Monday, our guest will be YA novelist, Anne Gray, author of Rites of the Healer.

Sumach Press (Gray’s publisher) says, “Anne Gray creates a fascinating alternative world where the descendants of interplanetary colonists have built their society in a rich fusion of advanced technologies and ancient traditional ways of life. Sixteen-year-old Dovella is an engineering apprentice of great potential and talent, though her true vocation is for healing, for which she has a rare and extraordinary Gift. In four days, she is to go through the most important ceremony of her life, the Rites of the Healer, to join the ranks of the Healer’s Guild.”

On Tuesday’s show our guest will be Sally Rogow, author of They Must Not Be Forgotten (Heroic Priests and Nuns Who Saved People from the Holocaust), and Faces of Courage (Young Heroies of WWII).

On Wednesday, children’s author C.S. Larsen drops by to talk about his books and stories for children.

Stacey Kannenberg, coauthor (with Linda Desimowich) of the Let’s Get Ready series of books for young children and their parents is our guest for Thursday’s show.

On Friday, we’ll be talking with children’s author Rita Milios.

If you want to get your kids interested in history, you should try reading some entertaining historical fiction stories to them. After you read a couple of stories, let them try their hand at writing.

Historical fiction stories:

Dust Bowl by David Booth.
Kids Can Press, Ltd., 1997.

A grandfather tells his grandson, Matthew, about growing up in the 1930’s during the Great Dust Bowl. He describes the dust clouds that would block out the sun and destroy the wheat crops. Children will feel the dust stinging their faces and taste the grit in their mouth as they read or listen to this story.

If a Bus Could Talk by Faith Ringgold.
Aladdin, 2002.

This is the story of young Rosa Parks, an African American school-girl who refused to give up her seat on the bus to a white man and changed the course of history. The story is told through a talking bus who retells the story of Rosa to a contemporary school-girl.

Civil War on Sunday (Magic Tree House Series #21) by Mary Pope Osborne.
Random House Children’s Books, 2000.

Once again Jack and Annie are transported by their tree house on another magical adventure. This time they travel back to meet Clara Barton during the Civil War. They end up saving their own great-great-great grandfather in the process.

After reading some stories, ask the children to imagine themselves living during a different time period. Use one of these writing prompts to write a story with a historical perspective.

1. (Dust Bowl: Oklahoma) Today the dust blew so hard our fields looked like sand dunes. Ma and Pa say we might have to move to California like all the other families. I don’t want to leave.

2. (Pioneer) Pa is loading the wagon again. He keeps searching for wide open spaces. I like living by other families, but he seems restless. “Where is Kansas?” I ask him.

3. (Civil Rights Movement) Daddy says a man named Martin Luther King is coming over for dinner. He wants to talk about black and white children going to our elementary school together. I think it’s a great idea.

4. (Mayflower – Pilgrims) It has taken months to cross the ocean. I never want to see water again. I can’t wait to get to America, the land of plenty.

5. (Oklahoma Land Rush) Pa told me that when the starter gun sounds we can race for our free land. I still can’t believe the land is free. Ma told me to lie down in the wagon because we’re going to be moving very fast. What an exciting adventure this will be.

6. (Civil War) Today I had to hide in the root cellar because we saw union soldiers crossing the land on our plantation. I hope nothing happens to Ma while Pa is away at the war.

7. (Women’s Liberation) My mom got a job today. I’m not sure how I feel about that. There have been a lot of changes in my house since she marched for Women’s Liberation.

Written by: Peter Yarrow and Lenny Lipton

Illustrated by: Eric Puybaret

Hardback: 24 pages

Ages: 4 to 8

Publisher: Sterling Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-4027-4782-3

Publication: July 2007

“Puff, the magic dragon, lived by the sea, and frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honalee.” From the very first line of the book, I was taken back to my childhood days. I was thrilled to see this title on the shelf in the bookstore, written by Peter Yarrow, of the folk group Peter, Paul & Mary, and co-authored by Lenny Lipton.

The book follows the amazing tale of friendship between little Jackie Paper and his childhood friend, Puff, the magic dragon. Whether they are sailing on a boat or meeting kings and princes, the two are inseparable. The time when Jackie has grown and no longer returns to Honalee is bittersweet. But, it is not long before a new friend comes to play with Puff and there is happiness in Honalee once again.

Illustrator Eric Puybaret brings this timeless and endearing song to life through his vivid paintings. The full-page illustrations are remarkable, thoughtful, and expertly portray the love between little Jackie Paper and that rascal Puff.

From the first word of the book, adults and children everywhere will fall in love with little Jackie Paper and his magical dragon friend all over again. The song Puff, the Magic Dragon has been a favorite for generations, and now this wonderful book has become
part of it’s tradition.

Also included with the book is a CD with two versions of Puff, the Magic Dragon along with two bonus songs.

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Our guest today is author Linda Oatman High.

Listen to the show online today at Book Bites for Kids or call in and make a comment or ask a question at 1-646-716-9239.

Kim just sold her 3rd picture book, and she has other exciting news to share.

Learning how to identify the main idea and supporting details is an important reading skill that children must develop. It helps them to create meaning as they read. Teachers can use a variety of strategies to explain main idea. Basically, the main idea is the main reason the story was written. For example, the main reason for going to an amusement park is to ride the rides and have fun. A child might eat some yummy food like cotton candy or hot dogs at the amusement park, but that wasn’t the main reason for going.

Every story has a main idea. Sometimes the main idea can be found in the first sentence of the story and sometimes it is found in the middle of a story. Tell children to think of the 5 W’s, who, what, when, where, and why to help them look for the main idea. All stories have supporting details that are related to the main idea. There could be just a few supporting details or many.

There are many fine examples of picture books that you can use to main idea. Read some of the stories listed below and ask children to try to tell you the main idea. It might be helpful for children to have a visual. Draw a daisy on the board and put the main idea of a story into the center of the flower and write the supporting details on the petals. Ask them to do the same when choosing the main idea from other stories.

Picture books to teach main idea:

Thanksgiving is Here! By Diane Goode
August 2003, HarperCollins Publishers

Main idea: The main idea in this story is that a grandmother and a grandfather are hosting a warm family gathering.

Supporting Details:
1) A stray dog shows up to the party (but tell children that the story is not about a dog). 2) One of the guests brings a gift to the host and hostess of the Thanksgiving dinner.

The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry
March, 1990Harcourt Children’s Books

Main Idea: The Kapok Tree is important to many rain forest animals because it is their home.

Supporting Details:
A man falls asleep while trying to chop down the tree.
A butterfly whispers in his ear.
The rain forest has three layers: a canopy, an understory, and a forest floor.

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
September 1996, HarperCollins Publishers

Main Idea: The little mouse, Chrysanthemum, loves her name.

Anderson talks about his books, and what it takes to write for reluctant readers, with Book Bites for Kids host, Suzanne Lieurance, during this interview at blogtalkradio.com.

Legend of the White Wolf is just one of Anderson’s adventure stories for reluctant readers

Listen to the Book Bites for Kids interview here:

Visit Anderson’s website and blog for more information about his books and stories and reluctant readers.

Jessica Burkhart is a successful freelance writer and a successful tween author whose amazing ambition keeps her busy writing!

Here’s my interview with her, which gives an inside glimpse at her writing-life.

Tell us your latest news!

I’m busy working on my four-book tween series for Aladdin’s (a division of Simon & Schuster) Mix imprint.

What else are you currently working on?

I’m finishing up edits on my first tween novel, High Jumps at Collins Academy (working title) and am preparing to start writing the sequel.

In what kind of environment do you prefer to write?

Writing in the afternoon with the TV on is my favorite way to write. If the house is too quiet, I can’t concentrate on writing.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I had my first publication in Teen Ink Magazine when I was fifteen, I considered myself a writer. I started writing a few years before that, but it was the sense of validation that came from seeing my words in print that hammered home the reality of being a writer.

Who has influenced your writing?

Annie Proulx for her gripping description of nature and wilderness and Stephenie Meyer for her gorgeous portrayal of human emotion.

For what genre are you most comfortable writing?

I love writing non-fiction magazine articles and tween and young adult fiction.

For what genre would you be least comfortable writing?

I’d have to say science fiction only because I haven’t read much of it.

What books have most influenced your life?

So many! A recent read, A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray, made me sit up and say, “Oh! I’d love to write fantasy like that!” Stephenie Myer’s Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse are three of my favorite YA books that teach a writer how to walk the fine line between beautiful fantasy and harsh reality. All of those books taught me something about writing.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

This sounds like a common answer, but it would have to be J.K. Rowling. She started the Harry Potter series with no expectations and then—boom! She had an incredibly successful series and the pressure she felt must have been incredible. From everything I’ve read, she took it in stride and didn’t let pressure influence her writing. She stayed true to herself and her characters. She’s a writer worth emulating.

What book(s) are you reading now?

I’m reading, Flawless, the second book in the Pretty Little Liars series by Sara Shepard.

What do you find most challenging about writing?

Staying focused on one book can be hard. My list of ideas is so long and I’m itching to outline them, so it’s a feat to keep writing until I finish one book and not stray off into another.

Most rewarding?

Setting my own schedule and being my own boss. I always said I never wanted to work in an office. As a writer, no two days are the same! One morning I may be writing outside on my porch and the next I could be five states away and typing from a hotel. Writing has given me the most flexible schedule and I crave variation, so I get that from writing.

What advice can you offer to other writers?

And, if you’ve looked for the show in the archives and didn’t find them, you’re probably wondering what happened.

Well, let’s just say we had a BUNCH of “technical difficulties” yesterday, and unfortunately the show is not in the archives.

We hope to do another LIVE interview with author D.Anne Love very soon and we’re so sorry for any inconvenience yesterday’s problems caused D. Anne Love and our listeners.

There will be no Book Bites for Kids show today (Tuesday, September 18th), but look for the show to return tomorrow - Wednesday, September 20th, at 2:00 CST.

Our guest for Wednesday’s show will be Maryrose Wood, author of an exciting new YA novel called Why I Let My Hair Grow Out.

Wood says, “WHY I LET MY HAIR GROW OUT tells the story of Morgan, a heartbroken Connecticut girl who chops off all her hair in a fit of angst after her boyfriend dumps her on the last day of school. Her frantic parents spring into rescue mode and send her on a “let’s-help-Morgan-get- over-it” vacation.

“Before you can say ow, my butt hurts, Morgan is biking her way across Ireland, where a most unusual accident sends her tumbling back through time to a magic, long-ago word full of faeries and enchantments. She even meets a hunky warrior-dude named Fergus who really knows how to treat a girl who’s part goddess — guess who that turns out to be?”

Call in to the show on Wednesday at 1-646-716-9239 and ask Maryrose Wood your questions about writing for teens! Talk to you then!