Carol Baldwin's Blog
Carol Baldwin is an author and presenter of writing workshop curriculum. She is currently writing a middle grade historical novel.
Catch of the Day
Gretchen Griffith records stories about Pilot Mountain Schoolhouse during the 1940s-1960s.
From the Mixed-up Files
Middle grade authors post book reviews, interviews, and have giveaways.
Never Give Up
Enjoy tips and encouragement for writers by Joan Y. Edwards
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“Drop Everything and Read.” (D.E.A.R.) and Other April Celebrations” by Linda Martin Andersen
April 12, 2015 is Drop Everything and Read. (D.E.A.R.) If you’re a kid, make time to read this day, just for fun. If you’re an adult, do the same! If you still have items on your “To Do List” by late afternoon that day, can you put it aside and read something for pleasure? Will you? Warning: don’t get so engrossed in reading that you forget to pick up your child, forget to do your homework, or walk out in traffic, but do make time to read.
Other Special Days in April:
April Fools or All Fools Day: 1 Do you have little brothers or sisters? Teach them to tell an April Fool’s joke, if they don’t know how. Demonstrate for them and then let them practice on you before trying it out on someone else. Have fun!
International Pillow Fight Day: 4 Would you rather have a pillow fight with a foam pillow, a feather pillow, or a bean bag pillow? Why?
Passover: 4 Who celebrates this religious holiday? Why is it remembered?
Easter: 5 Why is this religious holiday important to Christians? Name three of your family’s Easter traditions? Which one is most special to you and why?
International Whistler’s Day: 5 Name a time that someone tried to whistle and couldn’t. Name a time someone whistled so loudly that people turned to see what was happening. Can you whistle? Who taught you? If you’d like to hear a champion whistler visit Phyllis Heil, The Whistling Woman, on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbrbCcNxRf4
International Beaver Day: 7 Have you ever seen a beaver? What was he doing? Have you ever seen a beaver dam? How can beaver dams be harmful to property? Research to learn about beavers, their dams, trappers, and more.
National Farm Animals Day: 10 Have you ever been to a Barnyard birthday party? I haven’t, but I know someone who organized one for her triplets’ birthday party. What fun those kids must have had. If you attended a barnyard party, what animals would you expect to see? Name one or two you would be willing to pet.
Safety Pin Day: 10 Have you ever seen a safety pin? Have you ever used one on your clothing? What is its purpose? Have you ever seen jewelry made with safety pins? You might want to try making some of your own. Here is a step-by-step process for a safety pin bracelet: http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Bracelet-out-of-Safety-Pins
Bicycle Day: 15 What did your first bicycle look like? What tricks can you do on your bike? Ask a friend to take a brainstorming contest with you. Name as many types of bikes as you can in one minute. What are some jobs that are done on a bicycle?
Ellis Island Family History Day: 17 If you are an American, can you trace the way your family came to the USA? How would you have liked to come?
National Haiku Poetry Day: 17 Choose a nature topic for April. Write a three-lined haiku poem of 5 syllables, 7 syllables, and 5 syllables. I’ll share one of mine if you will.
Movie Theatre Day: 23 Do you love to go to the movies? Who takes you? How often do you go? Name a movie you have seen several times. Why did you agree to watch it so often?
World Penguin Day: 25 Have you ever seen a penguin? Where were you? Was he taller or shorter than you?
International Dance Day: 29 Is there an international folk festival in the area where you live? What country’s dance would you like to learn? What dance costume would you like to wear? What country could your family represent? How can you find out? Describe that country’s flag.
International Guide Dogs Day: 29 Name a time and place you saw a guide dog or a service dog. What should you remember when you approach a service dog? Do you know anyone who trains these animals?Research to learn more.
World Wish Day: 29 Name three wishes you would make for the world. Why these?
Zipper Day: 29 When did clothing first use zippers? Name something you own with multiple zippers. A backpack, a purse, a suitcase, etc. Do you know how to fix a zipper that gets stuck? Can you sew zippers in clothing? If so, you’d probably be called a seamstress. What name can you make up that seems more appropriate for those who sew zippers?
National Honesty Day: 30 “Honesty is the best policy.” Read Being Frank for a funny look on honesty. It’s written by Donna W. Earnhardt and illustrated by Andrea Castellani. http://www.flashlightpress.com/Being_Frank.html
Poem In Your Pocket Day: 30 Do you have a favorite poem you could carry in your pocket on this day? Who is the poet? How did you find out about him/her? Share one of your own poems with others.Special Weeks in April:
National Robotics Week: 4-12 Where have you seen robotics at work? Where did you learn about this? If you could create your own personal robot, what chores would you program it to do?
Explore Your Career Options: 5-11 What grade do you select a career path in your school? What career do you plan to follow? Have you ever observed someone in this line of work? What skills are needed? How many years of education?
National Blue Ribbon Week: 5-11 In Fair Cow by Leslie Helakoski, Petunia the pig, a blue ribbon winner at the fair, tries to coach Effie the cow so she can be a winner too.A fun read.
National Library Week: 12-18 The library has a calendar full of free fun events for people of all ages. What programs will you attend this month?
National Park Week: 18-26 This fall, all 4th graders in the US will receive a one-year free pass for families to the US National Parks. The program is called “Every Kid in a Park.” Now that’s a great gift! See here: http://www.nationalparks.org/ook/every-kid-in-a-park
National Playground Safety Week: 20-24 Have you ever found a loose bolt on a piece of playground equipment? Have you ever torn your clothes on a piece of equipment? Who services the playground equipment in your area? Do volunteers help keep the grounds clean? What can you do?
April is…
Celebrate Diversity Month Let’s celebrate how we are alike and how we’re different. How can we do that?
Child Abuse Prevention Month Every child should have a safe home environment. Some do not. Why?
Frog Month My husband loves frogs and he has an April birthday. Good reason to spotlight him. He has frogs that are stuffed animals, ceramic, and metal. Frogs can be found throughout our house. Who has a special collection at your house? Do you? What is it?
Jazz Appreciation Month–I’m taking a workshop this month called “Picture Books and All that Jazz.” Does the word “jazz” in the workshop title mean the same as “Jazz” here? What is the difference, if any? What is Jazz appreciation? What does that mean?
Keep America Beautiful Lately, I’ve noticed more and more paid workers picking up litter along the roadsides. What can be done to build up community pride to keep America beautiful?
Month of the Military Child Do you know a child with a parent in the military? How many times has this child moved in his/her life? Why do you think there is a month to celebrate the Military Child?
National Kite Month Which would you rather ride: a kite, a hot air balloon or a magic carpet? Have you ever flown a kite with a group of people? On the beach? in an open field? On a school yard? What experiences can you recall about flying a kite?
National Pet Month Name the type pets you’ve had. Which was your favorite? Which one got in the most trouble? What did he do?
National Poetry Month What is your favorite type of poem? Do you like poems that rhyme better than ones that don’t. What could you write a poem about today? Any special reason? Write another poem tomorrow, and the next day, and perhaps the next. I have a friend who posts a poem every day on her blog. Please visit Joy Acey who writes “Poetry for Kids Joy.” See here: http://poetryforkidsjoy.blogspot.com/2015/03/having-fun.html
For more ways to celebrate this month, see here: http://www.brownielocks.com/april.html Thanks for visiting. Come again soon and bring a friend. Children 13 years old or older may leave a comment. Read more about the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. (COPPA) See: http://www.coppa.org/coppa.htm
This led to the question, “What exactly is a whirligig?” I’ve been asked to clarify. Whirligigs may be tiny, such as a pinwheel on a pencil eraser or huge like some of the whirligigs Vollis Simpson created. (See picture below). These can weigh up to three tons (think elephants) and a tower up to 50 feet tall (think ferris wheel).
Many words are used to describe whiligigs–synonyms such as whirlybird, spinners, pinwheels, and others. See Wikipedia’s comments below.
Definition of whirligigs:
According to Wikipedia, “a ‘whirligig’ is an object that spins or whirls, or has at least one member that spins or whirls. Whirligigs are also known as pinwheels, buzzers, comic weathervanes, gee-haws, spinners, whirlygigs, whirlijig, whirlyjig, whirlybird, or plain whirly. Whirligigs are most commonly powered by the wind but can be hand or friction powered or even powered by a motor! They can be used as a kineticgarden ornament. They can be designed to transmit sound and vibration into the ground to repel burrowing rodents in yards, gardens, and backyards.”
According to Merriam Webster, a whirligig is “a toy that has a whirling motor or something that continuously whirls or changes.”
Looking for pinwheels?
Many stores stock patriotic pinwheels for US holidays at this time. Garden centers probably carry a variety year round.
Have you ever owned a pinwheel? Have you made one yourself? Check out craft books or this site to find directions for making them:
Have you ever seen pinwheels decorating a yard? I decided to add one to my yard after writing this blog post. The pinwheel I bought is rather short, so I may replace the stake with a longer one. Maybe you’d like to add a pinwheel stake to your yard.
Pinwheel. Linda Martin Andersen. Copyright 2013
Part 2–Donna Earnhardt is giving away a copy of her picture book Being Frank. Register to win by visiting her blog link below and following the rules there:
“Congratulations to Lisa Fowler, winner of Being Frank by Donna Earnhardt” by Linda Martin Andersen
Congratulations to Lisa Fowler! You are the winner of the debut picture book Being Frank by Donna Earnhardt. Donna will contact you for your postal address. Thanks for visiting “A Writer’s Playground” and leaving a comment. Come back soon and bring a friend.
Thanks again, Donna, for the interview and for donating the copy of Being Frank. It’s a great book. A special thanks to all who visited “A Writer’s Playground” and left comments for this contest. I appreciate you!
Please come back tomorrow, Sunday Oct. 7, and meet Meg Smith, a Newbery Judge–one of 15 in the US. Wow!
“A Writer’s Playground”–A place to find wordplay, writing, and monthly calendar activities for kids and those young at heart.
Today, we have a chance to meet someone who likes wordplay so much that she chose it as the title of her first published picture book–Being Frank. The title is a play on words because the main character’s name is Frank and the book is about being frank with others.
Being Frank means–being honest without worrying if someone’s feelings might be hurt, telling it like it is, being straightforward, outspoken, or blunt.
Read all about it!Being Frank by Donna Earnhardt and illustrated by Andrea Castellani was released October 2012 by Flashlight Press. Donna is one of my good writer friends. I wanted you to meet her; so I invited her for a visit.
Please welcome Donna Earnhardt.
*Applause.*
1. Being Frank, your debut picture book, is now published. I’m so excited for you. How does it feel? Do you keep pinching yourself to see if it’s real?
I am so excited I think I’ve left footprints on the ceiling. Unfortunately, my dust bunnies don’t clean up there, either.
2. “A Writer’s Playground” is a great place for readers to learn about careers. Could you share with us about your decision to become a writer and the steps you took to reach your goal?
I have been writing since I was a little girl. It wasn’t until after my first child was born that I decided to start writing and submitting my work. I learned a lot in those first few years…especially what NOT to do! Joining other writing groups and learning about the business of writing helped tremendously, too.
3. Donna, what inspired your book Being Frank?
A mix of things inspired me. As a parent, I want to speak the truth in love – and I want my children to do the same. But we don’t always do a great job of it! I wasn’t thinking specifically about that fact when the first line of the book came into my brain – and it didn’t really hit me that the book was about that until AFTER I’d written it. Also, my dad’s first name was Frank. So it’s a cool tribute to his memory!
4. “A Writer’s Playground” encourages good character traits on and off the playground. Would you speak about what it means to be frank? When could being frank cause problems?
Telling the truth is a good thing – always. But delivering the message in such a way that the hearer receives it in the way it is intended is the tricky part. If your best friend has grass in her hair and asks if she looks okay, you’ll want to tell her she has grass in her hair. But if she has on a shirt that she loves… but happens to be your least favorite color… you don’t need to point that out. If she asks, “How does this green shirt look on me?”, you need to listen to what she is really asking. She’s not asking if YOU like the color. She’s asking if you think she looks nice. You can think she looks nice without loving the color. Find the positive and go with it! If, however, she asks if you like the color, be truthful… but kind. You could answer, “You know that purple is my favorite color, but that green looks really nice on you.”
Again – it’s the truth. You just have to figure out how to share it without hurting others.
5. Donna, would Frank, your book’s main character, have any good character trait tips for readers?
Hmmm… he would probably NOT be the best one to ask that question! But if you did ask him, he would probably tell you it’s best if you don’t tell your teacher she has bad breath. Nothing good can come from it. Just pop a mint in your mouth and then offer her one. If she asks why, respond, “I didn’t want to be rude and keep them all to myself.” You’ll be telling the truth and doing it in a nice way!
6. Donna, did you have a favorite playground as a child? Do you recall learning any valuable lessons there? What were they?
Oooh.. that’s a deep question! I played on the playground at Cordova Elementary School. But I mainly played with my sister, cousins and neighborhood friends in our backyards. I learned a lot in both places.
I think the biggest thing I learned is that you can’t force people to be your friends. And if you feel like you have to do that, then they are probably not the folks you need in your life.
7. Could you share what you are writing at this time?
I just finished up a couple of new picture books and a new chapter book. The CB is set in the Outer Banks of NC. I hope to get out there one day! I am also working on a mystery (for adults) that I started over 10 years ago.
8. Donna, is there anything else you’d like to tell the readers here?
Thanks to all who have read this interview, bought my book already or intend to! This is a dream come true and I’m so very thankful for this whole experience. And thank you, Linda, for being such a great interviewer AND friend!
Let’s all thank Donna Earnhardt for visiting “A Writer’s Playground” today. And now for a special GIVEAWAY announcement.
Please leave a comment and your email address below to be entered in a drawing for a signed copy of Being Frank. The contest is open to anyone in the USA and ends at midnight EST on Friday, October 5, 2012. The winner will be announced on Monday, October 8, 2012.
Don’t forget to shop for a copy of Being Frankat the websites above or at a local store near you.
Thank you Donna Earnhardt for the interview and for making this giveaway possible.
“Drop Everything and Read.” (D.E.A.R.) and Other April Celebrations” by Linda Martin Andersen
“A Writer’s Playground”–A place to find wordplay, writing, and monthly calendar activities for kids and those young at heart.
“A Writer’s Playground”–A place to find wordplay, writing, and monthly calendar activities for kids and those young at heart.
A Writer's Playground 