CONGRATULATIONS, Jany Campana!!!  You are the winner of a copy of BLUE RIDGE BABIES by Laura Sperry Gardner!  I know you'll enjoy this sweet rollicking animal counting mountain book!  Be sure to leave a review if you enjoy it, request it at your library, etc.! :-). Thanks, Laura, for the generous giveaway, and thank you Jany for your constant support of PBJamz!

Diane and I talk PB biographies, writing process, music, the inspiration of women who came before us and more!  Check out our conversation below!

This PB biography is full of excitement and derring-do; the story of a young woman who blasted all the barriers for women -- what they wore, what they did, and many other "glass ceilings" that plagued women, particularly in her time period.  She wrote music -- big, powerful music, and she is remembered well for her contributions in this book by Diane Worthey.  A story-worthy heroine, Ethel Smyth paved the way not only for female musicians, but also for women voters and for women in general.  The perfect addition to a study of the suffragette movement, women's history month (March; incidentally also Music in Our Schools Month) or female composers, opera, or lots of other topics.

One of Ethel Smyth's most memorable pieces -- "The March of the Women" sung by women -- shoulder to shoulder and friend to friend.  Enjoy this beautiful version of this amazing song!

History 

• Women's suffragette movement and history
• Timelines
• Women's history -- expectations, limitations, change over time

Math

• Use timeline to solve problems.

ELA

• Onomatopoeia
• Features of text
• Vocabulary (Look for the words in different font. Why are they different?  Blend features of text with vocabulary.)

​Here are some writer tips:


* Revise, Revise, Revise: Musicians do this all of the time. Do the same with your writing. Sometimes I work for hours on one sentence or one paragraph.
In picture books, every word is golden. Every word counts.


I put my manuscripts through my critique group at least 3 times before submitting to agents/publishers.
Writing is ultimately a group project- you don't have to change things you don't agree with, but try what your fellow writers suggest and see if it improves the manuscript.


* Be persistent : My first book was rejected 13 times before it found a home in the right publisher. My second book also had many rejections before it was picked up by a publisher.

* Think of layers you can add to your book. For RISE UP WITH A SONG, I used the lyrics to the public domain music The March of the Women to inspire my text.

* When writing, think in scenes. Imagine an illustrator trying to illustrate your scenes. Do your words help an illustrator? Write what you mean. Publishers often take out illustrator notes in a manuscript.

* The title to a picture book is key to setting the tone of the book. If you are inspired by your title, it will inform your writing.
As an exercise, try different titles and see how they inform your writing.

* Read your manuscript out loud to see if it flows in a musical way. Have someone read your manuscript to you. You will hear things differently this way.

* Attend SCBWI workshops where you can submit a manuscript to an agent. Be persistent in nudging the agent (nicely) to give you feedback.

Pinterest board with more info about Ethel Smyth and various songs and activities
YouTube playlist with videos and songs relating to Ethel Smyth
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If you were hosting a 1910 English tea something like these yummy peanut butter and jelly bars might be on the menu.  If not, they would be a delicious accompaniment to an afternoon of music of Ethel Smyth -- or anyone else.   Enjoy! And check out more great recipes from Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons!

To purchase RISE UP WITH A SONG at Amazon 
                                                                     at Barnes and Noble
Link to Kirkus starred review
Diane's website
Diane's Twitter
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Diane is offering a picture book critique as a giveaway for this episode.  Comment below for a chance to win a critique!

Be sure to leave reviews, request these PBJamz books for your library, and share out the ones you love on social media, as well as to your friends and family!

Congratulations to Brian and Steena Hernandez for winning copies of BUILDING AN ORCHESTRA OF HOPE by Carmen Oliver!  I know you will both enjoy this amazing book!  If you do enjoy it, please consider leaving reviews, requesting it at your local libraries, and sharing by word of mouth with people who might also enjoy it..

Laura Sperry Gardner's debut picture book is charming and beautiful and multi-layered. It takes a traditional children's song and changes the setting and the animals, fills it full of vocabulary, content, and combines all of that with beautiful illustrations, charm and sweet animals that kids are going to love.  As a bonus, some of the animals will be new to them, and children's interest will be sparked to learn even more!  

In this interview, Laura shares freely about her process.  It's a fabulous interview for anyone who hasn't gotten their "yes" yet.  There are so many wonderful tips for aspiring authors!  It's a goldmine of excellent advice!

This book is beautiful, sweet, multi-layered, and a refreshing change from the well-used "Over in the Meadow" song and books.   This book uses gorgeous, strong vocabulary, with a nice mix of words kids will know and words for kids to learn. The counting aspect is a nice layer.  Laura uses lots of  great words to discuss the homes of the various animals.  Kids will love all the animals, and throw in the fact that it is singable and the book is well-worth the money you'll pay for it!  Pick up a copy from the links below or at your favorite bookseller. If you read it an enjoy it, please consider leaving a review for the book on your favorite site.  It is a beautiful way to help authors out! You can review even if you don't purchase the book.  Check it out from your library if you prefer, and then leave Laura a review.

I already loved the book, but hearing this sweet musical version sung by Nikki made me love it even more! Perfect for teachers to use in their classrooms before or after reading the book!
​But also perfect for families, preschool teachers, daycare workers, music teachers and more!

Math

• ​Preschool/kinder -- counting to 10

Science

• Life cycles
  • Comparing and contrasting
    • Mammals
    • fish
    • birds
    • amphibians
• Animal behavior

ELA

• Lots of vocabulary
  • place words (homes for animals)
  • baby animal names
  • collective nouns
• Sequencing

Since this book is based on a song, it makes perfect sense to use it in a music classroom.  There are lots of ways you could do so:

• Read the book; then sing it.
  • Tap a steady beat (Tap it on your lap, play it on rhythm sticks, etc)
  • Create a simple percussion play-along
• Sing it and have students act it out, draw it, or respond to it in another way
• Compare different versions of "over in the meadow" and "over in the blue ridge"
• sing songs about the various animals you might find in the Blue Ridge
• For preschool and kinder, you could include this with other counting to 10 songs
• Integrate with science/social studies and focus on baby animal names; pull in other songs that relate to baby animals.

YouTube playlist with several teaching activities, book review, interview with Laura and more!
Pinterest board of wildlife in the Blue Ridge Mountains
​Pinterest board with items related to the book: Blue Ridge animals, teaching activities, other versions of the song and more!

When I think about BLUE RIDGE BABIES, I think about camping, since the Blue Ridge Mountains are one of our favorite places to go camping!  And when I think about camping, I think about S'Mores, so the perfect PBJamz recipe for this week is this one for these delightful-looking PBJ S'Mores!  The next time you find yourself around the campfire -- or the fire pit, give these a try, and then check out all the other yums available at PureWow.com  

Congratulations,  Marie Kelly!  You are the winner of the first giveaway book for last week's episode: THIS IS MUSIC: HORNS.  Please send me a mailing address to tonnyefletcher at gmail dot com. I hope you enjoy the book and please remember to review it if you enjoy it, share it out on social media, give the title to folks who would enjoy it and request it at your library!  These are all great ways to thank the authors who come and share!

Stay tuned for the second giveaway!

BUILDING AN ORCHESTRA OF HOPE tells the story of an ordinary man who does extraordinary things for a village built atop a landfill in Paraguay.  He gives a precious gift to this community -- the gift of music.  Published by Eerdmans. Books for Young Readers, and illustrated by Luisa Uribe, this book tells the beautiful story of Favio Chavez and his "Recycled Orchestra."  It is, indeed a story of hope and music and ingenuity and perseverance and. . . .obviously it is a multi-layered book full of many beautiful thoughts and ideas.  Join this man and these young people on the journey of a lifetime -- from the landfill in Paraguay and around the world!

This song is from the documentary Landfill Harmonic.  The video shows the creation of some of the instruments, and the lyrics are in Spanish with English subtitles, so it would invite lots of conversation about many layers of the book as well as the larger story. 

Carmen created a lovely document (which you can download below) with accompanying pictures and book covers. I've uploaded the file below if you'd like to see it as she intended.  The bare text version appears here for those of you who may not be able to download the pretty version with visuals. . . 

Three Tips to Becoming a Successful Writer

By Carmen Oliver

What makes a successful writer from an unsuccessful writer? Here’s a few tips that I think separates the successful writer from the unsuccessful writer.

Write About What Interests You

Write about what you are interested in. Or something important that happened to you. Or maybe it’s something you care about like family, or a cause, or an injustice. Use your voice to tell the story you want to tell. It develops confidence. It unleashes your imagination. It gives you some control. It makes you more invested in the storytelling.




When I’m visiting schools, students often ask me where I get my book ideas. This is always one of my favorite questions because the answer taps into one of my passions in life and leads me to my second tip about being a successful writer.

Read, Read, and Read Some More!

My grandmother instilled a love of reading in me. She was my favorite reading buddy. She would read to me for hours. She would answer my questions about what we were reading. She would read the same book to me over and over again until I felt confident that I could ahem, “read” it on my own.  She and my mother were both avid lovers of wild animals and they opened my eyes to animals from all corners of the world with their magazine subscription to National Geographic. I loved looking at the pictures and they would tell me fun facts about each animal. They purchased subscriptions for me to book clubs and magazines like Highlights for Children (often found in school and public libraries too).

Reading is the cornerstone to becoming a successful writer. Honestly to becoming successful in whatever you want to do. Books have so much to teach us. We learn about pacing, word choice, the five senses, emotion, tension, voice, setting, and problem solving. Sparks fly when we read. Imaginations burst open. We empathize and understand more. And we get ideas for our own stories from what we read.



When I was doing research about spirit bears for the book A Voice for the Spirit Bears: How One Boy Inspired Millions to Save a Rare Animal), my daughter was a fifth grader and was going to be a reading buddy at her school. I thought to myself what if the kindergartner she was assigned to didn’t want to be her buddy? Because she already had her own reading buddy. And what if that reading buddy was a bear? A real bear. What could happen? That was the spark for the idea for Bears Make the Best Reading Buddies.  Imagine what would have happened if I’d been reading about camels!

Butt-in-Chair

There’s an old saying we writers like to use called “Butt-in-Chair.” It means you have to sit there and do the work. Period. Show up. Stay late. No running to the kitchen for a snack every 5 minutes. Or texting. Or surfing the web. No one is going to do the work for you. I tell writers all the time that everyone has their own unique stories to tell. Each of them has experiences I’ve never experienced before. They all have something important to say but if they don’t sit in a proverbial “chair” and drop or type the words onto the paper/screen – we’ll never hear it.  It’s hard work to ignore a chocolate fudge brownie craving or a morning matinee, but sitting in your chair, writing sentence after sentence gets it done. It’s hard work, but it’s worth it! 

 

What makes a successful writer? It’s ordinary people who show up every day and do the work. They don’t talk about being a writer, they write about it. And they don’t give up until they get it right. It’s really that simple; interest+reading+Butt-in-Chair = Writer.


Tag Line: 

Carmen Oliver is the author of many award-winning picture books for children including A Voice for the Spirit Bears: How One Boy Inspired Millions to Save a Rare Animal, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard, Building an Orchestra of Hope: How Favio Chavez Taught Children to Make Music From Trash, a Junior Library Gold Standard (Oct 25, 2022), and The Twilight Library (Sept 6, 2022). She’s also the author of the Bears Make the Best Buddies series (Reading, Writing, Math, Science). She also teaches writing at the Writing Barn and The Highlights Foundation and loves speaking at schools, conferences and festivals. She lives with her family outside of Austin, Texas. To connect or learn more about Carmen and her books visit www.carmenoliver.com or Twitter or Facebook.

​

Pinterest board with videos, printables, and all sorts of things related to this topic.
YouTube playlist with videos of the orchestra playing, trailers for the documentary and more!
Creating recycled instruments:
27 ideas
52 ideas

These little Protein Bites/Power balls/Energy Balls or whatever you'd like to call them make the perfect snack before or after rehearsal or program!  Full of protein and energy -- relatively healthy and nutritious make these an encore performer that really hit a high note, and are sure to be an audience pleaser!

Sarah Meade, You are the winner of a signed copy of RAJA'S. PET CAMEL!!!  I know you and your kids will love this book! 

Nikki Walker, You are the winner of a Zoom read-aloud session with Anita Amin!   I'll connect the two of you via email to arrange a time that is mutually good!

Congratulations to BOTH of you and thanks to everyone who left comments and is supporting PBJamz!  You guys all rock!

When you get two musicians together to talk music and two authors together to talk reading, books, literacy and writing, you might as well settle in. This one is a bit longer, but there are so many beautiful connections to family, culture, and voice, in addition to chatting about the importance of valuing music in front of our students, modeling, and lots of discussion of brass and woodwinds -- and paper towel tubes and noisemakers, oh, and car horns!  Check it out!

This second installment of her THIS IS MUSIC board book series does not disappoint!  With fun and vibrant illustrations, and a surprising amount of content, Rekha introduces young (and maybe not so young) readers/listeners to the world of horns, and then shares some incredible cultural horns, including the vuvuzela, and some horns you MAY not think of when you consider making music! From traditional to nontraditional, with musical vocabulary and the continuing thread that anyone can make music, along with giving them the tools to do so (whether that's a brass or woodwind or a paper towel tube or a conch shell), this book fulfills its promise to redefine music in very accessible ways.

This song starts with a drum, just like Rekha's board book series, and then introduces several horns in the marching band and ends with cymbals.  This is a fun song set to a possibly familiar tune (When the Saints Go Marching In).  It would be fun to do movement activities, marching, imaginative play with various instruments, playing drums, non-traditional horns for pretend play, identifying various instruments by their image and sound, introduction to marching band, contrasting marching band with orchestra, categorizing instruments further into woodwinds and brass and percussion, etc.  Full of humor and fun!

Words with multiple meanings:
horn -- a musical instrument, part of an animal, part of a car that makes noise, etc.
blow --movement of the wind, pushing air through your lips, etc.
play -- A story acted out, to use an instrument to make music, to enjoy an activity for fun, etc.
brass -- a shiny metal, an instrument made of metal with a cup-shaped mouthpiece, officers/someone in charge

Different kinds of horns -- Venn diagram, T-charts, lists, etc.

Onomatopoeia  (throughout the book). Listen to different horn sounds -- how would you write an onomatopoeia for each sound?

Features of text -- size/color/font

Adjectives -- shiny, three, different, loud, etc. (adjective hunt, what other adjectives could you use? )  Great companion book LISTEN TO MY TRUMPET by Mo Willems

​

YouTube playlist with samples of various horns, performances and horn songs.
​

These little PBJ Blondie Bites or Cups remind me of brass mouthpieces, so I chose them to be our highlighted snack for this week!  They sound absolutely delicious, and I look forward to trying them.  If you try them, let me know in the comments!   You could certainly sub out different flavors of jam/jelly for the centers.  You can find the recipe here.  Enjoy! And check out lots of other delicious recipes at https://www.thisisnotdietfood.com/ 

Nelly, you are the winner of Nancy's songbook and CD!  Huge congratulations!  I know you and your daughter will love Rhythm of the Rocks! I'll be in touch on Twitter :-)

Watch and learn the inspiration for Anita's book, musical connections, and personal tidbits of Indian culture.  Anita is a sweetheart, and this book is delightfully fun!  You're in for a treat!

Get your kiddos up and moving to a Bollywood beat.  An Indian fusion dance form that is fun and helps your students (or your kids) get lots of energy out.  This one is easy enough it will be great for the family to try together! If Bollywood isn't your thing, there are some educational songs about India and camels, lots of Indian musical instruments, and you can't talk about camels without talking about Alice.  You can find all those jams and more in the YouTube playlist in the links section!

The teaching guide from Anita's website (lots of ELA standards and activities!)

Social studies topics:
India --geography and culture (food, music, etc)

• Maps/globes
• Tasting menu (dates, hummus, naan, chai, chickpeas, etc.)
• Musical instruments
• Pushkar Fair

Goods/Services/market

• Supply/demand
• Wants/needs

Science topics:

• Various habitats of India
• Various animals of India
  • Camels
  • Horses
  • Tigers
  • Elephants

Arts:

• Indian artists/art styles
• Indian dance

Math

• Story problems about camels
• Market problems
• Number of dates, etc.
• weights/measures

Pets

• Unusual pets
• Writing about pets
• Persuasive writing

There are so many ideas on the YouTube playlist and the Pinterest board!  Be sure to check those out in the links section!

Here are some broad topics:

• Musical instruments of India
• Indian music samples
• Bollywood dancing
• Songs about camels
• Yoga/meditative music

In my classroom, I would use this book as part of a Music Around the World theme, or as a mini-unit on the music of India and introduce lots of musical instruments of India, share examples from Pushkar Festival, Indian music and culture, and perhaps even food.

Writing prompts:

"The Most Unusual Pet"
If I had a pet camel . . . 
Persuasive writing "A _________ would make a good pet because" or "I would be a responsible pet owner because. . . "

Research a topic of Indian culture and write a paragraph/essay/poem/etc.

Was Raja's pet camel a good pet? Why or why not?

My favorite Indian instrument is ______ because.

I like/don't like tabla music because . . . . 

I like/don't like Bollywood dancing because . . . 

Create a travel brochure for India.

Write a report about an animal or a musical instrument from India.

Yoga is ____________ because __________. . . . .

"A Ride on a Camel"

"The Dancing Camel"

​

1. Learn as much as you can. My work and education were all STEM-related. I had no background in creative writing or literature. But I’ve been able to apply my STEM background to many of my books, so don’t let a non-writing background hold you back. Authors come from all walks of life. Reading and just writing have been the best ways for me to learn. I study the kinds of books I want to write. There are stacks of picture books, chapter books, and middle grade books sitting on my dining room table waiting to be dissected. I read through a book first then go back and take notes on story structure, characters, word choices, and word count. When I first started writing as an adult, I took courses at the Institute of Children’s Literature. Joining organizations such as SCBWI, Julie Hedlund’s 12 x 12 Picture Book Challenge, Inked Voices, and the Writing Barn’s Courage to Create helps me learn more about craft and the market, and they connect me with other writers, some of whom are now my writing partners. Following writers on social media helps too – many share writing tips and opportunities.
 
2. Enjoy the process, and don’t worry about getting published right away. Some writers only submit their book once and their book gets accepted, but this is rare. Many, if not most writers, have a longer road to publication. They spend years learning, writing, revising, and submitting before their first publication. My debut picture book, Raja’s Pet Camel, was a labor of love that sporadically grew over 11 years. Each book starts the whole writing-submitting cycle over again – a cycle that often accumulates a number of rejections before the book is finally published. Rejections are something to be proud of because it means you’re out there trying, but they can still feel discouraging. If you write because you enjoy it, it will help you push through to the time when you can finally sign a contract and celebrate!

3. Don’t be afraid. When I first started writing, I was afraid to even pick up my pen and write. My internal editor is awful, always telling me nothing I write is good enough. Almost 40 books later, I still struggle with this, but I’ve learned to ignore it when I have a deadline, because if I don’t pick up my pen and write, nothing will ever get written. I’m often afraid to show my work to others too. So much of my heart goes into it. But what if they hate it? Or worse, they’re just nonchalant towards it. First drafts are often messy for everyone, so don’t worry what others will think. Just sit down and write your story. Over time, go back and revise it until you feel you can’t go any further with it. Then you might want to consider showing it to a trusted writing partner. Their feedback can be invaluable and one of your best learning experiences. But share only when you feel comfortable. It’s okay to keep it secret until you’re ready.

4. Create a pitch. Before I started taking on work-for-hire projects (some publishing companies hire writers to write children’s books for them), I was a panster. In other words, I never wrote from an outline. My stories wandered all over the place and halfway through the plot I would get stuck. I couldn’t afford this time loss with my work-for-hire projects. Most projects, I only had one month to write the book! Now, I outline my stories. My outlines may change as I write, but at least I have some direction. Before I outline my story though, I write a pitch. A pitch is 1-2 sentences about what the book is about, including what is at stake for the main character. An example of a pitch might be: When y happens, the main character must find a way to solve it or x will happen. The pitch drives my outline and focuses the plot. Later, you can include the pitch in query letters when you submit your work. You might even find it incorporated on the back cover of your first published book!

Pinterest board with lots of camel activities, Indian culture, music, geography, food and more!

​YouTube playlist with Indian music and instruments, songs about camels, Bollywood dance-alongs, and more!

Link to the readers' guide and to purchase books is here.

One idea for teaching with RAJA's PET CAMEL from Twitter

Here's the link for this Indian-inspired PBJamz snack, courtesy of Nourish & Tempt.  These are a perfect companion to this episode, since dates figure prominently in the story.  I haven't tried them yet, but in my head, these are the perfect balance of salty and sweet, smooth and chewy,  a touch of bitter.  The date serves as the J in this PBJamz snack.  I think Raja would approve!  If you try them, comment below and let us know how you like them or scoot over to Nourish and Tempt and let them know you loved them!  When I try these, I plan to have masala chai alongside.  It's a lovely spiced milk tea.  You can easily buy ready-made teabags for Chai, but I love making it homemade.  If you'd like to try, here's an authentic recipe to start you on your way!

Anita's website

Link to the readers' guide and to purchase books is here.

​Instagram link

Twitter
​

Anita is giving away a signed copy of RAJA'S PET CAMEL and a classroom Zoom visit!  To be eligible, simply leave a comment below, and your name will go into the drawing. There will be 2 prize winners, so leave us a comment!  You do NOT want to  MISS this!

Please remember to request her book at your local library, school library, etc., write a review if you enjoy the book, share with a friend who might enjoy it, share it out on social media, etc.  

Jany Campana is the winner of a signed copy of MISTER ROGERS' GIFT OF MUSIC!  Congratulations, Jany!  Thanks for always supporting PBJamz!  I know you'll love this book! Thanks, Donna Cangelosi for a beautiful book and a beautiful episode of PBJamz!  I enjoyed putting it together!  

What a lovely chat with Nancy Stewart!  I discovered Nancy's website after I started doing PBJamz, and I thought, "Where has this been all my teaching life?!"  It is chock full of amazing resources that Nancy offers free of charge to anyone who would like to use them!  Many of them have sheet music and activities, even printables to go along.  In this first interview, Nancy and I talk music and literacy: how the two are connected and influence each other and the importance of music to literacy!  In part B in the teacher tips section, Nancy shared with me some snippets of how she uses some of her songs with kids to enhance and promote literacy in fun ways, so don't miss that second video coming next week (9/22/22). Make sure you leave a comment at the end of the blog to be eligible to win a CD & songbook from Nancy "Rhythm of the Rocks" -- a multicultural mix of songs!  You don't want to miss out!

In the interview, Nancy shares lots of songs and activities, but since Fall is knocking on our doors and many of you will be heading to the pumpkin patch, I thought this little jam would be great to highlight for the season, and will be easily used by families, daycares, preschools, classroom teachers and farms with pumpkin patches, too!  A very versatile song that doesn't need any instrumentation!

I cannot do any better than what Nancy shares below!  Her website (https://nancymusic.com) and the companion website (https://singwithourkids.com) are chock full of amazing songs and activities.  She offers sheet music, recordings, teaching ideas, etc.  If you are a parent, or a teacher, or a preschool teacher, or a daycare worker, or a music teacher, or an aunt, etc.  PLEASE go check out Nancy's sites.  Seriously!  Bookmark them! Add them to your resources.  So much good music, excellent tips and so much more on those two sites (and her YouTube channel . . . it's linked up below, and on her websites, too!). There is just really nothing more to add. . . . 

After watching back these videos, I really think whatever I would share pales in comparison.  Here are some sections of Nancy's website that you may find of specific interest, although I would suggest perusing them yourself.  There is lots of great content that you could certainly integrate into your music lessons! And so many fabulous songs that deserve to be shared!

Tips and tricks from the experts

​Connection between music and literacy

https://nancymusic.com/music-why-sing.htm

Gifts, crafts and activities section

Inspired by my conversations with Nancy . . . 
1. Write about a song that helped you learn something. 
2.  Write about a special musical memory.
3. Find a special book based on a song and write something inspired by the song or the book.
4.  Write about your favorite song.  Why is it special to you?
5.  Find two books that sing the same song.  Which one do you like best?  Why?
6.   Find a song on Nancy's website and write about what it reminds you of, or a story inspired by it.
7. (for adult authors) Write about your early literacy experiences.  Did music play a role?  If so, how?
8.  Write about a song that helped you through a difficult time.
9. Write about a song that a teacher shared with you.
10.  Do you think music makes sad things easier to talk/think about?  Why/why not?
11.  Write a list of rhyming words.  See if it inspires a story, song, or poem.
12.  Listen to some instrumental music.  See if a story emerges.
13.  Find a story that you think deserves a song and write one for it.
14.  Think of a topic that you think kids would really enjoy and write a story or song about it.

So even though Nancy is more of a songwriter, there are some GREAT tips here, most of which cut across writing picture books as well as songs.  Also, this link on Nancy's website will give you some great considerations for writing picture books that sing!

Here are Nancy's tips for writing (songs and more) for kids:

Seven Songwriting Tips (or things to look for in children's songs)
Writing songs for children is an honor and a responsibility- and it's FUN! Children will pretty much embrace the songs they are exposed to repeatedly which gives songwriters a lot of influence in how and what children learn. Through our songs we can teach them about everything from language and literacy, to themselves and the world around them. Songs work because they deliver language through the emotion carried by the melody, making songs stick in our heads. Below are some simple tips to help you write songs that can impact children in big and small ways, and links to examples of my songs that demonstrate each one.
Tip #1:  Interaction is key when singing with kids as they engage and learn by doing! Three elements make songs interactive; rhythm, repetition, and rhyme. Using one or more of these elements in your song will pretty much guarantee interaction. 
Examples of Songs:
Rhythm: When I Hear the Music 
Repetition: Arachnid 
Rhyme: A Hunting We Will Go 

Tip #2: Think about how you want to use the song, or how you want the children to respond. Do you want them to move? Read? Be still? Listen? Draw? Your lyrics and the melody, and any instrumentation will determine how they respond. Make sure the tempo and music match the words so your intent is understood.  Examples of Songs:
Hibernating Animals (moving)
JUMP!  (reading and singing)
Wintertime is Here/ I'm Staying Just as Still as I Can (staying still)

Tip 3: Learn your song before you sing it with kids. This sounds like a no-brainer, but writing a song and learning it are two different things! Then sing it with as many kids as you can. You will get immediate feedback which may lead to changes and or improvements you never imagined.
Example of Song:
Dinosaurs in Cars This is perhaps my most popular song, and it's constantly evolving as children bring their own ideas to the story!

Tip #4: Try writing a song in a minor key. Minor melodies evoke strong emotions that fascinate children, and they are always a hit. (think sad, scary, dangerous, or mischievous).
Examples of songs in minor keys
Nocturnal Animals
Big Black Crow
October Moon 
Circle Round 


Tip #5: If you’re new to writing children’s songs, pick subjects that interest the ages you are writing for.
Song examples:
Babies and toddlers: animals, vehicles, family  https://nancymusic.com/SOM/2016/ill-drive-a-dump-truck.htm 
Preschoolers: Dinosaurs, Vehicles, Movement https://nancymusic.com/SOM/2014/energy.htm 
K-2 Rhyming, reading, movement, science https://nancymusic.com/SOM/2014/once-upon-a-time.htm 

Tip #6.  Avoid having melody give words an un-natural pronunciation. For example,  If you have the word "LI-brar-y" in your lyrics, you don't want the melody to make you sing li-BRAR-y. 


Tip #7. Lastly, dip into your own childhood for ideas and "thinking like a child." A single memory can give you a simple idea for a song or take you down a long and winding path to something even more meaningful- and it can be very therapeutic!
Song Example:
Thinking Cap
The Gift (Insect Song)

Nancy's YouTube channel
​Resource Links from Nancy's page 
​

This episode wouldn't be complete if we didn't include the Peanut Butter. . .Jelly!  song.  Here is the link from Nancy's page. Enjoy singing along while you make this delicious Grilled PBJ sammie!

This grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwich seems like the perfect way to welcome fall to me.  Take your PBJ up to "another level".  Check out the other recipes and tips available at She Saved by Keri Lyn. 

Nancy's links:
​Nancymusic website link
​Sing with Our Kids website link
​Nancy's YouTube channel
Instagram
​

Nancy is graciously offering a CD and songbook for a very lucky winner!  This would be perfect for a music teacher, a family with young kids, a daycare worker, preschool teacher or an elementary school teacher, or really anyone who enjoys kids' music.(check out photo below). 

The winner of a critique from Rekha Rajan is Angel, and the winner of a signed copy of the book is Jia!  Thanks for your support of Rekha and PBJamz!  I hope you both enjoy your prizes!

Donna preferred to do a written interview, so I have a video book review for you today of her book and her interview questions and answers will be directly below.  This book is beautiful!  The words, the pictures, the arrangement.  It is a beautiful tribute to a beautiful man.

1.  Talk about the inspiration for this book.  Where did the idea come from?

Thank you so much for having me on your blog, Tonnye! The heart of MISTER
ROGERS’ GIFT OF MUSIC grew from my work as a child psychologist and my
frustration hearing story after story about kids being bullied. In 2016, I decided to
write a picture book biography about someone who helped children. It didn’t take
long to think of Fred Rogers. At the time, very few picture books had been written
about him, so I got right to work. After reading about Fred’s childhood and the
challenges he overcame, I knew I had to write a story about this wonderful man.

2.  Your book apparently focuses on the musical aspect of Fred Rogers. What role
did music play in the life of Mister Rogers?

As a young boy, Fred suffered with asthma and spent countless hours stuck inside.
One of his earliest memories was the joy he experienced hearing his grandfather
play the violin. By five, Fred learned to play the piano and discovered that music
was a great way to express his emotions. Fred went on to study music composition
in college. As everyone knows, he used his gift of music on Mister Rogers’
Neighborhood to brighten the lives of countless children.

3.  As an author, how did you go about conducting research for this book?

I first read articles and books to understand Fred’s childhood and how he became
the beloved Mister Rogers. Then, I watched a series of interviews Fred did with
Karen Herman for the Archive of American Television in 1999. In one discussion,
Fred described music as his first love, the way he expressed himself, and one of his
gifts to children. Hearing Fred’s passion for music, I knew I had my story. I also
watched interviews, videos, and many episodes of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,
visited his alma mater, Rollins College, and studied the lyrics of his songs.

4.  What advice do you have for authors who might want to write a PB biography?
I've heard it a tough sell in today's market. 

Read everything you can. Search for primary sources, such as videos, letters, and
other ways to study the person’s life, view of the world, and the way they relate to
others. If possible, do field research to walk in your character’s shoes. Then, find
an interesting, unique aspect of the person’s life that you relate to and which will
resonate with kids. Ask yourself: What will make kids want to read this story?
What will make it stand out? When you have your idea, read mentor texts. It’s
amazing how many fun ways there are to tell a story.

Why do you think this one stood out, even though there are several other PB
biographies about Mr. Rogers?

Unlike other picture books about Fred Rogers, my story focuses specifically on the
role music played in his life and how he used it to help kids. I also incorporated a
neighborhood theme to show how Fred brought children throughout the country
together with his gift of music.

5.  How do you envision teachers using your book in their classroom?  Are there
teaching guides/resources available?  What is one thing you hope teachers will
emphasize with their students if they do use this book?

In addition to introducing children to the beloved Fred Rogers, I envision teachers
using MISTER ROGERS’ GIFT OF MUSIC to help kids understand and find
creative ways to express uncomfortable feelings. I also hope the book will foster
kindness and help children see that they are important because of their uniqueness,
not only because of their accomplishments.

6. After writing this book, what do you think Mr. Rogers would say is the most
important job of music teachers?  What would he encourage us to do?

Fred Rogers was fascinated with all kinds of music. On Mister Rogers’
Neighborhood, he invited many musicians, including trumpeter Wynton Marsalis
and cellist Yo-Yo Ma (who appear in MISTER ROGERS’ GIFT OF MUSIC) to
perform and talk about their instruments. Fred frequently highlighted that music is
a great way to express ourselves, but that learning to play an instrument takes time
and determination. I think Fred would love music teachers to continue where he
left off—introducing kids to different genres of music, highlighting that people
have different styles of expressing themselves with it, and encouraging kids to
explore what types of melodies and instruments speak to them. I also think Mister
Rogers would thank music teachers and all teachers for helping kids learn and
grow. He often said, “Anyone who does anything to help a child in his life is a hero
to me.”

7.  How did your role as psychologist and that training help prepare you to write
this book? 

My training and work as a child psychologist enables me to be especially tuned in
and empathic regarding children’s feelings and internal experiences. This lens
helped me find words to convey what Fred must have felt when he was sick and
bullied as a kid and the powerful healing influence music served for him.

As a child psychologist, do you have recommendations for how school counselors
might use this book in their interactions with students?

Counselors can use the story to help children explore and understand their
uncomfortable emotions. This spread is particularly useful for dealing with anger
and frustration. Page Street Kids designed this feelings thermometer activity to to
help kids explore how they feel and ways to cope when experiencing different
levels of mad. The feelings thermometer (linked as a file below along with a printable poster) can also be adapted for discussing sad, scared, lonely, and worried feelings. In addition,
counselors can use the book to encourage children to use music and other creative
arts to express and soothe themselves.

This is a fun little remix of  "Sing Together".  If this one is not your jam, check out lots of other pieces in the YouTube playlist.  There are so many excellent pieces to share there.  Enjoy perusing the list.  It's in the links section below.  

There are so many wonderful books and videos available about Mister Rogers.  My utmost suggestion would be to do a unit study on him.  Mr. Rogers philosophies and kindness and encouragement would be helpful to kids of all ages.  (You can check out the Pinterest board in the links section for additional books and activities to use for a unit study.)

For this particular book, here are some topics, lessons, and activities that I think would be really helpful:

• Font/features of text and how they affect the storytelling of a book
• Bibliography -- what it is, how it works
• Metaphor "Music is sunshine"
• Personification "fingers danced across the keys" etc.
• adjective search
• Use of color in illustrations -- drawing inferences
• Bullying, and its effect on the victims
• SEL --
  • the power of music
  • ID feelings
  • using music to express feelings
• At the beginning there are directional words and map terminology
• using the text and the author's note, you could craft some excellent math problems for solving!

So many different ways to go here -- lots of music in this book!

• Using music as a vehicle/strategy for identifying and dealing with/processing feelings
• Analyzing lyrics for rhyme, rhythm, syllabication
• Different instruments mentioned/what people are called that play them:
  • Piano/pianist
  • guitar/guitarist
  • cello/cellist
  • trumpet/trumpeter
  • violin/violinist
• Famouse musicians featured in the book/on the show:
  • Wynton Marsalis (trumpet)
  • Yo-Yo Ma (cello)
• Comparing various versions of Mr. Rogers' songs (check the YouTube playlist to get you started, but there are many many more. . . )
• Discussing timbre of instruments/how they make you feel
• Comparing different kinds of songs (jingles vs. serenades, etc.)

​1. Read picture books every chance you get.
2. Write stories that have personal meaning and tug at your heart.
3 Don’t forget to play! Play replenishes our spirits, quiets our inner critic, and promotes
creativity.

1. Choose a feeling and write a song about that feeling.
2.  Title:  Music is Sunshine
3. Choose one of Mr. Rogers' songs and write about what the lyrics mean to you.
4. How does music make you feel?
5.  Write about a time when music helped you feel better.
6.  How did bullying affect Mr. Rogers?
7.  Why was music important to Mr. Rogers?
8.  Write about what the word neighborhood means to you.
9.  How is a neighborhood like a choir?
10.  If you were invited to be on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood show, what message would you want to share?
11.  Compare 2 of Mr. Rogers' songs.  Which one do you like best?  Why?
12. Compare 2 versions of one of the songs.  Which one do you prefer?  Why?
13.  Is music important to you?  Why or why not?
​14.  When you're having a bad day, what kind of music do you want to listen to?  Why?

Since Mister Rogers often ate granola for breakfast, I thought it was appropriate to share a PBJ granola recipe for this episode.  Simple ingredients (none with a mother, as was Mister Rogers' food preference -- he was a vegetarian) and all yummy and delicious.  If you make it, let us know in the comments.  You can find the recipe here: https://www.thismamaloves.com/granola-recipe/ Be sure to check out all of This Mama Loves' recipes and tips for food, crafts, life, and travel,  too!

Donna has graciously agreed, in conjunction with her publisher Page Street Kids to give away a signed copy of her beautiful book. Also, please note the generous freebies above in the interview portion -- printable poster and feelings thermometer.  

To be eligible to win a copy of the book, leave a comment below!

Here are the links for Donna, her publisher, book, etc:

​Twitter link
​Linktree site (This has all the purchase information for MISTER ROGERS' GIFT OF MUSIC)
Website
​Instagram page

Illustrator's website
Publisher info

Reminder:  If you enjoy these books and authors, please support them by:
1.  Purchasing their books
2. Recommending them to friends, coworkers, educators, etc.
3. Requesting  and checking out their books at your local library
4. Leaving positive reviews (just 50 reviews on Amazon bumps a book up to recommended status.) If you'd rather not support Amazon,  review the books on Barnes and Noble or Goodreads.

Congratulations to Steena Hernandez!!!! You're the winner of a signed copy of HOW TO BE A ROCKSTAR by Lisa Tolin.  I'll send you messages to get you connected. Steena, I know you and your kids are going to love it so much! If you could do a. review after reading I know Lisa will appreciate it!

Join Rekha Rajan (musician, educator, advocate, and author) as we talk about her brand new book (the first in a series of 4) THIS IS MUSIC: DRUMS. We discuss the origins of the series, her heart as an educator, the importance of music AND reading in early childhood and so much more. Thanks to the limitations of Zoom our little drum experience at the end didn't work out, so I trimmed that out, but it's super easy face-face to do your own call and response, allow children/students to keep that steady beat and so much more! ​

While this is a board book, it is NOT limited to Littles.  Sure, it's perfect for toddlers and preschool, but you can also use it with school-age kids, in your family, homeschool, and in the larger school setting!  My philosophy is picture books (including board books) are for everybody! It's a compact little nugget full of lots of ideas for drumming fun!  For even more drumming fun, check out the jam below, and all the teacher tips linked up in those sections as well as in the links section.  There is so much fun to be had.  The words were written by Rekha, the pictures by the talented Tania Yakunova and the book was published by RISExPenguin Workshop.

This fun little ditty matches beautifully with the refrain in this book KEEP THE BEAT!  It's perfect for singing along, playing along,  and practicing that steady beat. The call-and-response makes it super easy for Littles, and it gives them many ways to feel the beat.

There are several things you could highlight from this book in the general ed classroom.

1. Features of text -- There is bold print, different fonts, all caps, and different sizes of text in this book.  It would be wonderful for teaching those aspects of features of text.

2. Onomatopoeia -- lots of sound words throughout the text.

3. Types of sentences -- Because this book is relatively short, and contains multiple examples of different sentence types, that would be a great mini-lesson.  You'll find questions (interrogative sentences), exclamations (exclamatory sentences), and commands (imperative sentences) and even interjections.

Well, obviously, this book is all about drums, so that's the most obvious choice!
Drums/Percussion -- as a musical instrument group. Definition of percussion: instruments that you shake, tap, or scrub. Defining and classifying what are percussion instruments and which category do they belong to would be a great topic to match this book.

There are some different directions you could take the discussion: identifying different drums/percussion instruments and/or various cultures and their various percussion instruments.

Keeping a steady beat.  That is a big focus in the book, so that's a natural direction.  Practice with a variety of percussion instruments, body percussion, and more.  There are so many ways to keep a steady beat and the more children practice, the more adept they'll be in the long run. 

Short, sweet, and super-important, here are Rekha's tips for authors:
​
1. Make a plan to write every day, even if it just one sentence or gathering ideas
2. Find colleagues, friends, avid readers and get feedback (not just from people who love you - like me asking my Mom to read everything and she loves it) but individuals who can help you shape and hone your craft
3. Never give up!

1.  Write a story about  the ____________ drum (biggest, loudest, most unusual . . .)
2.  Write a story with the three different kinds of percussion: things you strike, scrub/rub, and shake.
3.  Write about a drummer that couldn't keep a steady beat.
4.  Listen around you for steady beat -- keep a list of things that make a steady beat.
5.  Write an acrostic poem using using  DRUM, PERCUSSION or STEADY BEAT.
6. Write a poem with a steady beat.
7.  Write about your favorite kind of drum/percussion.
8. Write about a kid who finds a drum in an unusual place.
9. Write about keeping a beat on something very unusual.
10. Write about keeping the beat in the bathtub.

Well, a cake may not be a drum, but it would be the perfect snack to go along with this book!  This one is full of delicious peanut butter and jelly (PBJ) yumminess!  You can find the recipe here and make your own drum-shaped, but not a drum PBJ cake!  I haven't yet, but it's definitely on my list to try!

Congratulations to Cathy Sheafor!  ​You are the winner of a critique from Megan Hoyt!  Congratulations and best of luck with your manuscript! Please tell your friends about PBJamz and come back any time to find out more about picture books with musical connections and leave a comment.  

Everyone stay tuned and come back next week for part 2 -- tons of teacher tips for general education, music education, homeschool, preschool, and family fun!  Tips, a Pinterest board and a YouTube playlist full of amazing ways to use this superfun book!

Lisa and I talk about all the musical connections, parenting, teaching, how to foster creativity, how important it is to learn from our children and students just like they learn from us!  It's important to keep on going, but also important to be willing to be vulnerable and admit that you don't have all the answers.  It's a rich, deep conversation ! 

This book is part instruction manual, part ode to rock 'n roll, part treaty to persevere, and part plain family fun!  Have you ever been in a family band?  Come join this family with siblings who would like to rock the house together.

Perfect for preschool, kindergarten, or any age that enjoys a rockin' edge on their alphabet!   Mr. Al actually has a whole CD of cool rockin' music called "Kids Wanna Rock".  Superfun, and I used it all the time with my second graders when I was in the regular classroom! Here's a link if you'd like to purchase the CD -- lots of old rock standards modified for a kid audience. https://melodyhousemusic.com/shop/music/mr-al-music/kids-wanna-rock/?v=ed5e635ddcfb  I especially like Kids Wanna Rock and I Want Candy.  This song below is awesome too -- a rockin' version of the ABC song.  One thing I especially like about this one is that LMNOP don't get all clumped together in this version.  There are lots of ways you could use it in the classroom (in addition to the obvious way of learning the alphabet). Accompany it with instruments, have kids hold up pictures of things that begin with that letter as he sings.  Use it as an opener/attention-getter for ABC order activity or any alphabet related activity.  Be sure to check out the YouTube playlist in next week's additions to this episode down in the links section.  You'll find more songs and more ways to integrate rock into your regular or music classroom!

1. Silence your inner critic.
You’ll face a lot of criticism and rejection as a writer. You don’t need to join that chorus. Personally, I find running, meditating and free writing help my brain get to a more creative place.
​2. Play.
For me, the best writing comes from a place of joy. Sometimes that means capturing something meaningful or joyful to you on the page. Sometimes that means stepping away for a while and filling your well with non-writing joy.
3. Take a bow.
​Try to celebrate small wins. Even if you get an agent or a book deal, those achievements are infrequent, not in your control, and can take years. Plus they’re usually bookended by rejection. Celebrate finishing a draft or figuring out a revision. Supply your own applause - or drop me a line and I’ll clap for you anytime!

1.  What cool band name would you choose?  Why?
2.  Which is cooler?  Electric guitar, Bass, or Drums?  Explain.
3.  Create a concert poster for your band.
4. Which rock sub-genre is best and why?
5. Where would you MOST like to perform?
6 What does it mean "Always leave your audience wanting more."?
7. Write another "how to" story.

Well, this is a FIRST, and I LOVE it!  When Lisa and I were chatting, she said, "Oh, BTW, I have a great peanut butter and jelly cookie recipe if you want it. . . IF I WANT IT. . . .LOL . . . so this week, a special treat -- a PBJ snack recipe from the author herself!


Lisa Tolin’s PB&J thumbprint cookies (about 30 cookies)
I love this recipe because it’s easy and gluten-free, and it’s now my kids’ favorite!

Ingredients:
2 large eggs
¾ cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed light brown sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon kosher salt
16.3 -oz container smooth peanut butter
2/3 cup jelly

​Heat oven to 350 F. Line two baking sheets with parchment. In a large bowl, whisk eggs, sugars, vanilla and salt for a few minutes until smooth. (You can use a mixer for this, but it’s not necessary.) Add peanut butter and combine until smooth. Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the baking sheets. Stick your thumb in the center to create a little thumbprint well (or use a rounded teaspoon bottom). Bake for 6 minutes, then pull out the sheet and add about a teaspoon of jelly to each thumbprint. Stick the cookies back in, rotating the sheets, for another 6-8 minutes. Allow cookies to cool on sheets, then transfer to a wire rack to cool thoroughly.

Congratulations to Jennifer Thomas!! You are the winner of one of Kimberly Gordon Biddle’s books!!! And congratulations to Steena Hernandez! You have won a Zoom session with Kimberly!! Thanks so much for joining me and Kimberly for PBJamz! Kimberly will be in touch about your prizes!!

Megan and I are both Carolina girls with a love for music, beautiful language and gorgeous picture books, so I really enjoyed our conversation about Carnegie Hall, Isaac Stern, music in the schools, music as a universal language and so much more!  I hope you enjoy our chat as much as we did!  Megan is giving away a critique of a picture book manuscript, so PB writers, be sure to leave a comment below to be eligible!  I'll do a random drawing from everyone who comments.

Whether you are traveling to New York City or teaching a unit on activism, teaching about Carnegie Hall in music class, or looking to focus on ELA standards for figurative language and literary devices, this book literally has something for everyone.  There are so many layers, you won't have any difficulty finding a way to use it in your family or school. Notwithstanding it is simply beautiful to read and absorb. The book, published by Quill Tree Books and beautifully illustrated by Katie Hickey is about the journey to save Carnegie Hall, when it was slated to be torn down.  I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did!  Please remember to support the authors by:
1. purchasing the book if you'd like
2. requesting the book at your local library
3.  leaving a review for the book on Amazon, GoodReads, or Barnes and Noble
4.  Sharing this episode with a friend who might enjoy it
5.  Sharing book recommendations with friends, family, or on social media.

So many ways to use this book in the music classroom!

• History of Carnegie Hall
• Impact on the world of music
• Biography -- Isaac Stern; listen to his performances
• Learn about violin/string family
• Study the musicians/composers who were mentioned who performed at Carnegie Hall
  • Tchaicovsky
  • Marian Anderson
  • Duke Ellington
• Watch performances from Carnegie Hall; discuss genre, musicality, performers, etc.
• Explore resources for music teachers from Carnegie Hall
• Check out the YouTube playlist for more!

1.  If you could perform at Carnegie Hall, what would you like to do?
2.  Write an acrostic Poem for CARNEGIE HALL.
3.  Write a "How to" article for  how to be an activist/how to make a difference.
4.  Write about something in your community that needs changing and how you would go about helping the change happen.
5.  Write a biography for one of the people mentioned in the book.
6.  Write a letter to Isaac Stern or Robert Moses telling them what you think about their efforts.
7.  Listen to a performance from Carnegie Hall and write something to respond to the music.
8.  Write a travel brochure for Carnegie Hall.
9. Listen to several performances from Carnegie Hall and write about which was your favorite -- and why.
​10.  Do you think Robert Moses was a villain in this story?  Why? or why not?

Pinterest board​ containing lots of links to go along with THE GREATEST SONG OF ALL 
​YouTube playlist with performances, history and more from Carnegie Hall
www.youtube.com/c/carnegiehallCarnegie Hall YouTube channel
​Carnegie Hall education resources
www.carnegiehall.orgCarnegie Hall website
​

After a night at the theater or a musical performance, a late night milkshake is the perfect go-to.  You could grab one at  your local drive-through or craft your own at home.  This amazing PBJ milkshake comes to you courtesy of hip2save.com, and is inspired by a Disney shake.  They give lots of options for personalizing your own PBJ shake.  You can find the link to the recipe below:

​https://hip2save.com/recipes/peanut-butter-and-jelly-shake/

​Or, just let your imagination run wild and compose your own PBJ shake worthy of an encore performance at Carnegie Hall.

Megan has generously donated a Picture book manuscript critique, so make sure you  comment below if you're a writer who would like Megan's eyes on your manuscript for some constructive feedback.  If you're NOT an author, feel free to comment as well.  Just let me know you don't want to be entered for the prize.

Here are some ways to access Megan and her beautiful book(s):
Website for Megan
​Twitter 
Instagram
Megan's Amazon page

To purchase THE GREATEST SONG OF ALL;
Amazon 
Barnes and Noble 

GoodReads page