Of course you do.
EVERYONE wants to be in a band.
Ok, maybe you don’t.
I won’t judge you either way.
A long time ago I tried to play guitar.
I’m right handed, but I’ve always played air guitar
left handed.
I got laughed out of the first music shop I went too
when I requested a left handed guitar.
I tried again and ended up with a right handed one,
which I hated playing and quit after a few tries.
Fast forward to this year.
I was thinking about the traits I like to find
in guys I’d like to date.
One of them was: “plays guitar.”
I’ve always thought people who played guitar were SUPER cool.
I stopped for a minute after thinking about that.
“You know what?” I said to myself.
“You can be the guitar player.
YOU can be super cool.”
So I’m taking it up again.
I have this nice beauty, restrung to be left handed.
And my chords are coming along fine.
So when I saw this book,
well, it resonated with me.
(music pun intended!)
Title: Want to be in a Band?
Published by: Schwartz & Wade Books, Random House, 2013
Written by: Suzzy Roche
Illustrated by: Giselle Potter
Word count: 1111
Pages: 36
In one word: Instructive and Rockin’! (I cheated. Two words)
In one sentence: If you want to be in a band (and honestly, who doesn’t?) this is the ultimate guide with illustrations to take you to stardom.
Favorite pages:
And some glare because I had to take the picture at night!
Likes:
- The second person conversational style. Ex, regarding practicing: “If you start to feel hopeless, take a deep breath, close your eyes and say, “I can do it!” three times. Then (and this is very important) start practicing again.”
- The humor. It’s subtle but kids will be laughing for sure!
- The time span. The book goes from being a kid up to being “old” (She says it not me!)
- I adored the “how to handle the critics” section
- The illustrations and lively and have a warm feeling about them. I love Giselle Potter’s work.
Learns:
- Unique concepts can work.
- So can second person!
- Creating a story about something that happened to you (Roche and her sisters formed the Roches and performed for more than 30 years) makes it that much better of a book.
How about you?
Ever played any instruments?
Ever been in a band?
Until tomorrow,
KE and SS
Greetings All:
I have not posted since Friday because I decided for this challenge, I would go to the library everyday, sit quietly, and read my picture books. This forced me to not cheat and report on books with which I am familiar, but to truly read something different each time. So now I can report on the books I have read. On Saturday I read, JOHN, PAUL, GEORGE & BEN by Lane Smith.
I enjoyed reading the book. It was quirky, beautiful illustrations, and the “true/False” section in the back was genius.
The book is about the presidents but with THE BEATLES feel. It is 807 words. According to Pam Calvert @ Picture Book University, this would be “teaching nonfiction through a fictional story.” So it is indeed fiction.
On Sunday, I read ROUGH, TOUGH CHARLEY by Verla Kay. The book is 955-words. It is nonfiction written in rhyme. It chronicles the life of Charley Parkhurst who ran away from an orphanage. He worked hard all his life and even owned his own business. He voted in elections, shot a bandit who tried to rob his stage coach, and saved passengers after a bridge broke while she was crossing the Tuolumne River. After he died, everyone learned Charley’s secret – CHARLEY WAS A WOMAN ALL ALONG!! Go figure. This book was a great read.
Today, I read MATH CURSE by Jon Scieszka. This book is 1524-words. It was cute with math problems sprinkled throughout with a splash of humor. I enjoyed reading it. I noticed SCIENCE VERSE on the shelf. Maybe I will read that one tomorrow. Who knows?
Today I read “Scaredy Squirrel” written and illustrated by Melanie Watt.
I read “Pantaloon” by Kathryn Jackson today for the millionth time. I have loved the book since I got it on my 5th birthday!!! Fortunately, I have the original version which has fantastic artwork. Each of my children love it as much as I do! 😉
Today I read “Players in Pigtails” by Shana Corey. Wanted something that would encourage positive thoughts to the Red Sox as they plan to sweep the Rays!
I always wanted to be a cool guitar player when I was a teenager. Saved up all my moment and bought the coolest guitar, which I then never learned to play. Still in the practicing stage I guess.
I read ‘The Giant Wheel’ by Andre Usatschow, illustrated by Alexandra Junge. All the animals from the Zoo want to ride the new Ferris wheel where they can look out over the whole world and reconnect with their home grounds. Bitter sweet.
Today I read Don Freeman’s “Corduroy.” Always a favorite, and never fails to have me in tears. Tomorrow I plan to pick another book about teddy bears that came out sometime after 2008.
I read CRANKEE DOODLE by Tom Angleberger, illustrated by Cece Bell, Clarion Books, 2013, 843 words.
This book is wonderfully illustrated with hand-lettered text and sassy, funny dialogue between Crankee and his pony. I laughed so loudly at one point I actually distracted my husband from the Red Sox game he was watching. The RED SOX! And the game is tied!
There’s a little bit of a surprise at the ending, but all in all, I was a bit disappointed. Let down. I guess I wanted something bigger, funnier, unexpected because the rest of the book was so well done.
Me too Carol – not enough of a twist/ka-pow to make me want to read it again.
I read a new book today called Goodnight iPad, a parody of Goodnight Moon. Hilarious. Angry birds flying over the moon and the bookshelf is completely barren housing only one Kindle.
I read THE BOOK THAT EATS PEOPLE by John Perry. One word: voice! I enjoyed the way he breaks through the fourth wall, includes humor, and builds up suspense.
I reread The Monstore by Tara Lazar. That’s amazing you can have a left-handed guitar. I’ve never heard of that!
I just read this again last night, Tina. It’s a delight!
I read The Strange Case of the Missing Sheep. Sadly, it was quite adorable and really funny. I say “sadly” because it means that I have to take my manuscript entitled The Case of the Missing Sleep Sheep and either shelve it or revamp it quite a lot!
Today, I read IRON HORSES by Verla Kay. This picture book has a lot of information in 191-words. It was about the building of the railroad. I really enjoyed it.
That’s disappointing and a bit heartbreaking, Kirsten. It’s happened to many of us. Shortly after coming up with a clever idea and writing the draft, I was at a bookstore with a friend. As we chatted, I randomly picked up a book. When I opened it and began to read, my heart sank. It was a version of my new manuscript.
Another time a member of my crit group, who owned a bookstore, called me and made me sit down before she read a book to me. It was nearly word for word the manuscript I had been working to revise.
Don’t scrap yours. Make it better than the book you read. Add new elements to the story, give it layers. Good luck with it!
Thanks, Carol, I needed that!
I read “When the Cows Got Loose” by Carol Wies. It wasn’t exactly what I thought it would be, but it was pretty clever.
I was inspired by your Band-related pick to pull out one of our favorite music stories,
“Our Marching Band” by Lloyd Moss and Diana Cain Bluthenthal. It’s a bit tongue-twistery in places but we’ve read it at least 20 times. The illustrations are funny and perfect match for the story of kids who decide they want to start a marching band, each playing a different instrument or role.