Anika Denise - Children's Book Author

Barrington Books' 3rd Annual Children's Books Authors & Illustrators Event!

2011-10-27T13:09:00.009-04:00

Every year just before Halloween, my local hometown bookstore gathers a group of regional picture book, middle grade and young adult authors and illustrators for a day of signings, spooky stories and treats!

I come to this event as an author, and I'm always honored to be a part of it, but also as a FAN of all the wonderful authors and artists we have in our area.

The entire line-up this year is fabulous, and I'll be happy to see some old friends and familiar faces, like Alison Paul, author of The Crow: A Not So Scary Story, Jamie Michalak writer of the brilliant Joe and Sparky early reader series, and R.W. and Zoë Alley, the husband-and-wife team behind the witty updated fairy tales There's A Princess In The Palace and There's A Wolf At The Door.

I'm also looking forward to meeting Sarah L. Thomson, author of many amazing books for children, including the middle grade fantasy novels Dragon's Egg and The Dragon's Son; as well as her latest book: Mercy, The Last New England Vampire based on a true Rhode Island tale; Pamela Lowell, author of the powerful YA novels: Returnable Girl and Spotting for Nellie; Willa Perlman, the author of two beautifully written picture books Goodnight, World and Pocket Kisses; and Liz McGrath, whose new book The Ghouls Come Haunting One By One I will definitely be picking up to read with my girls this Halloween night.

So if you are in the area, don't miss it. What a great opportunity to have some fun with the kids, meet authors, hear stories and pick up a signed book. Not to mention supporting your local independent bookstore - which is ALWAYS a good thing.

Hope to see you there!

Back-to-school means more time for... procrastinating?

2011-09-20T12:19:00.001-04:00

Back-to-school means more time for writing. Sort of. My 6 1/2 month old who is currently napping as I sit tapping doesn't exactly conform to a set writing schedule, but at least I have these stolen moments to stew in my creative juices, to brainstorm, to ponder to... to... procrastinate.

Yes, the more time I have, the more creative ways I can find for procrastination - a common hazard of the self-employed.

Here's something fun to mention while procrastinating... I have added a few autumnal book signings to my website. Click HERE for the schedule.

Ooooh, and I've also at last created a facebook page for my books HERE. Please stop by and click the like button if you want another way to know what I'm up to, as I'll be making event and book announcements there too.

Now, back to those creative juices. That reminds me, I'm thirsty. And hungry. I think it's time for a snack break. ;-)

Denise, Party of Five.

2011-06-18T13:00:00.006-04:00

Yes, baby number three came screaming into the world in early March, making our quartet a quintet.

She is healthy, beautiful and strong and we all fell hopelessly in love with her the minute her petite little fists grasped our pinkies. Babies are pure joy and love, and in those first few bleary but wonderful weeks I felt a peace and contentment that was unto itself—an awareness of my blessings and a sense that my family is complete.

Then, of course, the crying began.

Everyone (and I mean everyone) told us the third child is always the easiest. Some universal law, they explained, dictates that that baby no. 3 will generally cry less, sleep more and go with the flow simply because of birth order and a survival instinct that prepares them for having parents whose attention is split three ways.

So imagine our surprise when we found ourselves pacing the rug with an over-stimulated, gassy, fussy 4-week-old who wouldn't let us put her down. It's bad enough when no manner of rocking, bouncing swaddling or singing will soothe your newborn, but the idea that your baby is somehow violating the laws of the universe just adds insult to injury if you ask me.

Living with a fussy baby can turn even the most functional of families into grouchy, unbathed, take-out-addicted zombies, and for a little while, that was us. But slowly and steadily we have adjusted, finding our way through the haze of sleep deprivation into a rhythm that works with our new family of five.

Roles were adjusted (my husband learned how to tie ponytails and pick out tutus), responsibilities shifted (my older daughters can now load a dishwasher and vacuum their rooms) and daily routines were established that help calm all of us, not just our sweet wee beastie.

The crying has subsided (for the most part) and has been replaced by full nights of sleep (almost) smiles, coos and those glorious first giggles. The peaceful feeling is returning. (At least until the next growth spurt.)

As we emerge on the other side of those harrowing three months, I have actually, unbelievably began writing again, and have returned to my post as the "story lady" and author event coordinator at the bookstore. If you'd asked me a month ago when I would pick up the pen again I'd have said, "When she's 18."

I've discovered I'm a better writer when there's peace in my soul, but chaos in my kitchen. Life and all its crazy is what gives me motivation and inspiration to create. The good, the bad... and the spit up.

Story Corner Friday: Babies!

2011-02-25T12:12:00.005-05:00

Ok, some of you may know Chris and I expecting our third baby ANY DAY NOW!

So in the story corner, as I bid a temporary farewell to my terrific "story kids" (sniff, sniff) while I take a two-month maternity leave, we read books all about babies to celebrate the impending big event!

If you are welcoming a new member to your family, or know a little person who is expecting a sibling soon, here are a few of my most highly recommended reading selections to get them excited and help them feel reassured.

"There's Going To Be A Baby" by husband and wife dynamo team John Burningham and Helen Oxenbury

"Boss Baby"by Marla Frazee

"On The Night You Were Born" by Nancy Tillman

"Mommy's Best Kisses," by Margaret Anastas

"Seven Hungry Babies" by Candace Fleming and Eugene Yelchin

CRAFT SUGGESTION:
After your baby-themed storytime, follow it up with a sweet "little peas in a pod" craft using green craft foam and light green card stock. We simply traced the pea pod shape onto the foam and cut it out, then cut out several little circles for the peas and glued it all together. Then, we drew faces on the peas, and even gave one a "lock of hair" to make them look like "baby peas."

Barrington Books Story Hour is held every Thursday at 10:30am. For more information visit www.barringtonbooks.com

Tugg and Teeny

2011-02-02T12:10:00.004-05:00

Time for some shameless nepotism: My husband, illustrator Christopher Denise, has a new book coming out with esteemed author J. Patrick Lewis exactly one month from today!

Tugg and Teeny is the first book in an utterly charming early reader series from Sleeping Bear Press about two best friends Tugg (a gorilla) and Teeny (a monkey) in their neighborhood jungle.

I saw the artwork for this little gem evolve in Chris' studio, and I must say, it's some of my favorite work he's done to date.

In stores March 2nd, 2011!

If You Give A Moose A Snowball

2011-01-28T16:17:00.001-05:00

Yes, the blizzards just keep on coming here in New England, and if you live in the south, you see the shots of our snow dappled branches on TV and think "Snow, how pretty." But if you live here and have shoveled your driveway out for the umpteenth time and have to navigate your car around streets with 15-foot high snow drifts left by the plows, I believe you probably replaced the adjective "pretty" with a a few other choice words. ;-)

In fact, we're even tired of snow in the story corner! We've done snowmen and snowflakes and blizzards and winter so many times this season... I knew that despite yesterday's story hour coming on the heels of yet another big snowfall, I just HAD to change it up. So, we read MOOSE books. (I know, we should have done beach books, or sunshine, or coral reefs but given we likely have at least two more solid months of winter conditions ahead of us here in the north, that REALLY would have been depressing, don't you think?)

And besides, who doesn't love a great big goofy Moose?

Here are some of our spectacular Moose reading selections/suggestions. They are all good, but I listed them in order of my favorites:

“Ernest the Moose Who Doesn’t Fit” by Catherine Rayner
“If You Give A Moose a Muffin” by Laura Numeroff
“Chocolate Mousse” by Maggie Kneen
“Moose on the Loose” by Kathi-Jo Wargin
“Thidwick The Big-Hearted Moose” by Dr. Seuss

Still I write

2011-01-11T10:10:00.003-05:00

Just like moons and like suns

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high,

Still I rise.

- Maya Angelou

The second half of 2010 brought personal challenges like none I've faced before. Namely my mother's very serious illness. But it has also given me moments of grace and understanding; moments where my family and I have had to pull together, be strong, have faith... rise.

Anger, worry, heartbreak, exhaustion... they are all still there, they don't really go away, but amidst those emotions, I feel gratitude. I find that everything feels more precious: My family, my children, my friends, and yes, my writing pulls me up from underneath back into the light.

It's a curious thing, to write through hardship. It would seem that in times of great stress there would be nothing left of my creative self to give. But I'm discovering that writing is not only my passion, but my lifeline. Journal entries, sessions where I dig in and lose myself in the story are powerfully cathartic.

Instead, what has fallen away are the trivial details of life in which I once felt so caught up. It's not how I'd choose to learn the lesson of what truly matters, but it's a powerful lesson nonetheless.

So I still get up, kiss the tops of my little girl's heads, find a quiet space—and write.

Story Corner Friday: Holiday Favorites

2010-12-17T14:44:00.004-05:00

Ok, must keep this brief, because like most people, I'm up against the "too-much-to-do, too-little-time" holiday crunch. This year, I'm trying to keep a clear head, remember what's important, and not sweat the small stuff.

So what is important?

Family. Friends. Health. Happiness. Gratitude. Service.

And stories. Stories that make you feel something... that bring you back to Christmases past, that whisk you away on a magical sleigh, that evoke joy, and hope... and love.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Here's a list of my top 10 (current) favorite holiday books. What are some of your favorites?

The Christmas Magic by Lauren Thompson; illus. by John Muth
How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
Olive The Other Reindeer by Otto Seibold
Santa Calls by Bill Joyce
The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore
Santa Duck by David Milgrim
There's A Train Out For Dreamland by Jane and Brooke Dyer
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
Duck and Goose, It's Time For Christmas by Tad Hills
The Snowman by Raymond Briggs

Booksignings of Wonder!

2010-12-10T09:07:00.007-05:00

Bob Shea is leading the kids through some truly stellar dinosaur "roars" during a read-aloud of his new book "Dinosaur vs. Potty," a hilarious play-by-play of one little dinosaur's battle to resist going you-know-what, in the you-know-where. The story bounces along with Bob Shea using his best boxing ring announcer's voice to repeat the refrain, "Dinosaur wins!" at the end of each spread. Kids roar, and giggle, then roar some more - and the book concludes.

That's when Chris Raschka, Caldecott medalist and all around cool dude, leans over to me and whispers, "So, who won? I couldn't see the pictures, was it the dinosaur or the potty?"
"I think the Dinosaur went in the potty... so I guess they both win," I say.
"I should save my questions till the end," says Chris with a wry grin.
"Yeah, we should probably stop all this potty talk," I say.

Left to right: Chris Denise; Anika Denise; Chris Raschka

This is why I love doing group signings. Picture book authors tend to be down to earth, funny, frequently irreverent folks, content with the good fortune of being able to do what they love for a living. This past weekend Chris and I signed at Books of Wonder in NY, alongside Jane Dyer (A Train To Dreamland) Tad Hills (How Rocket Learned To Read), Maira Kalman (The Pursuit of Happiness), Laurie Keller (Birdy's Smile Book), Chris Raschka (Little Black Crow), and Bob Shea (Dinosaur vs. Potty).

What struck me (besides the fact that all these authors are amazing, talented folks and I was honored to be counted among them) was the palpable appreciation for one another's work. The authors were clearly having just as much fun as the audience during the read-alouds.

Equally enjoyable was hearing all the behind-the-scenes chatter about everyone's book projects, how they developed, where they are doing signings, what other artists they admire, how they promote their titles, etc. For me, an author relatively new to the industry, it was a fascinating and fabulous experience.

Next signing stop: Tomorrow! Saturday Dec. 11th: Where The Sidewalks Ends in Chatham, MA (on Cape Cod) 10a - 12p. Big Stella will be joining us (and rumor has it the mouse from "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie" will be in the house too); they'll be a holiday stroll going on, hot chocolate, a cozy fireplace, and of course: books, books, books. Come see us!

Story Corner Friday: Best of 2010

2010-12-03T16:31:00.000-05:00

Here it is... unveiled, unleashed, uncorked and unwrapped!

My "Best of 2010" Story Hour Picks List (and Holiday Gift Guide). For those of you who are local, Barrington Books, where I host a weekly Thursday morning story hour, has the list printed out and the books in stock!

Titles were chosen on their merits as wonderful books to read aloud to little ones—either on a lap or in a group—story originality, and fabulous illustrations. (All titles were released in 2010.)

* The age range for this gift suggestion list is 2-8 years.

Llama Llama Holiday Drama

written and illus. by Anna Dewdney

Snowmen All Year

written and illus. by Caralyn Buehner and Mark Buehner

(*Also check out: Snowmen At Christmas newly released in board book!)

We Are In A Book – An Elephant and Piggy Book

written and illus. by Mo Willems

A Bedtime for Bear

by Bonny Becker, illus. by Kady MacDonald Denton

Children Make Terrible Pets

written and illus. by Peter Brown

The Quiet Book

written by Deborah Underwood, illus. by Renata Liwska

City Dog, Country Frog

written by Mo Willems, illus. by John Muth

Knuffle Bunny Free

written and illus. by Mo Willems

The Cow Loves Cookies

written by Karma Wilson, illus. by Marcellus Hall

Little Black Crow

written and illus. by Chris Raschka

Who Said Coo?

written by Deborah Rudel, illus. by Robin Luebs

How Rocket Learned To Read

written and illustrated by Tad Hills

Old Bear And His Cub

written and illus. by Olivier Dunrea

Bear In The Air

written by Susan Meyers and illus. by Amy Bates

Bats At The Ballgame

written and illus. by Brian Lies

The Wonderful Book

written and illustrated by Leonid Gore

Jump!

written and illus. by Scott Fisher

'Bella and Stella Come Home' Launch Event Photos

2010-11-29T18:30:00.009-05:00

Many thanks to Barrington Books for hosting our

fabulous book launch party!

Our daughter Isabel in a "Bella" inspired dress posing with Big Stella!

Chris and me signing books books books!

From left to right: Chris Denise; Aeva Denise; Sofia Denise; Isabel Denise; Ashlyn Denise; Anika Denise; Knuffle Bunny;
Rowan Batting

Up, up and AWAY!

2010-11-24T15:02:00.004-05:00

Well, the official launch date for Bella and Stella Come Home has arrived! Look for our all-new book in stores now! (Also available online at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com.)

Launch Party Details:

Where: Barrington Books, 184 County Rd., Barrington, RI
401-245-7925

When: Saturday, Nov 27th 1-4pm

What's Happening:

Booksigning!

Balloons!

Photos with STELLA, the elephant (as seen above)!

Tea & Treats by the The Inspired Table!

Hope you can join us!

Story Corner Friday: Bears

2010-11-05T10:30:00.007-04:00

This fall welcomed a crop of lovely new books featuring bears, including the next in Bonny Becker's popular "Bear and Mouse" series: A Bedtime for Bear, and an all-new title from award winning author-illustrator Olivier Dunrea (Gossie & Gertie) called Old Bear and His Cub.

We paired these gems with a few other bear classics for a reading hour that felt like the perfect bear hug on a rainy autumn day.

If you'd like to host a cozy bear story hour in your classroom or at home with little cubs, here are some fun bear-book reading suggestions.

Old Bear and His Cub
written and illustrated by Olivier Dunrea

We're Going On A Bear Hunt
by Michael Rosen; illustrated by Helen Oxenbury

Leaves
by David Ezra Stein

Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?
by Bill Martin Jr; illustrated by Eric Carle

Suggested Craft:

Brown Bear-Brown Bag Puppets
This is a sweet little craft that you can make with a few simple materials. I asked my husband Chris to design this character for me--you can use this one as a model, or vary the shapes and make it your own.

Here's what you'll need:

Pencil
Brown, black and white construction paper
Scissors
Glue Stick
Brown paper bag

Here's how you make them:

Draw an oval for the bear's head, 2 half circles for the ears, and 2 paw shapes onto the brown construction paper
Draw a snout shape onto the white paper
Draw a small black nose onto the black paper and 2 small black circles for the eyes
Cut out all the shapes
Paste them to the outside of bag to assemble your "puppet"

*One little note: I attached the head to the solid side of the bag, not the folded, to keep the bear's head from flopping backwards!

Anika's story hour is held every Thursday morning at 10:30am at Barrington Books in Barrington, Rhode Island.

NaNoWriMo

2010-11-01T21:41:00.001-04:00

I'm in, are you?

It's like the pledge to vote - but with writing. C'mon, you can do it! I'm tapping out pages of a middle grade novel and my goal is to finish it.

Then after the month is up, let it rest, and dive back in for revisions.

Oh and by the way, tomorrow's election day so while on that topic: VOTE!!!!!!!

:) Anika

Story Corner Friday: Countdown to Halloween!

2010-10-22T11:16:00.008-04:00

Halloween is one my favorite holidays.

It must be because when I was little, my mom pulled out all the stops: Parties with haunted caves to explore, spooky games, hand-sewn costumes, homemade treats--she was the 'Queen of Halloween' long before Martha Stewart's reign, and so even as an adult, when this festive time of year rolls around, I tend to revel in the season's spooky delights!

One such delight is reading the latest, greatest Halloween books to kids in the story corner. Here are some festive reading suggestions for a "not-too-scary" story hour sure to please the wee witches, ghosties, ghoulies, princesses, butterflies and superheroes in your life.

Sweetest, cutest Halloween book:
"Ollie's Halloween," by Olivier Dunrea

Most evocative, eerie, poetic language:
"The Crow, A Not-So-Scary Story," by Alison Paul

Funniest, silliest Halloween story:

"Scardey-Cat, Splat!" by Rob Scotton

Most old fashioned Halloween fun:

"Vampire Boy's Goodnight," by Lisa Brown

Best Halloween read-aloud for the preschool set:

"The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything," by Linda Williams

For a fun and simple seasonal craft, try one of these project ideas:

* Painting sugar pumkins, like the ones pictured here, painted at legendary pumpkin farm: Jack Creek (http://www.allaboutpumpkins.com)

* Scarecrow paper plates like this one, with instructions at e.how.com

* Foam Halloween kits from Michael's crafts http://www.michaels.com

Have fun, and to all: A HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
-Anika :)

Early Review of Bella And Stella Come Home

2010-10-15T09:08:00.003-04:00

The first early review of Bella And Stella Come Home is in!

Here's what critics at Kirkus Reviews have to say about our new book:

ISBN:978-0399242434(Philomel) November 24, 2010

When Bella moves to a new home, she finds it greatly comforting to have her best friend Stella always at her side. Everything is so different. There are ten steps to the front door instead of three, the kitchen is yellow instead of blue and the bathtub has feet. Bella and Stella take turns encouraging and reassuring each other as they explore their new home. Even when her room is set up with her familiar things, it takes all the lights on, a new morning and a new neighbor with his own best friend to make her feel as if she’s home. Anika Denise conveys tender understanding as Bella speaks directly to the reader, expressing her apprehension and confusion in appropriately childlike terms. Christopher Denise’s glowing, softly colored pencil-and-digital illustrations add further dimension as readers see that Stella is Bella’s beloved yellow stuffed elephant, who morphs into an imaginary life-sized companion and supporter. Text and illustrations are interdependent and seamless, a splendid marriage of words and pictures. Cozy and comfortable. (Picture book. 3-8)

Coming soon...

A FREE downloadable teacher's guide for the book at my website www.anikadenise.com
Book trailer
Book Launch Party: Saturday, November 27th from 1-4 at Barrington Books!

Remembering Rose...

2010-10-12T14:06:00.000-04:00

Recently, I was given the toughest writing assignment of my career:

To write my grandmother's eulogy.

Let's face it, writing a speech that sums up a person's life is a daunting task. But this wasn't just any person, this was Grandma Rose, and for those who knew her, and know my family, she was larger than life, the matriarch; mother of seven children; grandmother to thirteen grandchildren and twelve great children. She lived to be 94. She was strong, beautiful, loving and generous--and her spirit runs deeply in each one of us.

Never have I wanted to succeed with a piece of writing so much. Not for me, but for my whole family--and for Rose--to honor the brilliant, exuberant way she lived her life.

When I asked my mother (a writer) for her advice, she said: "Just write about who she was to you--and make it... make it... wonderful."

Phew, no pressure.

Seeing my worry, mom looked me in the eye and said, "I know you can do it, you know you can do it, and I know you will make me proud." At that moment, I knew I would too.

Later that evening, as the cursor on my blank white screen blinked in anticipation, I let the memories of my grandmother flood in, and wash over me. Then I wrote. And wrote. And wrote.

And it was wonderful.

Read for the Record!

2010-10-06T11:02:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow, I'll be joining Meredith Vieira & Matt Lauer, Patti LaBelle, Amanda Pete, LL Cool J, Nelly Furtado, Marie Louise Parker, and scores of teachers, librarians and book lovers across the country in reading Jumpstart's Read for the Record book selection of 2010: Ezra Jack Keats' The Snowy Day.

Join me at Barrington Books at 10:30 am tomorrow, October 7th, for a Snowy Day Story Hour, and be a part of this wonderful literacy celebration!

Jumpstart’s Read for the Record©, presented in partnership with Pearson, is Jumpstart’s world record breaking campaign that brings children and adults together to read the same book, on the same day, in homes and communities all over the world. The campaign also kicks off Jumpstart’s yearlong program, preparing preschool children in low-income neighborhoods for success in school and life.

For more information visit http://www.readfortherecord.org

The gestation of a picture book

2010-09-01T10:48:00.038-04:00

Last week, my very first advance copy of Bella And Stella Come Home arrived in the mailbox. I'd already seen galleys and received the F&G's (short for "fold & gather," basically an unbound copy of the book used for marketing purposes) but nothing compares to that moment when you hold the actual book in your hands and turn the pages.

Creating a book is long process from conception to publication—the initial scribbles and sketches for Bella were created in late winter and early spring of 2009, when Chris and I were chatting with our editor about new picture book ideas. All we knew then was, we wanted to do a story about a little girl, and perhaps a special toy or friend. We wanted her to be multicultural (like our own daughters and so many children today) and to reflect some universal childhood experience.

These early development stages are honestly my favorite. It helps to have a creative partner as talented as Chris. Sitting in our kitchen, we batted around ideas and as we talked, he sketched. Watching Chris work, seeing an idea we're discussing emerge with such extraordinary immediacy onto the sketchbook page never ceases to fascinate me.

In contrast, after we brainstorm, my work seems solitary and organized—though that's just how I like it. I go away to my desk after we've discussed our ideas, and begin to sort them all out. Phrases come to me. I type. I revise. I get a solid first draft together and I bring it back to Chris.

At this point, we're volleying and I've just lobbed it back, because now Chris must go and find the main characters. Who is Bella? Who is Stella? What do they look like? He takes a first crack by creating character sheets.

The "Bella" that ultimately ended up in the book is closest to the little girl with her hands on her hips in the center of the page. Chris aged her down slightly in the final art, and added those two glorious high pigtails you see on the book jacket. Bella has such presence and spunk, we all fell in love with her from the drawings.

Notice Stella is wearing a shirt. In the final art, the shirt is gone because we decided that since Stella is shown both as toy and a full-sized elephant, we needed her to be consistent, and Chris didn't want the distraction of clothing as she went back and forth from "toy Stella" to "big Stella."

For this project, we were fortunate to have our editor, Patti Gauch, on board right at the concept stage, and the next step was sending her a rough draft and development sketches.

The first order of business was getting the manuscript in top shape. One of Patti's practices is to read your piece aloud to you, which is both intimidating and exhilarating. A well-written manuscript on Patti's lips is like a fine piece of music played by a gifted musician—it comes more fully to life in her voice. Conversely, if there are awkward passages, lines that don't scan quite right, you recognize them right away. I do this for myself with a manuscript, but when Patti reads it, somehow, I can always see and hear the words more clearly.

I had great fun molding the piece into something I was truly proud of, with her help and gentle guidance.

As I hold the very first copy of a new book in my hands, it's enormously satisfying to reflect on how it sprung to life. My good friend Mary Jane Begin playfully calls new books "book babies" and in a way, that's a totally apt description. They are a labor of true love.

Next, we'll turn our attention to getting the word out, to crossing our fingers that store owners want to give it a place of prominence on their shelves when it releases on November 25th, and most importantly, to hoping children connect to it, and that in reading it, they see a bit of themselves, and want to read it again and again.

Story Corner Friday: Back-to-School

2010-08-29T13:50:00.003-04:00

School starts this coming Monday in my neck of the woods - so in the story corner yesterday, we read a mix of new releases and old favorites in the "back-to-school" book category.

At the top of the hour, I asked the kids on the rug if they were feeling a little nervous about the start of school. Just about all admitted to having some butterflies in their tummies.

Then, after the stories, I asked if the books we read made them feel any better--a little less nervous, a little more excited--about the start of school, and I was answered with great big smiles and shouts of "yeah!"

Further proof (as if we needed any) that sometimes, just the right book can make a world of difference.

Here are our picks for a butterfly-easing back-to-school story hour:

How Rocket Learned To Read, by Tad Hills

Is Your Buffalo Ready For Kindergarten? by Audrey Vernick

How Do Dinosaurs Go To School? by Jane Yolen

First Grade Jitters by Robert M. Quakenbush

Marley Goes To School by John Grogan

Related Craft: "All About Me" Name Tags - kids can make their own name tags for school, and decorate them to reflect their hobbies, interests, pets, family, etc. Here are the materials we used on this project, but you can also add pictures from magazines, glitter, buttons, yarn, foam shapes...or anything that expresses your own unique style!

Here's What You'll Need:

4 x 6 non-lined index cards
Letter stencils (*optional)
Construction paper
Colored pencils
Hole puncher
Stickers
Elastic string
Scissors, glue

Here's How You Make It:

Stencil or write the letters of your name onto the index card
Cut a backing for your name tag out of construction paper and glue to back of card
Decorate name tag with stickers, drawings, etc.
Hole-punch 2 holes at top, string the elastic through the holes and tie together

Anika's story hour is held every Thursday morning at 10:30 at Barrington Books in Barrington, Rhode Island.

Story Corner Friday: Pirates and Princesses

2010-08-20T11:14:00.000-04:00

How positively Disney of us! Yesterday, we had a princess and pirate party in the story corner, and a few of my lovely little readers even came dressed in character. The books were a HUGE hit, especially "The Monster Princess," DJ McHale's all new masterpiece about a tiny troll princess who lives underground and longs to wear tiaras and attend fancy balls like her "above ground" princess counterparts. Even the wee pirates on the rug were hooked from the very first page.

"There's a story it seems about a sweet little monster with very big dreams.

She wished she was pretty.

She wished she could dance.

She wished to be special...

And this was her chance."

Melinda Long and David Shannon's "How I Became A Pirate" as always, did not disappoint.

And to round out a princess-pirate story hour of your own try:

"Shiver Me Letters," by June Sobel and Henry Cole

"Not All Princesses Wear Pink," by Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple

"On A Pirate Ship," by Sarah Courtald and Benji Davis

Our craft was a classic newspaper pirate hat just like the boy in "How I Became A Pirate,"wears, along with a bejeweled fairy princess magic wand.

One of my favorite kids crafts sites "Busy Bee Crafts" provides clear step by step instructions on how to make the hat, along with a handy jolly roger template.

For the wand, we used craft sticks, card stock cut into star shapes, scotch tape, some glue on jewels, and confetti.

Story Corner Friday: Under The Sea

2010-08-07T10:00:00.025-04:00

The kids in the story corner went on a deep-sea reading adventure with guest-reader (and good friend) Dawn Rocco this past Thursday. Here's what they read:

"I'm The Biggest Thing In The Ocean," by Kevin Sherry

"Slow Down For Manatees," by Jim Arnosky

"Baby Beluga," illustrated by Ashley Wolfe

"The Hermit Crab," by Carter Goodrich

"The Snail and the Whale," by Julia Donaldson

Related Craft Idea: Paper Plate Jelly Fish

Here's what you'll need:

- Paper plates
- Scissors
- Yarn or ribbon
- Google Eyes
- Glue/ tape
- Markers or crayons

Here's how to make it:

1. Cut the paper plate in half
2. Glue eyes on and draw in a face
3. Cut long pieces of ribbon or yarn and tape or glue onto straight side of plate to make tentacles

Anika's Story Hour is held every Thursday morning at 10:30a.m. at Barrington Books, in Barrington, RI

Story Corner Friday: Goodnight Books

2010-07-30T10:21:00.024-04:00

Have a pajama party story hour with this mix of new and classic bedtime books:

“I’m Not Sleepy,” by Jonathan Allen

“Goodnight Baby Bear,” by Michael Shoulders

“Polly’s Pink Pajamas,” by Vivian French

“Time For Bed,” by Mem Fox

“Goodnight Moon,” by Margaret Wise Brown

Related Craft: Moon and Stars Mobile

Here's what you'll need:

• Yellow and blue card stock or construction paper
• Craft string/ yarn
• Crescent moon and star shaped stencils
• Hole puncher

Here's how you make it:

1. Trace moon and 3 star-shaped stencils onto paper and cut them out
2. Punch three holes in moon and one in each star
3. Cut three pieces of string in varying lengths
4. Tie stars to moon
5. Punch a hole in the top of moon and attach shorter piece of yarn to hang on hook or doorknob

Anika's Story Hour is held every Thursday morning at 10:30a.m. at Barrington Books, in Barrington, RI

The Princess and The Blog

2010-07-26T10:04:00.010-04:00

Ok, I'm the first to admit, I need a fairy godmother and some industrious singing mice around for me to get it all done.

Clearly, dear readers, I have been neglecting my blog. With summer travel, camps, a new gig as a children's book consultant at my local bookstore, and occasionally, the actual business of writing, life has gotten the better of me.

One area I KNOW I've neglected is my book summary for Story Corner Fridays! For those of you that look forward to those lists, I'm sorry for the few weeks I've taken off, and I will pick it back up this Friday. One thing that will keep me honest is to abbreviate the list to title and author of book only followed by the craft info and photos.

You can be sure that if it's one I choose for story hour, it's a book I'd recommend reading! And for more in-depth reviews, I still post my newspaper column, Bookmarks on my other Blog. Many of the books I read in the story corner are reviewed there.

I hope that you too, are enjoying a glorious summer. It's amazing how fast it goes. May these last few weeks be filled with breezy beach afternoons, thick paperback bestsellers, summer evenings under the stars, s'mores, stories, and the making of happy memories with family and good friends.

Cheers!
Anika

Kidoinfo Providence Storytime starts next week!

2010-07-01T14:45:00.014-04:00

For all those who will be in and around Rhode Island this summer, here's a fun summer activity alert: Kidoinfo Providence Storytime on Tuesday mornings from 10-11am!

Families bring a blanket and enjoy different weekly storytellers near the fountain in Burnside Park in Providence. Each storytime will feature at least one book from a local Rhode Island author or illustrator.

First up: Jen Corace, illustrator of Little Pea, Little Oink, and Little Hoot will sign copies of her new book: Mathilda and the Orange Balloon
Readers: Mayor David N. Cicilline and Anisa Raoof, publisher of Kidoinfo

Chris and I will be previewing our new book Bella And Stella Come Home there, and we'll also read Pigs Love Potatoes, along with many other great story selections on August 24th!

Save the date!

Visit: Kidoinfo.com for the full schedule of stories and readers!

Story Corner Friday: DADS!

2010-06-18T12:49:00.023-04:00

Father's Day is this Sunday, June 20th, so this week, we celebrated all the "Papa Bears" with these special Daddy books.

"My Father Knows The Names of Things," by Jane Yolen; illustrated by Stephanie Jorisch
As the wife of an artist who makes it a point to teach his children the precise and proper names of colors, I feel a special appreciation for the dad described in this book; a dad who knows "seven words that all mean blue," along with many other diverse facts about the world. With the help of Ms. Jorisch's fabulous illustrations, Ms. Yolen's gentle rhymes paint a picture of fatherhood that goes beyond the typical and perhaps, somewhat more expected Daddy books, by portraying fathers as wise teachers and loving role models.

"Let’s Have A Daddy Day," by Karen Kingsbury; illustrated by Dan Andreasen
If you too designate certain days: "Daddy Days," or if you want a little inspiration for a great Daddy Day, read this perky picture book. The rhyme is a bit forced in places, but the sentiment of enjoying special moments just to play with Dad, are heartfelt.

"Me With You,"by Kristy Dempsey; illustrated by Christopher Denise
Ms. Dempsey's rhymes are pitch-perfect and so are the vibrant illustrations of an expressive grandfather bear and his little granddaughter. It's a sweet celebration of the relationship between any perfect pair - bear, human, and otherwise.

"Daddies" by Lila Prap
Bold lines, brightly hued illustrations and lots of fun animal sounds combine to make this the clear winner in the read aloud category of Daddy books, and an essential Father's Day story time selection.

"Mr. Seahorse," by Eric Carle
Surprise kids with this fun fact: the FATHER seahorse carries the eggs around in his pouch - not the mother! They'll learn all about seahorses and many other surprising fishy tidbits in Eric Carle's ode to paternal devotion under the sea.

Suggested craft: # 1 DAD Pennant

This pennant is from the Making Friends website (www.makingfriends.com) and uses felt, but we did a version with construction paper and poster letters. Simple crayons or markers can also be used to decorate your pennant. In the story corner, we added a long thin wooden dowel, (found at any craft store) to attach to our pennant to make it more of a flag.

It makes a fun decoration for Father's Day gifts, or adornment on Dad's Sunday brunch, lunch or dinner table!

Story Corner Friday: SAIL AWAY!

2010-06-11T18:44:00.018-04:00

These books featuring boats make for a ship-shape story hour kids will love!

"Toy Boat," by Randall DeSeve; illustrated by Loren Long
A little boy makes a toy boat and sets it out to sail. Descriptions of the tiny toy boat are meant to be metaphors for the boy taking his first steps towards independence. Rich oil paintings by Loren Long (The Little Engine That Could) really shine.

"Little Boat," by Thomas Docherty
This book also features a boat's journey as a metaphor for childhood, but the story is told purely from the point of view of the tiny boat. Wonderful words and pictures add up to satisfying whole and a terrific read-aloud.

"Mr. Gumpy's Outing," by John Burmingham
The "Mr. Gumpy" books are always great for story hour. In this installment, Mr. Gumpy invites children, sheep, chickens and more into his rowboat on the condition that they don't sqabble, bleet, cluck, etc. But alas, the children squabble, the sheep bleet, the chickens cluck and - wouldn't you know - the boat tips over. The build up to the "splash!" is pitch-perfect and priceless fun for story time.

"Bear in The Air," by Susan Meyers; illustrated by Amy Bates
An absolute gem, this new rhyming tale from Susan Meyers, beautifully illustrated by Amy Bates with a vintage painting style, follows the adventures of one little stuffed bear after baby inadvertantly drops it. The bear is swept up into the wind and carried away to the depths of the ocean, but (spoiler alert) miraculously finds its way back to the baby for bedtime snuggles.

RELATED CRAFT IDEA:

We made these origami boats courtesy of the clever folks at Activity Village. Click here to see how they did it: http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/origami_sailing_boat.htm

Love from Dollywood!

2010-06-08T07:31:00.006-04:00

Pigs Love Potatoes has been chosen for the 2010 edition of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library!

In 1996, Dolly Parton launched a literacy program to benefit the children of her home county in east Tennessee in order to foster a love of reading among preschool children and their families. She wanted children to be excited about books and to feel the magic they can create—with the notion that every child would have books, regardless of their family's income.

So, she mailed a brand new, age appropriate book each month to every child under 5 in Sevier County.

Since that time, the program has grown exponentially, reaching 1200 communities and landing 25,000,000 books in the mailboxes of families throughout North America.

This is the second year Pigs Love Potatoes has been chosen by Ms. Parton and her Imagination Library's book selection committee, and Chris and I are honored to be a part of such a wonderful, worthwhile program.

To learn more about how to bring the Imagination Library program to your community visit: www.imaginationlibrary.com.

Story Corner Friday: COUNTING BOOKS

2010-06-07T14:41:00.018-04:00

Count on a great story hour with these fabulously fun counting book classics!

Five Little Monkeys by Eileen Christelow

Chicka Chicka 1,2,3 by Bill Martin Jr.Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson with pictures by Lois Ehlert

Hippos Go Berserk! by Sandra Boyton

Olly And Me 1, 2, 3 by Shirley Hughs

and of course... my personal favorite... Pigs Love Potatoes by Anika and Christopher Denise ;)

Related Craft Idea: Make a "Counting Caterpillar"

Here's What You'll Need:

Construction Paper
Circle cutter or scissors
Magic Markers
Glue stick
Google eyes (small size)

Here's How To Make It:

1. Cut (6) 2 1/2 inch circles out of different colored construction paper
2. Number the circles from 1-5 (the last circle is for the caterpillar's "head." )
3. Give your child the circles and ask them to arrange them in number order on the page to make the caterpillar's "body."
4. Glue circles in place onto another sheet of construction paper
5. Glue on the eyes and draw the antennae, legs and smiley face

Anika's Story Hour is held every Thursday morning at 10:30a.m. at Barrington Books, in Barrington, RI

Review. Revise. Repeat.

2010-06-02T15:24:00.002-04:00

Been doing a lot of it lately, and in the process, learning about the importance of trusting an editor.

Reworking a manuscript can be grueling at times. William Faulkner said that writers must be willing to "kill their darlings." In other words, they have to be able to see the book as a whole and remove passages that don't serve the story—despite how brilliant they think they are, or how to attached to the words they may be.

With a little distance from a text—by letting it rest and then coming back to it—I find it becomes easier to part with some of my "darlings," and make the best decisions for the story.

The help of a good editor is also key. Sometimes writers have blind spots, and a savvy editor can help pull the best out of an author and see with a clear impartial eye, what's not working.

Still, there's no getting around it, the editing process can feel very personal when your beloved words make their way to the cutting room floor. It can be difficult not to react emotionally.

An editor whose process is more akin to molding clay, than hacking away, is a blessing in such circumstances, and fortunately, this has been my experience working with editors so far.

At the end of the day, you have to trust, and remember that an editor's job is to help you put forth your very best, and create work that will stand the test of time.

If the book is the runaway success you both hope it will be, the fact is: Your "darlings" will forgive you.

Story Corner Friday: The BEACH!

2010-06-02T13:03:00.025-04:00

Have a fun beach-themed reading hour with these seasonal seaside story selections:

Ladybug Girl at the Beach, by David Soman (Author, Illustrator), Jacky Davis (Author)

Ladybug Girl and Bingo are back in the latest installment of this smashingly successful series. This time, Lulu, (a.k.a. Ladybug Girl) is sure she loves the beach - even though she's never been before. But when she gets there, the big waves and crashing surf are a little more than Lulu bargained for. Four's a charm for the team of Soman & Davis, because the writing and pacing of this book is their best yet. It's my personal favorite of the Ladybug Girl books, and the story hour kids gave it a big "wings up!"

Stella, Star of the Sea, by Marie-Louise Gay
While spending the day at the beach, a curly red-haired little girl named Stella patiently puts up with nonstop questions from her younger brother Sam. Stella explains that starfish were once shooting stars "who fell in love with the sea"; that a round shell is a shark eyeball; and that sea horses can be ridden bareback. Plucking this delightful little picture book from the shelves was like finding a perfect opalescent seashell among the dunes. (This book is part of a series; there are other Stella books, as well, and I highly recommend them.)

To The Beach, by Thomas Docherty
Looking out his window on a rainy day, one little boy imagines his way to the beach, traveling on a bicycle, a truck, a boat, a plane, and even a camel. A fun read-aloud and a silly ode to daydreaming.

Ballyhoo Bay, Judy Sierra (Author), Derek Anderson (Illustrator)
Mira Bella the artist teaches painting and sculpture to grannies and kids at the seashore. Until one gray day a billboard goes up, announcing that a high-rise building is going in on the beach, and there will be no children and wildlife allowed. By fin or by foot, the community at Ballyhoo Bay hatches a plan to save their beach! A hopeful message, vibrant illustrations, and well-written verse make Ballyhoo Bay a fun romp of a read-aloud beach story.

Sylvie, by Jennifer Sattler
Sylvie the little pink flamingo wants to know why she's so pink. Her mother explains it's from all the shrimp they eat. This gives Sylvie an idea! She eats grapes and turns a fetching shade of purple, chocolate that makes her morph to a deep brown, and even a beach umbrella that turns her feathers to brightly colored stripes! But when a stomach ache sets in, Sylvie decides it's best just to be herself.

Related Craft: Sugar Sea Stars

Here's what you'll need:

Card stock or heavy construction paper
Pencil
Glue
Scissors
2 Plastic Trays
Natural Cane Turbinado Sugar

Here's how you make it:

1. Sketch a starfish shape onto your paper and cut it out

2. Pour glue into one plastic tray

3. Pour sugar into the other

4. Dip star shape into glue

5. Then dip into the sugar tray to coat it; allow to dry

Anika's Story Hour is held every Thursday morning at 10:30a.m. at Barrington Books, in Barrington, RI

Story Corner Friday: The Birds And The Bugs

2010-05-21T10:33:00.013-04:00

Speaking of the birds and the bugs, they are out in full force here in Little Rhody - and so's the sunshine, so forgive me if I keep this week's "Story Corner Friday" a little brief, but it's just too beautiful a spring day to be tap tap tapping on a computer keyboard. Read these story suggestions quickly, then throw a few paperbacks in your knapsack or beach bag and enjoy the great outdoors!

Here are the books we read in the story corner this week, and I have to say, they were all TERRIFIC! There are some truly great read-alouds in this bunch. "Seven Hungry Babies," by Candace Flemming and "What The LadyBug Heard," by Julia Donaldson, in particular, were big hits with the kiddos.

Titles:

• Seven Hungry Babies by Candace Flemming
• Big Rig Bugs by Kurt Cyrus
• Just How Long Can A Long String Be? by Keith Baker
• Butterfly Birthday by Harriet Ziefert
• What The Ladybug Heard by Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks

Check back: Craft to come!

Story Corner Friday: Children's Choice Book Award Nominees

2010-05-14T13:42:00.030-04:00

This week in the story corner we focused on the books nominated for a Children's Choice Book Award in the K-2nd grade category.

Although the big prize went to "Lulu the Big Little Chick," by Paulette Bogan, each of these books was a winner with the kids. In fact, when I asked them which book they liked best, they were hard pressed to pick just one favorite. The most common response was: "All of em!"

"Mouse Was Mad" by Linda Urban and Henry Cole (Houghton Mifflin)
Who knows the best way to be mad? Bear stomps. Hare hops. Bobcat screams. Mouse? He just can't get it right. But when he finds the way that works for him—still and quiet—he discovers that his own way might be the best of all. A story about self-expression that is funny and charming.

"Opposnakes," by Salina Yoon (Little Simon)
So simple, yet so clever. This lift-the-flap book illustrates the concept of opposites such as clean to dirty, quiet to loud and hot to cold, by showing one small snake, then another big long snake when you open the flaps.

"The Odd Egg," by Emily Gravett (Simon & Schuster)
Each of the birds has an egg...except for Duck. So when Duck finds a beautiful egg of his own he's delighted — even though the other birds make fun of it. But everyone's in for a BIG surprise when his egg finally hatches! Funny, fabulous illustrations on cleverly designed die-cut pages build the visual gag to perfection.

"The Curious Garden," by Peter Brown (Little, Brown)
Inspired by the true story of a garden which grew on Manhattan's Highline, “The Curious Garden” chronicles the tales of Liam — a young boy who finds a patch of wildflowers growing on a retired railway, in a town which is otherwise drab and dreary. Liam learns how to care for the garden, and eventually the tiny patch spreads and flourishes, bringing green to the farthest corners of the city. Brown's gentle text and rounded retro-style illustrations are a delight.

"Lulu the Big Little Chick," by Paulette Bogan (Bloomsbury)
Lulu is a feisty little chick who's tired of being told she's too little to do the things she wants. So she decides to go "far, far away." On the road to "far, far away," she meets some snotty pigs, wise-cracking sheep, a haughty horse and a rather condscending cow, but Lulu is undeterred -- until she hears the "caw-caw-caw" of a scary crow and decides maybe she is a tad little to be out wandering by herself. Fortunately, an understanding Momma hen welcomes her home with open feathers. Funny dialogue and great pictures is what makes this tale of the endearingly stubborn little chick Lulu - a winner!

Suggested Craft: Chick Visors

See this link for a fun little-chick craft courtesy of the clever crafty folks at the Making Friends website. The story corner was transformed to a coop filled with wee yellow chickies after this sweet and simple visor decorating project.

And the Children's Choice Book Award goes to...

2010-05-13T08:10:00.006-04:00

The Children's Choice Book Award winners are as follows:

Author of the Year
James Patterson for Max (A Maximum Ride Novel) (Little, Brown)

Illustrator of the Year
Peter Brown for The Curious Garden (Little, Brown)

Kindergarten to Second Grade Book of the Year
Lulu the Big Little Chick written and illustrated by Paulette Bogan (Bloomsbury USA)

Third Grade to Fourth Grade Book of the Year
Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute written and illustrated by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Knopf/Random House)

Fifth Grade to Sixth Grade Book of the Year
Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-so-fabulous Life written and illustrated by Rachel Renee Russell (Aladdin/Simon & Schuster)

Teen Choice Book of the Year
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic)

Congratulations to all the winners! See my review of Paulette Bogan's winning book on the Bookmarks blog! And come read the nominated and award winning picture books with us this Thursday, May 13th at 10:30 am at Barrington Books' STORY HOUR

Children's Book Week is here!

2010-05-10T09:30:00.010-04:00

Today is the official start to Children's Book Week, a week dedicated to celebrating children's books, authors and illustrators, and a love of reading!

Here's a blurb about it from the official website:

"Since 1919, Children's Book Week has been celebrated nationally in schools, libraries, bookstores, clubs, private homes -- any place where there are children and books. Educators, librarians, booksellers, and families have celebrated children's books and the love of reading with storytelling, parties, author and illustrator appearances, and other book-related events.

It all began with the idea that children's books can change lives. In 1913, Franklin K. Matthiews, the librarian of the Boy Scouts of America, began touring the country to promote higher standards in children's books. He proposed creating a Children's Book Week, which would be supported by all interested groups: publishers, booksellers, and librarians.

Mathiews enlisted two important allies: Frederic G. Melcher, the visionary editor of Publishers Weekly, and Anne Carroll Moore, the Superintendent of Children's Works at the New York Public Library and a major figure in the library world. With the help of Melcher and Moore, in 1916 the American Booksellers Association and the American Library Association cooperated with the Boy Scouts in sponsoring a Good Book Week.

In 1944, the newly-established Children's Book Council assumed responsibility for administering Children's Book Week. In 2008, Children’s Book Week moved from November to May. At that time, responsibility for Children’s Book Week, including planning official events and creating original materials, was transferred to Every Child a Reader, the philanthropic arm of the children’s publishing industry.

Also in 2008, the Children's Book Council created the Children's Choice Book Awards, the only national child-chosen book awards program, giving young readers a powerful voice in their own reading choices.

The need for Children’s Book Week today is as essential as it was in 1919, and the task remains the realization of Frederic Melcher’s fundamental declaration: 'A great nation is a reading nation.'"

Check your local libraries and bookstores to see what events are planned in your area. Or, celebrate at home by taking a break from the busy pace of life to curl up with a favorite book. Read aloud with the kiddos, or have them read to you. Really get them thinking and talking about the story by asking them what they liked about the book, and share your favorite parts with them too.

Need ideas on great books to read? Try the Children's Book Council's list of children's choice reading selections.

So CHEERS to those who make books, those who love books, and those who READ books!

READ ON!

Anika

Story Corner Friday: MOMS!

2010-04-30T07:59:00.031-04:00

Let's face it, moms deserve more than a day — they deserve a whole week! So we decided to read books that celebrate mothers one full week (and then some) before Mother’s Day!

Eric Carle's book, "Does A Kangaroo Have a Mother Too?" poses an intriguing question to preschoolers — and judging from the fabulous books we read yesterday, the answer is a resounding: YES!

Our story selections featured raccoon mamas, llama mamas, lamb mamas, bear mamas, giraffe mamas, penguin mamas and people mamas too!

If you're looking to read a story or perhaps find a gift perfect for Mother's Day, any of these marvelous mom-themed books would make a lovely choice.

"My Mother Is So Smart," by Tommie DePaola
As a mother of two, any story that starts out "My mother is so smart," is an instant-winner in my book. Mr. DePaola (Strega Nona) offers up a sweet ode to the multi-talents of moms with one little boy's recounting of all the great things his mom can do. From sewing Halloween costumes to standing on her head, readers will sense the heartfelt admiration the little boy has for his mother, and will likely ponder and appreciate their own mothers' special talents too.

"Does A Kangaroo Have A Mother Too?" by Eric Carle
Carle's signature vibrant collage illustrations and fun read-aloud repetition combine to make yet another Eric Carle classic. The book asks, "Does a kangaroo have a mother too?" and then reassuringly answers: "Yes, a kangaroo has a mother, just like me and you." The question is then joyfully repeated for each of Mr. Carle's colorful creatures.

"Who Loves The Little Lamb?" by Lezlie Evans; illustrated by David McPhail
Another book expressing a mother's love — with a cast of various animals and a question and answer format — this book is stylistically very different than the Carle book, but equally charming. "Who loves the fussy lamb?" it asks. "Who loves the noisy bird? Sing sweetly, please, you'll still be heard. Mama loves her little bird." The message here is: Even when kids are not at their best—no matter what, no matter when—mothers love their little ones. With gentle rhyming text and sweetly detailed watercolors, it's a perfect book for bedtime, or anytime.

"If I Could, A Mother’s Promise," by Susan Milord; illustrated by Christopher Denise
A mama raccoon and her toddler share an ordinary day together, and Mama describes all the ways she'd show her love if she could — which clearly, she can, as the two stroll the beach, sing songs and cuddle at bedtime. Very touching text and charming vignette-style illustrations just make you say, "Awwww."

"Llama Llama Red Pajama," by Anna Dewdney
I just love the "Llama Llama" books. That goofy-faced little Llama and his oh-so-patient Mama make a fetching pair, and Dewdney's humorous rhythmic text and rich oil paintings make for a fun story hour read or bedtime favorite.

Mother's Day Related Craft: Popsicle Stick Frames

This is an easy, fun craft you can make and give to mom, grandmom or any special person you love on Mother's Day.

Here's what you'll need:

(8) Jumbo popsicle sticks
Craft Glue
Markers
Stamps/Ink
Beads, ribbon, stickers etc. for embellishment
Photo of your choice
Colored paper/ scissors *optional

Here's how to make it:

Note: * If using stamps and ink, it's best to stamp your lettering on BEFORE you glue the popsicle sticks together

1. Lay (2) popsicle sticks on left side, and (2) on the right
2. Dot some glue on the tops and bottoms of each stick
3. Lay (2) more sticks on top and (2) on the bottom forming a square
4. Add extra glue if necessary and let dry for at least 30 minutes
5. Choose photo and tape face down to back side of frame

*Optional - Cut out a square out of colorful construction paper the same size as frame and glue a back onto your frame if you for a more "finished look." You can also add a hanger for your frame with some firm-hold tacky glue and piece of ribbon *

6. Glue on beads and embellishments of your choice (be creative!) and use markers to color hearts or any pictures you'd like on your frame and let dry.

Anika's Story Hour is held every Thursday morning at 10:30a.m. at Barrington Books, in Barrington, RI

Story Corner Friday: STORMS!

2010-04-09T13:18:00.036-04:00

"Fasten your seat belts kids, it's going to be a bumpy morning!"

That's right, it may have been bright and sunny outside, but inside in the story corner yesterday, the "SWOOSH, BOOM and CRACKLE" of a stormy, blustery day could be felt all around. Perhaps our enthusiasm summoned today's clouds and rain; who knows?

One thing is certain: Stormy books make for an fun and exciting story hour!

I'm going to change it up a little this week and give you the publisher's descriptions followed by the kids' reactions to each book.

First on our stormy reading list: "The Big Storm: A Very Soggy Counting Book," by Nancy Tafuri

Description from the publisher:
As clouds amass overhead and rain starts to pour, ten little woodland animals hurry to find shelter. The text counts up as Bird, Mouse, Squirrel, Rabbit, Chipmunk, Woodchuck, Raccoon, Possum, and Red Fox all run for cover--then Skunk squeezes in and makes it 10! All night, they huddle together in the safety and warmth of the hollow, as the thunder claps and lightning flashes outside. In the morning, the storm has calmed, but the animals still hear the grumble of thunder in the distance. Imagine their surprise when they find the noise is coming from a bear! From 10 to 1, all of the animals scurry out of the bear's lair to find a big, beautiful day outside.

Story Kids Reaction: The children loved the sweet illustrations of woodland creatures, the buildup of tension with all the "grumbling and rumbling," and the surprise ending of it coming from a pair of bears.

Next up we read a version of the classic "Chicken Little," retold by Rebecca and Ed Emberley

From the publisher:
BONK! An award-winning father-daughter team make the sky fall an entirely new way.
You may already know the tale of a not-quite-so-bright little chicken whose encounter with an acorn and gravity convinces him the sky is falling, but you've never seen the story told this way. A brilliant collaboration brings us a bold and colorful retelling of the classic tale, as crazy-eyed Chicken and all his panicked friends run away from the sky and right into an eye-catching gatefold surprise.

Story Kids Reaction: They LOVED this book! All the bonking and honking and contagious hysteria of that kooky little chicken tumbled right off the pages and into the crowd. The vibrant, graphic illustrations also made this book a big hit for story time.

Switching gears, we took on a little non-fiction in the story corner with Gail Gibbons's "Tornadoes!"

From the publisher:
Here is an explanation of just what tornadoes are, how they form, the scale used for classifying them, and what to do in case one should be near you.

Story Kids Reaction
This is really more of a lap book then a read aloud due it's length and subject matter, but the kids in the story corner were nonetheless riveted by the descriptions of what a EO-5 grade tornado can do, including lift tree roots right out of the ground and blow houses clear across large fields. Some of the descriptions of the awesome power of tornadoes were a tad too sophisticated for our very young listeners, and better suited for the intended age group for the book (4-8 yrs). I skipped a few lines when I noticed "suddenly the hinges started to... unhitch" for the wee-folk. Still, there were lots of responses of: "Woa!" and "Cool!" from the rug.

Next up was the classic, "Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs."
From the publisher:
The tiny town of Chewandswallow was very much like any other tiny town except for its weather which came three times a day, at breakfast, lunch and dinner. But it never rained rain and it never snowed snow and it never blew just wind. It rained things like soup and juice. It snowed things like mashed potatoes. And sometimes the wind blew in storms of hamburgers. Life for the townspeople was delicious until the weather took a turn for the worse. The food got larger and larger and so did the portions. Chewandswallow was plagues by damaging floods and storms of huge food. The town was a mess and the pople feared for their lives. Something had to be done, and in a hurry.

Story Kids Reaction: They enjoyed the descriptions of the various food coming from the sky and many piped up with what they wished would rain down in their town. Most popular resposnes were: "pizza," "hamburgers," and "macaroni and cheese" - go figure!

Last but not least, was the book selection "Thunder Boomer!" by Shutta Crum with pictures by Carol Thompson.

From the publisher:
It's a hot day on the farm, and a little girl, her brother, and their mother are trying to cool off by the pond. Suddenly, dark clouds roll in. A thunder-boomer is on the way! The storm brings pounding rain and hail—and an unexpected visitor: a soggy wet stray kitten. Colorful descriptions of the storm are accompanied by lots of playful sound effects, making this free-verse poem perfect for reading aloud. Charming watercolor illustrations capture all the drama, humor, and tenderness of the text.

Story Kids Reaction: Usually, ending the hour with a book on the slightly longer side is a little tricky as kids attention begins to wane, but the book's detailed illustrations and evocative descriptions carried the kids right through the thunderous storm to the parting of the clouds and the peeking through of sunshine. The family finding a kitten at the end and naming her "Thunder Boomer" also played well to the group.

For a fun wind/storm-related craft, try making these simple Wind Socks.

Here's what you'll need:

* 8"x11" card stock in assorted colors
* Crepe paper in assorted colors
* Magic Markers/ Crayons
* Scotch Tape & Scissors
* 3-hole puncher
* Yarn or string

Here's how to make it:

1. Cut crepe paper into 14 inch-long strips.
2. Use 3-hole punch to punch holes along one 11-inch side of card stock
3. Decorate card paper with designs using the markers and crayons
4. Fold card stock into tube (long ways) lining up 2 of the hole punches, and tape tube together to make the top part of the windsock
5. Attach 4 different colored strips of crepe paper to bottom-just inside the tube with tape, so that strips are hanging down
6. String yarn through holes at the top of wind sock and tie together making a hanger for your windsock

April is 'National Poetry Month'

2010-04-08T07:49:00.007-04:00

Celebrate by writing a poem!

I wrote this one about my neighbor, who for many years, was the doctor in residence on Block Island. He is also an avid spear-fisherman, and all around lover of the ocean. Many of his patients there owned small commercial fishing vessels, and occasionally brought him fish as payment for treating their ailments. That fabulous visual inspired this silly little ode to our friend, "Doc Pete."

The Good Doctor Pete
by Anika Denise

The good doctor Pete
Has a very odd wish
He asks all his patients
To pay him in FISH.

He’ll set broken bones
For two cherry stones.

Suffer from flu?
A nice salmon will do.

Feel a tad out-of-it?
Bring him a halibut!

Develop a limp?
He’ll fix it, for shrimp.

The good doctor Pete
He’ll make you feel well
As long as you pay him
In fin, scale or shell.

Copyright © 2010 by Anika Denise, All Rights Reserved

Story Corner Friday: BUNNY RABBITS

2010-04-02T10:29:00.040-04:00

Everyone's spirits were high yesterday seeing the sun come out after "The Great Flood of 2010" here in Rhode Island! In the story corner, we celebrated with festive bunny books and a really fun craft.

Here are the books that had us hippin' and hoppin' like there was no stoppin'!

Knuffle Bunny ~ Mo Willems (Author, Illustrator)
I say this all the time, and I’ll say it again: Mo Willems is quite simply - brilliant. He has perfect comedic timing, his artwork is silly and cool, and his books always bring down the house at story hour. This is the tale of Trixie and her Dad, and what happens when Knuffle Bunny - Trixie's favorite toy - gets left behind at the laundromat.

Knuffle Bunny Too - A Case of Mistaken Identity ~ Mo Willems (Author, Illustrator)
Trixie is older and now and in school, but she still loves her Knuffle Bunny. So does another little girl, Sonja, who has the exact same toy. When Trixie and Sonja inadvertently switch bunnies, a middle of the night hand-off is arranged by the parents, and come morning, all is well. Trixie and Sonja discover they have a lot in common beyond just their love of Knuffle Bunnies and become each other's very first best friend.

Wee Little Bunny ~ Lauren Thompson (Author), John Butler (Illustrator)
This follow-up to "Wee Little Lamb," is a lovely book for the very young. The story of one little bunny's first romp through a springtime meadow, it's filled with simple language and pleasing repetition - but the pictures are the real standout, here. Naturalistic, yet so very sweet, the detailed paintings of a mother and baby bunny, a porcupine, a chipmunk and a wee chickadee, feel as though they could hop, leap and fly right off the page.

Bunny Cakes ~ Rosemary Wells (Author, Illustrator)
Originally, I had planned to read "Max and The Chocolate Chicken," but some savvy pre-Easter shopper purchased that title from the store shelves. No matter, "Bunny Cakes" has as much charm and garnered all customary giggles that come from reading a classic "Max and Ruby" book.

Duck! Rabbit! ~ Amy Krouse Rosenthal (Author), Tom Lichtenheld (illustrator)
Is it a Duck or is it a Rabbit? The age-old optical illusion is explored in this playful picture book. With witty "voice over" narration and pictures that show how the same shape can look at times like a duck, and other times like a rabbit, kids begin to understand how the mind's eye can magically morph what's on the page, with just a slight shift in perspective.

For even more fun with the Duck/Rabbit optical illusion, try this "Duck! Rabbit!" inspired craft. With the same shape cut from construction paper, you can make it Duck on one side and a Rabbit on the other!

The idea and instructions for this craft were adapted from "Your Big Backyard" magazine, a terrific kid's publication from the National Wild Federation.

Here's what you'll need:

1. Brown and yellow construction paper (or card stock if you want a thicker puppet)
2. Scissors
3. Glue
4. Orange and black marker, pink crayon
5. Large white craft pom-pom
6. Jumbo popsicle stick

Here's how to make it:

1. Trace the duck/bunny shape onto a paper (making a stencil out of heavy paper stock helps!)
2. Stencil the shape onto your yellow and brown construction paper and then cut out
3. Color in the bill and webbed feet with orange marker onto the yellow "duck" shape, and draw an eye on the duck's head (looking towards the bill)
4. Draw a nose, whiskers, ears, and paw onto your brown "bunny" shape, and draw an eye on the bunny's head (looking towards the bunny's nose.)
5. Create a cotton tail for the bunny by gluing on the white pop-pom.
6. Lay the brow paper on top of the yellow, matching the shapes to one another, and glue together.
7. Attach your popsicle stick on the bottom with glue (allow to dry)
8. Turn from front to back and watch your duck become a bunny!

Anika's Story Hour is held every Thursday morning at 10:30a.m. at Barrington Books, in Barrington, RI

Beyond the book report

2010-03-31T09:18:00.011-04:00

My daughter is in second grade which means she is now hitting the age where "book reports" are required.

I have to tell you, I'm not a huge fan of the traditional book report. Sure, teachers and school librarians need a way to assess reading comprehension, but the stale old book report format - a written regurgitation of plot - doesn't inspire much enthusiasm for reading, or capture the fun of sharing a book you've enjoyed. Even the name "Book Report" is dull. It sounds like a segment on cable news along the lines of "Wall Street Journal" or "Drudge."

How about "Book Reenactments," or "Book Spotlights," or "Your Page on Stage?" Anything with a little more pizzazz!

Many educators have already figured this out and are doing creative, out-of-the-box book activities in their classrooms, including recreating books in cartoon-form, acting out favorite scenes, writing alternative endings, designing book jackets, and forming "mini-book clubs" where children pair off and discuss their reactions to a book.

I love these ideas! They teach children to be engaged readers and critical thinkers. Going "beyond the book report" embraces the spirit of books as adventures, to be celebrated - and shared.

For more ideas like the ones I mentioned, see Scholastic's list of 25 Book Report Alternatives.

Story Corner Friday: SPRING GARDENS

2010-03-26T12:43:00.004-04:00

SPRING has SPRUNG! Daffodils and crocuses are popping up everywhere, tiny buds are dotting the shrubs and trees, and before we can say: April showers bring May flowers, the world around us will be awash in pale greens, yellows, blues and purples.

This week, we brought all the cheerful color of a spring garden to Story Hour, with these sunny springtime reading selections.

"Planting A Rainbow," ~ Lois Ehlert (Author-Illustrator)
The magic of a Lois Ehlhert book lies in her signature mix of simple shapes and vibrant color. This large format board book takes the reader through all the steps of growing a garden— from planting autumn bulbs, to ordering seed packets from a catalog, to sowing the seeds, to watering them and watching them grow into a rainbow of colorful blooms. Preschoolers will enjoy practicing their colors and turning the thick die-cut pages, and slightly older readers can learn the names of various plants and flowers.

"My Garden," ~ Kevin Henkes (Author-Illustrator)
The little girl in this sweet springtime tale enjoys working in the garden with her mom, but if she had her own garden, she'd grow chocolate bunnies, everlasting flowers, jellybean bushes—and definitely not carrots. In a soft pallet of spring hues, Henkes creates a world that will inspire kids to imagine all the fun, silly things they can grow in their own gardens.

"We Planted A Tree,"~ Diane Muldrow (Author), Bob Staake (Illustrator)
"We planted a tree, and it grew up," begins this delightfully simple story of all the wonderful benefits of planting a tree and watching it grow. Trees provide shade, bear fruit, clean the air, make homes for the animals and generally just make us all happy. With sweetly stylized illustrations, this a great choice book for springtime, "Green" or Earth Day themes.

"Rose's Garden," ~ Peter Reynolds (Author-Illustrator)
Rose travels in a teapot to a distant city in need of color. She plants seeds and waits for them to grow. And waits. And waits. But nothing happens. When word of Rose's determination spreads, children from near and far bring paper flowers to adorn her garden. Finally, as if summoned from this outpouring of support and love, real flowers begin popping up. Reynolds ("The North Star"; "The Dot") as always, displays just the right touch with a gentle story, and illustrations that morph from a landscape of inky brown, to a field of brightly dotted color.

"The Twelve Days of Springtime, A School Counting Book" ~ Deborah Lee Rose (Author), Carey Armstrong-Ellis (Illustrator)
A springtime counting book sung to the tune of "The Twelve Days of Christmas," I belted out this book to the kids in the story corner, despite being mildly tone deaf. Luckily, the store manager, Celeste Nadien, came to my rescue somewhere around the "second day of springtime" and helped me bring it on home to twelve! With clever riffs like: "On the twelfth day of springtime, / my teacher gave to me / TWELVE flags for flapping, / eleven stones for stepping, / ten words for rhyming, / . . . / and a garden to water carefully," this is a slam dunk for story hour.

After the stories, try this Paper Daffodil Craft to put a "spring" in the step of your wee little buds!

Here's what you'll need:

1. Yellow construction paper
2. Scissors
3. Star shaped cookie cutter
4. Tape or glue stick
5. Jumbo popsicle sticks
6. Green Marker or paint

Here's how you make it:

1. Take cookie cutter and trace star shapes onto construction paper and cut them out

2. Cut strips of yellow paper 1 inch thick and 3 inches long

4. Tape or glue one end of the strip to the other making it a circle

4. Tape or glue circle to center of star shape

5. Color (or paint) your popsicle stick green (if painting, allow to dry)

6. Tape or glue "head" of daffodil to popsicle stick-stem

7. Make lots and arrange in a vase, or use as decorations in potted plants

Anika's Story Hour is held every Thursday morning at 10:30a.m. at Barrington Books, in Barrington, RI

Bunnies and books in Boston

2010-03-24T08:53:00.011-04:00

This Saturday, March 27th, my dear friend, the talented children's book author and illustrator, Jill Lamere, will be hosting "story time" at the fabulous gift store: Blackstone's of Beacon Hill on Charles Street. If you are in or around Boston this weekend and have little ones, this is an event not to missed!

Here are the details from the store's site...

On Saturday, March 27 from 11am to 12:30pm Blackstone’s of Beacon Hill (46 Charles Street) invites children ages 2 to 6 to enjoy story time with Jill Shaver Lamere, children’s author and illustrator of The Wishing Star, The King’s Crown, and The Upside Down book. Lamere’s first three children’s books showcase creative at its highest level in her ability ‘to think outside the book’. The King’s Crown is a book and a crown in one. Children are invited to take a journey through a magic castle. As the story unfolds, this waterproof book magically transforms into the child’s very own King’s crown! In the story Upside Down, a little girl wishes the world was upside down – until she talks herself right out of it! This book is designed to be read through forward, then flipped around and read upside down and through in the other direction. The Wishing Star is a 3-dimensional, glow-in-the-dark, sweet bunny lullaby! When you finish reading the story, open this book up into a star and tie the front cover to the back. Hang this glow-in-the-dark star above your bed and make a wish!

As an added treat to Lamere’s already creative books and story time, we are treating children to an early Easter surprise, a chance to meet Fudge the Bunny. Fudge is a French lop-eared rabbit who resides in Beacon Hill on Chestnut Street. Fudge, through his PR agent has kindly set aside a block of time in his busy schedule and has consented to have his photograph taken with visiting children. He will have an encore appearance the day before Easter, Saturday, April 3rd. Bring your biggest “live” bunny fans this day to be photographed by Susan Symonds of Infinity Portrait Design (Beacon Hill).

Dreaming of Bologna

2010-03-22T08:00:00.015-04:00

Tomorrow marks the start of the 2010 Bologna Children's Book Fair in Bologna, Italy.

I'll admit, I'm wishing I was there and not here, in chilly drizzly Rhode Island. (Though come to think of it, I believe it's chilly and drizzly there too, but hey, it's Italy, so who cares?)

My husband and I have always wanted to attend, but in these past few years when our daughters were still so little, we couldn't quite swing it. Now, with our youngest heading to first grade in the fall—we find ourselves dreaming of Bologna.

Billed as "the most important international event dedicated to the children’s publishing industry," it's a venue where international authors, illustrators, literary agents, TV & Film producers, licensors and licensees, packagers, distributors, printers, booksellers, librarians and journalists meet to network and see what's new and exciting in the world of children's publishing and media.

A visit to the website (particularly the one in Italian) conjures up all sorts of exotic images for me. The "Agenti letterari" sound like something out of a Stephanie Meyer novel, don't they? I picture a group of serious but stunningly beautiful book agents, in robes and bright red scarves, gliding across the exhibition floor towards a feast of new talent and gorgeously designed books.

Sigh.

Ok, so perhaps I'm over-romanticizing it just a touch, but to have all that creative energy in one city, for one fabulous fair is surely exhilarating. When I'm in need of a little inspiration, I often go the the places where talent converges—be it a museum or gallery, coffee house or conference—being around creative, productive people who share a passion is good for the work, and good for the soul.

So, next year, when Bologna comes around... Andiamó! I'll be ready.

Story Corner Friday: BUGS!

2010-03-19T08:55:00.016-04:00

As a general rule, bug books make great read-alouds. What, with all that bizzing and buzzing... how could you go wrong?

So, I thought it was high time we devoted a story hour to the creepy crawly creatures. I chose a few straightforward bug book selections, and some that are loosely bug-related—but still seemed to tickle the kids from their antennae to their toes.

First up: David Kirk spins a classic tale of Spider poetry in Miss Spider's Tea Party

Reading this book again reminded me why it was such a runaway hit when first published more than 15 years ago. Kids love the vibrant primary colors of the illustrations, the long-lashed Miss Spider who sniffs daintily in her hanky, and the cast of wary bugs she so sweetly tries to befriend. Though Kirk's verse is imperfect in spots, it hardly matters—children delight in lines like this one from a brash bumblebee: "We would be fools to take our tea, with anyone so spidery."

Boll Weevil Ball ~ Kelly Murphy (Author, Illustrator)

I just love the words "Boll Weevil." Is there a bug with a more evocative name, I ask you? I think not. As it happens, though, this is the story of a Beetle, named Redd, who wants to attend the Boll Weevil Ball. (He's the Cinderella of Beetles, so to speak.) Only an evil stepmother is not Redd's problem—it's his tiny size. Redd is the smallest Beetle in the Beetle family and therefore, gets left behind. The story is sweet and simple, with a happy ending involving a fetching little firefly—but the real draw is Ms. Murphy's lush and lovely oil paintings of a wee sweet beetle lost in a paper-lantern-lit night.

JUMP! ~ Scott M. Fisher (Author, Illustrator)

This is, hands down, the best read-aloud I've come across in awhile. What makes a great read-aloud great, you ask? Sometimes it's rhyme, but to my mind, the best read-alouds are not necessarily written in verse. A great read-aloud has to have rhythm, repetition and most importantly HUMOR. Mr. Fisher's JUMP! has all three. "Well, I'm a bug. I'm a bug. I'm a snug little bug, and I’m sleeping on a jug. (Brief dramatic pause.) Until I see a frog, and I . . . . JUMP!” it begins. Then the frog who is sleeping on—what else? a LOG, sees a CAT! Then a HOUND wakes the cat, and so on and so forth—all the way up to a WHALE! The illustrations are hilarious and the refrain of: "Until I see a (fill in the blank) and I. . . . JUMP!" just begs kids to join in.

Ladybug Girl ~ Jacky Davis (Author), David Soman (Author, Illustrator)

This book, and the sequel: Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy, are on everyone's favorites list. At first, I didn't quite understand why it was such a big book. I liked it, but I thought some of the story was expected. Then I read it again, and again, and I looked closely at the washed watercolor paintings and the how Ladybug Girl's hair flew back in that perfect way as she raced down a hill or swung high on the swings in her spotted ladybug wings and boots, and I thought: This author and artist get little girls. And they get kids. The book has an understated charm that makes you fall in love with the main character, Lulu, and her independent spirit and spunk.

Hug-A-Bug ~ Eileen Spinelli (Author), Dan Andreasen (Illustrator)

More about hugs than bugs (although it does have a line that says: "Hug a bug, be gentle please,/ Hug a kitten, just don't squeeze,") this book may be a bit saccharine for some, but goes over quite nicely with—as my friend Brian Jacques calls them—"the little squidgies." With warm illustrations featuring sweet pug-nosed, round-faced children hugging everything in sight, you just can't help but say, "Aaww."

Suggested craft: Paper Plate Ladybugs

Here's what you'll need:

- 1 pack black and 1 pack red small paper plates
- Scissors
- Glue
- Hole puncher/ larger sized circle punch or circle cutter (*circle punch/ or cutter optional)
- Green pipe cleaner

Here's how to make it:

1. Cut a small triangle out of the red plate

2. Take a black paper plate and cut a half oval out for the head

3. Use another black paper plate and either cut out circles (freehand) for the ladybug's spots or use a large hole punch or circle cutter.

4. Take small hole punch and punch two holes at either side of ladybug's head

5. Cut a green pipe cleaner in half, and then cut each half in half again

6. Dot some glue on back of red plate and layer the red plate over a black plate to create "wings"

7. Attach pipe cleaners to ladybug's head

8. Glue the ladybug's head in between the plates, and glue spots onto wings

Anika's Story Hour is held every Thursday morning at 10:30a.m. at Barrington Books, in Barrington, RI

Mary Jane Begin's Guinness Stout Cake

2010-03-17T06:37:00.000-04:00

What's the fun of having a blog if you can't publish recipes from your favorite author friends? So, in honor of St. Patrick's Day, here's a stout-cake recipe from the incomparable Mary Jane Begin, author and illustrator of the "Willow Buds" books. I think Toady, Badger and Ratty would approve of this scrumptious delight!

Cake
2 cups Guinness stout
2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably Dutch-process)

4 cups all purpose flour
4 cups sugar
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
4 large eggs
1 1/3 cups sour cream

Icing
2 cups whipping cream
1 pound milk chocolate, chopped

For cake:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter three 8-inch round cake pans with 2-inch-high sides. Line with parchment paper. Butter paper. Bring 2 cups stout and 2 cups butter to simmer in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add cocoa powder and whisk until mixture is smooth. Cool slightly.

Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in large bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat eggs and sour cream in another large bowl to blend. Add stout-chocolate mixture to egg mixture and beat just to combine. Add flour mixture and beat briefly on slow speed. Using rubber spatula, fold batter until completely combined. Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center of cakes comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Transfer cakes to rack; cool 10 minutes. Turn cakes out onto rack and cool completely.

For icing:
Bring cream to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chopped chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. Refrigerate until icing is spreadable, stirring frequently, about 2 hours.

Place 1 cake layer on plate. Spread 2/3 cup icing over. Top with second cake layer. Spread 2/3 cup icing over. Top with third cake layer. Spread remaining icing over top and sides of cake.

"Finally," says, Mary Jane, "if you want to add a little color and contrast of tart to sweet, sprinkle fresh red raspberries over the top for a delicious finish!"

Illustration from "When Toady Met Ratty," (Little, Brown) Copyright © 2008 by Mary Jane Begin

For information on Mary Jane Begin's books, visit: http://www.maryjanebegin.com

Monday Rereads

2010-03-15T08:19:00.000-04:00

My Monday morning ritual is to reread what came out of Sunday’s writing session. Yes, there is a Sunday writing session. It’s one of my favorites of the week, in fact, because it’s generally the longest stretch of uninterrupted time I get to work. Weekday writing tends to be chopped up in bits around the kindergarten bus schedule, girl scouts, ballet, homework, dinner prep; you know—life.

But on Sundays, I wake up, make pancakes, let Chris sleep in his one day a week, and my reward is, I get to pad upstairs to my office with a mug of hot coffee and dig in.

My husband takes the kids for some adventure, and I’m left in the blessed quiet. Occasionally, when they have an at-home activity planned, I’ll grab my laptop and scoot out to my favorite coffee shop in Warren and write there.

I’ve reserved the past few Sundays for working on my chapter book— a middle grade mystery featuring a cast of rodents in a noirish caper.

Here’s a tiny peek at some of what’s been emerging these past few Sundays:

“The house was dark and quiet for the most part. Spike skulked beneath the first story windows, hoping to catch a glimpse of Gisela before bounding in unannounced, when a blood curdling scream stopped him in his tracks. His ears shot straight up in the air and he listened for any other sounds in the night. A rustle in the bushes on the north side of the house set Spike off after the sound. Paws on the ground, he broke into a full run and headed into the brush after whoever was fleeing the scene.

He could hear the quick breaths and snarls of the intruder as he closed the distance between them. When a sharp thorny branch hit him square in the nose, the fugitive nearly eluded him, but Spike sprang deftly off his hind legs and tackled the animal to the ground.

A long pink tail flashed in the moonlight and Spike realized the bandit was Rodent. Then, when the rodent shouted a foul word and turned around swinging, Spike panted, “Avery? Is that you?”

Lions-to-lambs! (Story Corner Friday)

2010-03-12T07:55:00.001-05:00

On Fridays, we recap what we read at story hour the previous day, and what fun new craft we've discovered. This week's theme was all things having to do with the month of MARCH. Windy, chilly days turning to warmer brighter ones... St. Patrick's Day, the first day of spring... and the sound of birds outside our window.

Here in New England, it seems everyone—kid or adult—is ready for spring! When the temperatures reached above 50 last week, we were all outside soaking up the fresh air. Yesterday, we brought some of that enthusiasm to story hour with these seasonal book selections:

"Little Cloud and Lady Wind," ~ Toni Morrison (Author) Slade Morrison (Illustrator) A beautiful story by famous novelist Toni Morrison (illustrated by her son) about a little girl cloud who at first, does not want to join the other clouds in making storms that rain down on the earth. Then, Lady Wind explains that she does not always have to be stormy—she can be whatever kind of cloud she wants to be. Very pretty illustrations, and a nice message about the connectedness of all things in nature.

"The Luckiest St. Patrick's Day Ever," ~ Teddy Slater (Author), Ethan Long (Illustrator) The cheerful rhyming tale of a Leprechaun family who celebrate March 17th with a St. Patrick's Day parade and a big party afterwards. A festive choice for bringing the luck o' the Irish to story hour!

"Birds," ~ Kevin Henkes (Author), Laura Dronzek (Illustrator)
“If birds made marks with their tail feathers when they flew, think what the sky would look like,” says the narrator in Henkes's lovely book about birds in all their variety and splendor. A great choice for springtime-themed reading.

"Forever Friends," ~ Carin Berger (Author, Illustrator) A quiet story about a little brown bunny and a bluebird, with paintings that feel like gorgeously designed wallpaper. A lovely book to see, hear and hold.

"Here Comes Gosling!" ~ Sandy Asher (Author), Keith Graves (Illustrator) Great read-aloud about a funny Froggie who can't wait to meet Goose and Gander's new baby Gosling. But when baby Gosling "Hoooooooooonnks" endlessly, Froggie's excitement diminishes considerably. Eventually, Froggie saves the day. (But I won't spoil it by telling you how!)

Suggested Craft: "Baby Birds in a Nest"
(Ages: 3 and Up)

Thanks to my friends at Busy Bee Kids Crafts (http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com) this super-cute craft project was a snap!

Here's what you'll need...

• Plastic egg (one half for each bird)
• Construction paper
• Paper plate
• Brown paint
• Paint brush
• Scissors
• Glue

Here's how you make it...

1. Paint your paper plate brown. If your plate has a waxy finish on it you may need to put on 2 coats of paint.

2. Now you will make your baby birds. Fold a small piece of orange construction paper, cut out a triangle on the fold, this will make the bird's beak.

3. From construction paper cut out two wings for each of your birds. Make a small fold at the bottom of each wing, this will give your a place to put the glue.

4. Glue your beak and wings onto your birds. Most plastic eggs have air holes on them, which will look great as your bird's eyes. If your eggs don't have air hole, you can draw some on with a permanent marker.

5. Put some glue on the bottom of your eggs and glue your birds into their nest.

6. Cut some brown strips of paper.

7. Glue the brown strips around the lip of the paper plate.

Cherry Red Rain Boots

2010-03-11T15:21:00.002-05:00

I woke up on this rainy morning to my daughter donning a pair of my wellies, and it reminded me of when she was about 3, and refused to take off her new red rain boots for at least a week. She wore them rain or shine, to the playground, the grocery store, the library—even to bed.

My first impulse was to tell her she had to change them, but I stopped myself, realizing that sometimes when you're 3, a pair of cherry red rain boots can be magic. It was no different, really, then how a fabulous new handbag made me feel, was it? Who was I to rob her of the happiness the boots gave her, and why couldn't she wear them with a bathing suit and kimono?

Their shiny redness put a bounce in her step like only a really great accessory can. This, I understood.

In them, she was a ladybug-princess, a firefighter, a cowgirl and a champion puddle jumper. In her cherry red rain boots—she was pure joy.

Cherry Red Boots
by Anika Denise

My cherry red boots
Like two ripe reddish fruits
They glisten
They shimmer
And shine.

I wear them on Sundays
On gray rainy Mondays
They’re squishy
And squeaky
And mine.

In cherry red boots
Upon musical flutes
I flitter
And flutter
And bounce!

I wear them to school
To the park, to the pool
I splash
And I swing
And I pounce!

My cherry red boots
Like a tree to its roots
Forever
Together
We’ll be.

So rosily red
That I wear them to bed!
So bootsy
So cutesy

So ME.

Copyright © 2010 by Anika Denise. All rights reserved.

And we're live!

2010-03-05T15:16:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the blog of children's book author Anika Denise! My first order of business is to say a big THANK YOU to the lovely and talented Jill Lamere at Minikin Studio for helping me design a website and blog. I'll be adding content, news and events to both, so please check back frequently.

One fun blog feature will be "Story Corner Fridays," where I post what we're reading at Children's Story Hour (held Thursday mornings at Barrington Books in RI) along with how-to-instructions, photos and links for related craft projects. If you live too far away to come visit us at the bookstore, or simply miss a week - not to worry; with these book suggestions and craft tips, you can host your own story hour at home or in the classroom.

So for now, thanks for stopping by and stay tuned!

Cheers!
Anika