Stand by

Stand by for a book launch tomorrow!

It won't be an ear-splitting roar over in two seconds---more like a gathering of excitement over the next few weeks---but I'll be adding content to my Operation Yes book site, giving away signed copies and other prizes, and participating in a Twitter Book Party. A spectacular teacher's guide for Operation Yes is in the works, written and designed by the talented Natalie Lorenzi. And Cheryl and I are cooking up some crazy jody call contest . . . (!!!)

Meanwhile, I'm pleased to calm my butterflies by reading this lovely piece that Rachel Mosteller wrote about me and my slightly frenetic, military and book-lovin' life.

Poetry Friday: If I Had a Boat

I can't believe I've never posted about Lyle Lovett on a Poetry Friday. I love him. And "If I Had a Boat" is one of my favorite "be happy" songs of all time.

Listen to the opening verse; it isn't a song for kids, but it has the perfect circling rhythm of a kids' chant, and the unguarded feel of someone who hasn't yet learned to rein in his wish-making.

If I Had a Boat

If I had a boat
I'd go out on the ocean
And if I had a pony
I'd ride him on my boat
And we could all together
Go out on the ocean
Me upon my pony on my boat

...and then it ends with:

And if I were like lightning
I wouldn't need no sneakers
I'd come and go wherever I would please
And I'd scare 'em by the shade tree
And I'd scare 'em by the light pole
But I would not scare my pony on my boat out on the sea

And if I had a boat
I'd go out on the ocean
And if I had a pony
I'd ride him on my boat
And we could all together
Go out on the ocean
Me upon my pony on my boat

I've often tried to puzzle out why I love this song so. I don't like boats or ponies, at least not enough to own either of them. But Lyle re-opens the door to thinking about what I want, what I'd wish for, if I could remember how it was before I knew there were limits to what I could have. It's a great place from which to write children's fiction.

Listen to Lyle sing it here

Poetry Friday is hosted today by Kate Coombs at Book Aunt

Promises and Light

Got children? Or need a hilarious plot point?

Then you should catch up with my friend Donna, who makes me laugh out loud with new school year snippets like this:

"(My son) was all in a rage because apparently, the student body president was elected at the end of the school year last year, and he ran on the platform that he would get boys only hot tubs in the teachers lounge for this year. He was so disappointed that it didn't pan out."

Ha ha ha ha!! I'm wondering why the "boys only" hot tubs would be in the TEACHERS LOUNGE??

Donna also had a beautiful piece in the Raleigh-Durham News and Observer yesterday about a magical childhood moment near the Cape Hatteras lighthouse with her dad. Read it, and think about which moment sweeps over you again and again.