Dive into the World of Books

Writer Dana Middleton has some advice about finishing a novel or story. She also looks back at the beginning of her writing career.

In celebration of National Poetry Month we have a special guest - this year's Phoenix's Youth Poet Laureate Myra Kamel! In this episode we talk with Myra about how she how she fell in love with poetry and what inspires her to write poetry...but best of all, you get to hear a nature poem she wrote, titled, A Siesta. She also shares how she was inspired her to write her poem and ideas for how you can start writing a nature poem too. If you'd like to hear more about the Phoenix Youth Poetry Program, visit CYAZ.org. If you'd like to start a youth poetry program, visit UrbanWordNYC.org. And if you'd like to read and learn about poets visit poetryfoundation.org Here are links to all of Myra's poetry recommends in the episode: The Borderline (Myra's literary mag)- https://www.theborderlinemag.org/ Write the World - www.writetheworld.com Kid Spirit - www.kidspiritonline.com Scholastic Arts & Writing - www.artandwriting.org Polyphony Lit - (for high school students) www.polyphonylit.org Dandelion Press - www.dandelionpress.com Young Writers Initiative - www.tywi.org ReFrame - www.reframephx.org Virginia Piper Center for Creative Writing - www.piper.asu.edu Desert Dweller Podcast - find it on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts You can also follow Phoenix Youth Poets on Instagram at @phxyouthpoetlaureateprogram Interview captured on Zoom, SFX from Zapsplat and Garageband...moreCopy Link

Encyclopedia Britannica calls Ulysses: “Stylistically dense and exhilarating, it is generally regarded as a masterpiece and has been the subject of numerous volumes of commentary and analysis.” We’ve thrown that out the window and interpreted it in tap-dance. Enjoy!Ulysses by James Joyce reviewed by Blosom, the tapdancing puppy. For questions or to suggest a book for us to review email us at bookpowerforkids@gmail.com . Our website is https://bookpowerforkids.com/, or visit us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookpowerforkids/ and Twitter @bookpower4kids We are proud members of Kids Listen. For more quality children's podcasts visit http://www.kidslisten.org/members All of our music was created using Music Maker Jam for non-commercial purposes, http://www.justaddmusic.net/en/ . Credit to Warner Brothers for the Bugs Bunny tapdancing music. Thanks for listening!...moreCopy Link

On the StoryMakers podcast, multi-award-winning author and illustrator duo, Lesa Cline-Ransome and James Ransome offer us a window into a child’s experience of the Great Migration in OVERGROUND RAILROAD, and then introduce us to the characters and history behind the second book in the FINDING LANGSTON TRILOGY, LEAVING LYMON. About OVERGROUND RAILROAD A window into a child’s experience of the Great Migration from the award-winning creators of Before She Was Harriet and Finding Langston. As she climbs aboard the New York-bound Silver Meteor train, Ruth Ellen embarks upon a journey toward a new life up North– one she can’t begin to imagine. Stop by stop, the perceptive young narrator tells her journey in poems, leaving behind the cotton fields and distant Blue Ridge mountains. Each leg of the trip brings new revelations as scenes out the window of folks working in fields give way to the Delaware River, the curtain that separates the colored car is removed, and glimpses of the freedom and opportunity the family hopes to find come into view. As they travel, Ruth Ellen reads from Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, reflecting on how her journey mirrors her own– until finally, the train arrives at its last stop, New York’s Penn Station and the family heads out into a night filled with bright lights, glimmering stars, and new possibility. James Ransome’s mixed-media illustrations are full of bold color and texture, bringing Ruth Ellen’s journey to life, from sprawling cotton fields to cramped train cars, the wary glances of other passengers and the dark forest through which Frederick Douglass traveled towards freedom. Overground Railroad is, as Lesa notes, a story “of people who were running from and running to at the same time,” and it’s a story that will stay with readers long after the final pages. About LEAVING LYMON A companion novel to Finding Langston, recipient of a Coretta Scott King Writing Honor and winner of the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction. Behind every bad boy is a story worth hearing and at least one chance for redemption. It’s 1946 and Lymon, uprooted from his life in the Deep South and moved up North, needs that chance. Lymon’s father is, for the time being, at Parchman Farm–the Mississippi State Penitentiary–and his mother, whom he doesn’t remember all that much, has moved North. Fortunately, Lymon is being raised by his loving grandparents. Together, Lymon and his grandpops share a love of music, spending late summer nights playing the guitar. But Lymon’s world as he knows it is about to dissolve. He will be sent on a journey to two Northern cities far from the country life he loves–and the version of himself he knows. In this companion novel to the Coretta Scott King Honor-winning Finding Langston, readers will see a new side of the bully Lymon in this story of an angry boy whose raw talent, resilience, and devotion to music help point him in a new direction. ABOUT Lesa Cline-Ransome Lesa Cline-Ransome is the writer of many picture books. Her picture book biography titles include Satchel Paige, Major Taylor, Champion Cyclist, Young Pele, Soccer’s First Star, Helen Keller, The World in Her Heart, Before There was Mozart and Words Set me Free: The Story of Young Frederick Douglass. Other titles are Quilt Alphabet, Quilt Counting and her newest is Light in the Darkness, A Story about How Slaves Learned in Secret. Originally from Malden, Massachusetts, Lesa has worked as a proofreader, fashion copywriter, publicist, teacher in the New York City Schools, and taught writing for adults. She has a B.F.A. in Merchandising and Management from Pratt Institute and an M.A. in Education from N.Y.U. She lives in Rhinebeck, New York and with her husband and frequent collaborator, illustrator James Ransome, four children and St. Bernard, Nola. ABOUT James Ransome James is both a painter and award-winning illustrator, with work exhibited in both private and public art collections. He has illustrated over 50 books, and his awards include the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Picture Book Honor and the ALA Notable Book Award forSky Boys; the Coretta Scott King Honor for Uncle Jed’s Barbershop; the Coretta Scott King and IBBY awards for Creation; the NAACP Image Award for Let My People Go and Our Children Can Soar; and the Simon Wiesenthal Museum of Tolerance Award, Rip Van Winkle Award, SEBA Best Book of the Year Award and Dutchess County Executive Art Award for Individual Artist. Sponsored by HOLIDAY HOUSE CONNECT WITH Lesa Website | Twitter WATCH Lesa’s writing series, PAST PRESENT on KidLit TV CONNECT WITH JAMES Website | Instagram | Facebook WATCH James’ drawing tutorials on YOUNG AT ART on KidLit TV The post KidLit RADIO: StoryMakers with Lesa Cline-Ransome and James Ransome appeared first on KidLit TV....moreCopy Link