Read, Write, Repeat.

First, a story …

Halloween isn’t even here yet, and the candy wars have already started at my house.

Things began innocently enough. A co-worker gave me a small bag of treats for my youngest daughter. She was thrilled. And very protective of her windfall.

Why?

It seems my oldest daughter had recently eaten some potato chips the youngest thought were hers.

So I wasn’t too surprised when I opened the pantry and found the note in the picture attached to the treat bag.

I wonder what will happen when they each have their own haul from trick-or-treating?

Now, some recommendations …

If your focus is more on books than on candy, here are a few last-minute Halloween recommendations.

How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? by Margaret McNamara (Schwartz & Wade, 2007). The title sounds like this might be nonfiction, but in fact it’s a wonderful, fiction picture book about Charlie, a boy who wishes he weren’t the shortest kid in his class.

Beautifully woven into that story line is a class project to guess the number of seeds in three different pumpkins. The book has lots of my favorite things. There’s a classroom setting with a diverse mix of kids, an engaging story and lots of educational hooks  — in this case about pumpkins and math — mixed in along the way. There’s even some nifty pumpkin facts from Charlie and his teacher at the end.

Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin, Pie by Jill Esbaum (National Geographic Children’s Books, 2009). This book is part of a gorgeous series called Picture the Seasons, which also includes titles about spring, winter and apples plus an upcoming book about summer and the beach. 

This ode to pumpkins for kindergarteners through second-graders covers traditional and unexpected uses for the big, orange fruit with stunning, full-color photography.

And Booklist praised its simple but clever narrative calling it, “Fun, cozy, evocative stuff.”

So get reading before hordes of trick-or-treaters beat down your door. And if there’s any candy you especially want for yourself … be sure to put a note on it.

Halloween is getting closer, so here’s Boo Cow (Charlesbridge, 2010) — a fun, friendly, spooktacular mystery by Patricia Baehr to get you in the spirit of the season.

Chicken Noodle Farm has a fresh coat of pickle-green paint, 552 chickens and no eggs at all.

Mr. and Mrs. Noodleman, who own the farm, are beside themselves.

What are they doing wrong?

Will they ever have eggs for breakfast?

At first, they blame Boo Cow, the ghost of a cow named Molly who used to live on the farm. Surely she’s scaring the chickens. But as they dig further into the mystery, they discover another culprit altogether.

To find our more, let’s talk to Chase.

Today’s reviewer: Chase.

Age: 7

I like:  Playing sports. My weiner dogs, Dexter and Daisy. Eating macaroni and cheese.

This book was about: A boo cow that the farmers thought was scaring their chickens. But the cow really loved the chickens.

The best part was when: Boo Cow scared Farmer Hackett as he was stealing chicken eggs. He said, “Mooo-ooo-ooo!”

I laughed when: Mrs. Noodleman used pink, fluffy nightgowns for the chickens’ beds.

I was worried when: The ghost cow said “Mooo-ooo-ooo” for the first time. They should have called Ghost-Busters. And, I was worried when the chickens didn’t lay any eggs.

I was surprised that: Farmer Hackett stole the eggs.

This book taught me: To buy nightgowns for chickens. And, to not judge people if you don’t know things for sure.

Other kids reading this book should watch for: Why the chickens weren’t laying any eggs.

Three words that best describe this book are: “Fun.” “Silly.” “Ghost.”

My favorite line or phrase in the book is: “A cowbell softly tolled. Clink-clunk! Clink-clunk.”

You should read this book because: It’s good. I was glad Boo Cow wasn’t stealing the eggs.

By the way, Chase says his favorite way to eat eggs is scrambled with some cheese on top. And he’s going to be a football player for Halloween, although it would be fun to dress up as a chicken in a pink nightgown.

If you’d like to know more about author Patricia Baehr, read this blog post.

If you’d like to know more about illustrator Margot Apple, you can read this biography.

More Halloween book reviews are in store. Stay tuned! And there’s still time to comment on the question of the month:

What are YOUR favorite Halloween books?

Halloween seems to get more popular each year.

In fact, the National Retail Federation expects Americans to spend more than $5.07 billion on costumes, cards, candy and decorations for the holiday, with the average consumer shelling out $64.82. (I’m a little behind the curve. I’ll probably spend around $40.)

With all that money going to ring in the holiday, it seems some of it ought to be spent on books.

So if you’re looking for a good, nonscary Halloween read for yourself or a middle-grader in your life, consider Callie’s Rules (Egmont USA, 2009) by Naomi Zucker.

Callie is an 11-year-old trying to figure out the rules of middle school. Not the official school rules, but the unwritten social ones — like that boys and girls need to sit on opposite sides of the cafeteria or that you really shouldn’t eat what’s served for lunch.

And she’s finding it hard to fit in because most of the rules don’t make sense to her. Why should you wear a scarf when it’s 80 degrees outside? And what’s the point of pretending not to know the answer when you do?

Just when Callie thinks she’s making progress at blending in, a decision to turn her town’s annual Halloween celebration into a more politically correct Autumn Fest puts her back in an unwanted spotlight.

Callie’s family is all about Halloween. Her dad makes special Toasty Ghosties for treats, her mother, who’s an artist, builds huge creations that flash lights and spew smoke. And her six brothers and sisters enjoy the parade, window-decorating and trick-or-treating.

As Halloween approaches, Callie learns how to creatively work within the new set of rules, decides which rules aren’t worth following at all and politely stands up for what she believes in.

You can learn more about this book and its sequel — Write on, Callie Jones — at Naomi Zucker’s website.

I’ll feature more Halloween-inspired books as the day approaches. But here are two others to consider right now:

Midnight Fright (Cartwheel Books, 2008) by Wisconsin authors Kathryn Heling and Deborah Hembrook. This book lets children set the hands on a built-in clock to match what’s going on at various times throughout the story.

The rhyming text is fun, and the story is suitable for the youngest spooks in your house. (For an interview with these authors, check out this link.)

The Perfect Pumpkin Pie (Atheneum Books, 2005) by Denyz Cazet. This wonderful read-aloud is full of pumpkins, ghosts, pie and a memorable refrain. It will carry you through Halloween and Thanksgiving. And you’ll likely find yourself quoting odd bits of it throughout the rest of the year.

The illustrations might be a tad too creepy for some younger readers, so use your best judgement.

What are YOUR favorite Halloween books? And how much do you think you’ll spend on the holiday this year?

Fasting might not seem like fun to most people.

But, it’s what Shirin wants to do more than anything in Moon Watchers: Shirin’s Ramadan Miracle (Tilbury House, 2010) a new picture book by Reza Jalali.

Shirin’s parents fast. So does her older brother — or at least he tries. What can Shirin do to celebrate Ramadan, help her family, and feel more grown-up?

Fortunately, she comes up with the perfect idea.

Here’s what ForeWard Reviews had to say:

“This book is perhaps most valuable as a lesson on Islam. Each practice and tradition is explained, but without disrupting the pace of the story. Non-Muslim readers will walk away with a more developed global perspective. Muslims will relate the tale to their own Ramadan experiences, and every young reader will identify with hearing that terrible phrase: ‘You’re too young.’ ”

Now, let’s hear from another reviewer!

Today’s reviewer: Jaiden (shown in the photo with her little sister, Sienna.)

Age: 6

I like: My little sister, Sienna, my mom’s famous ice-cream sandwiches and playing
chase.

This book is about: Ramadan. Having to not eat for awhile. Shirin, the little sister, wanted to not eat for awhile – but her family said she was too young. She wanted to do what everybody else did.

The best part was when: She could not eat and she fasted with everybody
else.

I laughed when: I laughed when the brother gave the present to her, and my
mommy started to cry.

I was worried when: The little sister couldn’t do the fasting.

I was surprised that: The brother gave his sister a present.

This book taught me: That people fast at Ramadan.

Other kids should watch out for: The heart-shaped rock.

The words that best describe the book: A girl and her dad watching the moon.

Favorite line: You’re too little to do Ramadan.

You should read it because: It teaches you about something important.

Thanks, Jaiden!

If you’d like to learn more about Ramadan, visit this site. Or go check out this list of books about Ramadan for children and teens.

If you’d like to learn more about author Reza Jalali, read his biography.

If you’d like to learn more about illustrator Anne Sibley O’Brien, visit her website or read this interview at Into the Wardrobe.

Every fall, the Wisconsin Chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators gets together to listen, learn and laugh. And the line-up at this year’s conference was one of the best yet.

Authors, editors, an art director and an agent spoke about all facets of children’s books from writing and revising to publishing and marketing.

Here’s a quick glimpse at some of the memorable quotes from the past few days.

Bruce Hale, author of the Chet Gecko mysteries, on SUSPENSE:

• Anxiety is the engine that drives your book. If you can get your reader to ask the big question, ‘What happens next?’ you’ve got them hooked.
• When your character has a secret, it’s like trying to keep a beach ball underwater. There’s energy that wants to come out.
• You don’t want to reveal everything at once. There’s a reason a stripper starts out wearing all his or her clothes.

Learn more about Bruce and his books at his website.

Loraine Joyner, art director at Peachtree Publishers, on PICTURE BOOK ART:

• No one wants to flip through a picture book and see just one point of view. You want your pictures to be up and over and in and out and around and under. They should be graceful, like choreography.
• Good artists add their own unwritten story line for the children to notice the third or fourth time they’re listening to the book. Everything doesn’t have to be told in words.

Lisa Yoskowitz, an assistant editor at Dutton Children’s Books, on VOICE:

• Ask yourself, is my voice age-appropriate  for kids? Is it well-drawn and multidimensional? Is it original?
• Make the voice of your book shine through in your cover letter. If your book is a rollicking adventure story, don’t write a somber, solemn query letter.

Deborah Wiles — author of Love, Ruby Lavender, Freedom Summer, Each Little Bird That Sings, Countdown, and more — on WRITING FROM THE HEART.

• You can take your life and turn it into stories by asking, “What do I know?” What do I feel?” “What can I imagine?” We’re always telling our stories the best we can.
• I wrote about everything I loved and was frightened of when I was 10. You have to be brave enough to go there. It’s where stories come from.
• No one can tell your stories but you. It is your obligation to tell your stories.

Learn more about Deborah’s life-based fiction at her website. And, to see what she wrote about this retreat, visit her fine blog.

Greg Ferguson, an editor at Egmont USA, on SIMPLICITY:

• Keep your story simple. You don’t need to gun for this blazing metaphor. You can be subtle. Your readers will understand.

Pat Schmatz, — author of Circle the Truth, Mousetraps and the forthcoming Bluefish — on REVISION:

• I used to want to publish a book. Now, I want to write the best book I can possibly write.
• To revise, you must have both commitment and curiosity in large and equal measure.
• I usually revise two or three times before I have what I call a first draft. Then I say, “Oh, THIS is what the story is about.” And then I revise some more once I know that. Most of my books go through at least eight full revisions.

Learn more about Pat and her books at this website.

Mary Kole, agent at Andrea Brown Literary, on A WIDE VARIETY OF MATTERS:

• If it falls out of the sky or crawls out of the ground, I probably don’t want it. The market is pretty saturated with paranormal creatures.
• There are more than 300 editors working in the children’s book market. Agents know their editorial styles. They can tell you who’s a good fit for your manuscript.
• Visit independent bookstores. I go every two weeks to see what’s on the shelves. The books there are the cream of the crop. They’re what’s selling. They’re the winners.
• Writing is an art and a craft, and it takes time to learn.

Mary also has a blog that’s well worth reading.

Thanks to Pam Beres, Judy Bryan and a host of other volunteers who planned and delivered an excellent, uplifting conference.

If you’d like to learn more about the Wisconsin SCBWI, visit our website.

Wendy Delsol’s debut young-adult novel combines big-city glamor and small-town charm with with a twist of the fantastic.

STORK (Candlewick, 2010) finds Katla moving from fashion-conscious Los Angeles to her mother’s Minnesota hometown where it’s hard to even find a Starbucks.

As Katla adapts to her new surroundings, she learns some unexpected truths about her family, her abilities and her past that guarantee her future will be different than anything she’s previously envisioned.

Wendy joins Read, Write, Repeat to discuss the inspiration for her book.

I read this book was inspired by Hans Christian Anderson’s THE SNOW QUEEN Tell us a little about how your story idea evolved over time.
Evolution is a great way to describe the writing process. The spark for the book began with an “Unsolved Mysteries” TV show from years ago. In the episode, a very young boy claimed to have memories of flying around pre-birth and choosing his mother. The story haunted me.

When spinning ideas for a YA novel, I combined that image with the symbolism of storks and childbirth and created my Stork Society, a clandestine organization of women who have the supernatural gift of pairing the undecided of hovering souls with the right mother.

At the time, I was a recent transplant from Los Angeles to Iowa, so I was in the right frame of mind for a new-kid-in-town perspective. I chose Northern Minnesota as the book’s setting because I wanted my protagonist Katla to be thrown into a climate that was as close to a polar-opposite of L.A. as possible.

Knowing that Minnesota has pockets of Scandinavian communities, I invented an Icelandic heritage (and fictional town) for Katla. When conjuring Iceland in my head, idyllic images from an old TV special of Hans Christian Andersen’s THE SNOW QUEEN kept coming to mind. Somewhere along the way, Norse mythology tumbled into the mix and I knew I had more than one book in my hands — head, rather.

What research did you do into the folklore that is at the heart of the book? What were some of the interesting things you learned along the way.
I read Andersen’s THE SNOW QUEEN, of course. I’ve also researched the nine-world cosmology of Norse mythology and even read some of the Icelandic sagas. Long before writing this book, I had a strange fascination with Iceland. It has an intriguing and enduring connection with its folklore and an individualist spirit.

One of the more interesting things I learned was of modern-day Iceland’s belief in the huldufolk, which translates to hidden people and are believed to be elves or fairies. Current-day building projects are sometimes delayed or altered to prevent damage to the huldufolk’s domain. And now you have a little insight into how I decided upon the name of Hulda for the very wise and mysterious leader of my Stork Society.

What excites you most about this book?
Clearly, I’m a sucker for stories about the unknown. The idea of angels and ghosts fascinates me. And deep down I am a believer in fate or destiny, a concept this book explores.

What’s the story behind the sale of this book and its sequel?
STORK was the fourth novel I wrote (two of which will never see print; the third I’ll discuss below). Once I’d completed a rough plotting of the book and had begun the actual day-to-day writing, I was fueled by the story. I began in October of 2008 and, despite an injury to my right arm that had me hunting and pecking with my left, had a first draft in February. I sent an e-query to my agent, Jamie Brenner of Artists and Artisans, on a Tuesday. She asked for a full the same day. Over the next two days, she requested an exclusive read and e-mailed me twice with very positive comments. She signed me that Friday. After years of the slow-mo process of agent hunting, it was positively thrilling.

Jamie helped me shape and polish the manuscript, and Candlewick bought it in a pre-empt in May. FROST, STORK’s sequel, was written during the winters of 2009 and 2010 and purchased, again by Candlewick, in the spring of this year (2010).

You’ve also written for adults. Does your writing process and approach differ depending on your audience?
My third book written and second book sold is an adult novel entitled THE McCLOUD HOME FOR WAYWARD GIRLS. It will be published by Penguin in August of 2011. It is the story of three generations of women who run an inn out of a former home for pregnant teens. While not gratuitous, there are mature themes tackled in the book. As both an adult reader and writer, I am drawn to family sagas and multi-generational tales. There’s nothing like family and scandal and long-held secrets!

As to process, I tend to write third person from multiple points of view in my adult stories. For YA, I’ve found that a single first person voice best suits the genre.

Stork was listed under the “Debuts to Watch” section of the 2010 BEA. What was that like?
Of course, it was very exciting. You write what you think and hope will keep a reader turning the page, but you never really know. This mention affirmed that the concept was fresh and note-worthy.

As a debut YA author, what are your hopes for this book?
I hope that girls (and women) who enjoy lighter fare in the paranormal genre will connect with this book. Naturally, I appreciate all good reviews. Still, I have to say those that have come from the under-sixteen crowd have particularly pleased me. It was, after all, written with them in mind.

And, finally, you’ve lived in a lot of different places. What’s been your favorite spot to write?
It probably says a lot about me in general, but I’m a home-body writer. I don’t do well in coffee shops or libraries or any public place. Too many distractions. Along those lines, I prefer a quiet environment. No music, no radio, no background TV. So as long as I’m at home, wherever home may be, I can write. I don’t need views or vistas or ocean breezes, just a comfy spot and a computer or pen and paper. Well, that and a good angel story or ghost sighting or family scandal to get the what-ifs spinning.

Thanks, Wendy!

Want to learn more about Wendy and her writing?

You can check out this interview by Sarah Mullen Gilbert.

Or, you can read these reviews of STORK:

• Abby the Librarian.
• Pure Imagination.
• Dreaming in Books.

And last but not least, remember to visit Wendy’s website.

It’s a question every kid has asked at some time — “Where do I fit in?”

For Roberta James, the main character in Peggy Moss’s One of Us (Tilbury House Publishers, 2010), that question is especially important.

She’s a new student at Baker Elementary. Who will she play with? Who will she sit by at lunch?

At first, it looks like she’ll have ready-made friends. A group of girls already shares Roberta’s fondness for high ponytails and hair decorations.

But when they find out Roberta has other interests that don’t match theirs, they send her to another group, which sends her to another and then another.

Finally, Roberta gets fed up. Who knew there’d be so many rules about belonging to a group? Will she ever fit in?

Now, let’s turn things over to today’s guest reviewer:

Today’s reviewer:  Dharma

Age: 5

I like:  Origami, drawing and playing on the monkey bars.

This book was about: A girl going to a new school wondering what group she would fit in with or belong to. She found out she like a lot of different things — and kids.

The best part was when: The kids who were eating roll-up sandwiches for lunch were wearing cowboy boots.

This book taught me: Not to scrunch your nose and point your finger at somebody. And, Roberta was confused about where she was supposed to sit at lunch, but we shouldn’t worry so much about having to always be with just one group.

My favorite word or phrase in the book is: “I love building things and spicy food and origami and bowling.” I liked that line because I love origami too, and one time my dad took me bowling.

Thanks, Dharma!

Penny Weber’s illustrations for this book are bright and fun and reflect the school’s diversity. An especially cute touch is how Roberta’s flowered hair decoration changes expressions throughout the story.

If you’d like to learn more about Penny, visit her website. 

If you’d like to see another review of One of Us, visit the blog Books That Heal Kids.

Peggy Moss has written several books about friendship. Besides One of Us, she’s written Say Something, an award-winning story about bullying, and Our Friendship Rules, which is about how friendships can go wrong and how they can be fixed.

Peggy worked as an assistant attorney general in the civil rights unit of the Maine Department of Attorney General and as associate director of the Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence. She now works with schools to prevent bullying and teasing.

Peggy describes the physical and emotional impact of bullying and harassment through the voices of students who have been targeted and the educators, parents and law-enforcement personnel who work to prevent violence.

Here’s more information about her anti-bullying workshops.

Elizabeth Fixmer’s debut middle-grade novel, Saint Training (ZonderKidz, 2010) makes good use of her Wisconsin roots and Catholic upbringing.

The book tells the story of Mary Clare O’Brian — one of nine children in a traditional Catholic family — who’s determined to become a saint when she grows up.

But Mary Clare is busy enough now, dealing with school, friction in her family life, the worries of the Vietnam War and a growing realization that even nuns and priests don’t always agree on what’s right.

Publisher’s Weekly described it this way:

The politically fervent period of the late 1960s, with its dramatic upheavals in family, gender, social, and religious conventions, comes to life with pathos and humor in this powerful debut.

Now, let’s hear from today’s guest reviewer, Maddie. She attends Catholic school but has no desire to become a nun — at least not yet.

Name: Maddie

Age: 11

I like: Playing volleyball, soccer, softball and basketball. Eating tacos, playing the piano and singing. Hugging my puppy, Charlotte, and reading.

This book was about:  A girl named Mary Clare living in the 1960s who wanted to become a saint. She even writes letters to a Mother Superior. She changes her mind later because God showed her signs she didn’t have to be a saint. She was a sixth grade student in a school called St. Maria Goretti. Her family had problems, like not having enough money. Her mom was pregnant again and she worried about it because she already had nine kids.  

The best part was when: There were a lot of good parts. But one of the best parts was when Mary Clare had a party and invited all her school friends. Her brother Matthew’s band played and everybody in her class came.

I laughed when: Her sister Gabriella’s pants fell down in church when she went to grab a song book.

I was worried when: Mary Clare’s parents said they couldn’t afford Gabriella’s First Communion supplies like her candle and her outfit, and when her mom lost her baby.

I was surprised that: The school fired Mary Clare’s favorite sixth grade teacher and hired her mother. And the book takes place in Wisconsin.

This book taught me: To not just think about yourself and do things for other people. Mary Clare was always doing for others and not for herself. But she found out that she didn’t have to be perfect or a saint to be a good person and God still loved her.

Three words that best describe this book are: “Funny.” “Page-turner.” “Informative.”

My favorite line or phrase in this book is: “I just want to be an ordinary person. Just a good, ordinary person.”

Other kids reading this book should watch for: The day when Mary Clare goes to the beach with her family and everyone is so happy, even though they have problems.

You should read this book because: Because you learn about another time, and it’s a book you want to keep reading once you start. It’s both happy and sad.

Fun fact: My principal asked the teachers in my school to read this book at the same time I was reading it.

Thanks, Maddie!

Want to learn more about Saint Training or Elizabeth Fixmer, visit this website. Or read these online reviews:

• Christian Children’s Book Reviews
• Gazette Xtra
• Author’s Choice Reviews (You’ll need to scroll down the page a bit.)

Stuart Stotts is a man of many talents. He sings and writes his own music. He advocates for early childhood education and literacy. He’s also a sought-after speaker.

And, in his spare time, he writes books. His latest is We Shall Overcome: The Song That Changed the World (Clarion Books, 2010).

This beautiful nonfiction work explains the origins of the famous civil rights protest song and explores the influence it had on other important battles — like the labor and antiwar movements — as well. It’s full of great stories and wonderful photographs. It even includes a CD of the song as performed by Pete Seeger.

Stuart Stotts joins Read, Write, Repeat today to share his inspiration for this book.

What inspired you to write a book about the song “We Shall Overcome?”
Because I’m a musician, I’ve sung the song for years. I realized I couldn’t think of another song that had had such an impact on changing the world. And at the same time, I realized that a lot of kids didn’t know the song at all.

I thought that they could learn about the song, and more about the civil rights movement in general, because singing was such an important part of that movement. 

When did you first hear the song?
I first heard the song when I was very young. My father was involved in the civil rights movement, and I remember hearing it at rallies. I didn’t understand what it meant at the time. I have learned little pieces about the song’s history since then, but I really began to focus on it about four years ago, when I began to work on the book.

I originally thought I’d write a book about people’s experiences with the song during the civil rights movement, but one thing I learned is how far around the world the song has spread.

You share a story in the book about your father’s experience with the song when he was a civil rights champion. What other experiences did he encounter?
He marched in the famous Selma march with Dr. King. He also lost his job as a chaplain at the University of Tulsa because he invited a black man to come and speak with students.

He did lots of smaller things, too. The civil rights movement wasn’t just about large events; many many people did things close to home that never got much recognition but which were still important.

What was this book’s path to publication?
I was very lucky. The first publisher I sent it to, Clarion, was interested and took it. We spent nearly two years editing it, and getting all the images right for it. The editing was slow, but in the end I know it made the book better.

What’s the one message you hope readers will take away from this book?
I hope that readers will think about how music is not just about fun and feeling good, but how it can also help people feel stronger when they face trouble or opposition. 

I’d also love it if readers of this book asked people in their lives, like their grandparents, what they remember about the civil rights movement. There are still lots of people who have memories of that time, even if they weren’t directly involved.

You’re a singer and a writer and you describe yourself as an educational troubadour. What does that mean?
I sing and tell stories in schools a lot, and I do a lot of training for teachers about literacy, writing and music. Even if the topics sound serious, it’s important to me to keep music in my work, because it helps people feel good and have fun while they are learning.

What are you working on now?
One of my next books is a Wisconsin Historical Society Badger Biography about Father Groppi, who was a civil rights leader in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the late 1960s. My interest in that time continues.

If you’d like to learn more about Stuart, his books and CDs or his performances, visit his website.

For more information on this book, check out these online reviews:

• The Washington Post.
• Kiss The Book.
• One Librarian’s Reviews.