Part instructional, part inspirational, this writing primer is a good first stop for budding young scribes.
Soup-to-nuts overview on all aspects of developing a writing career, from picking a genre to publicizing a finished work.
The thing that sets Hambleton and Greenwood’s upbeat how-to for aspiring young scribblers apart is its myriad interviews, not only of established professionals such as Wendelin Van Draanen and Todd Strasser, but of young writers who may not be as familiar. Additionally, the authors sample some of these young wordsmiths’ work, which, although it stops the narrative flow, gives readers both a taste of their material and the feeling that this is something that’s achievable. The tone of the book is positive and self-help-y, but the advice is straightforward and practical. It includes quizzes, writing exercises to loosen up the brain and a handy section on further resources as well as a (too) short glossary of terms that all professional writers should know. Because it’s aimed at word slingers of all types of material and genres, some which the authors define and explain, the information is by necessity somewhat general and superficial, and writers seeking to work in specific genres will have to do further research.
Part instructional, part inspirational, this writing primer is a good first stop for budding young scribes. (Nonfiction. 8-12)Pub Date: May 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-58270-359-6
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Beyond Words/Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: March 20, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2012
Similar to the vignettes found in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, this book’s sentimental collection can’t help but...
Intended for ages 9-12, this collection of 10 true vignettes elucidate the bucket-filling philosophy of being a helpful and caring person.
There is a simple philosophy behind bucket filling. As Lundgren writes in her introduction, “We each have an invisible bucket. When it is full, we feel good—happy, peaceful, grateful, or loving. When it is empty, we feel bad—sad, lonely, angry, and frightened.” Ultimately, we must decide whether to be selfless “bucketfillers” or selfish “bucketdippers,” and through a series of short and sweet anecdotes, the book pushes the idea that it is far better to fill than to dip. The stories focus on regular folks who choose to be a positive force for others in small ways. There is the mom who picks up a gallon of gas for the new family at church and relates her story to the police officer who stops her for speeding. Hearing her story, the officer lets the woman go with only a warning—filling the woman’s bucket rather than dipping into it by issuing a ticket on Christmas Eve. Another vignette tells of a ballet dancer reminiscing about the high school teacher who not only allowed her to find solace in dance during the darkest days of her parents’ divorce, but was there with an extra hug when needed. While the stories are often overtly sentimental (seemingly cut from the same cloth as a Hallmark card commercial), each effectively demonstrates that it is just as easy to do good in this world as it is to do ill or nothing. All of the tales culminate with a set of discussion questions that allow the reader to bring her own insight into what she has just read; perfect for a classroom setting. This trains the reader to get into the proper mind-set to use the bucket-filling philosophy in her own life. Despite the book’s slight feel (10 stories in just over 100 pages), the reader will be left hard pressed not to fill more buckets in her life.
Similar to the vignettes found in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, this book’s sentimental collection can’t help but warm your heart.Pub Date: April 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-0984336609
Page Count: 110
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Aug. 30, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This lighthearted, informative look at a fascinating subject poses such playfully provocative questions as "Who's for dinner?" and "Would you like some gunpowder in your stew?" and should spark interest in reluctant readers. Lloyd Kyi answers these questions in engagingly written vignettes that reveal how important fire has been and continues to be in nearly every aspect of human life. Since it was harnessed by our human ancestors, fire has been used in hunting, cooking, lighting, manufacturing, communication, religious rituals, energy production, weaponry, transportation, torture and execution, conservation and a multitude of other applications. Interspersed throughout the text are simple fire-related activities readers can perform utilizing a few common household items (only about half involve open flames; those that do advise adult help). Kinnaird's colorful cartoon illustrations complement the text's humorous tone, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the comedy inherent in scorch marks. Accessibly written and appealingly designed, the book is formatted in a way that it can be either browsed or read cover to cover. (further reading, bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 8-12)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-55451-221-8
Page Count: 104
Publisher: Annick Press
Review Posted Online: July 29, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2010
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