. 

A predicted future factor whose implications will have to be catered for by all organisations is the growing counter-reaction to "Human rights" in the form of "Human responsibilities" for which a Universal Declaration has already been formulated by the InterAction Council of Political and Religious Leaders.

On a local level they also include all the books related to the legalities of running a business which are published by all relevant authorities.

Sales books cover the spectrum from organizing and managing a sales team to sales skills and are especially popular during economic downturns.  

An important distinction must be made between the sales activities required when selling an object and when selling a service as it is apparent that there are two totally distinctive skill sets and procedures involved. Would you trust your friendly local car salesperson to obtain and administer your personal financial investments?  

Despite this obvious difference many authors tend to adopt a "one size fits all" approach to sales and then e.g. advocate the use of their developed "closing techniques" for all sales types.  

Interesting enough when you go back in history you will find that the common sales approach underlying most of the sales models today was developed for pharmaceutical representatives in the past whose job it was to deduct stock level quantities on a pharmacy shelf from their recommended levels and then to replace the sold numbers of items.  

A single approach to both types of sales is doomed to failure and this must be kept in mind when buying sales books.  

Used books or second-hand books vs new books: In the past buying used or second-hand books tended to have a stigma attached to it and it was not the "done thing". However, if you consider that the only difference between a good quality used book and a new book is the price then it is obvious why these types of stores have mushroomed.  

Besides the cost savings, which allow you to buy even more books, an avid reader could use the opportunity to browse the store, whether it is a physical or virtual store, and thereby identify other books by his/her favourite authors. It is also a chance to become acquainted with new authors or new characters by current favourite authors.  

 It also allows you to buy those books which have been out of print.  

Books on sale. If you still choose to buy new books then it is wise to continuously keep an eye out for sales held by the larger bookstores during which they sell new stock at a lower price. This is usually when their sales projections have not been realised and they are left with excess stock. You can either physically visit their stores, or visit their websites, on a regular basis to find out when they are having sales.  

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Book Buying Guide for Babies and Toddlers

Deciding on which book to buy for your toddler or baby can feel tremendous when standing in the children's area of your local book store. If you find yourself looking and just not knowing which books to buy or where to begin the helpful children's book buying tips below will make short work of your shopping.

Where to Find Books for Babies and Toddlers

Your local library and garage sales are great places to find used books for children. Most libraries hold a used book sale each year where you can buy great children's books at rock bottom prices. Libraries also have books available to borrow for babies and toddlers. This can be a great way to introduce new books to your children.

Book of the month clubs offer an opportunity to build up your own personal library in your home. There are a wide selection of children's book of the month clubs available where you can select books from a catalog and order them from home. Your child will get excited about selecting a new book each month and then have great anticipation waiting for his or her new book to arrive in the mail.

Choosing Storage for Children's Books

Books should always be accessible to young children. By storing books on low book shelves or in low drawers children will be encouraged to pick up books and read.

You may find that children feel a connection to books if they help make a storage container for their books. Try getting an old cardboard box or storage container and having your child decorate the box. When the decorating is finished your child can load the box with his or her favorite books and keep it down low where they can reach in and get a book any time.

Which Book is Best for Babies and Toddlers?

Young babies like to look at colorful board books that are easy to hold and easy to handle. Thick cardboard like books or books with soft sides and vinyl covers allow babies to chew without getting hurt.

Toddlers like to read books with easy to follow story lines and simple rhyming books. Toddlers also like books that relate to their life. Such as stories about potty training or going to school, something the toddler is doing in his life.

Picture books are great for both babies and toddlers. Babies like to look at the colorful pictures and toddlers like to make up story lines to go with the pictures.

Selecting a Time to Read to Children

Babies and toddlers just love to be read to. Any time of day will work for most children when it comes to reading. A nice routine of reading at bed time or after bath time is recommended by many child development specialists.

Just remember that children love to read and if your toddler brings you a book and asks you to read, you should take the time to do so. Reading will build a love of books and foster great memories of quiet time spent together.

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The Elements of a Good Picture Book

A picture book is an illustrated story book for 0-6 year olds. As the number of words is about 500, many writers consider it an easy option. They are very wrong to do so. Picture book writing is one of the hardest and most competitive fields of all. So what are the elements of a good picture book?

Format: Picture books have a specified number of pages between 24 and 40, which is always divisible by eight. These include the front and back covers. It is essential to decide how your text will be divided out across these pages in relation to the pictures.

Empathy: Picture book writers need to have an empathy with young children and be able to retain and reproduce childhood feelings and experiences of what it is like to be small.

Illustrations: Writers do not need to be able to illustrate their own books, although many popular picture writers do - Jane Hissey, Nick Sharratt and Jez Alborough, for example. Unless you are a professional illustrator it is better just to send an editor text. He or she will provide an illustrator if they decide to publish. Stories for picture books need to provide the opportunity for imaginative illustration and the text should suggest strongly where and what these pictures should be.

Simple plot: There should be only one plot line which is easy to follow. Young children learn from repetition and like to join in with the story, so skilled use of repetition and refrain is an advantage. Rhyme, alliteration and onomatopoeia are also popular. Sudden actions and unexpected mishaps go down well.

Memorable characters: Animals are well-liked, especially bears. These animals usually act as humans with the story being told through them. (Elmer, Spot, Paddington Bear) Publishers usually want to market the book abroad. Animals are more easily transferred than people with varying dress and customs. This also applies to live toys (Jane Hissey's Jolly Tall) or monsters (Maurice Sendack's Where the Wild Things Are or Nick Butterfield's Q Pootle 5)

Adult appeal: Picture books must appeal to adults as it is they who buy the book then read it to the child, often repeatedly. Parents and teachers want educational value so if a book includes learning concepts such as colour, shape and number it has extra appeal.

Themes: Real-life situations such as starting school, potty training or moving house are popular as are family relationships, domestic activities, pets and machines. Modern or updated versions of traditional stories sell well, especially if they approach the story from a new angle.

Think you can meet the requirements? Read as wide a variety of picture books as you can. Then follow the advice and rules above and write a dummy picture book. Send it to the right publishing house and who knows, it might be the beginning of a fun new career.

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How to Write a Great Introduction to Your Book

The introduction is one of the most often perused sections of a book. Prospective readers scan the introduction before making a buying decision. Serious readers are sure to devour it. And with the introduction situated at the beginning, it's a sure bet that almost everyone who picks it up starts reading there.

So having an effective introductory chapter or section is important. A good introduction sets the stage and it makes your book that much more appealing. The introduction of your nonfiction book reveals what it is all about.

Think of your introduction as a preview of the coming attraction. Here's where you paint a picture of all the benefits readers will get from your work. Use it as a selling tool to highlight all the advantages they'll gain from the insights, observations and experiences shared.

State your promise in the introduction and then deliver on it throughout your book. Make every potential reader want to dig and read it right away because of the quality and value of your information.

As you prepare your introduction, summarize the system or process revealed in the text. It's there are a number of steps involved to complete the training covered in your book, list these in the introduction.

Tell the reader what he or she can expect by reading your book. Suggest the payoff that is theirs by the accumulation and integration of the knowledge you share within the covers of your book. Entice them to not only pick up your book but to read it through to get the maximum benefit.

Start with a bang. Your introduction is the place to hook your reader. Deliver the ultimate benefit of your book. Make a startling statement. Do whatever it takes to generate intense interest and intrigue.

Your introduction is a crucial first step for your readers. It prepares them for what's to come while fuelling their interest.

For the writer, an introduction can serve as a guide. You know exactly what material you need to cover to deliver on your promises. So a strong introduction keeps you focused, making it easier to deliver the kind of book your readers will love.

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Creative Writing Techniques

Creative writing techniques are what are required when writing a children's book. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to write a children's book. If you look through a few pages of some children's books you may laugh and think, "I can do that." then maybe you can get inspired with ideas to start your own project.

There are generally only three age groups for children's books, the 3-7 year olds listener/readers the intermediate readers 8-12, and the teenage readers 13-18. Spend time looking at children's books and looking at their titles and book covers at your local library to give you ideas.

A really simple story can keep young readers quickly turning the pages to find out what happens next. Provide your readers with plenty of action to keep them enthralled. Try to learn different writing styles for children it can be a real eye-opener. Experiment with this until you find your comfort level.

It is important to use different creative writing techniques in all your formats. There are many different kinds of writing from newspaper and magazine articles right through the spectrum to writing novels and books on a multitude of different subjects. It's imperative that you study to keep improving your writing.

You must make yourself comfortable and be where you will not be disturbed so you can focus properly on improving your writing skills. I would recommend to you that you should set aside at least 30 minutes a day for your writing. You should allow nothing to get in the way and prevent you from writing every single day, by practising every day you will improve your writing skills.

The realism is that the only way to really improve your skills is to write. Reading will help to improve your vocabulary and also the understanding of the written word. Within the written language there are phrases and structures that don't appear anywhere else and understanding these will improve the body of your writing.

Structuring your creative writing techniques is a must at all times. When you begin to write start to share what you've written. It's possible that you may receive some criticism, but some of it may well be constructive or maybe not but that's life.

Write down bullet points to give you a thought for the next few lines or paragraph basically you are setting up topics for the next few hundred words. You need to select a structure this is the order that you will get your points across to create compelling stories.

You always need a good headline or subject line that is relevant to what your subject project is to make it interesting for your readers to carry on reading. Now that you have got their attention you can deliver the bones and meat of the message you are trying to get across.

As you get the inspiration to get your writing done you will then feel more creatively satisfied as a result. Try to identify the really important issues to you about your writing and prioritise your writing time. Try to split the information throughout your document to make it easier for the reader to mentally absorb. Writing a book involves an important balancing act between the vision that you have and want and the words that you put onto the pages that you write.

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Encouraging Your Children To Read

Encouraging your child to read a wide variety of books is probably the best education you can give them - but sometimes it seems an uphill struggle! We have put together a collection of tips and tricks to encourage reading which may give you some ideas that will appeal to your kids and will fit into your family's routines.

Library Day:

If you live near to a good library, you could designate one day of the week "Library Day". In any event, try to visit regularly and spend time browsing through the books with your kids. Getting your kids their own library cards can be a huge incentive - and many libraries run special programs to encourage kids to take out books.

Read With Your Child:

Younger children like nothing better than to snuggle up with their parents to share reading time. You could try reading a page each - it helps to keep the pace up and make the story more interesting for your child, especially if they are struggling a little. You can also practice putting lots of expression into your reading: if your child learns to do this too, it will help their understanding (and of course prove useful when reading out loud at school!)

Read To Your Child:

Even adults like to be read to sometimes - so try not to grow out of the habit of reading to your kids! Obviously it helps when the kids are similar ages and have similar interests, but with a bit of perseverance you should be able to find something which you can read to all ages and enjoy! If not, split the reading up into age-groups, or perhaps ask an older sibling to read to a younger one occasionally.

Listen To Audio Books Too:

These days it is easy to get hold of audio books for some of the best children's stories - either through your library or bookshops online and offline. You can also download audio books through iTunes or Audible for instant gratification, to be listened to either through an iPod or burned onto a CD. A good audio book can be enjoyed by all the family, whatever their ages, and can make a long car journey hugely enjoyable. Why not set up a club with friends so that you can swap and share to keep costs down?

Provide A Good Selection:

Just because a story was your favorite as a child, it is not necessarily going to be your child's favorite too. Times have moved on and there is a huge selection of children's literature easily available now. Let your kids dip into all kinds of stories and non-fiction to find what interests them. If you want them to love reading, you have to give them choice in what they read.

Finishing Books:

As adults we are not prepared to finish every book we begin - some are just plain dreary and we don't have enough interest in them to see it through to the end. Your child is the same. My kids were expected to finish every reading book they took out at school before they were given the next, and frankly sometimes even I felt like jumping off the top of a tall building rather than read to the end! I'm not saying you should let them off finishing every single book, but if they are really not enjoying their current book, consider whether the writing and story are really good enough to insist.

Fiction v. Non-fiction:

Your child may not be a fiction lover, but don't despair! Reading any well-written book is an achievement - and you can get a lot of good information and practice off the back of a cereal packet in the mornings! There are some wonderful children's encyclopaedias available now, and various magazines for kids available by subscription which they will be really excited to receive each month in the post. The library will have shelves stocked with non-fiction for them to sample, and they may well end up being a fount of useful knowledge!

Reading Time:

Older kids can enjoy having a set "Reading Time" when everybody in the family - no exceptions - finds a comfortable place on a favorite chair or sofa and reads. Put some background music on if you like, refuse to answer the phone and drop all chores for the duration!

Keep A Record:

Sometimes keeping a record can make reading more fun - for all ages. You could buy each child a special notebook in which to record all the books they have read, and any thoughts they have on them. Encourage them to set up a rating system and share it with their friends! Young kids enjoy getting a sticker on a chart when they have finished a book.

Another lovely idea is to create a "caterpillar" by cutting out colorful circles of paper. Decorate one to look like a cheerful caterpillar's face and then add circles for his body, one by one, each time your child finishes a book, writing the name of the book on the circle if you wish. You could have different colored circles for each member of the family if you like (and if your kids can cope with the competition).

One mother I know kept a notebook record of every book her son ever read, including the date started and finished, and a mark for "enjoyment factor". After a while she started to stick in a small image for each book, taken off the internet, and her son (now a teenager) loves looking through his record and remembering his favorite stories.

Provide Bookmarks:

Reading can be made much more fun for kids by simple providing an appropriate bookmark! When they are young, try to find something on the same theme as the book (perhaps you could find some images on the internet to print off and laminate).

As the kids get older bookmarks can be more creative. Get the kids to help you make some one rainy day with scraps of card and ribbon, use some of their artwork, cut up old greeting cards and postcards, make collages from magazines, or use photographs of family and friends. Older kids can leave a message on the back of a bookmark and leave it in a favorite book for a younger sibling to find when they read the book later. Perhaps the older child could write a little about the book and why they enjoyed it, and put the date they finished it too. What a lovely surprise to find a few years later!

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Why Midnight Children is Called the Booker of the Bookers

For those looking for a racy, rousing read, kindly keep your hands off 'Midnight's Children'.

Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children - Winner of Best of the Booker, needless to say is a masterpiece in magical realism, brilliantly unfolded at a snail's pace. However, the novel's beauty lies in its style and not action. Nonetheless, a little familiarity with Indian history will make the novel a tad more interesting, given the allegorical references to India's social-political events strewn all across the story.

Hilarious and heartbreaking in equal measure, the story revolves are two children (in fact midnight's 1001 children) who were born at the precise instant of India's arrival at independence. Their destinies inextricably intertwined forever, thanks to the time of their births.

Saleem Sinai, the protagonist, when tumbled forth into the earth on Aug 15, 1947, was greeted by none other than Mr. Prime Minister's Letter. Yes Saleem was destiny's child. Born as an illegitimate son, he got all the good things that life had to offer, thanks to the nurse who without forethought swapped children just after their birth. Baby Saleem, naturally benefited in the process as he was entitled to all the care and riches of Shiva's household, Shiva, one of the 1001 children born at the same time, on the other end was relegated to the darkness of slums.

Noses and Knees, Nose and Knees. Saleem with his powerful nose could smell out every damn thing on this earth, be it the smell of anger or jealousy. Interestingly, he could read other minds and was endowed with the power of telepathy. Shiva on the other end had preternaturally powerful knees, knees that were exclusively used for pushing, shoving and crushing others. Though royal blood ran in his veins, his actions spoke otherwise. He turned out to be a brutish killer. Saleem, however, is portrayed as a nice fellow. His aberrations are shown in lighter vein, while Shiva's aberrations make you feel sick.

The use of the term 'optimism' is anesthetizing. The analogues employed are breathtaking. Numb as ice, clean as a slate, main fresh-water pipes which were city's lifelines began to blow fountains into the air like giant steel whales, tiny grain of grit in the sea of old age and so on. Philosophy dealt in the form of Snakes and Ladders. For every ladder you climb,a snake is just waiting around the corner; and for every snake a ladder will compensate. Very descriptive, simply explains the painstaking efforts put in by Rushdie. The story some time may seem long-winding, the language used may seem incomprehensible, but carry-on is the catchword here.

The political scenario post- Indian independence is nicely interwoven into the story. That's makes you wonder about Rushdie's brilliance. Rushdie dishes out everything history, politics, myth, food, magic, wit and dung all in one book, the partition of India and Pakistan, the power of "The Widow" Indira Gandhi, war and, finally the enforcement of martial law in the country.

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Coomacka Island (Children's Books 1 & 2)

Coomacka Island: The Story of Spider & Ant (book 1)
Children's Adventure

The Story of Spider and Ant, is the first book in a series written by Don P. Hooper and illustrated by Darnel Degand. Coomacka is an uncharted Caribbean Island, where each of the stories takes place. Although the Islands itself is a fictional place, much of the inspiration is based on Afro-Caribbean folklore. In this story, Spider manipulates Ant by being dishonest and pretending to be injured. Ant, believing his friend, enlists his family to help. After working all day for Spider, the ants were tired. However, the selfish Spider had no compassion for the ants nor did he appreciate all their hard work. Reveling in his deception and trickery, the greedy spider celebrated. However, the truth was soon revealed. Realizing this is not how friends are supposed to interact the ant sets out to teach the spider a lesson.

This beautifully written story has an important lesson hidden just below the surface. Books such as this, that teach silently, while entertaining loudly are rare finds indeed. The rhythmic sounds of the island are beating within the colorful drawings. The expressive eyes of the characters convey genuine emotion. A fun, entertaining story that will keep children wide eyed and interested. And that's exactly what a good children's book should do!

Coomacka Island: Aansi Jr and the Mango Truck (book 2)
Children's Adventure/Fiction
ISBN: 1-4251-0143-7

Anansi Jr and the Mango Truck is the second installment in the Coomacka Island series. Based in part, on Afro-Caribbean folklore, Anansi was the great trickster and somewhat of cult hero to islanders. For hundreds of years, folk tales about the Macka Tree and the spirits dwelling within roots have been passed down through the generations. As with many cherished stories, the fictional fires erupted from a spark of truth.

The story begins with AJ tending his garden, filled with beautiful plants, including his award winning Monkey Tail Shrub. There was only one thing he loved more than gardening and that was eating. AJ was also a very greedy spider. However, on this day, he would learn a valuable lesson about the spirit of giving and the meaning of friendship.

Once again, Hooper and Degand have delivered a fictional tale, filled with life lessons of immense importance. From the first colorful page, the reader is transported to the heart of the Caribbean. The emotion-filled drawings bring the words, as well as, the island to life. Introducing names with various origins, such as Swahili and Haitian, offers children an opportunity to expand their vocabulary, while embracing cultural diversity. Although Coomacka Island is an uncharted, fictional island, the morals and values found here have universal appeal. Featuring an entertaining forward and fun facts at the conclusion, this is a multi-layered, multi-cultural series that will be cherished by all who read it.

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Hoot - Children-Youth Fiction Book Review

Hoot is a story about a fun adventure that has a small group of young people making positive choices. The setting for this mystery-fiction tale takes place in the state of Florida, USA. The main character, Roy, has moved regularly with his family and he is used to being the new kid in schools and neighborhoods. His previous experience helps him make new friends and ward off a big bully who singles him by stalking and harassing Roy.

This new life seems like just another cycle to Roy until he witnesses a very strange event that leads Roy and his friends on a whirlwind adventure. Young boys and girls find themselves taking on something greater than their selves or their small worlds - the very definition of a hero. Saving a few members of an endangered species from greedy building contractors is an issue dear to my heart.

I not only loved the environmental theme but truly feel the author deserves praises for creating such intelligent, well-spoken characters - especially Roy, Beatrice and the mystery boy. I was impressed by Roy's speech about schools teaching youth how ordinary individuals became a part of positive change in the world simply by doing what they believed in - which was very moving and is something teachers and parents alike will appreciate. Two of the kids in this book have a difficult home life and the awareness of how hard life is for some, may bring some discussion into classes and families.

Author Carl Hiaasen depicts a character without describing in minute detail - thus leaving the imagination of the reader to determine how a character looks. Forgivable flaws in individual characters are made so by being so human - such as the policeman who makes some serious, yet understandable, blunders.

I would recommend Hoot by Carl Hiaasen anywhere, anytime! This is a fantastic tale that youth between the ages of 7 to 13 would relate very easily to, though I believe the range of readers Hoot would appeal to would be much wider than this. I, for one, am nearly 37 and I truly enjoyed doing this review project!

Publisher: Yearling
ISBN: 0-440-41939-5

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Finishing the Race - the Butterfly Effect

Three years ago I made a decision to get fit. However, we all know keeping the weight off is the hardest part of any long-term fitness plan. Sooner or later however, a plateau will occur. To offset my fitness plateau I increased my cardio by running which broke my plateau and also helped me to discover that a little imagination can go a long way.

Let me first mention that we draw motivation from many sources. Very often it's a person a thought, a song or perhaps a story that may motivate us. For me it was a butterfly.

For those of you who don't know the race, Nike sponsors an annual run called the Nike One Hit Wonder race where top Musical Bands, with No. 1 hits, would play their number one hit at every mile along the 5 mile course in NY's Central Park. This year, Joan Jett made a special appearance.

I remember my last glance at the car thermometer before getting out of the car - 102 degrees. I was wearing the mandatory Nike dry fit, bright red, jersey with my number printed on it, which was the actual ticket to get into the race. 10,000 other entrants did the same. No shirt, no entry - that was the rule.

I recalled driving up Madison Avenue trying to find a parking spot I took notice of all the red shirts walking, and biking uptown to 97th and 5th avenue, but it was nothing in volume compared to the sea of red shirts that were in Central park and at the starting line. It was almost race time and the temperature was dipping: 91 degrees!

I always get a bit nervous before a race because I have this fear of not making it. Why? I have no clue. It's weird.
As I'm waiting for the race to begin and containing my own self doubt, I overheard people talking about the hills and how big they were. Of course this fed my own self-defeating thoughts about running in such hot conditions. Now,suddenly I was intimidated by Central Park. Could I do it? Would I make good time? What am I doing here? I only had to look around to see that all the other red shirts and me were doing this run together. There were in no better or worse shape than I so if they could do it I would too.

The countdown began. The micro chip on my shoe would count my time from the moment I left the start line. I set off slowly, listening to all the folks around me chattering with excitement. I had classic disco music playing on my Ipod and I was jamming.

Along the first turn, I saw a friend of mine, a member of the press off to the side the road, she wasn't running but I called out to her and blew her a kiss and gave her a hearty wave. This was a good sign! I feel pretty good! Then I hit the first hill...this was the supposed "killer hill" that I'd been hearing about at the start line? It was a little steep, otherwise no problem. A definite confidence builder. 1 mile done - four to go! Then my Ipod froze. Damn! I started fiddling with it and lost about 3 minutes trying to reset it. The 9 minute mile folks passed me, the 9.5 minute mile folks passed me and I needed to get running! No way were the 10 minute mile folks going to pass me. No Way!

No matter, I'd have to run without it, I was losing too much time.

The second mile had a couple of small hills and I was feeling the lactic acid buildup in my legs. My mouth was super dry, I needed water. I slowed up again to grab a cup from the water station, downed it, and soldiered along. Man, oh man, was it hot and I missing my Ipod, Bigtime! I checked it again, still not working.. Some girl behind me was yacking about the guy who blew her off the night before, another was talking about how she should have taken up track when she was younger but didn't know better, and another was talking about her marathon training....UGhhhhhh, I took it my Ipod again and fiddled with it again but it was no use. I was losing time.

Almost half way there - three more miles to go! It would be fine. I would just have to think about something other than what I was doing. It was shady for most of the run, thank goodness, but the third mile hill was a killer. Not because it was so big, in fact it was a mere incline, but my legs were feeling super heavy due to fatigue and probably the heat. I passed another water station grabbed a cup of water and a cup of Gatorade and gulped it down.

It was starting to become quieter around me.

Between the third and the fourth mile my legs kicked in. Ah, finally! Now I only need to try to think about something other than the heat! Hard to do, when a girl was collapsed on the side of the road from heat exhaustion. What a bummer for her.

Conversations around me began to cease. There was an overall hush throughout the park. This was by far the coolest moment of the race. The only thing I could see was a flood of bright red shirts bobbing up and down in the distance ahead and all I could hear was the constant beat of feet hitting the asphalt. That rhythm would have to carry me through to the finish line because I needed a beat badly. I listened to my own labored breath and focused on the addition my own breathing brought to what I called the "rhythmic running band". Those darn self defeating thoughts were rearing their ugly heads again telling me that I wasn't going to make it! Not an option! I reminded myself.

"Think of something else." I thought.

Immediately, I flashed back to a story about two caterpillars who discussed turning into butterflies and one resisted the change. Once a butterfly the friend came back to motivate the weak and feeble caterpillar with a single phrase. As I hit the asphalt in 99.9 degree heat, with 10,000 other people in Central park, I muttered that phrase "You gotta have Wanna! If you have Wanna, you can do anything!

"I WANNA finish this race", I repeated to myself.

A heat delusion kicked in at that point because I began to daydream that all of these folks, knew what I was thinking. I imagined that they all suddenly opened their arms and flapped them gracefully as if they were gorgeous red butterflies, showing me their solidarity. I smiled, like a drunk. Yes, I imagined all of these New Yorkers, all 10,000 of them, for a few short seconds to be running down hill with me, flapping their arms like butterflies, knowing that they all have that one special thing: WANNA! Then I knew that I'd finish this race!

When I snapped out of it I was coming around to the beginning of the fifth mile. I heard someone exclaim breathlessly, "we're almost there." By now I'm soaked and exhilarated. I look up and see a street sign - I'm at 90th Street and I've only got to get to 97th and 5th Avenue.....whew! We are almost there!

The silence was broken, the crowd livened up again and there it was that beautiful word on a high flying banner which ended the race for all the red shirts in Central Park. I sprinted toward it: FINISH!

"Whatever it takes", I thought as I recalled my motivation with a smile "Whatever it takes!"

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Why Non-Fiction is Important to Reading and Learning

Children learn by taking in pieces of information and categorizing them. They do this all through their schooling years. When they reach puberty they take this information, make sense out of it, and think critically with it.

As a child grows, he or she adds to that warehouse of information. Unfortunately, many high school and college students do not have a solid informational knowledge base to do the work required of them in high school and college. Most college professors assume students already know how to summarize an article or infer the meanings of unknown vocabulary words in context. So from as early as possible, children need an ongoing diet of non-fiction reading material and all throughout their schooling years.

Books like Usborne are designed to provide information to the child in the way he or she learns it. Usborne books have large beautiful illustrations with small chunks of information around them. The illustrations and the factual text give the child the information in a straightforward, easy to understand way.

Studies show that children are not reading sufficiently, not comprehending what they read, and are not reading enough non-fiction. The only way to ensure comprehension and create good reading habits is to read a lot.

What This Means For Teachers

Teachers need to expose students to a variety of motivating non-fiction texts that are challenging. There should be plenty of oral and reading activities to help close some of the reading gaps and especially for English language learners. In fact, teachers should aim for a balanced oral-reading approach. "The research suggests that the reason for the disparity between word-and text-level skills among language-minority students is oral proficiency. Well-developed oral proficiency in English is associated with English reading and writing skills for these students" (August and Shanahan 4).

Practice, Practice, Practice.

With lots of practice, children will learn to sound out words and retain what they read. Usborne non-fiction books are fun, engaging and informational. The large illustrations give clues to the text. Even a lower performing reader can understand what's happening from an Usborne book. The pictures, located directly under or over the easy-to-understand text, help create an emotional response to the information. This response, whether it is happy, sad, or something else helps a child retain the information.

Have a Reading Plan

A child's reading will not take care of itself once s/he enters school. Children have many different ways of learning and what they understood from their early years already affects his/her learning. While teachers will change every year, a parent is the only constant in a child's school career. Parents/teachers can take already ensure that all reading components are in place by taking the following actions:

Start the reading process early.
Reduce the Summer Brain Drain. Kids can lose up to 60% of what they have learned during the summer months. Experts say reading during the summer is the best way to offset brain drain.Make sure you have a good stock for your kid's summer reading list.
Read well and read often.
Build an diverse library for your child with plenty of Usborne Books.
Include in their library non-fiction, fiction and practical "How To's."
Have the books available; be ready at the first initiative to read a book - don't wait until they express interest.

And remember...

* Readers often write well because they have read good literature.
* Readers have a better vocabulary because they are exposed to more words.
* Reading stimulates the mind.
* Reading entertains without dulling the mind like television and video games.

Read good books that will broaden their informational base and shape their futures.

Read books where you will get the most fun and learning for your money.

And just read!

Works Cited

August, Diane, and Timothy Shanahan (Eds.) Executive Summary. Developing Literacy in Second-Language Learners: Report of the National Literacy Panel on Language-Minority Children and Youth. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2006. 8 January 2009

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Doctor Who Breaks Science Fiction World Record

Doctor Who is now the longest running science fiction show that has been on television. The series commenced on 23 November, 1963. The Stargate SG-1 series holds the record for the world's longest running consecutive science fiction show.

Doctor Who is a British science fiction television series produced by the BBC and is shown around the world. In 2006 Doctor Who won recognition as one of the finest television programs produced by Britain. It won the British Academy Television Award for the Best Drama Series.

The story of Doctor Who centers around an alien time traveler, the Doctor, who travels in his time machine, the TARDIS (Time and Relative Dimensions In Space). The original run of the series was from 1963 to 1989, with a television film being made in 1996. The second run of the television series began in 2005.

Doctor Who possessed the ability to regenerate his body as required and was played by many actors with the original Doctor starring William Hartnell and the current Doctor starring David Tennant. Doctor Who shares his adventures with up to three companions.

In his travels Doctor Who has various adversaries and villains to overcome that have included the Daleks, that are mutants with metallic voices from the planet Skaro and have the aim to exterminate all that are inferior to themselves. The Cybermen are humanoids with artificial parts in their bodies who are extremely calculating. The Master is a renegade time traveler and the greatest enemy of Doctor Who.

Dr Who has attracted a cult following around the world and has resulted in many spin off products, action figures and toys to supply enthusiastic followers of the popular science fiction series.

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Dr. Seuss Quotes

Dr. Seuss Quotes: Scan through the Pages of the Books
You may hear them on TV or from friends, or you may read them in print, but the real Dr. Seuss quotes can be obtained straight from the main source: from the books published by the author.

Over the course of his professional career, Theodor Seuss Geisel, a world-renowned cartoonist and writer, had launched countless children's books, with a lot of spunk and great stories to tell. They are also excellent sources of Dr. Seuss quotes.

The Books of Dr. Seuss
1. And to Think that I Saw It on Mulberry Street. Some of the famous quotes found here are actually spoken by the main character named Marco. He was an inquisitive young boy who loved to pay attention to his surroundings, particularly the people who lived and passed by the Mulberry Street. The Dr. Seuss quotes, moreover, are addressed to his dad, to whom he wished to tell the story.

2. The Cat in the Hat. The Cat in the Hat is one of the most popular fiction books created by Dr. Seuss. Some of the Dr. Seuss quotes related to this would also come from the movie adaptations. The first one, which was published in 1957, would also be the beginning of other 5 follow-up books of the similar story line. The Dr. Seuss quotes here are normally spoken by the two young kids and, most of all, the cat, who planned to plan chaos into the household. The famous quotes are witty, treacherous in meaning, but totally entertaining.

3. The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins. This book was launched before the end of the 1930s. Unlike other Dr. Seuss quotes, which were part of rhymed verses, the famous quotes here were actually from prose. The main characters in the story were King Derwin and Bartholomew. Moreover, since the setting of the story was in feudal era, you can find some old English Dr. Seuss quotes.

4. Green Eggs and Ham. There are definitely enumerable Dr. Seuss quotes in this book. After all, everything-from the story down to the setting-were told in spoken dialogues. Furthermore, to make sure that the book will also be appreciated by children, Seuss added some graphics or images.

5. Horton Hears a Who. This is a classic fiction from Seuss and was later adapted into a movie. The Dr. Seuss quotes are spoken by the protagonist Horton, an elephant who was responsible for the safety and protection of Whoville. It's a small community that lived on a speck of a dust.

Indeed, classics can give you excellent and worth-remembering adages, such as Dr. Seuss quotes. If you don't know where to look for these books, you can definitely shop in your book shops. A lot of them are absolutely selling them knowing how popular they are after all these years.

You can also download the books from the Internet in the form of PDFs. You can later save them in your laptop, desktop PCs, or even in your PDAs; so you can comfortably access these Dr. Seuss quotes even when you're on the road.

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The Ghosts of Ashbury High by Jaclyn Moriarity

Bestselling author Jaclyn Moriarty returns to Ashbury High for an unforgettable senior year filled with ghosts, secrets, and romance.

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Writing Book Reviews - Fiction

A book review describes, analyzes, and evaluates the quality, meaning, and significance of a book. It should not retell, and it is not a book report or a summary. A review is a commentary. Although no "right" way to write a review exists, some essential information is needed in each. Fiction and non-fiction books have differences not only in the content but also what components should be in a review. Let's look as some suggestions to consider when writing a book review for a book of fiction. I will use one of my books in the examples.

First of all, do not give away the story, climax, ending of the book. Do use occasional quotes from the book to support or explain points made in the review.

The first paragraph should include the title of the book and the author's name. Sometimes publishing information such of ISBN, publisher, type of book, and general subject matter is noted.

Example of a first paragraph: The Base Stealers Club, by V. Gilbert Zahel, follows the progress of a middle-school-aged baseball team as it plays its way to a championship. A part of the team also help solve a mystery plaguing the community. Published by 4RV Publishers, ISBN: 978-1-84728-220-0, the book appeals to those who interested in sports, mystery, and adventure.

Other points to be covered, in different paragraphs, are as follows:

Characters: Are the characters flat or round? A round character is multiple dimensional. Round characters make a story line more interesting and believable; therefore, the analysis of the author's use of three-dimensional characters or flat characters is important.

Example of character portrayal: Ryan Scott not only is an excellent athlete, but he also cares about others. He helps find the thief in the story; then he wants to help the young man who stole money from locker rooms. An instance where he acted as peace maker on the team is shown in the following excerpt: Ryan stood beside Colby, slipping his arm across the shorter boy's shoulders. "Hey, Colby, settle down. Josh is just repeating what he heard. I've heard my dad say the same thing about some criminals." With a slight smile, Ryan turned to Josh. "Josh, what does the preacher say about forgiving? What have we learned in church about forgiving others?"

Theme: The theme of a book may not be written word for word, but the review should note how the author reveals or develops the theme or themes. Mention whether you, as the reviewer, agree or disagree with the author's theme(s) and why.

Example of theme: The author gives support for moral values and actions through the book. Yet, the message isn't preachy or blunt, but the theme flows throughout the story. The author's opinions are solid and are ones that young readers need to realize and learn to accept.

Plot: Are the various elements of plot handled well? The elements of plot include introduction, conflict, climax, and conclusion.

Example of plot: The Base Stealers Club introduces the conflict, the problem in the first two chapters of the book, both the start of the games leading to a successful season and the missing money in locker rooms. The suspense intensifies as the team plays and tries to help find the thief. The climax is unique, as is the reaction of team members.

Author information: V. Gilbert Zabel, who also writes under the name Vivian Gilbert Zabel, for adult level books, and Granny Zabel, for children's books, played baseball and helped coach a baseball team. Her interest and background in the sport, as well as with children, can be found in the pages of this book.

Give a brief summary of the book: Give an overview, but do not give away the plot climax or conclusion.

Example of summary: The Jonesville Chargers, a baseball team of middle school-aged boys, pursues championship dreams and the solution of a mystery plaguing their team.

Give your opinion of the book: Tell how the book affected you. Say whether or not the book is interesting, entertaining, or memorable. Would you recommend the book to readers? Why or why not?

Example of opinion: I enjoyed The Base Stealers Club because I became swept up in the chronicling of a team's season, games and attempt to find a thief. This book will appeal to readers aged ten to fifteen who love baseball. Young sports fans will be better for having read the book.

Important note: Having correct grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and other components of good writing are as important in a review as in writing a book. Reviews are a form of writing.

The suggestions can be arranged differently or combined, and some others can be added. Some can be eliminated, but most of the information needs to be somewhere in the review.

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Acclaimed Children's Writer Amy Friedman Interviewed

Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of the book reviewing and interviewing site Bookpleasures is excited to have as our guest, Amy Friedman, acclaimed writer who wrote Tell Me a Story for Universal Press Syndicate.

Good day Amy and thank your for agreeing to participate in our interview.

Good day, Norm, and thanks a million for having me.

Norm:

Amy, please tell our readers a little bit about your personal and professional background. What is your background in children's literature?

Amy:

I think the road to writing for an audience of children began when I was a kid living in a house with two reading-addicted parents.

The furniture in our family's den was barely visible beneath the books, magazines and newspapers, and my Dad, a lawyer, had always wanted to be a journalist; in fact before going to law school he worked as a sports reporter (combining his two passions), but in that era Jews had difficulty getting jobs as journalists, so Dad went to law school.

When I was about 12, I wrote my first short story, and I decided right then and there that I wanted to be a writer, though like all writers' lives, the road to here has taken many surprising turns.

I studied English at Barnard College, with a minor in creative writing. In those days I wrote only fiction, and in the late '70s, I went to City College for an MFA in writing because Donald Barthleme, a writer I admire enormously, was teaching there. He truly was the person who taught me how to write well, how to work hard, and how, too, to take deep pleasure in writing.

In the mid-80s my life took one of those glorious turns that feeds a writer's imagination and nourishes the soul. I'd lived in Manhattan for nearly 15 years, but I fell in love with a Canadian and moved to a sheep farm outside--OUTSIDE--of Gananoque, Ontario. I adored the farm and discovered a marvelous the newspaper published in nearby Kingston. Then owned and run independently, The Kingston Whig-Standard published a stunning magazine, and this is where, ultimately, Tell Me A Story and my close involvement with children's literature began. I had worked for eight years as an adult columnist, and that column led to two published two books, the first a memoir called Kick the Dog and Shoot the Cat, about the similarities between sheep farming and my previous work in New York, in film production (on such blockbuster Hollywood hits as Ghostbusters).

I still had no idea that ultimately I would be writing for children in those first years on the newspaper. I had, though, expanded from writing strictly fiction to writing nonfiction, personal essay, and plays.

Norm:

Will you share a little bit about Tell Me A Story with us?

Amy:

One day in the early '90s I approached our editor, Neil Reynolds, and told him I thought the newspaper needed something for kids. I'd loved newspapers when I was young. Neil was all for it and told me to go figure out what this new feature should be and let him know.

There was a fabulous children's librarian in the Kingston Public Library, Mary Beaty, and she spent hours leading me through old books of folklore. As we talked, I began to remember how much I'd always loved mythology, and when Mary showed me a version of the Finnish epic, The Kalevala and some old Chinese folktales I'd never known existed, I was hooked. Mary also led me to the Toronto Public Library collection in the Boys and Girls House, a collection established in 1922, the first children's library in the British Empire. The Toronto Public Library's relationship to children's literature is a great story in itself, but that's for another day.

Long story a little shortened, Mary also introduced me to Jillian Gilliland who by then had illustrated more than 20 children's books. Jillian loved the idea of a column of retold folk and fairytales, legends and myths; we told Neil we wanted our column to be children's fiction, new and old, illustrated all, and just a few weeks later, in November 1991, we began to produce The Bedtime Story, six days a week. I wrote only one or two a week and selected and edited other stories from mountains of submissions. Within a month ten other papers in Canada had picked up The Bedtime Story, and one day in the newsroom our city editor, Norris McDonald, pulled me aside to introduce me to Dan Dalton. Dan was a syndicate salesman, but this time instead of selling, he wanted to talk about the buying The Bedtime Story for Universal Press Syndicate.

Universal signed me to write ONE story each week, Jillian to illustrate, in color, and Tell Me A Story was born. It quickly caught fire and was soon running in hundreds of papers around the world.

We lost many of our clients when newsprint doubled in price in the mid-90s (the column takes up lots of space), but we still run in about 100 papers (the numbers vary monthly), even as far away as China.

My house now (I'm now in Los Angeles) looks a little bit like the Boys and Girls Room at the Toronto Public Library, and one of the best parts of the whole experience has been relationships I've developed over the years with people who've stumbled upon the column. For years I corresponded with a Kalevala scholar in Finland. I received a copy of a just-discovered Chinese manuscript from some folklore scholars in Hawaii. The folklore scholars keep me honest and are constantly teaching me new things about literature's roots, for instance; and Jillian keeps me honest too because every one of her paintings is accurate down to the tiniest details. We do our homework, making sure to be true to the details of time, place, dress, flora, fauna, architecture, and so on.

The column has generated two books--Tell Me A Story and The Spectacular Gift, but I'd always wanted to make an audio version. In my life outside of Tell Me A Story I teach creative nonfiction and personal essay writing at UCLA, and through this work, and through my writing and performing personal essays, I've met dozens of extraordinarily talented actors.

Norm:

How did you go about choosing the stories and music to be included in Tell Me A Story?

Amy:

When I decided I was going to produce the CD on my own, I knew I'd need partners. First my husband, Dennis Danziger, a writer and teacher, enthusiastically joined me, but he wanted to be a sort of silent partner. I had performed in a spoken word venue known as Melt in Your Mouth which is produced by Lori Ada Jaroslow and had so admired her work, both as producer and as a director, I invited her to co-produce. She was immediately intrigued.

Last summer I handed Lori a stack of more than 100 of my stories, and Lori began to read, ultimately winnowing the selection to 50. Lori also suggested three possible sound engineers and composers. When I heard Laura Hall's music (and remembered seeing her on Whose Line Is It Anyway, and feeling such great energy emanating from her), I decided she was the one.

Laura, Lori and I spent days sitting in coffee shops talking about the selections--finally narrowing our list to 25. We looked for range--different parts of the world, male, female and animal leads, funny and serious, stories that had different rhythms and different messages.

But we couldn't get below 25, so we called in Laura's two daughters, Ruthie, age 7, and Eva, 9. The girls read all 25 and gave us brilliant post-it notes; they also negotiated with each other--Eva giving up her favorite when Ruthie gave up hers, and so forth.

We winnowed to 10, and then, once we began recording, we realized we would have to lose two more. Our mixer told us once a CD goes over 72 minutes, quality is sacrificed, and the stories read longer than we'd anticipated.

We've promised Ruthie that her favorite story, a French Canadian tale called The Talking Cat, will be included on one of our next cds.

Norm:

Could you tell our readers something about the different people who narrate the stories and how were they chosen?

Amy:

This was sheer joy. Lauren Tom was first on my list. I met Lauren when years ago she took a writing class from me. I've seen her perform on stage, in films, on television, and I've heard her voice on the many animated shows, but maybe most importantly, I've watched her at play with her two sons who she adores.

Kathleen Wilhoite's a similar story. When I first heard Kathleen read one of her stories at a spoken word theater (and heard her sing as well), I knew I wanted to work with her. Her voice is inimitable--husky, funny, sweet, sassy, beautiful, and wise. And Kath too is a devoted mom to her son and daughter. Lori was a given; she's a longtime talented singer and performer, and she's worked with some of the finest actors around. It was Lori's contacts and instincts which took us to Jack

McGee, Charlayne Woodard, and Poppy Champlin. Eventually we decided we wanted to cast against type; that is, that we didn't want Lauren reading a Chinese story because she's Chinese American, or Charlayne reading an African story because she's African American. Perhaps one of my favorite moments was the day

Jack McGee with his gruff, tough, New York street-wise voice that lots of people recognize from Rescue Me came in and read Two Frogs from Japan. Every time I hear Jack on the CD saying, "Spahkle and Shimma, Spahkle and Shimma" (or, in regular-old-English, sparkle and shimmer, sparkle and shimmer), I laugh. Every time. And I've heard it thousands of times.

Laura's husband, Rick Hall, is both hilarious and a serious, seasoned performer, and maybe best of all, he loves Anansi stories. I remember thinking when I first heard him read, "ohhhh, so THAT's how Anansi sounds." And his trombone playing--he's one of those all-around talents. One day we suddenly changed our minds about a story and we needed at the last minute to find a reader with a rich, deep, powerful voice. Laura suggested her friend and neighbor, actor and singer

William Thomas Jr. William had just finished taking an exam (he's studying for the Seminary) but pro that he is, within the hour he was at the studio, reading the story as if he'd rehearsed for weeks.

Maybe my favorite day was in the studio with Poppy Champlin, one of the most versatile comediennes around, when she came in and started channeling animals. When she suddenly became a raccoon telling ghost stories on Searching for Fear, I couldn't catch my breath for the laughter. None of us could. We had to take a break from recording. Sometimes in the middle of recording, Lori and I would look at each other in wonder at the magic in that studio, and when Lori sang Laura and me a lullabye she remembered her father singing to her (her dad for years played Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway), Laura and I convinced her she had to include it in her telling of A Sense of Theft, and that, as I recall, is when Laura says she first began to hear the music.

Norm:

How long did it take you to put together your CD and what challenges or obstacles did you encounter while putting together the CD? How did you overcome these challenges?

Amy:

We began selecting stories in late summer '05 and by October 2005 we were recording in Laura's studio (Laura was both composer and engineer). The recording went quickly. Each of the performers was exceptional--they walked into the studio with their pages, cozied up to the mic and offered up their enormous talent.

Afterwards, though, Lori and Laura spent days and weeks editing various takes; they kept me out of the studio because we all agreed I was too close to the stories, and too, because we wanted to make sure once they had put together the best cut, someone would have a "clean ear" to listen and make the final changes.

One other note: after day one, after Kathleen Wilhoite and Charlayne Woodard had finished recording, we realized we hadn't asked them to record the titles. Because we were working on a tight budget, Dennis, my husband, said, "Well, what if instead of asking them to return to the studio, the girls record the titles. Laura's girls."

And now, when listeners first hear Ruthie's voice announcing, A Sense of Theft, they swoon. Perfection. It was another one of those magical "accidents."

I don't know that we've actually encountered obstacles. In fact, along the way what has struck me most of all is how extraordinary every person who worked on this has been, how each person performed beyond all my expectations, from the readers to the musicians, Larry Hughes, a clarinetist I found through an old childhood friend, a studio musician in LA, and Luke Hannington who played bass, recorder, and guitar and is a friend and colleague of Laura's, to Laura, of course. The inimitable, ultra-talented Laura. I cried when I first heard her music. I mean truly wept, it was so far beyond what I had dared imagine it could be.

Matt Lands who did the mixing and mastering listened to the first story and understood in a heartbeat what we wanted, and some of the touches no one but we probably will ever notice are the result of his Matt's magic hand. When we had finished the final mix, I called on Walter Green of Weingart Design in Cleveland, Ohio (going back to my childhood hometown); he listened to the CD and instantly understood--this was a classic and the design had to be too.

The most difficult part for me has been learning all the elements of production; I spent days poring over pages of what at first seemed gobbledygook as I tried to understand the manufacturing process and select our manufacturer. But mostly the process has been hard but joyful work. The CD feels, to me, filled with the spirit of all those people whose gave of their talent, and as a physician friend told me when he heard it, "You can hear the joy of all the creators in this."

I guess if there's one part that makes me uneasy, it's the marketing. That part's hard, and out of my realm of experience. So, again, I'm learning.

Norm:

How will you be marketing your CD?

Amy:

We're learning as we go. Universal Press Syndicate is involved; we have contacted all the newspapers in which the column appears, and hope to reach a lot of our readers that way. As you know, I'm reaching out to reviewers, most of whom I've come upon through my membership in the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. We've also sent the CD to several award competitions and to dozens of children's radio hosts around the country. We are performing at as many venues as we can, and our first performance will be on July 8 at Hollygrove, in Hollywood, where Carrie-on, a day recreation facility for children with life-threatening illnesses, is holding a series of open houses.

A while ago I met Tracy Mestres who created Carrie-on, and I knew instantly this was the charity to which we would be donating a portion of our proceeds. Carrie, Tracy's daughter, was before her death at the age of 13, a writer and an artist; I never knew her but a student of mine was her teacher. Angelica used to bring Carrie's stories to my class, and I remembered those stories; somehow the light that was in Carrie's stories seemed like the light that emanates from our CD, and from this whole experience. The match seemed just right.

We also plan to perform at The Geffen Theater in Los Angeles in conjunction with their education program and I hope too, we'll be in other places, in other cities, in bookstores and beyond.

We're also seeking to interest librarians and teachers, and I am still building into the website, www.mythsandtales.com exercises teachers can use in the classroom, ways to use the CD and other folktales to teach.

Norm:

Where can we buy your CD?

Amy:

For now, the CD is available online at CD Baby, CDbaby.com/cd/friedmanhall. It will be a little while before we can make it available to retail outlets, but people who are uneasy about ordering online can contact me at kellsmom@comcast.net, and I will either mail them a copy or direct them to a store in their neighborhood where they can order it. Soon I hope it will be more widely available, but that's part of this marketing thing.

But besides, CD Baby is a great self-made, small company, and I'd like to support them the way they support so many independent musicians and story tellers.

Norm

Is there an underlying message you wish to convey with these stories?

Amy:

The truthful answer is yes. But there's more than one. First, maybe most vividly, the message is that people should involve themselves in community, should resist the lure of selfishness and self-involvement to work together; a little bit the message is not only in the stories but in the whole collaborative result--in what quality results when a group of people working together to create, whether it's a CD or a better world.

Second, and this surprised Lori, Laura and me, but after recording, we discovered that we had created a dynamic we hadn't exactly intended but were pleased to find. Zena in A Sense of Theft, Hannah in A Clever Girl, Sal in The Boatman's Howling Daughter, and The Selkie Bride are such dynamic, optimistic, truthful, powerful women that their energy seems to fuel the CD, making it tilt, perhaps a little, toward the female. An 11-year-old girl told me the other day that she loved the CD. "I'm like Sal," she said, "and like Hannah. And my name's Hannah..." She was grinning, ear to ear. But then her brother said, "I like Gregory, the raccoon," and I remembered that we have a lot of fabulous male stuff in there too.

The bottom line message, ultimately, is that kindness, generosity, curiosity, determination and wisdom are far better traits to possess, and ultimately bring far greater gifts, than do selfishness, greed, and fear.

Norm:

What are your hopes for the CD?

Amy:

We hope people will feel as much joy in listening to it as we experienced making it, and we hope it will reach listeners far and wide. We also hope it will be just the first in a series. Laura, Lori and I have already begun to talk about who and what will be on the next one, and besides, we promised Ruthie.

And Norm, I want to thank you for being so generous as to offer me this opportunity. Meeting you, and your offer to do this interview, feels like one more piece of the magic.

The above interview was conducted by: NORM GOLDMAN: Editor of Bookpleasures. CLICK TO VIEW Norm Goldman's Reviews

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Parents and Carers - Why Learning to Read is One of the Most Important Skills Your Child Will Learn

Reading helps your child learn about and understand the world in which he lives. Through reading he learns new words and phrases he can use in order to express himself. For example, reading helps a child learn about the passing of time and how to express it. Examples of phrases he will learn are; "Once upon a time", "The next day" or "On Monday".

Reading develops the imagination by taking your child into another world where anything is possible. Witches and ghosts, magic carpets, fairies and genies, are just a few of the wonders he will discover.

Reading allows a child to learn more about what interests him. It develops thought skills such as anticipation, (guessing what will happen next) and memory (what has happened already). It also allows children to explore and express their feelings and those of others. Reading is an activity which can be enjoyed alone or with others. Books help us to understand more about the world we live in. They also allow us to explore beyond that world and enter new worlds which don't really exist.

What are the benefits of good reading skills?

One of the main benefits of good reading skills is the ability to find information and knowledge. People with good reading skills are able to get information easily. They are able to follow written instructions, read maps, enjoy stories, novels or poems and use reference books to find information.

Good readers have access to an unlimited supply of knowledge and fantasy. They learn how to express themselves. They learn to understand that other people might think, act and dress differently from them.

What are the effects of poor reading skills?

Children with poor reading skills often get 'left behind'. They become more and more frustrated. They compare themselves (or, even worse, are compared) with others and feel stupid. Reading becomes a chore, something they dislike.

Adults with poor reading skills often go to great lengths to hide their lack of ability. They are less likely to be able to gain well-paid employment or may be overlooked for promotion. This leads to frustration and low self-esteem because they are aware of the disadvantage poor reading skills gives them.

Research has shown that children of parents with poor reading skills are more likely to have poor reading skills too. This proves how important parents or carers are in the development of a child's reading skills.

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How to Structure Your Non-Fiction Book

You have a non-fiction book in mind. You know it's going to be great and it'll help a lot of people. But you also have mountains and mountains of material--so much good information! So much excellent research! How do you organize it all to create a powerful book? Here are the basic building blocks of a non-fiction book. Keep these in mind and you won't get overwhelmed by your material.

1.) Think About Your Reader

When you think about your reader you're thinking two things: "What does the reader get out of my book?" and "What kind of relationship do I want to establish with the reader?" One of your duties as an author is to offer your reader something of value which could even change their life for the better. Ideally you'll make it clear what this value is when you title the book. It's pretty clear, for instance, what you'll get when you pick up Stephen Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People". This could also provide the structure for your chapters. If you're teaching how to improve your golf stroke in 10 steps, you could include a chapter on each step. You don't have to make it more complicated than that.

As for your relationship with your reader, what do you want it to be? Will it be a teacher/student relationship? Peer-to-peer? A storytelling relationship? If you're writing a biography, you may want to be a storyteller and have your reader be a listener. Will your voice be friendly and homely? Or authoritative and formal? The point is that you're always asking yourself "To whom and I speaking and how do I want to be heard?" What choices will best suit your audience?

2.) What's Your Theory?

Theory is how the writer is proposing to make his ideas play themselves out. It's how it all works. In Anthony Robbins' book, "Awaken the Giant Within", he's making the point that you are in control of your decisions and you can really tap into your human potential. Well, how do you do that? His theory of how you do that is to become aware that you are in control of everything that happens within you. You are in control of your emotions, of making choices, of creating what he calls "neuro associations" that will draw you towards a positive behavior or help you move away from a negative behavior. That's his theory.

I'm assuming if you have already decided to write a non-fiction book that you have a plan that you're presenting to the world. Non-fiction books are often the result of what you do in your everyday life; you may notice that things could work better if people did things in a different way. Maybe your how-to just makes more sense, or it fits your readers better than someone else's theory. That's why it's important for you to have your own ideas. It truly is about what you're bringing to the book, how much you're putting yourself into it, because that's what brings energy and vitality to the work and makes a lasting impression on the world.

3.) What Stories Will You Tell?

Stories are a crucial ingredient in non-fiction books. They are what will help bring your points home to the reader and make them real. Most writers use anecdotes from their professional lives. Life coaches use stories from clients, real estate brokers use stories from people they've worked with. Stories help the reader see that 1) other people have dealt with the same problems and 2) the writer has direct experience and knows how to bring about a successful solution.

When you use stories you're also using an ages-old technique--it's even used in the Bible, where stories (or parables) are told to educate the reader on complex concepts. I think our brains still respond positively to this technique. Stories can be a softer way of taking medicine--that spoonful of sugar that helps the medicine go down!

4.) What's Your Call to Action?

When you craft a call to action for your reader, you are designing a way of telling them, "Here's what you do now that you have this information, here's how you make it work." Let's use a weight loss book as an example. Maybe the theory is about overeating. If you were writing this book, you might want to include calls to action throughout the book giving the reader different strategies about how to avoid overeating. You'll include how not to overeat in restaurants, how to avoid overeating at bedtime, how to avoid overeating while traveling or at buffets, whatever.

In some books the author will present questions and exercises. That's part of a call to action because it makes the reader stop and absorb what they've just learned and even to design their own action plans based on their own unique circumstances. In our example above, you might challenge the reader to choose two alternative things they could do instead of overeating.

What's Next?

Now you have to write the book! Keep this structure in mind and you'll be well on your way to creating a powerful book that will inform, educate and--in the best of all possible worlds--change the way we live for the better.

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Discerning Facts From Fiction: The Truth About ADHD

You probably would have heard about a lot of rumors spreading about ADHD or Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and you may be wondering if all of these are even true. Though there had been a lot of researches made about ADHD, there are still a lot of stories being spread around leaving people with questions regarding the truth about ADHD.

Since a lot of rumors have been spreading about ADHD, it is about time you learn the truth about ADHD. Though a lot has been told about the probable causes or about the conditions of people who suffer from ADHD, you should know how to discern fact from fiction regarding ADHD.

One rumor that has been spreading about ADHD is that ADHD is considered as a personality disorder. For some, it is a personality trait or even a special trait in children as some exhibit incredible creativity as well as intuitiveness. But the truth about ADHD is that it is known to be a neurological disorder which could stunt the impressionable mind's development, and if your child is showing ADHD-like symptoms, you must not ignore them and address the underlying problem properly.

Children who have ADHD will outgrow it. There are some people who believe that ADHD occur during a person's youth and the person eventually outgrows the disorder and adjust with normal individuals. But evidence shows that the truth about ADHD is that it affects a person for his whole life. Though ADHD stays for a lifetime, a child always has the possibility of being able to cope fairly well with his condition even if special attention is required since a child tends to help positive feelings maintained without having to take away the energy as well as the imagination that comes with this ADHD.

ADHD is usually over-diagnosed. You would probably have heard of this a lot of times especially from concerned parents who do not trust psychiatry. There are many cases wherein parents overreacted regarding the symptoms of ADHD and have treated it with strong medication. The problem is that the child's development has been ignored by some of these parents. The truth about ADHD is that you need to pay attention to your child's needs if he suffers from ADHD and should give him or her proper treatment consisting of behavioral modification as well as medication or therapy as needed.

Another thing being said about ADHD is that it is caused by poor parenting. The truth about ADHD is that it is not merely caused by poor parenting but with the presence of bad parenting, the ADHD condition in a child could be exacerbated.

No matter what is being said on the truth about ADHD, you have to be aware of the symptoms that your child exhibits before being diagnosed of ADHD. It is important that proper treatment is given to help your child cope with the disorder and be able to live a better life.

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The Queen of Suspense Novelist, Mary Higgins Clark, Author Biographies

Mary Theresa Eleanor Higgins was born in the Bronx on December 24, 1927. She was the only daughter of Irish immigrant, Luke Higgins and wife Nora. Her father died when Mary was only 11 years old.

To help her struggling mother financially, Mary went to secretarial school after she graduated high school. She worked at an advertising agency for three years until she decided she wanted to travel.

In 1949 Mary was a flight attendant for Pan American Airlines. Her run was Europe, Africa and Asia. She says, "I was in a revolution in Syria and on the last flight into Czechoslovakia before the Iron Curtain went down." Of course, back then your were like starlets because Pan Pam was the air line to work for.

After her marriage in1950 to her neighbor, Warren Clark, whom she had know since a teenager, Mary started writing short stories. She sold one of her first stories in 1956 for $100.

Mary and Warren had five children together, but Warren died of a heart attack in 1964. Left raising the children on her own, Mary started writing patriotic radio scripts and books. The first book she wrote was, "Aspire to the Heavens." In 2002, Meredith Press republished this book under a new title, "Mount Vernon Love Story."

Mary went back to college graduating summa cum laude with a BA in Philosophy at Fordham University at Lincoln Center in 1979. Later, asked why philosophy, she said that there is much psychology in philosophy, which helped her become a better writer. Today Mary has thirteen honorary doctorates.

Mary does use much psychology in her novels. Asked about ESP, Mary says that she believes that all writers have an intuitive sense, "I firmly believe in ESP. Sometimes there is thought transference..." However, she does not believe in channelling or reincarnation.

Mary Higgins Clark tackles many controversial subjects in her novels, such as fertility clinics, capital punishment, HMO's, multiple personalities and parapsychology. However, Mary has never used explicit sex or violence in her books. Maybe that is why they appeal to the growing number of young adults reading her novels.

Mary's daughter, Carol Higgins Clark, also a suspense writer, has co-authored several books with her.

In 1996, Mary married John Conheeney. John is the retired chairman and CEO of Merrill-Lynch Futures. They make Saddle River, New Jersey their home.

Although Mary is known as "The Queen of Suspense," she says that she still wants to write a book that is a generational saga.

Books by Mary Higgins Clark:

Series:

Regan Reilly (with Carol Higgins Clark)
Deck the Halls (2000)
The Christmas Thief ((2004)
Santa Cruise (2006)
Dashing Through the Snow (2008)

Stand Alone Novels:

Aspire to the Heavens (1960)
Where are the Children (1975)
A Stranger is Watching? (1977)
The Cradle Will Fall (1980)
A Cry in the Night (1982)
Stillwatch (1984)
Weep No More, My Lady (1987)
While My Pretty One Sleeps (1989)
Loves Music, Loves to Dance (1991)
All Around the Town (1992)
I'll Be Seeing You (1993)
Remember Me (1994)
Pretend You Don't See Her (1994)
Silent Night (1995)
Let Me Call You Sweetheart (1995)
Moonlight Becomes You (1996)
You Belong to Me (1998)
All Through the Night (1998)
We'll Meet Again (1999)
Before I Say Good-Bye (2000)
He Sees You When You're Sleeping (2001) (With Carol Higgins Clark)
On the Street where You Live (2001)
Daddy's Little Girl (2002)
The Second Time Around (2003)
Nighttime is My Time (2004)
No Place Like Home (2005)
Two Little Girls in Blue (2006)
I Heard That Song Before (2007)
Where Are You Now (2008)
Just Take My Heart (2009)
The Shadow of Your Smile (2010)

Children's Fiction:

Ghost Ship: A Cape Cod Story (2007)

Non Fiction:

Mother (1996) (with Maya Angelou and Amy Tan)
Kitchen Privileges: A Memoir (2001)

Anthologies Edited:

Murder on the Aisle: The 1987 Mystery Writers of America Anthology (1987)
Caribbean Blues (1988)
Women of Mystery (1992) (with Faye Kellerman and Cynthia Manson)
Bad Behavior (1995)
The Plot Thickens (1997)
The Night Awakens (1998)
Great Mystery Series: 11 of the Best Short Stories from Alfred Hitchcock's And Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine (2000) (with Lawrence Block and Ralph McInerny)

Collections:

The Anastasia Syndrome: And Other Stories (1989)
That's the Ticket/Voices in the Coal Bin (1990) (with Carol Higgins Clark)
Death on the Cape: and Other Stories (1993)
Stowaway and Milk Run (1993)
The Lottery Winner: Alvirah and Willy Stories (1994)
My Gal Sunday: Henry and Sunday Stories (1996)

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Walking on a Rainbow - How I Became a Children's Book Author

I used to think writing children's books was boring. Writing for those demanding, whining creatures? Are you kidding? Not for me. No thanks.

That was a few years ago.

Now, nothing fills me with more joy and excitement than writing a picture book or a novel for tweens. Writing for children is like stepping into a fresh, magical, innocent, marvelous world of color and words. Writing for children is, in fact, like walking on a rainbow.

So how did the change happen?

Easy. I had children.

I recently read an interesting post by another children's author about how in order to write good children's stories, one must know children. Of course, as always, there are exceptions to the rule, but in general, I find this observation to be true. This doesn't necessarily mean that one must have children in order to write great children's stories, but it does mean that one must interact with them, know their fears, fantasies, dreams. In sum, one must have a clear idea of what goes on inside their little heads and hearts.

In my case, having children brought out a tender, gentler part of me to the surface, a part I didn't know I had. Suddenly, as I read to my little daughter every night, picture books, with their beautiful and evocative illustrations, began to appear very appealing to me. I don't remember when the exact moment happened, the moment when I thought, 'I want to write a children's book.' But I do know I went from extreme to extreme: from chilling horror to sweet picture books. Two very different worlds, but I'm able to switch from one to the other without much problem. On the contrary, each one serves as a refreshing break from the other. So I may work on a lovable children's story in the morning, and dive into a disturbing werewolf scene in the afternoon. It's fun, like having split personalities, without the crazy element (or at least, I hope so!).

So far, I've written four picture books. Two have already been published: The Magic Violin and CRASH! The other two are in the illustrating stages and will be released next year. I also have a finished tween novel in the editing stages and another one in progress.

The world of children's book publishing is extremely competitive, to say the least. It takes hard work, dedication, perseverance and commitment to become a published author. I know the stakes, but once you step into that magical rainbow, there's no turning back.

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