Rusty and Rosie: A Little Love Story

Posted on February 12, 2020 by rosecappelli

I love challenges, especially writing contest challenges! They give me a focus and help me stretch as a writer. So today, I’m participating in Susanna Leonard Hill’s 5th Annual Valentiny Writing Contest. The challenge: write a Valentine story in which someone or something is curious, appropriate for kids, in 214 words or less. Thanks for reading!

Rusty and Rosie
by Rose Cappelli
(187 words)

Rusty rose from his den
On a cold winter day,
When his world was arranged
In a most special way.

He spied hearts on the hillside
And hearts on the trees.
Hearts on the leaves
Blowing by on the breeze.

Heart shaped rocks on the path
Rusty couldn’t ignore.
His questioning mind
Made him want to know more.

He followed them down
To a grove of tall pines,
Where hearts on the bark
Were the next special signs.

Heart shaped rocks in the stream
Kept his paws fairly dry,
As Rusty continued
His quest to learn why.

He discovered more shapes
On the opposite shore,
Where blackberry hearts
Led to Rosie’s front door.

Rusty knocked right away
And she answered quite quickly.
“I hoped you would come,”
Rosie said rather briskly.

She invited him in
Where he saw a huge sign-
WILL YOU PLEASE, RUSTY FOX,
BE MY SWEET VALENTINE?

So they huddled and cuddled
The rest of the day.
Dined on blackberry hearts
Baked in blackberry tarts.

And they promised each other
On stars up above,
They would always find hearts
To remind them of love.

Posted in Poems | 15 Comments

Perfect Picture Book Friday: Marvelous Cornelius: Hurricane Katrina and the Spirit of New Orleans

Posted on February 7, 2020 by rosecappelli
Amazon.com

I was looking through some of my books this week for Nonfiction Fest and came across one by Phil Bildner. The book is about a real person, but since there are embellishments, it is classified as fiction. In an Author’s Note, Phil Bildner explains that he came across an article about the subject and wanted to know more. He decided to write the book in the spirit of a folktale, incorporating such things as repetition and exaggeration. It is a wonderful book that can be used with children in and out of the classroom, so I chose for today’s Perfect Picture Book Friday.

Title: Marvelous Cornelius

Author: Phil Bildner

Illustrator: John Parra

Publisher: Chronicle Books, 2015 Fiction

Audience: Ages 5-10

Themes: Modern folktale, everyday heros

Opening lines: In the Quarter, there worked a man known as Marvelous Cornelius. “Mornin’.” He salutd the silver-haired man with the Times-Picayune tucked under his arm. “Greetings.” He waved to the couple with the baby on the balcony. “Ma’am.” He nodded to the woman shaking rugs out at her front window.

Synopsis: (from Amazon) In New Orleans, there lived a man who saw the streets as his calling, and he swept them clean. He danced up one avenue and down another and everyone danced along. The old ladies whistled and whirled. The old men hooted and hollered. The barbers, bead twirlers, and beignet bakers bounded behind that one-man parade. But then came the rising Mississippi—and a storm greater than anyone had seen before. In this heartwarming book about a real garbage man, Phil Bildner and John Parra tell the inspiring story of a humble man and the heroic difference he made in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Why I Like This Book: Here are just a few of the reasons I think this book is a standout:

  1. Following the title page, before the story starts, there is an inspiring quote from Martin Luther King, Jr. about the importance of doing a job well.
  2. The opening spreads set the scene and reveal the character.
  3. It contains marvelous language, especially verbs – sashayed, shimmied, strummed, whirled.
  4. Craft moves – onomatopoeia, alliteration, repetition, exaggeration
  5. Back matter in the form of an author’s note that explains more about folktales, the author’s personal connection, and a pronunciation guide.

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

Posted in Book Review, Picture Book Friday | 6 Comments

Poetry Friday: Ready

Posted on January 31, 2020 by rosecappelli

I learn so much from watching Renee LaTulippe’s Peek & Critique videos. And they are a wonderful review of much of what I learned in her Lyrical Language Lab course. In this week’s lesson we were challenged to write a free verse poem about a character or an event and reveal as much as possible in as few words as possible. My poem is loosely based on memories of my mother, but this character is much more confident. My mother was very intelligent and in some ways independent, but she never saw that in herself. I wish she had. So this poem is for her and how it might have been.

Ready

A pause by the hall mirror.

She checks her make-up

one last time.

Gently places her hat

(the green velvet pill-box)

on carefully coiffed hair.

Pulls long black gloves

(the ones with the hand-sewn sequins)

over tired hands.

Ready

for a concert,

a play,

a quiet dinner.

Ready

for the world.

Today’s Friday Poetry round up is at Deowriter. Thanks, Jone!

Posted in Poetry Friday | 9 Comments

Perfect Picture Book Friday: I Will Be Fierce

Posted on January 24, 2020 by rosecappelli
Amazon.com

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

Title: I Will Be Fierce

Author: Bea Birdsong

Illustrator: Nidhi Chanani

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press, 2019

Audience: Ages 3-6 (could also be used with older children)

Themes: Courage, self-esteem

Opening lines: Today, I will be fierce! I will answer the call to adventure. I will put on my armor. I will fill my treasure chest.

Synopsis: (from Amazon) It’s a brand new day, and a young girl decides to take on the world like a brave explorer heading off on an epic fairytale quest. From home to school and back again, our hero conquers the Mountain of Knowledge (the library), forges new bridges (friendships), and leads the victorious charge home on her steed (the school bus).

Why I Like This Book: This book empowers young readers to forge their own way in the world with courage and confidence. The illustrations pair wonderfully with the spare text to show readers that everyday actions and experiences such as going to school, looking at things differently, making new friends, and speaking up require confidence. They may not always be easy, but they will always be rewarding.

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

Posted in Picture Book Friday | 5 Comments

Good Morning

Posted on January 21, 2020 by rosecappelli

Before: I walk sleepily to my office. The sun is just beginning to peek through the trees. The cardinal calls good-morning from his perch near the feeder. I linger over a Mary Oliver poem, and I am ready to start my day.

Allan is a thoughtful gift giver. He observes, considers needs, but never strays far from wants or should-haves. He knows I like to rise early and start the day slowly, reading or writing or thinking before going downstairs, before wrapping my hands around that first cup of steaming coffee. He knows that sometimes the trip downstairs for coffee breaks the spell and the solace of that early morning time. So this year he gave me a Keurig for my office.

Now: I walk sleepily to my office. The sun is just beginning to peek through the trees. The cardinal calls good-morning from his perch near the feeder. I linger over a Mary Oliver poem, and I am ready to start my day. The coffeemaker gurgles, filling the room with the robust smell of the special holiday blend.

Good morning!

Posted in Slices | 5 Comments