Summer memories

When I was little, I lived in a town called Mill Valley in Northern California. Kids in Mill Valley couldn’t get into too much trouble in the summers because a heavy fog from San Francisco Bay would roll in every afternoon, sadly cutting playtime short.

When my family moved to Washington State, my brother and sister and I were amazed to find fog in short supply there. And the sun stayed out until after 9 pm! It was heaven to run barefoot through the lawn AFTER dinner. My brother and I shared a bedroom, and it was still so bright outside when we were sent to bed that my mom put tin foil over the windows on the sunny side of the room. We fell asleep in the golden glow of the setting sun.

Did we miss Mill Valley? Yes. Even with the fog, it had a magic all its own. And the year we moved to Washington State, some Mill Valley school kids recorded a hit song about it. My brother and sister and I listened to it all summer long in the everlasting Washington sun, and we were glad to think we had TWO home towns.

Happy Fourth of July!

Fireworks are a Fourth of July tradition. Some people find them too noisy to enjoy. I love their big bangs and brief, brilliant flashes of light. Here’s a video taken one Independence Day where Mother Nature showed up to join in the fireworks display!

Reading room

I love all libraries, but my favorites have a special look and feel to them—in other words, ATMOSPHERE. If I could travel back in time, I would love to spend some quality time in a library at sea. Just looking at this picture of the library aboard the United States Lines’ S.S. America makes me want to sit down and open a book.

I could have my pick of chairs to read in here! Image found Out There.

This is the S.S. America, the ship that contained that sweet reading space.

Full steam ahead! The library's open. Image found at cruiselinehistory.com

Now, what book would I choose to read in such a salty situation? How about 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea!

Happy Father’s Day

Today’s the day we honor dads for all the things they do.

Even this tee shirt loves its dad!

Daughters love their dads.

Actress Rashida Jones gives some love to papa, musician Quincy Jones. Image found at urbandaily.com

Sons love their dads.

Musician Mike Ka'awa hangs with dad Ike Ka'awa. Image found at aroundhawaii.com

And princes of the forest honor the Great Prince!

Not actually Bambi's father, but close! Image found at en.wikipedia.org

Thanks, Dad, for everything. Love you!

Living out on a limb

As summer approaches, I’ve been thinking about spending time outdoors. I’ve posted about Free Spirit Spheres, the amazing tree homes Canadian carpenter Tom Chudleigh designs and builds, and it’s put me on the hunt for more treehouse ideas.

Twelve feet high and nine feet in diameter, this oval “bird’s nest” treehouse was created by Japanese designer Takashi Kobayashi. It’s reached with a circular staircase.

Nesty! Image found at freshome.com

German design cooperative Baumraum created this treetop dwelling with the help of a sturdy oak tree.

Modern design, traditional oak. Image found at freshome.com

Baumraum doesn’t always need the help of a tree to get its houses off the ground. Here they incorporate the “idea” of one, in a house that soars on stilts.

This might be a mobile home in a strong wind! Image found at imagesme.net

This is the Yellow Treehouse Restaurant in Aukland, New Zealand, designed and constructed by Pacific Environments Architects, Ltd. Pine and poplar beams are attached to a redwood tree to resemble the construction of a moth’s nest. The restaurant seats eighteen diners. I hope they serve bird’s nest soup!

With a view like this, who needs a menu? Image found at mtidry.com

Finally, here is what builder Horace Burgess claims is the biggest treehouse in the world! Located in Tennessee, it’s 97-feet tall and built around an 80-foot white oak tree. It has eleven floors and features a miniature indoor basketball court! But if the ball bounces out the window, you’re out of luck.

This treehouse is colossal! Image found at freshpics.com

You can't really "blend in" to the forest with this baby! Image found at freshpics.com

Summer fun

When the world is threatened with destruction thanks to a curse from a talking, decapitated witch’s head, what’s a kid to do?

If you’re Thatcher Hill, you stop dusting the fake mermaids and other assorted grotesqueries at your uncle’s seaside Museum of Curiosities, join forces with a princess from the fabled lost city of Atlantis, and kick some monster-squid butt.

Greg van Eekhout’s new middle-grade novel Kid Vs. Squid has it all—thrills, spills, and chills, and it’s a laugh a minute, to boot. Spend the summer with Thatcher and see how much fun a rundown boardwalk can be!

Slimy squid, hero kid. Kid Vs. Squid by Greg van Eekhout is published by Bloomsbury USA Children's Books

Awesome sauce

Awesome!

It’s always so fun to say that.

What is awesome? I thought about that and went looking for clues. Here’s what I found.

This is true under any circumstances. Image found Out There.

"Awesome" is a compliment to be proud of. Image found Out There.

Sometimes awesome can't be put into words. Image found Out There.

Don't let this stop you from trying. Image found Out There.

"Awesome" itself is awesome! Image found Out There.

This post has received the Seal of Awesomeness!

Thanks, Alot!

A blogger named Allie has recently posted about her pet peeves concerning spelling and grammar. One thing that really puts a bee in her bonnet is when people spell “a lot” as one word: “alot.”

She’s thought a lot about “alot,” and drew a picture of the image that came into her mind.

Allie's imagined Alot. Found at http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html

She’s incorporated her feelings for Alot in another drawing.

Does Allie care for ALL Alots, or just this one? Found at http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html

What kinds of Alots are in Allie’s imagination? All kinds! Like this:

This Alot is hot! Found at http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html

When it comes to Alots, Allie reaches out with love and understanding.

Allie listens, Alot. Found at http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html

But there’s one thing Allie would like to get straight. When Alots (or anyone else) are spelling “a lot,” they had better make it TWO words, not ONE.

Tower of Power

I’ve posted before about being tall.

I am 6′ 7″, and it’s been a blessing and a curse.

I’ve found some comfort lately in a book called The Tall Book, by Arianne Cohen, who is 6′ 3″.

The Tall Book by Arianne Cohen is a celebration of life from on high. Published by Bloomsbury USA.

This book is written for adults, but tall people of all ages can be glad it’s on the library shelf waiting for them when they need help in unlocking the mysteries at the center of talldom. It’s helped a lot of people already.

“As a twelve-year-old told to act my age and not my shoe size, I could honestly say, ‘They’re the same.’ This is a book for everyone, like me, who grew up (and up) to be proud of their height,” says 6′ 4″ Olympic gold medal basketball player Rebecca Lobo. I’m glad I found it!

This is silly

Callum, the boy in my MG (middle grade) novel, was raised by wolves. Here is a character who was raised by wolves AND kangaroos, in a video I made with friends in the animation biz. Presenting Silly Goose!