What a fun evening Thursday was! At Dorr Township library we talked about IMAGINATION (ding!) and how stories are made. We exercised our brains by brainstorming. We made up a story about Broccoli Cake in which there were many characters named Jacob. We laughed and we made our own version of Salad Pie that looked like this:
It looks pretty! And tasty? Here’s the recipe:
Thank you to Jeffrey Babbit for inviting me to Dorr, and to Lexi for her help at the event.
A lovely tribute to Ripple Grove Press in Chicago Review Press’s newsletter:
Well, a little news on the picture book front: Chicago Review Press has acquired Ripple Grove Press, meaning Salad Pie has a new home. Ripple Grove Press was started by Rob and Amanda Broder, and Salad Pie was the fourth title they published. They’ve made some beautiful books, and it’s sad to see them close their doors. By selling RGP to CRP, the books get to remain on the shelves.
Little things like this thank you note make my day.
Each one of these people (teacher included!) had a question about writing, publishing, or book-making. Keep reading, Mrs. Novacinski and class! And thank you, Holly Nelson, for all the great work you do for your school. World Read Aloud Day was so much fun!
I love photos that are shared with me, that I can in turn, share with you! Here are two cousins, playing “Salad Pie”—reenacting the book and singing, “Salad Pie, oh Salad Pie…”
Mmmm, what’s in this recipe? I spy grass clippings, apple slices, some dried grass roots. Also, love those boots!
Look at this delightful photo some friends shared of their kids making Salad Pie in the backyard!
Hmm, I wonder what their recipe is? I spy wood chips, clover…
In Toronto's Bloor West Village, there's a great bookstore, and look what book you can find in the children's section!
Thank you, Book City, for keeping SALAD PIE on your shelves!
One special class in Grand Rapids read HUNDREDS of books in March for reading month, and I got to visit them. We talked about what we love, and how that gets to be part of the stories we write. I love the outdoors, imagination, books, and food. All of those elements can be found in SALAD PIE.
Then we made East Leonard Salad Pie. Everyone wrote down what they would put in Salad Pie, and we put it into a big bowl, and mixed it up.
Here's the recipe for East Leonard Salad Pie, up close. Good thing it's a pretend pie!
Keep reading and writing, East Leonard!
On March 16, I visited Hopkins Elementary to share presentations on how I became a writer, the writing process, and SALAD PIE with grades K through 5. Each grade level had a slightly different focus. Here is the third grade class:
The younger elementary grade levels learned about imagination and applied their imaginations to creating a pretend Hopkins Salad Pie.
We mixed up all of their contributions in this big salad bowl and came out with a lovely concoction. Here is the recipe for Hopkins Salad Pie:
Grades four and five discussed the writing process and we came up with the idea for some creative stories, complete with the beginnings of a plot so they could run back to class and write a first draft about. . . Eating Asparagus Ice Cream while in a museum at midnight? Brussel Sprout Brownies while contemplating turning into a unicorn? Tomato Donuts on the roof of the school? I'd love to see how some of these stories end up after revisions.
Thank you for inviting me, Hopkins Elementary, and may your imagination lead the way to many more exciting stories.
On December 18, 2016, I was at Book Beat near Detroit for book signings with Deborah Aronson and Amy Goldman Koss. Good thing I arrived a little early because this bookstore was packed full of all kinds of goodies (mostly books).
The three of us sat at an antique table surrounded by books and art and artifacts.
And...a young reader, Bridget, from the blog Bridget and the Books, arrived to say hello.
Go to KidLit411's Birthday Bash giveaway and scroll down to prize 11. Enter to win SALAD PIE and a bunch of other books, today through January 23, 2017.
Reader reviews are important because they highlight what the reader takes away from the book. And every reader sees something slightly different. Here's a recent review of SALAD PIE on Amazon:
Everyday Diversity reviews and categorizes book choices for storytime, focusing on books with people of colour and Native Americans. I'm thrilled that SALAD PIE was included in the July Roundup.
From Everyday Diversity:
Salad Pie written by Wendy BooydeGraaff illustrated by Bryan Langdo
An empty playground is the perfect setting for Maggie to make "Salad Pie" (a cleaner version of mud pie), but then Herbert shows up and--even worse--he wants to help. Maggie bossily rejects his attempts to help until she accidentally slips down the slide, dropping the salad into the air. Herbert saves the day by catching both her and the pie, and their friendship is solidified as they make plans to make "Sandwich Stew" tomorrow.
This one includes lots of places to add a little singing refrain, and isn't too wordy, making it a good storytime selection:
"Into the oven," said Maggie, and she closed the imaginary oven door with panache. Gently, ever so gently, Maggie danced her jig. Softly, ever so softly, she sang, "Salad Pie, oh Salad Pie! Soon you'll be ready, Salad Pie!
Themes/Topics: Friendship, Imagination, Playgrounds, Food
Enter here to win a signed copy of SALAD PIE:
Giveaway ends August 11, 2016.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
On Saturday and Sunday, the kids at Brighton's Barnes & Noble made Salad Pie. Here is their recipe:
carrots 2 Julias apple
flower Marin ABC gum (already been chewed)
granola bar gift card grass
peas pepper ABCDEF (I think the alphabet?)
balloon ABS gum (not sure what this is, but it looks fun)
paperclips gumballs
Yes, that is one interesting Salad Pie! Thank you, Brighton Barnes & Noble for hosting the Little Readers, Big Dreams event. Clockwise from below you see me with SALAD PIE, Mary Ann Riehle with THE LITTLE KIDS' TABLE, Lisa Wheeler with THE PET PROJECT: CUTE AND CUDDLY VICIOUS VERSES, and Jordan Scavone with MIGHT-E!
The children at Chesapeake Children's Book Festival added ingredients to a new batch of Salad Pie. Here's their magnificent recipe:
1 carrot
1 tarantula
2 slugs
snails
goo
2 potatoes
1 golf ball
1 green blob (must be green)
peas
2 tomatoes
leaves
one dash of I love you
bacon bits
lettuce (2 different kinds)
crabs (the Maryland kind)
one person whose name is Abigail
one J.H.
pears
2 strawberries
chips
oysters
1 flamingo
a good dose of summer
socks
a softball
1 necklace
happiness
bees
a foot
sushi
finger nail polish
1 orange
caterpillars
1 pet dog
1 apple
brussel sprouts J (the smiley face was in there with the brussel sprouts)
1 Ella
1 Elizabeth
1 dandelion
shoes
1 Kaleb
1 sprinkle of Tolerance
Greyson took Salad Pie into his own hands and made a new creation. He's even got his own take on the shiny, crinkly gum wrapper. Naturally gifted, indeed!
Visit Kathy Temean's Writing and Illustrating blog for a peek into my journey to publication and a book giveaway. Enter by February 22, 2016.