On the Go with Children’s Author Mayra Calvani

Mayra Calvani

Mayra it is so good of you to stop by my blog today. I'm excited about your new book and I'll bet the schools just love having you come to visit.

 

I love doing school visits. Last month I had the honor of being re-invited to BEPS International School in Brussels to read two of my books and do a story workshop with the 3rd-year classes. We had a blast!

I brought with me my picture books, Humberto, the Bookworm Hamster (http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/humberto.htm) and The Doll Violinist (http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/doll-violinist.htm).

First, they gathered cross-legged on the carpet and I read them Humberto, the Bookworm Hamster. Afterwards—and this is the part they truly loved—they acted out the story! I had them play out the story twice so everybody could have a go at being an actor/actress. When they got stuck, the class or I helped them along. I was like the director. They didn’t read the lines from the book but improvised them in their own way as they remembered them. There were plenty of laughs and giggles.

After acting out the story, they sat down on the carpet again and I proceeded to do a story workshop. In this verbal workshop, they got to create and improvise a story as a group. For example, one kid thought of a character, another of a setting, another of a problem, etc., etc., until we had all the basic elements of a story. Finally we all tried to come up with the perfect title. The result was amazing! Kids are so original, inventive and imaginative; it just takes my breath away.

To finish off and calm them down, I read them The Doll Violinist before leaving. Altogether, it took about an hour. The teacher was always present to make sure the children behaved. I would never try this on my own! LOL. 

This must have been a wonderful and engaging experience they will remember for a good long time. I applaud your creative genius.  Tell us about this new book The Water Cycle -  certainly an adventure worth learning about.

About the book:

The Water Cycle: Water Play Series Book 1, for ages 4-8, follows the water droplets in their journey from the clouds to the earth and back to the clouds again. Written in a lyrical style, the book takes a new angle on the water cycle by showing the feelings it evokes in people. It also has fun learning activities at the end.

What reviewers are saying…

 “Written in Calvani’s delightful prose, “Huddle inside the CLOUD high up in the sky, the water droplets are excited,” While also complemented by the imaginative artwork of Alexander Morris’ fun illustrations, makes this book both easy to read and informative. The author also includes for her young readers a word search and glossary learning activity—a great addition to every teacher and homeschool parents’ teaching library.” –Carol Fraser Hagen, reading specialist and special education teacher.

You can read the complete review at http://www.carolfraserhagen.com/2012/04/30/reading-about-science-book-recommendation

Purchase The Water Cycle: Water Play Series Book 1 from Guardian Angel Publishing: http://guardianangelpublishing.com/water-cycle.htm

Purchase from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1616332379/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

About the author: Mayra Calvani writes fiction and nonfiction for children and adults.  and has authored over a dozen books, some of which have won awards. Her stories, reviews, interviews and articles have appeared on numerous publications such as The Writer, Writer’s Journal, Multicultural Review, and Bloomsbury Review, among many others. Visit her website at www.MayrasSecretBookcase.com and get the first two lessons of her popular Walking on a Rainbow Picture Book Workshop free! 

Book information:

Title: The Water Cycle: Water Play Series Book 1
Author: Mayra Calvani
Illustrations: Alexander Morris
Genre: Children 4-8
Print ISBN: 9781616332372; 1616332379
eBook ISBN: 9781616332389; 1616332387 
Published: March 15, 2012
Pages: 20
Price: $10.95 print; $5.00 e-Book
Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://guardianangelpublishing.com/water-cycle.htm

Thanks Mayra, this was a most interesting and enjoyable experience. I wish you much success with your books and certainly you will be a must have speaker for many classrooms from here on out.
  

March - The Unpredictable

"I've felt that dissatisfaction is the basis of progress. When we become satisfied in business, we become obsolete."

-- J. Willard Marriott Sr., hotel executive 

March 11, 1888 was the beginning of what would go down in history as "the Blizzard of '88." It began as light rain and turned into heavy snow in the northeast U.S., paralyzing major cities for days. More than 400 people died as a result of the storm.  

Makes people in the Northeast a bit leery I'm sure as that date approaches while there are storms threatening across the country. 

Here in Wisconsin we had a fine, fine snow all morning and it has now changed to light mist-like rain as our temperatures reached 33 degrees. The sky is a summer dark. Clouded, gray skies have that gloomy, storm nearby-look, with the kind of heavy lead-like looking clouds that signify something is on the horizon. 

Late tonight snow warnings are posted for us. We expect up to 8 inches of the heavy, wet, white to fall.  Winter refuses to believe what the ground hogs said about spring coming early this year.  We can't all be right all the time, can we?

You have to admit it's beautiful though isn't it? The picture is from friend and photographer Sherri Palm.

And weather can add something to your writing from angst - a feeling of claustrophobic isolation to the warmth of a roaring fireplace while the North Wind rages outside. Think about it...it plays part in my candlelight series...Death by Candlelight and Candlelight and Shadows.

Death By Candlelight     Candlelight and Shadows

**See the new covers - for print books the new covers will ship for electronic the old covers will be included with download. {author's note}