Five Questions With… Kim Cooper

Some of you who just received the June issue asked us to repost these Q & A’s.

Enjoy!

Hi all. Many of you may not know the name Kim Cooper yet, but you will. That’s because she’s the new editor of OWL!

It’s sad to say, but May will be my last issue. I have loved my time here editing and writing for the coolest readers of all time (ie. you!), but I’m moving on to a new magazine that deals with one of my first loves: sports!

Furthermore, I thought a great way to introduce Kim to you guys would be to interview her right here as my last post on the blog.

Without further adieu… one last time… on with the questions!:

Kim: Since my last name is Cooper, some people call me Coops. When I was younger, they called me Little Coops because I have an older sister and she was the main Coops!

Q: What is your favourite section of OWL?

Kim: I love Weird Zone. It’s so interesting to discover weird and wacky things in this world! I also love to laugh and appreciate a good joke so “Last Laugh” is also a big hit with me.

Q: Who is your personal hero?

Kim: Actually I have two: Canadian Nobel Prize winners Dr. Frederick Banting and Dr. Charles Best. They discovered insulin in 1921. Since I have type 1 diabetes, I have to take insulin every day and it helps control the amount of sugar in my body. Banting and Best’s discovery of insulin allowed people with diabetes to live long and healthy lives. They needed a lot of patience and persistence during their years of research before the discovery.

Q: Would you rather meet a relative from 50 years in the past or 50 years in the future?

Kim: That’s a tough one! I would have to say I would rather meet a relative from 50 years in the future. Then I could hear all about how the world has changed and future technology. I might even be able to meet my nephew’s grandkids!

—

Cool, huh? I think Kim is going to make a great new OWL editor, and I would like you all to join me in welcoming her to OWL.

Also, even though I’m no longer working on the magazine, I’ll still be stopping by here from time to time to see what’s going on in OWL land, check out your new artwork, etc. I’ve had so much fun here, and I’m going to miss you all a ton!

’Til then…

Craig, owlblog@owlkids.com

RAotW #76

Who’s up for some Reader Art of the Week? Because I just so happen to have some art to post! This week’s art comes to us from OWL reader Mackenzie.

Check it out:

Nice! I like the sense of movement here from the dancer and her dress. I also like the sunny and warm vibe I’m getting, especially now that it’s spring in Toronto and we can begin to dream of summer. Always a great reminder! So, thanks for that, Mackenzie!

Thanks also for sending in the drawing, Mackenzie. If any of you other readers would like your art up on the blog, send it to owlblog@owlkids.com.

Talk to you later in the week.

Craig, owlblog@owlkids.com

Top 10 List Contest Winners

In the November “Top 10” Issue (which looked like this, in case you’re curious), we challenged you to write down the top 10 things that make you unique and send them to us for your chance to win a cool book.

We got TONS of great entries and chose five winners by random draw. We thought it would be cool to share a highlight from each winner’s list right here.

Check ’em out:

Ciera B., 10
“I have REALLY DARK-coloured eyes. (You can’t see my pupil.)”

Aislinn D., 12
“My ancestor was the first woman married in Canada.”

Cole E., 10
“I can wiggle my ears.”

Benjamin M., 10
“I am very good with little kids.”

Adrienne S., 11
“My wardrobe is 85 percent pink.”

Cool! Just goes to show, as we said on the contest page, “There may be seven billion people on the planet, but we’re all different.” Many thanks to everyone who entered, and congratulations to the five readers above!

Craig, owlblog@owlkids.com

RAotW #75

Hey all. It seems like it’s been a whole week since we had an edition of Reader Art of the Week, doesn’t it? (Get it?!)

Okay, okay…. enough HILARIOUS jokes. On with the art! This week’s edition comes to us in the form of a drawing from OWL reader Graham. Check it out:

Nice! As Graham’s picture tells us, this drawing is of Marco Rosa, a Canadian hockey player who currently plays for the St. John’s IceCaps of the American Hockey League. This drawing depicts him playing for the team back when they were known as the Manitoba Moose.

I like the choices Graham has made and the details he’s given us in this drawing. We see Marco’s raised eyebrows and get the hint of action and can fill in the story for ourselves (is he expecting a pass? Chasing a rebound?). Very cool.

Many thanks to Graham for sending in his drawing. If you have a piece of art (drawing, story, photo, poem, etc.) you’d like to share with the OWL blog world, email it to owlblog@owlkids.com.

Over and out!

Craig, owlblog@owlkids.com

RAotW #74

Hello all! It’s time again for some Reader Art of the Week! This week’s art comes in the form of an excerpt from an in-progress novel by blog reader Hannah, 11.

The novel is called Selena Stark and Crystal Potters: The Story of Two, and I’ve chosen chapter 2 for you to read. It’s the first told from the point of view of Crystal Potters. Check it out:

Chapter 2: Royal Duties

“But, Mother, I don’t want to go with Lukas to the dance. I am going with Ron and that is that. Plus, I hate that night-sky blue dress, and I am absolutely wearing my black Goth dress with the jewelry,” I proclaimed to my stubborn mother again.

I wiped my sweaty palms on my lacy, black-white-and-orange dress as I walked towards my big window leading onto my deck, my hands folded.

“But, Crystal, dear, please reconsider. Lukas is such a nice young man, and he would love to take you. Plus that black ‘Goth’ dress is dreadful, and Ron is… well, very nice as well.”

Mom walked with her green-and-yellow dress swishing as she exited the room. Then she added, as she stood in the hall, “Crystal, if you decide to wear the dress and go with Ron… then all right, that’s your choice. I’ll see you at lunch.”

She walked down the hall and I was alone in my library.

I stared out the window as a bluebird pruned its feathers on the railing of the deck. I swished open the double doors leading onto the deck and I quickly walked to the rail, placing my hands on the cool metal. The bird gave one look at me and fluttered into the sky. Then I looked down. There were three boys kicking a soccer ball around, a boy who was doing tricks with a Hacky Sack as girls watched in awe, and a few girls jumping rope, drawing with chalk, and hopping a hopscotch course, joined quickly by a few boys.

I wish I could be normal, I thought. I wish I could play with kids my age outside and not have to take my dumb lessons. The only time I get free is limited. I wish I was free! This is stupid — being trapped in here all the time, when I have so much to offer to the world! I can’t take it!

I clapped my hands over my ears, frustrated, when a boy with freckles and curly red hair looked up. His green eyes twinkled as he waved and started calling, “Hi, Miss Crystal!”

Soon all the kids were waving and calling up to me. I slowly lowered my hands and waved back.

“Come out, Miss Crystal!” a little girl with dead-straight brown hair called. “Please join us!”

I slowly shook my head.

“I can’t,” I called back as her eyes fell to the ground. “Sorry. It’s almost lunchtime. I’ll try to come out after.”

The kids groaned. But they didn’t put up a fuss and they went back to their games. I turned around, quickly went back inside, closed the doors, and went to the dining hall for lunch.

—

Interesting, no? I like how this has the feel of a classic fairy tale feel — sort of like “Rapunzel” — while being set in modern times. I’m definitely interested to see where it goes from here, and to find out just how Crystal Potters and Selena Stark (a young seamstress) cross paths.

And that’s that! Many thanks to Hannah for sending in her art.

Talk to you soon.

Craig, owlblog@owlkids.com