This month, we’re giving away a copy of O. O. Octopus, Sheriff of Blue Ribbon Sound, a charming picture book written by Pat Gaines.

To be entered in the giveaway, simply join the mailing list for the National Writing for Children Center. Each month, we give away a book for children or teens to one lucky member of our mailing list.

Click here to sign up for the list and have your name entered in this month’s Book Giveaway!

Today’s Interview with Beckie Weinheimer

Listen to today’s interview with Beckie Weinheimer, author of Converting Kate, on Book Bites for Kids:

The Truth for Girls

Today on Book Bites for Kids, I interviewed Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, author of The Truth (I’m a girl, I’m smart and I know everthing).

The book is written as if it were the journal of a young girl.

Watch this short video for some excerpts from the book:

Find out more about The Truth (I’m a girl, I’m smart and I know everything) at www.thetruthforgirls.com

An Interview with Children’s Author Deborah Ramos

Get to know Deborah through this recent interview with her. Enjoy…

Where do you get your inspiration?

I find inspiration in the usual places… my pets, my kids, my granddaughter, my students, nature, places I’ve been, places I want to visit. Most of my stories begin with a true event, and then my imagination takes it from there. Once my two cats jumped on top of the snake tank, and the snake escaped. We found him two weeks later. That was a good story starter! Sometimes my head is swimming with stories. If I don’t write them down, I’ll forget.

What did you like to read as a child?

Little Lulu comic books were my favorite stories. On rainy days, or when I was home sick from school, I’d get comfy under my blankets, and read my Little Lulu comics. The Secret Garden was my favorite book. My fifth grade teacher read it out loud to the class. She gave characters accents and read with such expression, that it left a lasting impression on me. As a teenager, I didn’t read much. I found the classics boring, but Edgar Allen Poe fascinated me.

Why did you write about collective nouns?

I was writing a story about Africa, and in my research, I found a website that listed animals in alphabetical order, along with their group name. It sparked an interest, and I dug deeper. I thought it would be more fun to create a list of group names in alphabetical order. And the search began. It was fun for me, and I learned a lot about collective nouns and animals. Group names can bring to mind such interesting images, such as a prickling of porcupines; you can almost FEEL those, pokey, prickly quills.

What is your favorite collective noun?

It’s hard to say, there’s so many. But I think the most interesting one is an Escargatoire of Snails. I imagine a little snail party crawling in circles on a plate, oozing in an out of butter pats and garlic cloves. I love a Pandemonium of Parrots; can’t you just hear them squawking in the trees? What an image that conjures up.

Are there collective nouns for people?

There are lots for people. My favorites are a Giggle of Girls, a Kiss of Vampires, a Ponder of Philosophers, a Worship of Writers, an Erudition of Editors, a Pod of Publishers, an Iamb of Poets, a Scholarship of Professors, a Number of Mathematicians, a Class of Students, a Wisdom of Grandparents, a Bunch of Hippies, and finally, a Faffing of Geeks. (to faff means to dwindle or act indecisively)

What would your collective noun be for readers enjoying your book?

Now that’s a challenge. How about a Richness of Readers, a Bunch of Booklovers, or a Brigade of Bookworms.

Do you have many animals?

I’ve always had pets growing up. And I have quite a collection now. I have two cats, two noisy parakeets, a variety of tropical fish, and a ball python named Mercury. Mercury sheds his skin and donates it to my art projects.

What’s next for you?

I have works in progress I need to finish and stories I need to polish up. I have new ideas that need to be put on paper before I forget. I’m also working on two poetry chapbooks.

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To learn more about Deborah Ramos and her books, visit her at:

www.aarmoryofaardvarks.com