Nycticorax
The latest legendary creature to get a mention in The Griffin’s Boy, which I just sent off to my editor…the nycticorax. A crow-like bird supposed to be an ill omen and a natural enemy of the pelican, although I think the poor thing is probably just misunderstood.
The Latin name of the unlegendary night heron is Nycticorax nycticorax, and they do have eyes that glow an unnerving red at night…I can see why people might be a tad jumpy about them.
Read MoreLeap!
Today does not feel like a real day to me. Shouldn’t we all just have the day off? How can anybody expect real work to get done on a day that doesn’t actually exist?
So instead of a post about books or writing or nifty magical creatures (next week, the nycticorax!) I thought I would mention a few interesting facts about Leap Day.
Why is Leap Day in February? Because in the original Roman calendar, the year began in March. Said year only lasted for ten months and did not include winter, because “people didn’t work then.” I am entranced by this idea of two months just not existing–sort of an enforced winter vacation, I guess?
By the 7th century BC, people had noticed that, even if farm work was slack in the winter, time was in fact passing. Two new months (Ianuarius and Februarius) were added to the calendar.
Then along came Julius Caesar, who announced (when you are an all-powerful divine emperor, you can just say stuff and wham! It’s true!) that a year was 365 days and 6 hours along, and every fourth year you get an additional day on the end of Februarius to use up those stray six hours. He also made the year start on the first of Ianuarius, and decreed that people had to abide by his new calendar (and, you know, worship him as a god and all) after a 445-day stretch to get everybody all caught up, called the ultimus annus confusionis or “final year of confusion.” All seemed well…
But wait! Caesar was off by 12 minutes. The year is actually 365 days, 5 hours, and 48 minutes long. By the 1500s, the calendar year was out of whack with the solar year again, and Pope Gregory had to step in with the Gregorian calendar. This keeps leap years every 4 years except for centennials (years with two 00s, like 1900) except for centennials divisible by 400 (like 1600.)
And that is why today is not real.
Sources: Time Magazine, “Who Decided February 29 Was Leap Day?” by Chad de Guzman
CBS News, “What is a leap year, and why do they happen? Everything to know about Leap Day”
Because Everybody Likes Quizzes
Check out this New York Times quiz of lines from classic middle grade and young adult books!
(Pet peeve–middle grade is ages 8-12. The first three Harry Potters are classic middle grade. Young adult is for ages 12 and up. Anything by Robert Cormier is classic young adult. People (I’m looking at you, New York Times) use young adult for all novels written for kids, and it’s not accurate. Thank your for listening to this public service announcement.)
Sarah 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