HOOK KIDS on READING: Aussie animals

Showing posts with label Aussie animals. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

WILD and WONDERFUL

WILD and WONDERFUL Series

7 Rhyming Picture Books about Animals from
the US and Australia.

FUN as well as educational!

About ten years ago I had this series published in eBook format by Writers Exchange. This was an Australian publisher. CEO Sandy Cummins was wonderful to work with - helpful, supportive and open to suggestions. However, at that time eBooks were a novelty, and the eReaders of today were still a glint in their designers' eyes. The series received terrific reviews, but sales were dismal.

Now, thanks to Sandy allowing me to offer the series to Guardian Angel Publishing, a publisher that specializes in child friendly and educational picture books, my Wild and Wonderful series is being published in soft cover, and will be available on Amazon and other sites: Guardian Angel Publishing, + my website. YEA!!!

I am absolutely THRILLED that my Wild and Wonderful series is finally being published in soft cover. It has been a long wait, but well worth the time and the effort.

Already in soft cover and on sale are:

Kangaroo Clues

Mama Grizzly Bear

Never Say BOO to a Frilly:

Includes -
Never Say BOO - Rainbow Birds - Tasmanian Devil Dance

Now available from the links listed above.

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Coming Next:

Prairie Dog's Play Day:

Includes - Prairie Dogs - Bald Eagle Rules - The Stinker (skunk)

Last 3 Books - Coming SOON:

*Don's Eat Platypus Stew - 3 individual stories

*Squirrels Can't Help Being Nuts - 3 individual stories

*Humdinger Hummers - 1 story

Link to illustrations and news about my
DREAMTIME MAN picture book.

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Books for Kids - Skype Author Visits

Manuscript Critiques

http://www.margotfinke.com

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Friday, November 23, 2012

A Magic Carpet Ride. . .

Like it or not, the holiday season is upon us.

I may be prejudiced, but as a writer I feel that books
make the best gifts ever - especially for children.

So give them
BOOKS - BOOKS - BOOKS

A ticket to their own
Magic Carpet Ride
Fun, adventure, and a lifetime of reading enjoyment.

.

No surfing needed.

FREE CATALOG
Download

(All 13 books listed with direct purchase links)

My writing is a habit I can't kick - an addiction if you will. To not write is unthinkable! Over the years my best stories came to me in the middle of the night. They had me creeping into the bathroom to write them down before they became lost, along with my other dreams.

Some flowed into my computer as smooth and easy as honey on hot toast. Others were stubborn, difficult, or just plain antsy. I had to cajole, threaten and bribe the characters to stick with the program - MY program. I won some and I last some. Yet however the story finally ended, I fell in love with it. I even admit that the characters sometimes had better plot ideas than I. Shush. . . don't spread that around, mates.

I wrote each story with the idea of HOOKING kids on reading. Teach a child to love books at an early age, and you make them into lifelong readers. And the way to do that is to read them books that have giggles, fun, adventure, love, and that unique WOW factor that makes them into re-readable favorites.

I love each book I wrote, and I am hoping to
make converts out of YOU!

Some clues about my books.

Picture Books:

Catchy rhymes that help and encourage kids with dyslexia.

Sneaky rhyming that shows how sudden BIG change can really
mess with a child. Two fun reads that come with helpful parent/teacher guides.

Boy type rhymes that offerer just the right helping of yucky BOY stuff.

Then came WILD and WONDERFUL!
7 rhyming stories that tell about critters from the US and Australia.

Fun, educational, and full of real facts.

My Young Teen reads:

A coming of age adventure set in the Aussie Outback.

Blimey, whoda thunk that a sulfur crested cockatoo named Claude could become
such a great character, along with a young aboriginal boy called Taconi,
+ a Man Ceremony, a bunch of witchetty grubs, and a freaked out emu.

THE SEQUEL

coming soon

Featuring the grandchildren of Taconi and the Boss, in a fight to survive an outback
walkabout, a crazed Medicine Man, and sibling rivalry that begins
with a lie and expands to threaten friendship and family.
.

A ghost with a determination to make her killer pay, has searched forty years for help.
Frannie James is her last chance. The ghost, and her giant arachnid "familiar,"
are hard to resist. Add a twin brother, a missing Mom, a few e-mails, and a handy
frying pan. Killer is caught!

If these tantalizing story tit-bits don't whet your reading appetite. . .

nothing will!

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For those who like to sample before they buy,
try

"SHORT and SWEET"
a "Sneak Peek" inside 8 of my latest books.

Oh, and I guess I should throw
in a cover or two -

just to make it interesting.

A taste of 13 different covers.
Kindle - Amazon - Powell's Books - Nook -

Publisher - Autographed WEBSITE

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FINALLY

A HOLIDAY SEASON GIFT
for YOU!

My Memoir

"Christmas Down-under"

FREE Download

ENJOY!

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BOOKS for KIDS - Manuscript Critiques
http://www.margotfinke.com

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Monday, March 28, 2011

READ Taconi and Claude - for a Classroom Project That's FUN!

Fun Classroom Activities Using
"Taconi and Claude"

The story of Taconi and Claude offers a class trip
to the Australian outback of the early 1950s.

The rich and fascinating flora and fauna of this area of Australia rises off the pages. Kids will smell the gum trees, feel the scorching heat, and wonder at the termite mounds. A fear of wild dingoes might steal over them at any moment.

..

Pictures of unique Aussie animals -

click a picture for extra information:
http://australian-animals.net/aussie-pics.htm

Aussie flora - pictures and information:

http://www.anbg.gov.au/emblems/
http://anpsa.org.au/sgap1a.html

Urulu - The heart of Dreamtime Land

Witchety Grubs - YUM!

Sacred Boab Tree

A class reading of my "Down-under Fun" page, on critters unique to Down-under, offers fun facts + links to other resources. Supervised Googling of the various animals will show more detailed information + pictures. The wattle tree is the Australian national tree, and is mentioned in Taconi and Claude. The sweet smelling clusters of yellow flowers are a national symbol.

Taconi and Claude offers a chance for children to look at another culture and see how it compares with their own. It will help children learn to be tolerant of the customs and beliefs of others. Doing this will hopefully make the world into a more peaceful and happy place.

Website.

Read a sample chapter.

See a Trailer.

Teacher's Guide.

Margot's Magic Carpet

All my books on one page

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Book Bites for Kids
CLICK To

Hear me CHAT About

"Taconi and Claude - Double Trouble"
+ HOOKING reluctant readers with a WOW factor

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CLICK HERE
to order Taconi and Claude!

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Promote YOUR Book

with the

National Writing for Children Center

I DO!

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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:

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"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!"
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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.

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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!"

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

From Mrs. Hime's Third Grade Class

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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

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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.

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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

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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 . . .

WRITING CENTER

The transition from high school to college can be a challenging one, especially when it comes to writing academic papers and other written assignments. New college students will find that they are expected to write more, and that their work must meet higher standards, set by instructors who expect students to show up with the written communication skills necessary to succeed in class. Regardless of the type of writing you are asked to do, proper grammar and punctuation is expected. Use our quick-reference guide to avoid some of the most common mistakes student writers make. Grammar – Punctuation – Other Common Issues – Different Writing Styles – Citation Guide