Martha Rodriguez's Blog

Winter has gone on long enough, so forget spring!  We want to go straight to summer!   

We can't wait to feel the warm sun on our faces, scrunch our toes in the sand, feel the cool grass under our feet, swim in the ocean, jump in the lake, catch fireflies, chase frogs, and have ice cream run down our chins.  
Baseball, barbeques and bicycle rides are just around the corner, but summer still seems just out of our reach.  
What can we do to make summer get here faster?  Use our brains and have (parent- and teacher-approved) fun in the process!  Let's get those creative juices flowing to finish out the school year strong.  Brains need exercise, too!  And we're about to take our brains to the gym... the brain gym, that is!
How are we going to exercise our brains, you ask?  You did ask, didn't you?
Here's how.  Beginning today, Friday, March 13th (insert scary music here!) we're going to take pictures, share stories, have fun days and play games.  I want to know what you're up to as we count down to the longest day of the year, June 21st.

What can you expect?  Fun writing prompts, silly scripts, picture scavenger hunts and goofy holidays.  Help us celebrate summer's arrival by following along and posting on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or here on my blog, and visiting my website.  When possible use the hashtag #100DaysTilSummer. 
I promise you there will be something new and silly and fun to do every single day, and before you know  it, summer will be here!  
Oh, I almost forgot.  I have a surprise for you!  
June 21st is not only the first day of summer, it's also a special birthday -- for my picture book A Reel Cool Summer , so I'm giving away one paperback copy every day for those hundred days (US addresses only).  Or, if you're a bit too old for picture books and you have a Kindle, I'll send you an electronic copy (.mobi file) of Smell My Feet! 10 Seriously Silly and Sweet Short Stories for Squirts or What About Barnaby? A Gumshoe Crew Mystery by email.

Scroll down for giveaway entry form and to follow our 100 Days 'til Summer countdown fun!  Deal?

Deal!

I hope you're as excited as I am to use our brains for fun, which will keep them healthy for all that learning that's still to be done in school.

Let the 100 Days 'til Summer countdown begin!

And as always... stay cool!
Martha

Day 100:  March 13th
Today is Friday the 13th, but not even a black cat, scary horror movie music, blood-curdling screams or creepy shadows can stop us from having fun.
1.  Write about that time you saved your best friend from the worst Friday the 13th mayhem.
2.  Look up the words triskadekaphobia and paraskevidekatriaphobic.
3.  Picture scavenger hunt!  Take a picture of something related to Friday the 13th or join us in the countdown with a picture of a 100 (find one or make one out of stuff around your house).

Day 99:  March 14th
It's National Pi Day, but we prefer National Pie Day!  And it's also National Potato Chip Day!  I think we'll need to throw a vegetable in there somewhere...so it's parent approved, of course! 
1.  Describe your favorite pie or potato chip flavor.  It's much more fun if you make one up and tell us why it's your favorite.
2.  Take a picture of a pie, or 99 pies, or just your face full of pie, or a potato chip that looks like something or reminds you of someone.  Potato chips have a lot of personality, you just have to look to find it, and preferably before you put it in your mouth!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winter has gone on long enough, so forget spring!  We want to go straight to summer!  

We can't wait to feel the warm sun on our faces, scrunch our toes in the sand, feel the cool grass under our feet, swim in the ocean, jump in the lake, catch fireflies, chase frogs, and have ice cream run down our chins.  
Baseball, barbeques and bicycle rides are just around the corner, but summer still seems just out of our reach.  
What can we do to make summer get here faster?  Use our brains and have (parent- and teacher-approved) fun in the process!  Let's get those creative juices flowing to finish out the school year strong.  Brains need exercise, too!  And we're about to take our brains to the gym... the brain gym, that is!
How are we going to exercise our brains, you ask?  You did ask, didn't you?
Here's how.  Beginning tomorrow, Friday, March 13th (insert scary music here!) we're going to take pictures, share stories, have fun days and play games.  I want to know what you're up to as we count down to the longest day of the year, June 21st.


What can you expect?  Fun writing prompts, silly scripts, picture scavenger hunts and goofy holidays.  Help us celebrate summer's arrival by following along and posting on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or here on my blog, and visiting my website.  When possible use the hashtag #100DaysTilSummer. 

I promise you there will be something new and silly and fun to do every single day, and before you know  it, summer will be here!  
Oh, I almost forgot.  I have a surprise for you!  
June 21st is not only the first day of summer, it's also a special birthday -- for my picture book A Reel Cool Summer , so I'm giving away one paperback copy every day for those hundred days (US addresses only).  Or, if you're a bit too old for picture books and you have a Kindle, I'll send you an electronic copy (.mobi file) of Smell My Feet! 10 Seriously Silly and Sweet Short Stories for Squirts or What About Barnaby? A Gumshoe Crew Mystery by email.

Scroll down for giveaway entry form and to follow our 100 Days 'til Summer countdown fun!  Deal?

Deal!

I hope you're as excited as I am to use our brains for fun, which will keep them healthy for all that learning that's still to be done in school.

Let the 100 Days 'til Summer countdown begin!

And as always... stay cool!
Martha

I know it's not March 13th yet, but I thought I'd give you a sneak peak at some of the fun ways we'll be celebrating #100DaysTilSummer at home and in school.

Day 100:  March 13th
Today is Friday the 13th, but not even a black cat, scary horror movie music, blood-curdling screams or creepy shadows can stop us from having fun.
1.  Write about that time you saved your best friend from the worst Friday the 13th mayhem.
2.  Look up the word triskadekaphobia.
3.  Picture scavenger hunt!  Take a picture of something related to Friday the 13th or join us in the countdown with a picture of a 100 (find one or make one out of stuff around your house).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

It can't get any easier than this to enter my weekly giveaway of a paperback copy of A Reel Cool Summer!  (US postal addresses only, please)  Just email me here.  Put "I want to win." in the subject of your email.  I will choose one winner, at random, each Friday.  Entries which do not win will be carried over to the next week so you don't have to enter more than once.  One entry per email address.

To learn more about my other children's books, click here.  
About A Reel Cool Summer:It's the hottest, most boring day of summer vacation! It's so hot and boring, it feels like you're in a mall that's made of really, really hot lava! Confused? That's okay. It will all make sense once you meet Joey, Danny and Jacqui.

Will the three siblings find a way to cool down? Can they turn this boring day around? Will aliens take over the world? Wait... what?

A Reel Cool Summer has all the ingredients for a great movie adventure: a pirate, a princess, a prize and a pig (well, two pigs... well, actually, two guinea pigs)!
Read reviews of A Reel Cool Summer here.

Math is fun and summer reading is the new math.  Well, it is in our wacky little world!

Just in time for summer, my children's picture book, A Reel Cool Summer, turns two and I've decided a celebration is in order. 

Thru July 21, 2013, when you purchase the paperback edition of A Reel Cool Summer for the special price of $2, you will receive, for free, Kindle copies (.mobi files) of my books, Smell My Feet! and What About Barnaby?!

Click here to buy. 

So, my math does add up after all:  $2 + 2 free books does = Summer Reading Fun!



Here's another number.  1,000,000!  That's how many thanks I'm sending to you for purchasing my books.  I hope the kiddos enjoy them.  And another 1,000,000 thanks to the teachers and librarians who have invited me into their classrooms to chat with students about my publishing journey and to just be silly together.  I've had a blast!

Happy Birthday to A Reel Cool Summer and Happy First Day of Summer to all of you.  Have a safe one.

As always... stay cool!

Martha

P.S.  For more summer fun, try these writing prompts for kids.  And try Mama Mia Can't Believe Her Ears, a silly (and free) script.  Now kids can make a movie just like Joey, Danny, and Jacqui did in A Reel Cool Summer!

First, he was Winston.  No, not Churchill, the other guy.  Winston Zeddemore, the fourth Ghostbuster.  He squeezed himself into the very short straps of the Proton Pack and carried around a ghost trap.  Reciting, word-for-word, lines from the movies, they slunk around the house looking for ghosts wherever they may be.   Baby number two happened to be born on the exact day that Ghostbusters II was released on video.  His name was quickly changed from Danny to Oscar... just not on the birth certificate!
Then, he was Donatello.  No, not Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi the Renaissance Italian sculptor, the other guy.  Donatello, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle who wore the purple mask.  It's hard to do a surfer voice with a thick New York accent, but you do what you can.  Bo, katana, and nunchaku in hand the boys of the house went looking for bad guys in the sewers of New York... except that those sewers looked very much like a basement in New Jersey!
Finally, he was Philippine.  No, not Philippines the country, the other one.  Prince Philippine the handsome prince with whom Princess Beronica was in love.  Their Fisher-Price castle was the perfect place for the two lovebirds to live.  Together they rearranged the castle furniture and rode their majestic horses around the castle grounds which happened to be pink because green rugs weren't the style back then; it was the 90s after all!
Who is this man of many names?  Only the greatest dad in the world!  He's the one who changed their diapers from day one, who gave them a bottle in the middle of the night, who bandaged their boo-boos and wiped their tears.  He's the one who sat at the kitchen table for countless hours of math homework and who rummaged through the garage for bits and pieces of what would become a Science Fair project or a diorama.  He's the one who played Candy Land, videogames, baseball, football, Barbies, hockey, soccer, and Pretty, Pretty Princess.   He's the one who watched the countless movies they wanted to watch and then introduced them to the movies he loved.  How many kids do you know who can recite lines from Marx Brother movies?  Yeah, I thought so! 
Saturday mornings were about cereal and Looney Tunes when they weren't about 6 a.m. ice hockey practice, 8 a.m. flag football games, or 9 a.m. dance classes.  And every day was about love, compassion, understanding, supporting, encouraging, leading, teaching, and hugs and kisses that never ran out.    
June is for celebrating dads.  And the kiddos and I are celebrating the best dad in the world, my hubby, Jose.  He is a gift we're not sure we deserve, but who are we to question God?  Thank you sweetie for being strong and sweet, a rock when we need one and a softie at heart, and most of all the best hubby and dad in the world.  Happy Father's Day!
And Happy Father's Day to all the awesome dads out there.  I don't think I have to tell you how important it is for you to... stay cool.
Tell us your dad stories in the comment section below.
Martha
One more thing...  I lost my dad seven months ago and miss him more than words can ever express.  Before my children were blessed with the best dad in the world, I was blessed in the same way.  Papi, you were everything to me that Jose is to the kids.  I miss your sweetness, your sense of humor, and our long conversations about everything and nothing.  Thank you for the sacrifices you made for us and the loving way you taught us right from wrong.  And thank you for patiently waiting for me to understand your love of the beach.  It only took my 45 years.  I have no one to call me Martita now, but I still hear your voice and it comforts me.  My prayer for you this Father's day is that you may be enveloped in the loving arms of God and surrounded by all the angels in heaven.  I love you to no end.

Imagine not being able to read or write.  How would you fill out an employment application or a medical form?  How could you help your child with his homework or read the instructions on a medicine bottle? 

People who struggle with literacy issues don't usually volunteer that information to anyone.  Many devise ingenious ways to hide their lack of reading and writing skills from everyone, including family and friends.  They are smart, intelligent, productive, successful adults who want to do some of the things the rest of us take for granted.  They want to be able to read their Bibles, or bedtime stories to their children or grandchildren.  They want to get their high school diplomas, better jobs, or start a company using their unique skills, but all of that is beyond their reach. 

Rob Shindler knows some people just like this and his book Hot Dogs & Hamburgers: Unlocking Life's Potential by Inspiring Literacy at Any Age will give you a glimpse into their world and their literacy journey.       

At a very early age, Rob Shindler's son, Oliver, had a "situation."  That's how the preschool teacher put it.  That "situation" was a learning disability.  First there was the shock and then the wish to disappear, which Rob did for a while.  He didn't actually leave, he just checked out when it came to dealing with the dreaded "situation."  His wife took up the slack and that was okay with Rob... but not for long.

When he decided to reappear, Rob took it upon himself to teach Oliver to read.  Maybe the closet wasn't the best place to hold class, but it was quiet in there and there would be no distractions... or at least that's what Rob thought.  After a few tries this dad, who didn't want to quit on the child he loved with every ounce of his being, realized they were going nowhere fast.

What Rob needed in order to teach his son to read was for someone to teach him how to teach his son to read. 

(You may have to read that sentence again.  I know I did!) 

That would appear to be a selfish reason to volunteer as a tutor at Literacy Chicago, but in fact it turned out to be a selfless act that Rob would see duplicated by his son at the moment when he needed it most. 

Rob's sense of humor and talent for storytelling makes Hot Dogs & Hamburgers a great read.  You will most definitely feel every emotion, and one thing's for sure, you'll be glad you picked up this inspiring book!  Unique and colorful characters surround Rob at home, and in the Literacy Chicago office and classroom.  And when it comes to writing about himself Rob tells it like it is, warts and all.  And how can you not love a dad who just wants the best for his son; a dad who, in the end, brought out the best in his son and those whose lives he touched through tutoring?

When you finish this book you'll want to run to your local literacy initiative and sign up to tutor. As a former adult literacy tutor, I can tell you that you will be rewarded beyond belief for your service.  Don't be surprised if you learn as much from your students as they do from you--possibly even more.

Thank you, Rob, for sending me a copy of your wonderful book.  I enjoyed getting to know you, your family, and your students immensely.  They are very lucky to have you and I'm sure you already know how blessed you are to have them!   

Until next time... stay cool!

Martha 

Learn more about Rob Shindler and Hot Dogs & Hamburgers: Unlocking Life's Potential by Inspiring Literacy at Any Age.

Summer is almost here!  Some kiddos are already out of school and some will be soon.  It's time to relax and enjoy a little time away from school, and with family and friends.  But that doesn't mean we should shut down our brains for three months!  It's important for kids to keep up with their reading and writing during the break so teachers don't have to jumpstart their drained brains when the school year begins.

Easier said than done, right?  Right!  I'm a mom so I know. 

If you have a reader in the house you'll probably be okay, but if you have a reluctant reader who needs some motivation you may want to try some of these tips. 

(Pssst.  Over here.  Don't tell a soul.  Some of those tips are sooooo sneaky, they won't even know they're reading!  Shhhhhhh.)

That takes care of reading.  What about writing? 

I love a good writing prompt to get my writing juices flowing and I thought the kids might, too, so I'll be posting a few prompts here each week during the summer.  If they'd like to share their stories with me and my readers, email them to me at martha@readtomepublishingllc.com.  Please indicate if you are granting permission for me to share them and include the first name of the author and his or her age.  I want to give credit where credit is due.Week #1 Prompts:Thru age 5:  Pretend you are a puppy or a kitten.  Tell us what you look like, what your name is and what kinds of things you like to do.  NOTE FOR PARENTS:  Just because very young children can't actually write down their stories, doesn't mean they can't make one up.  Have your child dictate a story to you.  Write it out or type it on your computer and have him or her draw some illustrations for it.  That's a fun activity for both of you! 6-10 year-olds:  You're the designer so give us all the awesome details of the best kid's room ever!  I already know what I'd put in there... a giant jar of M&Ms!  11-13 year-olds:  What if you could have a super power?  Well, you can if you imagine it.  Tell us what it would be and how you would use it.  Were you born with it or did you acquire it?  I can't wait to read all the details!Come back again next week for more prompts to help you keep those writing juices flowing this summer!Until then... stay cool!Martha

You might be a perfectly imperfect mom if...

As your daughter gets out of the car at school you discover that, in the morning rush, you forgot to put her shoes on.  But, according to her, it's the best day of Kindergarten so far because you spent the day with her as the class went on a pretend airplane trip, complete with an actual pilot, and your pretend flight attendant skills were great.  Apparently, you're an expert at handing out snacks and filling drink orders and that's all that counts to a five-year-old!

To tease your teenage son, you secretly write a little love note on his lunch bag one day.  You're sure to hear him complain about it as soon as he walks through the door later.  Instead, he gets home from school and tells you that his friends got a huge kick out of it.  So, you write on his lunch bag every day for an entire year of high school and, miraculously, he doesn't hate your guts!You encourage your child to be the bigger person when another person is being hurtful.  It pains you because he's having a tough time, but you're sure he'll come out the better for it in the end.  When things don't work out quite as you had hoped, you know the exact time to step in and fight for him, even if Mr. Jones looks like the type of guy who, as we always say, "can break you in half!"Hey, even the most beautiful, perfect diamonds have imperfections, so why can't moms?  May is a month for celebrating moms and those precious little ones who gave us that honorable title.  One of the ways I'm celebrating is by donating all May proceeds from my three children's books to National Right to Life.  My numbers are small but every penny counts in the fight for each and every precious life.  I hope you'll join me. To all perfectly imperfect moms, Happy Mother's Day!  And, to moms who have lost their perfect little ones, may you have peace in your heart this Mother's Day. MarthaLet me share one more.  I hope you'll share some of yours here, too.      You write "To Pamela Ping" on the invitation envelope to your child's fifth birthday party when the girl you're trying to invite is named Penelope.  You've only been in the United States for two years, have never heard the name, and are afraid to ask because you don't think you'll be understood through your thick Cuban accent.  It makes your daughter happy to see her friend at the party and Penelope thinks her new name is silly!  My mom and I laugh about it still!  I love you Mimi.  Happy Mother's Day to the most perfect mom in the world!If you are so inclined to join me:A Reel Cool Summer is available here and here.Smell My Feet! 10 Seriously Silly and Sweet Short Stories for Squirts is available here.What About Barnaby? (A Gumshoe Crew Mystery) is available here.

Please help me welcome Barnaby Q. Percival and his friends (old and new, furry and not so furry) to my blog! 

The release of my first middle grade fiction book, What About Barnaby? (A Gumshoe Crew Mystery), took place on April 1st.  No, it wasn't an April Fools' joke!  But it was a quiet launch, so I wanted to take a few minutes to introduce you to some of the characters in the book and give the kids a challenge at the end of this post.

Barnaby Q. Percival is a crazy mutt, at least that's how Zeke describes him.  He never goes anywhere without his squeaky toy... well, never until today.  Oh, no, Barnaby has disappeared and he's left his squeaky toy behind!

Zeke is a neighbor of Barnaby's and his owner, Mr. Jensen.  Like most kids, he thinks life in his little town is just plain, old boring.  The mystery of Barnaby's disappearance is just the thing to bring adventure to his little corner of Hedgewood.

Scotty is Zeke's best friend.  He's definitely a "unique individual" and you'll see just how as you read What About Barnaby?  Scotty teams up with Zeke to try to decipher the mystery of the missing mutt.

Then there's Mrs. Peyton, one of Zeke's favorite people.  She's a sweet old lady who bakes the most delicious chocolate chip cookies in the world.  She knows something that will help Zeke and Scotty with their detective work but they don't know it yet... and they'll really be surprised when they find out!

The kids work tirelessly to find Barnaby.  They make some new friends along the way who pitch in to help solve the mystery.  I hope you'll come along on their adventure.  Who knows, they may even ask you to be a member of The Gumshoe Crew!

What About Barnaby? (A Gumshoe Crew Mystery) is available for the Kindle. 

Okay, kids, here's your challenge.  Can you decipher the secret code below?  If you can, email the answer to me at martha@readtomepublishingllc.com.  [NOTE TO PARENTS: The safety of your children is important to me. Please supervise children when they are on-line.] 

I will pick one correct entry, at random, to win a free Kindle copy of What About Barnaby?  With parent's approval I will announce the winner's first name here on Friday, April 12, 2013.

SECRET MESSAGE:

Zeke's Tree House has some cool features!

Here are a few clues: 

e = E

h = H

t = T

Here's another clue:  Pigpen

Good luck and as always... stay cool!

Martha

There's nothing like being there--or is that, there's virtually nothing like being there--or better yet, there's nothing like being there "virtually".Several weeks ago I had the pleasure of visiting, via Skype, with the terrific fifth grade students of King's Grant Elementary School in Virginia Beach, VA.  I want to thank the Gifted Resource Teacher, Mrs. Peperak, and fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Jackson, for inviting me to speak with their students.  And I especially want to thank the kiddos for their warm welcome and full participation during our visits.  You made my day twice in one week!My visit was made possible through a grant that Mrs. Peperak and Mrs. Jackson wrote.  Their students were preparing to take the SOL (Standards of Learning) writing test, or "THE BIG SOL" as the teachers and students refer to it, and they wanted to invite authors to speak with the students about writing ideas, writing challenges, editing tips, and tips for staying on topic.  Needless to say, I was very excited when I got the call and happily accepted the invitation.If you've ever Skyped with family or friends you already know that an in-person visit and a virtual visit are two different animals.  At any given moment during a virtual visit there can be connection problems or video and audio delays.  And for me, personally, the warmth of a personal visit just isn't quite there during a virtual visit.  I was a bit worried about there being a disconnect in that regard but, being one who doesn't shy away from technology and one who wouldn't want to disappoint the children, I was all in.A quick practice-run with Ms. Wuesthoff, the computer geek... I mean, the Computer Resource Specialist at the school, and we were ready to go.  My worries faded and my excitement skyrocketed!Both visits turned out wonderfully!  The students were prepared with some great questions for me and were very attentive as I told them about where I get ideas for my books and short stories, about my favorite genre and authors, and about being a publisher.  I enjoyed hearing about their favorite books and the unique ideas they had for writing in their favorite genres.  To top it all off, we completed a MadLib together, because there's always time for silliness!  I challenged them to use the MadLib as a prompt and to continue the story as a way to practice for "THE BIG SOL" and for creative writing in general.We did experience a few minor glitches during the visits but nothing that would make me shy away from the technology and especially nothing that would keep me from visiting with students.  I wouldn't pass up that opportunity for anything!  And so, I'm in the process of scheduling my next Skype visit, because there really is nothing like being there, even if it is virtually.Thanks again to everyone at King's Grant Elementary School for your hospitality.  I will always remember my first virtual visit and how it was a success because of you.  I'm sending this virtual (hug) your way. Students please keep reading and writing, and teachers please keep doing what you're doing because your students are awesome!  As always... stay cool!MarthaFind out more about author visits on my Skype an AuthorNetwork page.