Book Birthday Blog with Nancy Bordine

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors, illustrators and translators.

 

Congratulations to Nancy Bordine on the release of What Do You See? Developing New Perspectives with Quilt Patterns

 

How did you come up with the idea for your book?

A writer’s adage says, “Write what you know.” I’ve taught school children quilt lore for years; I’ve seen the things about quilts that spark their imaginations. My wise writing coach urged me to include learning activities that connect to my book. I enjoyed creating all the connecting pieces.

What is something you hope your readers will take away from your book? 

The concept that we all have more in common than we think we do. The concept that we’re all one race, the Human Race, and we’re just different expressions of the human genome. The concept that you can gain understanding by looking at things from different perspectives. The curiosity to learn more about things.

What inspires you to write?

I’m a ‘dyed in the wool’ teacher. I enjoy opening minds to new concepts. Writing is a media with a broad reach that allows me to encourage the world to be more empathetic. Writing is something that will outlive me.

What was the most difficult part of writing this book?

The creative process is play for me. The most challenging thing has been marketing—selling my ideas to a publisher, developing effective social media platforms, generating interest amongst book sellers, etc. Marketing has been such a learning experience. I’m so grateful for my support group of fellow writers.

What's next for you?

I’m taking the leap from picture books to Young Adult Historical Fiction. My first novel will be about the 1880’s culture clash when Native American children in my area were kidnapped to attend Indian Boarding schools. The book juxtaposes the lives of an Anishinaabe girl studying to become a Medicine Woman and a Boston spinster schoolteacher who ventures to the wilderness to save ‘lost Indian souls'. The clash requires each woman to determine what she can hold onto, and what she can let go of, in order to survive in their new situations.

A little bit about the book . . .

What Do You See? Developing New Perspectives with Quilt Patterns is a colorful picture book featuring a diverse group of children interacting with inspirations for traditional quilt patterns. The children represent a wide range of heritages and abilities so that a young reader will be able to see themselves in the characteristics of one or more child in the book. The book includes adult-led learning activities that give children concrete concepts for developing empathy, appreciation for diversity, critical-thinking skills, creativity, and strategies for being more inclusive. It also includes unique biographies and colorful finger puppets of each character in the book. "WDYS?" contains a scannable link to more learning activities specific to Common Core Standards for Math, Geometry, and Fractions for Grades K-4.

A little bit about the author . . .

Nancy Bordine is a retired nurse, healthcare educator, and speaker who grew up at the feet of a grandmother who loved to make quilts. Nancy’s inherited love of quilts led her to become “The Quilt Lady” historical reenactor for thousands of local 4th graders for fourteen years. Nancy and her husband have been Foster Parents to a dozen children in crisis and have hosted exchange students from around the world. Of the many learning programs Nancy has designed in her career, she most enjoyed those focused on developing critical-thinking skills and diversity sensitivity.

https://www.facebook.com/missnancywrites 

https://www.missnancywrites.com/ 

Instagram @nancybordine

Email NancyBordine@gmail.com