I Wish I Were a Mermaid! (Choice Two Assignment)

Choice Two Assignment: Original Story Book

Here is the link to my storybook I made on www.storybird.com

http://storybird.com/books/i-wish-i-were-a-mermaid/

Author/text:

Growing up and even now one of the most appealing authors to me is Theodor Seuss Geisel, Dr. Seuss. Ever since I was a child his books have drawn me in. His creativity with rhyming and creating these imaginary situations absolutely fascinates me! Dr. Seuss books use a lot of rhymes, which are simple yet make the words sound more appealing to the ears. The rhyming used by Dr. Seuss creates a life to his story that regular sentences could not do. I like his text because it is fun and as you are either reading or listening to his rhymes you imagine yourself in the story. Although Dr. Seuss wrote in the rhythm called trisyllabic meter, where every third syllable of his story is stressed more, I used the basic idea of his text for my story. As a beginner I wanted to get the feel for creatively thinking of this alternate ideas and explaining them through rhyming.

As I grew older what drew me to Dr. Seuss even more was the fact that he was constantly turned down by publishers at the beginning of his career but he never gave up. I think this is important knowledge to have and to share with children to let them know if they put their mind to it they can do anything they want with their lives.

Book Genre:

The book I have written I would like to be categorized as fiction fantasy. The book opens an imaginative world to children that allows them to fantasy. The book does not only limit children to fantasizing about mermaids, but opens the door for them to imagine whatever the wish to be.

Writing Process Reflection:

When first beginning to write I found it very difficult because all I could think about was books that children would enjoy reading. I did not stumble upon a topic that connected with me until I thought about what I would like to read and would have enjoyed as a child. Mermaids are truly my favorite thing, and although it seems childish a piece of me believes in my heart they are real. I thought if I could have this connection and desire to be something, why not share it with children who will understand it more than anyone? Having the rhyming pattern to follow made the actually process of writing very easy.

I thought of things that I would love to do or have if I was a mermaid and the rhyming came natural. Before I knew it I was making myself laugh with the different ideas I had about what I would do if I were a mermaid. I liked ending the story with a connection about wanting mermaids with me to put the idea of friendship in the book.

Plans for the book:

I plan to keep a copy of it for myself, so if one day I teach in a classroom where it is an appropriate grade level I can share it with my students. I also plan to have the book as an example to show students what they can create, and how we are all authors deep inside of us! Along with having it in my own classroom I plan to show the book to my mother who is a first grade teacher, and try to create a lesson for her class using the book. I would also like to just show my mother the technology that is available and use my book as an example to her as to what she can create for her classroom!