Wrapping up the week

REMINDER: Don’t forget today is the big day when everyone is headed over to Matt Forrest’s house for a summer virtual blog party! Here’s the link. https://mattforrest.wordpress.com . See you there!

Hi everyone,

It has been a pleasant week. I didn’t get everything on my list done but progress was made. Mary Jo Fresch and I wrote a 1,500 word essay for Sam Bommarito’s blog. Sam is co-editor of The Missouri Reader, a publication of the Missouri ILA, and he’ll be the next state president. I’ve also committed to doing an article for this fall’s edition of The Missouri Reader.

I wrote 500 words about my work to enter for an opportunity to write a 1,000 word column for the November/December issue of Knowledge Quest, a collaborative effort by AASL and the CBC.

Mary Jo and I got word that our newest book proposal is going out for peer review soon, a necessary next step before a contract can be offered. It shouldn’t be more than a few weeks before we’ll know if it’s going to be a go.

The week also saw the official publication date for CHILDREN’S LITERATURE IN THE READING PROGRAM. That was a huge highlight!

Early in the week I finished the 3rd telling of the desert middle grade novel. Please keep your fingers crossed that I finally got it right!

And I spent parts of the last two days getting back into the third middle grade story. I started it some time ago and had to set it aside so it took a while to settle back into the groove. I already see changes to make, the benefit of putting a story aside for a while and coming back with fresh eyes.

All in all, a super keeper!

I’m headed over to Matt’s blog party. See you there?

I’m in a new book

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: It’s time for a summer blog party over at Matt’s house. Look for more information tomorrow and start getting ready to join the fun. Here’s his link if you don’t already have it handy. https://mattforrest.wordpress.com Thanks to Matt for hosting his second party. Who will be the next host/hostess? It isn’t too early to volunteer!

Hi everyone,

I neglected to mention that Monday was the official publication date CHILDREN’S LITERATURE IN THE READING PROGRAM, 5th Edition. I’ve told you about it before but now it’s official and I’m very happy to have my chapter on poetry included, pages 182-200. Here’s the blurb.

“This indispensable teacher resource and course text, now revised and updated, addresses the “whats,” “whys,” and “how-tos” of incorporating outstanding children’s literature into the K–8 reading program. A strong emphasis on diverse literature is woven throughout the fifth edition, with chapters emphasizing the need for books that reflect their readers and presenting dozens of carefully reviewed books that teachers will be eager to use in the classroom. Leading authorities provide advice on selecting texts, building core literacy and literary skills, supporting struggling readers, and maximizing engagement. The volume offers proven strategies for teaching specific genres and formats, such as fiction, nonfiction, picturebooks, graphic novels, biographies, and poetry. This title is a copublication with the International Literacy Association.”

This is the third straight edition for which I’ve been invited to write the chapter about poetry. In this one I’m grateful to Charles Ghigna, Jane Yolen, Kenn Nesbitt, Cheryl Harness, Steven Withrow, J. Patrick Lewis, and Joyce Sidman for contributing poems. Their collective genius does wonders for the chapter! Not only that, Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong have a special insert that adds even more spark and great information so I’m thankful to them too!

This one was a long time coming. I feel like celebrating!

Saturday, Part 2

Hi everyone,

I’m in mid-chores so this isn’t working out well for posting today. I will share this review of CRAWLY SCHOOL FOR BUGS in the Seattle Book Review. It was written by Rosi Hollinbeck and I couldn’t be happier. Rosi, thank you very much!
https://seattlebookreview.com/product/crawly-school-for-bugs-poems-to-drive-you-buggy/
It’s not only a wonderful review, it’s one of the few to come in so far from readers. The critics like it a lot but only a pair of readers have left comments. It’s ratings on Amazon have been going up and down, another unusual pattern.

CRAWLY SCHOOL FOR BUGS

BULLETIN: If you’re interested in the chance to win a copy of CRAWLY, check Kathy Temean’s blog. https://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2018/04/16/book-giveaway-crawly-school-for-bugs-by-david-l-harrison/#comment-87629

Hi everyone,

My latest title, CRAWLY SCHOOL FOR BUGS, is off and running/leaping/flying/creeping. Reviews from Kirkus, School Library Journal, Booklist, and Publishers Weekly have all been strong. Although I’m still waiting to see a reader review on Amazon, ratings have listed it at least twice among the top 100 humorous poetry books on the market.

So far kids who have heard me read poems from the book especially like “Our School Nurse,” “Stink Bug Class,” and “Horse Fly Grade Card.” My thanks again to artist Julie Bayless for bringing so much humorous detail to her wonderful pictures. Her bugs wearing backpacks are delightful. Way to go, Julie!

Coming in June

Hi everyone,

Yesterday I discovered that Children’s Literature in the Reading Program: Engaging Young Readers in the 21st Century, Fifth Edition, is already posted on Amazon although it’s not due for release until June. I wrote the poetry chapter for this edition as well as for editions three and four. Here’s the description.

“This indispensable teacher resource and course text, now revised and updated, addresses the “whats,” “whys,” and “how-tos” of incorporating outstanding children’s literature into the K–8 reading program. A strong emphasis on diverse literature is woven throughout the fifth edition, with chapters emphasizing the need for books that reflect their readers and presenting dozens of carefully reviewed books that teachers will be eager to use in the classroom. Leading authorities provide advice on selecting texts, building core literacy and literary skills, supporting struggling readers, and maximizing engagement. The volume offers proven strategies for teaching specific genres and formats, such as fiction, nonfiction, picture books, graphic novels, biographies, and poetry.”

At $75 it’s a bit pricey for individual purchase, but maybe libraries around the country will update their collections with this new edition of a well established series.