Curious?

Curious about what Orion and I have been up to during our evening together? Bop on over to the Galactic Apple and check out my recent post about our evening readings. We're reading Roland Smith these days. He sure does write some page turners.

Misconceptions of Astronomical Proportion

What have I done? I participated in a Writer's Workshop, that's what "I done." I decided to participate for two hours graduate credit so that I may easily renew my Missouri Teaching License. Part of the requirements for graduate credit included creating, revising, and submitting a manuscript for publication. Holy smokes!

And as of today, August 12, 2008 I have completed my first book proposal. After my professor evaluates my manuscript proposal I will submit it to NSTA Press (National Science Teachers' Association) for consideration.

My proposed book is called "Misconceptions of Astronomical Proportion: An Illustrated Guide" and I will rope my friend, Sally Zellers, into being co-author. The book will target school teachers. I have suggested ten chapters. Each chapter will cover a common misconception in astronomy, provide the current scientific understanding complete with illustrations (gotta find an illustrator!), and lastly offer teachers developmentally appropriate (bases on National Science Education Standards) activities and demonstrations that teachers may implement in their classrooms. What fun!

Sally and I had often talked about writing a series of these books over misconceptions in biology, earth science, and possibly chemistry. But both of us seriously doubt our content knowledge in at least two of those areas. However, through the process of creating my manuscript proposal, I realized that Sally and I could serve as editors for books over areas that may be beyond our 'cognitive scope.'

I've not give much thought to chemistry, but for biology I will be looking for misconceptions about evolution, plant life, reproduction, and more... If you're interested in writing a chapter for my common biology or chemistry misconceptions books drop me a line. I'm so excited! Some of you may be hearing from me via email in the very near future!

Wish me luck!

Peter Coyote

Peter Coyote has been one of my all time favorite actors! I first remember him in the Legend of Billie Jean (An '80 Joan of Arc) with Helen Slater and Christian Slater (not related) from 1985. For years now I have enjoyed him in various TV shows (4400, Brothers & Sisters, and the occasional Law & Order) and movies (The Hebrew Hammer (a very funny movie), Cross Creek, and Patch Adams).

Peter Coyote is not just a pretty face (I think he's a hottie!) he's an activist, a poet, a musician, a writer, and a survivor of the '60s. Did I mention he went to London with Ken Kesey and The Dead to check out the Beatles? "We thought the Beatles were brilliant musicians and wanted to see what their lives were about. It turned out that they weren't very interesting..." (Coyote, Philadelphia Inquirer)

Did I mention that we was born Rachmil Pinchus Ben Mosha Cohon on October 10, 1941? I wonder how he chose the name Peter Coyote? (Notice I didn't say I wonder why...)

Four and a Half Books

I am guilty. Guilty of a secret pleasure! And I must confess. For the past week I have been consuming books as if they were popcorn. I cannot seem to stop. I have not read for pleasure (other than the books that Orion and I read aloud) since the end of last semester. It all started with Nora Roberts' book, High Noon. In the past week I have found myself gobbling up three books by author James Patterson (an old friend in Arkansas introduced me to his books several years back!): See How They Run, Black Friday, and Midnight Club. These were some of his earlier books and a few of them had been published under different titles the first time around. It was interesting to see how his style has changed over the years and what has stayed the same. I really enjoy reading Patterson’s books.

I also reread just over half of The New Encyclopedia of Modern Sewing edited by Frances Blondin, copyright date 1943. My grandmother, Josephine, gave this book to me when I was in high school and I have read bits and pieces over the years. There is some serious information on altering patterns to make them fit any type of body. There are also great ideas for curtains, slipcovers, bedspreads, and even a chapter on reupholstering. I have found a few shops that will clean and oil my grandmother’s old Singer (circa 1932) and I am ready to get busy. Orion’s getting new pajamas for Christmas!

Oh, and by the way, I started Tami Hoag’s The Alibi Man this morning.

Night Readings

Nearly every night Orion and I try to find something to read. Last year we consumed Andrew Clements books like potato chips. Seriously. This year we have dabbled a bit, reading a little bit of this and a little bit of that. However, this year for Christmas Orion received copies of several of the Brian books by Gary Paulsen. (Thank you Grandma & Grandpa in the Palm Trees!). I thought it best if we began reading Paulsen's books in the same order I did about 12 years ago when my friend, Alayne, lent me her copy of Transall Saga.

Orion enjoyed Transall Saga, but I think he has totally loved Hatchet & The River! Hatchet is about a 14 year old boy who survives a plane crash in the Canadian wilderness for 54 days with nothing but his wits and a hatchet. The River finds Brian back in the woods. This time with a man who works for the government- he wants to find out how Brian survived. My brother Michael would love these books!

We have several choices now: Brian's Winter, the what if story that details Brians survival of a winter in the wilderness had he not been rescued, Brian's Return, and Brian's Hunt.

I'll keep you posted.

B is for Books

My favorite memories of childhood are of reading books with my little sister, Tree. We would grab a couple of books and lay across her double bed; feet propped on the wall, and read. We would read for hours. Every so often we would stop, ask each other questions, make comments, and then continue. When we completed said book, we’d swap. When we finished both books, we’d have grand conversations. I remember being in 10 or 11 and comparing and contrasting the death of Aslan with Christ's crucifixion with my sister, two years younger.

I still have books that my sister and I purchased from Scholastic when we were in elementary school. Where did my passion for collecting books come from? I think my book hoarding stems from two separate issues. I believe that I associate books with education and intellect, thus with wealth. I also remember being traumatized by reading Fahrenheit 451 in high school; I knew it was my mission to save the printed word.

I could not possibly pick a single book to be my favorite, but there are several that I would highly recommend:

• The Fire Cat
• Where the Wild Things Are
• Stellaluna
• The Polar Express
• The Laura Ingalls Wilder Series
• The Chronicles of Narnia
• Anything by Madeline L’Engle
• StarGirl and Star Girl
• The Giver
• Just about anything by James Patterson, and
• Astronomy books by Carl Sagan

Robert C. O'Brien

I've recently rediscovered Robert C. O'Brien. O'Brien, it seems, wrote for National Geographic decades ago. I know him best for his children's books. I first read Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH in Children's Literature during my undergraduate days. It was highly recommended by my friend, Inge. I later read A Report from Group 17.

I recently had dinner with a new friend of mine, Chad. He was remembering his "first book." You know, the one you didn't have to read? The one that you couldn't put down? The one that "made you a reader." Z for Zachariah was that book. This discussion with Chad sent me to the library. One interlibrary loan, and a week later, the book arrived. It was indeed a page turner. Dark at times- an excellent book about survival. It reminded me of Green Angel by Alice Hoffman. Although O'Brien's ending might not be as promising or as uplifting.

After reading Z for Zachariah I had to know more about Robert C. O'Brien. I read that he also wrote The Silver Crown! I swear my sister and I had that book as children. But what I discovered about O'Brien that intrigued me the most was his birth name: Robert Leslie Conly. I think we would be hard pressed to deny any relation to this man. What do you think My Bob?

Farewell

Madeleine L'Engle died Thursday at 88. (Thanks to my sister Tree who shared the CNN report with me just after midnight.) L'Engle was well known for writing The Time Quartet. The first book in the quartet series, A Wrinkle in Time, was published in 1962. Some folks classify L'Engle as a children's book author, however I like to think of her as a theologian. She's written over sixty books! My favorites include: A Wrinkle in Time, A Ring of Endless Light, An Acceptable Time, and A Live Coal in the Sea. An Acceptable Time may be one of my all time favorites, written about Polly (short for Polyhymnia a Greek muse), the daughter of Meg from a Wrinkle in Time (So much a favorite I considered naming a daughter Polyhymnia!). In honor of L'Engle's life as a writer and her impact on me as a teacher/parent/wannabewriter - Orion and I will read aloud a Wrinkle this weekend. Perhaps it's a good time for us to begin the series. He might connect with Meg's little brother Charles!

You will be missed Madeleine L'Engle!