Four Feet Two Sandals has been nominated for the California Young Readers Award for 2010
www.californiayoungreadermedal.org
Check out this site
PICTURE BOOK FOR OLDER READERS (Grades 4 and up)
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Four Feet, Two Sandals by by Karen Williams. Eerdmans Books for young Readers, 2007.
See what Kirkus has to say in the starred review of my most recent book out just this Spring!Review Date: FEBRUARY 15, 2010
Publisher:Boyds Mills
Pages: 32
Price (hardback): $$17.95
Publication Date: 2/20/2010 0:00:00
ISBN: 978-1-59078-712-0
ISBN (hardback): 978-1-59078-712-0
Category: CHILDREN'S
A star is assigned to books of
unusual merit, determined by the editors of Kirkus Reviews.
While Greg and his dad enjoy a beach day, Dad sets two rules: "Don't go in
the water / and don't leave Sandy," a lion Greg has drawn in the sand. As
the little boy continues drawing the lion's tail, he discovers myriad items
along the shore. Williams's rhythmic, onomatopoeic Swish-swoosh of the
waves and the clear, descriptive text transport readers into Greg's
experiences, which range from spotting a "gooey purple jellyfish" to
watching a "tiny ghost crab / scurry sideways into his dark, round hole."
Cooper's mastery with pastels results in a grainy, sun-washed effect that
conjures a hot seaside day. Most stunning are the endearing, intimate
close-ups of Greg immersed in artistic play. Children will relate to his
adventure, which pivots on the moment he realizes he has lost sight of his
dad. But a winning combination of good memory and self-reliance lead to a
most satisfactory ending. Scoop up this tale for its strength as a unique
beach story and for its warm portrayal of an African-American son and
father enjoying the outdoors. (Picture book. 3-6)
Hats for Hope for Haiti
On February 2, children’s author, Karen Lynne
Williams, will visit our school. Ms. Williams and
her husband, Dr. Steve Williams, have spent
several years in Haiti living and working at the
Hôpital Albert Schweitzer in Deschapelles.
In light of the devastating earthquakes in Haiti
and in honor of her visit,
Wear a hat and bring a donation
on January 22, 2010.
Bring a donation of any amount to show your
support for the relief work of the
Hôpital Albert Schweitzer.
For more information or to donate directly, visit:
http://www.hashaiti.org
For donations by check, make payable to:
Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Haiti
Oscar Izenson wore an oversize sombrero to O'Hara Elementary School on Friday as a way to raise awareness for Haiti relief efforts. Classmate Chloe Yofan donned pink and black Minnie Mouse ears and Jack Yousem strutted around with a brown stuffed turkey leg on his head. "We need to get the people in Haiti some money for houses and things that they need," Oscar, 8, said. The fundraiser "Hats for Hope for Haiti" was quite simple but most successful. By donating any dollar amount, students could wear a hat during class. The event raked in $3,623, said kindergarten teacher Beth Ivins, who coordinated it with librarian Karen Fornari. The money will benefit the Hospital Albert Schweitzer, or HAS, in Deschapelles, about 40 miles outside the capitol of Port-au-Prince. The hospital is in urgent need of medical supplies to treat the inundation of people injured and subsequently suffering from infections after last week's earthquake. "Medical supplies that would normally last a month were consumed in the first day after the earthquake," according to the hospital Web site. "While supplies have made their way to Haiti through the unprecedented international aid effort, frustratingly, the supplies are not currently reaching HAS." The Haitian medical team, comprised of more than 500 personnel, is supported by surgeonsand staff arriving from around the world. Locally, Pittsburghers are doing their part to help as well. Volunteers from Garfield-based Global Links are working feverishly to replenish supplies at HAS. The group recovers unused medical supplies, equipment and furniture from the U.S. health care system for distribution to hospitals and clinics that serve the poorest areas of the globe. In collaboration with UPMC, Global Links currently is deploying items most needed, which include sutures, crutches, antibiotics, bandages and X-ray film. About $50,000 worth of antibiotics and other medications donated by UPMC were prepared for shipment last week. "With Global Links fielding donations and coordinating the collection and shipping of materials, we are able to act quickly and efficiently, eliminate duplication of effort, and ensure that the items collected meet the specific needs of doctors working on the frontlines of this horrific disaster," said Global Links Executive Director Kathleen Hower. O'Hara Elementary staff hopes to hand over the money raised on Hat Day during an assembly on Feb. 2 when local children's author Karen Williams will speak with students. Williams spent several years in Haiti working at HAS. "When we realized what a connection we had with Karen Williams coming, we wanted to do something to help," Ivins said. Though her students are young, many grasp that the hats were more than just a way to have fun during school. "We talked about how there was an earthquake and many of them brought in a donation without even wearing a hat," Ivins said. "Everyone was very generous."Hats for Haiti: Students raise cash to help recovery
"I heard a lot of people were hurt," Jack said. "Some people who have brothers and parents and stuff got separated. We need to help them."
In Haiti the trees hold on to dust,
drink it in with roots
snake across an earth of stone
searching for a foot hold. The people of Haiti
with bruised and calloused feet
eat the dust in wafers of sun dried mud
sold in the market to stave off hunger.
This Flame tree smothered
by parasites, silver sprays
of cactus that live on stagnant air
in the crook of her boughs
splayed skyward in supplication.
This tree a playground for
Chameleons clad in camouflage
(like government soldiers)
circle the trunk and stand off
throats puffed out, hypnotic
posturing for sex and power
in the suffocating stillness.
They are startled by a sudden
rasping of the soul,
splintered choking like
the hacking of tuberculosis.
A scream slashes the silence,
the earth shudders
and this fallen Flamboyant
leaves a hole in the universe
where blood-red petals ruffled
and rimmed with orange sunlight
float through the space
and dust is all that is left
where there are no trees
for the coffin builder.
-- Karen Lynn Williams
Many have asked how to help. I am suggesting that you make a donation to Hospital Albert Schweitzer. Go to hashaiti.org, read the blog and make a donation. The hospital has been functioning through the disaster with surgeons working around the clock. They have too many patients and not enough supplies. Your donations will be well used and are much needed.
Hello Karen,
Thanks for a successful skype! My students filled out a
reflection sheet afterwards, and it was amazing how much
they absorbed. Your discussion on why you write
children's literature really resonated with them. Many
students wrote that they would begin to write about their
'childhoods'. Your honest and meaningful explanation
really affected them!
Take a look at the website charactercounts.org and see Four Feet Two Sandals is still being recognized by thoughtful students, teachers and educators.
And on another front my story, the Best Toys Ever first published in Chicken Soup for the Kids Soul was part of a creative family interactive advent calendar for this month of December. See the website info@Growinggreatfamilies.com
These are only a few new things happening with my books and my writing life. Much more to come in 2010. And right off the bat I will start with a trip to Park School in Baltimore on January 4. I am looking forward to sharing reading, my books and the writing life with students there. More when I return.
Happy New Year!
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