A four-foot-tall stuffed NORMAL NORMAN sits in my house and my 12-year-old forgets he’s here, so she jumps upon spotting him, not unlike Gloria’s reaction to dog-butler Barkley on Modern Family. OH…
Source: Nothing is Normal Here, Norman! (plus a GoodReads giveaway!)
Here is an opportunity to meet Normal Norman! Thanks, Tara!
I was happy to read a stack of 10 books to my 4-year-old granddaughter. This only worked because baby brother was fast asleep. Sister loves books.
Today, sister had another task for Nana. After busily writing on paper, she handed me her story.
“Nana, read this to me.”
You can imagine I was a bit challenged. So I asked her to read it to me.
Khloe: I can’t read.
Me: What is it about?
Khloe: Uhm, Lava Girl and Shark Boy.
Me: Ok. Once upon a time . . . Lava Girl and Shark Boy went on a picnic. They went swimming. They had a fun time. The end.
Khloe: No, you’re not done yet.
Me: They had a flat tire and had to fix it.
Khloe: No.
Me: What else?
Khloe: (whispering to me) They help other people!
Me: Oh! Lava Girl and Shark Boy helped some people who had a flat tire. They helped fix the tire. Then they enjoyed their picnic. The end.
Khloe: (smiles and nods) Ok.
That was only the first story. She had another waiting in the wings. Nana was on call as storyteller.
I am pleased that she loves stories, writing, reading, and words. Literacy begins long before they reach school.
Home. What a big word.
Home is . . .
where I reside
the body I wear
the spouse I adore
my family of love
the animals I adopt
the nature that surrounds me
the future I hope for
my faith that centers me
friends who nuture me
fellow writers who encourage me
the city of my residence
the state and country of my belonging
the planet I inhabit
Home is a big word.
What does home mean to you?
The Curious Nature Guide, Explore the Natural Wonders All Around You
Written and illustrated by Clare Walker Leslie
(Storey Publishing, 2015)
I first noticed the cover of this book while on vacation with some girlfriends in Coupeville, Washington. Hidden amidst a crowded display of books, toys, and souvenirs, the cover popped out and caught my attention. I wanted that book. But I resisted.
Fast forward to post-Christmas gift card shopping. As I perused my local Indie bookstore, Inklings, guess which book again popped out and grabbed my attention? Yes. The same book. And it was on a display of favs and book suggestions by staff.
I did not resist.
The Curious Nature Guide is a beautifully illustrated guide book written for children, teens, families, and others who love exploring the outdoors. I fell in love with this colorful edition.
I enjoyed this book so much, I used it as a reward. At the end of the day I would carefully read each page and inhale every photo, drawing, and illustration. Reading this book was almost as good as being outside.
While vocabulary will be difficult for young readers, they will love hearing it read aloud. The Curious Nature Guide contains nature information, suggestions of things to look for and do, maps, charts, plant labels, and more.
NO. It is not overwhelmingly encyclopedic.
The Curious Nature Guide is a nature journal filled with inspiration of both the exploring type and the creative sort. I want to go out and investigate the outdoors AND sit down with my art supplies and recreate what I find AND grab the camera to capture my nature.
Two thumbs up for The Curious Nature Guide, Explore the Nature Wonders All Around You.
Happy exploring!
I’d love to hear what nature exploring you like to do.
Source: Historical Fiction: Just What This Picture Book Needed (plus a “Clarksville” giveaway!)
Suddenly, I want to read a historical fiction picture book!
GIGANTOR
if there is a chair
find it and recline therein
size does not matter
CREAK. GROAN. WOBBLE.
What is your favorite chair?
Share a photo in the comment section.
Does it fit you well, or are you like Gigantor and size is not an issue,
just comfort?
Source: 1000 Picture Books in 2016~January
Great idea! Thanks!
I’m too big
to sit on a tiny bristle block chair
to sleep on a little bristle block bed
to kiss ducky good-night
I’m too big.
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|
The bed and the duckies |
2’s do have an idea of how big they are, and it’s fun watching them figure it out to be certain.
What am I too big for?
Nothing, I hope. Living as a child-at-heart is so much better than an old fuddy duddy.
What are you too big for?
 |
|
The chair |
Source: How to Become a Children’s Author
Great info from Tara Lazar.
Yes. It’s true. We are a family of Mr. Rogers’ mini-me’s.
I just caught myself making the correlation between one of his daily rituals and a habit of ours.
As soon as we enter our home (sooner for my husband), we remove our outside shoes and don slippers. Coats come off and I add a sweater to keep me cozy, as our indoor temperatures never get above 66 in the winter.
This process is reversed as we prepare to leave. Away go the slippers and on go the outside shoes. My sweater is tucked away and a jacket or coat is worn to protect me from the elements.
Do you remember what Mr. Rogers did each time he came inside at the beginning of his show and and reversed at the end of the show?
Mr. Rogers removed his outside shoes and replaced them with indoor shoes. He also took off his outdoor jacket and put on an indoor cardigan, all the while singing about the beauty of the day in the neighborhood. Yes. That song.
Mr. Rogers was so organized. He didn’t just toss those shoes and jacket on a couch or floor. He tucked away the shoes and carefully placed the jacket on a sweater in the closet. I may occasionally toss my sweater on the washer, but I also have a designated cupboard right by the door for jackets, and shoe racks for both of us.
You have no idea how many times I compare myself to Mr. Rogers when I change gear as I am going out or coming back inside the house. I think his habits were ingrained in my subconcious as I watched his television show. Maybe that was one of his purposes, to model tidiness, organization, and care for our belongings.
And this is a good thing. We are a shoes-off household. Not only does this habit keep icky germs and gunk on shoe bottoms out of the house, it also provides a cleaner environment for my babies to crawl around on and plenty of (mostly) dirt-free floor space for playtime. Mr. Rogers’ transfer of clothes and shoes fits perfectly with our efforts to keep as much of the outdoors, well, outdoors.
That Mr. Rogers was ahead of his time, yet many considered him a fuddy-duddy. I disagree. He was a great role model.
Sitting here in my cardigan sweater and indoor slippers, just humming a certain melody.
It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, isn’t it?
Love, Laughter, and Life 