An author she is not...

My daughter MAY be an artist, but I fear, she might be a little one dimensional, because an author she is not...yet anyway.

Every year the students are assigned to writing a "book". It can be about anything they want, fictional or nonfictional.

In kindergarten, she wrote about a trip to Wisconsin Dells. The long car ride there, her brother three years old falling and needing three stitches in his chin, the water slides and so forth.

In first grade she wrote about her new puppy at her Dad's house. The day the puppy was born, selected by her and her dad, the brothers and sisters to her new puppy.

Now in second grade, the time has come again to write her book. She was grounded from the T.V. last night, so I thought it was as good a time as any to start thinking of ideas for this year's.

She declares that she wants to write about her puppy again this year. She dug through the "keeper box" that I have all of her previous year's "special" things in. She pulls out last year's book.

On her idea page, she jots down, Shyla. Born 2/5/08. Has 3 brothers, 2 sisters. Brown eyes, Yellow coat.

I glance over her shoulder.

"Are you just getting facts for this year's book?" I question her skeptically.

"I want to write about Shyla again, Mom."

That is fine and dandy, as ideas are swarming my head for a NEW spin on an old topic.

"What would you like to write about Shyla?" I asked answered (or not answered) by her blank stare.

I started throwing out ideas.
"How about a birthday party you would like to throw her? Since she is now a year old."

No response.

"It doesn't have to be real, we can make it fictional. It could be a fabulous doggy party, where all her doggy friends are invited, you can create a cake shaped like a bone..."

As my creative juices are trying to be squeezed out she is just staring at me.

I get out a clean sheet of paper and write the word, IDEAS at the top.

I write down, Shyla's Birthday Bash.

I look at her. She looks at me.

"What are some other ideas you have?" I push.

"well, first make another column, we need a fiction and a nonfiction."

OK, we are getting somewhere. FINALLY. I should know that she likes charts and stuff.

By the end of the night we have in the fiction column:
Webkinz Babysit.
Shyla's Birthday Bash.

In the nonfiction column:
Disney vacation

It's a start. It's due April 7th, right after Spring Break. *sigh*