Poetry Friday: The Orchestra

Posted on October 30, 2020 by rosecappelli

Last night I attended a Philadelphia Orchestra concert…virtually. It wasn’t the Kimmel Center, and the sound quality may not have been quite as grand, but it was so enjoyable. Of course it helped that they performed one of my favorite symphonies, Mendelssohn’s Symphony No.4 (“Italian”).  I marveled at the sound, the close ups of the musicians, the care and concern for everyone’s safety. And I was inspired to write.

The Orchestra
by Rose Cappelli

In an empty hall,
melodies
rise above masks,
bend around barriers.

Musicians follow
with precision,
with passion.

Prompting joy,
Prompting love,
Prompting peace.

Thanks to Linda Baie at Teacher Dance for hosting this week’s Poetry Friday. Be sure to stop by for some Halloween fun!

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The Shelter Shuffle

Posted on October 29, 2020 by rosecappelli

I’m participating in Susanna Leonard Hill’s Halloweensie Story Contest. The task – tell a complete story in 100 words or less that uses the words skeleton, creep, and mask in any form. Here goes!

The Shelter Shuffle (96 words)

Trouble was brewing, and soon Furry Paws would have to close. But Fifi and Rex had a plan. With any luck they could raise enough money to keep the shelter open. On Halloween night, clanking skeletons and creepy clowns, masked monsters and ghastly ghosts convened for the first ever Furry Paws Howl-loween Dance Party.

Paws to the left                             
Circle low
Paws to the right
Do-si-do
Doin’ the Shelter Shuffle!

When the final dancers departed, Fifi and Rex counted the donations. Yelps and yowls and meows erupted in celebration. It was a Happy Howl-loween for Furry Paws!

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Picture Book Critique Fest (#PBCritiqueFest2020)

Posted on October 25, 2020 by rosecappelli

If you are part of of the Kid Lit Community, you know how important critiques are to the whole process of learning and publishing. You are probably also aware of how generous authors in this community are with their time and talent, always willing to share and help others on the road to publishing.

#PBCritiqueFest, hosted by picture book author Brian Gehrlein at Picture Book Spotlight, is a chance to benefit from this generosity and be in the running for one of 36 critique opportunities from published authors or other industry professionals. Imagine the thrill of receiving a critique from a Kid Lit superstar!

But don’t delay. The contest runs until Oct. 30. All you have to do to enter is to register for the event. There are also opportunities for additional entries. Go here for all the details.

Thanks to Brian and all the generous event donors. Your dedication and generosity is so appreciated.

Good luck!

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Perfect Picture Book Friday: Bunny Braves the Day

Posted on October 16, 2020 by rosecappelli

Today I’m participating in Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Book Friday. Be sure to check it out here.

Title: Bunny Braves the Day

Author: Suzanne Bloom

Illustrator: Suzanne Bloom

Publisher: Boyds Mills Press, 2020

Audience: Ages 4-8

Themes: First day of school; siblings

Favorite lines: It’s hard to feel jittery when you’re glittery.

                        Sometimes you just feel like crying before you feel like trying.

Synopsis: (adapted from Amazon) It’s the first day of school, and little Bunny feels like something is flip-flopping in his belly. He won’t know anyone. He doesn’t know how to tie his shoes or how to read. And what if no one likes him? Bunny’s sister steps in to offer advice and convince him that everything will turn out fine. In the process, Bunny realizes his own unique qualities.  

Why I Like This Book: While there are many first day of school books on the market, this one stands out because it is also a sibling story and is told in alternating dialogue. Bunny gets advice from an older sister and is helped to recognize his own extraordinary talents. Suzanne Bloom perfectly captures the voice of a child and her illustrations, as always, are a perfect complement. The expressions on the characters’ faces expertly convey their feelings. Finding courage to do new things is a universal theme that can be applied to all ages, even adults.

For Susanna’s complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.

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Poetry Friday: Morning Walk

Posted on October 9, 2020 by rosecappelli

I’ve been pouring over Irene Latham’s This Poem Is a Nest for days. Irene started with an original poem, “Nest,” as her source poem, then went on to create 161 nestling poems from the original words. Nestling poems are found poems taken from an existing poem and used to create new poems, or “nestlings.” The words or word parts must be used in the same order as they appear in the original poem. The title does not need to be part of the original.

This is such an incredible book! Irene even provides a Table of Contents and an Index.

Of course I had to give it a go. I used the third section, Autumn, from Irene’s original “Nest” to create my nestling. My morning walk inspired me to think of the possibilities I might find along the trail.

Morning Walk

leaves flood
deer swerve
turtle splashes
clouds still
faith hums

For more poetry fun, head over to Wee Words for Wee Ones where you’ll find today’s Poetry Friday roundup from Bridget Magee.

Posted in Poems, Poetry Friday | 13 Comments