The Reading Spot

The Reading Spot
Copyright by J.D. Holiday

June 3, 2009

ROBIN FALLS KIDS Summer Reading Program for school age kids on BLOG TALK RADIO!



Robin Falls Kids Story Time 6/24/2009 11:00 AM
Call in at: (646) 649-1005 AT:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/RobinFalls

Robin Falls Kids will open their show with a Summer Time special JUST for Kids of all ages. It is a series called Robin Falls Kids Story Time. Thirty eight Children’s and Young Adult authors will read from their work in a library setting. Over 20 books will be given away in drawings, see list below! Just listen to the shows and send us an e-mail telling us which book(s) you would like to win at robinfallskids@yahoo.com.

Choose from : I'LL TUCK YOU IN, DEER by April Robins; THE MOONQUEST by Mark David Gerson; JANOOSE THE GOOSE by J.D. Holiday; REBEL IN BLUE JEANS by Beverly Stowe McClure; BERTHA SPEAKS OUT by Fran Lewis; WHERE IS GOD, GRANDFATHER? by Candy O'Donnell; SILLY KITTY by Irene Brodsky; THE GREAT DOG WASH by Shellie Braeuner; GONE FROM THESE WOODS by Donny Bailey Seagraves; DOGGIE DAY CAMP: Verb and Adverb Adventures by Cynthia Gagnon Reeg; SUMMER LOVIN' by Laurie J. Edwards; THE CURSE OF ADDY MCMAHON by Katie Davis; MYTHIKAS ISLAND by Diana Hurwitz; ROAR OF A SNORE by Marsha Diane Arnold; DAY'S END LULLABY by Karen Cioffi-Ventrice; ACROSS THE POND by Barry Eva; HOORAY FOR THE CIRCUS by Ginger Devine; Margot Finke intends to give all who call in a FREE Audio of her reading one of her stories + illustrations; and April Robins will give away 3 copies of "Keeper of Happy Faces" in a drawing taken from kids who call into one of the shows.
April Robins will Host and Barbara M. Hodges will Co-Host this first show. We are so delighted to announce the following Guest and their books they are reading from: Elysabeth Eldering - "Train of Clues" (JGDS), 50-state, mystery, trivia series; Barbara Ehrentreu - "The Trouble with Follow the Leader"; Ginger DeVine - "Hooray for the Circus"; Dawn Stephens - "The Little Pot"; and Margot Finke - "Rattlesnake Jam." April Robins will close the show with a reading from her book,"I'll Tuck You in, Deer." To see their book covers and learn more about the authors, go to http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=108027166097. For more information on winning a free book, see the BTR Robin Falls Kids show notes or e-mail us at robinfallskids@yahoo.com.



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From The PAINT BOX


SAME STUFF, DIFFERANT DAY!
Copyright 2009 by J.D. Holiday

The BOOK REPORT


Lucas and his Long Loopy Laces
Written by Krystal Russell
Illustrated by Cody Frusher

Lucas doesn’t tie his shoes and that’s a good thing, too, or we would not have his fun filled adventure caused by his long, loopy and knotted laces that catch everything in them. They catch grass, mud, and even TOADS just to name a few! Lucas has no end of trouble from his untied laces following along behind him as he travels everywhere from earth, sea and sky and back again.
This is a wonderful story told in rhyme and you can’t miss Lucas’ long colorful laces as they drag along behind him. My three and a half year old grandson laughed with every new object Lucas’ laces collected. Children of all ages will love this story!
http://www.amazon.com/Lucas-His-Long-Loopy-Laces/dp/0982351909/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244069198&sr=1-1#




Die Laughing- A Daisy Dalrymple Mystery by Carola Dunn 5-26-2009

Not unlike Agatha Christie, Carola Dunn writes a cozy mystery series to please an avid mystery reader. Her main character in this series, Daisy Dalrymple has a unique advantage as the detective’s wife and even with the social restrictions of England in the 1920’s, the dismay of her mother-in-law plus that of her own mother, Daisy manages to solve crimes, a pursuit close to her heart.
Daisy’s own dentist, Dr. Raymond Talmadge is known for his magnetic draw of the ladies, but hidden well is his bad practice of inhaling laughing gas which may have led to his accidental death.
Though it looks like suicide or accidental death at first to Daisy’s husband, Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher, Daisy has keenly observed it was nothing short of murder. Both the victim’s wife and his mistress seek out Daisy in order to persuade her and her husband they are innocent of the crime.
I consider myself an Agatha Christie fan and I can truly say Die Laughing
is a gratifying and fun read. Enjoy!
http://www.amazon.com/Die-Laughing-Daisy-Dalrymple-Mysteries/dp/075820938X/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244068875&sr=1-13

April 30, 2009

THEME: In A NutShell


The theme of a story is what the story is about. It is the underlying message usually defined in one or two sentences and is never told to the readers. Sometimes you know your story’s theme before beginning to write it. Sometimes you don’t know the theme until you have the outline done, characters in place and the setting down to the smallest detail. More than not it is implied coming through in the use of characterization, plot, setting, view point and events in the overall writing of the story.
A novel can have many themes because of the length, the amount of characters and subplots that run through it. In Charles Dickens‘ , A Christmas Carol, Scrooge’s kind and even tempered nephew, Fred’s good-humor can not be dampened, not even by Scrooge. Fred’s theme could be, happy are those who are sure of themselves. While Bob Cratchit’s, the faithful clerk’s theme might be; do what is right, be respectful and expect good to come from it. Scrooge on the other hand has a very different outlook. His theme might be one of the following, Greed and money can make you blind to the lives of others around you, or, if you are not careful and change your miserable life before it is too late you might end up haunting the earth like Jacob Marley!
Where novels can have many themes, short stories and some children’s books usually have only one theme. Themes for children can come from your own childhood experiences. All of childhood’s momentary problems seem monumental at the time. A story about a girl who sleeps with a night light on for fear of dark, menacing shadows is invited to stay overnight at her friend’s house. The girl now has to worry that her friend will think she is still a baby if her fear of the dark is known. All turns out well when she finds that her self-assured friend also has a fear of the dark and they sleep with a comforting light on. This theme could be that everyone has something they fear, or sometimes your fears are groundless.
Theme usually expresses the author’s opinion, questions human nature and holds the story together while keeping the author on track to the final destination, the story’s end. It adds relevance and helps the author separate from the plot what is needed and what is not.
Readers can find a story’s theme by looking at the title and in patterns that run through the story. It will show in what the main character or characters find out about themselves. The characters must find meaning for who they are, what they do and what they want to be. The struggle the characters face in the opening of the story should be tied up by the ending of the story, and your theme clear to your readers.

Places to find themes

Themes are found in the human experiences: feelings, love, hatred, fear, confusion, desires, etc.

Themes can be found in questions needing answers such as:
Why do some people died young?
Why is there evil in the world?
Why do we love others?

They can be found in bible verse like proverbs and psalms.

They can be found in old familiar sayings and truisms like;
Every cloud has a silver lining.
Don’t cry over spilt milk.
It’s always darkest before the dawn.

And let’s not forget, on rare occasions in Chinese fortune cookies!

That’s THEME IN A NUTSHELL!

J.D. Holiday
Copyright 2009

March 31, 2009

FROM THE PAINT BOX: Spring Flowers by J.D.

"THERE are some people who live in a dream world, and
there are some who face reality; and then there are
those who turn one into the other." ~D. H. Everett~