Laughing Turkeys

I thought this was funny.

Nearly every day of the year, several groups of turkeys amble through our front and back yards like clockwork. But yesterday, Thanksgiving, not one bird showed its face.

Then, this morning, the day after Thanksgiving, I heard a bird between my house and the neighbor’s. Now, usually, they come and go, and make no noise. Sometimes, you’ll hear a light, clucking sound. But on this morning, the day AFTER Thanksgiving, I heard what could only be described as a laughing turkey.

I grabbed my camera, went outside, and snapped this picture as the birds walked across the street. To my ear, they were still making that same noise. It sounded like they were laughing as if to say, “Na na na boo boo, we survived Thanksgiving!”

Last Child in the Woods

With most American schools either enjoying or approaching Thanksgiving break, many parents wonder how to keep children occupied while they cook, clean and prep for the holiday. Perhaps this is the ideal time to revisit some classic advice from award-winning journalist Richard Louv.

Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder. Richard Louv, 2005, 2008. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Read the full article:
http://www.vision.org/visionmedia/article.aspx?id=19602

NOTE: "Since most of my books for boys are adventures that take place outside, I'm very much in favor of this book. In fact, I'd add to the title, "And when they come back inside, have them read a book."
Max Elliot Anderson

Lemony Snicket, Book # 1 FREE

For a limited time, book # 1, The Bad Beginning,

by Lemony Snicket, is available FREE!

Check it out while you can!

Read it now

http://browseinside.harpercollinschildrens.com/index.aspx?isbn13=9780064407663

View Lemony Snicket’s video response to this latest unfortunate event.

http://www.lemonysnicket.com/

Max Elliot Anderson

Author of

Action-Adventures & Mysteries...especially for boys.

Interview about my Books for Boys

A new interview has been posted about my action-adventures and mysteries at: http://jadaykennedy.blogspot.com/2009/11/max-elliot-anderson-author-of-reluctant.html

Literacy, families and learning

Another blog that offers solutions, ideas, and help for the reluctant readers in your family, classroom, or cirlce of friends is called Literacy, families and learning. Find it at http://trevorcairney.blogspot.com/2009/11/getting-boys-into-reading-through.html

National Struggling Reluctant Reader Week

Okay, so it's actually National Young Reading Week November 9 - 13. However, I'm taking it a step farther in calling it National Struggling Reluctant Reader Week. Why? Because if we don't reach out to struggling, reluctant readers, then there isn't much use in simply setting aside a week to highlight reading.

Last month I wrote an article, Help for Struggling, Reluctant Readers. You can get a FREE copy of that article by emailing me at mander8813@aol.com

So, this week, please do something to identify a struggling reader in your family or circle of friends, and do what you can to help them become a reader. My action-adventures & mysteries have helped many to make the leap from struggling to avid reader.

NEWSPAPER CAPER, TERROR AT WOLF LAKE, NORTH WOODS POACHERS, MOUNTAIN CABIN MYSTERY, BIG RIG RUSTLERS, SECRET OF ABBOTT'S CAVE, & LEGEND OF THE WHITE WOLF are compared by readers and reviewers to Tom Sawyer, The Hardy Boys, Huck Finn, Nancy Drew, Harry Potter, Tom Swift, Scooby-Doo, Lemony Snicket, and adventure author Jack London.

Max Elliot Anderson

PS. The above picture is of my son and me. Today, he's a lawyer in Chicago. Reading works!

Veterans Day

Received several nice emails and phone calls today, thanking me for my military service. Nice. But it seems like a hundred years ago now. I was drafted into the army in 1969 and served until 1971. I didn’t go to Vietnam, because I already had an older brother there. My younger brother went to Okinawa.

But when I returned to work in my father’s film production company, where do you think my first film project was? VIETNAM. I couldn’t believe it. The project was a film for Venture For Victory with locations in Japan, Taiwan, Korea, and Vietnam.

All of my basic training had been geared to Vietnam with instructors who had fought there. All of the training films were also about Vietnam.

So, as a civilian, you can imagine my panic, when the helicopter I was flying in, from one filming location to the other, dropped me off in the wrong rice patty. I was all alone.

Another time, I felt as if I were being watched. So I zoomed the lens all the way in, and focused on infinity. When I spun the camera around in the direction of that strange feeling, what did I see but a pair of binoculars disappearing into the tall grass! A cold chill went right up my back.

So it is with profound appreciation that I say thank you to all who have actually served in harm’s way. You have my deepest respect.

Max Elliot Anderson

On Blogging Well

See my guest post about blogging at On Blogging Well http://onbloggingwell.com plus other entries that you may find helpful and interesting.

I Told Two Friends & Books for Boys

My focus in writing is to reach reluctant readers, especially boys 8 - 13. In my research, I also became aware of the problems surrounding adult literacy. Did you know that most of the men in prisons today either grew up as reluctant readers, or they can't read at all?

I found a web site that might interest you if you're concerned with adult literacy. I Told Two Friends can be found at http://itoldtwofriends.com

Max Elliot Anderson

Knowonder - Legend of The White Wolf

The November issue of Knowonder Magazine is out, and in it is chapter 1 from my adventure book, Legend of The White Wolf. You can find the free, electronic issue at
http://www.knowonder.com/magazine/november/ on Page 54.

Knowonder is a magazine intended to, "Inspire your child's Imagination." I like that.

Legend of The White Wolf is available on Amazon, or you may order signed copies. Contact me for more information about that at mander8813@aol.com

Max Elliot Anderson

LEGEND OF THE WHITE WOLF $10.95 0-9752880-3-2
They didn’t call him a liar; they just couldn’t believe his story. Brian Fisher was determined to prove it was true even though it involved the risk to his own safety. His rescue of a wolf pup from a steel trap results in a mysterious relationship with surprising results. The story is set in the lower elevations near Yellowstone