Interview with a BookWyrm: My Three BookWyrms

Photo courtesy of PublicDominPictures.net

When I decided to return to writing Blue Sky, Big Dreams earlier this month, I thought about which aspects of the blog I would like to keep: the poems, the word of the week, the book reviews, and more. I also did a lot of thinking about items that I wanted to add to the blog. One new piece that I am excited to implement is "Interview with a BookWyrm", where my readers can share photos of themselves (or their children) reading books and also answer a few questions about their own love of reading. I enjoy hearing about others' favorite books, authors, etc. -- and I'm hoping that you do, too! My plan is to share one or two of these interviews each month.

To kick off this new blog piece, I thought I would start with my own kiddos. (They are captive subjects, after all.) I took photos of each of them reading this week and then interviewed them individually. The questions and their answers are below:

Name: Emmalie

Age: 19

Do you have a favorite reading spot? My bed.

What kinds of books do you like to read? Usually either fantasy or non-fiction books about mythology, etc.

What kinds of things do you like to do when you're not reading? Art. I like to draw and paint. I don't do it at home too much, but I like pottery. And I took up sewing this summer. I also like writing, listening to music, and just sitting and talking to my friends online or in person.

Name three favorite books (or series): Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, and Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses by Judika Illes

Who are your favorite authors? J.K. Rowling, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Jonathan Stroud, Jim Butcher, J.R.R. Tolkien, Victor Hugo... the list goes on and on!

What book are you reading now? I just finished rereading the graphic novel Bone by Jeff Smith. I also recently finished another graphic novel, Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel. I'm currently between books because I'm working on art projects.

Name a book on your "to read" list: Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Other than the books you've already named, what book (or series) would you recommend to kids or young adults? The Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer. I like it because it's an original take on urban fantasy. Usually the fantasy realm and technology don't get along very well, but they do in these books. It's also a very funny and cleverly written series with a diverse cast of interesting characters!

***

Name: Nick

Age: 16

Do you have a favorite reading spot? Not really, no.

What kinds of books do you like to read? Non-fiction about animals, especially books that talk about conservation and endangered species.

What kinds of things do you like to do when you're not reading? Spend time outside. I also like cooking, gardening, and volunteering at the forest preserve.

Name three favorite books (or series): Encyclopedia of Animals [by Johnathan Elphik], The Atlas of Global Conservation: Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities to Make a Difference [by Jonathan Hoekstra, Michael Jennings, Carmen Revenga, Mark D. Spalding, and Jennifer L. Molnar], and Cows Save the Planet: And Other Improbable Ways of Restoring Soil to Heal the Earth [by Judith D. Schwartz and Gretel Ehrlich]

Who are your favorite authors? I don't have a favorite non-fiction author.  For fiction, Rick Riordan and Eoin Colfer.

What book are you reading now? Let the Lions Roar!: The Evolution of Brookfield Zoo [by Andrea Friederici Ross]

Name a book on your "to read" list: The book I'll be reading next is In Search of Lost Frogs: The Quest to Find the World's Rarest Amphibians [by Robin Moore].

Other than the books you've already named, what book (or series) would you recommend to kids or young adults? For young kids: Feeding Time at the Zoo [by Sherry Shahan]. I used to read it over and over again. I loved the pictures!

***

Name: Ben

Age: Almost 10

Do you have a favorite reading spot? The couch

What kinds of books do you like to read? Adventure, fantasy, and comic books

What kinds of things do you like to do when you're not reading? Play outside with my friends, ride my bike, build with Legos, and draw my own mazes

Name three favorite books (or series): Bone [by Jeff Smith], all the Calvin & Hobbes books [by Bill Watterson], and The City of Ember [by Jeanne DuPrau]

Who are your favorite authors? I don't really pay attention to the names of the authors....

What book are you reading now? The 6th Bone book and Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy [by Karen Foxlee]

Name a book on your "to read" list: The second Magic Thief book [Lost by Sarah Prineas]

Other than the books you've already named, what book (or series) would you recommend to other kids? The Harry Potter books [by J.K. Rowling], the Percy Jackson books [by Rick Riordan], and the Peter and the Starcatchers books [by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson] are all awesome series for kids!

***

Do you have young BookWyrms in your home? Or maybe you are a young BookWyrm yourself? I am looking for volunteers 18 and under (or parents, volunteering their children!) to feature in "Interview with a BookWyrm". If you are interested, please message me on the Blue Sky, Big Dreams Facebook page. I will send you a list of the interview questions which you can fill out at your leisure and then return to me along with a photo of your child (or yourself) reading. (The BookWyrm's face does not need to show in the picture and I will only share the first name or first initial of the BookWyrm, depending on your preference. I respect your privacy and safety.)

To show my appreciation for your participation, I will send each interviewed BookWyrm a handmade bookmark. (It won't necessarily be handmade by me -- I'm not able to do much with my right arm at the moment -- but my daughter has agreed to make some for me and I also have many crafty friends. :) )

A diamond...

Image courtesy of Clker.com

An excerpt:

     Yet it is important to remember that poetry, at its most basic, is a short, lyrical response to the world. It is emotion under extreme pressure or recollection in a small space. It is the coal of experience so compressed it becomes a diamond.

~ from Take Joy: A Book for Writers,

written by Jane Yolen

I really like Yolen's description of poetry in this excerpt. What diamonds have you read (or written!) lately?

Delight and Wisdom: Books for Poetry Fans

Photo courtesy of PublicDomainPictures.net

Robert Frost has said, "[A poem] begins in delight and ends in wisdom."  I've read several books of and about poetry over the last few months and thought I'd share the ones that have delighted me and helped me grow in wisdom.

First, a few for younger readers:

Sky Songs,

written by Myra Cohn Livingston

and illustrated by Leonard Everett Fisher, 1984

This book contains fourteen of Livingston's poems about the sky -- the moon, the stars, sunsets, and more.  Accompanied by Fisher's beautiful paintings, it is a delight to look at as well as to read.

***

Peaceful Pieces:

Poems and Quilts About Peace,

written and illustrated by Anna Grossnickle Hines, 2011

This treasure of a book features 28 poems about peace (from peace in the home to world-wide peace) and gorgeous quilted artwork, all created by Hines.

***

Voices in Poetry:

Maya Angelou,

text by Patricia Kirkpatrick

and poems by Maya Angelou, 2004

Containing several of Angelou's poems, this book also provides a basic biography and personal photographs of the famous poet.  It is a great introduction to Angelou's life and words for young kids.

***

Oops!,

written by Alan Katz

and illustrated by Edward Koren, 2008

Silly poems and drawings fill this book, provoking giggles (or groans!) on every page.

***

Understanding Poetry:
Puns, Allusions, and Other Word Secrets,
written by Jennifer Fandel, 2005

This book explains puns, allusions, and the importance of word choice while providing examples of each with poetry from e.e. cummings, Ogden Nash, Langston Hughes, William Carlos Williams, and more.  I stumbled across this book at our library, and added it to my pile of books to check out without really looking at it.  Later on, I was very glad that I had brought it home!  I found the text quite interesting, filled with useful information.

***

I found the next two in the young adult section of our library:

Poems From Homeroom:

A Writer's Place to Start,

written by Kathi Appelt, 2002

Another book that I casually plucked off the shelf and ended up loving, this one contains more than 25 poems by Appelt (mostly free verse, but there are also a few in specific forms -- haiku, sestinas, etc.) of topics teenagers can relate to, such as first crushes, homecoming dances, passing notes, tattoos, and more.  After sharing her poetry, Appelt then describes the inspiration behind each poem.  She also offers several questions to spark writing ideas for her readers.

***

The Watch That Ends the Night:

Voices from The Titanic, 

written by Allan Wolf, 2011

A haunting, richly-textured novel in verse, this story of The Titanic is told through 24 distinctive voices, from the captain to the lookout to a gambler to a millionaire to a Lebanese refugee to the iceberg itself.  I'd read many glowing reviews of this book online and couldn't wait to read it myself.  I was not disappointed!  Though I recommend all of the books in this post, The Watch That Ends the Night is my favorite by far.  (It is now on my "to buy" list.)  I think it would appeal to many readers out there, even those who don't typically read poetry.

***

And these are from the adult nonfiction section of our library:

How to Read a Poem

and Fall in Love With Poetry,

written by Edward Hirsch, 1999

This "scholarly but very readable" book, which explores poetry and the emotions behind it, is brimming with examples of writing from poets around the world and through time -- Emily Bronte, Sylvia Plath, Walt Whitman, Wislawa Szymborska, Juan Gelman, and so many more. Hirsh also offers advice on understanding and appreciating poetry.

***

The Poetry Dictionary,

written by John Drury, 2005

A very useful reference book for teachers, students, and writers, this dictionary contains expressive and thorough definitions for the language of poetry, from "abstract language" to "voice".  It also offers many examples of both classic and contemporary poetry, to illustrate the terms.  I think this must be the first dictionary that I've read from beginning to end!

***

The New Comprehensive 

American Rhyming Dictionary,

written by Sue Young, 1991

This collection contains over 65,000 rhyming words, phrases, and colloquialisms -- a helpful resource for anyone who works with language.  Up until this fall, I had never even heard of a rhyming dictionary.  Then, while reading different poets' blogs, I came across several references to them.  After thumbing through one at a bookstore to see what it was like, I decided to ask for a rhyming dictionary for Christmas.  My parents gave me this one!  I've read the introduction and the section on "how to use this book", and have flipped through the rest.  I haven't actually used it yet, but I know that it will come in very handy next time I'm in need of a rhyme!

***

Have you read any of the books above?  If so, what did you think of them?  What are some of your favorite books of or about poetry?  I'm always looking for recommendations!

Books Gone Buggy

Photo courtesy of PublicDomainPictures.net

Have you ever gone buggy?  Do you find bugs, insects, and other creepy-crawlies interesting, amazing... and maybe even cute?  If so, this post is for you!  (And if you're one of those people who can't stand anything with more than four legs, I suggest that you stop reading now, and come back tomorrow for a new post, LOL!)  

While I admit there are some many-legged creatures that give me the willies, there are many more that I enjoy watching and learning about.  I've long been a fan of butterflies and fireflies and dragonflies and praying mantises, among other things.  I love listening to the cicadas in summertime.  For three of my summers in college, I even worked for the Iowa State entomology department.  (Entomology is the study of insects.)  Among other duties, I "babysat" beetles similar to ladybugs, raising them from tiny eggs, through the larval stage and pupa stage, until they were full-grown adults, laying more eggs.

When my daughter Emmalie was younger, she was fascinated by bugs!  She collected ladybug toys and books about insects, had a favorite hat with pictures of various bugs on it, and even had a border of ladybugs, dragonflies, and butterflies painted all around her bedroom walls.  When her brothers came along, they quickly became interested in insects as well... and now Nick and Ben are even more buggy for bugs than their big sister!

We've read bunches of bug books, fiction and non-fiction, this summer.  I thought I'd share some of our favorites, starting with fictional picture books:

Some of our family's favorite bug books were written and illustrated by Eric Carle, including...

The Very Hungry Caterpillar (1969)

The Grouchy Ladybug (1977)

The Very Quiet Cricket (1990)

and The Very Lonely Firefly (1995)

I wrote about these and other Carle creations in another post, which you can see here.

***

Beetle Bop,

written and illustrated by Denise Fleming, 2007

A joy to look at and read aloud, this book is a colorful, rhyming celebration of beetles!

***

Bugtown Boogie,

written by Warren Hansen

and illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher, 2008

On his way home one evening, a young boy discovers a Bugtown dance floor at the base of a tree, each insect boogieing down in its own special way.  With amusing illustrations and a catchy story in rhyme, this fun book will make you want to get up and do your own little dance!

***

Tiny Little Fly,

written by Michael Rosen

and illustrated by Kevin Waldron, 2010

This is a playful story about a fly who lands on several large animals, teasing them.  They try to catch him, but he just keeps flying away.  I love the rhyming text of this book, its humor, and Waldron's spirited illustrations!

***

Old Black Fly,

written by Jim Aylesworth

and illustrated by Stephen Gammell, 1992

This pesky fly is busy driving a family crazy all day long, getting into mischief from A to Z.  The wild, spattery paintings and the lively rhyming text combine to make this a very entertaining book.  (Spoiler alert: Old Black Fly gets swatted at the very end.  I just wanted to mention that in case you -- or a young bug-lover in your house -- would be upset by that, the way my Nick would be!)

***

Butterfly Boy,

written by Virginia Kroll

and illustrated by Gerardo Suzan, 1997

Emilio's grandfather can no longer speak, but when Emilio wheels him outside to watch the butterflies, his eyes light up. Emilio and Abuelo enjoy the butterflies all summer long, then bid them goodbye in the fall.  All winter Emilio reads books about them to his grandfather, and the two wait for the butterflies to return.  When Emilio learns that the insects are attracted to the color white, he realizes that's why they always gathered on the family's white garage.  But one day in spring, he finds that his father has repainted the garage blue. How will they welcome back their favorite creatures?  This is a heart-warming story, filled with brilliantly-colored illustrations.

***

These Bees Count!,

written by Alison Formento

and illustrated by Sarah Snow, 2012

Mr. Tate's class takes a field trip to Busy Bee Farm, where they learn all about honeybees and why they matter.  This is a counting book combined with a story, with quite a bit of information about bees for young children in it, as well.

***

I found the following middle grade buggy novel on our bookshelf at home and decided to check it out:

Incognito Mosquito: Private Insective,

written by E.A. Hass

and illustrated by Don Madden, 1982

This book is filled with silliness, puns to make you groan, buggy characters, and mysteries to solve.  When I looked it up online, I discovered that Hass wrote several other books about this intrepid detective, including Incognito Mosquito Flies Again! (1985), Incognito Mosquito Takes to the Air (1987), and Incognito Mosquito Makes History (1987).

***

For those who want to learn about bugs and insects, here are some nonfiction books that I recommend:

The Bug Book,

written by Kathy Kranking

and illustrated by Kristin Kest, 1998

I'm pretty sure that this is the book that started Emmalie's obsession with bugs!  I remember her asking me to read it over and over (and over) again.  This is a great book for the youngest of bug enthusiasts, providing detailed drawings and some basic -- but interesting -- facts about a few common bugs, like grasshoppers, fleas, and flies.

***

Garden Friends,

written by DK Publishing,

with photographs by many, 2003

This book for beginning readers features close-up photographs and simple text about the various insects and other critters found in a garden. 

***

Not a Buzz to Be Found,

written by Linda Glaser

and illustrated by Jaime Zollars, 2012

I found this delightful book at the library earlier this month, and just loved it!  Have you ever wondered where insects go or what they do in the winter?  This is the first book I've seen that focuses on that subject.  Glaser tells about the winter habits of twelve different bugs, using simple, rhyming text.  (A section at the end of the book provides more information about the various insects.)  I also loved the rich, charming illustrations by Zollars.

***

Caterpillars, Bugs, and Butterflies,

written by Mel Boring

and illustrated by Linda Garrow, 1996

Another of Emmalie's favorite books when she was younger, this one provides identification information for many caterpillars, butterflies, moths, and other bugs common to North America.  It also includes some educational activities and a few "scrapbook" pages at the back for kids to draw their own pictures of bugs they've found.

***

The Ultimate Bug Book,

written by Luise Woelflein

and illustrated by Wendy Smith-Griswold, 1993

Emmalie's grandparents gave her this entertaining, hands-on book when she was four or five years old.  The book only has 5 pages, but each one is chock-full of insect facts and some very cool pop-up models of various bugs.  There are flaps to open, paper wheels to turn -- even a scratch-and-sniff section for anyone brave enough to want a whiff of a stinkbug!

***

The Beetle Book,

written and illustrated by Steve Jenkins, 2012

Did you know that one out of every four living things on earth is a beetle?  Jenkins presents beautiful, intricate illustrations of these creatures -- along with a wealth of information about beetles' life cycles, communication, defenses, and other topics.

***

The Secret Lives of Backyard Bugs,

written and photographed by 

Judy Burris and Wayne Richards,

also photographed by Christina Richards, 2011

Introducing bugs common across the United States, this brother-sister team shares useful information and colorful, close-up photographs of each of the bugs' various life stages. They also give advice on raising moths and protecting bug habitats.

***

Biggest Bugs (life-size!),

written and photographed by George Beccaloni,

also with photos by others, 2010

This fun book showcases 35 of the biggest, longest, and heaviest bugs from around the world, with life-size pictures. (The photo of the world's longest insect, the Chan's megastick, even requires a fold-out page!)  Beccaloni includes maps to show where each of the bugs lives, and provides quite a bit of scientific information about the creatures, as well.

***

The Natural World of Bugs & Insects,

written and photographed by 

Ken and Rod Preston-Mafham,

also photographed by many others, 2000

This is a book for true insect enthusiasts!  While it was not written specifically for kids, my in-laws gave it to Emmalie when she was six, and she used to spend hours and hours poring through the photographs of this visual encyclopedia and reading the information given.  It used to be her very favorite book.  (You can tell from the top picture that it's been well-loved!)  It contains a 160-page introduction, explaining the differences between bugs and insects, mating, defense, life cycles, etc., and then goes on to tell about the bugs and insects in different areas around the world.  The large, vibrant photos give readers the chance to study these creatures up close.

***

Have you read any of the books above?  If so, what did you think?  Do you have any other favorite books about bugs? Our family is always happy to hear about new ones!