Author Caroline Starr Rose

Debut author Caroline Starr Rose and I attended the same event a few months ago, but I never made it across the room to introduce myself. I would have told her how much I love May B. Bummer! I suppose the next best thing to meeting her in person is having her participate in one of my fun Friday features. Here's how it works: I invite an inspiring educator or an exceptional author to finish my sentences about writing, reading, and connecting with readers. 

I wrote the words in red, and Caroline wrote the words in black. Thank you, Caroline! 

If I visited your library or classroom I’d be giddy. Now that I’m no longer teaching, I don’t get those special moments with students, the opportunity to talk about what I love (with a built-in captive audience!), or the chance to soak up the energy only schools can produce. I’d pretend your students were mine for the brief time we were together. I’d scan bookshelves, looking for old and new friends.

Mavis Elizabeth Betterly is much braver than I. She has taught me so much. I love that girl.

Historical fiction is relevant! Interesting! A way to experience history in a personal, memorable way.

As a child I played Nancy Drew, dressing in too-big high heels and clomping around the neighborhood looking for clues.

 I made maps for every book in Lloyd Alexander’s Prydain Chronicles.

 I wrote serials about Mary Poppins, kept a notebook like Harriet, and aspired to add the most bows to my elementary library‘s kite-tail during our annual reading contest.

Three of my favorite verse novels are Out of the Dust; Love that Dog; Your Own, Sylvia.

I wrote May B. after reading two verse novels* (do not try this at home) and have a lifetime of learning 
and reading ahead of me. Inside Out and Back Again 
will be the next verse novel I read -- on hold at the 
public library.

May started as prose, but the words didn’t feel honest or right.

Over in the Wetlands is my forthcoming picture book (2014). It’s a tribute to south Louisiana’s unique flora and fauna. I hope it also brings to light the issue of coastal erosion -- something I knew nothing about before my years there.

Reading is…Henry Ward Beecher pretty much sums it up with this: A book is a garden, an orchard, a storehouse, a party, a company by the way, a counselor, a multitude of counselors.

I’ll add reading is a resting place, a new way to see the world, a chance to intentionally examine life, a familiar friend.

Mr. Schu, you should have asked me about returning to my elementary school library as an adult. Things had changed -- bookcases were in new places, the fish tank was gone -- but the magic was still there, as rich as in my memories.

I am giving away one copy of May B. 

Rules for the Giveaway

1. It will run from October 12 to 11:59 P.M. on October 14. 

2. You must be at least 13.

3. Please pay it forward. :) 

Borrow May B. from your school or public library. Whenever possible, please support independent bookshops.