A Star Wars RENN-dition of Chicken Little

Posted on March 11, 2013 by viviankirkfield

Today’s post is a very special one for a very special boy.

Children’s author Susanna Leonard Hill has put together an amazing treat for one of the families in our kid lit community. Here’s a bit from her post to explain:

“Renn has a challenging week ahead. He has epilepsy, and the doctors are having a difficult time figuring out how to control his seizures. He has to go into the hospital for several days to undergo a number of tests, and last time I checked, that wasn’t anyone’s idea of a good time. If you’d like to learn more, you can join the blog at The Brain Of A Jedi, or the Face Book Group at Purple Day, but suffice to say he is only 5, and facing some things no 5 year old should have to.”

Susanna asked if I would like to participate by writing something fun for Renn. During his stay at the hospital, he and his mom will be able to visit all of the stories, poems, videos and pictures by clicking on the different links on Susanna’s post. You can enjoy them as well by clicking here.

Renn…here’s a fun “Renn” dition of the story of Chicken Little.

Photos courtesy of http://starwars.com/

Chicken Little was in the woods one day when an acorn fell on her head. It scared her so much, she trembled all over. She shook so hard, half her feathers fell out.

Chicken Little said, “Help! Help! The sky is falling! I have to go and tell the king!”

So she ran in great fright to tell the king. Along the way, she met Luke Skywalker.

Luke Skywalker asked her, “Where are you going?”

Chicken Little replied, “Oh help! The sky is falling! I am going to tell the king.”

Luke asked, “How do you know the sky is falling?”

And Chicken Little replied, “I saw it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears, and part of it fell on my head!”

Luke answered, “I will be happy to help you, but the way of the Jedi is to observe and find out what the problem is…think and decide what the best solution is…and then act intelligently and carry out what must be done. First, take me back to the place where it happened.”

So they went along and went along and soon they met R2D2.

“Where are you going?” asked R2D2.

“I am going to tell the king that the sky is falling.” said Chicken Little.

“How do you know that the sky is falling?” asked R2D2.

I saw it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears and a piece of it fell right on top of my head.”

Luke said, “First we are going back to find out what happened.”

So they went along and went along and soon they met C3PO.

“Where are you going?” asked C3PO.

“I am going to tell the king that the sky is falling.” said Chicken Little.

“How do you know the sky is falling?” asked C3PO.

“I saw it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears and a piece of it fell right on my head.” exclaimed Chicken Little.

“But first we are going back to see what happened.” aid Luke Skywalker and R2D2.

So they went along and went along and went along and soon they met the Grand Masters of the Jedi Council.

“Where are you going?” they asked.

“I am going to tell the king that the sky is falling.” said Chicken Little.

“How do you know the sky is falling?” they replied.

“I saw it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears and a piece of it fell right on my head.” exclaimed Chicken Little.

“But first we are going back where it happened” said Luke and R2D2 and 3CPO.

Just then, they came to the place in the forest where the acorn had fallen on Chicken Little’s head. Luke, R2D2, 3CPO and all of the Jedi Grand Masters carefully searched the area.

“Is this where the piece of the sky fell on your head?” asked Luke Skywalker, standing over the large acorn that lay amongst the leaves.

“Yes, yes, yes…that is the exact spot!” Chicken Little jumped up and down excitedly, but she wasn’t really feeling frightened anymore, not with her Jedi friends there with her.

Luke bent down and picked up the acorn. “I believe that this is what fell on your head, Chicken Little. It was an acorn, not the sky.

“Oh dear, I think you are right.” said Chicken Little, feeling a little embarrassed. “Thank you, dear friends. With you and the force with me, even if the sky had been falling, I would have felt safe.”

All of her companions smiled. Luke said, “We all feel afraid sometimes, especially if something happens that we don’t understand or we have to do something we don’t like. Just remember that when you have those you love around you, they will help you through it.”

With their hands raised in a farewell salute, they all shouted, “LET THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!”

I join in the salute, Renn…’LET THE FORCE BE WITH YOU’…and your family and your doctors!

I hope you had fun with the story. I will be thinking about you and your family this week…sending lots of love and good wishes!

Sunday Post: Plains…What Did Kids Do In Little House On The Prairie?

Posted on February 24, 2013 by viviankirkfield

Jake at Time after Time has a Sunday Post Challenge…today’s theme is PLAINS.

The dictionary defines plains as: ‘A stretch of nearly level treeless country.

These snow-covered plains might have been the backyard of young Laura Ingalls Wilder who wrote Little House on the Prairie. When I looked at this painting, I got the feeling that if I walked around the small stand of trees, I would stumble upon her little homestead.

I used to love watching the Little House television series. I’d had a crush on Michael Landon ever since high school when Bonanza aired, with Michael Landon starring as Little Joe. I remember trading hard-won information with my best friend, Jane…how tall he was, what color eyes…all the little tidbits we could discover from pouring over celebrity magazines…there were no computers or internet or Google searches in those days.

Those old reruns are still enjoyable…and provide valuable lessons that are timely and timeless. Here are three of those:

Kids need routines
Kids need rules
Kids need responsibilities

Routines help everything run smoothly…like when to go to bed and when to do homework.

Rules help everyone know what is expected of them…like no phone calls or texting during dinner time.

Responsibilities help each person feel useful and valuable…like clearing the table or picking up toys.

A family is like a business that operates on love and teamwork and respect.

Watch some of these old shows if you can…you’ll see what I mean.

Back in the day of Little House on the Prairie and Ponderosa, there were no iPads, iPods or iPhones. Did you realize that all of those begin with the letter ‘I’? One of the biggest problems today is the disconnection between people. Years ago, reading, crafting and cooking were three activities that families did together. Today, many parents and kids go shopping together, eat dinner together or sit watching TV together in the same room, but each is busy texting or checking emails or twitter on their phones. If you’d like to bring back some family time, Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking gives picture book recommendations, quick and easy craft projects and simple child-friendly recipes. Click this link to buy a copy! Engage your child, encourage creative expression and, most of all, have fun together

It’s the Year of the Snake!

http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/

http://rainbowbakery.wordpress.com/2013/02/24/sunday-post-plains/

http://angelinem.wordpress.com/2013/02/24/sunday-post-plains/

http://campanulladellaanna.wordpress.com/2013/02/24/sunday-post-theme-plains/

http://imissmetoo.me/2013/02/24/sunday-post-plains/

SUNDAY POST : Plains (jakesprinters.wordpress.com)
Sunday Post: Focused Attention…Does Your Child Get Yours? (viviankirkfield.wordpress.com)
Sunday Post: Simplicity…Children Need Less Stuff (viviankirkfield.wordpress.com)

Sunday Post: On-Going…Picture Books and Projects

Posted on February 9, 2013 by viviankirkfield

Jake at Time after Time has a Sunday Post Challenge…today’s theme is ON-GOING.

The seasons are on-going…soon it will be spring and the flowers will bloom.

Black History Month is on-going during the month of February.

On January 1^st, I celebrated my first day of retirement.

Now that I am retired, I have many on-going projects which I have shared with you.

De-cluttering the garage is a project that is still on-going.

School classroom visits are still on-going. This semester I am reading Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems and the children are constructing their own storyboards. I enjoy working with the kids and the teachers and, as a picture book writer, I believe it is important to stay connected with young children.

I’m taking Emma Walton Hamilton’s “JUST WRITE FOR KIDS’ online picture book writing course…this 8-week class is on-going…fortunately, you can work at your own pace…it’s been WAY more than 8 weeks. What I love most about it so far is that it encourages me to look REALLY carefully at how classic picture books are constructed. With that understanding, I hope to write picture books that kids will want to read over and over again.

Participating in Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 Picture Book Writing Challenge is on-going. If you haven’t signed up yet, please check out the link…you have until February 28 and then it will be too late to hop aboard this year. As part of the program, I submitted a manuscript this month to agent Stephen Fraser and am currently working on a new manuscript for next month’s submission. I’m excited about this new one…it’s about wildlife conservation. My local and on-line critique group work is on-going as well…reading the manuscripts of others and the comments and suggestions they make on mine is like taking a workshop class. I never realized how helpful it would be to participate in a critique group…I recommend it to everyone who writes.

The chance to win $25 for the literacy charity or organization of your choice is on-going. Simply leave a comment on last Friday’s post. Next Friday I will pick one of the comments using Random.org and that person’s choice will receive a check for $25…$25 is not a fortune, but it can purchase a couple of books…who can say what a difference those few books may make in a child’s life.

Nancy Hatch’s Writer’s Desk Competition voting is still on-going. If you would like to vote, you can go here. All of the entries are great…I am honored to be among them with my piece…I Write, Therefore I Am.

My desire to provide quick and easy activities for their kids is on-going. Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking, is a wonderful resource for parents and teachers with picture book recommendations, simple craft projects and child-friendly recipes. Click this link if you would like a copy! Engage your child, encourage creative expression and, most of all, have fun together!

What’s on-going in your life?

Check out Jake’s Year of the Snake logo!