Not Just for Kids

Like Brave Margaret,
Sally Comport Makes Her Dreams Come True

by Mary Catherine Ball

"I am the champion you have waited for!" Margaret cried to the astonished old woman. "What fools we are for thinking it must be a man who slays that great, dirty giant!"

These are words of wisdom for you, from a fairy tale heroine.

Brave Margaret, written by Robert D. San Souci and illustrated by Sally Wern Comport, tells the story of a young Irish woman dreaming of adventures.

Sometimes, you do get what you wish for.

Margaret must face a sea serpent and a sorceress, but she never waits to be saved. She takes care of her problems on her own.

In drawing the pictures for Brave Margaret, Sally Comport realized that you need to hear this message. She encourages you to seek ways to improve your situation at every turn, never waiting for someone else to rescue you.

Comport also believes that art is a wonderful outlet for creativity. It's also another way to study. If art is an interest for you, continue with it. Success is what dreams are made of, advises the illustrator, who lives in Annapolis.

She leaves this thought for you: "When you become an illustrator, there's a point when, instead of sketching just what you see, you add that little extra thing to a drawing that is your own. Being an illustrator is putting your own mark on it that no one else can do.

"Art is about expressing ideas. When you can express it using your own mind, you have found your niche. You always have that, and no one can take it from you."

Brave Margaret, An Irish Adventure is a Simon & Schuster book for young readers ages five to 10.

All the drawings in Brave Margaret show moods as well as people and places and things. In two drawings, Sally Comport shows how to give a horse a mood. Print out this page, then trace drawing #1 on tracing paper. On your tracing, add detail and expression.

Her horse #2 is alert and angry. Give your horse whatever mood you like, drawing expressive eyes and mouth and mane. With tracing paper, you can create as many different horses as you like.

Dot-to-Dot Print this page. Then have fun discovering what lies in these dots!

Kids' Calendar

Puppet Show! Sat. June 26 (4:30pm)-Embark on an adventure with Hansl and His Dog Struppie in this all-puppet production set in the garden of Old Stein Inn German-American Restaurant in Mayo, presented by Sylvia and the August Puppen Theatre. $2, rsvp: 410/798-6807.

Dig the Past Sat. June 26 (9:30-2pm)-Dig and uncover Annapolis' past, identifying and explaining artifacts. Bring or buy your lunch. William Paca House. $5, rsvp: 410/263-5553.

Study the Honeybee Sat. June 26 (10-10:30am)-Explore the honeybee world with songs, stories and crafts. Battle Creek Cypress Swamp, Port Republic. 410/535-5327.

Greet an Immigrant Sat. June 26 (1-4pm)-Rebecca Novitsky is an immigrant working in a sweatshop in 1883. Make a tailor's doll on this Star-Spangled Saturday at Maryland Historical Society, 201 W. Monument St., Baltimore. $4 w/discount: 410/385-2105.

Find Frogs Sat. June 26 (2:30-4pm)-Capture and identify native frogs; learn where they live. Dress to get dirty. Flag Ponds Nature Park: 410/535-5327.

Speak to Animals Mon. June 28 (10-11am)-Learn why and how animals communicate. Kids 8+ say hello to creatures. Patuxent Research Refuge, Rt. 198 btwn. BW Parkway & Rt. 32: 410/674-3304.

Catch Anne Arundel's Reading Wave Thru August 6-Kids entering grades K-8 this fall sign up for 7 fun-filled weeks of books, games, events and prizes at any Anne Arundel County Public Library branch. Prizes include passes to Baltimore Zoo, Babe Ruth Museum, Chesapeake Children's Museum and other places, plus discount coupons to many more. Sign up at any branch beginning June 21: 410/222-1750.

| Issue 25 |

Volume VII Number 25
June 24-30, 1999
New Bay Times

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