WOTD: Psyched

My upcoming book is now called: MY COLD PLUM, LEMON PIE, BLUESY MOOD  (Viking Children’s, Spring 2013).

Doesn’t that just sing?

Agape!

…the best place to be.

When I arrived at the school, I met up with the Literacy Facilitator, Tonya Pointer, who informed me that we would begin our reading tour right after the tornado drill.

She escorted me to a staff area to wait. Once the bell sounded, all the students and staff members assumed the position in the hallway, while a few designated adults walked around, ensuring everyone was where they needed to be. As the teachers filed out of the room I was in, I asked the Tornado Drill Monitor, “Do I need to go, too?”

“Well we certainly wouldn’t want to leave you behind if we had a tornado….”

I wish someone had snapped a pic of me in the hallway, “assuming the position”.  LOL! Picture knees bent, head down, hands covering my head. Thank goodness I was able to rise smoothly enough from that position so as not to embarrass myself in front of the kids–who were, let me say up front, fantabulous.

My reading tour consisted of twelve 1st and 2nd grade classes. Fortunately for my voice, they doubled up so I only had to read six times.  The kids were quiet, attentive, and asked great questions. The literacy facilitator was very impressed with their behavior. I wasn’t surprised, though. I’ve never had an unruly, inattentive bunch, yet. Speaking of attentive….

I did my usual Q&A after the session, where I ask them some questions about the story, then let them ask me some questions about whatever.  One of the questions I asked is: “What were some of the foods the neighbors ate?” And they mentioned pretty much all of them: mac and cheese, oxtail stew, rice and beans, etc. A couple of students (in totally different classes) mentioned soup–which was never stated in the text, but you could assume such if you were looking very closely at the pictures. I told you, they were on the ball!

Now in two of the classes, kids mentioned “chicken” as a food that was in the story. Very gently and kindly I said, “Weellll…most people do have chicken at parties, so maybe there was some chicken there, but that wasn’t mentioned in the story.” The second time I said this to a student, I saw the look on that boy’s face which said, There was too some chicken. I know I heard the word chicken.

It wasn’t until the last session when another boy said, “Some kind of chicken, I don’t know what it was called,” that I remembered I did have chicken in the book–grilled lime chicken to be exact. Mrs. Pointer and I just had to laugh.  I asked her to go back to the other classes and tell those kids they were right and I was wrong. I hope she remembered.

Anyway, I had a great time at Nations Ford Elementary. Thanks so much for inviting me.

(Oh, and as for hiccups:  I’ve been typing this entire post while hiccuping! Quite annoying and distracting, but I just had to share this visit with you. Now I shall go drink some water while holding my breath until I can’t hold it any longer–which is a virtually full-proof cure, by the way.)

Since I’d never done a Skype visit before, I wasn’t quite sure if I should stay with my standard school visit format or change it. At the last minute, I decided to change it up. Not sure if that was the best move, but the students were so FANTASTIC, it was a great visit anyway! They listened attentively, asked great questions, and laughed when I did my “Mad Max” voice.

When I think of words to describe Ms. Alexander’s class, I think of: smart, well-mannered, disciplined, and scholars.  Thank you, Ms. Alexander, for the phenomenal way you are instructing and leading your class. It is an honor to know teachers like you!

I *Heart* Feldwood!

The End.

WOTD: Fantabulous

The Fifth Annual 28 Days Later campaign is underway, and today’s honoree is none other than the incredible Nikki Giovanni!

28 Days Later is designed to spotlight various authors and illustrators of African descent, particularly those who are not as widely known as we think they should be.  Author-illustrator, Don Tate, and authors Kelly Starling Lyons, Varian Johnson, Paula Chase Hyman, Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, Gwendolyn Hooks, Crystal Allen and yours truly make up The Brown Bookshelf team.

Our 2012 honorees are:

February 1 – Kwame Alexander- Acoustic Rooster (PB)
February 2 – Denise Lewis Patrick The Cecile Series: American Girl  (MG)
February 3 – Noni Carter Good Fortune (YA)
February 4 – James Haskins- BBS Vanguard (PB)
February 5 – NiNi Simone  The Break-Up Diaries (YA)
February 6 – Keith Shepherd Walking Home To Rosie Lee (PB)
February 7 – Nikki Giovanni BBS Vanguard (PB)
February 8 – Tracey Baptiste Angel’s Grace (YA)
February 9 – TL Clarke The Secret of the Scarlet Stone (MG)
February 10 – Atinuke Hooray for Anna Hibiscus (MG)
February 11 – Bryan Collier BBS Vanguard (PB)
February 12 – Earl Sewell Maya’s Choice (YA)
February 13 – Debbi Chocolate BBS Vanguard (PB)
February 14 – Lynda Jones Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker (MG)
February 15 – Calvin Alexander Ramsey Ruth & The Green Book (PB)
February 16 – L. Divine  The Drama High Series (YA)
February 17 – Charlotte Riley Webb Our Children Can Soar (PB)
February 18 – Bil Wright Putting Make-up On The Fat Boy (YA)
February 19 – Pansie Hart Flood It’s Test Day, Tiger Turcotte (PB)
February 20 – Traci Dant Some Kind of Love (PB)
February 21 – Nikki Carter Fab Life Series (YA)
February 22 – Sharon Robinson Promises to Keep (MG)
February 23 – Teresa Harris Summer Jackson: Grown Up (PB)
February 24 – Sofia Quintero Efrain’s Secret (YA)
February 25 – Malorie Blackman Boys Don’t Cry (YA)
February 26 – Alice Faye Duncan Honey Baby Sugar Child (PB)
February 27 – Elizabeth Zunon The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind (PB)
February 28 – Margaree King Mitchell When Grandmama Sings (PB)

Make sure you visit The Brown Bookshelf daily to find out about these phenomenal artists and their work!

Agape!

P.S. Since it’s leap year, February 29 will be our BBS Members Spotlight day. Look for posts from Crystal Allen, Don Tate, Gwendolyn Hooks, Kelly Starling Lyons, Paula Chase Hyman, Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, and me, Tameka Fryer Brown.

Thank you, Abby. 

WOTD: FREE

During the months of January/February, I’ll be offering five 20-minute school visits via Skype at no charge.

The topic featured is From Brain to Book (Writing and Publishing Books for Kids). Q&A session is included.

First come, first serve.  If you’re interested, contact me!

WOTD: Write

Since today is the National Day on Writing (YAAAY–go write something), all of us at The Brown Bookshelf have shared our reasons for writing. I stated my reasons in the following poem:

WHY I WRITE

by Tameka Fryer Brown

I write to express my thoughts, my feelings, my beliefs—

Poignant or not,

Sleeve-worn or not,

Endorsed by the general masses

Or not.

I write because I have something to say

And a right to say it.

I write because my muse has infused my literary tongue

With brilliance unparalleled;

And because she’s abandoned me so

I’m trying desperately to coax her back.

I write because I can.

I write to avoid mopping, dusting, vacuuming,

Tubs, toilets, tile,

Dirty windows, dirty laundry, and dirty dishes…

Because a writer has a good excuse to avoid these things,

But a stay-at-home mom

With kids in school all day

Does not.

I write toward self-actualization.

I write to keep my wits sharp.

I write to show insecure Girl-Me that I can,

To show other self-doubters that they can, too.

I write because words are beautiful things

That I cherish…

And I pray, someday,

Some child will cherish mine.

Kelly Starling-Lyons, Paula Chase-Hyman, Gwendolyn Hooks, Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, and Don Tate also share their motivations for writing.

So…why do YOU write? Please share your answer at The Brown Bookshelf — or even *write* here.

(Haha. I crack me up.  Agape!)

WOTD: Appreciation

I had a great time with the members of the Charlotte Reading Association this past Monday. Educators from various parts of the city (and one from Raleigh) traveled to Albemarle Road Elementary to hear me speak on the writer’s, educator’s and parent’s role in engaging readers.  There were brownies involved. (Now don’t you wish you had been there?)

I can never thank passionate, dedicated teachers enough for doing what may often seem like a thankless job; it is, in reality, one of THE most vital jobs in all of society. May the impact you have on our young people bring you the honor and reward you most assuredly deserve.

Oh yeah. Almost forgot…in my prep work, I found some great links about encouraging readers. Check them out:

DEAR—Drop Everything and Read

GettingBoysToRead.com

ReaderKidZ, “Beyond The Reading Log” by Bruce Frost

CNN article from James Patterson

First–Thank you ALL for the love you’ve shown at my “virtual housewarming”. If you can’t tell, I am still excited about this brand-new, website home.

Second–In a few days, I’ll be presenting to members of the Charlotte Reading Association.  I almost feel like I’ll be preaching to the choir, as this group is comprised of individuals who are dedicated to instilling a love of reading in our kids–educators, parents, and literary enthusiasts. The topic is Engaging Readers.  With this group of experts, I’m hoping to learn as much as I share. I’ll be sure to pass along any interesting nuggets to you.  Wish me excellence!

Agape,

Tameka