Review and Interview with Beth Anderson: Franz's Phantasmagorical Machine

 

I first heard of Franz’s Phantasmagorical Machine in 2019 and have been waiting for it to be published and finally this year I read it and loved it. Beth Anderson has written a beautiful story about dreams and creativity with an oh so subtle message of how fortunate most of us are to complete K-12 public school education. Colorful cats dance across the pages, accompanying Franz on his journey. Caroline Hamel who lives and works in Montreal, Quebec has won numerous awards including Palmares Communication Jeunesse/Choix des jeunes 2017-2018. Ms. Hamel rendered her vivid illustrations on a digital tablet. Kids Can Press published Franz’s Phantasmagorical Machine which is about the life and creation of Franz Gsellman, a farmer and tinkerer. This story depicts perseverance, joy and STEAM concepts. As always Ms. Anderson includes facts and additional sources in the back matter.

 

One Question Interview with Beth Anderson

What recommendations would you give to those under the age of 12 who would like to write children's books?

BA: I would recommend three things. First, read. Read a lot. Read widely. Because with every book you are soaking up language, voice, expression, structure, story, and getting a sense of how it all works together. Second, write. Write a lot. Because as with any skill, practice matters. Write widely. Different kinds of writing will help you discover what you enjoy, your voice and style. Most importantly, write about what you care about. Investing yourself adds strength to writing. And finally, when you’re ready, share your work with others. Take in the encouragement and the feedback others offer—positive and negative, and use it all to push forward and improve your craft. 

Visit Beth Anderson

Visit illustrator Caroline Hamel

Visit your local book store The Wandering Jellyfish

Previous Posts about Beth Anderson: An Inconvenient Alphabet, Lizzie Demands a Seat!, "Smelly" Kelly and His Super Senses, Tad Lincoln's Restless Wriggle

Guacamole Tacos: Guacamole with Yellow Tomato and Mandarins

 

Yellow Tomato by ET Charles

1 large avocado

1 yellow tomato, medium

2 Mandarins, small

½ of a 4 ounce can chopped green chiles, medium heat

For Tacos:

2 cups grated cheddar cheese

10 corn tortillas

Olive oil

Directions for the guacamole:

Wash and dry all produce. Chop yellow tomato and place in a bowl.

Peel and dice the two Mandarins, a small, sweet citrus fruit, and add to the bowl with the yellow tomato.

On a cutting board, slice the avocado in half. Wash the knife. Remove the pit. Score the fruit in each half vertically and horizontally. Using a spoon, scoop the fruit out of each half shell and add to the bowl with the tomato and the citrus. Smash avocado with a fork and mix the three ingredients together.

Add 2 ounces or to taste of canned chopped chiles to the avocado, tomato and mandarins and smash and mix again.

Directions for the tacos:

Pour 1 tablespoon of olive oil into a cast iron skillet and heat the corn tortillas as singles or groups of three until warm, turning the tortillas so both sides are moistened with olive oil. Place tortillas on plates, spoon guacamole on tortillas and top with grated cheddar cheese.

Yields: 10 guacamole tacos

Notes: Guacamole variation 6