If you don’t want your kids spending hours in front of the screen during the summer, there are many things you can do as a family. For starters, you can do science experiments at home!
K.A. Cummins has compiled a package of science experiments based on her children’s book Super Doople. The grade level is PreK through 4th, and it also contains coloring pages and activities like an “egg race” and an “egg-scape.”
Want more coloring pages? Diginstall has an assortment of coloring and activity books to buy and download. The following pictures are some of the books available on their site.
They even have books for teens and adults, too.
Here’s the button that leads to the site. Have fun, you all!
“The Floor is Lava” game on MeWe is ending TOMORROW at 12:00pm MST. The prize will be a free copy of In the Company of Dragonslayers by Andrew M. Trauger.
This book is great for adult and older young adult audiences, and I was one of the folks that read a draft of this fantasy epic. To learn more about the book, check out this link.
How do you win a copy? Join the group “The floor is lava, come play” on MeWe. Post a volcano-themed article, a recipe for lava cake (or any lava-like dessert you can find), a fictional story involving a volcano, and more on the group. Post as many times as you like.
PLEASE, don’t post anything that contains strong language, pornography, sexual content, or anything you wouldn’t want your twelve-year-old to see.
Don’t forget to like, share, and comment on others’ posts. Whoever receives the most responses on their post will be the winner!
How about this video to inspire you? Scary, isn’t it?
“The Floor is Lava” game will end this weekend! The prize will be the fantasy epic In the Company of Dragonslayers by Andrew M. Trauger. Andrew’s characters are funny, diverse in their backgrounds and personalities, and courageous in the face of horrific monsters. I recommend this book for adult and older young adult audiences. To learn more about the world of Dragonslayers, check out Andrew’s website.
How do you win a copy? Join the group “The floor is lava, come play” on MeWe. There you may post a volcano-themed article, a recipe for lava cake (or any lava-like dessert you can find), a fictional story involving a volcano, and more. Post as many times as you like.
PLEASE, no posts containing strong language, pornography, sexual content, or anything you wouldn’t want your twelve-year-old to see. The deadline will be May 27 at 12:00pm MST.
Don’t forget to like, share, and comment on others’ posts. Whoever receives the most responses on their post will be the winner!
Need ideas for what to post? How about a video like this?
“The Floor is Lava” game is still going. Just join the group “The floor is lava, come play” on MeWe, and post volcano-themed posts to win a free copy of In the Company of Dragonslayers, book one of Andrew M. Trauger’s The Dragonslayers Saga. To learn more about the world of Dragonslayers, check out his website.
How do you win? Post a volcano-themed article, a recipe for lava cake (or any lava-like dessert you can find), a fictional story involving a volcano, and more on “The floor is lava, come play.” Post as many times as you like.
PLEASE, no posts containing strong language, pornography, sexual content, or anything you wouldn’t want your twelve-year-old to see. The deadline will be May 27 at 12:00pm MST.
Don’t forget to like, share, and comment on others’ posts. Whoever receives the most responses will be the winner!
Do you know of any children’s books about volcanos? Here’s a book that has the word “volcano.”
Scrambling to find a gift for Mom or Grandma? M Liz Boyle has an idea for you. It’s a craft that’s so easy, a child can make it. Even a preschooler can team up with a parent to assemble it. Take it away, M Liz!
Are you struggling to come up with something nice to give your mom or grandma for Mother’s Day? I have a solution if you want to give a sweet gift but you are: a. limited on money b. limited on time c. limited on creativity d. limited on crafting ability (everything you try to make […]
To answer the title question, I did write a review that was posted last month on Story Warren. There you’ll read more about the historical novel for middle graders called The Bobtails Meet the Preacher’s Kid. But this is no ordinary preacher’s kid; this preacher’s kid is a troubled one.
This book was written by Arthur Yeomans, who, like me, writes book reviews for Jennifer Hallmark’s blog “Off the Beaten Track.”
Have you joined the group “The floor is lava, come play” on MeWe yet? If you join, you can post a lava-themed picture or meme and get a chance to win a free copy of Andrew M. Trauger’s first Dragonslayers book. Click on the link here to read my last post and learn more.
However, I made an error on that post. I said I had the honors of reading a draft of Andrew’s book. Why was it an error? The correct wording should be “I was privileged (or honored) to read a draft,” since I can’t get all the credit for reading any of his drafts. It’s actually a team of people who looked at his work, including our critique group.
If you’re a writer who’s not part of a critique group, you should be. When I first joined my group, I did have my share of humble pie as I saw how my writing needed improvement. But a community like this has helped me develop the critical thinking skills needed for writing good stories. Not to mention I get to see other writers’ amazing tales, and it’s a great opportunity to network with others.
My group is affiliated with Realm Makers, an organization that equips Christians who write fantasy and sci-fi genres. You can search online for other reputable writers’ groups, and you can also try your local library and see if they have a group.
Anyway, back to “The floor is lava.” Here is a picture for inspiration if you want to join.
It’s time to play “The Floor is Lava!” Feel free to join the group, “The floor is lava, come play” on MeWe, and post volcano-themed posts to win a free book!
What’s the free book? It’s a copy of In the Company of Dragonslayers, book one of The Dragonslayers Saga. The author, Andrew M. Trauger, is in my writer’s group, and I had the honors of reading a draft of this story. It’s fitting for older teens and adults.
Here’s a description of it on Amazon:
After lying to her parents and pursuing a forbidden artifact, Cora O’Banion may never be able to return home.
After watching his war-torn jungle home burn, Cuauhtérroc vows to return with vengeance and an army.
While nothing alike, the pampered socialite and the wild savage embark together on distinct journeys of self-fulfillment, drawing from each other what they lack in themselves. Among the metaphorical (and literal) debris of their folly, Cora discovers a plot to overthrow the nation of Alikon. Personal goals (and loves) must be cast aside to ensure a nation is saved from the encroachments of ancient evil.
How do you win? Post a volcano-themed article, a recipe for lava cake (or any lava-like dessert you can find), a story involving a volcano, and more on “The floor is lava, come play.” Post as many times as you like. PLEASE, no posts containing strong language, pornography, or anything you wouldn’t want your twelve-year-old to see. The deadline will be May 27 at 12:00pm MST.
Don’t forget to like, share, and comment on others’ posts. Whoever receives the most responses will be the winner!
In honor of this very special day, here’s a children’s book about how a little girl and her family impacted a man’s life. Thank you, Ms. D, for sharing The Flowering Cross with us.
Note: This video was made three years ago, so that’s why she mentions social distancing. But the ideas she shares apply to even today.
Here’s the last review for now. Hope you had fun reading my previous posts on dog books. Be ready for when I write more reviews on canine stories.
Hachiko Waits by Lesléa Newman
Hachiko Waits is a fictionalized story based on a true account. It takes place in Japan, starting with Hachiko’s puppyhood and his close relationship with his owner, the Professor. He develops the habit of following the Professor to the train station when the Professor goes to work. The dog leaves the station, then he comes back to greet his master.
This story would endear any dog lover, though it does have sad parts. The Professor dies unexpectantly at his job, and Hachiko still waits for him to return. He faithfully waits for him throughout his life, and a fictional boy, Yasuo, helps the Station Master care for him. Spoiler: Hachiko himself dies. The book says he dies of natural causes, though it has been found that the real Hachiko died of cancer and an infection.
Despite the bleakness, this book contains humor, an “awwww” worthy dog, and a happy ending involving a memorial statue and Yasuo getting engaged.
This story would be great for third grade to fourth grade. As you read, you’ll have a fascinating glimpse into Japanese culture, and there’s a glossary of Japanese words.
Notes for discernment: There’s a brief discussion on lucky numbers. That is, the Professor explains why he named Hachiko after hachi, the Japanese word for eight. The reason is that eight is his “lucky number.” He is sure Hachiko would be lucky, as he’s the eighth dog he has owned (though it is debatable whether Hachiko was his eighth dog in real life). There are people who pet the dog for “good fortune,” and someone says there’s possibly a train that takes passengers who’ve obtained Enlightenment up to Heaven. A Shinto priest expresses gratitude for the ancestors.
I’ll post more middle grade books about canine animals in the future. For now, I’ll have one more review after this week. Here’s the book for today.
Roverandom by J.R.R. Tolkien
Roverandom is a dog who rips a wizard’s trousers, and that wizard turns him into a toy. Only at night can he move freely, Toy Story-style; children certainly would love to read about that.
A mother brings the toy dog home from the store, and a little boy has him. Later, he falls out of the boy’s pocket and lands on the beach. Another wizard changes him into a real dog, only fairy-sized (A fairy-sized dog would be fun to see in real life.). A seagull takes him to the moon, where lives the Man-in-the-Moon with his dog. Roverandom has adventures there, including a run from a dragon and a reunion in “dreamland” with the boy who lost him. The boy plays with Roverandom, and I love how the dog stands on his head and makes the boy laugh. Since the child lost his beloved toy, this adds sweetness and merriment to the tale.
Roverandom goes to another location, the watery world of mer-folk. Tolkien shows that he could have a zany imagination as the little animal obtains webbed paws, a fishy tail, and a mackintosh-like coat. The dog faces the wizard who had changed him into a toy, and the wizard refuses to change him back to his true form. But after a disaster happens (involving a chaotic sea monster), he transforms the dog back to what he was. Roverandom has another happy reunion, which I won’t spoil here, but this reunion would satisfy any avid reader of children’s fiction.
Teens would like this, as well as older middle grade readers who don’t mind extensive scenery descriptions. The story has advanced vocabulary, but it’s laced with humor and whimsy that delights eight to twelve-year-olds.
Notes for discernment: None that stands out, except a wizard curses the poor main character at the beginning of the story.
If you want to have illustrations of the tale, try Tales from the Perilous Realm, a volume of Tolkien’s stories that includes Roverandom. The black-and-white pictures are pencil-drawn by Alan Lee.
Here’s another mini-review of a middle grade book.
A Dog’s Life: The Autobiographyof a Stray by Ann M. Martin
It’s a fantastic story about a dog who lives most of her life as a stray. The dog, called Squirrel, tells her story in first person.
Her mother is a stray herself, so Squirrel doesn’t have an owner to begin with. When her mother goes out and doesn’t return, Squirrel and her brother start surviving on their own. She and her brother get separated, and she lives alone, foraging for food. Another dog comes into the picture, and they become friends, but something happens that takes them apart. Squirrel lives with a family for a time but then goes back to being a stray.
Living as a stray can seem bleak, but Squirrel does experience a sweet surprise as a town feeds stray dogs at Christmastime. And she does get her happy ending, which I won’t spoil here. 🙂
This book is for advanced readers, from fourth grade to eighth grade.
Note for discernment: Squirrel passes by different places in this book, including a house with children and two women. It isn’t clear who these two women are. Some readers may interpret this as a family with two moms, but it can also be a mom and an aunt or even a mom and a grandma.
Here’s another version of the cover. I personally like the other one. 🙂
All right, friends. You have been seeing me give reviews on picture books with canine characters. Are you wishing that I throw out recommendations on middle grade books with similar animals?
During the next few weeks, I’ll post a quick review of a book I recommend, and each will include notes of discernment.
Here’s the first one!
Silver by Gloria Whelan
This is a sweet story about an Alaskan girl named Rachel, who dreams of racing sled dogs.
One of her father’s sled dogs has puppies, and her father gives her the runt as a birthday present. The plot kicks up as she loses the pup and braves the snow to find him. Thankfully, she finds him and takes him home, but not without the puppy protecting her from an aggressive wolf pup. Because of his fierceness, he convinces Rachel’s father that he’s a potential lead dog.
This book is great for students who are beginning to read chapter books (around second or third grade).
Notes for discernment: Rachel mentions rocks that are “a million years old,” but that’s a tiny part in the story. The book uses the word “Eskimo” for the Inuit, but this was written back in 1988, long before “Eskimo” became politically incorrect. And the Inuit are painted in a positive light.
Do you have a manuscript for your book? Are you looking for an editor? S.E.M. Ishida has a nice tip for having a good relationship with your editor. Take it away, S.E.M!
Before publishing my first book, Nick Newton Is Not a Genius, my editor and I disagreed about how the last paragraph of the last chapter should end. She commented that the ending would “gild the lily,” but I thought those last few sentences added a sense of closure and finality.
The extra sentences stayed in until the copyedit, where my editor again recommended leaving them out. I finally went along with her suggestion despite liking those extra sentences.
Why did I finally give up those last sentences? Not merely because she’s my editor. She’s also more experienced than I am. Maybe she sees something I can’t. And maybe one day I’ll see it, too. But leaving or including those last few lines didn’t diminish the story’s theme or overall plot, so it was no big deal either way.
I suppose the publishing relationship is a lot like any other relationship in that I have to…
Looking for more dog books for your young kids? Here is one called “Larry Gets Lost in the Library,” written by Eric Ode and illustrated by John Skewes. It’s about a dog who gets trapped in a bookmobile and is whisked away to a library. I haven’t read the full book myself, but K.A. Cummins has written a review on it, and it looks like a fun and cute story. The link to the review is here:
Want your kids—or students if you’re a teacher—to be inspired to explore nature? There may still be snow where you’re at, but there may be animals mingling about. The picture book, “Saving Samantha,” is a true story about a fox living with the people who saved her. The author shares her journal entries of how she and her family cared for the fox and how the furry creature moved back into the wild. You get to see the world from the author’s and animal’s perspectives as the fox grows from kit to mother with kits.
Here’s the review I wrote on the book, which can be found on Story Warren’s site.
I’ll admit it; I’ve been glued way too many times to my phone and laptop. But is it possible to do something fun away from a screen? M Liz Boyle lists 35—yes, 35—things to do that don’t require a phone or computer. She includes activities like writing a postcard to a grandparent, designing a Coat of Arms for your family, planning your dream vacation, reading to an elderly person, and planning a menu and grocery list. Okay, we grownups do meal-planning all the time, but maybe you can give your kids a go at it.
Here are more of her creative ideas. Maybe I’ll try sketching a book cover for my current book-in-progress. *smirk*
I have written a new book review! It’s Denny and Penny by Silas Wood. If you like picture books with rhyme, as well as tales about friendship difficulties and trying new foods, this is the story for you.
To those of you who read and commented on my short story “Puma Claw” last Monday on Havok’s site, thank you! I appreciate your support and your passion for battling horrible monsters (even the monsters inside us).
Here is a review on the Christian middle-grade book The Architect. I haven’t read the book or written the review, but Lou Allen of Christian Faith and Fiction has given a glimpse into this adventure story. Take it away.
The Architect by Jonathan Starrett is a Christian middle-grade book. The story combines historical, dystopian, superhero, mystery and suspense genres, and it releases on the 7th of February 2023. Reading Vlog: Description: “There’s a golden rule in Phantom City: “No one about when the Zeppelin is out.” But one night, twelve-year-old Charlie Crane comes face-to-face […]
How about one more Christmas treat before the holidays are over? Here is “When Angels Sing,” a story fitting for teens and adults, by Elizabeth McD. She also shares her inspiration for her tale.
Backstory on the inspiration for the story: One cold, cold evening earlier this month I stopped at a RedBox (movie rental kiosk) outside a grocery store. A young man was there with the Salvation Army singing “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” as I walked up. During the course of my business he sang quite a […]
I have written a story filled with love, terror, and courage, and it’s friendly for teenagers and adults. It will be featured on Havok Publishing’s website, and it’s called “Puma Claw.”
It takes place in Mexico, and it involves a man on an emotional whirlwind as he searches for his missing wife. He then saves her from a ruthless shapeshifter. Guess what the shapeshifter changes into?
The story will be free for public viewing all day January 9. After that, you may only read it when you register as a Havok Publishing member. To learn more about Havok, click on the following button.
I wrote a review on a sweet story called Nick, the Christmas Coyote. You can find it on Jennifer Hallmark’s blog “Off the Beaten Track,” where you can read other reviews written by me and others.
Are you scrambling to buy gifts for your family and friends? Kaley Kriesel has an extensive list of ideas, even last-minute ones and ones for non-readers and non-writers.
Hey warriors! Welcome or welcome back to Words! Today I have a bit of a Christmas-y post for you, since it’s coming so close (How is it December? Really?!). Gift shopping is probably one of the most exciting and difficult parts of the season, so I wanted to lend a hand to you all, at least for your writer and reader friends! This will be divided into two main sections and beyond that, divided by where you can get the items. Let’s dive in!
Readers
It’s sometimes hard to know what to get a reader, especially if you don’t read their genre or they read more than they talk. Often slightly introverted, usually rather curious, and almost always read something about that topic in a book, they tend to live in the clouds as often as they live on earth.
This round of “The Floor is Lava” is ending TOMORROW at 12:00pm MST! Be sure to join the group, “The floor is lava, come play” on MeWe, where I get to see all the neat stuff you come up with. Post whatever lava-themed post you wish (Just make sure they’re clean enough for a twelve-year-old to see.). Whoever receives the most likes, comments, and shares will win Kendra E. Ardnek’s young adult story Crown & Cinder.
Don’t forget to like, share, and comment on the other posts in the group. Here’s a video I nabbed from YouTube and posted, but I’m exempt from the game. 🙂
Don’t forget to play “The Floor is Lava,” a game I administrate on MeWe. You’ll get a chance to win a free book.
Join the group, “The floor is lava, come play,” and post whatever volcano-themed item you wish. Be creative as you make a lava-related meme. Or show off your sweet tooth as you share a lava cake recipe. Or express your geekiness as you post an article about volcanoes or a video of a lava-like science experiment, like the following video.
Whoever receives the most likes, comments, and shares on their post will get Kendra E. Ardnek’s young adult story Crown & Cinder, a mash-up of Cinderella and Pride and Prejudice. Here’s the blurb from Amazon.com.
It is a fact universally acknowledged that a girl, in possession of stepmother and stepsisters, must be in want of a fairy godmother to come whisk her away to some ball, where she might fall in love with a prince and live happily ever after… Lizzy hated facts universally acknowledged.
Lizzy is a Cinder. However, conjuring fire at one’s fingertips isn’t considered appropriate in polite society, so she hides among her family’s servants. Besides, her ruse also serves to protect her country from the Mistress’s mad quest for power. No, it’s much better all around if she lets her stepsister live her life. But now the Gardener has taken the Mistress’s throne, her motives unknown, and three royal balls have thrown Lizzy into the path of the most irritating king in the land. Meanwhile, can her beloved stepsister ever find a man willing to look past her farmer father? It’s a complicated mess and Lizzy only wants out. Too bad the Forest doesn’t care what she wants.
Post as often as you want. Make sure your posts have no pornography, strong profanity, or anything you wouldn’t want your twelve-year-old to see. Don’t forget to like, share, and comment on other posts, too.
The game ends December 10 at 12:00pm MST. Have fun!
Hi, everyone. Want to fill up your Kindle app with new reads? There’s a Black Friday Book Sale happening online (even though Friday is over). Click on the button to see what’s available.
I myself bought the following books. I know, I may look like those people who take a picture of their food and post on Twitter, saying, “Look what I had at the café.” But it gives you an idea of what the book sale has. 😉
Get ready to play “The Floor is Lava” on MeWe and win a free book. If you’re on MeWe, join the group, “The floor is lava, come play,” and have fun!
Whoever wins will get Kendra E. Ardnek’s young adult story Crown & Cinder, a mash-up of Cinderella and Pride and Prejudice. Here’s the blurb from Amazon.com.
It is a fact universally acknowledged that a girl, in possession of stepmother and stepsisters, must be in want of a fairy godmother to come whisk her away to some ball, where she might fall in love with a prince and live happily ever after… Lizzy hated facts universally acknowledged.
Lizzy is a Cinder. However, conjuring fire at one’s fingertips isn’t considered appropriate in polite society, so she hides among her family’s servants. Besides, her ruse also serves to protect her country from the Mistress’s mad quest for power. No, it’s much better all around if she lets her stepsister live her life. But now the Gardener has taken the Mistress’s throne, her motives unknown, and three royal balls have thrown Lizzy into the path of the most irritating king in the land. Meanwhile, can her beloved stepsister ever find a man willing to look past her farmer father? It’s a complicated mess and Lizzy only wants out. Too bad the Forest doesn’t care what she wants.
How do you play? Post a funny lava-related meme, an article about volcanoes, a recipe for a volcano cake, or anything lava-themed. I’ll make posts of my own, but since I administrate the game, I’m exempt. 🙂
Here’s something I lava-fied.
Make sure your post has no pornography, strong profanity, or anything you wouldn’t want your twelve-year-old to see. Whoever receives the most likes, shares, and comments on their post is the winner.
The game ends December 10 at 12:00pm MST. Be creative, post as many as you want, and don’t forget to like, share, and comment on other posts.
Did you play “The Floor is Lava” last week? Another round of the game is coming next week. Keep an eye for it. 🙂
Remember Kandi J. Wyatt’s giveaway I announced two weeks ago? Congratulations to whoever won it! However, I made a mistake. Exalted and The Dog Snatcher weren’t books that were being given away, but they’re available on Amazon.
To learn more about these stories, check these links out.
And here’s a fun story posted on Kandi’s blog. It’s a mashup of her characters from Exalted and Phyllis Wheeler’s characters from The Dog Snatcher. It was a collaboration of their creative powers plus that of fellow author K.A. Cummins.
The game “The Floor is Lava” is ending TOMORROW at 12:00pm MST. If you’re on MeWe, take part of the fun by joining the group “The floor is lava, come play.” You might win a free book!
Post a funny lava-related meme, an article about volcanoes, a recipe for a volcano cake, or anything lava-themed. Just make sure there’s no pornography, strong profanity, or anything you wouldn’t want your twelve-year-old to see.
Don’t forget to like, comment, and share others’ posts, too. Whoever receives the most responses on their post will win Kandi J. Wyatt’s book Uprooted.
Have a blast, everyone! A volcano-sized blast, that is.
P.S. Did you know that there’s a matcha lava cake? It’s true. Check out this video.
There’s still time to play “The Floor is Lava,” where you may win a free book!
If you’re on MeWe, join the group “The floor is lava, come play.” Then post a funny lava-related meme, an article about volcanoes, a recipe for a volcano cake, or anything lava-themed. Just make sure there’s no pornography, strong profanity, or anything you wouldn’t want your twelve-year-old to see.
The game ends THIS SATURDAY at 12:00pm MST, so make your posting soon. Whoever receives the most likes, shares, and comments on their post will win Kandi J. Wyatt’s book Uprooted. Here’s a trailer for the book.
Have fun, and be brave like this fox. Hope he outwits the lava!
Need to fill up your bookshelf? Author Kandi J. Wyatt is hosting a giveaway of books on her site. It’s happening for three more days, so don’t delay in signing up! The following are the books in the giveaway.
(Fun fact: I had the honor of reading Vincent in Wonderland and To Slay a Curse before they were published.)
The giveaway also includes this dragon trinket box and this stuffed toy that looks like the dog in The Dog Snatcher.
Want to share a picture of pumpkins floating on lava? And maybe win a free book? Join the group “The floor is lava, come play” on MeWe.
Post a funny meme of a person or animal keeping their feet off the floor (or a pumpkin avoiding lava, ha ha). You can also post a link to science facts about lava, books about volcanos, or even lava cake recipes. Just be sure they’re family friendly, please.
Then like, share, or comment on your favorite posts. The post that receives the most responses by November 12 at 12:00pm MST will win a free copy of Kandi J. Wyatt’s young adult novel Uprooted (Four Stars over Ardtaz: Sovereigns Book 1).
Here’s the blurb:
Hest’s dad taught him all he knows about horses, but when the most magnificent stallion he’s ever seen walks through his stable, 18-year-old Hest’s life changes as drastically as it did the day his parents died.
Now in the service of the warrior who owns this fabulous creature, Hest travels far from the only home he’s known and into the world of kings, princesses, and court intrigue.
If only life was as simple as working with a horse, but people are more complex and want more than fresh straw and some oats. If Hest isn’t careful, he’ll end up on the wrong side of a sword or worse—betraying the very people who have taken him in. (Amazon.com)
Post as many posts as you want. I’ll post my own stuff too, but I’m exempt from the game.
Have you ever seen haiku intermingled in a story? Joseph Ficor demonstrates that in his “Tales of the Chawnsa Corps: Beginnings.”
This short story is fitting for a high school and adult audience, as it shows a character undergo a major operation to become a cyborg. It isn’t too graphic, though, and the story overall contains engaging emotion, a right amount of tension, and out-of-this-world battle action.
This is the first of an experimental series of stories written in the haibun style. Haibun is from medieval Japan in which a haiku was written after a section of prose. I learned of the style when I read an English translation of the book Oku no Hosomichi (“The Narrow Road to the Deep North”) by the Japanese poet Matsuo Basho.
I have taken more than my share of liberties in writing this style in this work, but I hope that you can enjoy it nonetheless.
The Kwanje Galaxy has been terrorized by the dreaded cyborg race, the Daregei, for centuries. The six-tentacled monsters of mysterious origin send their “harvest groups” to gather children to be converted to Daregei. The Kyasan Empire fears that they will be next. Their scientists have developed a desperate and bold plan to halt the monsters, but the individuals volunteering must forfeit humanity itself.
Here is a poem written by Kaley Kriesel from her blog Words. Don’t think this is a Halloween poem. This poem causes you to think and feel for those who may be cold on the outside but are wounded on the inside.
Hey warriors! I recently realized I’ve been trying too hard to create helpful posts when this blog isn’t just for writing tips but for my writing! So here’s a poem I wrote. I hope you enjoy it! The Dark House The sound of beating hoovesPound across the cobblestonesCracked and coated in dirt.From years of heavy […]
Want a short story that’s fitting for teens and adults? Something that’s sci fi and dystopian? Look no further than Joseph Ficor’s “Daddy’s Job.” Here, a little girl finds out that her dad’s job may not be so amazing. Rather, it involves murder. Ooo, that sounds dystopian right there, doesn’t it? Take it away, Joseph.
Here is the first story in my story a week challenge. It is a revision of a rough draft that I wrote last year. Please enjoy. Daddy’s Job Nine-year-old Amarisa nearly ran into a wall when her little brother popped out of his hiding place behind the power junction near the hatch of their […]
I’m hosting a game on the MeWe page, “The floor is lava, come play!” Join the page to post a lava-themed meme or article, and you can win a free copy of Kandi J. Wyatt’s young adult novel Uprooted (Four Stars over Ardtaz: Sovereigns Book 1). Here’s the blurb:
Hest’s dad taught him all he knows about horses, but when the most magnificent stallion he’s ever seen walks through his stable, 18-year-old Hest’s life changes as drastically as it did the day his parents died.
Now in the service of the warrior who owns this fabulous creature, Hest travels far from the only home he’s known and into the world of kings, princesses, and court intrigue.
If only life was as simple as working with a horse, but people are more complex and want more than fresh straw and some oats. If Hest isn’t careful, he’ll end up on the wrong side of a sword or worse—betraying the very people who have taken him in. (Amazon.com)
You may have detected my obsession with canine stories. *smiles* If you share my love for them, here’s a couple of adorable tales for younger children. This here is Pupunzel, a retelling of Rapunzel for emerging readers.
Like Rapunzel, this cute golden pup has super long hair and is stuck in a tower. I do wonder why Pupunzel doesn’t chew her hair off and make a rope out of it. Then she can escape the tower that way. Maybe only scissors and razors can easily cut dog fur, and hers would be a lot of fur to chew through.
You may remember my review on Laika: Astronaut Dog. It’s based on the story of Laika, the first dog to orbit Earth. If you haven’t read the review, you can read it through this link, but be warned. I do share the sad ending of Laika’s real story and explain how the retelling’s ending does her story a disservice.
But here’s a happier story about dogs who went into space.
The following link is Ruth Gilmore Ingulsrud’s reading of Dogs in Space, the story of Belka and Strelka. And she’s joined by her adorable canine puppet, Jones.
Looking for an adventure story for your 8 to 12-year-olds? Try S.D. Smith’s The Green Ember series. I’ve only listened to the first audiobook of the series, and it was great. It can be compared to the Redwall series.
You can download the first audiobook for FREE when you sign up for S.D. Smith’s newsletter, where he shares news, giveaways, printables, and art created by kids.
And he has an exciting new book coming out, which he cowrote with his son. It’ll be available for pre-order October 4. To learn more, check out the following link (and the book trailer is awesome!).
Note: I shared this post from Kaley Kriesel’s blog Words.
Read on to find encouragement if you’ve ever felt silly for reading kids’ books as an adult or teen. Or even for writing more children’s stories than YA stories. I myself dabble in YA writing here and there, but I’ll probably be writing more children’s stories than YA. 😉
Hey, warriors! Welcome or welcome back to Words! Today’s post will be pretty casual since I’d like to just have a sort of conversation with you, and first up on the agenda is an explanation as to why I just called you warriors and why I’m going to keep it up. Ready? *makes a cup […]
Looking for homeschooling lessons that have students study the classics? Try out Teachers Pay Teachers. Yes, they offer lessons for homeschoolers, too. Lessons list their appropriate grade levels. They include novel studies, comprehension bundles, study guides, read-alongs, and so on.
You can study classics like…
Frankenstein
Treasure Island
Robin Hood
Anne of Green Gables
Peter Pan
and more
Click on the button below to see samples of lessons for Call of the Wild by Jack London. Topics include…
You may have known that I’ve written reviews of kids’ picture books, but I do keep my eye out for great middle grade and young adult books. Here is M Liz Boyle interviewing middle grade and young adult author Courtney M. Whitaker. Here they discuss how fiction can show characters shining their light in the darkness and even help us have empathy toward the hurting.
Please welcome Christian YA author Courtney M. Whitaker to the blog today! Courtney’s first novel, Faith Under Pressure, released in July (hip hip hooray!), and she’s in the throes of grad school and another writing project, so I’m glad she made time for an interview 🙂 LB: In Faith Under Pressure, lifelong missionary kid Katie moves […]
The new school year is just around the corner (or maybe it has already arrived for you).
Are you looking for ways to have your children analyze their favorite books? University of Cincinnati Speech and Hearing Clinic has a YouTube channel that reads books and teaches lessons related to the books.
This here is Little Wolf’s Song by Britta Teckentrup. When you click on the link, it’ll take you to UC’s video where they read the story and teach children synonyms and antonyms of the words in the book.
Is your teen a reader? If so, awesome! This post, re-blogged from M Liz Boyle’s blog, shows the benefits a teen can gain from reading.
This post is also a reminder for us writers to incorporate these benefits into our stories.
Today I have the privilege of introducing Teen Writers’ Nook to the blog. Let’s see what these creative sisters have to say about the importance of fiction in a Christian’s life! Heya, readers!! Huge shout out to Liz for letting us borrow her blog for this post!! We’re SUPER excited to be here. So who […]
A new book review, written by yours truly, is posted on Jennifer Hallmark’s blog. It’s Birds of the Air by S.E.M. Ishida. You may recognize Ishida’s name, as I re-blog some of her posts here on this site. And here’s a fun fact: she and I used to be in the same writing critique group.
If you haven’t seen my updated bio yet, here’s what happened in my life. I now have a cockapoo puppy! His name is Benny, and he is a much-needed playmate for my hyperactive Corgi, Maggie. And he’s a sweet cuddle-bug for me. 🙂
Take a look at my four-legged cuties! It looks like they’re planning something, huh?
Looking for books for teen girls? Melanie Dickerson’s fairy tale retellings would be the choice for you. I’ve listened to the audiobook version of The Merchant’s Daughter (a Beauty and the Beast retelling). It is a beautiful story, and Jude Mason does a wonderful job narrating it. I read “The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest” a long time ago, and I find it unique that the heroine is Odette and Robin Hood rolled into one.
Here is Lou Allen’s review of Dickerson’s retelling of Cinderella.
“Gisela’s childhood was filled with laughter and visits from nobles such as the duke and his young son. But since her father’s death, each day has been filled with nothing but servitude to her stepmother. So when Gisela meets the duke’s son, Valten—the boy she has daydreamed about for years—and learns he is throwing a ball, she vows to attend, even if it’s only for a taste of a life she’ll never have. To her surprise, she catches Valten’s eye. Though he is rough around the edges, Gisela finds Valten has completely captured her heart. But other forces are bent on keeping the two from falling further in love, putting Gisela in more danger than she ever imagined.”
Review:
I would rank this book as one of my favourite in this series so far. I enjoyed the references…
K.A. Ramstad 