Fin Pals Ask Norman T Goldfish "How Do I Wake Wanda the Crawfish?"
Norman T. Goldfish answers letters from readers. Click on the link to read his reply.
Say kids, Norman had never even heard of a crawfish before receiving Scarlett’s letter. So, we looked it up in our go-to encyclopedia Kiddle. Here are some fun crayfish facts! and more about molting from Acuriopets. Click below for a closeup of a crawfish in action.
Some friends write letters, some ask questions, some send pictures. Norman glugs them all! Do you think Scarlett looks as worried as Norman’s human does in this drawing?
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!
Poetry Challenge #205-Well, Since You Asked . . .
Before online ads, Insta-influencers & mail slot clogging catalogues there were Montgomery Ward, Sears, and the diamond of them all, Neiman Marcus. Long before this pandemic folks ordered everything from catalogues—and I’m not just talking undies—I mean ev-re-thing from houses to boats, gold-plated toilets and jets. Sears Home Kits were huge sellers! From 1908-1940 Sears sold about 70,000 kit homes in 48 states. They came assembly ready in 447 different design, everything included—lumber, windows, nails & plans. Unless you’re in Hawaii or Alaska, some no doubt line the streets where you live.
Best or worst “Monkey Ward”, as we called it, was first. “The very first Montgomery Ward Catalog [launched on this day, August 18th, 1872], consisted of an 8 by 12-inch single sheet of paper. On it, Ward included the merchandise for sale, price list, and ordering instructions. Before long, the Montgomery Wards single-page list of products grew into a 540 page illustrated book selling over 20,000 items.”
Poetry Challenge #205
Well, Since You Asked . . .
In honor of National Mail-Order Catalogue Day, let’s do as they/we did back in the day, and kids (of all ages) then and now can spend hours doing. Pull out a mail order catalogue, alas, as Montgomery Ward went out of business in 2001 so it can’t be that one, but any other catalogue, whether it sells plants, furnishings, tools, beauty products, or in a pinch a grocery store flyer will do.
Imagine you’ve just entered a contest and the GRAND PRIZE is a shopping spree in the catalogue of your choice. The sky’s the limit as to which or how many items you can choose. There’s only one way to win. Yep, here’s where the poetry comes in:
Write a poem about which items you chose and why you chose them. Maybe a list poem, an epistolary poem ie Dear Aaron Ward . . . or some other form. Warning: All items listed must be accompanied by at least one modifier*. (Any item without a modifier will be disqualified.)
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, just do it!
*What’s a modifier? “A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that describes something or makes its meaning more specific.”-thank you grammar-monster.com.
And, for your cruising-the-neighborhood pleasure: How To Identify a Sears Kit Home.
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 . . .
Pen Pals ask Kelly, "Did You Ever Do Something Else?"
Norman T. Goldfish answers letters from readers. Click on the link to read his reply.
Norman T. Goldfish doesn’t get all the mail; sometimes Pen Pals write to Kelly too. In this letter, Jada asks the question lots of friends ask:
What do you think? Has Kelly had other jobs? Should she get one now? Or should she keep writing stories?
Scroll down for Kelly’s response:
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!
Poetry Challenge #204-Joke's on You Mr. President
Presidents are people too, and they have funny stories, facts, and quirks just like other people you might know. Listed below are a few websites with…interesting…facts/stories about the presidents.
Scene from President Taft is Stuck in the Bath by Mac Barnett & Chris Van Dusen (Candlewick Press)
Poetry Challenge #204
The Joke’s on You Mr. President
When you’re finished yukking it up, let’s Take 7 to commemorate National Presidential Joke Day (Aug 11th). Choose one Presidential fact or story and write a poem about it. Write your poem in couplets (two lines that rhyme) with lines of the same length.
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, just do it!
For fun, memorize your poem and recite it at dinner!
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 . . .
Fin Pals Ask Norman T Goldfish: What's Your Favorite Frosting?
Norman T. Goldfish answers letters from readers. Click on the link to read his reply.
“Hurrah-hooray! It’s my birthday!”
What kind of frosting do you think Norman wants on his cake? If you were a goldfish what kind would you like? Scroll down to read Norman’s answer.
Glug
Glug
Glug . . .
And check out these fishbowl cake pops our friend, Jamie Golden at Sweet Revenge made:
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!
Poetry Challenge #203-Semper Paratus
Today, August 4, 2021, National Coast Guard Day, marks the 232nd birthday of the Coast Guard, the first national branch of the US Military, established by President George Washington in 1790. The Coast Guard provides sea search and rescue, protect our shores and waterways—including saving an estimated 24,000 people at sea. In Hurricane Katrina, the Coast Guard rescued about 33,500 people.
And…remember the movie The Perfect Storm, book by Sebastian Junger? Dah duh-da-duh da-duh! Coast Guard to the rescue (along with, I’m proud to report, Sea-Air Rescue SAR team from Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach, NY.) Semper Paratus!
Poetry Challenge #203
Semper Paratus
Semper Paratus, the Coast Guard official motto means “Always Ready.” Let that be the title of today’s poem, “Always Ready.”
But for what? And how?—no need to limit your imagination—and, who’s always ready? Is it you . . .or?
But-but-but…before you begin, regardless of the subject of your poem, let’s add a splash of Coast Guard spirit by including words from “Sea Legs, the Coast Guard Glossary” and more:
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, just do it!
Ahoy mates! What’s a celebration without a rousing rendition of the Coast Guard Anthem? & a Coast Guard movie?! Semper Paratus!
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 . . .
Fin Pals Ask Norman T Goldfish: What if a Friend is Mean?
Norman T. Goldfish answers letters from readers. Click on the link to read his reply.
Have you ever told someone “Go away!”? Or “I don’t want to play with you?” Norman has. And school friends said mean things to him, too. What do you think Norman did afterwards?
Scroll down to read Norman’s answer.
Glug
Glug
Glug . . .
“Give a friend some time and then say “Hi! Let’s talk.”
For more about friends not being friendly, you and your adult can read “Three Ways to Deal with a Mean Friend.”
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!
Poetry Challenge #202-Got Milk... Chocolate?
When was the last time you reached into a fridge and chugged chocolate milk? Or savored a chunk of chocolate. If, like me, it’s been too long (more than 24 hours) It’s time! Today, July 28th is National Milk Chocolate Day ! (If you missed it consider this your rain check.)
The first use of the term milk chocolate dates back to 1687 when a beverage made from milk and chocolate was introduced to the people of London. While the first chocolate bar was created in 1847, it was dark chocolate. The first milk chocolate bar appeared in 1875 in Switzerland which quickly became known for making the best chocolates. By 1900, chocolate was universal.
Poetry Challenge #202
Got Milk . . . Chocolate, that is!
What is your favorite chocolate treat?* A specific candy bar? Chocolate cake? Hot fudge?
Describe it in great detail. What does it look like? Taste like? Feel like? How does it make you feel?
Try using similes or metaphors--______ is like ___________.
Make your reader’s mouth water. Make them want your chocolate treat.
(If you really truly deeply…madly don’t like chocolate, poem a treat you do you like.)
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, just do it!
I’m off to the kitchen—store—to find…Chocolate!!!
Serious Chocoholics take the Chocolate Challenge: Cadbury vs. Hershey’s vs. Dove vs. Godiva. Then click to insider.com to see how your results match up.
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge more than 5 years 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 . . .