Maureen Bush

Alien Triplets

I spent Thursday in Coaldale at Jenny Emery School, taking part in their One School One Book program, where all the kids are read Feather Brain (at home, so families are involved, too). I loved the enthusiasm at the school – they loved the book, and were excited to meet me. This is a kids’ writer’s moment of fame – meeting all those great kids.

I usually create a story with the kids; here, because the groups were large, we’d agreed to start a story collectively and then let the kids continue on paper. But I missed the wildness of creating a story together, so, for the last class, the grade fours, I decided to go for it. We leapt into it, discovering that one of the boys in the group was an alien in disguise, on earth to find a power source buried under the school. The boy was volunteered by another, soon revealed to be his brother. Then I discovered there was a third brother, so naturally we had to have alien triplets. I couldn’t have asked for a better set up for a story.

Contest

After a couple years without, I’m holding another contest for my website www.howweirdcanyouget.com. Several schools in Lethbridge are using Feather Brain for a One School One Book program, and I wanted them to be able to send in entries, plus I’ll be at several other schools that might want to participate.

The rules? Anyone can submit, but only kids can win. Send in an idea for a magic spell for Griffith the wizard to work on. He’ll chose his favorite, and send the winner a small leather-bound notebook for their own spells, and a signed copy of Feather Brain (or another book if the winner already owns Feather Brain).

Past winners and honourable mentions can be found on the website, if you want to see the awesome ideas kids have sent in previously.

The contest will be open until May 1, 2012.

Maureen

I’m Big In Lethbridge

For some reason, Feather Brain is popular in Lethbridge. I’m doing two events there next week, full days at two schools using Feather Brain for their One School One Book programs http://www.readtothem.org/, where everyone in the school reads the same book. The two schools (in Lethbridge) I’ve been to previously for this program loved the book, and I loved being there.

I’m also becoming known outside of Lethbridge. Well, a little outside. I’m booked for a school in Coaldale (to the east), and Brocket (a reserve to the west) later this spring.

Mwhahaha – Lethbridge today, world domination tomorrow. Okay, well, perhaps a small portion of southern Alberta?

Maureen

Crow Boy Readings

There’s a new set of readings on my website, maureenbush.com. My husband helped again, the lovely man, recording me reading short clips from Crow Boy.

http://www.maureenbush.com/_book_crowboy/

We’re getting a little better at doing the recordings, as I learn where to stand (to avoid the squeaks in the floor) and how to pitch my voice and… all those things actors learn, I suppose. And as my husband becomes more experienced using Logic Pro, and filtering out all the bits we don’t want (airplanes, in breaths).

Watching a Lethbridge school podcast about their One School, One Book program helped me realize these readings might be fun in classrooms, especially for aural learners.

Maureen

Another One School, One Book

Thursday I spent another day in Lethbridge, at Lakeview School. This is the second school I’ve visited using Feather Brain for a One School, One Book project.

All the kids in the school received a copy of the book (in a bag with dinosaur goodies, packed in an egg for each classroom to open.) The parents were asked to read Feather Brain to their kids (and siblings), one chapter a night. Reading ahead was not allowed!

Then the school launched into all kinds of projects – decorating the entire school with dinosaurs, including one that roared; a classroom door decorating contest; novel studies. Papier maché dinosaurs are on display near the front door. These are wonderful, with pistachio shells and golf tees for texture.

One of my favorite ideas was smart and sneaky: the teacher had his kids begin making papier maché dinosaurs before they started the book, so that by the time they were reading about Lucas making a dinosaur, they had already been doing the same thing.

I met with all the kids, in five sessions through the day, and signed their books. I talked about where the idea for Feather Brain came from, and explained my writing process. We made up our own stories, sending kids to other planets, inventing androids taking over the school, and playing with the  idea of living shadows.

Parents came, too, and often took time to introduce themselves and thank me. One couple said that reading Feather Brain as a family had made an enormous difference to their family life, and they planned to continue reading together. Then the dad asked if I’d intended that when I wrote Feather Brain; I had to admit I just tried to write a good story, and had no idea it could be used this way.

After seeing two schools using Feather Brain for One School, One Book, I’m totally impressed with the program. The energy in the schools is amazing, and the excitement about reading and books tremendous.

Maureen