Bosses Day - October 16

Yep, it's time to say thank-you for your job to the one or ones who make it all possible. That's right, it's bosses day!

We all like a reason to celebrate right? So, I'm thinking of baking a few little cupcakes and making a treat for this celebration.

How 'bout you? Do you celebrate Bosses Day? Or was this all news to you?

Suz Blackaby to speak on November 5th

I'm sharing this blurb from Willamette Writers:

"The Young Willamette Writers will be hosting Suz Blackaby on November 5^th. Suz will be sharing tips on poetry writing. Several of our young writers enjoy writing in verse and have been looking forward to hearing from a poet.

Suz Blackaby has worked in educational publishing for over 30 years.  On the clock, she hones her skills writing fiction and nonfiction titles for the K-8 audience, focusing primarily on struggling and emergent readers.  On her own time, she writes poetry, picture books, and middle-grade fiction and nonfiction.  Her collection of poetry entitled NEST, NOOK, AND CRANNY (Charlesbridge, 2010) was included on the New York Public Library's 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing and received The 2011 Liona and the Unicorn Award for Excellence in North American Poetry.  Suz lives in Portland, Oregon, with her family in a lab-mandatory neighborhood.

The Young Willamette Writers is for students in grades 5-10. We meet in the back room of the Old Church at the same time as the adults; the Old Church is at SW 11th and Clay in Portland. There is no cost to join - just show up!"

Lukeability

So Luke killed his cake.

It was a fun day and everyone wore vampire teeth at the table.

Luke loved his chocolate milk :D quite a present, right. . .

Holiday Spice

This Holiday Hottie will be coming to an EShelf this November...and I'll have a story inside so, if you're like me, and you get a little chilly on those long winter nights, why not curl up with a steaming . . .
cup of Egg Nog and a little HOLIDAY SPICE?

I'll post more as I get more info. 

Be A School Visit Ninja

October 19, 2013 from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. at the Annex, TaborSpace, 5441 SE Belmont Street, Portland, Oregon.

Erin Fitzpatrick Bjorn will be speaking. This is a free class that will teach you all sorts of tips and tricks on how to become a Ninja...and who wouldn't want to be that?

Erin will reveal what writers and illustrators need to do to find funding...and more. There will be ideas on how to approach librarians and create compelling curriculum. There will be time after the presentation for attendees to form small work groups...

It should be a fun way to spend a day or at least a couple of hours.

Heft by Liz Moore

I just finished HEFT. It was a book about a man who weighed between 500-600 pounds. It was a sad story on lots of levels.

In the end I liked the story. HEFT was a symbolic title in many aspects and much more than just Arthur's weight. I think the HEFT could have represented the weight of Arthur's and Charlene's emotions and how much Arthur had to change to alter the way his life was going...or not going.

This was a story of missed-opportunities and how miserable life can turn out when you're not willing to take a risk or engage in relationships.

All in all, I think it is worth reading. It's a little slow but the story builds...

If you've read it, let me know what you thought.

Snake Alert

I started with a bunch of pumpkins and a squash.

I covered the little ones in "duck" tape.

I added little eyes and a tongue and some teeth.

Then I added a hood to make it a cobra.