Books in A Time Capsule - Messages In A Bottle From Our Time

In New York City in the Theodore Roosevelt Park behind the American Museum of Natural History in th year 2001, a time capsule was buried. A plaque suggests that the capsule be opened in the year 3000. Among the many items in the capsule are books. If you took part in contributing something to a time capsule today, especially contributing children's books, which titles would you choose? In the actual time capsule, there is a Dr. Seuss book. I suggest at least two Seuss books for a time capsule. My choices: "Oh the Places You'll Go!" and "The Lorax." Which Seuss book would you choose? Also in the capsule there's a science fiction book: Arthur Clarke's "2001: A Space Odyssey." Some of my choices for science fiction books to include in a time capsule would be: Madeleine's L'Engle's "A Wrinkle in Time," Vonda N. McIntyre's "Barbary" (of a cat and its young owner on a space station), and Robert Heinlein's "Podkadne of Mars." There would mostly likely be a Harry Potter book. If not all, which one would you choose? Which other children's books would you choose to be in this time capsule to reflect what is available for children to read during our lifetimes, the latter part of the 20th century and the first part of the 21st century? Where would you suggest the time capsule be buried and what would it have to do with children's literature? Ready for this challenge, or not? Do give it a try. You'll probably be surprised at your choices; given that future generations will be looking to you for a glimpse into our time.

Theme challenge

Read the article at www.livewritethrive.com/2012/01/18/yes-you-do-need-a-theme.
Now think of some classic children's books and their opening lines, then make some educated guesses about these stories' themes. Some classic children's books you could start with could be: "A Wrinkle in Time," "The Secret Garden," Little Women," "The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland, "Tom's Midnight Garden," "Treasure Island," "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn," the Harry Potter books, and so many more. Now go and find some others, and discover their themes in their beginnings. Have fun.

Book trailers are a new way to market your book, and a new online market. Go to http://www.youtube.com/ and do title searches for classic children's books. View how trailers are done for them. Choose another classic children's book and make a trailer of it, or make a trailer of your own book. For help, see http://www.jacketflap.com/index.asp (click book videos in upper right pull down menu, type a title in search box, see a page with links to book trailers),  http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2011/12/book-trailers-in-the-library,%20http://24library.wikispaces.com/Book+Trailers (with instructions), http://www.redroom.com/. See also http://www.booktrailersforreaders.com/How+to+make+a+book+trailer
Have fun!

Who's Hidng in This or That Book, or Around This or That Author?

Some people believe that a person's favorite authors and books help to hint at, or clarify, who that person may be. Now, you who are writers for children or YAs, consider who are your favorite writers and what are your favorite book titles, and what your preferences may say about you. Next, think of a person you know. Ask that person about her or his favorite author or book title,and imagine what those choices say about that person. Alternately, suggest to yourself an author or title that you might connect with this person, then tell why you chose that author and title to help describe that person.

Save Which Books?

Have you seen the movie "The Day After Tomorrow"? If not, do so. Watch for the scenes in the New York Public Library. Before or after the movie, think about this dilemma that some of the characters had to face: a gigantic blizzard brought on by global warming is enveloping the city - and the rest of the northern half of the earth. To stay alive a scientist's son tells his friends and some other people that they must stay inside and keep warm - not try to go south. The only things they can do to keep warm is to huddle together in a room with a fireplace - and burn books! What a dilemma to have to choose which books to burn and which books to save, at least until last! A librarian chooses to save a Gutenberg Bible - the first book ever printed. He believes that if civilization as they know it is going to be gone, he wants to try to save a bit of it; preserve something of it. Another librarian chooses a medical book, and just in time. But what of other books to save? What of other books to burn? A homeless man chooses to burn the books with all the tax laws. Two college students debate if it is ok to burn a Kierkegard book. Which books would you try to save? Select some children's books as well as some books for adults. What do you say? Which books represent and preserve our civilization? Why? Why should they be saved?

Writing Challenge - Why Late to Class or Club?

Why is your young character late for a school class, or extracurricular voluntary or required activity/club such as sports practice, music practice, history or science or language arts/literature club. Conjure up, an outlandish or unique excuse that rivals the often quoted school-related mishap such as "my dog ate my homework."

Writing Challenge Based On Special Literary Time

Note the National Picture Book Writing Week contest page at http://paulayoo.com/napi. If that's your type of writing, give it a try (participating when it's time, or doing it as a writing challenge you give yourself). OR if you write something other than picture books, try a writing exercise that inspires you based on a special day or month designated for some other type of writing. For example: Novel Writing Month, Poetry Month, a Favorite Author's Birthday, or an anniversary year based on the time of publication of one of your favorite children's book. Good luck.