Poop Research Continues
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons, Nhobgood, Nick Hobgood
Guess what the pristine what beaches of Hawaii and the Caribbean are made out of?
Parrotfish poop.
Parrotfish use their tough beaks to scrape algae off coral and eat it. They also eat the little animals that build the coral. Doing this, they end up crunching up the coral itself, which their bodies process and defecate as lovely white sand.
A big parrotfish can poop out 1000 pounds of sand a year.
You are welcome for this tidbit of horrifying yet delightful knowledge. Take it with you on your next beach vacation.
Read MorePoop Research
Dogs do it. They’re not sorry. And they would do it again if they could. (Thanks to Claudia Peters from Pixabay for the image!
It’s remarkable how often my research for nonfiction leads me into the realm of poop. A while back, there was the question of how the Apollo astronauts managed with no toilet. And of course, the fascinating shape of wombat poop. This week I’ve been delving into the age-old question of why dogs eat poop.
a) Because their ancestors did.
b) Because it’s there.
c) Because dogs are just, by nature, gross.
d) And other reasons that may be revealed if I find a publisher for this new project one day.
Read MoreWombats Coming Soon
Wombat himself, illustrated by Charles Santoso–just a snippet of the lovely, lovely art for this book
Today I’m looking forward to the day when (about a year from now; we in the publishing business live in the future a lot) my picture book Wombat Underground will be published. This is a book close to my heart; it holds so much of my feelings about both the natural world and the nature of humanity–essentially, when we’re frightened and alone, do we welcome in strangers who are also frightened and alone? Do we shelter each other, or do we drive each other way?
(Yeah, it’s not just about wombats)
But it is also a charming and exciting story about a wombat and a bushfire, and it’s just…I’m really proud of it. I can’t wait for the day when you all get to see it too.
Read MoreThings Not To Do
Let them read!
A middler schooler I happen to know was picking out a book from her school library the other day. The staff member frowned at it, announced to the room that it had rather mature themes, and then handed it to her after all.
Just…don’t.
If a book isn’t right for middle schoolers, don’t have it in the library. If a book is in the library and a student chooses it, don’t criticize it and embarrass her in front of all her classmates.
(The book was, by the way, entirely appropriate.)
I hear from educators all the time how important it is for kids to develop a love of reading. And then I hear about things like this.
Here are a few thoughts, from someone who may not be an educator or a librarian or a literacy specialist, but from someone who does care about books and kids.
Don’t tell kids they are reading the wrong books. Don’t criticize their taste, even if their taste runs to series fiction or fantasy or graphic novels or any of the other books we adults like to sneer at. Reading is reading. Reading books that you adore is the absolutely best way (perhaps the only way?) to develop a true love for the printed word.
Don’t shut up the library or severely limit its hours and then complain that kids aren’t reading.
Don’t refuse to allow them any class time to read and then complain that they don’t prioritize reading.
Don’t give them tedious reading logs to fill out, making reading a painful chore.
Don’t act embarrassed or uncomfortable when kids in the throes of adolescence want to read about (gasp!) sexuality.
Don’t tell them when and what and how to read.
Just don’t.
Read MoreSarah L. Thomson
A children’s book author publishing award-winning nonfiction, poetry, picture books and novels including…
“Readers will treasure the blossoming friendship between opposites in this whimsically illustrated tale. Short chapters and plenty of action make for an accessible and appealing reading experience. . . . Touching and inspiring.”
—Kirkus Reviews