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A True Tale with
A Cherry On Top
A Cherry On Top
C haracter: Little Red Writing (a pencil)
O verview from the jacket flap:
"Once upon a time in pencil school, a teacher named Ms. 2 told her class, 'Today we're going to write a story.'
'Yippee!' said the birthday pencil.
'Slammin'!' said the basketball pencil.
'Sharp!' said Little Red.
So begins a hilarious and exuberant retelling of 'Little Red Riding Hood,' in which a brave little red pencil finds her way through the many perils of storytelling, faces a ravenous pencil sharpener (the Wolf 3000) ... and saves the day."
'Yippee!' said the birthday pencil.
'Slammin'!' said the basketball pencil.
'Sharp!' said Little Red.
So begins a hilarious and exuberant retelling of 'Little Red Riding Hood,' in which a brave little red pencil finds her way through the many perils of storytelling, faces a ravenous pencil sharpener (the Wolf 3000) ... and saves the day."
T antalizing taste:
"Once upon a time in pencil school, a teacher named Ms. 2 told her class, 'Today we're going to write a story!'
[On the blackboard]
STORY PATH
1. Idea, characters, setting
2. Trouble
3. Even bigger trouble
4. Fix the trouble
and something more: Oh! I would have so loved to have used this book, Little Red Writing, when I taught 5th grade writing workshops! It's a story about how to write a story, and the first page sums it up: idea, character, setting, and TROUBLE. I often reminded my students that they needed to write about a conflict, a problem, and not just a list of occurences.
This book is wonderfully illustrated by Melissa Sweet with her unique, whimsical style. The book has terrific teacher material, and I thought these were fun pencil facts:
"Hymen Lipman received the first patent for attaching an eraser to the end of a pencil in 1858.
The majority of pencils made in the United States are painted yellow.
Author Roald Dahl used only yellow pencils. He had 6 sharpened pencils ready at the beginning of each day and when all 6 pencils became unusable, he sharpened them again."
Thank you to Chronicle Books for providing me with a copy of this book!
This book is wonderfully illustrated by Melissa Sweet with her unique, whimsical style. The book has terrific teacher material, and I thought these were fun pencil facts:
"Hymen Lipman received the first patent for attaching an eraser to the end of a pencil in 1858.
The majority of pencils made in the United States are painted yellow.
Author Roald Dahl used only yellow pencils. He had 6 sharpened pencils ready at the beginning of each day and when all 6 pencils became unusable, he sharpened them again."
Thank you to Chronicle Books for providing me with a copy of this book!
Hi there Jeanne! I like Melissa Sweet's picture books, particularly A River of Words. Little Red Writing sounds like a nice fractured fairy story with a twist. Love the metaphors and the layers that can be discussed in the story. Will look out for this one.
ReplyDeleteThis is a book I could have used back in 5th grade!
ReplyDeleteOh, this is too fun, especially the pencil facts.
ReplyDeleteI like the word "trouble" instead of conflict. Conflict always sounds like it has to be violence or a battle, or something. Trouble is so much more appropriate for children.
Lovely find!
Hi Myra,
ReplyDeleteYes! Melissa Sweet's style is wonderful, isn't it? And yes, the idea is write-on, isn't it?!
Sue, Isn't that the truth? Such a fun idea for a book -- I too would have loved it in 5th grade.
ReplyDeleteHi Roberta,
ReplyDeleteI too have always thought "conflict" was a harsh word and sounded too heavy-duty for children's stories. "Problem" sums it up better. Thanks for stopping by!
I have been eagerly awaiting this book - thank you for the sneak peek!
ReplyDeleteFun to pair with "The Day The Crayons Quit" perhaps?
Hi Cathy! I think you'll really like it! I too liked getting a sneak peek! Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteThis looks charming.
ReplyDeleteHi Tara, Yes, it is charming!
ReplyDelete