Wow – I just read an article by Bestselling author, Joe Quirk, in the  GreatSchools e-newsletter.   With humor and easy-reading, he offers 5 tips for encouraging the young writer in every child.

I highly recommend taking a few minutes to read his article, especially his “nine story points” on page 4.  I’d love to hear your thoughts when you’re done!

As many of you know, creating awareness of engineering in young children is a passion of mine.  At the same time, another passion has been developing over the past year or so – Books for Boys.

I spent an hour searching our local libraries online database the other evening.  I was searching for books about spies for my 8-year-old son.  I went online certain to find many books – after all, spy books with all their action, adventure and intrigue seem like the perfect fit for “boy books.”  What I found was not at all what I thought I would find….

I was amazed by the number of spy books for girls.  At least in the database I was searching, I found more “girl books” in the spy category than “boy books.”  I commented something to this effect to my husband who wondered aloud how I knew they were “girl books?”

“By the pink covers or the title font or the cutesy girls on the front cover,” I replied.  “Oh” came his reply – which I understood to mean, “yeah, what boy wants to read a book with a pink cover?”

We both went to bed that evening wondering what books are there for boys?  And I mean really for boys – ones that seem real,  not cutesy.  Ones that are like the plethora of adult action, adventure books, yet toned down for young boys.  Perhaps our boys would have reading scores just as high as our girls, if we actually had books they wanted to read.

Hmmm, maybe a next book for me?!

Would love to hear your thoughts on boy readers and books for boys…

As I typed the title of this blog post, my heart started beating harder and my anxiety level rose – all because of a blog entry?

Yes, because of a blog entry.  I’ve been thinking about writing this post for some time, but wanted to be careful crafting my words.  I want my message to be heard and the title could cause some teachers to immediately dismiss anything more I have to say.

But this post needs to be written because teachers do have such a profound impact on their students.  And because they are such caring, nurturing humans.  And because they may actually want to hear what I have to say.  And because they may not realize the results of their subconscious actions.

I celebrate the elementary teacher who brings engineering into the elementary classroom.  However, I have observed many more elementary teachers shy away from bringing engineering into their classroom.  Why is that?  Especially when presented with a colorful book about engineering – reading the book and giving students ample opportunity to browse the book at their leisure sounds fairly easy to me.

I’ve observed many a teacher purchase armloads of children’s books – many with pink covers and cute little girls on the front or all types of animal books.  How many animal books does 1 classroom truly need?  What I did not see in these bagfuls were children’s engineering books.

Granted, there aren’t many elementary engineering books widely available, but these bags of books were being purchased at a Reading conference I attended this weekend where my children’s engineering book was available.

“Oh, just an author cranky about book sales,” you may dismiss, but for me it is about so much more than book sales.

For me, it is about creating awareness of the engineer’s impact on our everyday world.  For me, it is about starting very young creating that awareness.  For me, it is about working with elementary teachers to expand their classroom book collections – bringing the world to their students.

Bringing awareness of engineering into the elementary classroom can be achieved with fairly minimal effort, then why isn’t it happening more?

Happy Sunday to you!  A few hours remain in the Premier of the 2010 Virtual Children’s Book Fair.    I want to thank my friend and Michigan author, Tara Michener, for inviting me to participate in this history-in-the-making event!  I am so grateful for her energy and vision, and I feel inspired and alive when she is near.

Are you a teacher, counselor or parent looking for ways to better connect with the challenge in the lives of the young people close to you?  I recommend checking out Adra Young’s The Everyday Living of Children and Teens Monologues (Volume I and II). Visit the Book Fair to learn more and/or purchase some great books!

And remember, the Book Fair ends at Midnight, Feb. 28!

Two of the books featured in the 2010 Virtual Children’s Book Fair are teen/preteen books written by teen authors!

Authors, Riley Carney & Grace Hatton, are two talented teenagers.  Ms. Carney crafts an intriguing story in The Fire Stone – one certain to captivate the minds of 11-18 year olds .   Ms.  Hatton speaks to teen girls like a true girlfriend in The Guys The Roses & The Regrets; the Girl to Girl Dating Guide.

Visit The Book Fair today!  Special giveaways end tomorrow!

Looking for some unique children’s books to those special young people in your lives?  Looking for a way to give back to the community by donating books to a local school or library?  Then visit Virtual Children’s Book Fair!

At the Book Fair, you can find a variety of delightful Children’s picture books as well as special giveaways for this weekend only.  Some of the giveaways include a clay pot filled with strawberry flavored gummy worms (yum!) or part of the proceeds from each book donated to a literacy non-profit.

Visit the Fair and check out these captivating picture books ideal for children ages 4-10, yet all ages are sure to enjoy!

The Tale of Eartha the Sea Turtle

Who I am Not What I am

100% Real

Engineering the ABC’s

The Little Pot

The One and Only Bernadette P. McMullen

and  Janoose the Goose

Enjoy your new treasures!

I am proud to be a part of the Premier event for the Virtual Children’s Book Fair, Feb. 26-28, 2010.   11 books, 9 authors from around the country.  All the books are children or young adult genres.

Each author is offering a special giveaway and/or special pricing and/or free shipping for this wonderful history in the making event.   Most books can be personalized too, if desired.

From the comfort of your home and computer, you can browse and purchase online by visiting the fair website at Virtual Children’s Book Fair

Share with me – what’s on your book wish list?

How can you critique a child’s work in a positive way?

By using the “Kisses & Wishes” method!  Read more at my friend’s blog  B_A_ Bookworm

Do you have any unique teaching methods to share?

At a time when many local Metro Detroit schools are faced with massive budget reductions, one school received a mid-year gift.  With a generous grant from the Detroit Section of the Society of Women Engineers, I donated 44 copies of my children’s book, “Engineering the ABC’s” to Dearborn Public Schools last week.

Dearborn Public Schools was selected to receive books because they have a high rate (~35%) of English Language Learners – one of the highest percentages in the nation. The District is implementing some unique programs to enhance the learning of all their students, including integrating Arabic reading and writing into their curriculum.

I delivered books to Associate Superintendent, NormaJean Sass, who was very excited to meet the author of the donated books!  We talked for a bit about the importance of introducing engineering to children at a young age and some ways the book can be used in the classroom.  I was delighted to discover that Ms. Sass’ daughter is an engineer with Barton Mallow Construction.

Three other schools are slated to receive books over the next few months for a total of 150 donated books.  Way to go SWE-Detroit!

I am delighted to be Tara Michener’s guest blogger. Read more on my post titled “Transforming books into a 1-woman stage show” at Guest blogger on local MI author @Taramichener blog. Read more at http://bit.ly/pattyguestblog