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 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

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

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

I wondered if the youngest kids would have trouble sitting through it, without any pictures, but I asked a grade 1 class and they said they loved it. I heard that a grade 1 teacher was using Feather Brain as a bribe: “If you’re really quiet, I’ll read another page.”

It turns out I use great verbs – who knew? The teachers are using them to teach vocabulary, and the kids are having fun slouching, strutting and stomping around their classrooms.

I did sessions with all the kids, so I was exhausted by the end of the day, but we had a lot of fun.

In one session, we turned the teachers into androids training the kids to work for them, trying to take over the world, one computer network at a time. This gave a whole new meaning to their school motto, “Many Hearts, Many Minds, One Purpose.”

In another session, part of the group descended into the earth and discovered a raptor race track. One teacher was eaten by a raptor and barfed up again – we decided we’d let her live after inflicting that on her.

One class wrote a song. Yes, Feather Brain now has a song! How cool is that? I’ve asked for a recording of it – I’d love to post it as a podcast.

Now I can’t wait for my next visit to Lethbridge in February, to a second school using Feather Brain for One School, One Book.

For now, back to writing.

Maureen