Here are some activities just for kids that go along with my books. Don’t forget to check out the answers to questions kids ask me the most, and the tips for kids who write.
A. What Makes The Sound?
Each tool in Old MacDonald had a Woodshop makes a different sound. Match the tools with their sounds below.
| 1. saw | a. tap tap |
| 2. drill | b. squeak squeak |
| 3. hammer | c. chip chip |
| 4. chisel | d. rrur rrur |
| 5. file | e. swish swash |
| 6. screwdriver | f. zztt zztt |
| 7. paintbrush | g. scritch scratch |
B. Yiddish Word Search
Click here to download a word search of the Yiddish words in The Matzo Ball Boy. Can you find all eight words?
C. Did You Know?
The characters in The Moon Might Be Milk have different ideas of what the moon is made of. Here are some other interesting beliefs about the moon.
People from many different cultures have seen figures in the moon. Some see a man’s face, or a man with a sack on his back. Others see a woman, a rabbit, or a toad. What do you see?
One old story says the moon is made out of green cheese.
People used to think that the moon could make a person crazy. The word lunacy means insanity. It comes from luna, which means moon.
The nursery rhyme “Jack and Jill” may have come from a very old legend. In this story, the moon kidnaps two children and makes them fetch water from a well.
Some gardeners plant vegetable seeds during certain phases of the moon. They say that their plants grow better and produce more vegetables when they are planted like this.
D. Make a Dancing Puppet
Follow the steps below to make a stick puppet.
What You Need:
stiff paper or cardboard, crayons, scissors, tape or glue, craft stick
What You Do:
1. Draw a picture of the little swan from Over in the Meadow at the Big Ballet and color it.
2. Cut out your picture and tape or glue it onto a craft stick.
3. Use your puppet to act out the little swan’s part as you read the book. Or make puppets of some of the other characters, too, and put on a puppet show with a friend.
Questions Kids Ask Me the Most
How many books have you written?
I’ve written about 20 books for children, but not all of them have been published. Some were written when I was just learning how to write books—they’re like my “warm up” books. I’m sending some of my books to publishers, and revising others. With every book I write, I learn how to be a better writer—even if the book never makes it into print!
What’s your favorite book that you’ve written?
That’s kind of like asking me which of my children is my favorite! I like all my books, but I’m usually the most excited about the one I’m working on.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Lots of things! I like to read, swim, hike, garden, listen to music, dance and spend time with my family and friends.
Are you going to write any longer books?
Actually, I’ve written an easy reader, as well as a novel for 8 to 12-year-olds that I’m hoping to find publishers for. And I have ideas for several new novels. I’ve discovered that I love writing for older kids.
Tips For Kids Who Write
1. Make time for writing.
Writers need time to think and time to write. Give yourself time to just sit and daydream, stare out the window, and make up stories and poems. A lot of good ideas can come while you’re riding in the car or lying in bed at night. If you don’t have time to write the story or poem right away, write down your idea so you don’t forget it!
2. Play around with writing.
It can be fun to let your imagination run free. But a lot of kids (and adults!) worry so much about things like spelling and finding the right word that they can’t get their ideas down on paper. It’s okay to have mistakes and sloppy writing in your first draft—just work on getting your story or poem out of your head and onto the paper. Remind yourself that you can always fix things later, when you revise.
3. Notice everything.
Everything that happens to you can make its way into your writing. Observe the world around you and inside you. Pay attention to how things look, feel, smell, sound, and taste. Notice how you feel in different situations. Watch people and imagine what they are feeling or thinking. All of this can make your writing better.
4. Show don’t tell.
It’s more interesting to read a story where you can see what happens, instead of just being told about it. You can show what is happening in your story through your characters’ actions and words. Use specific words and details to help your writing come alive so that you and the reader can experience it as if were happening to you.
5. Revise and rewrite.
When your story or poem is finished, put it aside for awhile. Then come back to it and read it as if you’ve never seen it before. What details can you add to make the writing more interesting? How can you show more, and tell less? Don’t be afraid to change words or cross out sentences to make your writing better.
6. Believe in yourself.
Everybody has something important to say—including you! It takes courage to write, and even more courage to let others read your writing. Be brave—give the world the stories and poems that only you can give.
Answers
A. What Makes The Sound?
saw—zztt zztt;
drill—rrur rrur
hammer—tap tap
chisel—chip chip
file—scritch scratch
screwdriver—squeak squeak
paintbrush—swish swash
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Copyright 2007 Lisa Shulman. All rights reserved.