A Garden

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"A book is like a garden
carried in the pocket."
~Chinese Proverb

Metaphor and Simile

This week, I'm offering two words for the price of one. :) 

Metaphors and similes are both figures of speech used to make comparisons.  People (kids and adults) sometimes have difficulty remembering which is which, so I thought I'd write about both words in the same post.

A metaphor implies, or suggests, a comparison between two things.

Here are two well-known metaphors.  The first comes from a play:

"All the world's a stage,
and all the men and women merely players."
~ from "As You Like It" by William Shakespeare

The second is a poem:

Fog

The fog comes
on little cat feet.

It sits looking

over harbor and city

on silent haunches

and then moves on.

~ Carl Sandburg

And here is a metaphor that I wrote:

The autumn leaf pirouettes to the ground,
a graceful ballerina.

On the other hand, a simile compares two unlike things explicitly, using the words "like" or "as".

I found the following simile online, and it made me chuckle:

A simile is like a metaphor. 
~Author unknown

Here's a famous simile from a movie:

"My mama always said, 'Life was like a box of chocolates.
You never know what you're gonna get.'"
~from "Forrest Gump"

Here is one last example, written by me:

Dignified, the cat posed on the window sill
like a king on his throne.

Metaphors and similes can add pizazz to your writing.  (They are fun to come up with, too!)  What kinds of interesting comparisons come to your mind?  Please share them -- I'd love to see your metaphors and similes! :)



School Buses

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School Buses

You'd think that by the end of June they'd take themselves
Away, get out of sight -- but no, they don't; they
Don't at all. You see them waiting through
July in clumps of sumac near the railroad, or
Behind a service station, watching, always watching for a
Child who's let go of summer's hand and strayed. I have
Seen them hunting on the roads of August -- empty buses
Scanning woods and ponds with rows of empty eyes.
This morning
I saw five of them, parked like a week of
Schooldays, smiling slow in orange paint and
Smirking with their mirrors in the sun --
But summer isn't done! Not yet!
 

by Russell Hoban

Spotlight on Sandra Boynton: Illustrator, Author, Songwriter

In the late 1970's, when I was about ten or so, one of my favorite things to do (if I wasn't reading, writing, or climbing trees) was to walk down to the ISU Campus Book Store, which was only three blocks from our house at the time.  There were always new things to look at throughout the store, but the area I liked best was the second floor, where there were aisles of greeting cards for sale.  I loved browsing through the cards, and -- if I had money to spend -- picking out the perfect one to send to a friend.  (I actually wrote letters quite regularly back then!)

I especially liked all the wacky, humorous cards designed by Sandra Boynton.  (Chances are, you've probably seen her most famous card before, the "Hippo Birdie Two Ewe" one.  I know I bought that card on more than one occasion myself!)

Then, in the early 80's, buying and collecting stickers became THE thing to do -- for kids, teens, and even some adults.  I joined right in with all the other sticker-crazy people! :)  We had two stores in town with huge sticker selections.  One of them, Balloon Bouquet Boutique, was in campustown -- again, just a few blocks from my home.  I walked down there at least once a week, looking to see if any new designs had come in, and then buying one off of each roll to put in my scrapbook album.  I still have that book, and several of the stickers inside are Boynton's designs, with sayings like "Gofer Baroque" and "Sealed with a hog and a quiche".

In the mid 90's, I was a new mom.  I was delighted to find out that not only had Boynton continued creating over the years, but now she was the author and illustrator of several children's books.  Just as I had collected her cards and stickers in the past, I began collecting her books, as well.  Our whole family has enjoyed Boynton's zany sense of humor ever since!

We don't own all of Boynton's books (unfortunately), but we do have quite a few of them.  We've read each one more times than I can count, giggling over the pictures and the words!  Several of her works are board books, perfect for reading to little ones over and over again.

The entertaining board books A to Z, Opposites, and But Not the Hippopotamus were all published in 1982:

(from the book Opposites)

The book A is for Angry: An Animal and Adjective Alphabet (1987) is, sadly, out of print -- though I did find copies available online.  This is one silly ABC book!

Boynton's board books One, Two, Three!, Birthday Monsters, Oh My Oh My Oh, Dinosaurs!,  and Barnyard Dance were all published in 1993.  They may be short and simple, but they will also make you smile! 

This is our family of five's favorite page in
 One, Two, Three!  That scene on the second page is
oh, so familiar!

And this is my favorite page from
Oh My Oh My Oh, Dinosaurs!

Dinos to Go (2000) is another amusing book.  Using fun illustrations of dinosaurs, Boynton describes various personality traits, sure to remind you of people you know:

As much as I appreciate all of the books above, I believe Boynton's best works are the ones that follow. 

In 1996, Rhinoceros Tap was published. Boynton tried something new for this book -- writing lyrics.  Collaborating with composer and pianist Michael Ford (along with singer Adam Bryant), Boynton created several "seriously silly songs". 

I remember my brother-in-law giving this book and the accompanying cassette tape to Emmalie for Christmas when she was almost two.  As soon as I played the very first song and watched her dancing as only toddlers can, I knew that tape was going to get a lot of use!  From the tender lullaby, "Little One",  to the very goofy "O, Lonely Peas" and "Turkey Love Song", Rhinoceros Tap is truly a treasure for the whole family.

Luckily, Boynton continued writing songs after that.  Her second collaboration with Ford, Philadelphia Chickens, came out in 2002.  This time, the songs were sung by various people (some famous), including Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, and The Bacon Brothers.  Once again, the wonderfully wacky songs were a big hit at our house!  (Unfortunately, I just realized that the book says right on the front cover: "For all ages, except 43."  Guess I'll have to wait till my next birthday to listen to them again!) Some of our family's favorites from this book and album are "Nobody Understands Me", "Far Away Cookies", and "BusyBusyBusy".

The Aaaardvarks' "Intermission Song" is great, too!

We were all excited to find out that Boynton and Ford had created another book and CD of songs, Dog Train, in 2005.  This one is billed as "a wild ride on the rock-and-roll side", and many rockers lent their famous voices to the album.  The entire CD (with accompanying book) is a treat!  Some of the songs we enjoy most are "Pots and Pans" (sung by The Bacon Brothers with Mickey Hart), "(Don't Give Me That) Broccoli" (sung by The Phenomenauts), and my absolute favorite "I Need a Nap" (sung by Kate Winslet and Weird Al Yankovic).

"I just can't take any more!"

The dynamic duo of Boynton and Ford teamed up again in 2007, creating the book and CD Blue Moo: Jukebox Hits from Way Back Never.  I do not own this one.  Yet.  (But I've already decided it will be going on my Christmas wish list!)  One of the songs, "One Shoe Blues" (sung by B.B. King),  has been made into a "Boynton-directed musical short film"... aka music video... which you can see here.  I highly recommend it! :)

To learn more about the amazing Sandra Boynton...  illustrator/author/songwriter/director...  and all the products she's created, please visit the official and very entertaining Boynton! "Trying to Think of a Motto Since 1973" website.  Don't forget to look for her work at the bookstore and your local library, too!

The Swirl and Swing of Words

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"I love writing. 
I love the swirl and swing of words
as they tangle with human emotions." 

~James Michener

Dragonfly

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Dragonfly

It skims the pond's surface,

searching for gnats, mosquitoes, and flies.

Outspread wings blur with speed.

It touches down

and stops to sun itself on the dock.

Wings flicker and still:

stained-glass windows

with sun shining through.

by Georgia Heard

Wild (and Not-So-Wild) Things

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Even before I was the mother of an animal-obsessed child, I had a fondness for pets and wild creatures myself.   When I was growing up, some of my very favorite books were about animals.  I enjoyed realistic animal stories, and also the more fanciful ones, where animals could talk.  Below are a few of the animal books that I read and loved in elementary school:

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White, with illustrations by Garth Williams, 1952, a 1953 Newbery Honors book...  I remember my parents reading this to me when I was about five years old.  I've read it several times since then, including out loud to my own children.  This classic book -- about life, death, and friendship -- is beautifully written and filled with unforgettable characters.

Bambi by Felix Salten, 1923...  (Yes, that Bambi -- but also, not that Bambi.)  This is the book that inspired the Disney movie, but, as is usually the case, the book is so much more than the movie could ever hope to be. 

I remember my 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Allen, reading this book aloud to our class.  She read books to us every day, and when she first announced she'd be reading this one, every boy and most of the girls in my class groaned loudly.  Mrs Allen said something like, "I know what you're thinking, but just give it a chance."  We did, and I'm pretty sure most of us ended up appreciating the book!  Salten's rich language paints vivid images of life in the forest -- the deer and other wild creatures there, as well as those dangerous forest invaders, the hunters.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull: A Story by Richard Bach, with photographs by Russell Munson, 1970... Mrs. Allen read this book to our 5th grade class, as well.  The story of an outcast seagull who won't conform to the rest of his flock, this book is also about being true to one's self, loving others, and learning forgiveness.

Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George, with illustrations by John Schoenherr, 1972, winner of the 1973 Newbery Medal... Mrs. Allen really was an awesome teacher -- she read us this book, too!  The story of a young Eskimo girl who runs away from her arranged marriage and becomes lost in the bleak Alaskan tundra, this is a book of self-discovery.  While Miyax (also known as Julie) struggles to survive by watching, then becoming part of a wolf family, she also struggles to find out who she is in the world.

As I mentioned, our class heard this in 5th grade.  I re-read it again in 6th.  In my mind, it is a middle grade novel, but online I have found it listed as fiction for young adults.  There is some controversy over a scene between Miyax and her young husband, and I suspect that is why some people consider the book to be for older kids.

The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford, with illustrations by Carl Burger, 1961...  Another story of survival, this book focuses on three animals -- a Siamese cat, a bull terrier, and a golden Lab --who fight to make their way 200 miles across the Canadian wilderness, trying to get back home to the family they love. 

I remember seeing the 1963 Disney movie based on this book when I was young. (There was also a remake of the movie in 1993, "Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey", which added dialogue between the animals.  The pets do not talk in the book.)  After seeing the first movie, I came across a copy of the book at a garage sale -- my mom bought it for me, and I eagerly read it.  I recently re-read the book and found it entertaining once again! :)

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien, 1971, winner of the 1972 Newbery Award... Our elementary school librarian read this book to our class, probably in 4th or 5th grade.  I'm currently reading it to my boys at bedtime, after re-reading it to myself.  A brave mother mouse, Mrs. Frisby, would do anything to protect her young family -- even talk with an owl and ask the strange, mysterious rats in the rosebush for help.  She ends up learning more about the world... and her family... than she'd ever dreamed possible.

Besides re-reading old favorites, I've also recently read some more contemporary middle grade fiction about animals.  Here are two that I recommend:

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo, 2000, a 2001 Newbery Honor book...  I absolutely loved this book!  Opal, a young girl who was abandoned by her mother years ago, moves to a new town with her father.  She soon befriends a scruffy stray mutt at the grocery store, naming him Winn-Dixie.  With the dog's help, Opal meets several unusual people around town, learning all about friendship and forgiveness.

Poppy by Avi, with illustrations by Brian Floca, 1995... This is a fun, engaging book about the adventures of a young mouse named Poppy.  There are some similarities to Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH -- it's another story of a mouse determined to save her family no matter what dangers she has to face -- but there are many differences between the two books as well.  I especially enjoyed the touches of humor throughout this book.

Avi has created a whole Poppy series, including Ragweed, Poppy & Rye, Ereth's Birthday, Poppy's Return, and Poppy and Ereth.  I have not read the others yet, but plan to check them out soon -- I'm interested to see what other adventures lie in store for this intrepid little heroine!

Have you read any of these books?  If so, what did you think?  Do you have other favorite animal books that you would recommend?  I'd love to hear about them -- I am always looking for new stories to devour! :)

Books So Alive

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"There are books so alive
that you're always afraid that
while you weren't reading,
the book has gone and changed,
has shifted like a river;
while you went on living,
it went on living too,
and like a river
moved on and moved away. 
No one has stepped twice
into the same river. 
But did anyone ever step twice
into the same book?"
 

~Marina Tsvetaeva

Azure

Chicago and "the Bean", July 2011

The word this week is azure (pronounced azh-er), an adjective meaning the purplish blue color of the sky on a cloudless day.  It is my favorite color! :)  There are several other words that can be used  for this shade of blue, including sapphire, sky-blue (though, personally, I tend to think of that as a lighter blue), and cerulean.

I learned the word when I was a teenager, and used it in one of the poems I wrote back then.  I also used it recently in my novel:

The crowd watched the birds
as they swooped into the air,
once again forming a giant black spot
against the azure sky.

What ways can you think of to use the word azure?

I Love Summer

Benjamin, throwing rocks in the BWCA,
August  2010

I Love Summer

I love summer!
Summer is hot.
It's sun and shade.
It's water to wade.
It's frogs and bugs.
It's grass for rugs.
It's eating outside.
It's a tree-swing ride.
It's tomatoes and corn.
It's dew in the morn.
It's dogs and boys
And lots of noise.
It's a hot sunny sky.
It's summer. That's why.....
I love summer.

~Author unknown