Bibliophile's Corner

Bronze and Sunflower
by Cao Wenxuan

Flap Copy Description:
When Sunflower, a young city girl, moves to the countryside, she grows to love the reed marsh lands - the endlessly flowing river, the friendly buffalo with their strong backs and shiny, round heads, the sky that stretches on and on in its vastness. However, the days are long, and the little girl is lonely. Then she meets Bronze, who, unable to speak, is ostracized by the other village boys. Soon the pair are inseparable, and when Bronze's family agree to take Sunflower in, it seems that fate has brought him the sister he has always longed for. But life in Damaidi is hard, and Bronze's family can barely afford to feed themselves. Can the little city girl stay here, in this place where she has finally found happiness?

My Thoughts:
The author, Cao Wenxuan, first became known to me when I learned he had won the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2016. Then, earlier this month I read an amazing interview by Publisher's Weekly with the award-winning author (see below) and decided I just must read his middle grade novel. Bronze and Sunflower is a literary delight with complex characters who must overcome great obstacles - I loved it! The lyrical prose penned by Cao Wexuan is beautiful; it slowly weaves an epic tale between two unlikely friends - set during the Cultural Revolution of China. At 380 pages, I highly recommend Bronze and Sunflower to avid readers aged eight to eighty!

Click here to learn more about the extraordinary author, Cao Wenxuan.

Click here to read "Bologna 2018: A Talk with Cao Wenxuan."

Storyteller's Journey

Photo Credit: Public Domain

The Courage to be Confident

Most creative souls I've met struggle to be confident. Who would want to presume to be talented in their chosen field if they are not sure they have the abilities needed to back up that belief?

This has been a subject I've thought a lot about. However, after the difficult work of penning several stories for over a decade - and reading hundreds of children's books - I think I've finally found my own confidence. That being said, it doesn't mean my writing couldn't benefit from the experienced eye of a great agent, editor, or publisher. It just means I have the knowledge and ability to be in the game. It still takes courage every day to hold my head up as a writer.

In fact, in the last two years I've submitted my middle grade manuscript a total of two times. While I have claimed that I'm still revising my story, my critique partners have said it's time to consistently submit. (After all, my story has been rewritten three times, revised numerous times, and has been scrutinized by two independent editors.) The real reason for my hesitancy, is that the pain of rejection is something I've never been able to easily accept.

No one can. But for me, it has previously thrown me into an emotional ditch. Only recently have I arrived at a place where I know that with or without an agent I will write. There is freedom in realizing that fact. I know that I'm in the world of children's literature not for the destination, but for the journey. The writing is more important than the publishing.

That being said, today I'm sending my manuscript off to a few agents.

Wish me luck!

Whimsical Word of the Week

Philocaly - (n.)
the love of beauty.
Example: The poet was inspired by her intense philocaly.

Bibliophile's Corner

A Different Pond
Written by Bao Phi
Illustrated by Thi Bui

Amazon Description:
As a young boy, Bao Phi awoke early, hours before his father's long workday began, to fish on the shores of a small pond in Minneapolis. Unlike many other anglers, Bao and his father fished for food, not recreation. A successful catch meant a fed family. Between hope-filled casts, Bao's father told him about a different pond in their homeland of Vietnam.

My Thoughts:
This beautiful picture book recently received the award as a Caldecott Honor Book; it will touch every young heart with its message of love and family. It is a window into the world of a Vietnamese American refugee family - a father and son in particular - who must make ends meet in the United States. Bao Phi's story is brilliantly understated; it allows the illustrations by Thi Bui to perfectly illuminate his lovely text. I highly recommend A Different Pond to readers aged four to seven! 

Click here to read an interview with author, Bao Phi, and the illustrator, Thi Bui. It's a fascinating discussion on why they became artists.

Storyteller's Journey

Strength from Nature

While recently working in my backyard, I was again reminded that Nature is one of my greatest inspirations. (I actually like to weed my flower garden!) As I nestled down in the moist earth, the sights, sounds, and smells permeated my soul. I was strengthened as the cares of my life fell away.


I heard a flock of geese flying overhead, then saw them glide through the air in perfect formation. Later, our neighborhood eagle squawked as he soared over my head and then landed lightly atop the evergreen where he's nested for over a decade. (His view of the Columbia River from that tree upon the hill must be magnificent!) My life is always refreshed and rejuvenated when I commune with the natural world.

As a writer, it is imperative that I have a clear conscience and a clear mind when penning my stories for children. Spending time amongst God's creation is not only inspirational, it cleanses my soul. My being is centered and I am better equipped to tap into my creativity. But more than that, I'm reminded of what is truly important in my life. Living each moment is easier to do when my hands are in touch with the soil of our planet. Trees, flowers, and birds have become my family, my friends. It's not surprising, then, that every story for children that I've ever written includes the flora and fauna of the settings in each of my tales.

This quote helps me during the current climate of chaos in our world:

Happy Earth Day!

Whimsical Word of the Week

Trouvaille - (n.)
something lovely discovered by chance.
Example: The metal trinket was a trouvaille found in an antique shop.

Bibliophile's Corner

Refugee
by Alan Gratz

Flap Copy Description:
Three different kids.
One mission in common: ESCAPE.

Josef is a Jewish boy in 1930s Nazi Germany. With the threat of concentration camps looming, he and his family board a ship bound for the other side of the world…

Isabel is a Cuban girl in 1994. With riots and unrest plaguing her country, she and her family set out on a raft, hoping to find safety and freedom in America…

Mahmoud is a Syrian boy in 2015. With his homeland torn apart by violence and destruction, he and his family begin a long trek toward Europe…

All three young people will go on harrowing journeys in search of refuge. All will face unimaginable dangers–from drownings to bombings to betrayals. But for each of them, there is always the hope of tomorrow. And although Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud are separated by continents and decades, surprising connections will tie their stories together in the end.

My Thoughts:
Author Alan Gratz has written a must-read novel for young readers! Refugee intertwines the escape stories of three youths that have surprising similarities even though they all hail from different parts of the world. While I was reading this masterpiece penned by Mr. Gratz, all I kept thinking was that everyone - especially tweens and teens - needs to read this book. The knowledge and understanding it bestows regarding the plight of refugees - no matter what their country of origin - is something so important to the future of not only our country of the U.S., but to the entire world. When I read the conclusion to this well-written and engaging novel I wept tears of sorrow. While the three protagonists' stories are fictional, their extraordinary tales are based on true events. I highly recommend Refugee to readers of all ages. 

Mr. Gratz is generously donating a portion of his proceeds from the sale of Refugee to UNICEF to support their relief efforts with refugee children around the world. You may donate here: UNICEF