We have a guest blogger today. Julianne Moore actress, author, an amazing woman .....please ask her questions and comments.
Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully by Julianne Moore
Acclaimed actress, and now beloved picture book author JULIANNE MOORE and bestselling illustrator LeUyen Pham join talents again for FRECKLEFACE STRAWBERRY AND THE DODGEBALL BULLY. This time, their perky, loveable seven-year-old encounters a bully on the playground-Windy Pants Patrick-during a game of dodgeball. As the brute prepares to hurl his might at Freckleface and her friends, she must figure out how to summon the courage to stand up to him. Ms. Moore tackles this all-to- prevalent problem with both humor and grace.
It is Ms. Moore's infusion of hilarity and heart that has won her praise from booksellers, educators, reviewers-and most importantly young readers!-for her debut picture book Freckleface Strawberry, a charming tale inspired by a childhood experience.
Nicknamed Freckleface Strawberry when she a young girl, Ms. Moore disliked the title as much as she disliked her red hair and freckles. "As a child, my hatred of my freckles was only matched by my love of reading," said the author, who eventually grew to tolerate her red hair and freckles and find amusement in telling her own kids abouther childhood nickname. Dodgeball isn't based on personal experience, but creating a feisty character who makes the best of a bad situation-and does so with style and wit-is essential to Ms. Moore.
Julianne Moore is U. S. Ambassador for Save the Children working with children and families in rural areas, focusing on literacy and early childhood education. She successfully launched the Save the Children Valentine program in 2008 whereby children's book illustrators donated art work for cards, with the proceeds benefiting poverty in the United States. She is also a member of Reach Out and Read, a children's literacy organization dedicated to educating parents on the importance of reading to their children, as well as an acclaimed actress who has appeared in such movies as The Hours, Far from Heaven, The End of the Affair, and Boogie Nights. Ms Moore was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in acting from Boston University's School of the Performing Arts. She now lives with her husband and children in New York City.
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MS Moore, I truly enjoyed your book. I shared it with my grandchildren and they loved it. I wish you much success.
ReplyDeleteDebra
How long have you been writing and how did you chose your characters?
ReplyDeleteWhat inspired you to write your first book?
ReplyDeleteStephanie
Is the book based on experiences in your life?
ReplyDeleteMaxine
What books have most influenced your life most?
ReplyDeleteWhat are your current projects?
ReplyDeleteWhat books are you reading now?
ReplyDeleteMy life as a teacher has been dedicated in creating SAFE classrooms where the kind of teasing you (and most kids) endured seldom happened. After 50 years I now teach teachers. I would love to have them read aloud your book as I use that method to teach THEM to read dramatically and become people who love to read. Others marveled at how well my students, even 1st graders, read. If you would send me a PDF of "STRAWBERRY", I will give you a review
ReplyDeleteand encourage teachers to buy it. I will also send you one of mine in PDF -THEY TOUCHED MY LIFE. It was during the first 12 years that I created the techniques for a safe and self-sustaining classroom. icdrrose@gmail.com
I can remember being bullied as a child. When you are tiny and I was you are fair game for bullies. tiny and immature. I was a sheltered child and never knew how to react.
ReplyDeleteA few years ago a teen boy struck back at a bully. This happened in my town. The boys were atheletes. The bully tricked the victim into drinking urine. There is much more to this...the things done to the victim were terrible.
One day the victim came to school with a baseball bat and he attacked the bully. The bully was left with brain damage. The victim was found not guilty.
No one won in this situation.
We have to find a way to prevent such situations.
Debra
Debra's anecdote is the extreme, but bullying and teasing cause lifetime problems. Teachers and parents consider these "normal" and don't waste their time. This is a mistake.
ReplyDeleteMs. Moore,with what I said before I would add what could be used as a flyer to explain specifically what teachers and parents can do to change this attitude and make children safer.