Teaching Kids through Books

This is a link to a very good short video with other sites noted where you can get more of these types of videos.

http://youtu.be/Wn3ALFW-194

Teaching Kids about Life and Death

A psychologist and two authors discuss how CHARLOTTE’S WEB deals with the issues of death and loss in a surprisingly frank manner.
This is an installment of BOOKD MARGINS, which features insightful bonus content from BOOKD, a series brought to you by THNKR that explores game-changing books through the insights and opinions of engaging personalities.

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All of us with children or grandchildren sometimes want help teaching them more of something they're curious about. It can be a touchy subject in many instances.  This video tells a little of the psychology behind one book, Charlotte's Web.

You will have been out of touch with children and their lives for a very long time not to have heard of this book, or seen the movie made from it.  It is very moving so even the parents are drawn into the story with the child(ren).

I have several things which are special to me and several I think are important for people to realize.  The best time to introduce my passions on music and horse, kindness to animals, and nature in general, or to tell of the important things is to start with telling a child.  Telling on their level breaks it down to simple bits of information in a way that is clear for them and short enough for their attention spans.

I have one book to start a series which I began for 9-12 year olds, and plan to continue as the children characters get older.  It was difficult, at first, to speak with a child's voice when writing, but so far it seems to be coming across well.

I'm trying it again for a younger child, one who must be read to.  The most special times you can have with your child is when your reading with them, beginning when they are so young they must be read to.  After the first reading you will be surprised how much the child "reads" back.  At this age, contrary to what some parents might think is reading, it is really memorizing.  This is as important as reading.  Being read to and remembering the story is the time when a child's memory is being developed.  It's important they learn to remember things.  Being read to is an important step in that development.

I will see how my granddaughter likes her first book from Grammie.  It's a gift to her and not planned, at this time, for public distribution.  If I get requests it may be at a later date.  It all depends on getting permission from the parent's involved.

Enjoy the video and investigate BOOKD.

The Writer's Job

http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2012/feb/28/writers-job/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=February%2028%202012&utm_content=February%2028%202012%20CID_195731e3751cf26ce0870891a2cb4dba&utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&utm_term=The%20Writers%20Job

I found this article by Tim Parks of the NYTimes through my tumblr.com connection (again).  It has a lot of meaning for writers of today.

Authors Exercise Their "Write" to Self-Publish

Authors exercise their "write" to self-publish www.cbsnews.comEbooks and print-on-demand are rewriting the rules of authors seeking to have their works made available to the reading public

This is a CBS News Sunday Morning news article with a good video about the current self-publishing market.  I hope all is going better for all of you.

Writing Assignment & Other Goodies from Tumblr

I get some wonderful things on my tumblr site at jvdbooks.tumblr.com so I thought I'd share.  Maybe you can visit it sometime and enjoy the visual presentation.
First, here is a connection to the research done on writer's block.  Goto 1) & 2) below.  It's interesting for me with my background, so don't feel obliged to read it all if it doesn't interest you.

Perhaps the greatest psychology research paper ever published and perhaps the greatest follow-up research paper ever published.

On the "Unsuccessful Treatment of Writer's Block"...

(1 and 2)

Second, here is a visual prompt and challenge for a writing exercise.  Send it in or enjoy it yourself.  I would appreciate it if you'd leave a comment if you feel you got something out of it.

writeworld:

Writer’s Block
A picture says a thousand words. Write them.

Mission: Write a story, a description, a poem, a metaphor, a commentary, or a critique about this picture. Write something about this picture.
Be sure to tag writeworld in your block!

The picture is called The Oracle.  Now, write something wonderful, click on writeworld (under the picture to the left), go to image blocks at the left, then at the top where is says all the images click image blocks again, read about it and decide if you want to submit it.  You might want to follow this blog for regular writing prompts since they have a cut off for entry.  Check each out and have fun.

Place to Visit with a Message

http://sciencesoup.tumblr.com/post/35372280511/pale-blue-dot-carl-sagan-from-this-distant

This is The Pale Blue Dot, a message from Carl Sagan everyone should hear repeatedly.  Any time I feel lost, I listen.  It helps me keep my place, so I won't feel so lost.  It puts things into perspective.

http://saganseries.com

The first of the series is The Frontier is Everywhere.  Now this is the one that will touch your heart.

I've said it before, but I'll say it again: If you can't be touched by this, you can't be touched.