Bøger af Laura Purdie Salas

A collection of poems celebrates the four seasons, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.

There's a big difference between getting paid for your writing and making a living from it. In this book, award-winning children's author Laura Purdie Salas shares insights and habits gained over 20+ years of writing (and related speaking and teaching) for kids. Her successes and failures are laid bare, in detail. You will learn: -What kind of mindset adjustments must I make to build a career? -Besides my book sales, what related writing and speaking can I do to earn money? -What habits do many successful working writers have in common? -How do I keep my writing business organized? -What's the difference between networking and promotion, and do I really have to do either one of them? -What conferences should I go to? -How do I negotiate better contracts? -How do I find some kind of balance between life and work? -Why do I always have to handle the family appointments? -How can I avoid professional humiliation or deal with it when it does happen? And lots more. With honesty, tough love, and humor, Salas spreads out the business side of writing for a living. You'll gain a realistic view of how to approach and achieve a livable income as a writer. (And you'll know whether this field is for you, or whether you want to stick with your day job and write on the side for pure love!) NOTE: About 80% of the information in this book applies to writers for adults and also other creatives. But since Salas is a children's writer, the examples come from the children's publishing world, and some information, like school visits, is particular to children's writers. Laura Purdie Salas is the author of more than 125 books for children, including Meet My Family!, If You Were the Moon, the Can Be series, and BookSpeak! Recognition for her books includes starred reviews, the Minnesota Book Award, NCTE Notable Books, Bank Street Best Books, Riverby Award for Nature Books, Scholastic Book Club editions, foreign editions, and more. Salas has taught writers through classes, conferences, and online for many years. "Making a Living is a practical guide focused on the Children's Literature business, but it is useful for any self-employed human being trying to make a living through creative work of any kind. Reading it affirmed many things I've learned over the years and gave me new ideas to try. It is a good resource to own and refer to over and over as the political climate, business climate, and one's personal life changes." --Georgia A. Greeley, artist, writer, and teacher "I think most writers would love to sit down with a mentor over a cup of tea. Laura Purdie Salas's personal tone in Making a Living as a Children's Writer makes reading it feel like a conversation with her. It is FULL of information for every children's writer, and it's thorough. Not only does Laura share the details of how she makes a living writing for children, she guides the reader to do the same through personal experiences, tips, and next steps to take. Even as an experienced writer, I found nuggets (and heaps) of wisdom in every section. I appreciate how there is enough information in this book that Laura could have prepared a writing conference on the content...instead she makes this comprehensive book affordable and accessible for all of us." --Annette Whipple, children's writer "If you want to make a living writing for children, or if you already do but want to up your game, don't pass on this book. It's the most thorough and informative book you'll find on this subject." --Avery Elizabeth Hurt, children's author "Reading this book is like having a nice long chat with an experienced author--and learning from her years of experience!" --Buffy Silverman, author of nonfiction books and poetry for kids "Salas is an organizational, motivational whiz. Packed with specific, down-to-earth advice that will help both newbie and experienced writers set and reach career goals." --Michelle Schaub, author of Fresh-Picked Poe

The Putrid Poetic Ponderings of Louis J. Pasternak, AKA Dr. Skullstench is a funny read-aloud perfect for your poetry lovers-and your poetry haters. Fourth grader Louis is, shall we say, slightly unhappy about the poetry project at school, and he vows to write gross poems certain to make Miss Sweetmallow regret the unit. Filled with 25 light verse poems by Louis, and a few more lofty ones by his nemesis, Goldie, this story is chapter book length. It's about 6,500 words-great for classroom read-aloud (especially during National Poetry Month) or for independent readers. The notes Louis and his teacher exchange about his poems adds another layer to this genre-blending text.

Sixty-four poems by former teacher and award-winning poet and children's writer Laura Purdie Salas capture moments--silly, bizarre, heartbreaking, and humorous moments--in a teacher's life. They were inspired by her childhood teachers, her own teaching experience, her children's teachers, her sister (a long-time elementary school teacher) and all the fabulous educators (teachers, librarians, media specialists, reading specialists, etc.) she knows who give everything they've got to make their students stronger, happier, and smarter. Notes at the end of the collection share inspirations or thoughts about the poems and also identify the poetic form.

A tiny chipmunk named Oskar accidentally stows away on an enormous Great Lakes freighter. Can he survive an epic trip--and find his way back home? Near a bustling harbor, a plucky chipmunk's love of tomatoes earns him a heart-pounding ride "up up up" onto a huge ship. After iron ore pellets thunder into the cargo holds, the boat sets sail across Lake Superior--with Oskar still aboard! Lost and desperate to return to land, Oskar explores the enormous boat for a way out. The metal, the machines, the noise--it's all so different from his small home in the oak tree. Tasty treats in the galley calm his nerves, but when he ventures up to the pilothouse, where sailors steer the ship, he's shocked to see his bridge and his oak tree fading into the distance. Soon, the lake stretches endlessly in all directions. > In 2019 author Laura Purdie Salas took a voyage on the Paul R. Tregurtha, the largest freighter on the Great Lakes. That trip inspired her poetic narrative highlighting the features of a working ship through a chipmunk's eyes. Artist Kayla Harren's vibrant illustrations offer glimpses into life aboard alaker--with dazzling scenes of both inland sea and shore. A diagram of a freighter offers perspective, and a map displays Oskar's route. A glossary and further reading list round out this tale of an unlikely adventure--and may just inspire readers to imagine their own Great Lakes excursion.

"Discover the true story of an unlikely family -- an orphaned mallard duckling raised by a pair of loons. Lyrical verse and evocative illustrations combine in this heartwarming tale of animal cooperation"--

Whether tall or short or weak or strong, we all have value and we all belong.

A collection of original, outer space-themed poetry for children accompanied by striking photos. The book demonstrates a variety of common poetic forms and defines poetic devices.

"If you were the moon, what would you do? You'd spin like a twilight ballerina and play dodgeball with space rocks. Find out more in this lyrical list poem accompanied by ... illustrations"--

Vivid depictions in words and photos illuminate the mysterious world of loons, viewed through the lens of a chick learning how to survive-and thrive-in her first year.

"Rocks may seem like boring, static objects--until you discover that a rock can spark a fire, glow in the dark, and provide shelters of all shapes and sizes. Laura Purdie Salas's lyrical rhyming text and Violeta Dabija's ... illustrations show how rocks decorate and strengthen the world around them"--Amazon.com.

Explore the life cycle of a thunderstorm in this informative and engaging picture book. Morning's calm. Outside is still. A blue-forever day until . . .The real beginning of a thunderstorm happens long before the first raindrop falls. No rain yet. It's just a threat-a rising cloud, a towering plume, then . . .Follow along as the weather changes, from a blue-sky day to a brewing storm, from a brewing storm to a dazzling downpour, and from a dazzling downpour to the breathtaking moment when the sky emits a-ZAP! CLAP! BOOM!Laura Purdie Salas's dynamic text and Elly MacKay's vibrant art offer the perfect introduction to the science of weather and the forces that work together to create a storm. The next time nature puts on a dramatic thunder and lightning show, readers will be ready to find a cozy spot near a window and watch the storm unfold. An author's note delves deeper into the science of thunderstorms.

"Clover Kitty does NOT want to go to kittygarten! Although she might like a friend to play with, kittygarten feels overwhelming for a sensory-sensitive kitty like Clover. And when she arrives, it is exactly as she fears: her classroom is too loud, the lights are too bright, and everyone comes too close. So Clover throws a fit...and decides to quit kittygarten. But when a classmate comes to check on her, she begins to reconsider. Maybe it's time for Clover to give kittygarten another chance"--

Toys, food, and other everyday household objects have wild adventures at night, while the humans in the house sleep, in this imaginative collection of 26 poems.

Poetry + Math + Science = A new way of looking at springMath meets metaphor in this eye-opening exploration of spring. Each clever equation is a tiny, perfect poem that prompts readers to look at the ordinary and see the miraculous. Can you look at an egg in a nest and see a jewelry box? How are sunlight and heat like an alarm clock? Engaging sidebars reveal the science behind the signs of spring.