The Tragic Tale of Lego Piggy: Point of View
I use LEGO photos and a story about a Jewish mother followed on the street by a pig to explain the concept of point of view.
Just Write Two Pages
On a visit to a middle school in Philadelphia, I advise young writers to write very short stories that contain a beginning, a middle, and an end.
As Hanukkah 2013 ends, Lego Daft Punk, Mumfield & Daughers, and the little boy who nearly burned his house down would like to wish you a Happy Holiday Season.
The Thanksgivukkah Advent Calendar Challenge: Juxtaposition and a Writing Prompt
I juxtaposed three builds from the LEGO City Advent Calendar for each of the 8 nights of Hanukkah, which gave me an ideal prompt for my vignettes on Instagram.
Adeus, livro!
Wrapping Up My Portuguese Class
My final exam in Portuguese prompts reflection on the importance of reading in learning languages and developing as a writer.
Bookcases with winners of the Newbery and Printz medals, with autographed copies of other books on top.
Ed Spicer Has a Lot of Books
Children's book reviewer and teacher Ed Spicer conveys his enthusiasm for book culture and reflects on building the foundation of a reading life.
Riding the Graphic Novel Wave at Comic Arts Brooklyn
A report on Comic Arts Brooklyn, where publishers large and small showed off their comics and graphic novels and the CBLDF pushed its anti-censorship efforts.
UConn Co-op decked out for Halloween.
Speaking to the Teachers of Tomorrow at UConn
At the University of Connecticut I shared my experiences of growing up "different" and offered advice to both young writers and future teachers.
Sparks Flew: Letting Your Words and Pictures Show the Story
Rather than telling how a character feels, or what the reader should think, the writer creates an image and lets the reader draw conclusions.
These plates and tiles are not coming off so easily.
Waylaid in Winter Village: Setting
Details are important, and a story with a well-drawn and well-integrated setting cannot take place anywhere else.
Thwarted in his quest for ice cream, Patricio finds another kind of refreshment.
Complicating the Minifig: Layered Narrative
In contrast to linear, chronological narrative, a layered narrative plays with time sequence to reveal character bit by bit and to build curiosity and suspense.