"Because of a bet, Billy is in the uncomfortable position of having to eat fifteen worms in fifteen days. A hilarious story that will revolt and delight bumptious, unreachable intermediate-grade boys and any other less particular mortals that read or listen to it.... Colorful, original writing in a much-needed comic vein."--Booklist. |
In 2007, I held a really successful party following a series of programs in which I read "How to Eat Fried Worms" to a group of 1st-5th graders. As I recall, the movie had recently been released and some promotional materials like bookmarks and activities arrived on my desk. I planned to show the movie, but I wanted to read the book to the kids first. And then, of course, we needed a party. Also, this was held around Earth Day and I thought that I could probably combine some ideas about how to celebrate that with this book. What better way than to make a worm farm? I'll admit, these took some preparation to prepare since I was trying to minimize the dirt mess that I envisioned if the kids were to build these themselves. But if you are outside, then of course, they could do it themselves. But we were indoors, so I had the farms ready to welcome their new worm inhabitants. The kids chose their own worms.
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This wraps it up. I had to use this photo from ALA's website because it will always remind me of the adventure we shared. The weathermen noted it as the fifth worst snowstorm in Chicago. A blizzard, in fact. But did that stop the librarians? Well, yes and no. You see, the weather wasn't bad at all until it began snowing Sunday. The day my Sibert Committee meeting was scheduled. By this time the conference was in full swing, with exhibits and key notes and meetings and award ceremonies continuing from Friday. Mine was a late afternoon meeting, and since I live relatively close (my home in Ohio is normally about a 5-hour drive) I planned to drive up Sunday morning, attend my meeting, and return home Monday morning.
Well, that didn't go quite as planned. |
I remember the excitement of visiting the public library as a child. The magic and suspense of reading favorites like The Velvet Room and The Secret Garden tugged at my imagination. Biographies of George Washington Carver and Betsy Ross allowed me to see the lives of those who came before me and to appreciate their accomplishments. Poetry collections like my favorite The Tall Book of Poems, which I took with me on sleepovers, introduced me to a range of poetry where I could consider how the placement and rhythm of words affected your mood – sometimes bouncy, other times melancholy. Plus, I really loved the way that book felt in my small hands. My goal in writing children’s books, I think, is an attempt to recreate those feelings, those early years of reading books where everything seemed possible.
I received an M.F.A. in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University and won the Karen and Philip Cushman Late Bloomer Award from SCBWI. I worked as a Children's Librarian for 20 years and still prefer to read books written for young people. I have two Cavapoo dogs named Prince Albert and Daisy Wu, and a black kitten named Mortimer. I am married and split time between homes with my husband Rod in Dayton, OH and in Cadiz, KY where we enjoy our pontoon boat on Lake Barkley.
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