The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Reprise

Many thought and hoped the oil spill of April, 2010 was past us, was history. Alas, it is not.

My publisher, Lynda Burch of Guardian Angel Publishing, emailed me from Santa Rosa Island, Pensacola Beach, Florida, where she and her husband spend some time each winter.  With her permission, the following is what Lynda saw and photographed very recently:

 Santa Rosa Island, Pensacola Beach, Florida

                        February, 2011

"It is definitely not over, and BP says they are pulling out- 1/2 the claims have been denied and what about what is still going to happen?

I can't let my guests or my grandchildren in those floating contaminants. Skin is the most absorbent organ a human body has. I didn't see any warning signs, anyone testing the water, anyone interested in cleaning it up.

The little silvery fish (2-3 inches, part of the food chain) were washed up on the shore dead. The gulls and pelicans were out there in it. The dolphins were also out about another 1000 yards.

Lots of people on the beach didn't even know what the black and brown slimy stuff floating on edge of the surf was. I did email the local TV station but probably should have called them instead. It was very disturbing for such a beautiful day."

Because it's out of the news, there seems to be no immediacy about the spill anymore.  If this travesty is not addressed continuously and with utmost vigor and vigilance, it will still be an unmitigated disaster.  From my research on the gulf devastation, I think a quote from Sir Winston Churchill during World War II is in order:  "Now this is not the end.  It is not even the beginning of the end.  It is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."

It is Lynda's and my great hope that this kind of accident never occurs    again.  We adults, along with our children and grandchildren, need to     "take a stand on the sand" and see that it does not.  And if it does, God forbid, this time strong oversight should occur within the US government and any parties that caused it.

                                  

  

One Pelican at a Time Now Available Through Guardian Angel Publishing

One Pelican at a Time

A Story of the Gulf Spill

                                       

                                   www.blazingtrailers.com

 

Guardian Angel Publishing

Academic Wings 

Author: Nancy Stewart   www.nancystewartbooks.com

Artist: Samantha Bell   http://www.samantha-bell.com/

Print Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-61633-138-2; 1616331380
Print Paperback ISBN: 978-1-61633-139-9; 1616331399
eBook ISBN: 978-1-61633-140-5; 1616331402

Bella and Britt love living by the beach.  When they find oil washing to shore from a gulf spill, they want to help but are told there is nothing for kids to do.  But when their old friend, the pelican, becomes covered with oil, they help save his life by their quick thinking and action.

One Pelican at a Time will soon be available through:  Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, http://indiebound/ and museum shops and aquaria.

Michelle Schaub and The Little Green Pen Blog



http://littlegreenpen.blogspot.com/





It is my good fortune to have as my guest today, Michelle Schaub, author of The Little Green Pen blog.  This is a blog I follow on a regular basis.  Michelle has lots to say, particularly now with our planet in peril.   I know you'll enjoy getting to know her!

NS:  What inspired you to start a blog focused on green literacy?

MS:  A few factors came together. The first was my journey as a mom to raise environmentally-responsible children.  Our family has made many changes over the past few years to reduce our carbon footprint.  Sometimes I get overwhelmed by all of the environmental problems our planet is facing, and I wonder if my actions even count.  When this happens, I go back to the story of the mouse who was watching snowflakes land on a branch. (You can read my first blog post for the full story.)  Eventually the snowflakes, which weigh “nothing next to nothing”, cause the branch to snap.   I think of my blog as one of those snowflakes.  By sharing my ideas , I hope to inspire others to drop their own flakes onto the branch and maybe the ripple effect will carry the weight of change.

The second factor involves the research I’ve done as a teacher, parent, and nonfiction writer.  In preparing articles on various eco-conscious topics, or looking for good books to share with my kids and students, I’ve built up quite a bibliography of green reads.  There are some beautiful, inspiring books out there that help readers connect with and care about nature.   I’m using my blog to share the book’s I’ve discovered (and continue to discover) with others.

NS:  Who is your target audience?

MS:  Teachers, parents, and anyone looking for simple tips to live a greener life.

NS:  What benefit will teachers get from reading your blog?

MS:  I’m building an inventory of “Good Green Reads.”  Teachers looking for a book on a specific environmental topic, say water conservation, can visit my site to find a list of quality nonfiction and fiction focused on that topic.  In addition, I regularly feature author interviews and book giveaways.  This is a great opportunity for teacher to build up their classroom libraries and connect students with authors.


                                                              "I think it's important to
                                               give young readers a
                                               sense of empowerment."       
                                                                                

NS:  What benefit will parents get from reading your blog?

MS:  Besides taking advantage of the book reviews and giveaways, parents will find plenty of ideas for living green.  As a mom, I am constantly looking for fun, eco-friendly activities for my children, as well as ways my family can leave a gentler footprint on the planet.  I share my ideas and experiences in my blogs. I also welcome input from other parents.  I hope to create a forum where ideas are exchanged that interest children in environmental issues.

NS:  How has your concern for the environment influenced your own writing?

MS:  I am definitely drawn to topics that focus on nature and ways we can protect it.  The challenge I find when writing about the environment is to present my topics in ways that inspire readers to care and act, without sounding preachy.  I think it’s important to give young readers a sense of empowerment.  The overarching message I try to convey in my writing is that small steps can make a big difference.  

NS:  How do you incorporate your love of green issues into your teaching? 

First, I think leading by example is a powerful teaching tool.  When I’m working in local schools, I continue to do the simple earth-friendly actions I’ve integrated into my life, like  riding my bike, bringing my lunch in reusable containers, turning off the lights, etc.  When kids ask me about these things, (and they do because kids are oh-so-curious), it gives me a chance to talk about some of the green choices I’ve made.

Also, I am strong believer in John Muir’s idea that people who spend time in nature are much more likely to care about it.  I try to connect students to nature whenever possible. One of my favorite classes to teach is nature writing.  When kids have the opportunity to sit quietly in a natural habitat and let their senses soak in their surroundings, they begin to notice things they would normally overlook.  Their observations lead to wonder, a desire to protect, and some great writing! 

NS:   Where can students take your nature writing classes?

MS:  I’m really excited about the next nature writing class I’ll be teaching at the Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook, Illinois.  The Peabody Mansion, once the home of coal magnate Francis Stuyvesant Peabody, is a beautiful setting.  Students taking the class with have the chance to explore the some of the amazing habitats on the grounds (pond, prairie, marsh, savanna) with a staff naturalist.  We’ll have great fun writing about our discoveries.   Here are the details: 

When:  Mondays, May 2^nd- 23^rd.

Where: Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31^st Street, Oak Brook, Il.

Time:  4:15-5:00 pm

Ages: 3^rd-6^th graders

To register: call 630-206-9566, or visit  http://mayslakepeabody.com/content/ for more information.

NS:  Thank you so much, Michelle, for agreeing to appear on my blog.  It was fun and enlightening as well.  All best wishes for your ongoing writing classes and everything you do for kids and parents.  I know my guests have enjoyed getting to know you better.

One Pelican at a Time Virtural Book Tour, April and May, 2011

Bella, Britt, Pelican and I will virtually tour the blogosphire, beginning  April 4 through May 27, 2011 on my first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book! And, of course, none of us would be touring without the marvelous artwork by Samantha Bell.

About One Pelican at a Time

Bella and Britt love living by the beach. When they find oil washing to shore from a gulf spill, they want to help but are told there is nothing for kids to do. But when their old friend the crooked beak pelican, becomes covered with oil, they help save his life by their quick thinking and action.

Read the Excerpt

The girls waited and watched while adults tried to fix the problem. That is, until they saw the old pelican leave his perch and plunge into a patch of blackened sea.

Britt gasped.  "Will he come back up?"

"If he does, how can he live? Bella asked.

But he did come to the surface, covered in heavy tacky oil. After seeing his oily feathers, the girls took action.

"Help! Help us help the pelican! both girls screamed.

Normally on such a hot summer day, the beach boy would be renting colorful umbrellas to his customers. Instead, he sat alone on the sand. "What's wrong?" He jumped up and ran toward the girls.

"The old pelican! The old pelican! We have to save him! Bella sobbed.

"Come on. No time to lose!" The young man sprinted down the beach toward the clean-up crews.

"Ah, I know that old bird," nodded the crew chief. "Let's go get him."

                       One Pelican at a Time coming soon!
 

Five Published Book Ends All in a Row!

Cole Gibsen, Jonathan Schkade, Louann Brown, Nancy Stewart, Jeff Weigel

Book Ends, my southern Illinois chapter of SCBWI (Society of Children's Bookwriters and Illustrators) have some great news to share.


The five of us pictured here have recently had manuscripts sold to mainstream publishers.  Several of the books are already in publication.


Cole Gibsen's book, "Katana," is a young adult urban fantasy novel with elements of action, romance and

comedy. It is to be published by Flux Press in the spring of 2012.  Cole's web site is: 
http://www.colegibsen.com/   Her blog site is:  http://www.colegibsen.blogspot.com/


Jonathan Schkade's most recent books, "Icky, Sticky, Hairy Scary Bible Stories" and "The Father's Easter Story," were released in January, 2011 by Concordia Publishing.  Jonathan is a former teacher and copy editor.  His web site is:  http://www.jonathanschkade.com/


Louann Brown's book, "How to Make Spectacular Halloween Costumes," was released in January, 2011 by Capstone Press.  Louann is a retired art teacher from the Southwestern School District in Piasa, IL.


Nancy Stewart's series of children's books, published by Guardian Angel Publishing, will be released in 2011.  "One Pelican at a Time," to be released in February, is the first US children's book to address the Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010.  Her other two books in the series are, "Sea Turtle Summer" and "Bella Saves the Beach."  Nancy's web site is:  http://www.nancystewartbooks.com/   Her blog address is:
http://www.nancystewartbooks.blogspot.com/


Jeff Weigel is both author and illustrator of "Thunder from the Sea:  The Adventures of Jack Hoyton and the H.M.S. Defender," a graphic novel for upper elementary school readers.  It was published by GP Putman in May, 2010.  Jeff's web site is:  http://www.jeffweigel.com/

And this is just part of the gang!  This group of writers collaborate, critique in a constructive manner and is supportive at all times.  As I said in a previous post, I don't make a literary move without them!
                                                                                                                
For those of you who'd like to know more about SCBWI, here is the link:  http://www.scbwi-illinois.org/

Interview with Michele Elliott, Founder of British Charity, Kidscape

It is my distinct pleasure and honor to interview Michele Eliott, OBE, founder of the British charity, Kidscape.  It is also my pleasure to call Michele a dear friend of over twenty years, and I welcome her warmly to my blog.

NS: Please tell us how and when Kidscape came into being?   

ME:  Kidscape came into being around our kitchen table when I found out from working with children and their families that nothing was being done about sexual abuse and other issues like bullying.  This was back in 1984, and in the UK there was denial about both issues.  I went to the National Society for Protection of Children and the police and the Home Office, but they all said that these things were not happening or that they were rare or that they were happening in other places, like the USA.  That is because I am American but living in London, so they heard my accent and concluded that this was an imported problem.  So that night around the kitchen table, I founded Kidscape.  Kid for children and scape for escape or landscape- kids looking over things.

NS:  What are the main goals of the charity?

ME:  Our major goals are preventing children being harmed and giving them practical ways to keep safe.  We say: preventing bullying protecting children.

NS:  How far reaching globally is Kidscape?

ME: Kidscape has been adopted in Portugal, Spain, Greece and our books are in 16 languages, including recently into Spanish in Chile.

NS:   I know you are a prolific author.  Please tell us about your books as they relate to Kidscape.                                                                

     

      ME:  Somehow I had published 26 books over the past 25 years, ranging from children's color picture books about keeping safe, to books for older children and teens, parents, teachers, and other professionals.  I didn't plan for that to happen - it just grew 'like Topsy.'  I have also written a column for Family Circle magazine in the UK, which taught me a lot about how to write using stories in an accessible style - that took me quite a while and the editor was extremely patient.

                                                                                                "preventing bullying
                                                                   protecting children"

  NS:  What do you see for the future of Kidscape?

       ME:  I am retiring from Kidscape but staying on as an author and consultant.  I did not want Kidscape to be Michele Elliott but to be about children.  We now have a fabulous team headed by Claude Knights, who has been with Kidscape for 10 years.  She and the staff are carrying Kidscape into schools, holding free courses for severely bullied children and young people and sending the messages worldwide.  I am very proud of them all - some have been with Kidscape for nearly 20 years - the staff is very loyal and committed to helping children.

     NS:  Your were recently awarded a great honor by the Queen of England.  Please tell us about it and what it means to you personally.

      ME: When I received the letter from the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, saying he was 'minded' to suggest to the Queen that I be given an honor', I thought it was a practical joke!  But it was real, and the letter asked if I was willing to accept.  WILLING????  Thrilled, delighted, excited would be more like it.  Of course that kind of enthusiasm is from the American half of my personality (my mother had a British passport).  Anyway meeting the Queen was one of the highlights of my life - she was so gracious, and I was terrified that I would trip while approaching or genuflecting.  She put me and all the other recipients at ease with her friendly manner and questions.  Being in the palace and getting to wear a lovely hat were the other highlights.  By the way, the queen is quite tiny and she does carry a handbag.  xxx

      Many thanks, Michele, for your insightful-and fun-answers!  It's always such a pleasure to hear about Kidscape and its history.  You can be so proud of your accomplishments, and what you have modestly said here is only a tiny part of the story and of your achievements.

      For those who would like to know more about this important charity for children, the link is:

      http://www.kidscape.org.uk/

One Book at a Time May Help Save Our Planet

A Deepwater Horizon drilling rig was rocked by an  explosion and fire on April 20, 2010.  It sank into the Gulf of Mexico. Tragically, eleven crew members died. Multiple attempts to completely shut off the flow of oil failed. On September 19, 2010, BP announced that its well was permanently sealed.

The spill caused extensive damage to marine and wildlife habitats as well as to the Gulf's fishing and tourism industries.  This kind of catastrophe should never occur again anywhere on our earth.

To this end, I've written a  children's picture book, One Pelican at a Time, to help put a face on this disaster.  One old, crooked beaked pelican helps Bella and Britt point the way to what even kids can do in such a tragedy.


Pelican will be released in the coming weeks.  This is the first children's book dealing with the Deepwater Horizon spill to be published in the US. 


Children want to know what they can do in such times.  One Pelican at a Time empowers kids to help in a real and meaningful way.  I hope they, and you, enjoy it.  And if it becomes a teaching moment tool, how wonderful is that?

Pelican Cleaning from Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

The Beautiful Brown Pelican



Green Sea Turtle Rehab at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium

While we and our friends, Ed and Michele, were watching the inspirational Winter the dolphin at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium last Sunday, a Green sea turtle was brought in and readied for surgery.  He is a young turtle who had been hit by a boat propeller and suffered a cracked shell. 

We all watched as his beautiful shell was cleaned and glued together.  Lucky for guests, there is a large glass window where surgeries can be viewed. 

This fortunate turtle will recover and be released back into the gulf, but it will take a year before he's ready to return to his home.  In the meantime, he will live at the Aquarium, where he can be monitored in safety. Without the support and loving care of the Marine Aquarium, his would have been a far different story.

Green sea turtles evolved on land and took to the ocean about 150 million years ago.  They are one of the few species so ancient that they watched dinosaurs evolve and become extinct.

What a terrible tragedy, then, that these marvelous and dignified creatures are now on a worldwide endangered list.  We humans must be aware of and sensitive to the animals with whom we share this planet.  If we do not, we will all be diminished.

The Glorious Messiness of Writing

I am following a great blog titled, Literary Legs, written by Laura Page.  The blog is witty and well thought through.  She has done a terrific post called, The Flaws are Fine.  With Laura's indulgence, I am including it in my blog

The Flaws are Fine

"I've noticed something. When I'm writing in my journal, which I do frequently, my writing is much different than it is when I'm writing elsewhere. I don't use whole sentences. I use a ton of elipses. I can stretch a single inchoate sentence over a page and a half. Basically, I describe my thoughts and the events in my day in a series of fragments and run-ons. And rather than be dismayed by this, I think it's kind of cool. I'm mean, I'm a grammar nazi and I can be pretty neurotic when it comes to correct punctuation and usage and whatnot (I'm that girl who deletes her own tweets and comments/status post updates on facebook when I discover an error and reposts the edited version). Still, the "messiness" of my informal writing makes me happy. It sort of takes for granted modifying circumstances. It's raw. It's life.

I would like to bring some of this disorder to my creative writing. Some fragmented, incomplete elements. I think this could make my prose a little more human. Somebody once told me that ancient Chinese art as well as many other great works of art throughout history, often have flaws that the artists deliberately included. I make a comparison in my head between these subtly flawed works of visual art and something akin perhaps to "stream of consciousness" in fictional prose. Both are ways to convey authentic human experience.

So maybe a little "messiness" or something that is just a little "off" in our creative work is not a bad thing. Maybe it's a really beautiful thing. Maybe it's what makes it uniquely our own."

This is just a sample of Laura's writing.  Please take a stroll through this marvelous blog.  You'll be glad you did!

Winter, the Dolphin's, Heroic Story

My husband and I are spending a week in Clearwater Beach, Florida.  Pelicans soar just outside our window, and on many days, dolphins swim literally under the balcony. 

At the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, lives an inspirational young Atlantic bottlenose dolphin named Winter. Nearly five years ago, on a wintry day, a three month old dolphin became entangled in a crab trap line, and she was drowning.  A fisherman, Jim Savage, came to her rescue, cut her free and, with the help of several other people, managed to steer her to shallow water where they rescued her.  The bottom of her tail had been severely damaged.  None of her rescuers on that desperate day could begin to imagine the impact this tiny orphan would have on so many people the world over.

Winter was immediately taken to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, which is an animal rescue and rehab center.  There she underwent a many hour surgery on her tail after the bottom actually fell off. 

Although the team of surgeons saved her life, Winter was now an almost tailless dolphin.  What to do?  She could swim awkwardly, but the veterinarians knew she would have spine issues if she could not swim properly.

A company of expert prosthesis makers offered to assist Winter, and a prosthetic tail was devised--all free of charge. The little dolphin adjusted to it quickly.  She could swim normally while wearing it, and she actually began to jump out of the water as dolphins do!  As she grew, new tails were fashioned to accommodate her size.  Although she does not wear the tail all the time, she exercises with it, and normalcy is hers, if only for a time.

Winter has become an inspiration for people worldwide.  Along with other visitors, children and adults with prosthetic limbs visit the aquarium to see the brave little dolphin who greets as many as she can with a wet dolphin kiss!

This was such an amazing and heroic event that a Hollywood film about Winter's life has just been completed.  It is called A Dolphin's Tale and is set for release by Warner Brothers on September 23, 2011.

Every time I see a dolphin swimming freely around the docks, I think of Winter.  Her new normal is not freedom but hope.  She does so much for humanity every day.  I can't help but believe she has a life that is well lived and is content in that knowledge.

Take a look at Winter, her rehabilitation and her heroic life below:

Photo of Winter taken by Nancy Stewart

Sunday, January 23, 2011

And for more information, visit the Clearwater Marine Aquarium's web site at:  http://www.seewinter.com/

Eagle Day

Once a year in mid-January, we and our friends, Stan and Kathy, drive along the Mississippi River on a mission.  Eagles!

These glorious creatures spend their winters at the confluence of the Mississippi, Missouri and Illinois Rivers, having migrated from the upper mid-west and Canada.  For several magical months, we in the St. Louis area, have the great good fortune to gaze at them in all their majesty. 

The eagle pictured here perched just above us in a winter clad tree.  It paid no attention to the earthbound mortals below.  Its gaze, rather, was on the icy river, sparkling with late morning sunshine. 

Everyone watching this beautiful bird fell quiet and observed it.  What an awesome experience it provided us. We were so close yet light years apart from this creature's world.  I couldn't help but wonder what it thinks of ours.

Here is a lovely children's book about eagles written and illustrated by Caroline Arnold.  It was published by PictureWindow Books (2010).  The eBook edition is available lybrary.com.

My Writer's Group--Not a Step Without It!

My Writer's/Critique group is very much like eating bread.  I can't do without it, and I don't want to!  I've been a member for four years and realize what a pivotal part they play in the life of my mind.  I don't make a literary move without them.

This is a pretty selfless group of people, and the trust factor is very high.  We work together as a team.  The critiques are fair and to the point.  They always provide those fresh eyes that are so needed after countless hours of toiling over a 600 word manuscript--a jigsaw puzzle in implausibly slow motion. 

Our two co-chairs, Sherry and Anastasia, never fail to support and encourage the group as a whole.  They devised a brilliant plan to keep spirits from flagging.  It was a Share Your Rejection Letters contest and was great fun.  In fact, one of our members who is a much published children's author and whose name would be recognized here, shared several new rejections with the group.  That was a major boost.  "Wow.  It even happens to her!"

A high point came this past spring when five of our company received offers of publication within a week.  It was celebration all around.  No pettiness.  No jealousy.  No ill will.  Just solidarity and support.  A circle of writers, both published and hopeful, working together to make the world a better place, is who I hang our with once a month and communicate with by email constantly.  Am I lucky or what?

Happy January!

This cheerful fellow wishes happiness from my house to yours. January is a great month for sharpening our minds, reading great books and setting our computers to tapping. 

What a wonderful time of year to get down to serious business.  The holidays are a memory, and lots of productive reading and writing lies ahead.  

This is a magic month to snuggle up in your favorite chair with or without a cozy fire, and let your mind and heart wander at will. 

I find this time of year to be a clearing house of sorts.  The cobwebs are gone, and nothing but clarity is in view.

This in-between time, before spring even thinks of appearing, I consider a gift.  I embrace it and hope you do, too.

Happy and fulfilling reading and writing!

Guardian Angel Kids Ezine January 2011 Issue Now Available

The 2010 holidays are now behind us and the January 2011 issue of Guardian Angel Kids Ezine http://www.guardian-angel-kids.com blasts in the New Year with wonderful activities, short stories, articles, a poem, and a parent/teacher article to brighten your days.

Be prepared to spend memorable time as you both explore the monthly features:

Featured Books:

Chesley’s Crazy Hair Flip Book written and illustrated by Joanne Potts

Animal Sound Mix-Up Flip Book written by Connie Arnold and illustrated by Kit Grady

Children poems, stories, and articles:

“Swinging Sweet Tooth,” by Ann Ingalls takes you on the adventures of the nocturnal mammal the Kinkajous.

“Cassie the Runaway Cow,” by Peg Finley is a whimsical tale of learning through the eyes of Cassie the Cow as to whether or not life is better on the other side of the fence. Cassie’s journey comes to life through Jack Foster’s illustration.

“Spring Parade,” by Julia Cousineau is an awe inspiring journey of a frog’s determination to join in on the annual spring parade. Will he succeed? Jack Foster’s illustration leaps off the pages and into your imagination.

“Those Amazing Animals,” by Katie Clark is a fast paced article that shows how the zoo evolved from personal gardens into the exciting habitats they are today.

“The Coquí, Island Singer,” by Mayra Calvani. What in the world is a Coquí? Find out in this intriguing tale of an Island Singer.

“What’s In a Name? Fun Name Activities to Do With Your Child,” by Jeanine DeHoney. Teach your young muses to celebrate the uniqueness of their name through fun activities.

Stop by for a spell and enjoy your time together in the interactive world of Guardian Angel Kids where the delightful stories take you to glorious heights.

Tim's First Footer New Year's Toast

2011 First Footer Toast

for Stewart Family

“Great good luck to the house,
Good luck to the family,
Good luck to every rafter of it,
And to every worthy thing in it.

Good luck to the horses and cattle,
Good luck to the sheep,
Good luck to everything,
And good luck to all your means.

Good luck to the good wife,
Good luck to the children,
Good luck to every friend,
Great good luck and health to all.”