Introduction to this Stone Soup Art Activity Hares are a bit like rabbits, and this picture from Hungary by Katalin Kiss, 13, shows a group of people hunting hares for food. Look carefully at the picture. There is a lot going on! There are thirteen people, nine hares, four houses, four trees, bells, bags, sticks, a fence, clouds, and there is even a well. This picture is in one color only, but look at all the detail in the men’s clothing. Some men wear hats, some don’t. There are a couple of styles of trousers, of boots, shoes, shirts. What is most amazing to me about this picture is the way each figure is posed. Everyone, including the dogs, is doing something. The characters are frozen in time, in the midst of moving, as we might see them in a snapshot. Project: Capturing an Active Moment Like Katalin, make a drawing in one color. Katalin’s picture is a linoleum print or lino cut, but you will probably use pencil or pen. For a subject, choose something where lots of people (at least six) are doing something active. Following Katalin’s example, capture the movements of each person in the scene at the moment you freeze the action. Examples of subjects you might choose where you could “catch” a number of people in interesting positions are in sports, people working together building or repairing something, a family working or playing together, chefs in a kitchen cooking, all the different activities in a railway station or airport, or people buying groceries in a supermarket. In this last example you could show someone leaning over a shopping basket dropping something in, a couple of people walking down an aisle, a child reaching out to touch something on a shelf, and a worker unpacking boxes of cereal. The more people you can show making different gestures, the more interesting your picture will be. Whatever subject you choose for your picture, follow Katalin’s example and use the entire paper for your scene—from the top of the paper to the bottom. From the March/April 1986 Issue of Stone Soup Capturing Wild Hares, by Katalin Kiss, 13, Hungary
Reading of “A Far Away Place” by Emmy Wong
Emmy J. X. Wong, 12 A very strong reading of “A Far Away Place,” first published in Stone Soup Magazine. This, and other stories read by their authors can serve as a model for a more formal classroom story-reading program, if you don’t already have one.
Interview and Links for Author Wendelin Van Draanen
This is a wonderful interview. Its biggest strength may be Wendelin Van Draanen’s discussion of the importance of persistence. Her own story of having her books rejected for ten years offers an inspiring vision of an author whose faith in herself kept her from giving up despite repeated rejections. Another very strong part of this interview is her finding in Ray Bradbury’s Dandelion Wine the understanding that her own authentic voice is that of a young teenager. Persistence pays off. Story of multiple rejections. She starts with a big idea i.e. good versus evil. Inspired by Ray Bradbury’s Dandelion Wine. Talks about teenage years, love of running, her life. Final advice: write every day and never give up! Internet Links for Wendelin Van Draanen Blog Facebook Twitter Books at Amazon.com The Running Dream (Schneider Family Book Award – Teen Book Winner) Flipped Runaway Swear to Howdy Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief A Stone Soup Book Review of The Running Dream
