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May
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Genre: Story Picture Books
“My mission broadly is to get kids connected to books ... I want to remind children that they have stories.” Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard
Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard, (1927 - ) Born in Baltimore, raised in Boston, and currently living in Pittsburgh, Howard is the author of ten picture books for children and is the recipient of the 2005 Maryland Author Award. In many of her picture books, Howard recalls her Maryland roots such as in the much-loved Aunt Flossie’s Hats (and Crab Cakes Later). In The Train to Lulu’s, Howard recalls trips she and her sister took to Baltimore as children to visit their Aunt Lulu.
Howard has been praised for showcasing strong intergenerational relationships and for her portrayal of African American families. For example, In Papa Tells Chita a Story, the author shows a loving relationship between a father and daughter.
Before she began writing, Howard was a children’s librarian and professor of children’s literature and library science. She received her M.L.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. Her books have won various awards including a Coretta Scott King Honor Award.
Genre – Picture Story Book: These books contain pictures or illustrations that complement the story, often mirroring the plot. Both the text and the illustrations are important to the story. The pictures are the "eye-candy" that gets people's attention and the text tells the complete story.
A partial reading list includes: Aunt Flossie’s Hats (and Crab Cakes Later); The Train to Lulu’s; Papa Tells Chita a Story; What’s in Aunt Mary’s Room?; Flower Girl Butterflies.
Fun With Words - Maryland Writers’ Association (MWA) invites you to have fun writing part of a picture story book. Using up to 200 words, write part of a children’s story that shows strong intergenerational relationships and includes a waterfall, a cell phone, and a train ticket. You can write in rhyming verse or in prose. Break your story where each illustration would go and briefly describe the illustration in that spot. Please visit www.mwawritersroundtable.org/fun-with-words, to read a sample response from this prompt, if you are unsure of how to write this. Submit your Fun With Words response to www.mwawritersroundtable.org/submit-fun-with-words by the 20th of the month and receive an MWA Fun With Words Submission Certificate. Selected prompts will be published next month.
Writer's Prompt Response
Maryland Writers’ Association (MWA) invites you to have fun writing part of a picture story book. Using up to 200 words, write part of a children’s story that shows strong intergenerational relationships and includes a waterfall, a cell phone, and a train ticket. You can write in rhyming verse or in prose. Break your story where each illustration would go and briefly describe the illustration in that spot. .
By Jon Ketzner - Cumberland, MD
Amanda putted the green golf ball firmly under the waterfall. The ball caromed off the railing and rolled into the hole. Plop.
“Great shot, Missy Black...I got it all on video.”
Amanda ran to her daddy who replayed the video of her hole-in-one on his cell phone.
[ illustration of miniature golf hole looking back from the hole through the waterfall to a little girl standing on the tee box]
“You’re a natural baby ... Michelle Wie better watch out!”
Amanda beamed. There was nothing she loved more than praise from her dad.
“ Time to go.”
They hurried to the funicular, flashed their train tickets, and whisked back up to their hotel with its spectacular view of the waterfalls.
[ Illustration of funicular climbing next to a long misty waterfall]
“Now what?”, asked Amanda.
Just then, someone knocked on their hotel room door.
“ Well,” smiled Jonathan Black, “Maybe you need to answer the door and let in our room service.”
Amanda skipped over and flung open the door.
Instead of a hotel waiter and food tray, standing in the doorway was a young woman, smartly turned out in the military uniform of a Navy Officer. Commander Black beamed.
“ Mom!”, screamed Amanda, tears of joys streaming down her cheeks, thoughts of grilled cheese sandwiches vanished in waves of happiness.
[ illustration of smiling female naval officer framed in doorway.]
Amanda putted the green golf ball firmly under the waterfall. The ball caromed off the railing and rolled into the hole. Plop.
“Great shot, Missy Black...I got it all on video.”
Amanda ran to her daddy who replayed the video of her hole-in-one on his cell phone.
[ illustration of miniature golf hole looking back from the hole through the waterfall to a little girl standing on the tee box]
“You’re a natural baby ... Michelle Wie better watch out!”
Amanda beamed. There was nothing she loved more than praise from her dad.
“ Time to go.”
They hurried to the funicular, flashed their train tickets, and whisked back up to their hotel with its spectacular view of the waterfalls.
[ Illustration of funicular climbing next to a long misty waterfall]
“Now what?”, asked Amanda.
Just then, someone knocked on their hotel room door.
“ Well,” smiled Jonathan Black, “Maybe you need to answer the door and let in our room service.”
Amanda skipped over and flung open the door.
Instead of a hotel waiter and food tray, standing in the doorway was a young woman, smartly turned out in the military uniform of a Navy Officer. Commander Black beamed.
“ Mom!”, screamed Amanda, tears of joys streaming down her cheeks, thoughts of grilled cheese sandwiches vanished in waves of happiness.
[ illustration of smiling female naval officer framed in doorway.]
SUMMER by Patsy Snyder
Mom bought my train ticket online. She said it was easier.
Illustration: unhappy 9 year old boy
My bags were all packed, but I don’t want to go. Other kids love summers but not me. Mom has to work all the time, and there is no one to watch me, so I have to stay with my grandparents. All damn summer. Yeah I know, damn is a curse word. So what.
Illustration: duffle bags packed and shopping bags with extra stuff
I’m just a kid, so I don’t get to stay alone, I have to be shipped off and I already miss my Mom. And get this, I’m not big enough to stay alone, but I’m big enough to take the train to Cumberland Maryland, all by myself, because it is a direct trip. No other stops. Lucky Me.
Illustration: old cell phone
At least I got to have Mom’s old cell phone for the trip. My grandparents have been calling and texting, and they’re all excited. You would think I am their only entertainment. They have planned trips; one to Black water Falls, lots of swimming, and trips to local amusement parks, and trips to Pages Ice Cream. Okay the last one sounds pretty good, but I’m still counting the days.
Illustration: calendar
Mom bought my train ticket online. She said it was easier.
Illustration: unhappy 9 year old boy
My bags were all packed, but I don’t want to go. Other kids love summers but not me. Mom has to work all the time, and there is no one to watch me, so I have to stay with my grandparents. All damn summer. Yeah I know, damn is a curse word. So what.
Illustration: duffle bags packed and shopping bags with extra stuff
I’m just a kid, so I don’t get to stay alone, I have to be shipped off and I already miss my Mom. And get this, I’m not big enough to stay alone, but I’m big enough to take the train to Cumberland Maryland, all by myself, because it is a direct trip. No other stops. Lucky Me.
Illustration: old cell phone
At least I got to have Mom’s old cell phone for the trip. My grandparents have been calling and texting, and they’re all excited. You would think I am their only entertainment. They have planned trips; one to Black water Falls, lots of swimming, and trips to local amusement parks, and trips to Pages Ice Cream. Okay the last one sounds pretty good, but I’m still counting the days.
Illustration: calendar