Twittering My Day Job(s)

“Keep your day job” is the advice given to writers everywhere, and it’s something I’ve done my entire life. I wrote my first picture book when I was eleven, so going to school was my day job then. After college, I taught elementary school (K, 1, 5, and 6), raised children…and kept writing. I started working as an children’s literature consultant and then I sold my first book. That led to teaching at the university, both children’s literature and writing for children, which in turn led to my online writing workshops!

For ALL of my day jobs, I collect reference materials. With the advent of the internet, it’s become a LOT easier to share that information. The internet’s latest invention, a microblogging service called Twitter, has made it easier still.

I’ve created two Twitter microblogs so I can share the information I find:

asuen1 is my Children’s Book Biz Twitter
asuen2 is my Literacy Links Twitter

If you want to write children’s books, the asuen1 Twitter will give you information about agents, editors, and changes in the book industry.

If you’re helping children learn how to read and write, the asuen2 Twitter will send you links to literacy/education websites.

BOTH asuen1 and asuen2 will link to book awards and reading lists.

Twitter is a MICROblog, so only 140 characters are allowed. The “posts” I send will be a headline and a link for you to click. (After the link I’ll add a hashtag that “classifies” the link, such as #kidlit, #writing, #literacy, and #education.)

Q. What will happen to the other blogs?

A. The Kid Lit Kit blog is going on summer vacation. My last post for the 2008-2009 school year will be on June 1.

Picture Book of the Day will resume again tomorrow and continue throughout the summer.

Book of the Week and 5 Great Books will resume posting next week.

The posts on Children’s Book Biz News will come from the asuen1 Twitter. This means that most posts will be a headline, a link, and hashtags. (I will write “long form” posts on the WordPress blog, but most of my posts will be Twitter-based. I can share a link from the web via Twitter with just a few clicks!)

Enjoy!

Inservice Clock Hours | The Butt-In-Chair Club starts June 1st!
Copyright © 2009 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

5 Great Books for Memorial Day

George Washington — Soldier, Hero, President
by Justine and Ron Fontes (Authors)
A short chapter book biography about one of our famous veterans, George Washington. Easy reader

Memorial Day
by Jacqueline S. Cotton (Author)
This easy reader explains why we celebrate Memorial Day.

Memorial Day
by Robin Nelson (Author)
An simple introduction to the Memorial Day holiday. Easy reader

Memorial Day Surprise
by Theresa Golding (Author) and Alexandra Artigas (Illustrator)
A boy and his mom attend a Memorial Day parade, and the boy sees his Grandfather, a veteran, in the parade! (Picture book)

The Wall
by Eve Bunting (Author) and Ronald Himler (Illustrator)
A boy visits the Vietnam Veterans Memorial with his father to find his grandfather’s name. (Picture book)

Literacy Link
Try these Memorial Day Activities for Kids.

Twitter | Inservice Clock Hours | Virtual Author Visits
Copyright © 2009 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

5 Great Books About Dinosaurs

Danny and the Dinosaur
by Syd Hoff
A dinosaur in the museum comes to life and spends the day with a young boy in this classic easy reader.

Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs
by Byron Barton
A bright bold “first” dinosaur picture book.

Dinosaur Roar
by Paul and Henrietta Stickland
Dinosaurs roar (and teach opposites!) in this clever picture book.

First Dinosaur Encyclopedia
by DK Publishing
A great reference book for young dinosaur fans.

How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food?
by Jane Yolen (Author) and Mark Teague (Illustrator)
Dinosaurs learn table manners in this picture book.

Literacy Link
Try these dinosaur activities for new readers!

Twitter | Inservice Clock Hours | Virtual Author Visits
Copyright © 2009 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

5 Great Books About Clues

Aunt Eater Loves a Mystery
by Doug Cushman
Aunt Eater follows the clues to solve four mysteries in this chapter book. (Easy reader)

Detective Small in the Amazing Banana Caper
by Wong Herbert Yee
Detective Small follows his hunches to solve the case! (Picture Book)

Blue’s Best Rainy Day
by Deborah Reber (Author) and Kevin Cardinali (Illustrator)
It’s a rainy day, so Blue has a scavenger hunt inside the house. (Picture Book)

Nate the Great and the Stolen Base
by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat (Author) and Marc Simont (Illustrator)
Someone has taken the plastic purple octopus used for second base. Where can it be? (Easy reader)

Young Cam Jansen and the Spotted Cat Mystery
by David A. Adler (Author) and Susanna Natti (Illustrator)
Why did a cat show up in class? Cam Jansen follows the clues. (Easy reader)

Literacy Link

Play the Online Letter Sounds Game.

Twitter | Inservice Clock Hours | Virtual Author Visits
Copyright © 2009 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.