Category: Winnie Finn, Worm Farmer

Winnie Finn, LIVE!

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Toni Buzzeo's Adaptation of Winnie Finn

Toni Buzzeo’s Adaptation of Winnie Finn

This month’s issue of Library Sparks (April, 2013), a publication of School Library Journal, includes a readers’ theater script of Winnie Finn, Worm Farmer written by none other than Toni Buzzeo. Just imagine, kids around the country playing the parts of Winnie, Mr. Abernathy, Mrs, Yamasaki-O’Sheridan and Mr. Peasley! (No, no one gets to be a red wiggler. I knew you were going to ask that.) Toni skillfully distributes the lines of her script to accommodate varying reading abilities, yet follows the story faithfully maintains the artistic integrity of my vision. So marvelous!

Not a Very Scary Cover Reveal!

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Squeee!

Squeee!

I have news!

Introducing the cover art for Not Very Scary, a Halloween picture book, illustrated by the talented Greg Pizzoli, and published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux, the same people who published Winnie Finn! Follow monster Melly as she makes her way to her cousin Malberta’s house, with the promise of a Halloween surprise when she arrives.

NOT VERY SCARY Illustrated by Greg Pizzoli, coming July, 2014

NOT VERY SCARY
Illustrated by Greg Pizzoli, coming July, 2014

Melly’s adventure was great fun to write and it’s even funner to read aloud. It will be released in July, 2014.

Not Very Scary
written by Carol Brendler
Illustrated by Greg Pizzoli
Published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux in 2014

The Maine Chickadee Award

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Looking for worms

Looking for Worms

Winnie Finn, Worm Farmer was one of ten picture books kids read for the Maine Chickadee Award in 2011. Kids in Maine schools heard or read stories chosen by librarians and educators statewide and then voted for their faves. It’s all presented and funded by the Maine Association of School Librarians. What an honor! WFWFShadow

I was invited to tour schools and a library in southeast Maine and talk to hundreds and hundreds of kids about worms and composting. It was great fun, even though lobster was out of season in April. One school served up gummy worm cake for lunchtime dessert. Another school offered a lunch of spaghetti–coincidence?

When I came home, I learned that the students voted for Winnie for 4th place! Here are some of the contenders, from that year and other years.

Worm Crazy kids in Maine!

Worm Crazy kids in Maine!