HOOK KIDS on READING: "Horatio Humble Beats the BIG D"

Monday, September 27, 2010

"Horatio Humble Beats the BIG D" - Dyslexia!

I just heard from my publisher, that my 10th rhyming picture

book, "Horatio Humble Beats the BIG D."
is on their publishing short list - YEA!!

Remember school, and how all of you dreaded being sent to Special Ed Classes - for whatever reason? Well Horatio is no exception. Sure he can't read well, but that's preferable to going to THAT class and being thought dumb by his schoolmates. But a dreaded parent teacher meeting set his fate, and whine or not, he was enrolled in THAT class. However, instead of wearing an instant "dumb" badge, and being laughed at, Horatio discovered that Dyslexia was only a word - one he could learn to spell AND read.
.
A Parent-teacher guide comes with "Horatio." It show kids with Dyslexia that the fun and joy of reading wonderful books is just a Special Ed class away. There are also links to more serious help for parents who feel their child needs more than Horatio can offer.

Oh. . . and don't forget these two:

"Ruthie and the Hippo's Fat Behind"

(Parent teacher guide included)

+
"Rattlesnake Jam"

Great for Boys!

Rhyming stories are a great way to get
reluctant readers reading
- especially boys!

======================

Soon I will be promoting 3 books from home -
by the seat of my pants!

And I mean that LITERALLY, mates!!

My messed up knee replacement surgery still has me hobbling around using a quad and a cane. It's slowly improving, but the accent is on the S-L-O-W part. Bottom line. . . no one can promise me I will ever be able to walk any distance again, or stand for very long. I have to deal with what IS, and not what I would like it to be.

That means getting the news out about my latest
two books + another one in the pipe-line, a mid-grade adventure for boys, using any means at my disposal!

YES!

The seat of my pants is actually wearing out from sitting at my desk, pounding the keys, and my brains, scrambling for ways to let everyone know I have two, NEW, rhyming books out, just longing to be read by oodles of kids.

What a sob story you say!

Hey! Please give a dedicated author a break!
The internet is the only way for me to GRAB your attention.

======================

I promise that a quick look at BOOKS on my
website will not waste your time - honest!!

I had great fun writing verses for
"Ruthie" and that sneaky pink Hippo of hers.

And the crazy antics of Gran and Pa, in
"Rattlesnake Jam," made even my husband laugh.

"Horatio" and his Dyslexia challenge was a labor of love -
based on similar problems I saw first hand, as a teacher's aid.

All were written with the idea of fun reads for kids
- especially reluctant readers and boys.

=========================

So I guess if this sob story drags you to my WEBSITE for a quick peek,
and you end up buying an autographed copy for a kid you love,
( coloring sheets + bookmarks included!), my sobs were worth it.

ALSO: Amazon - Powell's Books - G.A.P etc.

Please leave a comment
and let me know if my sob story worked.

I love each one of my books, and hope you and the kids in your life will love
them also. Listen, you can't really blame me for wanting my books
to reach the kids I wrote them for - now can you?

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Books for Kids - Manuscript Critiques

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2 comments:

Donna McDineSeptember 30, 2010 at 4:12 PM
Hello Margot:

Best wishes to your continued success! Definitely take me up on my offer to host you.

Warm regards,
Donna
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CherylSeptember 30, 2010 at 4:38 PM
I'm sorry to hear about this, Margot. One would think after your surgery that things would have improved, not that the surgery would be botched and leave you almost as bad off as you were.

My prayers are with you, though I'm sure you'll do well with the book promotion no matter how you handle it.

Cheryl
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SKYPING AROUND the WORLD

Today SKYPE flew my “Magic Carpet” back to a class on the east coast. I listened to all the wonderfully innovative stories these kids wrote after my first visit with them. They really remembered to use powerful words and add lots of action – FANTASTIC! They illustrated their books, and every child wrote a cute Bio to go with their story. They were so proud of their accomplishments, and I was busting my buttons too. Such a thrill to be a part of turning a class on to the joys of reading and writing. YAHOO! I also read them “Never Say BOO to a Frilly,” as a treat for all their hard work. And their teacher, Geralyn Downey, went all out to encourage each child, and make them feel proud of their writing. Great teachers like Geralyn are real treasures.

I made a Skype Author Visit to a classroom in Auckland, New Zealand. They were so enthusiastic and smart. They even made a Video about my visit. I was thrilled and humbled. Read about it HERE

I also Skyped with high school teens in New Delhi, India. They asked so many questions. It was wonderful to see so many enthusiastic kids interested in reading and writing.

NOTE The only limit to an author visit to schools anywhere in the world are the Time Zones. They must work with where YOU live, as well as where the schools are situated.

SKYPE THANK YOU NOTES from TEACHERS

Thank you so much for this Margot. I am looking forward to skyping with you at 11. Just to let you know- the students took great pride in their stories. Although they are somewhat silly, and some maybe not too logical, the goal was for them to write and feel pride in publishing and sharing their stories. In that, they have all been successful. So, I hope that you will be able to sit back and let US take you YOU on a Magic Carpet Ride today! Talk to you soon! Geri

I did. . . and it was AWESOME!!

From a happy New Jersey teacher:

***********

"Thank you so much for our class skype today! The children learned so much, and cannot stop talking about it! They took your suggestions for writing to heart and are excited to begin writing their own stories tomorrow! LOVED this experience! Thank you!"
**********
SKYPE Inspires a Class:

Hi Margot,

I just wanted to let you know that my students have been working hard on writing their own stories since skyping with you. They were wondering if you might have time to Skype with us again to listen to their stories.

One little boy in particular has been so enthusiastic about this that he has been asking to work on his "book" every day since skyping with you. It is a very short story, but he could NOT be any prouder! You have really made an impression on him, as well as the other students! Thank you for this!

If you ever have time to skype with us again, they would LOVE to share their stories with you!

AND I AM GOING BACK TO HEAR THEIR STORIES AS SOON AS WE SETTLE ON A DATE.

*****************

Geralyn Downey shared your link: "To my teacher friends. Our class skyped with Margot Finke, children's author, and we LOVED it. Please watch this, and consider having her visit your class via skype. Believe me, you will love it! She was fantastic!"

***********

Thank you for the Skype! My class loved your storytelling!

From Mrs. Hime's Third Grade Class

***********

I just wanted to thank you for visiting our class! I know my students were so excited to engage with you and found your artifacts so interesting! My students struggle every day to battle obstacles that I would wish for no child, yet they do it fearlessly. With half of my students living below the poverty line, many of them will never see the world, nor the next parish. But I do believe that experiences like the one you gave them is invaluable in their realization that there is so much more out there! Thank you again for taking the time to talk to and read to my students!

Shane Silpe - 3rd Grade Teacher

***********

Thanks a ton for the Skype session with us. My students and I were absolutely thrilled to have you in our classroom. They wouldn't stop talking about you today. They shared their amazing experience with everyone at school and in their community as well. Today they wrote some poems for you. My students want to send you thank you emails and their poems. Do you mind if I let them email you on this id?

Once again thank you very much Margot. We thoroughly enjoyed your session, wish we could have listened you read the other story you showed us.

Regards, Harini - 4^th grade teacher in New Zealand.

***********

Thank you for spending your time with us. The children are still very excited about skype and sometimes have trouble sitting still! When the session was over, we discussed what they learned and they had a ton to say. We are also going to write a narrative using an Australian animal. It will take us a couple of weeks but I cannot wait to see what they produce. It was a great way to kick off our narrative writing unit. I think the children would love a copy of your book. Will you sign it for us? I know as they are writing their stories, yours would be a wonderful model for them.

Sincerely, Jennifer - 5th Grade Teacher

***********

Hi Margot,

Thank you so much for your email and especially for the wonderful Skype visit!! It was so much fun and so informative!! It was a huge hit and everyone raved about you!! :-) Regarding the books, I think it would be fine to send them to my school as there are lots of deliveries during the summer. I would love to do this again next year (preferably mid-year) with our new first grade classes!! Thank you so much for all of your time and enthusiasm!! I hope you have a wonderful summer!

Nancy – first grade teacher.

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GREAT BOOKS for RELUCTANT READERS and BOYS!

ASSORTED:
Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
Hatcher by Gary Paulson
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

PICTURE BOOKS by Margot Finke
Rattlesnake Jam
Mama Grizzly Bear
Kangaroo Clues
Ruthie and the Hippo's Fat Behind
Horatio Humble Beats the Big D
Don't Eat Platypus Stew
Prairie Dog's Play Day
Never say BOO to a Frilly
Squirrels Can't Help Being Nuts

YOUNG BOYS:
Cars That Go and Things That Go by Richard Scarry
The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems

MID GRADE BOYS:
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
The Baseball Card Adventure Series by Dan Gutman
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
The Night Tourist by Katherine Marsh
Taconi and Claude by Margot Finke

Jeff Kinney's WIMPY KID Series:
http://www.wimpykid.com/
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
The do it Yourself Book
Rick Riordan's books

Rick Riordan's Books:
The Titan's Curse
The Battle of the Labyrinth
The Sea of Monsters
The Lightening Thief.

Mystery of the Copper Turtle Doris Holik Kelly
The Revenge of Thelma Hill by Margot Finke

See how most of these authors are MEN.
Come on ladies, anything they can do . . .

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