Workshop Transcript

Writing Easy Readers

with Anastasia Suen

Note: Many thanks to Melody DeLeon for assisting in the editing of this transcript.

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** Verla has set the topic on channel #Kidlit to Writing Easy Readers Workshop here tonight

Verla: Okay..for anyone who is new...A-Suen is our "fearless leader" tonight and she is leading the workshop on Writing Easy Readers

*** Verla has set the topic on channel #Kidlit to Writing Easy Readers Workshop IN PROGRESS

Verla: Anastasia Suen is the author of 17 children's books, including MAN ON THE MOON (Viking) an American booksellers Pick of the List, BABY BORN (Lee & Low), a Reach Out and Read Selection, and WINDOW MUSIC (Viking), A Book of the Month Club Selection.

Verla: A credentialed teacher and poet-in-residence, she presents poetry programs in schools, bookstores and libraries. As a textbook consultant, she has selected poetry for phonics and mathematics textbook series. She is currently writing basals for a reading textbook series and speaking at schools, bookstores, conferences, book festivals and universities

Verla: Tonight's workshop is Writing Easy Readers

A-Suen: thanks, V

A-Suen: I think i need to update my bio

A-Suen: it's 16 books

A-Suen: one got rejected :(

A-Suen: ah well

MelLane: only one?

A-Suen: I wanted to let you know that you get 2 hats tonight

Verla: Please hold all hello's, goodbye's and personal talk until the workshop is over (in one hour) but DO join in the discussion with pertintent comments and questions

Verla: Okay, Anastasia (A-Suen) You are on

NOTE: Anastasia Suen is known as A-Suen

A-Suen: I am a writer

A-Suen: and a teacher

A-Suen: I taught Kindergarten and 1st grade years ago

A-Suen: (but I can't spell quickly---sigh!)

Verla: Goodie..maybe I will be able to understand, then, A-Suen. GRIN

katrap_: me too

A-Suen: when you write a reader..and easy reader..you have to wear 2 hats, too

A-Suen: :)

NOTE: :) = Smile (sideways)

A-Suen: when a child reads an EZ, they have to be able to read it themselves

A-Suen: this is NOT the same thing that happens with a PB

A-Suen: a PB is a lap book

A-Suen: You read it on someone's lap

A-Suen: and the grown-up usually does the reading

A-Suen: an EZ is a book that you - as a 6 yr old- read "all by yourself"

A-Suen: that means ALL the words must be easy enough for you

Verla: I still remember how HARD it was to read those first books...

A-Suen: we go crazy over that

gaillynnd: Do you use reference books that show what words are appropriate for each grade level?

A-Suen: I write the book first

A-Suen: and then I check the words

A-Suen: now I DO have a word book

A-Suen: but when I did the textbook EZ's i did not

mizkay: which reference books?

A-Suen: the ref book I use is "Children's Writer's Word Book"

Verla: Ah...Good. I wondered what reference book would be good for that

Verla: So you get the ideas down on paper first...then worry about making it simple enough....right?

A-Suen: ideas first, then words...right V

A-Suen: I was only allowed to use certain sounds and certain words, so I made a list of words

A-Suen: and built a story from that

Verla: yikes..that is hard writing, Asuen

Verla: I was told that you should keep all words to two syllables or less

zbell: sounds? like animal sounds?

Verla: The sounds you were limited to were phonics sounds, right, Asuen?

A-Suen: yes, V

A-Suen: short words are a must with very young readers

A-Suen: CVC consonant-vowel-consonant

A-Suen: CVCV - long vowel words

A-Suen: CVCV = hope, take, make

A-Suen: the kids can't sound out the words if you use hard words first

A-Suen: most kids learn the short vowels first

A-Suen: so the EZ books use CVC words

MelLane: only 3 letter words?

ClaraRose: cat, bat, bed (CVC = consonant, vowel, consonant)

cherpa1: cvc words are consonant vowel consonant words like "run"

A-Suen: CVC cat, mat, hat...

zbell: ah, three letter words

Verla: so they didn't want words like see or all....

Verla: because they don't have a consonant on the beginning and end...

A-Suen: no, not just 3 letter words

A-Suen: but that's where the kids start, so you need to know that

A-Suen: If you know how they build their words

A-Suen: it will help you write for them

Verla: Oh...I see!

gaillynnd: Simple or compound sentences?

Verla: I would think simple, VERY simple sentences...almost one sentence per line...because I remember when I was learning to read...I stopped my thoughts at the end of every sentence

A-Suen: Simple sentences, because they can't hold all that info in their head

A-Suen: HarperCollins used to say 36 character per line

A-Suen: and that includes punctuation

Verla: yes, that was the formula I was told, too, Anastasia...36 characters per line

ponytailmo: how many sentences per paragraph?

Dani257: Do the plots have to be really simple? It seems like all the ez readers I see have extremely simple plots

gaillynnd: Give us an example of a sentence you might use.

SandyKC: Is there a formula for the plot... like one event?

gaillynnd: Do they know the you is understood?

(NOTE: Actually structure is discussed later in the transcript)

A-Suen: hmm.

A-Suen: Make a plan.

A-Suen: that has simple words

A-Suen: if you look at the EZ's that are out there - you will see that they are not alike

Verla: hmmm. No wonder my Hairy Snake story didn't sell

A-Suen: EZ's are for 4 ear olds...and 8 year olds

cherpa1: what level EZ books are you talking about A-Suen?

Verla: (Good question, cherpa!)

A-Suen: 4 year olds read level 1 - the hardest to write

A-Suen: the words must be very simple

cherpa1: Can some EZ books can have more complex words, if they are high interest words? I am thinking of the Syd Hoff books.

A-Suen: Level 4 books are for 3rd graders

A-Suen: almost anything goes there

Verla: ahhh....so the level four books can be much more involved in words

A-Suen: they are!

A-Suen: some EZ's have chapters

A-Suen: think of Frog and Toad, by Arnold Lobel

A-Suen: that's an EZ

Verla: And the Cat in the Hat, too!

MelLane: I love Cat in the Hat!

Verla: (OLD classics)

A-Suen: but still selling

Verla: (Cat in the Hat was always a big favorite of my kids...I'd have loved a book like THAT when I was learning to read...all I got was Dick and Jane stories.)

katrap_: me too

ponytailmom: what about Amelia Bedelia? It's an EZ, but must be for the older ones?

A-Suen: go to the bookstore

A-Suen: and look at the copyright dates

zbell: Big Bad Bear

A-Suen: some of these books have been out for years

A-Suen: and they sell and sell and sell

katrap_: is there one particular book that tells the levels and describes every thing?

A-Suen: each publisher has their own system

A-Suen: you have to read and see what is out there

NOTE: If anyone hears of one, please contact Verla Kay so she can include the information in this transcript!

A-Suen: does anyone know about Dolch words?

Verla: no..what are they, Anastasia?

ClaraRose: no, what are they?

cherpa1: Yes -- I am a teacher too A-Suen

mizkay: ah, so could the dolch list be used as reference?

A-Suen: Dolch words are words that are used again and again

ponytailmo: I found a website that lists them

Verla: Pony! Can you share that website address with us please???

ponytailmom: http://www.indiana.edu/~eric_rec/ieo/bibs/dolchwordlist.html

Verla: Oh, THANK you, pony!

A-Suen: yes! if you want words that every kid must know, look at these lists

ToniBuzzeo: I know Dolch words, as a school librarian. I discard those books AT WILL!

Missyange: Should the names of the characters be easy too?

NOTE: This question was not answered at this time

A-Suen: a spelling book also tells you what each child is expected to know

A-Suen: see what sounds they test at each grade level

A-Suen: some of you have this at home with your own kids

cherpa1: But spelling is different than reading. Children can often read at a higher level than they can spell

ToniBuzzeo: Anastasia, who is REALLY buying ER's these days (not by Rylant and Howe :>)

NOTE: ER's are Easy Readers and Rylant and Howe are two authors who have had many ER's published

A-Suen: I don't know who buys them Toni

A-Suen: I suspect that moms buy them up

A-Suen: I did when mine were that age.

A-Suen: they only cost $2-$3

A-Suen: so I bought more and more and more

ToniBuzzeo: Oops, no A-Suen. I mean which PUBLISHERS are buying them :>

PamelaBeth: That's what I thought Toni meant, too!

A-Suen: Oh!

A-Suen: Viking, Harper,

A-Suen: those I know are buying

A-Suen: Random publishes them but they are closed unless you have an agent

A-Suen: :(

NOTE: :( is a Frownie Face

A-Suen: Cartwheel does them but they are also "closed"

A-Suen: Cartwheel is part of Scholastic

PamelaBeth: What about the Harper Growing Tree line?

PamelaBeth: (Not EZ, per se... but..)

A-Suen: Growing Tree are baby books

A-Suen: EZ books are different

PamelaBeth: So beyond 3 yrs old is a no-no for Growing Tree, then, correct?

A-Suen: YES, OVER 3 IS not GROWING TREE

PamelaBeth: Thanks, Anastasia. :>

A-Suen: EZ books have 32 pages for the most part - for level 1 and 2

A-Suen: the other ones have 48 pages

NOTE: Anastasia is talking about printed pages here, NOT manuscript pages. There is a big difference between the two!

A-Suen: that's why you can have chapters

A-Suen: they also rely less on the pictures for the older ones

mizkay: does each page of an ez have pics?

A-Suen: yes

mizkay: are amelia b books ez readers?

mizkay: I notice they have pics on every page.

A-Suen: yes, they have pics - but their pics are smaller

A-Suen: the older the book's level

A-Suen: the smaller the pics

A-Suen: start with a story

A-Suen: and then write an EZ

A-Suen: the story is the most important thing

ponytailmom: how many lines to a paragraph for say 6 to 8 year old readers?

A-Suen: <for ages> 6-8 I'd say 3 lines to a page

Verla: Most EZ readers are softbacks, too, aren't they, Anastasia?

A-Suen: the books are hardback for the librarians

ToniBuzzeo: I buy all hard covers for my library.

A-Suen: and paper for the moms

A-Suen: the moms want paper

A-Suen: becasue of the cost

A-Suen: and the kids like them

A-Suen: because they fit in their backpacks

A-Suen: hard covers last -- soft covers give about 6 readings

ToniBuzzeo: Anastasia, I was lost there for a bit. Did you talk about publishers?

A-Suen: yes, Toni

aliceluh: Anastasia...can you please name some exceptional early readers?

A-Suen: Harper, Viking, Cartwheel, Random

A-Suen: they also have some cute books from Hyperion

A-Suen: they use photos of kids!

A-Suen: but they are so closed at Hyperion :(

PamelaBeth: What do we call the more complex EZs-- a la MAGIC TREEHOUSE /Mary Pope Osbourne books? Are these first chapter books?

A-Suen: I love them all

_Lyra: the Magic Tree are cute books

A-Suen: first chapter books are also called transitional readers

A-Suen: they are much harder than EZ

A-Suen: for kids that can read quite well

A-Suen: this leads to another "teacher" thing

ToniBuzzeo: Third grade Reading Level

A-Suen: did you know that there are 3 reading levels

A-Suen: for every kid?

ToniBuzzeo: Emergent, transitional, basic?

A-Suen: mastery level - instructional level-frustration level

ToniBuzzeo: Ahhhh...

A-Suen: mastery is a read-alone level

A-Suen: instructional is when you can read it with help

A-Suen: frustration is when you just don't get it

_Lyra: interesting, A

A-Suen: and frustration level is 88%

cherpa1: I always called the mastery level the "independent level"

A-Suen: frustration means that if you miss 12 words out of 100 - the book is TOO HARD for you

Amishka: Approximately how many words to an ez

Verla: I was told as a guide that you kept level 1's to about 500 words....level 2's 1000 words, level 3's could go to 1500 words and level 4's up to 2000 words

A-Suen: that might work, V

A-Suen: they get longer as the reading levels go up

A-Suen: if you want these very early readers to succeed - you have to use words that they know

A-Suen: that's why level 1's are so hard to write

A-Suen: big pics

A-Suen: short lines

A-Suen: short pages

Verla: and short ideas, too!

A-Suen: yes, short ideas

Verla: because the kids will forget what they started out reading by the time they get to the end of the line if the idea, words, concepts...anything!...are too hard

_Lyra: I have trouble being SHORT

A-Suen: lyra - then write level 4

A-Suen: I cannot write that long!

_Lyra: (g)

NOTE: (g) means grin.

Dani257: Easy ideas?

A-Suen: easy to grasp

A-Suen: very concrete

A-Suen: nothing abstract

SandyKC: Is all of Richard Scary's stuff a level 1 then?

zbell: I thought Richard Scarry's stuff would be considered a board book?

A-Suen: I think Richard Scarry is a lap book

A-Suen: I don't think you can read that alone

SandyKC: What exactly is that? Lap book as opposed to PB or EZ

A-Suen: a lap book is what I call a book that your mom reads to you

A-Suen: I always sat mine in my lap

A-Suen: my mom did the same

A-Suen: <In Easy Readers> they have to learn to see the pictures

A-Suen: when they read the words

A-Suen: that is very hard for some kids

A-Suen: they read letters and sounds but not words

_Lyra: When you plot one of these Anastasia, do you mold ONE idea or some kind of journey?

A-Suen: I plot everything, Lyra - with a storyboard

A-Suen: I am very visual

A-Suen: and I must do this so I can write

_Lyra: like a pic book, Anastasia?

A-Suen: yes, like PB, Lyra

NOTE: PB = Picture Book

ponytailmom: in your storyboard workshop, you said to start EZ on page 2, but the ones I've seen start on page 5

A-Suen: the ones I did on p2 were for a textbook company - the ones in the bookstore start on p 3 or p5

Verla: Ah, thank you, Anastasia...I wondered about the pages

MelLane: What's on pages 1-4?

Verla: blank page, title page, copyright, etc, mel

A-Suen: p2-3-4

ponytailmo: Title, dedication, ISBN, etc

Verla: look in any book...you will see how they have the "front matter"...and most books also have some "back matter" or blank back page/s

MelLane: Oh. sorry. (g)

Amishka: Is Arthur an ez?

ponytailmom: I've seen different levels of Arthur

ToniBuzzeo: Arthur books are picture books.

A-Suen: no, Arthur is a PB

Dani257: They have an Arthur chapter book

_Lyra: Can you tell how you came to write one of your E-Z readers, Anastasia?

A-Suen: Lyra ˆ I write PB and EZ the same way

A-Suen: I start with a story idea

A-Suen: it's how the words play out

A-Suen: how easy they are

A-Suen: that decides if it is a PB or an EZ

ponytailmom: Do you decide or does the publisher?

A-Suen: the publisher

EmmyAnne: There seems to be a strong tendancy for the Level 1 books to be talking animals. Is this done on purpose, or is this a trend?

A-Suen: it's a way to have something scary happen that feels safe

A-Suen: the animal is in trouble - not the kids

Dani257: So, a story idea can work for either a pb or an ez, it's the words that matter?

A-Suen: yes, dani. It's the words that matter

Dani257: okay, thanks

aliceluh: You may have talked about this, so please ignore me if you have. What size words should be used in ERs?

A-Suen: not too many syllables

A-Suen: not too many syllables

Verla: I was told two syllables or less...

A-Suen: the big words are too hard to sound out

A-Suen: 2 or less sounds right

zbell: It must really be hard to create a story with enough pizzazz to capture a reader with short words

MelLane: That makes picking words even harder than on PB's, doesn't it?

Verla: yes, it does, Mel!

MelLane: Words they can read, with plenty of oomph!

A-Suen: YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PamelaBeth: Words with OOMPH! I love it

Verla: (Now you know why I write picture books. LOL)

MelLane: (Now you know why I DON'T!)

PamelaBeth: Some seem to be written by editors in "disguise." I know Nola Buck is Laura Godwin. Michelle Poploff used to write them too.

SandyKC: Are lap books very marketable? There aren't many writers of them out there and they are what my son has used as his earliest reader.

A-Suen: Lap books are just my way of saying PB

PaulaO: My son's favorite easy reader is by Golden books .. at the beginning .. for level one it describes the level as: easy words, fun rhythms, big type, picture clues.

ponytailmom: but bigger words are okay with higher levels, right?

aliceluh: can I use words that are a little hard if the meaning is obvious?

A-Suen: Alice- it's very tricky

A-Suen: we have gone round and round with that

Verla: I don't think it is the "meaning" of words as much as how hard it is to sound them out...to actually figure out how to read them, Alice..what do you think Anastasia?

A-Suen: you have to make the meaning SO clear in the art

A-Suen: otherwise they kids miss - or guess

A-Suen: and then you have "frustration"

aliceluh: ok

ponytailmom: my kindergartener reads I like Hamburgers, I like ice cream, but there are picture clues.

A-Suen: yes, LOTS of picture clues

^Missyange: for an ER would rhyming the words be a good thing?

NOTE: This question was not answered at this time.

EmmyAnne: And is there a page rule, like a scene per page, or an action per page?

A-Suen: Yes - one idea per spread

A-Suen: one picture per page

Verla: Ah...so one basic idea or pictoral "scene" per double page spread? Or per each page?

A-Suen: I do both V

A-Suen: some books have 1 pic per spread

Verla: Oh..thanks..you answered it while I was typing my question. LOL

Verla: so level ones should pretty much be one picture/idea per double spread, then

A-Suen: some have 2 pic - one per page

A-Suen: the little ones seems to need only 1 pic

A-Suen: the older kids can handle 2

EmmyAnne: Why would the older children need more pics?

A-Suen: The older ones want more action - so if you have more pics - you have more things happening

EmmyAnne: I see!

A-Suen: then they get so they "see' the action in the words, and we use fewer pics

A-Suen: Can they decode the words?

A-Suen: can they sound it out?

A-Suen: AND is it age appropriate?

A-Suen: they can sound out some words, but they aren't kindergarten or even 2nd grade words

Verla: LOL Age appropriate..I guess that leaves out books about the president's private life then, eh?

(NOTE: LOL means Laughing Out Loud)

PamelaBeth: No Monica EZ readers! ;>

Amishka: LOL VERLA

MelLane: But, don't children have different reading levels according to the area of the USA they live in?

MelLane: Seems like us in the South are behind those in the Northeast.

A-Suen: you don't have to figure out the level, Mel

A-Suen: the publisher does that

Windy2u: Children's Writer's Word Book is separated by grades....that helps a lot.

aliceluh: I have a story in which I am using the word BARF (to rhyme with scarf). Would it be considered a bad word...is it a no-no?

cherpa1: what level are you writing for alice?

aliceluh: I hear you, 4-5

A-Suen: I don't think barf would work

A-Suen: not everyone uses that word

Verla: kids love rotten words, though

daphniwagg: I'd rather see the word BARF than PUKE

cherpa1: the "ar" has the "r" controlled vowel -- usually a harder sound for the children to learn

aliceluh: good point

Verla: yikes...only fifteen minutes left, Anastasia...

SandyKC: How competitive is the EZ market as compared to the PB market?

A-Suen: they want EZ's but they are so hard to write

daphniwagg: Question - is it better to stick with the Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market guidebook than to go for the 99 Writer's Market? Are all the children's included in the larger one?

NOTE: Both of these books are sold in bookstores both in person and on line

MelLane: I personally like specialized market books. Less searching. (g)

daphniwagg: they have a neat search feature in the adult Writer's Market CD though. the Children's market guide doesn't have that yet

katrap_: and they got no more detail for the children's book than the adult book

Verla: I prefer the Children's Market guidebook...

Verla: and I have used both guidebooks. With the Children's edition, I don't have to sift through hundreds of inappropriate pubishing houses. Also the Children's edition has lists in it of workshops, contests, etc. that are all for children's writers. And then, too, the 2000 edition has a nice big article in it of ME, so I definitely recommend it. <grin>

A-Suen: I use the bookstore to tell me who is buying what

cherpa1: A-Suen--don't the EZs also include the pattern type books?

A-Suen: pattern books?

Verla: What is a pattern book, cherpa?

cherpa1: Things like If you give a mouse a cookie...Or the house that Jack built or the Bears Birthday Party?

A-Suen: those are old storytelling patterns

A-Suen: little kids like those - the teachers and librarians call them "predictable" books

katrap_: is predictable not good?

cherpa1: But when the pattern is in the book -- it helps the children to read...along with the pictures.

A-Suen: predictable is great

Verla: I think predictable can be VERY good...but only if the STORY is also VERY good.

EmmyAnne: Is the Educational/Textbook market require a different approach than querying publishers?

A-Suen: educational is a tough market to break

A-Suen: I have only gotten work by referral

EmmyAnne: Must you first be published to approach the educational market?

A-Suen: no

immatek: sorry if I missed this but are EZ readers exclusively paperbacks Anastasia?

A-Suen: EZ come in paper because that is what sells best in the bookstores librarians like hardover

Verla: WARNING....only 7 minutes left for the workshop, folks...

MelLane: only SEVEN?

ponytailmom: so when you are sending off your ms for what you consider to be an EZ, you don't say that in your cover letter in case the pub doesn't agree?

A-Suen: hard to say - I write so short

A-Suen: I say it's a PB or an EZ - but some books can go either way

daphniwagg: what is the best children's writers conference on the east coast?

Verla: I have heard rumors that the National SCBWI conference might move out to the East

NOTE: SCBWI = Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators

aliceluh: NO!

daphniwagg: I like those rumors

Verla: in a year or two, daphniwagg ... for at least one year

daphniwagg: they should do both? or a partial one out here

Sammeow: How 'bout Chicago? halfway?

ToniBuzzeo: Me too, on the rumors. Fair is fair :>

A-Suen: they want NYC

A-Suen: we'll see if it happens

immatek: What class of books would those little books of Joy Cowley's be?

A-Suen: PB

EmmyAnne: Are your EZ's in the bookstores or in textbooks?

A-Suen: my EZ are with a textbook company - ScotForesman 's Reading 2000

EmmyAnne: Are your EZ's reality stories or fiction, like PB's?

A-Suen: nonfiction

immatek: What are some of your personal favorite EZ's?

immatek: and authors, other than your esteemed self of course

A-Suen: frog and toad

A-Suen: I love frog and toad

ClaraRose: I like little bear

ponytailmom: I have a story with that centers around an orange - is that too hard of a word for a 6 year old?

Verla: Orange is a hard word

A-Suen: orange is a sight word

Amishka: colors are sight words pony

ponytailmom: seen in pictures and learned early because they are colours?

Amishka: yes

NOTE: Ponytailmom is from Canada... where the word color is spelled colour

A-Suen: <Most colors are> sight words because you must memorize them

ponytailmom: thanks.

Verla: Explain what you mean by a "sight word" Anastasia...does that mean the word is very familiar and can be used? Or that it can't be easily sounded out so it should NOT be used?

Verla: Ah...you answered half of my question already...

Verla: so is it okay to put a few sight words in and repeat them often?

A-Suen: sight words are words that must be memorized because they need to be used to make sense, but they rules for them come much later in reading

A-Suen: they are the words on that Dolch list - sight words

Sammeow: I missed #pgs. Same as pb?

Verla: 32 pgs for levels 1 & 2...48 pgs for 3 & 4, Samm

A-Suen: page count varies with reading level

A-Suen: level 1-2 = 32 p. level 3-4 48 p

aliceluh: what ez reader is selling really well right now?

A-Suen: hard to say

cherpa1: How about Very Hungry Caterpillar?

ToniBuzzeo: Alice, Rylant's HENRY AND MUDGE series titles get great

reviews. Holiday has some lovely new ER's too.

PamelaBeth: Is JUNIE B. JONES an EZ? I love MUDGE books, too.

ToniBuzzeo: JUNIE B JONES books are chapter books, Pamela

PamelaBeth: OOPS! You're right, Ton

EmmyAnne: Do you format your ms as it would appear on the book's page?

NOTE: ms = Manuscript

NOTE: This question was not answered at this time.

EmmyAnne: Were you assigned a single non-fiction subject for your EZ's?

A-Suen: I did 11 EZ's emmy

EmmyAnne: Were you given the subject for each one?

A-Suen: yes, sam - and a list of words and sounds that I had to use, too

A-Suen: it was quite a puzzle!

Verla: Sounds like it!

SandyKC: Do all characters' names need to be EZ too?

NOTE: This question was not answered at this time.

A-Suen: we called sight words - "jail words" when I taught - because they didn't follow the rules

Verla: So can you use a few sight words and just repeat them often?

A-Suen: repeating is good - it gives the kids lots of practice

Sammeow: All those th... words

Sammeow: that, they, them, then, etc

A-Suen: it helps, Sam

cherpa1: the word "the" is a sight word. Some words the children should just recognize without sounding them out because they are used so often.

ClaraRose: I've seen a series of books called 'to grow by books' that have reading portions for the child to read, and portions for the adult to read too ... they are meant to be read together ... is there a place for this sort of book?

Verla: Ahhhh. Our time is UP!

ponytailmom: NOOO!

A-Suen: I hope this helped - I have to run - things are crazy here

Verla: Anastasia..THANK you for a WONDERFUL workshop!!!! WHISTLE! WHISTLE! STOMP STOMP STOMP!

ponytailmom: THANKS!

EmmyAnne: Thank you!

cherpa1: thank you so much Anastasia

SandyKC: THANKS THANKS THANKS

Amishka: fantastic

Windy2u: Thanks A-Suen!

PaulaO: Thanks!

PamelaBeth: Thanks, Anastasia. Be well.

ponytailmom: Another great workshop!

Verla: Squirting purple silly string EVERYWHERE!

Verla: (Especially on SandyKC!)

cherpa1: lol

ponytailmo: Watch out - <here comes> BLUE <silly string>

SandyKC: PURPLE purple everywhere... on your clothes and in your hair!

Verla: And on your lip...and on your chair!

Sammeow: Sorry I missed so much. Can't wait for Verla to get this one in transcript.

ToniBuzzeo: Thanks, Anastasia!

A-Suen: Hugs to you all! :)

Amishka: Hugs back

cherpa1: night A-Suen

SandyKC: Group Hug!

Verla: night, Anastasia...GREAT JOB

------END OF WORKSHOP------