Middle-Grade - Genre

Photo: pixabay.com

With the other types of children's books (Board books, Picture books, Early Readers, Early Chapter) the categories are separated more by book length and format. With these books, you can just tell by the appearance what category they belong to.

Middle-Grade novels are starting to look like adult novels. They do tend to use fewer words than Youth Adult & Adult novels. But because Middle-Grade novels tend to use a larger font and spacing, the number of printed pages is similar.

The big difference between Middle-Grade and Youth Adult & Adult novels is the content and themes. Middle-Grade novels are kept age appropriate and focus specifically on issues of children in that age range, about 8-12. The main characters in the story are the readers' age or slightly older and deal with issues like friendship, family relations, physical changes, school experiences, injustices in the world.

Middle-Grade novels tend not have any swearing, graphic violence, or romance beyond that of a crush or first kiss.

Middle-Grade Novels tend to be about: 30,000–55,000 words

Middle-Grade Book Reviews:

• The Wolf Princess by Catherine Constable
• Reviewed October 2018

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Free Writing - Writing Prompt (October 2018)

Photo by João Gustavo Rezende from Pexels

As we are approaching NaNoWriMo, I wanted our October's writing prompt to focus on free writing.

Free writing is when you write continuously (often for a set period of time), not worrying about your spelling, grammar, plot, etc. It is just about you practicing writing and generating ideas.

Writing Prompt:
Start writing and in your very first sentence, try to use the 1st word on this list. Then try to use the 2nd word as soon as you can. And continue through all 20 words. (Don't skip around, or look ahead on the list.)

1. Crown
2. Watch
3. Museum
4. Hat
5. Monogram
6. Lion
7. Drink
8. Castle
9. Dress
10. Music
11. Vacation
12. Director
13. Lunch
14. Died
15. Tomorrow
16. Garden
17. Angry
18. Horse
19. Car
20. Queen

If you finish all 20 words and want to continue with this writing prompt, try going through the list a second time. But this time, don't just mention the word again, instead, try to refer back the thing/idea from the first use. (I.e. Don't talk about another Crown, instead make a reference to the Crown you talked about in the beginning.)

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Royal Trains - Royal Research

Photo Credit: Australia Photographic Collection
[CC BY 2.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons

The Royals started using trains in the 1840s & 50s, decades before the modern car was invented.
Train travel was a popular mode of transportation for the Royals because it is safe, private, convenient, etc.

A "Royal Train" is usually a set of special train cars that can be either attached to a regularly scheduled train or run on their own locomotive. The Royal Train services as both a mean of transportation and a Royal Residence. On occasion, a royal might hold an official meeting or engagement on the Royal Train.

Many of the royal families have done away with the Royal Train since cars (& highways), airplanes, helicopters, etc. have become common. The UK, Denmark, Netherland, and Norway Royals still have royal trains which are used on occasion.

United Kingdom 

• Due to the cost, only the Queen or Prince Charles may use the "Royal Train" for official engagements. Other Royals travel by normally scheduled train.
• There is a set of 9 carriages used by the royals and their staff. Although all 9 are not usually used at the same time. 
• In the past, when you have month-long tours, Commonwealth Countries would create a "Royal Train" for the Royal Family to use while touring the country. 
• 1936 Canadian Royal Train
• Features floor plans for the different compartments.  

Denmark 

• The current Royal Train was created as a gift for Queen Margrethe for her 60th Jubilee. (The 5th edition of the Denmark Roal Train)
• Gallery of The Denmark Royal Transportation (including the current & older Royal Trains)

Netherlands

• The current Royal Train consists of the Royal Carriage and two modified first class train cars.
• The Royal Carriage was created in 1993. The special car features a salon with sitting area and a conference table with six chairs, two small bedrooms and a kitchenette. 
• The two modified first class cars were created in 2012 and are used by staff, press & guests. 
• The Royal Train is managed by Dutch State Railways. And is used by the King, visiting heads of state, and cabinet members. 

Norway

• The current Royal Train was created in 1994 in connection with the Lillehammer Olympics.
• Normal train cars are added, as needed, for staff, press and guests.
• The train is maintained by the Norwegian State Railways

Royal Warrant Holders:

• DB Cargo - operates and maintains the British Royal Train 
• From the Queen for "Royal Train Operator"
• Rail Gourmet - provides the catering services on-board the Royal Train
• From the Queen for "Royal Train Caterers" (since 2006)
• Green Fuels - provides sustainable biodiesel for the Royal Train
• From Prince Charles for "Suppliers of Biofuel and Biofuel related Equipment" (Since 2013)
• NMBS/SNCB - is the National Railway Company of Belgium
• Warrant Holder of the Court of Belgium 

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The Five Finger Test - Writing Research

Photo Credit: Tim Pierce (CC BY 2.0)

While most children's books are marked with a suggested age & grade, that is not always the best way to judge whether a book is at a child's reading level. Children at the same age or grade level will read at varying levels. The five finger test checks if a book is an appropriate reading level for a child.

The five finger test is simple to use:

1. Open up the book to a typical page. 
• (Not a half page at the beginning a chapter, or a page with a lot of pictures.)
2. Have the child read the page aloud, putting up a finger for each word that they are unfamiliar with or have difficulty reading.
3. Judge the reading level based on the number of fingers the child put up.
4. There are also a few question to consider. If the child answers "no" to any question consider a different book:
• Did you understand what you were reading?
• When reading aloud, were you able to read smoothly and at a normal talking pace?
• Does the topic interest you?

0 Fingers 

This book will be easy to read independently. Books like this can help build a child's confidence but are not very challenging. Consider a more difficult book.  

1 Finger 

This book will be pretty easy to read, but there will be some new words. The child can read independently but may require some help.   

2-3 Fingers 

This book is probably a perfect reading level for the child. It will provide them with a little challenge and new words, but shouldn't be too difficult. The child can read independently but may require some help. 

4 Fingers 

This book will be difficult to read and may cause frustration. It can still be a good choice for a confident reader. But you may want to set it aside until later, or read with an adult. 

5 Fingers 

This book is too difficult. It should either be put aside until later or read with an adult. 

While this test is meant to help children choose an appropriate book, it is also important to nourish their love of books and reading. Part of that means choosing a book that they can successfully read, and part of that means allowing them to read things that interest them (whether they are too easy or too difficult).

How many fingers is right for your child will vary, depending on how eager they are too read that book and how confident, or easy frustrated, they get while reading. 

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Hotels - Royal Research

Photo Credit: Matt Brown (CC BY 2.0)

When traveling the Royals have many choices for their accommodations: Royal yacht or train, private residence, embassy, hotel, etc.
For the Royals, luxury, security, and discression are very important when choosing a place to stay. 

Royal Warrant Holders
Hotels are usually given Royal Warrants because they are used by the Palace to accommodate their visitors. These hotels may also be used by the Royals to host official engagements and private parties. 

• The Goring (London, UK)
• Royal Warrant from the Queen for "Hospitality Services"
• The Ritz London (London, UK) 
• Royal Warrant from Prince Charles for "Banqueting and Catering Services"
• Hotel Le Plaza (Brussel, Belgium)
• Warrant Holder of the Court of Belgium
• Grand Hotel Stockholm (Stockholm, Sweden)
• Royal Warrant from Sweden
• Roser Hotel & Restaurant (Skara, Sweden)
• Royal Warrant from Sweden
• Hotel Dennenheuvel (Epe, Netherlands)
• Royal Purveyor to the (Netherlands) Royal Household 
• Hotel Prinsen (Haarlo, Netherlands)
• Royal Purveyor to the (Netherlands) Royal Household 
• Hotel 't Lansink (Hengelo, Netherlands)
• Royal Purveyor to the (Netherlands) Royal Household 
• Hotel Central (Roosendaal, Netherlands)
• Royal Purveyor to the (Netherlands) Royal Household 

Note: A "Royal Purveyor to the (Netherlands) Royal Household" is not required to actually provide services to the Royal Household. For more on the Netherlands' requirements.

Other Popular Hotels
These are a few hotels we have seen different royals stay at over the years. While nowhere near to a complete list, these represent some of the different types of places the royals stay at during their travels. 

• Grand Hotel (Oslo, Norway)
• Location of the annual Nobel Peace Prize Banquet
• Carlyle Hotel (New York City, USA)
• Beverly Hills Hotel (Beverly Hills, USA)
• Fairmont Royal York (Toronto, Canada)
• Hotel Walsherhof (Klosters, Switzerland)
• Taj Mahal Palace Hotel (Mumbai, India)
• Mystique, Private Island (A part of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)

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Read Like A Royal - HRH Princess Eugenie

Disclosure: This blog post contains some links to books on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 

Our first "Read like a Royal" mini-book review takes inspiration from HRH Princess Eugenie, in honor of her recent Royal Wedding. We choose these five books because Princess Eugenie has read the book or she has a connection to the subject matter. 

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During Princess Eugenie's wedding, her sister and Maid of Honor, Princess Beatrice, did a reading from The Great Gatsby. The novel has a special place in Princess Eugenie's heart as she read the book shortly after meeting her husband, Jack, for the first time and thought Jack had kind eyes similar to the character Jay Gatsby.

The Great Gatsby
by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald takes place in New York, USA in the 1920s during the Jazz Age. The title character, Jay Gatsby, is a mysterious multi-millionaire who holds extravagant parties at his lavish mansion in the fictional village of West Egg, on Long Island.

The story begins with the arrival of Nick Carraway, a Yale Univesity Graduate and war veteran, who moves next door to Gatsby after taking a job in New York as a bond salesman. Nick Carraway is the 2nd-cousin to the beautiful, married, socialite, Daisy Fay Buchanan, who is having an affair with Gatsby. 

The novel explores themes of the American Dream, greed, excess, decadence, the pursuit of pleasure and the decay of moral and social values.  

Of course, instead of reading the book, you can just watch the 2013 movie, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, Isla Fisher, etc.

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Princess Eugenie is a huge fan of contemporary & modern art. And focuses that in both her job at the art gallery Hauser & Wirth, and her patronage of a number of contemporary art museums. Eugenie even included her love of modern art into her wedding, with Mark Bradford's artwork incorporated into the bridesmaids and page boys sashes.

At University, Princess Eugenie did her dissertation on John-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988), an American graffiti and street artist. Eugenie has said in multiple interviews that he is one of her biggest art inspirations.

The Notebooks

By John-Michel Basquiat

During his life, John-Michel Basquiat filled numerous notebooks with ideas for his work, it includes drawings, notes, poems, observations etc. The Notebooks is a reproduction of pages from eight of these notebooks.

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Princess Eugenie has been Patron of Elephant Family since 2016. Elephant Family works to protect endangered Asian elephant by creating elephant and wildlife habitats, reducing human-elephant conflicts and promoting education programs in the UK about these endangered elephants.

Elephant Family was co-founded by Duchess Camilla's late brother, Mark Shand (1951-2014). 

“For many years now I have been a huge supporter of Mark Shand and all his work with Elephant Family. His legacy lives on with all the wonderful work the charity does for saving these beautiful creatures. I have been so lucky to see elephants in their natural habitat and it’s a very special memory.” - Princess Eugenie

Travels on My Elephant

by Mark Shand

Travels on My Elephant is a book by Duchess Camilla's late brother, Mark Shand. The book tells his account of his 600-mile ride across India on an elephant named Tara. When Mark bought Tara, the elephant, she was sad, scrawny and had been mistreated. Throughout the story, Mark learns to take care of the elephant and develops a close friendship. 

This trip to India inspired Shand to co-found the charity, Elephant Family. 

During an event for Elephant Family in 2015, Princess Eugenie read an excerpt of this book to school children.

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Family is very important to Princess Eugenie. And she has said in an interview with Harper Bazaar in 2016, that she fills her home with photographs taken by her parents. 

Moments: Reflections in Words and Pictures

by Sarah, Duchess of York

Moments is a book of photographs by Princess Eugenie's mother, Sarah Duchess of York. The book features photos of Sarah's travels, as well as a number of rare, personal photos of the York Family. The photos are accompanied by a short description. 

Proceeds from this book went to Children in Crisis, a charity founded by Duchess Sarah. In 2018, Children in Crisis merged with Street Children UK.

Street Children UK is a UK based charity that works to provide a quality education to children in poor, or conflicted countries. Duchess Sarah is their Founding Patron, while Princess Eugenie & Princess Beatrice serve as ambassadors.  

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Princess Eugenie & her sister, Princess Beatrice, have both spoken out about bullying in various speeches & interviews. They have both been involved with the Be Cool Be Nice anti-bullying campaign, attending/hosting a number of their events. 

Be Cool Be Nice

Be Cool Be Nice is a "journal and interactive manual" created by the Be Cool Be Nice anti-bullying campaign in collaboration with Snapchat. The book is features fun artwork, stickers, inspiring quotes, writing prompts, activities, games, etc.

And the book comes with a free app & Snapchat filter. The paired app allows you to scan certain pages with your phone and do a fun activity or watch a celebrity video message.

Princess Beatrice recorded two short videos for the app and gave a short quote for the book.

"Be Cool Be Nice is a fun and important motto, especially for young people. When you can reach out and be kind to another person that is what life is all about." - Princess Beatice as quoted in the book

The book features a lot of celebrity involvement, from Kendall Jenner, Burberry, Marc Jacobs, Marc Newson, Lenny Kravitz, etc. And even collaborated with The Diana Awards, and Royal Foundation of Duke & Duchess of Cambridge & Duke & Duchess of Sussex which both focus on Anti-Bullying. 

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