Suzy Davies's Blog: Book News - Posts Tagged "christmas-books"
Celebrate The Seasons
Today is a day for Laurie Shanholtzer, acclaimed Artist and Educator and I to have a celebration of our very own.
I don't know Colin Ridyard, but he has just reviewed our Children's Poetry Book! I have to say, I am thrilled and stunned that he has compared our book to none other than Robert Louis Stevenson's, "A Child's Garden of Verses"
This book reviewer is also a writer, and you can tell by the thought, feeling and appreciation he has put into his review, that he really gets our work!
I have to say, my poetry is inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson, and I have endeavoured to make my poetry relevant to this modern day. Here is an excerpt from his review, which you can read on his author site, and on Amazon U.K.
"Like Robert Louis Stevenson’s book, I have no doubts whatsoever children, parents and grandparents will still be reading “Celebrate the Seasons” 135 years from now and probably for hundreds of years beyond. The blurb on the book rightly says it celebrates “holidays, sports events and treasured days at leisure with family and friends”. Without giving too much away, it takes you on an enchanted journey into timeless magical odysseys where little girls can be princesses, little boys can sit fishing by a river, little children play out in the warm wintry snow and then go home and curl up in front of a huge roaring log fire, safe and secure in the knowledge someone will always be there for them."
I don't know Colin Ridyard, but he has just reviewed our Children's Poetry Book! I have to say, I am thrilled and stunned that he has compared our book to none other than Robert Louis Stevenson's, "A Child's Garden of Verses"
This book reviewer is also a writer, and you can tell by the thought, feeling and appreciation he has put into his review, that he really gets our work!
I have to say, my poetry is inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson, and I have endeavoured to make my poetry relevant to this modern day. Here is an excerpt from his review, which you can read on his author site, and on Amazon U.K.
"Like Robert Louis Stevenson’s book, I have no doubts whatsoever children, parents and grandparents will still be reading “Celebrate the Seasons” 135 years from now and probably for hundreds of years beyond. The blurb on the book rightly says it celebrates “holidays, sports events and treasured days at leisure with family and friends”. Without giving too much away, it takes you on an enchanted journey into timeless magical odysseys where little girls can be princesses, little boys can sit fishing by a river, little children play out in the warm wintry snow and then go home and curl up in front of a huge roaring log fire, safe and secure in the knowledge someone will always be there for them."
How to Create Atmosphere in Children's Books.
What is atmosphere? How do we craft a story so that it is evocative? In this article, I will show you how I achieved this aim in “Snugs The Snow Bear,” my debut children’s book.
Atmosphere in a book is the way in which we describe how it “feels” to be in the company of the characters in our book, the most important character being the lead or the hero. We can create a backstory early on in our book to situate the character, and convey information about him. Make him larger than life and memorable! Don’t show all of him, just enough to whet children’s appetite! By showing forth our lead character through the eyes of others, we give him credibility, and kids know something of his personality traits early on.
“Don’t you know it’s Snow Bear–he doesn’t eat people–he’s a friendly bear–not at all like other white bears! You know, for a bear, Snugs is easy to get along with… I know bears who claw and growl, but Snugs doesn’t.”
“Now, how could anyone, with a name that sounds like snug, and a hug, be fierce, eh? Snugs is a real softie…”
“Sir, I’ve known him since I was born! We’ve played snowball, and built snow- houses together that are called igloos, and once, when one of Santa’s reindeer was sick on Christmas Eve, Snow Bear stepped in to help with the presents …he’s very kind, and clever, and strong, you know!”
Now we need to create a setting that will show forth this character, Snugs, to best advantage. We always associate snow bears with their natural environment, but how about if we put this snow bear, Snugs, in an old lighthouse on a wintry day? How about if we introduced him to a old wise man–a lighthouse keeper. Snugs is young with off-white fur, and the lighthouse-keeper is an old grandfather with gray hair!
Now, we have cast Snugs as a kind of bear-child visiting an elder! All children can relate to that.
“Snugs! Ha Ha! I’m so glad you’ve come!” said the very old, and very gray Mr. Merryweather.
How do we set the scene so it is enchanting to young minds? Remember, a place can also have personality. Here we need to consider all the ways we “interpret” our surroundings–through our eyes, ears, through touch and smell. We have to put the reader into the setting. Remember–it is always good to write about what you know, and lighthouses and the sea have always been a draw for me, ever since I was a child.
Sight:
“The lighthouse looked out onto the big, bright blue ocean. Snugs saw some sailing boats going out to sea, and he waved.”
Touch:
“Trudge, trudge, trudge, James’s legs were aching … higher and higher, slower, and slower still, they climbed …”
“He extended a giant weathered hand, and hugged Snugs with an iron grip that almost swallowed the little bear up.”
Smell:
I create the suggestion of smell with one that is likely to be familiar to children–the memory of hard-boiled eggs cooking.
Hearing:
“A little later, Snugs heard a strange sound, through the lighthouse walls. The moose were fast asleep, and they were snoring. Snugs heard the sound of the sea.
It was high tide, and the sound of the waves coming in sounded like the breath of an enormous dinosaur.”
A final touch is to get kids eager to go to bed with this cinematic description. Notice we have a combination of a long shot, a medium range shot and a close-up. I employ a combination of vision and sensation.
“Round the lighthouse, on the opposite side to Snugs’ room, Mr. and Mrs. Merryweather put down the blinds and blew out the candle. They were very tired, and tomorrow was Christmas Eve on The Isle of Wight.”
In the next chapter, which opens outside the lighthouse, again I use a combination of “camera shots,” but this time I let the reader take in the “new scenery” outside the lighthouse. Point of view adds another dimension to the scene. Although Mr. and Mrs. Merryweather look out on the same scene, what they perceive is different from what Snugs notices. This, of course, is how we show forth character and emotion.
The Merryweathers are concerned about the rough sea. Snugs is excited about the snow! We notice what is important to us!
“When they looked out of the lighthouse windows Mr. and Mrs, Merryweather saw that the sea was very rough and gray.”
“When little Snugs looked out he saw that the roofs of the cottages, that nestled close to the lighthouse, were now completely white. At ground level, sleet was blowing over the garden, and along the paths. It wouldn’t be long before The Isle of Wight would be snow white – he was sure about that!”
When I wrote Snugs The Snow Bear, I wanted to capture the thrill children have when they first see the snow arrive! As one of my favorite authors, E.B White suggested, "Always be on the lookout for wonder."
_____________
Copyright Suzy Davies, 2020 All Rights Reserved. Cover Design Copyright, Peter Hall 2016. All Rights Reserved. No copying of “Snugs The Snow Bear” text or cover image without the written permission of the copyright.
Atmosphere in a book is the way in which we describe how it “feels” to be in the company of the characters in our book, the most important character being the lead or the hero. We can create a backstory early on in our book to situate the character, and convey information about him. Make him larger than life and memorable! Don’t show all of him, just enough to whet children’s appetite! By showing forth our lead character through the eyes of others, we give him credibility, and kids know something of his personality traits early on.
“Don’t you know it’s Snow Bear–he doesn’t eat people–he’s a friendly bear–not at all like other white bears! You know, for a bear, Snugs is easy to get along with… I know bears who claw and growl, but Snugs doesn’t.”
“Now, how could anyone, with a name that sounds like snug, and a hug, be fierce, eh? Snugs is a real softie…”
“Sir, I’ve known him since I was born! We’ve played snowball, and built snow- houses together that are called igloos, and once, when one of Santa’s reindeer was sick on Christmas Eve, Snow Bear stepped in to help with the presents …he’s very kind, and clever, and strong, you know!”
Now we need to create a setting that will show forth this character, Snugs, to best advantage. We always associate snow bears with their natural environment, but how about if we put this snow bear, Snugs, in an old lighthouse on a wintry day? How about if we introduced him to a old wise man–a lighthouse keeper. Snugs is young with off-white fur, and the lighthouse-keeper is an old grandfather with gray hair!
Now, we have cast Snugs as a kind of bear-child visiting an elder! All children can relate to that.
“Snugs! Ha Ha! I’m so glad you’ve come!” said the very old, and very gray Mr. Merryweather.
How do we set the scene so it is enchanting to young minds? Remember, a place can also have personality. Here we need to consider all the ways we “interpret” our surroundings–through our eyes, ears, through touch and smell. We have to put the reader into the setting. Remember–it is always good to write about what you know, and lighthouses and the sea have always been a draw for me, ever since I was a child.
Sight:
“The lighthouse looked out onto the big, bright blue ocean. Snugs saw some sailing boats going out to sea, and he waved.”
Touch:
“Trudge, trudge, trudge, James’s legs were aching … higher and higher, slower, and slower still, they climbed …”
“He extended a giant weathered hand, and hugged Snugs with an iron grip that almost swallowed the little bear up.”
Smell:
I create the suggestion of smell with one that is likely to be familiar to children–the memory of hard-boiled eggs cooking.
Hearing:
“A little later, Snugs heard a strange sound, through the lighthouse walls. The moose were fast asleep, and they were snoring. Snugs heard the sound of the sea.
It was high tide, and the sound of the waves coming in sounded like the breath of an enormous dinosaur.”
A final touch is to get kids eager to go to bed with this cinematic description. Notice we have a combination of a long shot, a medium range shot and a close-up. I employ a combination of vision and sensation.
“Round the lighthouse, on the opposite side to Snugs’ room, Mr. and Mrs. Merryweather put down the blinds and blew out the candle. They were very tired, and tomorrow was Christmas Eve on The Isle of Wight.”
In the next chapter, which opens outside the lighthouse, again I use a combination of “camera shots,” but this time I let the reader take in the “new scenery” outside the lighthouse. Point of view adds another dimension to the scene. Although Mr. and Mrs. Merryweather look out on the same scene, what they perceive is different from what Snugs notices. This, of course, is how we show forth character and emotion.
The Merryweathers are concerned about the rough sea. Snugs is excited about the snow! We notice what is important to us!
“When they looked out of the lighthouse windows Mr. and Mrs, Merryweather saw that the sea was very rough and gray.”
“When little Snugs looked out he saw that the roofs of the cottages, that nestled close to the lighthouse, were now completely white. At ground level, sleet was blowing over the garden, and along the paths. It wouldn’t be long before The Isle of Wight would be snow white – he was sure about that!”
When I wrote Snugs The Snow Bear, I wanted to capture the thrill children have when they first see the snow arrive! As one of my favorite authors, E.B White suggested, "Always be on the lookout for wonder."
_____________
Copyright Suzy Davies, 2020 All Rights Reserved. Cover Design Copyright, Peter Hall 2016. All Rights Reserved. No copying of “Snugs The Snow Bear” text or cover image without the written permission of the copyright.
The River of Life - A River of Dreams: Housie Mousie and The BIG Cheese by Suzy Davies
Picture this: a child of about seven or eight years strolling along a riverbank with her dad
watching the flow of the river; the dance of midges and dragonflies; the swirling whirlpools and eddies casting rainbows in soft sunlight to the water’s edge. The dark shadows, in places, of trees that lean over the riverbank; shadows of fish lurking below the surface; birds on high winging their way across the water beneath vast skies.
The soothing “lap, lap” as the river’s current moves against rocks and stones, and the ever changing scenery along the banks. The sound of the breeze as it blows through rushes; along comes a boat and the oars move in and out of the water, the river seeming to sigh with the movement and rhythm they make.
Now it is raining, and so the man and child take cover under a tree. The river shines; it seems to sing and laugh and dance, and the man starts to tell his daughter a story of the river, but in all reality, it’s a story all about life.
In my ninth year or so, my dad gave me a gift of “The Wind in The Willows,” and this is how our story; the river and the characters in “Housie Mousie and The Big Cheese,” were inspired by Kenneth Grahame’s great work.
In our book the river is a character, and much like real life, it is always changing. Sometimes, it is dark, “a black ribbon,” the ink-black bootlace of the little rodents' boot home. Other times, the river sparkles with light, as if to suggest a moment of enlightenment or clarity; it is a “thread of diamonds” - the stuff of happy memory-making together and of laughter.
The river is neither a threat nor benign; it is what we make it; there are challenges and obstacles. Our feisty, funny little mouse, and serious rat become friends forever because they support each other, seeing opportunities and overcoming challenges on the BIG journey that is life. It is through challenges and adaptation, through learning from friends that they meet along the way who help them - a mischievous spaniel and a family of beavers - The Beaver Team - by working together and having fun, Housie and Ratty grow in stature.
Housie and Ratty’s river begins as a microcosm; it is their small, familiar world, where they are safe and secure. Traveling on their brave adventurous journey, “opens up” their small world - expanding their experiential reference points and giving them new insights into the big world out there.
One of the most important messages in Housie Mousie and The Big Cheese is that friendship is something to treasure. Teamwork, loyalty, collaboration and “pulling together” - much like rowing and turn-taking on the river - means that we can live happily enjoying all that this river - this great BIG journey that is life - has to offer.
In fact, nothing that we ever wish, imagine or dare to dream is ever too big, with a shared vision, innovation, and action to achieve our dreams together.
watching the flow of the river; the dance of midges and dragonflies; the swirling whirlpools and eddies casting rainbows in soft sunlight to the water’s edge. The dark shadows, in places, of trees that lean over the riverbank; shadows of fish lurking below the surface; birds on high winging their way across the water beneath vast skies.
The soothing “lap, lap” as the river’s current moves against rocks and stones, and the ever changing scenery along the banks. The sound of the breeze as it blows through rushes; along comes a boat and the oars move in and out of the water, the river seeming to sigh with the movement and rhythm they make.
Now it is raining, and so the man and child take cover under a tree. The river shines; it seems to sing and laugh and dance, and the man starts to tell his daughter a story of the river, but in all reality, it’s a story all about life.
In my ninth year or so, my dad gave me a gift of “The Wind in The Willows,” and this is how our story; the river and the characters in “Housie Mousie and The Big Cheese,” were inspired by Kenneth Grahame’s great work.
In our book the river is a character, and much like real life, it is always changing. Sometimes, it is dark, “a black ribbon,” the ink-black bootlace of the little rodents' boot home. Other times, the river sparkles with light, as if to suggest a moment of enlightenment or clarity; it is a “thread of diamonds” - the stuff of happy memory-making together and of laughter.
The river is neither a threat nor benign; it is what we make it; there are challenges and obstacles. Our feisty, funny little mouse, and serious rat become friends forever because they support each other, seeing opportunities and overcoming challenges on the BIG journey that is life. It is through challenges and adaptation, through learning from friends that they meet along the way who help them - a mischievous spaniel and a family of beavers - The Beaver Team - by working together and having fun, Housie and Ratty grow in stature.
Housie and Ratty’s river begins as a microcosm; it is their small, familiar world, where they are safe and secure. Traveling on their brave adventurous journey, “opens up” their small world - expanding their experiential reference points and giving them new insights into the big world out there.
One of the most important messages in Housie Mousie and The Big Cheese is that friendship is something to treasure. Teamwork, loyalty, collaboration and “pulling together” - much like rowing and turn-taking on the river - means that we can live happily enjoying all that this river - this great BIG journey that is life - has to offer.
In fact, nothing that we ever wish, imagine or dare to dream is ever too big, with a shared vision, innovation, and action to achieve our dreams together.
Book News
"The Flamingos Who Painted The Sky," our new picture book is NOW fully available to bring in #Christmas #sunshine, #flamingo #sunsets, and #happiness #worldwide Illustrated by the talented Shirin Mass ...more
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