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February 2009

Monthly Archive

Work-For-Hire Resume Packet Information

In my quest to find relevant information pertaining to putting together a resume packet to send to educational publishers, I found this site. It’s called Children’s Book Writer, and there is some great information here. I especially liked this template that guides the writer in putting together a work-for-hire resume packet. Although I will include published clips, I also plan to add in a couple of unpublished (250 word) writing samples as well.

Children’s author, Suzanne Lieurance, advises including unpublished writing samples because it lets the educational publishing editor see what kind of work you can do that hasn’t already been edited and polished by another editor. She also had a recent post at her Working Writer’s Coach site entitled Writing Samples: What Does An Editor Really Want to See?

There is lots of good information out there for those of us who want to break into the educational publishing field! We just have to look!

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Picture Book Author Profile: Virginia Lee Burton


I have an article up today over at The National Writing For Children Center about teaching personification by using picture books. And as I mention in that post, Virginia Lee Burton was a master at using personification in her books. The Little House is a favorite at our house, as is Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, and Katie and the Big Snow. The imagery in Mrs. Burton’s books is beyond description, and her writing style is exceptional! She was a true icon in the picture book industry, so I thought I’d share a little bit about Virginia Lee Burton here.

She was born on August 30, 1909 in Newton Centre, Massachusetts, but her family moved to California when she was seven. When she was older, she received a scholarship to study art and dance at the California School of Fine Arts. But after about a year, she returned to Boston with her father. She had an opportunity to travel with a ballet troupe, but just before she was to leave on tour, her father broke his leg. So she stayed behind to care for him. In her own words, “that was the beginning and end of my dancing career, which was just as well, because I wasn’t very good anyway.”

Luckily for us, she did pursue her art career. In the fall of 1930, at the age of twenty-one, she began taking Saturday morning drawing classes under George Demetrios at the Boston Museum School. They must have gotten along pretty well, because they were married in the spring! The couple lived in Lincoln, Massachusetts for a year, and their son Aristedes (Aris for short) was born there before they moved to Folly Cove, Gloucester (MA) in 1932. A second son, Michael, was born in 1935. Mrs. Burton lived in Folly Cove until her death in October of 1968. She was only fifty-nine years old.

Her Writing Career:

Although, she did write an unpublished manuscript entitled Jonnifer Lint, Mrs. Burton’s first published book was Choo Choo, published in 1935, a story of a runaway train engine. This book set the pattern of animated machinery stories. Her second book, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, was a story of a steam shovel made obsolete by newer technology. It was published in 1939 and has become a true classic.

Calico the Wonder Horse was published in 1941, but it was her 1942 book, The Little House, that really drew attention to Mrs. Burton’s work. It won the Caldecott Medal in 1943 and has generally been regarded as her most famous book. She went on to write and/or illustrate quite a few more great books (listed below), and earned her reputation as one of the picture book greats!

Children’s Books Written and Illustrated:

  • Choo Choo, Houghton, 1935.
  • Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, Houghton, 1939, Faber, 1967.
  • Calico, the Wonder Horse, Houghton, 1941.

  • The Little House, 1942, Faber, Houghton, 1968.

  • Katy and the Big Snow, Houghton, 1943.

  • Maybelle, the Cable Car, Houghton, 1952.

  • Life Story, Houghton, 1962.


Children’s Books Illustrated:

  • Bontemps, Arna, Sad-Faced Boy, 1937.

  • Bontemps, Arna and Conroy, Jack, Fast Sooner Hound, Houghton, 1942.

  • Park, Leigh, Don Coyote, 1942.

  • Malcolmson, Anne, Song of Robin Hood, Houghton, 1947. (Caldecott Honor)

  • Andersen, Hans Christian, The Emperor’s New Clothes, Houghton, 1949.


Other Work
:

In addition to being a prolific writer and illustrator , Mrs. Burton (known as Jinnee to friends and family) was also a gifted textile designer. She taught classes to others who wanted to learn the art of block printing. In 1940, she established the Folly Cove Designers, a textile collective in Gloucester, Massachussetts. But to differentiate her textile work from her writing/illustrating, she signed her name Virginia Lee Demetrios.

Books/Media About Virginia Lee Burton:

A Life In Art by Barbara Elleman (Biography)

A Sense of Place: Virginia Lee Burton (DVD Documentary)

You can also find more about Virginia Lee Burton, her books, and even activities that go along with some of her books at the following links, so be sure and check them out:

Virginia Lee Burton

Houghton Mifflin (This site has biographical info and activities)

Women Children’s Book Illustrators (Great biographical info)

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Homeschool Product Reviews

Below is a list of links to many reviews I have done on different homeschooling products, including books, DVDs, CDs, MP3s, games, curriculum and more. Most of the reviews are listed on The Old Schoolhouse Product Review site here. They include:

Minnow and Rose: An Oregon Trail Story by Judy Young

Wordly Wise 3000 Book 4 Set by Educational Publishing Service (EPS)

The Essential Guide to the SAT Test Prep/ACT Test Prep by Club Z In-Home Tutoring Services

Family Tree: Writing Historical Fiction Based On Family History by Jennifer Garrity

A Day in the Salt Marsh by Kevin Kurtz

Creating Ballet Fun with Rochelle by Ballet Ovations

Hands-On Essays by Bonita Lillie

Mysteries of the Forest Trivia Board Game

Pins and Needles and Pintucks and Lace by JoAnn Gagnon (sewing books)

Money and Making Change DVD by Rock ‘N Learn

Big Fun Christmas Crafts and Activities by Judy Press

Dance With the Animals DVD by Rock ‘N Learn

Smart Draw

True to the Old Flag Mp3 Narrated by Jim Hodges; Written by G.A. Henty

The Dragon and the Raven MP3 Narrated by Jim Hodges; Written by G.A. Henty

Shakespeare for Everyone to Enjoy by David R. Brown

Homeschooling at the Speed of Life by Marilyn Rockett

Homeschooling With TLC in the Elementary Grades
by Tamara Chilver

Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer DVD and CDs Various Collections

Honeybees: A Homeschool Field Trip to Draper’s Super Bee Apiaries (DVD)

Maple Syrup: A Home School Field Trip to Brown’s Syrup Shack (DVD)

The Gulf Coast: A Literary Field Guide edited by Sara St. Antoine

Fresh From the Oven Favorites by Nathaniel Smisor and Crystal Paine

Liberty’s Kids Boxed DVD Set Shout Factory!

Educating The Whole-Hearted Child by Sally Clarkson

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Holiday Picture Book Reviews

Below is a list of links to holiday picture book reviews that I did in December of 2007 for the National Writing for Children Center. The series was called “The 12 Days of Christmas and Other Holiday Picture Books for Kids“…it was a fun project!

Day One: Rocking Horse Christmas
Day Two: How Santa Got His Job
Day Three: Chanukah Lights Everywhere
Day Four: The Steadfast Tin Soldier
Day Five: A Kwanzaa Miracle
Day Six: The Night Before Christmas
Day Seven: Cajun Night Before Christmas
Day Eight: Hillbilly Night Afore Christmas
Day Nine: The Christmas Day Kitten
Day Ten: How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Day Eleven: Apple Tree Christmas
Day Twelve: Messy Bessy’s Holidays

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Writing Credits

Below is a partial list of my writing/publishing credits:

Learning Through History Magazine
Guideposts for Kids (web)
Jack and Jill
Highlights for Kids (rebus pending publication)
US Kids
Homeschooling Today
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine (See Homeschool Product Reviews)
GEORGIA Magazine
International Gymnast
TEACH Magazine
Georgia Home Educators Assocation newsletter and website
Rocking Chair Reader: Family Gatherings (anthology; contributor)
Former editor/writer for the Harbor Home Educators monthly newsletter

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