The Favorites- A Collection of Stories and Articles Selected by Editors of Children's Magazines

164 Pages·2012·13.65 MB·English

by  Wyndham Lee

The
Favorites
A COLLECTION OF STORIES AND ARTICLES
SELECTED BY EDITORS OF CHILDREN'S MAGAZINES
Digitized by the Internet Archive
2011
in
http://www.archive.org/details/favoritescollectOOwynd
^-
The
Favorites
A
Collection of Stories and Articles
Selected by Editors of Children's Magazines
Compiled by Lee Wyndham
Published by
The Institute of Children's Literature, Inc.
©
Copyright TheInstituteofChildren'sLiterature, Inc., 1976, 1978, 1983.
The materialcontainedherein isprotectedbycopyright.
Nopartofitmayberepublished, copied, reproducedoradapted
withouttheexpresswrittenpermissionofThe InstituteofChildren'sLiterature, Inc.
Acknowledgement
Severalpeople have helped in the preparation ofthis collection. The Institute of
Children's Literature wishes to thank Alvin Tresselt and Arnold Madison for
writing the notes, Pamela Kelly for supervising the editorial work, and Imogen
Howe for editing and proofreading.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE NOTES
Surprise Party, Charlotte Pomerantz 5 7
No Cows In The City, Carol H. Behrman 8 9
Jordy's Pet Weed, Barbara Owen Webb 10 .... 12
Bernard Sets Up Housekeeping, Anne Hanley 13 .... 15
All About Earthworms, LowellJenkins 16 .... 18
Beppe And The Statue, retold by Lee Wyndham 19 .... 22
All The Better To 'Ear You With, George Herben 23 24
My Sister, The Snake, And I, Yolanda Ferguson Stein 25 .... 27
Watch The Seeds, Joseph Rubinstein 28 .... 29
Amelia And The Bear, Nelda Johnson Liebig 30 32
A Horse In The House, JaneAndrews (Lee Wyndham) 33 .... 35
The Legend OfJockey Hollow, Ethel Kharasch McHale 36 38
Christmas For Joey, Teri Martini 39 .... 42
All About The Metric System, Agnes Lee Clawson 44 .... 45
The Lion Fish, Juleen Brantingham 46 .... 47
Hurricane, Aure Sheldon 49 .... 52
The Race, Victoria Furman 54 .... 58
The Most Important Page, Marlene LeFeverRisley 59 .... 63
The Legend, Douglas Livingston 64 .... 67
The Welcome Bird, Mickey F Barrett 68 69
Jannie Is A Warm, Gentle Name, C. Ellen Watts 70 74
Careers in Conflict, Diane Hoh 75 .... 79
A Desperate Chance, Marie Peary Stafford 81 .... 83
The Photo Album, Pat Carr 84 87
Harold And Burt And Sue And Amy, Etc., Casey Garber 89 .... 91
Pepper-O, Bionic Breath, Is It Soap Yet?, David Lee Drotar 92 .... 93
The Old Lady Next Door, Mae HurleyAshworth 94 98
Demolition Dolly And The Professor's Secret, Jane Edwards 100 ... 109
The Day Mama Ran Away From Home, Carole GiftPage 110 114
. . .
The Time Machine Fights Earthquakes, Keith Monroe 115 ... 120
Do We Really Care About Our Environment?, Martin Cohen 122 125
. . .
Outward Bound: Beyond Your Old Limits, Marshall Spiegel 126 128
. . .
Not A Sparrow Falls, Roberta Strotkamp 129 133
. . .
See Along The Shore, Millicent E. Selsam 135 137
. . .
The Big Cheese, Harriet Smith Hawley 138 ... 140
The Wild Geese, Michael P Gadomski 141 ... 142
The Plight OfThe Ocelot, Linda Masterson andJulie Masterson Child 143 145
. . .
You Can Make Music With Glasses, Alan Cliburn 146 ... 147
Have Fun — Make A Rubbing, Julie Plopper 148 149
. . .
Dream Wheels, Arnold Madison 150 ... 152
Information From Uncle Sam, Betty Steele Everett 153 ... 155
Coping With Jealousy, Greta Walker 156 ... 160
INTRODUCTION
This collection of stories and articles is unique: it represents the cream of what has been written for
children in the last dozen years. To prepare it, we asked the editors of the leading children's
magazines to choose their favorites from among the pieces they have published.
Each piece is an example of how editorial criteria can be met. Actually, each piece has been through
the editorial sieve twice: the first time when it was originally bought by the publication, and the
second time when it was chosen for this collection. So you'll certainly be able to tell by studying
—
these stories exactly what the editors are looking for what is selling and why.
After every story there is information about the author, and then a comment by the author himself,
telling where the idea for the story came from and describing how it was developed, written, and
sold. Then, in a special section at the back, we have included our own notes on each story, which tie
—
in with the material in your Instruction Manual the principles you are being asked to apply to
your own writing.
This book will be a powerful tool to help you as you proceed through the course. Study it to learn
exactly how editorial standards are met, and watch for stories that not only meet editorial standards
but transcend them. You will have a unique opportunity to sit with the authors and share their
thoughts, to see how they took the steps you will take. They make it look easy, but you will see
from their comments that they have worked hard.
So turn to this book not only for examples of successful writing, but also for encouragement, for
a pick-me-up, whenever you are discouraged or when your own work gets bogged down. Use it also
just for pleasure, to remind yourself what all the work is for, and to keep in touch with the child
you yourself once were.
"
Surprise Party
by Charlotte Pomerantz
When Daddy put Danny to bed, he said, When Mommy came in, Danny said, "To-
"Can you keep a secret?" morrow is a special day. But I can't tell you
Danny nodded and put his face close to his why."
Daddy's. "I understand," said Mommy. "It's a sur-
"Tomorrow is a special day," said Daddy. prise."
"It's Mommy's birthday." "By the way," said Danny, "what is your
"Will there be a birthday cake with candles, favorite number?"
Mommy
and birthday presents?" looked puzzled. "I don't think
I
Mommy
"Yes," said Daddy. "I'm giving a have one," she said.
record. It's called Sonata number 14 by "Do you like 14? Because Daddy is giving
Beethoven." you number 14."
"I want to buy Mommy a present, too," "Don't say any more about it," said
said Danny. "Maybe a turtle." Mommy, "or it won't be a surprise after all."
"No," said Daddy. "Mommy likes a present "I know," said Danny. "That's why I'm
that you make yourself." not going to tell you about the story wrote."
I
"I know," said Danny. "I'll write a story "Good night," said Mommy.
for Mommy." "Maybe you think you know," said Danny.
He handed his Daddy some paper and "But you're wrong. It's not about Snow White
pencil. or The Three Little Pigs.
"I'll tell you the story," said Danny. "And The next day. Mommy worked late. So
you write it down." Danny began: "Once Daddy picked up Danny after school. When
upon a time there was a wicked queen and she they got home. Daddy said, "I baked a birth-
had a magic mirror ." day cake. Now 'm goingto makethetopping."
. . I
"No," said Daddy. "Mommy already knows Danny dragged a chair over to the kitchen
that story." counter and climbed up on it. He saw the
"Oh," said Danny. He began again: "Once cake that Daddy had baked. There was also
upon a time, there were three little pigs ." a bowl of sugar. Five peaches lay in a dish.
. .
Daddy shook his head. "Mommy knows Daddy went to the refrigerator and took
that one, too. Try to make up a new story." out a bowl filled with heavy cream. He began
"All right," said Danny. "Write this down: to whip the cream with an eggbeater. Danny
Once upon a time there was a beautiful sighed.
Mommy and she had a birthday party and it "What's the matter?" asked Daddy.
was a big surprise. And Daddy gave Mommy a "Nothing," said Danny. "Only chocolate
record by Beethoven. It was number 14. Be- cake is my favorite."
cause 14 is Mommy's favorite number. And "I know," said Daddy. "But Mommy likes
she ate the birthday cake. And she lived hap- peach cake with whipped cream."
pily ever after. The end." When the cream was stiff enough. Daddy
"That is a very good story." said Daddy. said, "I'll peel and slice the peaches. You
"Now I'll call Mommy to kiss you goodnight." arrange the slices on top of the cake, and
Reprinted fromHUMPTYDUMPTY'SMAGAZINEFOR LITTLECHILDREN. Copyright ©1976 by Parents' Magazine
Enterprises, Inc. Used by permission ofthe author.
"
sprinkle them with a little sugar. Then we'll Daddy put on the record.
Mommy
put the whipped cream over everything." sat back, listening and smiling.
The front-door buzzer rang. "How lovely," she said softly.
"Hello, everyone," said Mommy. When Mommy put Danny to bed, she said,
She kissed them both, hung up her coat, "Choose a story and I will read it to you."
and went to the bathroom to wash up. "It's your birthday," said Danny. "So you
Danny followed. " Daddy and I made you choose."
something special to eat," he said. "Good," said Mommy. "Then I'll read the
"Don't tell me," said Mommy. "I like story you wrote."
surprises." Mommy read: "Once upon a time there
After dinner. Daddy whispered to Danny, was a beautiful Mommy and she had a birthday
"I'll turn off the lights and you bring in the party and it was a big surprise. And Daddy
cake." gave Mommy a record by Beethoven. And it
They all sang Happy Birthday. was number 14. Because 14 is Mommy's
Mommy blew out the candles. Then she favorite number. And she ate the birthday
cut the cake and tasted the first piece. cake and she lived happily ever after. The
"Oh," she said. "Homemade peach cake. end."
My
favorite." Danny smiled. "Was your birthday really a
"Daddy made it," said Danny. "I helped surprise?"
him." "It was," said Mommy. "The story you
He handed Mommy the story he wrote. wrote and the record were all a surprise."
"I also made this," he said. "Did you guess about the birthday cake?"
Mommy
read the story. asked Danny.
"What a good story," she said. "No," said Mommy. "I had no idea there
"Did you really make it up?" would be whipped cream on top of the
"All by myself," said Danny. "Do you like peaches."
it better than Snow White or The Three Little "You see," said Danny proudly, "I really
Pigs?" can keep a secret."
"Much better," said Mommy.
ABOUT TH^ AUTHOR
Charlotte Pomerantz lives in New York City with her husband, a writer and teacher, and their
two children, Daniel, seven, and Gabrielle, eight. She has been writing forpublication for ten years,
although she started writing when she was eight. She says, "The acceptance of my first story
encouraged me to write and submit other things. I do think one should write for the pleasurable
pain of it and do it for a long time before worrying aboutpublication. Although I've had ten books
published, there are at least that many more which have been rejected. The same is true for my
shortstories.
A WORD FROM THE AUTHOR
Although I wrote children's books before I was married and had children, I have found, increas-
ingly, that my children provide rich raw material, with the emphasis on raw. The inability ofmy son
to keep a secret is the idea behind THE SURPRISE PARTY, however the incident is fiction. The
idea for Daniel's story within the story was suggested by my daughter, who used to write "original"
short stories about THE THREE LITTLE PIGS and other classics. Some years back, my son, then
about four, was heard to mumble,"Fee ft fo fum, I smell the blood of an English muffin." This
started me thinking (after I finished giggling) about a detective story for children. It finally became
DETECTIVE POUFY'S FIRST CASE, to be published in the fall of 1976.
I often use my children's names in my writing, although Gabrielle seems a bit fancy, so I use her
nickname. Posy. The children like this, and it's the least I owe them for all the inspiration and
delight they provide.
INSTRUCTIONAL NOTES Ages 2 - 5
Birthday party stories are a dime a dozen as far as Juvenile editors are concerned, so to get one past
the rejection slip it has to have something fresh about it. We think the author of THE SURPRISE
PARTY
succeeded very nicely. She wrote a birthday party story, but by weaving a certain fact of
— —
life a child's difficulty/inability to keep a secret through the story, and relating what went on
in an easy, natural way, she came up with a small-size story that any young child could identify
with easily. And notice how the action unfolds primarily through dialogue. The reader can readily
feel he is eavesdropping on what is going on, which is much better than merely being a spectator
sitting outside the story and just hearing about what happened.
Notice, too, how casually the author slipped in the fact that here is a mother who goes out to work,
while the father does his work at home, and it's Daddy who bakes the cake. Role reversal shouldn't
be hit too hard in children's stories because then it turns into polemic, but when it can be worked
in without strain it doesn't hurt to do it once in a while.
As Charlotte Pomerantz says, one's own children are a fine source for story ideas; however, you
should look upon them as catalysts for ideas. Rather than writing out in detail some adventure or
experience they have had, it is better to pick and choose, using some parts to build into a story and
discarding others. Mrs. Pomerantz didn't write a story about her daughter "cribbing" from Mother
Goose, but she incorporated this trick into THE SURPRISE PARTY and it added a nice touch to
Danny's personality. Incidentally, Beethoven's 14th is the famous Moonlight Sonata in case you
were curious.
No Cows The
In City
by Carol H. Behrman
Morris had never seen a cow. There were no A little girl tugged at her mother's hand.
cows in the apartnnent house where Morris "Is that a real cow?" she asked.
lived, no cows walking along the noisy city An old lady in a long green coat put on her
streets. There were no cows riding the buses, eyeglasses. "That's a very big dog!" she re-
no cows chewing the grass in City Park. No marked, shaking her head. "It's much too big
cows at all! for a little boy!"
Morris had seen pictures of cows. But you A boy rode past on his bicycle. He was so
can't feel a picture's brown skin, or snnell it, surprised to see a cow that he forgot to watch
or watch its tail swish, or listen to it moo. A where he was going. He bumped into a vege-
picture can't give milk! table cart! Vegetables and boy and bicycle
Morris had wanted to see a real cow ever went flying!
since he was a baby. His first picture book Morris led his cow down the street. Cars
was about farm animals. Morris liked the cow stopped. Horns beeped.
best. It looked kind. Its brown eyes were When they came to the school, Morris
gentle. dropped the halter.
Morris was already in the first grade, and he "You wait here," he told the cow. "I have
still had not seen a real cow. to go to school."
He walked along the street one day on his In school, no one believed that Morris
way to school, thinking about cows. had a cow. Some of the children went out
"Oh, wish could see a cow," Morris said to see.
I I
to himself. He held his breath and closed his The cow mooed.
eyes and wished with all his heart. Then he Soon, all the teachers and children were
opened his eyes and turned a corner, and out looking at the cow.
came face to face with The cow mooed. Morris stood near
. . . it
A COW!
proudly.
"Oh!" cried Morris. Could it be real! Morris Some people in cars stopped to look at the
blinked. He closed his eyes and then opened cow. She seemed to enjoy ail the attention
them again. she was getting.
The cow was still there. A large truck came down the street. Two
Morris stared at the cow. The cow stared men were in the front seat.
back at Morris. It was a brown and white cow. "There she is!" cried one of the men, point-
It had gentle, friendly brown eyes. Around its ing to Morris' cow.
neck hung a halter. The truck stopped. A man got out. He took
Morris smiled. Then he laughed. "I guess the halter, and led the cow onto the back of
you've come to be with me," Morris said to the truck. Other cows were there, too.
the cow. He took hold of the halter. They all mooed.
The cow mooed. What a lovely sound! "Isn't that my cow?" asked Morris.
Then it followed Morris down the street. The man shook his head. "We're taking
Everyone stopped to stare. these cows to a new farm," he said. "One of
Published in the June/July 1971 issue of CHILDREN'S PLAYMATE. Copyright © 1971 by the Saturday Evening Post Co.,
Indianapolis, Indiana. Reprinted by permission ofpublisher.