Ask Norman Kelly Bennett Ask Norman Kelly Bennett

Fin Pals Ask Norman T Goldfish about Vacations . . .

Norman T. Goldfish answers letters from readers. Click on the link to read his reply.

 
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The picture below, another Fin Pal drew, shows exactly how I felt riding riding riding in the car…

The picture below, another Fin Pal drew, shows exactly how I felt riding riding riding in the car…

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Do you have a question for Norman the Goldfish—about friends, school, pets, family, life in and outside the fishbowl? Send him a letter! He’d love to hear from you!

Mail your questions to Norman at:

Norman the Goldfish
PO Box 1094
WHB, NY 11978

Be sure to include your return address if you want Norman to write back.

E-Mail questions to Norman:

Snap a photo of your handwritten question and email it to Norman using the handy-dandy form: Click Here for E-Mail Form. (Don’t forget to sign it!)

And!!!!! Everyone who sends Norman a question will be entered to WIN a prize in Kelly’s Giveaway!

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7-Minute Poetry Challenge Kelly Bennett 7-Minute Poetry Challenge Kelly Bennett

Poetry Challenge #201-If Billy Can, Then I Can too!

Hey, if Billy Can do it…

Today, in case you need an excuse—or permission—is National Junk Food Day (July 21st). However…contrary to what the good child in you is thinking, this is not a day set aside to “raise awareness” of junk food so we’ll stop eating so much.

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Absolutely not! Much perhaps, to Michael Jacobsen’s chagrin. This day, and every July 21st, is unabashedly set aside for the sole purpose of cramming as much junk food into our already junk-filled bodies as we possibly can.

Chips! Soda! Candy-candy-candy here I come!

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Poetry Challenge #201

If Billy Can, So Can We!

Billy Collins is a thief! Yes, the former U.S Poet Laureate freely and openly admits that he steals poem by taking the first two lines of someone else’s poem and “rewrite it for them.” So while we’re gleefully breaking all the nutrition laws by indulging in “junk porn” (another of Jacobsen’s terms), let’s add theft to our list of crimes.

For “Litany,” a love poem of metaphors comparing the person of affection with food and more, Billy Collins stole the first two lines of Jacques Crickillon’s untitled poem:

You are the bread and the knife,
          The crystal goblet and the wine...

                -Jacques Crickillon

For our poem let’s spatter, smother, cover Litany with junk food metaphors. But rather than leaving those first lines intact as Collins did, let’s follow Maria’s advice from The Sound of Music. Let the junk feast begin at “the very best place to start” The Beginning! Fill in the blanks and then slather it on:

You are the ___________ and the ___________

The _______________ and the ____________

. . . and so on and so forth . . .

Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes

Start Writing!

Don’t Think About it, just do it!

Now that you’re cravings for junk food are sated—or maybe while indulging—treat yourself to Billy Collins reading “Litany”!

Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge more than 1900 days ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. This is INCREDIBLE NUMBER 201! Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.

Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl): SUBSCRIBE TO THE FISHBOWL

All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .

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Ask Norman Kelly Bennett Ask Norman Kelly Bennett

Ask Norman T Goldfish...Anything You Want!

Norman T. Goldfish answers letters from readers. Click on the link to read his reply.

 

I have good news and good-good news. First, the good news:

Norman won’t be answering any mail this week because he’s on Vacation!

Bahamas, Baby!

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The Good-Good News: Norman loves hearing from Fin Pals!

Do you have a question for Norman the Goldfish—about friends, school, pets, family, life in and outside the fishbowl? Send him a letter! He’d love to hear from you!

Mail your questions to Norman at:

Norman the Goldfish
PO Box 1094
WHB, NY 11978

Be sure to include your return address if you want Norman to write back.

E-Mail questions to Norman:

Snap a photo of your handwritten question and email it to Norman using the handy-dandy form: Click Here for E-Mail Form. (Don’t forget to sign it!)

And!!!!! Everyone who sends Norman a question will be entered to WIN a prize in Kelly’s Giveaway!

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7-Minute Poetry Challenge Kelly Bennett 7-Minute Poetry Challenge Kelly Bennett

Poetry Challenge #200-Mac & Cheese, Please!

What’s for lunch? Dinner? Breakfast? Dessert? Of all days, today, July 14th, there’s only one right answer:

Mac & Cheese please!  

Mac & Cheese please!  

Today, July 14th, National Macaroni and Cheese Day is about the melding of two ooey-gooey favorites: pasta and cheese. What’s more, it’s also National Nude Day and Bastille Day—imagine that 3-way mash up . . . hmmmm . . . Viva La France! . . . moving on . . .

Naked Bike Ride pre-Cape Town Argus. Disclaimer: we did not participate

Naked Bike Ride pre-Cape Town Argus. Disclaimer: we did not participate

Poetry Challenge #200

Mac and Cheese, Please!

Macaroni and Cheese go together much better than Macaroni and Peas. Or Macaroni and Knees. Maybe Macaroni makes you…sneeze? wheeze? Oh, please!!!

Today, write a silly poem about two things that go together—with a twist. Change one thing. Make your poem rhyme in silly ways. Make up words if you need to.

You can choose your own pair of things that go together or use one from the list below.

salt & pepper                                      bread & butter

peanut butter & jelly                           pen & pencil

bacon & eggs                                      hammer & nail

batman & robin                                   needle & thread

shoes & socks                                     sugar & spice

Or try the July 14th 3 -way mash up of Bastille Day & Nude Day & Mac-n-Cheese!

Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes

Start Writing!

Don’t Think About it, just do it!

When you’re finished, treat yourself: Mac & Cheese Ice Cream anyone??

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Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge more than 1900 days ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. This is INCREDIBLE NUMBER 200! Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.

Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl): SUBSCRIBE TO THE FISHBOWL

All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .

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Ask Norman Kelly Bennett Ask Norman Kelly Bennett

Ask Norman T Goldfish: Have You Ridden a Unicorn

Norman T. Goldfish answers letters from readers. Click on the link to read his reply.

 
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Sometimes friends email or notes or drawing and don’t sign their names, that’s OK. Norman can’t even write his name. But Norman does do lots of other things. Is riding a unicorn one of them? What do you think?
Scroll down to read Norman’s answer.

Glug

Glug

Glug . . .


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To learn more sea slugs, click over to a-zanimals.com for “Sea Slug Facts.” And visit aquaviews for “10 Fun Facts About Seahorses.”

Do you have a question for Norman the Goldfish—about friends, school, pets, family, life in and outside the fishbowl? Send him a letter! Click Here for Details!

And!!!!! Everyone who sends Norman a question will be entered to WIN a prize in Kelly’s Giveaway!

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7-Minute Poetry Challenge Kelly Bennett 7-Minute Poetry Challenge Kelly Bennett

Poetry Challenge #199-Strawberry Sundae Sunday aka One Scoop or Two?

While the proper spelling might be debatable: Sundae vs Sunday; the exact recipe might vary: One scoop or two? Cherry or no cherry on top?; and its origin is up for dispute: Two Rivers, Wisconsin in 1881 or Ithaca, New York in 1892; one thing is for certain:

Ice cream with crushed strawberries & a dollop of cream tastes like summertime!

“Supercat” by Cristina Borobia

Poetry Challenge #199

Strawberry Sundae Sunday—One Scoop or Two?

Write a poem inspired by a Strawberry Sunday or Strawberry Sundae—ending and meaning of the word “Sunday/ae” is up to you.

Include sensory words and details to make your poem taste as good as it sounds.

Close your eyes and repeat after me: Strawberry Sunday, Strawberry Sundae…

Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes

Start Writing!

Don’t Think About it, just do it!

And, since it’s National Strawberry Sundae Day (July 7th) treat yourself! Click on the image below for DelishKids Strawberry Bites recipe!

Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge more than 1900 days ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.

Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl): SUBSCRIBE TO THE FISHBOWL

All who subscribe, comment or share a poem will be entered in . . .

Read More
Ask Norman Kelly Bennett Ask Norman Kelly Bennett

Jada Asks Kelly the Tough Question

Norman T. Goldfish answers letters from readers. Click on the link to read his reply.

 

Norman flipped over this letter . . .

 

Most of the time Norman gets mail—he has lots of finpals! But, every now and again one for Kelly pops up and we just have to share it!

Forest Ridge-Jada.jpg
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Now that you’ve read Kelly’s response, click over for more from in this Q&A with Norman’s illustrator Noah Z. Jones

Did you know a baby goldfish is called a “fry” as in small fry? That’s where the term came from. For more about goldfish eggs, hatching & fry, check out puregoldfish.com.


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7-Minute Poetry Challenge Kelly Bennett 7-Minute Poetry Challenge Kelly Bennett

Poetry Challenge #198-More Stars! More Wishes!

Look! Up in the sky! It’s a . . .

“Supercat” by Cristina Borobia

“Supercat” by Cristina Borobia

No… It’s a meteor shower. When you wish upon a star . . . faster! More stars! More wishes—

Meteor showers—the kind that light up the sky with fast moving bits of light also known as shooting stars—are the result of debris shed by passing comets. The comets passed 100-200 years ago and left a trail of dirt and rocks and ice particles behind. When this debris—some the size of a grain of sand—drift into Earth’s orbit, the burst into flame in a display similar to fireworks.

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Poetry Challenge #198

Meteor Stars! More Wishes!

For today’s poem, write a shape poem about meteors*, shooting stars, comets, orbits, or fireworks. Make your poem look like its topic.

When it gets dark, be sure to get outside and watch for evidence of a comet’s passing.

Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes

Start Writing!

Don’t Think About it, just do it!

*Why today? Because June 30th is National Meteor Watch Day!

For more information about meteors and meteor showers and when to see them best here’s a stellar article from NYT Science.

Look up! and . . . Make a Wish!

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Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge more than 4 years ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.

Click on Fishbowl link and sign up to receive email notifications from Kelly's blog (aka The Fishbowl): SUBSCRIBE TO THE FISHBOWL

Read More