sky above reflects,
but what lies hidden beneath?
i imagine teeth
dark depths creep closer
exude malice, beware ye!
keep hands in the boat
sunshine beauty lures,
lurks; still, something is down there
looking up at me
beauty lures
by Angie Quantrell
Cypress Gardens, South Carolina
lurking or lounging?
hungry alligator bag
waiting for dinner
alligator bag
by Angie Quantrell
Cypress Gardens, Charleston, S.C.
P.S. No, I do not ever want a real alligator bag! Nor do I want to get any closer or spend time in the water.
alone on green fields
beauty twins glow, satellites
making a statement
satellites by Angie Quantrell
Fort Moultrie, Charleston, South Carolina
welcome, you
tempestuous swirls of a
dress called Spring
swirls by Angie Quantrell
Happy 1st day of spring!
The Thank You Book
By Danna Smith
Illustrated by Juliana Perdomo
Little Simon, 2022
This adorable board book is just perfect for Thanksgiving AND any other day of the year when we want to express thanks to someone we meet. As you can tell by the cover, this is not a Thanksgiving book, yet I can see how fun it would be to share it with little readers to give them ideas of how to tell (and show) others thank you. As far as the rest of the year, The Thank You Book is just right.
Colorful illustrations and simple text come together in a delightful package. The rhymes roll easily off the tongue, making it fun to read aloud. From the back cover:
Thanking is easy. Thanking is fun. Can you find a way to thank someone? This lovely book shows us all the ways we can be thankful!
I love how we read about not only ways to say thank you with words, but ways to say (and show) thanks in other ways.
So to you, my readers, thank you for stopping by today! I appreciate you!!
as I walked one day-
random sunbathing surprise
beach time mystery!
dog toy? picnic side?
fallen barbecue baked dish?
couch beach potato
beach time mystery by Angie Quantrell
Grayland Beach State Park, WA
PEEK-A-BOOK HAIKU a lift-the-flap book
Written by Danna Smith
Illustrated by Teagan White
Little Simon (2023)
This adorable board book has it all: board book quality, gorgeous illustrations, perfect little nature-based haiku poems, lift-the-flaps (always a favorite with the young crowd), hide-and-seek animals. PEEK-BOO-HAIKU is written across the seasons, so add that to its charm and discussion possibilities.
I love to write haiku, and Danna is one of the best haiku writers I’ve had to pleasure to interact with. I’ve admired many of her books. PEEK-A-BOO HAIKU is now one of my mentor texts.
PEEK-A-BOO HAIKU will make a wonderful gift for my almost 11-month-old granddaughter. IF I can give it away. Or maybe she gets her own copy.
Haiku + animals + nature + lifting flaps + hide-and-seek + seasons + board book + illustrations. Keeper!
come fall, my breath eases
garden chores relax
cozy becomes theme of the day
sweaters resurface from storage
colors vibrate with final goodbyes
crisp air invigorates
dew dampens pant hems and ankles
caws and honks sing seasonal music
rustles dance through dried sunflowers
zinnias fade and go to seed
pumpkins dangle from spent vines
birds fatten, cats fluff, people bundle
tea and scarves and throws
beckon me to breathe,
embrace
all that is autumn
come fall by Angie Quantrell
orangeade charges,
contemplates feline mischief
prepares to attack
orangeade by Angie Quantrell
Reeses, Yakima Valley
garden end begins
sunlight dwindles, weather cools
final fall hurrah
fall hurrah by Angie Quantrell
Yakima Valley
Love, Laughter, and Life 