Towers of picture books fill the RV. Places to sit are scarce. Tensions run high as we juggle in order to sit. Who will best survive the picture book project – him or her?
A Haiku
Space so in demand
but research is required;
Will the table hold?
A Haiku about Read for Research Month
by Angie Quantrell
Look what came in the mail!
Bunny’s Book Club
Written by Annie Silvestro
Illustrated by Tatiana Mai-Wyss
(Doubleday, 2017)
Bunny’s Book Club is an adorable book about a bunny who loves books. Bunny LOVES books enough to find a way to get them from the library, though in a nontraditional way. Since I LOVE books, I sometimes feel like Bunny and stockpile books for later reading. A bag or nightstand without a book is dire indeed!
Not that I would go the same extremes Bunny did to get books. But I would love to enjoy a book club with my friends, hot tea, and mountains of books.
Thank you, KIDLIT 411 and Annie Silvestro! This is a beautiful book and I know it will be personally treasured and my grands will adore it. They might even try to borrow it for their own book hoards.
It has recently come to my attention that I have strong tendencies towards being a visual learner. I think visually and that impacts the things I do and how I do them.
Take for instance, my desire to learn French. This is what initially made me consider my bent towards visual learning. I love the French language. I adore seeing text – signs, words, symbols, and books in French. But hearing is a part of language learning, and I realized I can’t really hear what is being said and understand the different words. I kept thinking to myself If only I could SEE the words, I’d be able to comprehend what was being said.
Visual learner, yes I am.
Another example that points towards my tendency to acquire knowledge through visual means or to impart something visually is the way I plan for teaching. In my classroom, my displays – bulletin boards, posters, learning centers, student work, general decor – are of the utmost importance. I can’t rest until the room is visually arranged and attractive.
Some other habits I’ve noticed:
~ In the teaching plans I write, I nearly always include suggestions for visual impact – displays, table decor, posters, signs, and room arrangement. Rarely do I include hearing-only activities. Good thing to notice right? Now I can make sure to suggest activities that lean towards the hearing and doing types of learning.
~ Photographs. I love taking photos of everything thing I do and every place I go. These photos become a visual diary of my pursuits.
~ Instagram. I love this app! Pictures and text inform and delight my visual brain.
~Pinterest. Same reason. Pictures and visual clues. I don’t often read the original post or seek out the origins of the image. I glean by reading the pictures, and my imagination goes from there.
~ Reading. I LOVE reading, and reading requires visual skills. I’d be happy if I could live in front of a fireplace sipping hot cocoa and reading a great book while snow piled up against the eaves.
The visual learning list goes on.
Do you think you are a visual learner? Check out this post I found that lists 10 Characteristics of Visual Learners here. I’d say I nailed it!
Of the learning styles, which are you? Visual, auditory, kinesthetic? I’d love to hear. I mean, see your name and comment in print. Wink, wink.
Hoping for spring flowers. But first, the snow must melt.
Note: I originally posted this long, long ago on February 24, 2016. Hah! I know. It was only last year. But I do so love old books, newspapers, and things, I deemed it worth bringing into the future. And now I remember how much I miss my claw foot bathtub.
I was preparing to take a relaxing bubble bath in my claw foot tub last night when I saw a wadded up log of newspaper on the floor.
The paper log was actually old newspaper. Old 1949 newspaper.
It was super dusty and fragile, so I didn’t undo it, but went ahead and enjoyed my bath, contemplating the sudden arrival of newspaper in the bedroom.
This morning, long after honey had gone to work, I noticed the newspaper had been carefully unrolled and somewhat flattened.
That was when I saw the date on the antique (or is it vintage?) Seattle Times. Sunday, March 27, 1949. Fascinating.
I do love looking at old newspapers, especially the ads. Odd, I realize, but the price comparisons between then and now are amusing and sad. The articles in this bundle also told tales of the times – fashions, comics, businesses, and even child rearing and feeding advice.
This was no ordinary newspaper. It was mystery newspaper that had been recycled to provide padding for an old wood and woven jute chair. We didn’t even know it was stuffed. Look at how creative folks were at repurposing way back before the word was even in use.
Now we know more about the chair (it is older than both of us) and the news of the day from several decades ago.
Words are valuable. No matter how old or in what format they are discovered.
What are some words that are valuable to you?
Jello did not like Valentine’s Day.
True, the holiday was fine. For everyone else. But for Jello? No one ever remembered to deliver a valentine specific to his – ahem – tastes.
“Jello,” shouted Hatchback. “Happy Valentine’s Day!”
Strawberries, a favorite of turtles. Disappointing. Putting on a smile, Jello croaked, “Thank you.”
“Hey, mellow Jello,” squawked Licorice. “Will you be my valentine?”
Corn, a crow’s go-to meal. No surprise. Jello belted out, “Thank you.”
“Ssssay, Jello, old buddy,” called Slinky. “Rosessss are red, berriessss are blue. You are my friend. Here, jusssst for you.”
Speckled eggs. Eww, shells. Pasting a pleased look on his face, Jello gulped, “Thank you.”
“Hi-de-ho, Jello,” chortled Twitch. “My heart belongs to you.”
Dandelions, and I’ve no rabbity teeth for gnawing. Jello grunted, “Thank you.”
“Sweet as honey, Jello,” roared Buzz. “BEE my valentine!”
Sticky honey. Ugh. It glued Jello’s mouth shut. Jello bellowed, “Thank you.”
No one indulged Jello with his favorite treat. Valentine’s Day was a bust.
“Jello-pie,” croaked Jiggle. “True love of mine, you’ve wiggled into my heart!”
Jello gasped! A valentine, just for him! Pink tasty worms. Perfect for his – ahem – tastes. Beaming, Jello barked, “Thank you!”
Maybe Valentine’s Day was not so bad after all. Jello shared his valentine treats with his friends.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Written by Angie Quantrell (214 words)
The Second Annual Valentiny Writing Contest: by Susanna Leonard Hill
The Contest: since writing for children is all about “big emotion for little people” (I forget who said that, but someone did so I put it in quotes!) and Valentines Day is all about emotion, write a Valentines story appropriate for children (children here defined as ages 12 and under) maximum 214 words in which someone is confused! Your story can be poetry or prose, sweet, funny, surprising or anything in between, but it will only count for the contest if it includes someone confused (can be the main character but doesn’t have to be) and is 214 words (get it? 2/14 for Valentines Day 
You can go under the word count but not over! (Title is not included in the word count.) If you are so inclined, you are welcome to submit more than one entry – just remember you’ll be competing against yourself No illustration notes please!
(Hope everyone enjoys the blog title nod to Music & Lyric’s fictional band PoP 🙂 ) Roses are red Violets are blue Valentinies rock And so do YOU! Hang onto your chocolate everyone! It’s time for . . . The Second Annual Pretty Much World Famous Valentiny Writing Contest!!! Valen-tiny because the stories are not very […]
via PoP Goes My Heart! The Second Annual Valentiny Writing Contest Is Here!!! — Susanna Leonard Hill
You made it through! It doesn’t matter if your journey was like this… Because you have emerged victorious! OK, so maybe your journey wasn’t that difficult. Whatever the path was l…
Source: Got 30 Ideas? Sign the Storystorm Pledge!
Ta-da! A month full of great picture book ideas! OK, maybe not all are great, but still! Many thanks to Tara Lazar for making Storystorm happen! Happy writing!
by Dr. Carrie Barron Here is a wonderful quote I just found by psychologist and creator of the Hierarchy of Needs pyramid, Abraham Maslow: “A first rate soup is more creative than a second rate pai…
Source: Storystorm Day 30: “Make Soup!” by Dr. Carrie Barron
Creativity. Sometimes it comes and sometimes you have to start working and then the juices get flowing. Writers and other creative souls, we just need to start working with our ingredients, be those pen and paper, paint and canvas, clay and tools. Smell the soup!
by Kirsten Hess, Bookseller It has been wonderful to read the posts in Storystorm this month, to get a peek into the creative processes that go into the many wonderful books that we carry in our sh…
Source: Storystorm Day 29: “Let’s Play Books!” by Kirsten Hess
I love having books and play partnered together! Perfect match. Need to visit this bookstore!
by Audrey Vernick & Liz Garton Scanlon Audrey: Like all picture book origin stories, this one starts years ago. Liz and I knew each other but not well at this point, if I remember correctly. Li…
Source: Storystorm Day 28: “Book, Not Novel” by Audrey Vernick & Liz Garton Scanlon
I hab a code, too!
This is a great post with strategies for helping write picture books – with a friend!
