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Cheryl Carpinello
Profile
Short Book Description
Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend
At the dawn of Camelot, one young girl is about to take her place beside the greatest king in English history. Join Guinevere and her friend Cedwyn in her struggle to accept her destiny.
At the dawn of Camelot, one young girl is about to take her place beside the greatest king in England’s history….
She is a mere child of twelve. But in these medieval days, this is the age when childish things must be put away and greater responsibilities accepted—all in preparation for a betrothal of marriage.
For young Lady Guinevere, on the advent of her thirteenth Birth Day, the whole idea is quite unbearable. After all, what could be better than spending her youth playing with her best friend Cedwyn, roaming the grounds around the castle looking for mythical creatures or hunting rabbits?
However, the wizard Merlyn—her teacher and friend—knows that destiny has a way of catching up with a person. His arrival sets in motion a series of events that will lead Guinevere to her destiny whether she is ready for it or not.
fiction, childrens
About Me
I am first and foremost a teacher. Nothing invigorates me more than guiding young minds in exploring themselves and the world around them. Introducing young people to the literature of the ages and the importance of the written word (even their own!)is a thrill that has never subsided. And so today, I write for young readers (grades 3-6) and hope to capture their imaginations as they learn to love literature. I can think of no better vehicle to do this with than the eternal legend of King Arthur.
My first book Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend introduces young readers to Guinevere the girl as she struggles with growing up and fulfilling her destiny.
My second book Young Knights of the Round Table: The Kings' Ransom is a work-in-progress. Look for a preview later in 2010.
Testimonials
“Most people are familiar with the story of King Arthur, his Lady Guinevere, and her Knight Lancelot. What author Cheryl Carpinello has done in "Guinevere: On The Eve Of Legend" is spin a fascinating story of the child Guinevere...a deftly written and thoroughly entertaining story that will delight and engage young readers from beginning to end, making it a highly recommended addition to school and community library collections.” --Midwest Review May 2009
“As a retired elementary teacher, I am always on the lookout for engaging new literature for young readers. Guinevere is a wonderful book for the student beginning to master chapter books and longer stories. I loved the imagery, new vocabulary and page-turning storyline. It is a story that will capture the modern reader, even as it takes her back to times of long ago. Highly recommended!!!”
--JSH Denver
“I'm in the middle of reading the book. I just got it yesterday, and even though I'm a 50 year old "granny" I can hardly put it down. Very well written and I recommend it to all! This book captures your attention from the first chapter and keeps it throughout the book. I was a reluctant reader as a youth, and this book would have been the type that would have turned me on to reading. Very well written. I recommend it to all parents who have children who are struggling to find a good book that they can "get in to" and learn the magic of the written word.” --M.Moore Northern Arizona
“[My granddaughter] read Guinevere as did I. We both found it to be delightful. She really enjoyed it. Also, I’m a Camelot fan, and I thought you handled the Guinevere, Lancelot, and Arthur relationship very nicely for a 13-year-old girl.” --BF, retired high school English teacher
Cheryl Carpinello writes an enchanting story about an ordinary girl learning to be worthy of becoming the Queen of England. The author is not simply a Camelot fan who decided to put pen to paper. Carpinello is an high school English teacher who has been teaching about King Arthur and his knights for almost twenty years. This a children’s book written not only to tell Guinevere’s story but to encourage reluctant readers to work on reading...”
--Emily Decobert, www.BookPleasures.com
Ms. Carpinello takes her love and knowledge of Arthurian legend...and weaves a tale of a girl coming of age and fighting her destiny...While shedding light on the youthful years of the legendary queen...She gives vivid glimpses of the past and lessons of life. The story of Guinevere is filled with adventures and misadventures as well as llustrations...[Readers] will fall in love with the exuberant Guinevere and the faithful Cedwyn...The story brings back memories of the long lost days of childhood...and is a journey into legend...with just a sprinkling of magic.--Sarah Katz Bookpleasures.com
Brynwyn - (brin when) Cedwyn’ s mother; the person King Leodegrance has talk with Guinevere since his wife’s death.
Cedwyn - (said when) Seven-year-old companion of Guinevere; lives in the castle with his mother Brynwyn; father is employed in King Leodegrance’s army and is often away.
Guinevere - (gwen a vere) Twelve-year-old daughter of King Leodegrance; a princess.
King Arthur - As a boy he pulled the sword out of the stone to become the king of all England; educated by Merlyn using animals as lessons.
King Leodegrance - (leo day grance--rhymes with dance) A king of England; father of Guinevere; guided by Merlyn in many things; gives the Round Table to King Arthur as a wedding present.
King Pellinore - (pell a nor) A knight capable of focusing on only one task at a time; first introduced to the world by T.H. White in his book The Once and Future King.
Maggie and Mary - Two young girls in the employ of the castle.
Merlyn - (mer lin) A magician known throughout the ages; helps Arthur become the King of England; guides Arthur’s decisions as king; lives backwards in time.
Nimue - (knee mew) A woman with some magical powers of her own; makes Merlyn fall in love with her so that she can learn his magical secrets; once she acquires these secrets she locks Merlyn in a cave forever.
Professor Rhymes - A teacher employed by King Leodegrance to tutor Guinevere.
Guinevere: On the Eve Of Legend
Writing Prompts
A Character Trait is a descriptive word or words that describe a person. Examples: polite, kind, mean, happy, agreeable, eager, lazy, and many others.
Teachers:
Brainstorm with the class to come up with a more extensive list of character traits.
Have students write down the traits that they think describe Guinevere and Cedwyn.
Then pick one of the prompts below for students to write about.
1. From your list, pick three character traits for either Guinevere or Cedwyn. Using specific examples from the book, explain in 1 paragraph how these traits are used to describe your character.
2. From your list, pick three character traits for either Guinevere or Cedwyn. Using specific examples from the book and your life, explain in 2 or more paragraphs how you are like this character.
3. From your list, group the character traits together that Guinevere and Cedwyn share. Then find the character traits that they do not share. Using specific examples from the book, show in 2 or more paragraphs how the two are alike and different.
Review of Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine, & a Miracle
Created On: 08/17/2010 15:16:15
Here is the fourth review of the 2011 Colorado Children's Book Award Nominees.
A review of Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine, & a Miracle by Major Brian Dennis, Kirby Larson, Mary Nethery
Ages: 0-Adult
Good Luck reading this picture book with dry eyes!!
Nubs tells the story of the friendship between an Iraqi homeless dog and U.S. Major Brian Dennis. Abused and abandoned, the dog Major Dennis named Nubs was the leader of his own pack of soldiers, many of them puppies. Befriended by Major Dennis, Nubs leads readers on his miraculous journey that ended in San Diego, CA.
Heart-wrenching are the scenes of Nubs running to catch up with Major Dennis’ departed Humvee and team. Heart-warming is the bond that immediately developed and continued between Major Dennis and Nubs. A sure reminder that little kindnesses are rewarded.
An added extra are the journal pages and pictures of Major Brian Dennis.
A brief explanation: I put the age level of zero on a lot of books because most are suitable for reading out loud to young people and that includes babies. If we don’t read to them from day 1, then we are depriving them of the enjoyment of words.
Review 14 Cows for America
Created On: 08/03/2010 07:19:25
Here is the third review of the 2011 Colorado Children's Book Award Nominees. The age range: 0-adult.
14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy in collaboration with Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah and illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez.
Memories of this event came back to me as I read. The story of the Maasai’s gift to the American people after 9/11 is not only beautiful, it is as Kimeli says for “all the little children who read this book. You are the peace the world has been waiting for. May you grow to be compassionate diplomats.”
Even the youngest will be enthralled with the generous gift of life from the Maasai people. It is a simple story of hope and compassion that brought tears to my eyes as I read.
Illustrator Thomas Gonzalez brings the Maasai people, the cows, and the country of Kenya to life on the pages of 14 Cows for America with his rich colors and detailed drawings.
14 Cows for America inspires hope when the reader realizes that the Maasai’s gift was not just 14 Cows, but life.
Read 14 Cows for America on your own or with your family and marvel at the Maasai's generosity. Visit the 14 Cows website to learn more about this story.
Review of Rick Riordan's first book in his new series The Kane Chronicles
Created On: 07/13/2010 17:06:56
Rick Riordan’s The Red Pyramid
Along with lots of Riordan fans, I eagerly awaited the debut of his new series The Kane Chronicles. The first book is The Red Pyramid.
As with his Percy Jackson series, Riordan introduces modern day characters with ties to an ancient civilization and mythology. In The Red Pyramid, siblings Carter and Sadie find out they have the blood of Egyptian pharaohs and are descended from powerful Egyptian magicians. How they come to terms with this is spread out over the course of the plot as they scramble to save their father, uncle and themselves from Egyptian gods long forgotten but brought back to life and now focused on destroying the world.
Riordan’s combination of action and Egyptian mythology keeps the story moving along with a couple of mummies. Readers shift back and forth between today’s world and ancient Egypt easily enough, but other concerns distracted me.
The story is told from the point of view of Carter and Sadie. To accomplish this, Riordan alternates viewpoints every two chapters. Even halfway through, I still found myself unable to remember which character was telling the story. Thankfully, at the top of each right-hand page was the name of the current storyteller.
Another concern is the lack of information on Egyptian mythology to let readers become familiar with the many gods and customs. Unlike Greek mythology which is taught in some degree is schools usually through Greek literature, Egyptian mythology is not well known. It is only through my research over the last year of Egyptian mythology and life that I understood the terms ba and maat which play huge roles in the story.
Riordan does his readers a disservice by not helping them understand this fascinating culture. I understand wanting to encourage readers to branch out and learn new ideas, but this may backfire and turn readers away.
Hopefully, Riordan’s loyal followers will give him another chance to engulf them in Egyptian mythology. I await the next book with that hope in mind.
Review of 2011 Colorado Children's Book Award Nominee
Created On: 06/30/2010 07:33:49
Here is the second review of the 2011 Colorado Children's Book Award Nominees. The age range is 0-adult.
Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld
The premise of this picture book is “What do you see: a duck or a rabbit?” A simple book with a more complex idea behind it, “Duck! Rabbit!” that appeals to older readers including adults.
Young readers (1st grade and younger) will enjoy looking at the pictures done in vibrant colors, while older readers will understand what the concept the author is depicting.
A delightful addition to a home library or as a short and fun summer read from your public library.
2010 Colorado Children's Book Award Winners
Created On: 06/24/2010 16:59:39
Looking for great reads this summer for kids? Try these award-winning books:
Picture Books
Winner: Once Upon A Cool Motorcycle Dude by Kevin O'Malley, Carol Heyer, and Scott Goto. A boy and a girl have trouble working together when they make things up.
Runner-up: Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship, and Survival by Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery with illustrator Jean Cassels. Two animal friends stay together in order to survive the hurricane.
Novels
Winner: Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn. In this mystery involving the supernatural, a 13-year-old girl tries to identify the person in an old photograph with her mother and her aunt.
Runner-up: How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O'Connor. Homeless and in need of money, a girl tries to steal a dog in order to claim the reward, but finds out that's not who she is.
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