Finding Kids Who Love Writing

I’m already smiling, just writing the title of this post!

I had such a lovely time when I visited a group of home-schooled students who meet regularly to share their writing. One of the coordinators, Debra Mayhew, is a fellow writer friend of mine, and asked if I’d come and share my puppet play with the kids. And I said, “Wheeee!” (That’s Yes! in Cathy C. Hall language.)

Deb made wonderful puppets for the play, and I had help from several students who did a wonderful job playing their parts in “Oh, Dear! Oh, Deer!” Since the play is all about homonyms, we chatted a bit about words that sound alike but are spelled differently (and I told my all-time favorite knock-knock joke. Always a plus when I can find a way to fit that in!). And they shared their pictures of homonyms (there may be a few budding artists in the bunch, too).

I rambled a bit about my road to publication and brought some of the books where my writing shows up (but honestly, they just wanted to read Uncle John’s Facts to Annoy Your Teachers Bathroom Reader. I don’t blame ’em. That book rocks!), and then students shared their writing. It was such a pleasure to spend time with these kids. Because here’s the thing. Here was a group of kids who were eager to share their words and ideas! They clearly enjoy writing and write all the time.

And all I can say about that is Wheeeee! Wheeeee! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Can You Write a Puppet Play?

I read that Librarian’s Aide is looking for a few good puppet plays.

Well, maybe more than a few. They have two different anthologies for which they’re seeking submissions. Librarian’s Aide wants to reach preschoolers and promote literacy (and visiting your local library!), so a puppet play seems like a very good idea to me.

I don’t know if I can write a puppet play, but I’m pretty excited about giving it a try. And I don’t know if I’ll try to make it a rhyming play, but I remembered this cool website, Write Rhymes, which might come in handy if I do.

So, if you’re good with dialogue and love books, you should get to work. Deadline for submissions is the first week of November, more or less. And thanks to the ICL newsletter for posting this goody!