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Hi all,
my wife is a Swiss national (about to become a US citizen) who did her LL.M. in the US and became a member of the NY Bar this spring.
We're returning to Boston after my sabbatical year in Washington, DC.
We'd be grateful for any tips about looking for part-time (or full-time) work in the legal field in Boston. She specializes in Intellectual Property and Art Law but has an open mind about all subfields.
Thanks in advance for any tips here or by e-mail: Protected content


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Ezekiel 37:6-8 - And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD. (Read More...)
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Bible Verses About God
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- Details
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- nrd-soul-rdr-p
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- Nordica


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Today, my boyfriend blew me off yet again because he claims he has a responsibility as a "crew leader" to train and recruit members at all times, to accommodate all time zones. GTA V is ruining our relationship. FML
Not specified
BeginnerYou have looked through 5 pages of the website. That's a start.
I never take things to heartHaving said that, my 3 comments on that FML were really worth it.
Keen reader – Level: master ninjaYou have voted for 50% of the entire collection of FMLs to date.
Keen reader – Level: student ninjaYou have voted for 15% of the entire collection of FMLs to date.
FAAAAAACEBOOKYour FML account is now linked to your Facebook account.
Tell us what happened nextYou've commented on an FML that you sent in
MobilityYou are connected to FML via the mobile site or an app. How modern.
SocialiteYou used FML's private messaging service for the first time. Will they reply? Wait and see…
This isn't what should be happeningYou've set the cat off again, he's started pushing fruit out of bodies of water. Well done, wrong turn. Go back.
Profile completedYou've filled out the necessary details. Having done so will be much appreciated.
It's in the can!Hey, you uploaded your photo, and you're cute as a kitten!
Consolation prizeYour FML was denied. We had to at least give you a badge to cheer you up a bit.
One ring to rule them allYou submitted an FML, that was subsequently published, and statistically this makes you an exceptional person.
JudgmentalYou have voted "You deserved it" over 100 times.9%
Keen reader – Level: godlike ninjaYou have voted for 100% of the entire collection of FMLs to date.2%
100 kick-ass comments100 of your comments are neither buried or moderated. Popular is your middle name!4%
The return of the thumbYou have thumbed 5000 comments.0%
The thumb strikes backYou have left your thumbprint on 2500 comments.0%
A new thumbYou've used your thumb on 1000 comments.1%
50 quality commentsClicking to reply to a comment is a worthy thing to do. To do so without getting buried afterwards is even worthier.2%
50 favoritesLove knows no boundaries. You've already added 50 FMLs to your favourites list!8%
I agree, my mouse works.200 "I agree" votes is a good start.31%
YDI MasterYou made your 500th "You deserved it" vote.2%
Who's the fairest of them all?This is now the third time you've changed your profile pic.33%
By carla6991 / Wednesday 9 October 2013 20:16 / United States - Dade City
Today, Child Protective Services came to my house, because my 7-year-old son told people at school that he was uncomfortable sleeping in his uncle's bed. I had to explain to them that the uncle in question died 2 years ago, and that's why it felt weird. FML
By Anonymous / Friday 1 June 2012 07:02 / United States
Today, my boyfriend and I were visiting a historical war bunker when I accidentally let rip a small fart. My boyfriend responded with a horribly loud, horrendous fart, and loudly announced, "This is war." There were people, lots of people. FML
By Dani / Monday 28 November 2011 12:34 / Reserved
Today, I realized that not only am I still an unpublished author, but I can't even get an FML posted after submitting several in the last year. FML
By Anonymous - / Saturday 13 March 2010 13:43 / United Kingdom


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Product Specs: 6" Sway Bar End Links (Fr) 84-01 Jeep Cherokee XJ Front extended sway bar end links for 4x4 and 2x4 vehicles with 6" of suspension lift End Links include polyurethane bushings
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2016 Best in Rhyme Award Top 10
Its up!!! The 2016 Best in Rhyme Award Top 10 List!!
Congrats to all the finalists!
Watch for the final award announcement streaming live on February 12th at 8:00 pm ET at the lovely KidLitTV Studio in New York City!
And the finalists are…
The 2016 Best in Rhyme Top 10 List
The Storybook Knight, written by Helen Docherty, illustrated by Thomas Docherty
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Ada Twist, Scientist, written by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts
Publisher: Harry N Abrams
Teeny Tiny Toady, written by Jill Esbaum, illustrated by Keika Yamaguchi
Publisher: Sterling
Pirasaurs!, written by Josh Funk, illustrated by Michael H Slack
Cowpoke Clyde Rides the Range, written by Lori Mortensen, illustrated by Michael Allen Austin Publisher: Clarion
Ned, the Knitting Pirate, written by Diana Murray, illustrated by Leslie Lammle
Publisher: Roaring Brook
Good Night, Baddies, written by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Juli Kangas
Publisher: Beach Lane Books
Hensel and Gretel Ninja Chicks, written by Corey Rosen Schwartz & Rebecca J. Gomez, illustrated by Dan Santat
Publisher: Putnam
Mary Had a Little Glam, written by Tammy Sauer, illustrated byVanessa Brantley-Newton
Publisher: Sterling
Grimelda, the Very Messy Witch, written by Diana Murray, illustrated by Heather Ross Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
2016 Best in Rhyme Award Top 20
I'm pleased to share the TOP 20 Best Rhyming Picture Books of 2016!
The RhyPiBoMo (Rhyming Picture Book Month) Facebook Group nominated their favorites and the Best in Rhyme Committee read and scored all the qualified books. We will be announcing the TOP 10 books on January 30th. The winning book and 2 honor books will be named in New York City Feb 10-12th with the help of KidLitTV!
Day and time TBA.
Thank you to Julie Gribble and KidLit TV
Please take time to read these wonderful books!
Congratulations to the authors and illustrators!
Thank you to the RhyPiBoMo 2016
Best in Rhyme Award Committee!
This committee of dedicated RhyPiBoMo members has been reading and reviewing and scoring the best rhyming picture books. Members of the RhyPiBoMo Facebook Group nominate books for the committee to review.
Patricia Toht
Lori Degman
Mandy Yates
Kenda Henthorn
Annie Bailey
Gayle C. Krause
Deb Williams
Darlene Ivy
Suzy Leopold
Cindy Schrauben
Angie Karcher – Founder
Tanja Bauerle – Illustrator
Take a peek at the Best in Rhyme Rubric
used for scoring.
RhyPiBoMo 2016 Day 22 Author Paul Czajak
CONGRATULATIONS to the many participants of RhyPiBoMo 2016! We did it!
Grab this badge and proudly place it on your websites, blogs and social media pages!!!
You read the many wonderful blog posts, you commented daily, you read stacks and stacks of rhyming picture books and you shared your favorite's on social media! This month of celebrating the genre that we love has been an amazing labor of love for us all. I always feel blessed to have so many supportive folks join me in April and many friendships have been formed through this event. Many critique groups and even some new RPBs have been published along the way! I thank you all for cheering me on as I grew weary in week 4. You have all been so uplifting and incredibly kind in your many comments, emails and messages and support through the auction and conference recording purchases!
I will be doing RhyPiBoMo in 2017 but I am letting you know that I will not be doing RhyPiBoMo in 2018 because…in it's place, I will be hosting the 2nd RPB Revolution Conference in April of 2018! And Karma Wilson is coming too!!! It will most likely be in Florida and I will offer the option for extended stays to write on the beach afterwards. I will also offer a payment plan, requiring a deposit to hold your spot, as there will be a limited number of spots. Please follow our RhyPiBoMo Facebook Group to keep up to date on the details. I will be asking for names of people interested, to get an idea of how many to plan for.
I'm very excited about the future of RPBs and the message to writers of rhyme about how we can improve the quality and professionalism of the manuscripts submitted to editors and agents. A friend recently showed me an editor's comment stating that the "Quality of rhyming picture books being received has improved." That makes me smile! That is good for us all!! Especially the parents, teachers and kids that we write for. So, I will see you here, same time next year and I will see you at the beach in 2018, where "The RPB Revolutionaries" will leave footprints in the sand! Bring your rhyming dictionaries and your sunblock!
I'm pleased
to introduce
Author Paul Czajak
Writing Rhyming Stories That Sell
So I was given the task of blogging about how to write a rhyming picture book that sells. If that isn't a loaded topic I don't know what is! I hate to break it to you but, there is no secret formula. There is no all inclusive blog post that is going to give you the answer. If there was, every one of my rhyming picture books would have sold.
Let me tell you, they haven't. Not even close.
So if you want to stop reading now because I can't give you the perfect answer, then please do. Go and scour the internet until the end of days looking for the perfect answer, all the while getting zero writing done. Go I'll wait.
OK, now that the pretend writers have left, and the true professionals have stuck around we can get down to business. I may not have a secret formula to help you sell that book you are working on, but I can give you some tips that helped me.
Number one, stop focusing on the rhyme, that's not what is going to sell your book. What's going to sell your book is the story. The story is the most important part of any book, whether it rhymes or not. If your story sucks, then I could care less that your meter and rhyme are perfect. Remember rhyme will not make a bad story good!
The Three Ninja Pigs, by Corey Rosen Shwartz,
Bats at the Ball Game, by Brian Lies,
Madaline, by Ludwig Bemelmans,
All three of these picture books are all rhyming books. But more importantly these are all great stories. If you've read these books (if you haven't you should) I would be willing to bet your first reaction wasn't, wow, what a great rhyme scheme. It was, I love this story! Their characters are engaging and memorable. Their stories are original, clever and not a one time read. Children can imagine themselves in place of the characters. As a writer, if you can pull that off, then the child will want to read it over and over again. It's one of the reasons I never named the boy in my Monster&Me series. I wanted kids to be able to imagine themselves in place of the boy. So by removing that extra barrier, i.e. the name. I'm hoping children hearing the book become that much more engaged. Does it work? Only time will tell.
Number two, focus on the rhyme. I know, a bit confusing since I just told you not to. But once you have the story your rhyme and meter needs to be perfect. Remember poor rhyme can make a great story bad.
I am sure you have already heard the typical list of things to avoid:
Near rhyme
Backwards talk
Changing meter
Simple rhyme
Forced rhyme.
The reason you keep seeing these things to avoid, is because it's that important to writing a good rhyming book.
Near rhyme, just wont do. Have a thesaurus and a rhyming dictionary open when you are writing at all times. There are so many wonderful rhyming words out there, so there is no reason to settle.
Backwards talk, or speaking unnaturally just for the rhyme is lazy. Sometimes a rhyme isn't going to work they way you want it to and your only alternative is to rewrite the stanza, maybe even rewrite the one before. Really, what ever it takes to make a natural sounding stanza is what you need to do. What I'm trying to say is, put in the work and write!
Changing your meter, next to having a crappy story, is probably the biggest culprit when it comes to a rhyming story not selling. When the meter keeps switching it makes it painful to read. Unfortunately we as writers become deaf to our own writing. To counter act this we need to have other people read our stories to us so that we can hear where people stumble. Stop counting syllables. What drives your meter is not the syllable count, but the stress on the word being used. If you have a difficult time hearing a stressed syllable and an unstressed syllable then try tapping it out. When your finger is in the air it's an unstressed syllable, when it hits the table it's stressed. If your meter is off, your reading will try to keep the rhythm, but your finger won't be able to.
Simple rhyme is not a story killer. Every story is going to have its hat, bat rhyme. But what makes a story shine are rhymes like casserole and profiterole or procrastinating and negotiating. You're a writer be a writer.
Forced rhyme, this is up there with backwards talk. You are just doing it for the rhyme. Please don't. It's another sign of being a lazy writer. You are better then that. How do I know? Because you are here still reading this post. You want to learn. You want to be the best writer you can possibly be. So be it.
Now that I've laid out the major no, no's I'm going to confuse you all with the old saying, Rules Were Made to be Broken. This is where I feel you can make your story shine, when you break the rules. But, there has to be a reason you are doing it. For example let's go back to Bats at the Ball Game. In this story the meter changes. "How dare he!" You say. "Burn him! Run him out of publishing!" OK, maybe not burn him, I got carried away. Actually I think Brian Lies should be applauded. Why you ask? Because it he did it on purpose and it works. He uses the change in meter to portray a shift in the story. Something like this will absolutely catch an editors eye, because it's unusual and it stands out.
In one of my newer Monster books, Monster Needs A Hug, Monster is having such a bad day that he decides to do everything backwards to turn his day around. That means talking backwards. Again, another rule breaker but, done on purpose for the sake of the story.
So to sum up, writing in rhyme is just like writing in prose. You have to focus on the story first. Whether you are adhering to the rhyming rules or breaking them, it has to be all about the story. And remember,
Rhyme will never make a bad story good, but it can make a good story bad.
Paul Czajak got an F with the words "get a tutor" on his college writing paper and, after that, he never thought he'd become a writer. But after spending twenty years as a chemist, he knew his creativity could no longer be contained. Paul lives in New Jersey with his wife and two little monsters. In addition to the Monster & Me™ series, he's also the author of Seaver the Weaver, and a contributor to The Huffington Post. Look for his newest book, Monster Needs To Go To School, out on the shelves September 2016!
TWITTER @pczajak
Mighty Media Press
Thank You Paul!
PLEASE like our guest bloggers on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, go to their websites and express your appreciation for their time and wisdom! Many have generously donated multiple prizes and this event would not be successful without their support, so please support them! Oh…and buy their books too!!
To be eligible for today's prize drawing by Random.org you must comment at the bottom of the page where it says "Leave A Reply" AND add your FIRST and LAST name in the comment. If I don't have your name or how to contact you via email, you can't win.
You must be a member of the RhyPiBoMo Facebook Group and if you haven't officially registered, you are not eligible to win.
Please follow the pledge rules daily to get the most out of this challenge!
The drawings will be done daily and announced next week.
RhyPiBoMo 2016 Day 21 Author Samantha Berger
Only 4 days left to shop!
RhyPiBoMo Auction
I was fortunate to meet today's guest blogger last summer at the LA SCBWI Conference! Do you see why I attend conferences? How many of our bloggers did I meet at that event? Lots and lots!! Samantha is just as much fun in person as she appears on her social media! Full of energy, loves her job and life itself! That comes through in all her wonderful books!! I can't imagine anyone better to blog about humor.
I am pleased
to introduce
Author Samantha Berger
Author Samantha Berger
Photo credit by Leo Moreton
(Because there weren't nearly enough letters in that acronym already)
by Samantha Berger
So, if you're like me, the moment someone asks you how to be funny, your pendulum swings the opposite way, into NOT FUNNY AT ALL LAND.
You get serious.
You clam up.
You're suddenly certain that you've never been funny a moment in your life.
But just at that moment, you fart, and it sounds like there's a question mark on the end, and you laugh so hard, you forget all about the original question of how to be funny.
Because you just slayed yourself.
When it comes to humor (in rhyme, in life, in the bathroom), we all have the only thing we ever have—our own voice.
Yours will be different from mine, different from Jon Scieszka's, different from Katie Beaton's, different from Louis CK's, Amy Schumer's, and Fozzy Bear's.
Yours will be different from everyone else on the planet.
And that's good!
That's what makes you YOU, your humor, YOUR humor, and your writing, YOUR writing.
But there are some universal things that do help with the funny factor.
And I wanna focus on three biggies here:
THE UNEXPECTED. THE TIMING. And the SPECIFIC.
What was funny about that fart?
It caught me off guard. (it was unexpected).
I was thinking about not being funny (the timing).
There was a question mark on the end <frrrt?> (the specific).
Put those three together, and you just might have a nugget of comedy gold.
And there are some incredible rhyming picture books that do it so well.
One of the best books to use that winning combo is Guess Again by Mac Barnett and Adam Rex.
He steals carrots from the neighbor's yard.
His hair is soft, his teeth are hard.
His floppy ears are long and funny.
Can you guess who? That's right! My—-
[turn the page:]
Grandpa Ned.
What this book does so brilliantly is rely on the reader's knowledge and expectation of rhyming books. Then misleads us, surprises and delights us.
The reveal is the unexpected.
The page turn is the timing.
The who it actually is, is very specific.
It's not just Grandpa. It's Grandpa Ned.
I can't stress enough what a hilarious and genius book this is.
These guys got the unexpected, the comic timing, and the specifics just right.
When I went through my collection of favorite rhyming picture books, I found these three elements of comedy exist almost unanimously.
The Nutshell Library by Maurice Sendak, poems from Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein, various Dr. Seuss books.
Interstellar Cinderella by Deborah Underwood, Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast by Josh Funk, Mrs. Biddlebox by Linda Smith, they all know how to take it to unexpected places, use the timing, and include a very specific "zoombroom" when necessary.
Even though they're now second nature, I do try to keep these things in mind when I am writing.
In Snoozefest, a sloth going to a concert for the world's greatest sleepers felt unexpected to me. And kinda funny.
In Junior Goes to School, spinning the wheel to see what absurd thing a pig would worry about, felt like good timing, And kinda funny.
In Boo-La-La Witch Spa, a witch getting a serpent spit spritzer at a spa felt very specific. And kinda funny.
So put them together and get some HA! into your RHYPIBOMO.
*And remember even a fart can inform your art.
Samantha Berger writes and writes and writes
She's written picture books like CRANKENSTEIN! A CRANKENSTEIN VALENTINE, BOO-LA-LA WITCH SPA, SNOOZEFEST, MARTHA DOESN'T SHARE, and MARTHA DOESN'T SAY SORRY.
She's written cartoons for television. She's written comic books and commercials.
She's written movie trailers, theme songs, licensed-books, slogans, promos, articles, poems, and PSAs.
You name it, Sam's written it.
And when she ISN'T writing, she's doing voice-overs, traveling the world, and helping rescue dogs.
THEN, she writes about that, too!
Samantha splits her time between New York City and sunny California.
Twitter – @BergerBooks
Instagram – SamanthaBerger321
Facebook – Fans of Samantha Berger
Crankenstein Book Trailer I made:
Snoozefest Book Trailer I made
Crankenstein Valentine trailer I made
Thank You Samantha!
PLEASE like our guest bloggers on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, go to their websites and express your appreciation for their time and wisdom! Many have generously donated multiple prizes and this event would not be successful without their support, so please support them! Oh…and buy their books too!!
To be eligible for today's prize drawing by Random.org you must comment at the bottom of the page where it says "Leave A Reply" AND add your FIRST and LAST name in the comment. If I don't have your name or how to contact you via email, you can't win.
You must be a member of the RhyPiBoMo Facebook Group and if you haven't officially registered, you are not eligible to win.
Please follow the pledge rules daily to get the most out of this challenge!
The drawings will be done daily and announced next week.
RhyPiBoMo 2016 Day 20 Author Verla Kay
Happy Wednesday!
ONLY 5 days left to shop at the RhyPiBoMo Auction!!
We have many autographed books, a few manuscript critiques, custom business cards, a customized curriculum guide for your picture book and 2 Author Skype visits for classrooms … so don't wait or you will miss out on a great prize!
We are only $100.00 away from our goal!
Many thanks to all who have supported our auction!
Art by Michael Kress-Russick
As I prepare to leave today for the Wild Wild Midwest Conference in Chicago I am excited about all the writer friends I will see! Many, I have met before and we will cherish the time together again. And some are friends through social media that I am SO excited to meet for the first time. This always feels like we have known each other for years because, in some says, we have. Our connection through writing is a tight bond.
One such friend, I met for the first time last summer at the LA SCBWI Conference and she is today's guest blogger. It felt like Verla and I had known each other forever! She was so gracious to agree to participate this year and excited that I asked her about her rhyming non-fiction picture books! She said, "Everyone always wants to talk about the Blueboard," which an amazing way for authors to connect. I have been a fan of Verla's non-fiction books for many years and she has written a great blog post describing the challenges of combining two tough genres. When it's done well…it's simply magical!
I'm pleased
to introduce
Author Verla Kay
Author Verla Kay
Rhyming Non-Fiction Picture Books
by Verla Kay
After I became an adult I discovered there are fascinating stories and facts that are truly interesting and fun to learn about. It was the way those facts were presented to me in school that had turned me against non-fiction stories as a child. Now that I'm a writer, I can write things that kids ENJOY reading – exposing facts in a totally fun way.
Be forewarned, though. Rhyming non-fiction is an extremely difficult kind of writing. Just like prose, non-fiction books need a strong, solid, compelling beginning, a middle fraught with interesting situations, facts, and/or events, and they need a perfect, satisfying ending. But they also must be 100% factually accurate AND they need to have perfect rhythm and perfect rhyme!
It can take a long time to get a non-fiction rhyming picture book perfect enough to submit. Some of mine (250 – 350 words long, all written in my signature style that I call Cryptic Rhyme) have taken up to eleven years to write before they were ready to submit!
Beginnings are just as important in non-fiction as they are in prose. Here's the evolution of my Gold Fever book beginning:
Moving westward,
Many miners.
People call them,
This was "okay," but it didn't reflect the flavor of the old west, didn't tell how the miners were rushing to get out west before the gold was all gone and didn't show how the people laughed at the miners. And I wanted all of that in the first verse. It took two years to find the "right" three words to make this verse work.
Dashing westward,
Many miners.
Townsfolk snicker,
What a difference those three words made in this beginning!
Every word must "sing" in a picture book, plus all your facts, your rhythm and your rhymes must be absolutely accurate when writing non-fiction rhyming picture books.
Rhythm & Facts
Rhythm in rhyming books of all kinds is where most rhyming books fail. If a sentence in your story doesn't sound natural, like it would normally sound, then it shouldn't be in your story. In Whatever Happened to the Pony Express? I had a horrible dilemma. My rhythm pattern for this story was:
DA da DA da,
da da DA.
DA da DA da,
da da DA.
No matter how I tried, I could NOT put the words, Pony Express, into my story, because the natural beat for them was: DA da da DA. (POny exPRESS). My solution? I put them into the title instead of the story.
In another of my books (Tattered Sails) I wrote about a family traveling from London to Boston in a 1600's sailing ship. Here is the evolution of two verses in that story:
Crowded quarters,
Piled trunks.
Musty blankets,
Smelly bunks.
Piled is a tricky word. Is it pronounced with one or two syllables? This was my fix for it:
Crowded quarters,
Piles of trunks.
Musty blankets,
Smelly bunks.
But then… I discovered in my research that trunks were not in common usage on sailing ships until the 1700's and my story took place in the 1600's! So… I had to change this verse yet once again and since trunks was my rhyming word in that verse, I had to change the final line, also. After my changes it read like this:
Crowded quarters,
Musty blankets,
Clothing, damp.
Rhythm & Making Words Sing
Foul water,
Slimy vats.
Wormy biscuits,
Lice and rats.
Again I had another tricky word to pronounce with the correct number of syllables – foul. This was my fix for it:
Tainted water,
Slimy vats.
Wormy biscuits,
Lice and rats.
Tainted is a two syllable word and it was a better, more descriptive and visual word than foul.
Broken Feather – the story of a Nez Perce boy – took eleven years to write!
Checking Facts
Many of the verses in this story had to be radically changed or cut altogether after I had it "fact-checked" by the Nez Perce tribe in Idaho and many of those changes left gaps in the story – creating MUCH rewriting:
Some Words changed or eliminated were:
Tepees – the Nez Perce lived in lodges most of the year, only using tepees when traveling to hunt during the summer months
Chiefs – the Nez Perce called them headmen or leadmen
Tomahawks & peace pipes – they weren't "native" to the Nez Perce
The Ending of Broken Feather took 5 years to get "just right"
Barren, dry.
Broken Feather,
"Father, why?"
I loved this ending! But during fact checking I realized their reservation was not barren or dry, so it had to be changed. I changed it to:
Anguished cry.
Broken Feather,
"Father, why?"
This was a great ending for adults. Unfortunately, it did NOT work for kids! When I read it to a 5th grade class as a "test," the children just sat there…waiting for the ending! So I added two more verses. The last one was the hardest of all to write.
Broken Feather,
Chanting loud.
We no give up,
Stand here proud.
As you can see, this is SO bad…. Although it was the "essence" of what I wanted to say in the last verse, the actual words are HORRIBLE and I would never have actually used them.
White clouds many,
Raindrops fall.
You stay proud, son,
Stand up tall.
This is a little better, but it still doesn't do the job. The words are "okay" – but when writing picture books "okay" is just not good enough.
Broken Feather,
Standing tall.
We will bend — but —
Will not fall.
This is better. It's much smoother and feels almost right, but again, "almost" is not perfect, and anything less than perfect is definitely not good enough.
Native warriors,
Chanting loud.
Broken Feather,
Standing proud.
This verse works! It says what I wanted to say using words that are powerful and evoke a strong image. It allows readers to "feel" what Broken Feather would have been feeling. This ending "sings." Notice how closely it mirrors that first "bad" verse? Only two lines really changed – but what a difference those few words make in the story!
Broken Feather,
Chanting loud.
We no give up,
Stand here proud
Writing non-fiction rhyming picture books is truly an art and it cannot be rushed. Give it your all, make sure every single fact in your story is accurate, every beat is perfect, every line is filled with interesting facts and/or images, and every rhyme is perfect and you will have created something of which you can be extremely proud.
Verla Kay lives with her husband and two Himalayan cats in the state of Washington. She writes historical and non-fiction picture books in her own style of poetry she calls "cryptic rhyme." She has had a total of eleven picture books published.
Verla Kay's website, which she designed and maintains herself, has twice been named one of the 101 Best Websites for Writers by Writer's Digest. She created and runs a message board, the Blueboard, which has become almost an "icon" for children's writers and illustrators on the internet. In 2013, the Blueboard was acquired by SCBWI, but Verla still maintains it.
Verla is a former instructor for the Institute of Children's Literature where she taught the basic "How to Write for Children" course. Since retiring from ICL in 2009, she has been concentrating on doing what she loves best – writing award-winning picture books, running her website, critiquing other writer's manuscripts, giving author talks at schools and conferences, and giving back to children's writers and illustrators by continuing to keep the Blueboard running smoothly for SCBWI.
TWITTER @VerlaKay
Buy it Here
Buy it Here
Buy it Here
Buy it Here
Thank You Verla!
PLEASE like our guest bloggers on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, go to their websites and express your appreciation for their time and wisdom! Many have generously donated multiple prizes and this event would not be successful without their support, so please support them! Oh…and buy their books too!!
To be eligible for today's prize drawing by Random.org you must comment at the bottom of the page where it says "Leave A Reply" AND add your FIRST and LAST name in the comment. If I don't have your name or how to contact you via email, you can't win.
You must be a member of the RhyPiBoMo Facebook Group and if you haven't officially registered, you are not eligible to win.
Please follow the pledge rules daily to get the most out of this challenge!
The drawings will be done daily and announced on Wednesday of next week.
RhyPiBoMo 2016 Day 19 Author Kwame Alexander and Mitch Karcher
Happy Tuesday!
Unfortunately, today's guest blogger was unable to send her blog post, so I decided to share one of the most popular blog posts from last year. My youngest son Mitch interviewed author Kwame Alexander after he won the Newbury Award. We get to know him through 20 Questions for Kwame!
I'm pleased to
Introduce Author
Kwame Alexander
Today's guest blogger is a man of many talents.
One of them happens to be writing a Newbery Award Winning book for kids!
If you have not read THE CROSSOVER, go, right now and find it, if you can, and read it! It took me about 6 weeks to get my copy and I read it cover to cover the day I received it in the mail. As a mother of 2 teenage boys, a mother of 2 teenage girls who date boys, and as a friend of a family who recently lost their father much too soon…this book is moving, relevant and so, so powerful in it's playfulness with words. This is a book that will bring teens to poetry for years to come. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to meet Kwame in person this summer at the LA SCBWI Conference. I was one of the lucky few who got into his intensive and I will be sitting there, taking notes, listening to every single word and waiting patiently until I can give a proper hug to Kwame Alexander. His book, his integrity and his genuine care for children make me proud to be a children's author! Plus I am so happy that his favorite word is…Yes!
As I contacted Kwame to be a guest blogger, honestly thinking that I wouldn't get a response as he was nominated for The Newbery Award and so busy. I reached out via Facebook message, which by the way is how I snag most of my amazing guest bloggers, and he immediately responded. We agreed on a blog post topic and all was set.
Then he won.
He kindly messaged me at around 3:00 am two days later and very sweetly said, I haven't slept, I'm not sure what town I'm in right now. I have barely eaten anything and I still want to help you but what can we do to simplify this?
As I am always on my toes, I said," What if my 14 year old son Mitch comes up with 20 one word answer questions for you and we'll call it 20 Questions with Kwame?
he said.
So, I am proud of my youngest son for enthusiastically coming up with some fun questions and am happy to say he was equally as enthusiastic to hear the responses, and…is reading The Crossover right now. Thank you Mitch! I'm pretty sure he did this whole thing without even one eye roll! = )
Kwame told me that another Newbery Award winner told him that the price of winning this award is a book. He will be speaking, touring, conferencing and honored at banquet after banquet for at least a full year. He tells me he still writes but it's tough. Thank you Kwame Alexander for saying yes and for giving the youth of today a literal, literary hero to look up to!
20 Questions for Kwame
by Mitch Karcher
Mitch Karcher Kwame Alexander
Mitch: What is your favorite time of day?
Kwame: 6 am, when no one else is awake, and I can return emails, listen to jazz, and plan my day.
What is your junk food of choice?
Who inspires you?
My daughters. Students. The energy and innocence and freedom of youth.
What are you reading now?
These questions…Seriously.
I am reading Margarita Engle's new memoir in verse. WOW!
What is your favorite sport?
To watch: Basketball
To play: Tennis
What do you order to eat/drink at Panera Bread?
Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Large Lemonade. No ice.
Do you prefer the mountains or the beach?
The beach.
What book would you like to see made into a movie, besides The Crossover?
Ha! Very funny! My next one…
Are you a cat person or dog person?
Are you an early riser or a night owl?
If you weren't a writer what career would you choose?
A pediatrician by day, stand-up comedian by night. (I have a friend who is a cardiologist and a country music star. Check out Cleve Francis)
Who was your favorite teacher?
Nikki Giovanni
What kind of music do you listen to?
Jazz. Country. Hip Hop. Soul. Classical. Everything else.
What's your favorite ice cream flavor?
Double fudge chocolate
What is your favorite thing to do with your family?
Play Uno. Also, travel.
What is your favorite word?
What is your favorite dance move?
My wife teachers Zumba. Every move she does when she's teaching. Pretty cool!
What is one piece of advice you have for kids?
Never listen to advice from people who make up stories for a living…Also READ a lot.
What country would you like to visit?
Antarctica. Is that a country?
Finish this sentence: If I had a million dollars I would:
buy a cupcakery.
Here you go Kwame!
About Kwame:
Kwame Alexander is a poet and author of eighteen books, most recently THE CROSSOVER, which received the 2015 John Newbery Medal for the Most Distinguished Contribution to American literature for Children. His other works include the award-winning children's picture book "Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band," recently optioned as a children's television show, and the Junior Library Selection, "He Said She Said," a YA novel. Alexander believes that poetry can change the world, and he uses it to inspire and empower young people through his Book-in-a-Day literacy program which has created more than 3,000 student authors at 69 schools across the US, Canada, and the Caribbean. A regular speaker and workshop presenter at conferences in the U.S., he also travels the world planting seeds of literary love (Brazil, Italy, France, and Turkey). Recently, Alexander led a delegation of 20 writers and activists to Ghana, where they delivered books, built a library, and provided literacy professional development to 300 teachers, as a part of LEAP for Ghana, an International literacy program he co-founded. The Kwame Alexander Papers, a collection of his writings, correspondence, and other professional and personal documents is held at the George Washington University Gelman Library. In 2015, Kwame will serve as Bank Street College of Education's first writer-in-residence. Visit him at KwameAlexander.com.
Kwame's latest novel in verse released April/2016
Buy It Here
Buy It Here
Buy It Here
Buy It Here
The Crossover: A Novel (2014)
He Said, She Said: A Novel (2013)
Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band (2011) (NAACP Image Award Nominee)
Indigo Blume and the Garden City (2010) (NAACP Image Award Nominee)
And Then You Know: New and Selected Poems (2008)
Family Pictures: Poems and Photographs Celebrating Our Loved Ones, ed. (2007)
Crush: Love Poems (2007)
The Way I Walk: short stories and poems for Young Adults, ed. (2006)
Dancing Naked on the Floor: poems and essays (2005)
Do The Write Thing: 7 Steps to Publishing Success (2002)
Kupenda: Love Poems (2000)
360°: A Revolution of Black Poets, ed. (1998)
Tough Love: Cultural Criticism and Familial Observations on the Life and Death of
Tupac Shakur, ed. (1996)
Just Us: Poems & Counterpoems, 1986-1995 (1995)
The Flow: New Black Poets in Motion, ed. (1994)
SCBWI Winter Conference (Keynote Speaker)
NCTE/ALAN (Keynote Speaker)
American Library Association (Featured Author)
Long Island Literacy Council (Keynote Speaker)
International Reading Association (Featured Presenter)
Arkansas Reading Association (Keynote Speaker)
New York State Reading Association (Keynote Speaker)
Virginia State Reading Association (Keynote Speaker)
Miss Ghana Tourism Pageant (Judge)
Florida Council of English Teachers Conference (Keynote Speaker)
Library of Congress "Afternoon Poetry Series" (Guest Poet)
Oscar Smith High School, Chesapeake, VA (Poet-in-Residence)
Cass Technical High School, Detroit High School (Book-in-a-Day)
New York State English Council Annual Conference (Keynote Speaker)
Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH (National Poetry Month Speaker)
Howard University, Washington, DC (Publishing Workshop)
Northern Virginia Community College (Poetry/Publishing Workshop)
Virginia Teachers of English, Annual Conference (Keynote Speaker)
Long Island City High School, Astoria, NY (Literacy Professional Development)
Stafford Middle School, Plattsburg, NY (Writer-in-Residence)
West Babylon Junior High School, Long Island, NY (Poet-in-Residence)
Crossland High School, Temple Hills, MD (Book-in-a-Day)
Great Bridge High School, Chesapeake, VA (Poet-in-the-Schools)
Great Bridge Intermediate, Chesapeake, VA (Poet-in-the-Schools)
Arlington Public Schools, Arlington, VA (Literacy Professional Development)
Washington & Lee High School, Arlington, VA (Poet-in-the-Schools)
Central High School, Little Rock, AK (Poet-in-the-Schools)
Duke Ellington School for the Arts, Washington, DC (Poet-in-the-Schools)
Wilson High School, Washington, DC (Poet-in-the-Schools)
Oyster School, Washington, DC (Poet-in-the-Schools)
Niskayuna High School, Niskayuna, NY (Poet-in-Residence)
South Carolina Library Association, Annual Conference (Keynote Speaker)
National Council for Teachers of English (Workshop Presenter)
Thank You Kwame and Mitch!
PLEASE like our guest bloggers on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, go to their websites and express your appreciation for their time and wisdom! Many have generously donated multiple prizes and this event would not be successful without their support, so please support them! Oh…and buy their books too!!
To be eligible for today's prize drawing by Random.org you must comment at the bottom of the page where it says "Leave A Reply" AND add your FIRST and LAST name in the comment. If I don't have your name or how to contact you via email, you can't win.
You must be a member of the RhyPiBoMo Facebook Group and if you haven't officially registered, you are not eligible to win.
Please follow the pledge rules daily to get the most out of this challenge!
The drawings for this week will be announced on Wednesday of next week.
RhyPiBoMo 2016 Day 18 Editor Emma D. Dryden & Author Karma Wilson
Happy Monday!
Can you believe this is our last week together?
It has gone by so fast!
Week 3 Prize Winners
Monday-Day 12 Debbie McCue won an autographed copy of HAVE YOU SEEN MY NEW BLUE SOCKS? by Eve Bunting, Donated by Linda Sue Park
Tuesday-Day 13 Charlotte Dixon won an autographed copy of YOU NEST HERE WITH ME by Heidi Stemple
Wednesday-Day 14 Mary Lee Flannigan won an autographed copy of TINY RABBIT'S BIG WISH by Margarita Engle
Thursday-Day 15 David McMullin won a PB Manuscript Critique by Randi Sonenshine
Friday-Day 16 Stuart Carruthers won the RPB Revolution Conference Recording
Prize winners, please email (firstname.lastname@example.com) or message me on Facebook with your contact information. Typically, the books will be mailed directly from the author, so please allow a few weeks. If you haven't received your prize by the end of April, please let me know.
This is a blog post I have been looking forward to reading for many months!
BEAR SNORES ON is the picture book I read to my own children over and over! I truly believe it is the book that brought me to writing rhyming manuscripts! The language is so rich and the rhythm frolics through the cave where the bear is sleeping. I actually brewed black tea after I read it! Seriously! LOL If you don't own this book you MUST buy it! It is a gem that you too will read out loud over and over again. You will want to "pop white corn and brew black tea" too…Trust me!
This is the ragged copy of BEAR SNORES ON that I read to my own children over and over. Karma kindly signed it for me when we were together last December. It is very special to me!
I am blessed to know the two talented ladies who are guest blogging today. Both have been huge supporters of RhyPiBoMo and myself! I met Emma last summer at the LA SCBWI Conference. At Karma's suggestion, I found Emma and asked her advice about planning our RPB Revolution Conference in New York City. She was so helpful with great suggestions and spent several hours chatting with me in the hotel lobby, as we paused frequently, for greetings and hugs from many in our industry who love and respect her as much as I do. She generously donated a one hour phone consultation to our RhyPiBoMo 2016 auction. Thank you Emma! The other guest blogger today has been the number one supporter of RhyPiBoMo and she agreed to speak at our conference even before it was planned. She generously donated boxes of autographed books to sell in our auction to support the event. She is now a mentor and a friend. Thank you Karma!
Gorgeous illustrations by Jane Chapman
The one thing I've learned through this process of planning events and networking is…
Don't be afraid to ask!
If people can help, they generally will and if they can't, they will graciously decline. People in the children's literature business are very supportive and you must put yourself out there and connect to make things happen. Network with other writers in on-line writing groups, in person and on-line critique groups and meet authors, agents and editors at conferences – ALL IMPORTANT!
Don't be afraid to introduce yourself, shake their hand, hand them your business card and get to know someone. This person may be the person that helps you succeed or teaches you something you didn't know or connects you with your agent. Attending conferences is the best gift you can give yourself for these reasons. But, you need to make connections while you're there. Both of these ladies have been supportive and genuinely wanted to help…fortunately, I wasn't afraid to ask!
Editor Emma D. Dryden
Photo credit ~ Sonya Sones
Author Karma Wilson
Photo credit ~ Scott Wilson
THE RHYME AND REASON OF BEAR SNORES ON: An Author/Editor Collaboration
by Karma Wilson (Bear Snores On author) & Emma D. Dryden (editor)
KW: Selling Bear Snores On was one of the most exciting moments of my life! For one thing, my washing machine was broken and I had to somehow provide clean clothes for three small children on a very small family income. ACK! So when the call came in that my agent had sold the book I SCREAMED! And I cried. And I danced. And I asked him when I could buy a new washing machine. Ha-ha! I was very nervous because I'd never worked with a real editor before! But Emma was so very kind and encouraging…and most importantly enthusiastic. I can't overstate how important that is to a new author. It gives them energy to write new things! And then the editing process began. Okay, Emma, your turn!
EDD: I had just been promoted to Editorial Director of McElderry Books when Karma's manuscript Bear Snores On was submitted to the publisher of Simon & Schuster Children's Books. She and I were in her apartment to strategize about the direction McElderry Books needed to take to meet new financial goals and she showed me Bear Snores On. I started immediately to read it aloud, and I ended up reading it aloud about five times! I fell in love. The rhyming verse was so polished—more polished and well-crafted than any manuscript I'd seen in a long time—and I wanted to know more about this author Karma Wilson. I also could immediately see the potential for Bear Snores On to be the start of something bigger than the one manuscript. When verse works well, when it feels flawless and comes lightly off the tongue, it has the potential to become a classic. We all respond well to rhymes and verse when they work so well you don't even think about it. The rhythms, cadence, and musical flow of beautifully-crafted rhymes and verse help put a story deeply into our heads and memories—and when a story is imbedded in a reader like that, that's when we know it's a keeper.
I don't know how many drafts Karma wrote of Bear Snores On before the draft that was submitted (how many drafts DID you write, Karma??) but I saw little in Karma's manuscript that I felt needed to be changed or edited. I called Karma and left her a message telling her how much I loved the manuscript! That was one of the most fun phone calls I've ever made!
When editing began, I remember there wasn't much actual editing to do But we talked about the cast of characters, and being absolutely certain that the dialogue was true to each character—and from there we tweaked words and phrases just enough to feel confident Hare sounded different from Mouse who sounded different from the narrator, and so on. And we talked about the importance of the essential change in rhythm that comes a bit past half-way through the story and the essential twist at the end of the story. All the while paying attention to syllables, meter, and beats, to be sure the manuscript would always pass the read-aloud test. What do you remember about the editing process, Karma?
KW: My memory is very similar to yours—for Bear Wants More (the second book in what was to become the Bear Snores On series) which required more extensive editing. For Bear Snores On I actually thought you edited the grammar only. Maybe I'm off on that! Maybe it's a "fish story" of writing. However, the manuscript itself for Bear Snores On was edited beforehand by some of the top people in the industry today—at the time we were all new or barely published authors struggling along in a critique group. Bear Snores On owes some major thanks to the critique partners who helped me and I will forever be grateful. Good critique groups are very hard to come by, but at the time I was in one of the best one in the world. Dori Chaconas and Lisa Wheeler were in it, to name a few! The manuscript took two weeks to weeks to write from start to finish and was sent to a critique group two times if I remember correctly. Maybe three? It's been some years! Ha-ha. I can't say the draft count because I never save my first drafts (I know, I know) and edit and save as I go. But revision for me is an ongoing process. I write, read to myself, read aloud to check meter consistency, and then make tweaks. Wash, rinse, repeat about 5,000 times for each book! I do remember you, Emma, being the most encouraging, wonderful, amazing editor and feeling so lucky and happy to have a mentor who trusted my ability as a writer and respected me as a person. I was a bird taking her first flight, and Emma was the mother, pushing me gently and encouraging me to fly. It was amazing!!! (Emma, I know you would absolutely edit out two of those exclamation points.)
EDD: You're right, Karma. I would edit out those extra exclamation points because less is more. I think what worked so well for us—starting with Bear Snores On and then through at least ten more books together—is the mutual respect we have not only for one another, but for poetry and rhyme and story. We also have a mutual respect for the creative process and the revision process. We always had fun with the work while also taking it very seriously. We trust ourselves and we trust in what we were doing together. That's important for any manuscript, but especially so for poetry and particularly rhyming poetry. Rhyme needs to be precise and sharp while feeling casual and fluid—it's hard to pull off. And when a master like Karma pulls it off, that's how classics are made!
Watch Karma read BEAR SNORES ON thanks to KidLitTV!
Emma D Dryden is the founder of the premier children's book editorial and publishing consulting firm, drydenbks, through which she provides editorial and consultancy support to authors, illustrators, agents, foreign and domestic publishers, and eBook and app publishers. Her long children's publishing career began at Viking and Random House, followed by a position with Margaret K. McElderry Books. After McElderry retired, Emma became VP, Editorial Director of McElderry Books, and then VP, Publisher of Atheneum Books for Young Readers and Margaret K. McElderry Books, imprints of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Throughout her career, Emma has edited hundreds of books for children, ranging from board books and picture books to poetry, novelties, non-fiction, MG, and YA fiction and fantasy. As publisher, she oversaw the annual publication of over one-hundred hardcover and paperback titles. Authors and illustrators whom Emma has edited include Karma Wilson, Ellen Hopkins, Cornelia Funke, Susan Cooper, Alan Katz, Raul Colon, Lee Bennett Hopkins, David Diaz, E. B. Lewis, and Paul Zelinsky.
A highly sought-after speaker about craft and the digital landscape, Emma is on the Society of Children's Writers & Illustrators Board of Advisors. Her blog "Our Stories, Ourselves" explores the intertwined themes of life and writing and she encourages connection in the social network on Twitter (@drydenbks), Facebook, and Pinterest
Karma Wilson is an author making her home in beautiful NW Montana, where good coffee and bears are in abundance, which both spur her creativity. She's been writing for 20 years and a published author for 16 years, which means it took her over three years of writing to sell her first book. That book was Bear Snores On which grew into the very successful Bear Books Series, published by Margaret K. McElderry. In addition to the Bear books, she's published dozens of other titles and had 5 titles on the NYTs best sellers list. Several of Karma's books have gone on to win prestigious national and state book awards, including the Oppenheim award, ALA Notable Book Award, Charlotte Picture Book honor award, and many more.
Aside from writing Karma enjoys cooking, enjoying nature, reading (duh), spending time with her family, and eating Moose Tracks ice cream (which inspired the title of her picture book, Moose Tracks and at least part of the need for new jeans).
You can learn more about Karma on her website, or find her on Facebook (she's also on Twitter @KarmaWilson and Instagram, which logs into like once a year).
Thank You Emma and Karma!
PLEASE like our guest bloggers on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, go to their websites and express your appreciation for their time and wisdom! Many have generously donated multiple prizes and this event would not be successful without their support, so please support them! Oh…and buy their books too!!
To be eligible for today's prize drawing by Random.org you must comment at the bottom of the page where it says "Leave A Reply" AND add your FIRST and LAST name in the comment. If I don't have your name or how to contact you via email, you can't win.
You must be a member of the RhyPiBoMo Facebook Group and if you haven't officially registered, you are not eligible to win.
Please follow the pledge rules daily to get the most out of this challenge!
The drawings for this final week will be announced on Wednesday, May 4th of next week as I will be out of town next weekend.
RhyPiBoMo 2016 Day 17 Literary Agent Alexandra Penfold
Art by Michael Kress-Russick
SO…who is going to the
Wild Wild Midwest SCBWI Conference 2016
Friday, April 29, 2016 – Sunday, May 01, 2016
It is next weekend near Chicago and I can't wait!
If you are a RhyPiBoMoer and are attending please stop by our
RhyPiBoMojito Party on Saturday Night.
We will have "Kid Lit-friendly" Mojitos and
you can add Rum to yours, if you like.
For those who already know me…we will have plastic cups ONLY! ; )
Stop by and say hello! I will post the place and time in the Facebook group so be watching for updated information.
Please RSVP in the Facebook Post so I can plan for snacks.
I can't wait to meet you!
Art by Michael Kress-Russick
I met today's Guest Blogger at the LA SCBWI Conference last summer. I attended her session on writing rhyming picture books…of course! We immediately connected over our love of RPBs and she kindly agreed to share an agent's perspective on writing them.
I'm pleased to introduce
Literary Agent Alexandra Penfold
Alexandra Penfold photo by Donny Tsang
Rhyme can be fun! Rhyme can be funny! Rhyme can be playful and joyful and meaningful, too. But rhyme can also be dull and dry and boring. And when rhyme falls into those categories there are few things that are more tedious to read.
When you're settled in at your computer and looking at a new draft on the screen, it's important to ask yourself, "will this rhyme stand the test of time?" Because when you press send and share that manuscript with the world, that's what an agent and editor are going to be asking.
If you've ever been to an SCBWI conference, you've probably heard editors say "Don't send me rhyming picture book manuscripts."
But if you go to the bookstore, you see books being published that are in rhyme. If no one is requesting rhyming texts, where are these picture books coming from? What gives?
I think the trouble is not the rhyming itself. It's not an industry-wide distaste for poetry. It's the abundance of bad rhyme that agents and editors see in their submissions that turns them off. Just like one apple can spoil the bunch, one bad rhymer can set an agent or editor's eyes rolling and their mouse scrolling. Click, clack, delete.
As an agent, I'm looking for manuscripts that I think will stand the test of time. Ones that I know I'd have wanted to acquire when I sat on the editor's side of the desk. Ones that I know readers would love to read again and again.
While rhyming picture books can break out, it's important to consider why the manuscript is written in rhyme. Does this story need to be told in rhyme? Is rhyme the best vehicle for telling the story? Is the rhyme itself the reason for the story—i.e. sometimes a writer thinks of a rhyme and devises a plot around it. And this is where you need to be brutally honest with yourself, was that original rhyme so funny and so great that it deserves a story?
Rhyming text when not done well can be constraining your narrative voice. Even if you can maintain the story with the rhyming couplets, sometimes it might feel like the story has to meander a bit to get you that rhyme. With such a short and patterned text it can be hard to get a sense of a real voice. And that's all the more challenging when you have meandering stanzas to hit all your beats.
Recently I've been utterly enchanted by Jonathan Fenske's Geisel honor award winning book, A Pig, a Fox, and a Box.* With simple language and a buoyant rhyme scheme, not to mention spot on vocabulary for emerging readers, this deceptively simple early reader takes the reader through a rollicking rhyming story in three parts that begs for repeat reads. The front flap shows the titular, Fox with the text: "I have a box. I like to play. I think I will trick Pig today." The set up and language are simple, but the humor and use of language are timeless. And most of all it's joyful to read aloud. And that's the sweet spot for any picture book.
*Mr. Fenske is not a client or acquaintance, so this is just unbiased fan gushing.
Alexandra Penfold is a Literary Agent at Upstart Crow Literary and has been working in publishing for over a decade. Formerly an Editor at Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, she specializes in young picture books, middle-grade fiction, and young adult. Prior to becoming an editor, Alexandra was a children's book publicist. She worked on media campaigns that appeared in USA Today,Newsweek, US News and World Report, and NPR's All Things Considered. She's the co-author of New York a la Cart: Recipes and Stories from the Big Apple's Best Food Trucks and the author of three picture books: Eat, Sleep, Poop!, illustrated by Jane Massey, out this fall from Knopf Books for Young Readers, as well as the forthcoming We Are Brothers, We Are Friends illustrated by Eda Kaban, about the special relationship between two young brothers and Food Truck Fest, illustrated by Mike Dutton, her first rhyming(!) picture book text.
New York a la Cart: Recipes and Stories from the Big Apple's Best Food Trucks
Eat, Sleep, Poop!, illustrated by Jane Massey
Twitter @AgentPenfold
Upstart Crow Website
RhyPiBoMo 2016 Day 16 Author & Teacher Randi Sonenshine
Happy Thursday!
Our final Rhyming Party is this Friday! I hope you can join me for the mayhem! It is one hour of trivia questions about this week's blog posts in our RhyPiBoMo Facebook Group. If you aren't a member, request to join the over 600 folks who share our rhyming passion. Everyone involved must type in rhyming phrases…SO funny! Don't miss this last chance at 8:00 pm CST Friday night.
Today's guest blogger is a good friend who was also part of my RPB Revolution Conference "DREAM TEAM" Committee! I first met her on Facebook, when we both competed in the March Madness Poetry Tournament. She placed second last year, which is truly a dinosauric feat! The level of poets in that competition is stellar. Fortunately, we met in person last summer at a retreat and really hit it off. I'm so happy to say that she is now an agency mate as we both share Kendra Marcus as our agent at BookStop Literary! Obviously, I'm thrilled to have this talented lady on the calendar of bloggers this year!
I'm pleased to introduce
Author & Teacher Randi Sonenshine
Author & Teacher Randi Sonenshine
Not Just for Circle Time: Rhyming Picture Books
in the Classroom
by Randi Sonenshine
I confess – I'm a picture book pusher.
As an instructional literacy coach, part of my job is to search for, recommend, and often purchase supplemental texts. Naturally, as a reading specialist and writer for children, picture books are at the top of my list. They are the perfect, bite-sized segue into many complex skills and concepts, not to mention a stand-alone literary treat.
Ten years ago, as the new (and only) literacy coach in the school system, it was hard enough to sell this idea to middle and high school English teachers. Luckily, with modeling and support, they quickly came around. But what about science, social studies, and math teachers? The first time I brought up picture books during a professional learning session, most of them looked at me like I had a third eye. Some even seemed to want to hurt me. Really.
In their defense, with only a vague statement about "reading across the curriculum," in their standards, literacy was far from a priority; how could they see the connection between literacy and learning when the "experts" creating their curriculum made it an afterthought?
Thankfully, that's far from the case today. Both the Next Generation Science Standards and the National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies weave literacy strands throughout the core concepts and across grade levels, and they both align with the Common Core Standards for ELA and Literacy. With those critical reading and writing skills embedded in the standards, content literacy is not merely a suggestion, but an expectation for all teachers.
The problem is that textbooks, especially science and social studies, haven't caught up with these curriculum shifts. Most still contain dry, – well, textbook text, which is hardly the most engaging material, not to mention difficult for students with learning disabilities or limited English proficiency. That's why many teachers are turning to online subscriptions like Newsela and TweenTribune, as well as classroom magazines, novels and picture books, for more interesting and accessible content-related texts.
While there seems to be a growing number of content-related picture books on the shelves, rhyming picture books are scarce among them, a surprising fact considering the strong link between rhyme and learning.
That's where you come in! Add beautiful language, connections to content standards, and engaging illustrations, and your rhyming picture book will have a life well beyond Circle Time.
So, beyond the tips shared here by so many amazing industry professionals (Holy Cannoli, Batman – I'm in between Margarita Engle and Alexandra Penfold!), here are a few more from an educator's perspective:
Establish a strong, rather than vague connection to the standard. To that end, familiarize yourself with the standards. As navigating these can be daunting, even for seasoned teachers, start by zooming in on overarching themes, like the Crosscutting Concepts in the NGSS, the Anchor Standards in the ELA Common Core, and the Ten Themes for the NCSS social studies standards.
Be diligent with your research, as content must be accurate and up-to-date. Provide bibliographic information and sources for further reading; teachers often use these to extend and enrich learning.
Create opportunities for readers to explore concepts more fully in the back matter or with non-fiction call-outs. Also consider adding sidebars, charts, graphs, and/or maps if appropriate; interpreting these text features is a critical skill across all subject areas, and a common task on state assessments.
When possible, use the academic language of the standards. Rhyming picture books, which naturally lend themselves to repeated readings, provide both context and multiple exposures to new words, which are necessary for word learning. If there isn't sufficient context in the text for readers to infer the meaning, add a glossary as part of the back matter.
Consider emphasizing a particular organizational structure, such as cause-effect, chronological, comparison-contrast, cyclical, or problem-solution. Analyzing these patterns is another critical skill that crosses all disciplines.
Strive for multiple layers of meaning that provide opportunities for close reading, discussion, and debate for older students. For a good example, read Denise Fleming's Where Once There Was a Wood or This is the Dream, by Diane Z. Shore, Jessica Alexander, and James Ransome.
Create some STEAM. The STEAM movement, which is quickly gaining momentum, grew out of STEM, (the push for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math education.) The new platform infuses the Arts, such as music, dance, theater, visual arts, and design.
A Few of My Favorite Rhyming Picture Books for the Classroom:
A House is a House for Me by Mary Ann Hoberman
An Island Grows by Lola Schaefer, illustrated by Cathie Felstead
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
Mojave by Diane Siebert, illustrated by Wendell Minor
Over in the Wetlands by Caroline Starr Rose, illustrated by Rob Dunlavey
This is the Dream and This is the Earth by Diane Z. Shore and Jessica Alexander, illustrated by James Ransome.
This is the Sunflower by Lola Schaefer, illustrated by Donald Crews
Water Can Be by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Violeta Dabija
Water is Water by Miranda Paul, illustrated by Jason Chin
Where Once There Was a Wood by Denise Fleming
Randi Sonenshine has been an educator and professional developer for over twenty years. An instructional literacy coach and member of the ELA Advisory Council for the Georgia Department of Education, she has taught high school English, middle school language arts, and college reading. As a children's author, she is represented by Kendra Marcus at BookStop Literary.
She lives in northwest Georgia with her husband, two sons, a very sneaky schnauzer, and an immortal, shape-shifting goldfish.
You can find Randi at Facebook, theproseytree.blogspot.com or on Twitter as @rsonenshine.
Thank You Randi!
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Everyone loves a good movie, and doctors are no exception. So when health educators wanted to teach young doctors how to recognise and deal with patients' emotions, they hit on the idea of showing them clips from mainstream films. They call it "cinemeducation".
The clips and suggestions for how to use them in teaching have been collected into a book edited by Dr Matthew Alexander, professor of family medicine in North Carolina. "Doctors are usually more interested in learning how not to kill people than in recognising their psychological state," says Alexander. Teaching behavioural sciences that include normal developmental issues, common mental health problems and the doctor-patient relationship is a challenge for educators because the students often fail to see its importance.
My own experience as a doctor certainly bears that out. When I was a pre-clinical medical student in the 80s, only creeps and losers went to sociology and psychology lectures. Most of us bunked off and sat around in the canteen moaning about how much revision we had to do. We meant revising the "real" subjects; biochemistry, anatomy and physiology. After two years of basic science teaching, we were let loose on the wards. We trailed around in large groups behind dictatorial consultants, gathered round the bedsides of patients too knackered to protest and had questions fired at us by the consultant. Public humiliation of those who didn't "get the diagnosis" was the teaching method of choice.
Twenty years on, I remember very little of the basic sciences I was taught. From the consultant teaching on the wards, I learned how to avoid eye contact so I wouldn't be asked any questions. (Being short helped.) And I noticed that most senior hospital doctors had such poor communication skills that they would never get a job in the real world. I had no teaching at all on difficult topics such as how to break bad news to people. My first experience of that was a lone junior doctor on a cancer ward, having to tell the family of a 42-year-old man that he had died in the night.
My one abiding regret about my time in medical school is that I didn't engage with the very limited amount of teaching that was on offer about the social and psychological factors that contribute to ill health.
Today's medical students get far more structured teaching about communication skills than we ever did. And the young students who come to our general practice to learn how we do things seem more aware of the patient as a whole person rather than a set of diseases. But I still notice that they tend to glaze over when we discuss issues, attitudes, ethical dilemmas and feelings that medical consultations often engender. Give them a succinct list of five common causes of a chronic cough or an easy mnemonic to remember the symptoms of TB and they beam with delight. Test them on the different types of heart murmurs or watch them examining a knee, and they'll eat out of our hands.
They tend to be very nice and bright young people and most of them have reasonable social skills. But some have already picked up bad habits from their time in hospital. Some students fail to introduce themselves, or forget to ask the patient whether they mind talking to them before seeing the doctor. Others don't ask the patient's name and then refer to them as "he" or "she". Some don't listen properly to the patient, while others talk in "medispeak" and fail to offer a translation.
Challenging students' behaviour and attitudes can be very difficult for the doctors who are supposed to be educating them. Alexander's book, Cinemeducation: A Comprehensive Guide to Using Film in Medical Education is a fantastic teaching tool. It lists 400 specific scenes from 125 movies and suggests trigger questions that you can discuss with students after watching the clip. You can show the clip without sound and discuss what's happening to show students how much information you can get from non-verbal cues. Film clips can show powerful emotions, portray difficult ethical dilemmas, expose students to cultural traditions they may not be aware of, and highlight what it is like to live with a chronic disease or face death.
Cynics will say that movies deal in stereotypes and fantasies and not in the real world. You may find it worrying to think that your doctor is examining you while thinking of the latest Quentin Tarantino film. And you may think that discussion based on film clips will be trite and superficial. Perhaps; but any discussion is better than none. And you have to give the students a bit of credit for being able to separate fact from film. I've had a lot of contact with doctors recently from a patient's point of view. Most of them could do with getting out of the hospital and into the cinema a bit more. It might do wonders for their communication skills.
Sample 'educational' scenes
About a Boy
Will (Hugh Grant) is the perennial bachelor who invents an imaginary son in order to meet attractive single mums. He develops a friendship with 12-year-old Marcus, whose mum is depressed. Clips show Marcus feeling alone and being told by other boys that he's weird.
Discussion points include:
· The effects of childhood teasing/harassment
· What to say to a parent who seeks your advice in this situation
· How maternal depression can impact on a child
Ordinary People
A family tries to cope with the tragic death of their oldest son in a boating accident.
Clip shows Conrad (Timothy Hutton), the surviving son, interacting with the family and trying to conceal his mental anguish.
Discussion points include:
· What symptoms of major depression does Conrad show?
· What is the difference between grief after bereavement and a depressive illness?
· What impact does depression have on the rest of the family?
Hannah and Her Sisters
Woody Allen's classic about three sisters and their relationships with each other and the men in their lives. Clip shows Mickey (Woody Allen) seeing his doctor about a range of vague complaints before he goes back to work.
Discussion points include:
· What symptoms of generalised anxiety does Mickey show?
· What are the most effective ways of reassuring an anxious patient?
· What treatment options (pharmacological and non-pharmacological) are available?
A young mother and her family confront her terminal illness.
Discussion points include:
· Impact of a terminal diagnosis on a family
· How doctors should break difficult news
Inside I'm Dancing
Two men with cerebral palsy try to live an independent lifestyle.
Discussion points include:
· How institutions can be poor at recognising an individual's needs
· Unexpected difficulties faced by people with disabilities


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Article Title
The Panther Springs Creek Site: Cultural Change and Continuity within the Upper Salado Creek Watershed, South-Central Texas
The excavations and subsequent analysis of the Panther Springs Creek site, 41 BX 228, a multicomponent prehistoric open occupation site in south-central Texas, are documented in this report. The investigations at 41 BX 228 partially mitigate the loss of cultural information caused by looters and potentially by a proposed Soil Conservation Service flood control project. The field investigations carried out in 1979 included mapping, testing, backhoe trenching, and the excavation of several block areas. Large quantities of comparatively well-preserved cultural materials were recovered and analyzed including: descriptive, typological, and distributional studies of certain types of artifacts; the special studies of faunal, botanical, and soil samples; a study of the burned rock midden phenomena; an examination of the settlement pattern in the upper Salado Creek drainage; and a synthesis emphasizing cultural change and continuity through the time in the local cultural manifestations as reflected by the site deposits. The Panther Springs Creek site represents a favored campsite repeatedly revisited over thousands of years by hunting and gathering peoples attracted by the availability of crucial resources such as water, plants, animals, and lithic materials. The site served many functions including that of: a campsite, a lithic procurement area, a flintknapping station, a tool refitting station, a butchering station, a plant processing station, a hunting camp, a gathering camp, and perhaps a social gathering locality. The major problem in interpreting the site is that all of these activities were repeated countless times in an area that had very slow sediment accumulation. Thus, many details of 41 BX 228's long history of prehistoric occupation will never be unraveled.
Recommended Citation
Black, Stephen L. and McGraw, A. Joachim
"The Panther Springs Creek Site: Cultural Change and Continuity within the Upper Salado Creek Watershed, South-Central Texas,"
Index of Texas Archaeology: Open Access Gray Literature from the Lone Star State: Vol. 1985
, Article 14.
Available at: http://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/ita/vol1985/iss1/14
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South Island of New Zealand while. Christchurch and Queenstown on the ... countries such as the USA, Canada, New Zealand for further study, sightseeing, or even ...
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Slide 7:Careful Reading
Task 3: Please get the detailed information and try to raise as many questions as you can.the Maori / Polynesia Aotearoa 1000 years ago around 1421 New Zealand Abel Tasmen Captain James Cook took possession of Chinese sailors in 1642 3,500km in 1769 History of settlers
Slide 9: Retell
Task4: Please retell the text ,using the key words on the screen.New Zealand Geography Climate Natural beauty History lies off� be surrounded by� the same size as� important cities� a mild sea climate the warmest months the coldest months the ocean and seas the sand beaches natural landscape hot springs natural bird the earliest people around 1421� in 1642 in 1769� 1840� Discussion: More and more Chinese tend to go to the developed countries such as the USA, Canada, New Zealand for further study, sightseeing, or even settling there. What do you think of this situation?
Slide 12:Assignment
Please try to enjoy more of New Zealand on the Internet after class.


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Sh Ch Glowhill Silver Spur x Spendles Summer Song
2nd January 2017
Parents Health Tested
Beautiful strong healthy puppies, kc reg, will be microchipped and first vaccination, vet checked before leaving, and five weeks free insurance. Reared in the home.
Bryntail Apollo x Popsydam Time for Change
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They will be Kennel Club registered, Five Generation Pedigree, .... (click to read more)
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 Cocker Spaniel Litters from Health Tested Parents in Wales


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Scope of the DC Universe
By Emerald_General_Jai 2 Comments
Ok, so it's late, and i'm sooo fricken bored. The missus has been sleep for a while and i decided to take a list i made in class and transfer it over to this aight. I mean at least that way the first time i didn't pay attention in class hard-core this semester has an overall meaning later in life right?? Annnnnnnyway; i was thinking about the Marvel Cosmic scene compared to the DC Cosmic scene. Both have been fricken boomin, and yet there is a major difference. Marvel's has been a more noticable growth and change..where as DC's isn't much bigger than the GL mythos. I feel like that could be really changed over the last 2-4 years, and to the universe's benifit. Let me show you how ok. A well developed Universe is a bigger play ground, both for the DCU and our heroes. An this way, well the GL has more set in place to be played w/ after Geoff leaves (i can't see anyone else spearheading what i have in mind and making it fit the DCU anywhere near as well.) This'll give alien heroes more of a playground, and for whoever takes over GL and hopefully GLC and R.E.B.E.L.S. or w/e other Strange Adventures survive, just to make sure we have a good grasp of the situation. It also opens an amazing pathway for things to be done. Using this set up tons of stories can be told, and the universe can be allowed to grow, even if we do have a basic knowledge of where it's going. An they can easily be quantified into Good, Evil, and Indifferent/Neutral giving the GLC foes, rivals, and those too be politically weary off, allowing the para-millitary feel to be kept and also have them return to more police heavy activity. Not to metion giving other books through which to feel out, and test the cosmis waters, and even see what it's like in space for people not Lanterns. An the overarching plot allows them all to feel like their connected w/o being completely bogged together.
Good: Forces that are fighting for the good, survival of the Universe, even if they don't truly understand how important their actions are. The only one who has any idea of their actions true importance is Ganthet, as he guides them all through the struggle. (He is truly a being of Cosmic power and acts his part.)
Green Lantern Corps of Oa: Do i really have to explain this one?
Blue Lantern Corps of Odym: Hopefully Ganthet runs this and the GLC. A subdivision yep.
Vril Dox's L.E.G.I.O.N.; They alreaady plan to bring them back, so we're still off to a good start. (Can also go under Indifferent/Neutral)
Earth (Justice League, Titans, ect): Heroes like Supes, and others can have more adventures abroad, and also can be more widely known. Like in the past or the JLU cartoon. Time they were a force again, even if they're nothing compared to the full might of the GLC.
Darkstars: Have them come back not knowing Ganthet is responsible, he doesnt want the Universe to suffer b/c of the GLC's new concerns. Another rivalry on the surface, but Ganthet uses that to make sure they are up to snuff. He sends info regarding 3rd/4th choice Lanterns to Pharrin Colos for recruitment and training.
Omega Men: I like them. That's all you need know, ; p No seriously they have tons of potential and if the cosmic universe does well an itneresting back-up in one of the books. (R.E.B.E.L.S. or Darkstars) exploring lesser known corners of the Universe. Vehichle used to introduce the Mystic Empire.
New Genesis: In preparation for the Apokalips War they begin to exert an influence in opposition, w/o revealing themselves. (Only wild card for this side)
Strange and crew: Adam Strange, Comet, Tyrone, Prince Grayven, that other Captain, Weird, that whole crew. They serve as another back-up going from featurretes to being full-fledged charachter cameos in the other books. They're great heroes and of great help to the Universe. Ganthet uses them to deal with minor probs b4 they become major and spread his already thin forces even further.
These are non-entities in the battle, but rather the prize. There are others, but these are the best defined, what Good and Evil seek to influence, conquer, protect, and defend or destroy. The don't realize the depth of the war around them, but neither do the foot soldiers. *(If two new msytic based societies, or just one if that's all you can come up with. With a King over-arching and mages...ya know what. I'll get back to you. God do i wanna be a DC writer. Really i do. I mean...i really really do.)*edit
Rannian Empire: Take what you already have, not to copy the Kree/Skrulls, but hell it works right? Make the rannians even futher advanced Tech wise and expand upon that fundamental difference between them. *When the Mystic Empire (working name for now) is revealed to the readers explain their reluctance to deal with them as being based upon their reliance on magic instead of technology, even though the differences are negligable.*
Thanagarian Empire: They're there, they hate the Rannians, run with it. Make their people's relegion even more pronounced, and use it to further their inferiority/superiority complex against the Rannians. *Also make it so they have a history of conflict with the Mystic Empire, they just keep coming out the losers. When they decide to become cosmic players again, they are in strong opposition.*
Star Saphires: Continue their mission, but are more misguided than evil. They want no part in the continuing war, realizing where it's headed and believing that their duty is to safe-guard love. Explains why their corps lessens in numbers and becomes less and less of a factor, but are still present and still fealt.
New Krypton/Daxam Alliance: They should be able to work together, if they were to start bulding a empire and survive the next big event, they'd be interesting until they were eventually dealt with. It'd be a fun idea to toy with. Ya know? Like the Inhumans (hey Marvel cosmic doing it big, only thing they got i like, and if a model works, why not use it with ya own toys?)
Cyborg Superman and his Manhunters: He seeks simply death, a rogue force of destruction with a vandetta against all living things, especially weilders of the spectrum. Has an intense problem with the mystics b/c they are anethma to him. Seeks Ranns tech, and the Thanagarians discust him especially. UP reminds him of Earht and he wants to stop it cold. Everyone else simply dares to breathe. HOws that for a wild card?
United Planets: Another new Universal power the GLC has to deal with, and adds a chance of intrigue in Universal dealings since we know how this ends. Plus Kal/Mon/Kon (one of em) is responsible for seeding creating it. Having it grow at the same time Earth begins to branch out makes good since.)
Agent Orange on Okarra: He's greedy, but nothing more than an irritant if left to his own lil devious and selfish devices. Aside from a lil bit more actively seeking things he desires, Orange Lanterns are almost once more extinct and he is back in seclusion. He is closely monitored.
Starro the Conquerer: B/c it would take the destruction of a species to stop him Ganthet forbids the GL's to overtly step in unless it becomes necessary, leaving loopholes that allow them to undermine futher expansion to a certain extent. In reality Ganthet feels he is nothing compared to the real threat and as such won't wast e the resources. Mangaes to nicely leavin him an irritant and distraction for the rest of the universe as an over-arching villian. When Mongul shows up you basically have warring Empires caught between two Conquering Warlords. Things get reaaaaal interesting for Dox's L.E.G.I.O.N. and the Darkstars Collos has trained.
Khund: Choas bringers who are really throwing Darkseids plans off for Ganthet, makes it take longer for him to realize whats happening since he thinks they're pawns as well. Serve with Mongul in the end. In addition to the race he's conquered give him a powerful and expendable force to fight with. When he's eventually defeated they seek to keep control of the territory they helped him to capture.
Indigo Tribe: They stay out of most affars after Blackest Night making them almost a non-concern.
Unkown to them they are being manipulated by an unseen force, the returned shade of Darkseid who seeks his vengence. He uses them judiciously and mercilessly. The forces mean nothing to him, every single move brings him closer to his endgame:a universe under his total control. Not even Ganthet knows his identity, though they are embroiled in a conflict that will decide the fate of not just Galaxies, but the Universe itself.
Sinestro Corps of Qward: They continue to serve as the anti-thesis of the GLC and their main enemy, though their influence isn't as great. They can't be completely snuffed out either.
Empire of Tears (Red Lanterns of Ysamult): Atrocitus seeks to ressurect the fallen Empire, using the Red Lanterns as foot soldiers he gathers together an army of Mystics who slowly begin to take over a 3 sector area, 666/665/667 all falling under his sway, and declaring a Magical war on the Green Lantern Corps.
Mordru's Sorcerers World: He creates his seat of power and begins gathering his own army of mystics, becoming the threat he was meant to be and also serving as a rival to Atrocitus, but no friend of the Lanterns.
Psions: Continue their experiments, become mroe visceral as they reach the same threshold the Guardians crossed, making them something the Universe must now truly deal with. Darkstars are main opposition, as Ganthet cannot afford to move the GLC against them, is slowly revealed.
Mongul: Either Jr. or the III, a warlord with an army at his beck and call. A force on the opposite side fo the cosmos from Starro both cutting a swath and creating an Empire. When the GLC finally draw their attention to him he must be dealt with immediately. An daddy left him his rings, in addition to his own functioning War World. (How Darkseid is revealed, believes himself to be a free agent and independent. Until it's revealed Great/Grandfather Darkseid was pulling his strings all along, just like the rest of the cosmos before his life is ended. GL's totally confused...but wary.)
Spider Guild: Have to reassembled themselves, and are also a massive fighting force, ready to agressivly expand. A foe to GLC, Darkstars and L.E.G.I.O.N. alike but mostly to the Vril's forces.
Apokalips: The true foe, Darkseid is seeking his ultimate revenge having crawled his way back from the darkest depths. This is the begginings of the final conflict that will leave him broken and trapped for the Legion to find, and the GLC but a shining memory of the Universe.
An you have a DCU set up and ready to be explored, whomever is next to pick up the toys when the day Geoff must set them down finally comes. Everything he's created is part of the DCU's unaltering tapesty and you have everything between where Geoff ends, and where we find both the GLC and Darkseid himself during the Legions future to play with. If done right years of stories that can be tied together in what we know is gunna broil down to Oa vs Apokalips, and tell me you can't live with Oa going out in a blaze of glory if they take the Sinestro Corps, Red Lanterns and remnants of the Empire, Spider Guild, and Apokalips down with them?? Me that's a fight i'd love to see. An Ganthet and Darkseid are comparable beings, and if Ganthet gives up his life to seal him away, and Sodam must watch helplessly, or is forced to help while being unable to save him. Viola one broken warrior, whose entire war came down to a battle he could do absolutely nothing to win. Leaving us with a Universe ripe for the future of Legion 3 Worlds.