Here you’ll find links to books, web sites, other writers, and organizations that are helpful to teachers, kids, writers of all kinds–and fun sites for book lovers of all sorts.
1. FOR EDUCATORS_______________________________
* John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts “Partners in Education” Touring Program.This program provides resources for schools interested in professional development for teachers using an arts-integrated approach to learning. Amy will be one of 30 artists available to teach workshops nationally.
* ArtsEdge Another Kennedy Center site, it is probably the best and most inclusive web site for Arts Educators or anyone using arts in the classroom. They’ve just added a new online resource , which explores the what and why of arts integration, gives examples of arts integration best practices, provides a wide range of resources, and has info about their arts integration program in schools, called CETA (Changing Education through the Arts).
2. FOR KIDS__________________________________
To Work on Your Writing
• Japanese Haiku Poetry Resources
• Bedtime Favorites: Nursery Rhymes
• Amy MacDonald’s monthly Writing Tips. Here’s Tip #1.
• Write or Die The solution to writer’s block!
• NaNoWriMo for Young Writers. National Novel Writing Month. Force yourself to write 1,000 words a day by joining with other writers each November.
[With thanks to students and teachers who send me their favorite sites. ]
To Publish Your Writing
• Scholastic’s “Kids Are Authors” Competition. This is an annual competition open to Grades K–8.
• Stone Soup Magazine is a national magazine that publishes the art and writing of children up to age 13.
• PBS Kids Go! Writers Contest is a PBS-run yearly contest for young writers and illustrators from grades K-3.
• River of Words runs a yearly student poetry and art competition for ages 5-19, generally on outdoors themes. This is a wonderful web site, with resources for both students and teachers.
3. FOR WRITERS_______________________________
Good Books on Writing for Children
• Writing Picture Books by Ann Whitford Paul (Writer’s Digest Books, 2009).
New, readable, very practical.
• How to Write a Children’s Book and Get It Published by Barbara Seuling.
Good all-round writing–and illustrating–advice, if somewhat dated now.
• The Children’s Writers and Illustrators Market
Lists publishers and their needs.
Good Organizations for Fiction Writers
• Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, a national membership organization that will answer ALL your questions in greater depth than I can.
• Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance in Portland, Maine, has writing retreats for writers of all levels (including children’s writers), a great newsletter, and is just a general all around great resource for writers. (Join!)
Writing Tools
• NaNoWriMo. National Novel Writing Month. Force yourself to write 1,000 words a day by joining with other masochists each November.
• Write or Die The solution to writer’s block!
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4. FOR FUN____________________________________
Favorite Maine Authors
A sampling of writers in different genres (except children’s, because there are just too many to list):
• Monica Wood. Fantastic novelist and short story writer. Her web site has good writing tips.
• Hannah Holmes. You never knew science could be so funny–and so readable. Plus a great blog.
• Wes McNair. Maine’s best poet. Ever.
• Paul Doiron. New voice in crime writing.
For Book Lovers
Curious City. Kirsten Cappy’s love of children’s books is contagious.
Longfellow Books. Favorite Portland bookstore, employee owned. Go here to buy my books locally.
