Book Review - January's Sparrow by Patricia Polacco

Title: January’s Sparrow

Written by: Patricia Polacco

Researched by: Mary McCafferty Douglass

Hardcover: 96 pages

Ages: 9-12

Publisher: Philomel Books

ISBN 13: 978-0-399-25077-4

Published: October 2009

Many brave souls, white and black, risked their lives helping slaves to freedom. Many would believe that once reaching a free state all their worries would be washed away. Unfortunately, the “Under the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793,” gave slave owners the right, even in free states, to take back their slaves.

The true story of the Crosswhite family told through the eyes of their “adoptive” son January, engulfs you in the dreams and fears of each family member, especially young Sadie. Her intuition and trustworthiness will warm your heart for a positive outcome for all. What became of the Crosswhite family one will learn through the expert storytelling of Patricia Polacco. One you will not soon forget.

To learn more of the illustrious career of Patricia Polacco visit http://www.patriciapolacco.com/.  

Reviewed by Donna M. McDine

Leave a comment and be automatically entered at a chance to win a FREE e-book CD of The Golden Pathway
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Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm

Jacqueline Woodson - Recap of the 2010 Winter NY SCBWI Conference

Continuing with the celebration of Black History Month I am re-running my recap of the 2010 Winter NY SCBWI conference....

The SCBWI NY Winter Conference was a whirlwind of inspiring guest speakers and workshops. Exhausting and exhilirating. If you have never attended you must put this conference on your MUST DO list. Your brain will overflow with essential information and inspiration to make a go of your writing career.
The luncheon keynote speaker was Jacqueline Woodson, a three-time Newbery Honor winner, two-time National Book Award Finalist, and winner of a Coretta Scout King Honors.
Ms. Woodson started off of her speech with the work of someone else, because as she said we all started learning from the work of others.
"Locking the door, reading, and learning from others. Close the door of the negative so you don't feel less." Phew! What a profound statement.

I continued to jot down excerpts from Ms. Woodson's speech, but I became absorbed and mesmerized by her. Her soothing and even keeled voice set me in a trance and I soaked in every word. Below I share with you bits of her writing journey in her own words...forgive me for not having all the details, but as I said her speech was mesmerizing and I lost focus on writing it all down.

"Writing for 20 years...
Prior to children, having the freedom of writing for hours...

Reading the work of others...
Then working full-time and writing at night...
Then working part-time and writing part time...

Then children...

Closing the door to write and having the right to tell your story..."

I know this is bits and pieces, but to truly feel inspired by Woodson visit her website and absorb her writing career...you'll be happy you did... http://www.jacquelinewoodson.com/


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Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm

Book Review ~ America’s Black Founders ~ Revolutionary Heroes & Early Leaders by Nancy I. Sanders

Title: America’s Black Founders ~ Revolutionary Heroes & Early Leaders with 21 Activities

Written by: Nancy I. Sanders

Paperback: 144 pages

Publisher: Chicago Review Press, Inc. /January 2010

ISBN-13: 978-1556528118

Even the most reluctant readers will be spell bound from the onset of America’s Black Founders ~ Revolutionary Heroes & Early Leaders. Nancy Sanders has weaved significant events of America’s black founders with facts and activities to provide a true sense of history. Events, people, and places leap from the pages as the light shines on significant African American leaders who were instrumental in early American history. The timeline provided serves as a guide from 1760 through 1837 and the events along the way.

Breaking the chains that bound them in slavery, Richard Allen and many others rose through their adversity and became forces to reckon with. Their due place as founders of the United States of America is a fascinating time in American history and one you will not soon forget.

Run don’t walk, or click through cyberspace as fast as you can and purchase America’s Black Founders ~ Revolutionary Heroes & Early Leaders and become well educated in America’s black founders.
Visit Nancy Sanders at http://www.nancyisanders.com/ to learn more about her illustrious writing career.

Reviewed by Donna M. McDine - http://www.donnamcdine.com

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Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm

Rockland County Tourism ~ Nyack Center Black History Celebration

February 5, 2011 - 7 pm

Nyack Center’s Black History Month Committee invites the community to attend a unique living expression of the roots of African American history in our community. The program will feature performances celebrating the stories of African Americans through song, dance and the spoken word. One organization and three individuals who have contributed to the lives of African Americas in our community will be honored that night. Rev. Eugene Jones, Renold Julien, and Ouida Dawson Toutebon.

Admission is Free!

Located at:
The Nyack Center
58 Depew Ave
Nyack, NY.

For more information call (845) 358-2600.




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Best wishes, Donna M. McDine Award-winning Children's Author The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm

Top Ten Finisher ~ Preditors & Editors Readers Poll 2010

I am thrilled to share with you that my historical fiction children’s book, The Golden Pathway placed as a Top Ten Finisher in the Preditors & Editors Readers Poll 2010.

My heartfelt thank you to all who voted, I truly appreciate your ongoing and never ending support in my writing career!

Many of you I know personally and I am humbled to be in such talented company. Congratulations to all!

1. Philip and the Superstition Kid, John Paulits, Gypsy Shadow Publishing

2. If Wishes Were Fishes, N.A. Sharpe, 4RV Publishing

3. A Wish and A Prayer, Beth Bence Reinke, 4RV Publishing LLC

4. The Mishaps of Gum Drop Island, M.M., Self

5. The Weaver, Kai Strand, Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.

6. The Golden Pathway, Donna M. McDine, Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm

7. The Halloween Dino Trip, Lea Schizas, MuseItUp Publishing

8. Bubba Goes National, Jennifer Walker, Windswept Destiny Publishing

9. The Giving Meadow, Stephanie Burkhart, 4RV Publishing
9. Philip & the Superstition Kid, John Paulitis, Gypsy Shadow

10. Haunted, Heather Beck, Treasure Cove Books
10. Killer Cows, D.M. Anderson, Echelon Press
10. In My Bath, Beth Bence Reinke, 4RV Publishing

11. Quest for the Simurgh, Marva Dasef, Texas Boy Publications
11. Eagle Quest, Marva Dasef, CreateSpace

12. Andy and Spirit Meet the Rodeo Queen, Mary Jean Kelso, Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
12. RV Mouse, Mary Jean Kelso, Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.

13. It's Okay to be a Zombie, Nathaniel Lambert & Danny Evarts, Shroud Publishing
13. Sully's Topsy Tale, Donna J. Shepherd, Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
13. Jeannette Claus Saves Christmas, Douglas Rees, McElderry/Simon & Schuster
13. Gamer's Quest, George Ivanoff, Ford Street

Comments for: The Golden Pathway, Donna M. McDine, Guardian Angel Publishing, http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm

The comments below are from those who voted for this entry: http://www.critters.org/predpoll/comments.cgi?ref=novelchildrens&what=The+Golden+Pathway,+Donna+M.+McDine,+Guardian+Angel+Publishihng,+http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm ________________________________________

"Fantastic! There's nothing like it!"
________________________________________

"The Golden Pathway is an excellent book on slavery and the Underground Railroad for young readers. It is an excellent book for parents to read with their children or teachers to read with their students."
________________________________________

"Donna's book is a must read, every school in America should have a copy of it. We can all learn a lesson about compassion from the main character."

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Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm

Celebrating Black History Month

In celebration of Black History Month I'd like to share with you a wonderful website Poets.org http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/370.

"Celebrate and explore the rich tradition of African American poetry through essays on literary milestones, intersections of music, poetry and art, and profiles and poems of historical and contemporary poets who continue to pioneer new ground while keeping an eye on the past."

Featured poets:

• Terrance Hayes
• Lucille Clifton
• Jericho Brown
• Dawn Lundy Martin

All month long I will be sharing book reviews and websites celebrating Black History Month.

I look forward to your visit.

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Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm

VBT - Writers on the Move February 2011 Schedule

WE’RE BACK! After a nice long two month hiatus we’re ready for action in 2011.

As always, we have a great tour planned with writers and authors who collectively, have tons of writing and marketing experience and information to share.

We’ll be trying to provide more value packed informational content so you can not only learn about the authors books and services, but also pick up tips and advice on writing, ghostwriting, marketing, and more.
So, look over the schedule below. Each day in February a different author and information will be presented.

Just follow the schedule and click on the corresponding day.

We really appreciate your comments and following.

Writers on the Move’s February 2011 Tour Schedule

1st Debra Eckerling http://www.writeonline.com/ is featuring Jennifer Gladden 

2nd Kathy Stemke http://educationtipster.blogspot.com/ is featuring Jenny Turner

3rd Nancy Famolari http://nancygfamolari.blogspot.com/ is featuring Jennifer Wylie

4th Margaret Fieland http://www.margaretfieland.com/ is featuring Nancy Famolari

5th Carolyn Howard-Johnson http://sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com/ is featuring Mayra Calvani

6th Heather Paye http://heatherpaye.blogspot.com/ is featuring Virginia Grenier

7th Marvin Wilson http://theoldsilly.com/ is featuring Mari Taylor

8th Stephen Tremp http://stephentremp.blogspot.com/ is featuring Carolyn Howard-Johnson

9th Darcia Helle http://quietfurybooks.com/blog/ is featuring Margaret Fieland

10th Martha Swirzinski http://wholechildpublishing.blogspot.com/ is featuring Kathy Stemke

11th Heidi Thomas http://heidiwriter.wordpress.com/ is featuring Karen Cioffi

12th Dallas Woodburn http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com/ is featuring Maggie Ball

13th Karen Cioffi http://karenandrobyn.blogspot.com/ is featuring Stephen Tremp

14th Maggie Ball http://magdalenaball.blogspot.com/ is featuring Donna McDine

15th Virginia Grenier http://thewritingmama.blogspot.com/ is featuring Shelby Patrick

16th Kevin McNamee http://kevinmcnameechildrensauthor.blogspot.com/ is featuring Darcia Helle

17th Elysabeth Eldering http://elysabethsstories.blogspot.com/ is featuring Dallas Woodburn

18th Marietta Taylor http://marismorningroom.blogspot.com/ is featuring Heidi Thomas

19th Robert Medak http://rjmbookreviews.blogspot.com/ is featuring Debra Eckerling

20th Donna McDine http://thegoldenpathway.blogspot.com/ is featuring Heather Paye

21st Shelby Patrick http://writershotspot.blogspot.com/ is featuring Robert Medak

22nd Mayra Calvani http://www.thedarkphanptom.wordpress.com/ is featuring Martha Swirzinski

23rd Jennifer Gladen http://jgladen.blogspot.com/ is featuring Elysabeth Eldering

24th Jenny Turner http://jr-turner.blogspot.com/ is featuring Marvin Wilson

25th Jennifer Wylie http://jlwylie.wordpress.com/ is featuring Kevin McNamee

Please follow along and be sure to leave comments!

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Best wishes,
Donna McDine
Children's Author

The Golden Pathway - August 2010 - Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.
http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/