Teachers Using Tales of Adventure & Discovery

Teachers mention they like to read my stories from Tales of Adventure & Discovery (an anthology for children) to their students. It's gratifying to know teachers and their students find the stories enjoyable, entertaining, and educational. A coloring book, with illustrations and excerpts from the anthology was a logical next step for me.

The first story in the book, Sarah Jane's Daring Deed, has been very popular with youngsters when I read them stories and teach writing workshops. I often use it as a springboard for their own writing. Because this story set in pioneer days, I often tie the story in with history they may be learning at school. I'm currently in the process of developing a picture book version of this story.

One teacher purchased my book when I taught a writing workshop for educators. Other teachers in her school wanted to know where she had obtained it. So the school ordered a dozen books for the teachers to use.

Writing a Children's Book Blog

I have started a children's book blog, Book Bag Blog for Tots through Teens . I'm looking forward to discussing books for young and older youngsters, mentioning the process of writing books, and delving into the publishing world, too.

I've always been interested in reading and writing, especially when it comes to children's books. Some of my work in schools, as an author and substitute teacher, includes encouraging young people in reading and writing. Perhaps I also can give parents insight into what youngsters like and why.

I hope you'll visit Book Bag Blog and enjoy what I discuss there.

Enjoyable Author Visits - "Icing on the Cake"

Recently I visited several fourth grade classes in Iron Mountain, MI, discussed my life as a writer and read stories from my anthology for children, Tales of Adventure & Discovery. For me, sharing with youngsters and stimulating their creativity is the "icing on the cake."

To hear them giggle over a story when I read a humorous part or "ooh" and "ah" about an illustration lets me know I've reached them with my writing and drawing. When they begin to write stories inspired by my teaching, I realize my writing has become something more than an activity that brings only me enjoyment.

Tying Visits With School Curriculum

Sometimes I simply read stories to school children during my visits, while other times I use my stories as a springboard to conduct writing activities with the youngsters. In one school I worked for two days with fourth and fifth graders, tying my stories and their writing activities into what they were studying in social studies.

The fourth graders were learning about their state's history. The fifth graders were involved with the history of the American West.

My story, Sarah Jane's Daring Deed, is set in pioneer days. Then I encouraged the fourth graders to develop a historical story about something that could have happened in their state.

A story-in-progress, Uncle Buffalo Bill, Santa Fe Trail Trader, helped them learn more about the early days of the Santa Fe Trail. This story is based on the experiences of William Mathewson, my great, great uncle. From it, the young writers realized they could write about a historical figure in western history or the adventures of an imaginary character.

Reading & Teaching Poetry

Since I also write poetry, I enjoy encouraging children in this area. My poem, "The Cookie Lady," and accompanying illustration in Tales of Adventure & Discovery seems to entertain youngsters.

I've developed a series of lessons to use with the young poets, either following the example of "The Cookie Lady," or other poetry ideas. It's fun to see youngsters get excited about creating poems.

Let's Create Happy Books!

My grandson has a Happy Book. It contains pictures he’s drawn or pasted in about enjoyable things in his life. These can be events and objects that make him happy.

Whenever he’s feeling discouraged, he’s to get the book out and look through it.

Why don’t we all create Happy Books? We can do them as a family or individually. They could be a fun family project. They're also an enjoyable activity for Grandma and her grandchildren.

These can be any size, from large albums to small 4 x 4-inch albums or scrapbooks we carry
with us. You can simply place photos and pictures from magazines in them. Or you can use scrapbooking techniques.

The Happy Book might revolve around one topic. Or it can be a mix of things you enjoy and make you feel happy.

*Poetry, inspirational and humorous sayings
*Pictures of enjoyable memories and experiences
*Pictures of dreams you hope to achieve
*Pictures of trips you’d like to take
*Places you’ve visited

Once you begin using your imagination, the ideas are limitless…and just the process of putting these together start you on the Road to Happy!

©2006 Mary Emma Allen

My Mother's Contributions to My Stories

If our parents and grandparents have told us stories about their childhoods, it’s interesting to weave those incidents into tales of our own. This may be simply retelling these stories for our family heritage and future generations. If we’re writers, these give us fodder for our story mill.

I’ve incorporated many of the incidents from my mom’s life into stories, cooking columns, and essays. For instance, she fell through the ice on the pond near their one-room school, sliding at recess. I used this incident and Mother’s rescue by her sister in my story, The Christmas Surprise. I don't mention my mom and my aunt, but use an ice rescue scene in the story.

In my middle reader novel in progress, Papa Goes to War, the falling through the ice idea appears again. This time, the younger brother, Josh, walks onto thin ice, and his sister, Mandy, tries to save him. This varies somewhat from Mother’s experience. However, if I’d never heard her story, repeatedly, throughout my childhood, I wouldn’t have the idea or knowledge to write about this incident.

Even though we may not think your family life and your experiences enter into your writing, they do in subtle ways. Just your knowledge of situations and topics enable you to write the stories you do.

So look over your life and jot down ideas for stories and articles.

The Idea for "Sarah Jane's Daring Deed"

One of my favorite stories resulted from research I was doing for a column on local history for a weekly newspaper. As I read about the lives of the early pioneers who settled the region where I lived, I wondered, “What was it like for youngsters to live here during that time?”

As I pondered upon this, the story of Sarah Jane evolved. She and her family settled in the 1760s or thereabouts far from their city home. Because I live in New Hampshire and my research was focused here, the story, in my mind, took place here.

The story was published in four church school magazines for youngsters. Possibly it appealed to editors all over the country because I didn’t name the town or state where Sarah Jane lived and encountered Little Fawn. Therefore it could have been set in many areas where blackberries grew. (In the opening scene Sarah Jane is picking them.)

When I was asked to compile an anthology of my children’s stories, Tales of Adventure & Discovery, I chose this one as the lead. It’s a story I’ve always enjoyed and children do when I visit schools and libraries. My daughter even made dolls of Sarah Jane and Little Fawn to accompany me to school.

©2006

(If you have questions or information to share, e-mail me: me.allen@juno.com; type “children’s story blog” in the subject line. Learn more about the anthology, Tales of Adventure & Discovery by visiting my web site: http://homepage.fcgnetworks.net/jetent/mea )

The Joy of Writing for Children & Teens

Writing for children and teens was my goal even as a child. I loved to read and wanted to create stories like my favorite authors. Jo, in Little Women, fascinated me, and I imagined myself a writer like her.

When I attended teacher’s college, the Children’s Literature class was my favorite. My professor read some of my stories and encouraged me to continue writing and learning. How excited I was to let her know, several years later, that my first children’s story had been published.

Writing and sharing with children has become one of the pleasures in my life. Teaching writing workshops and encouraging youngsters increases this enjoyment.

(If you have questions, e-mail me: me.allen@juno.com. Type "children's writer blog" in the subject line.)