No wonder I looked forward to Tuesdays so much during lockdown. There was ALWAYS cake. And off key-off sync singing. Smiling faces attached to faces I wished were in 3D. And just before the end of every party there was me, the annoying mom screaming to my teenagers to come "pick a name RIGHT NOW" for the winners of my weekly raffles. Never a fan of Tuesdays, but last spring's weekly parties definitely took the edge off my least favorite day.
Do I actually miss that time? Dare I say maybe a tiny bit? The parties are on hold for now. Instead it is cart racing to the elevator. The music teacher. The art teacher. Me. How many of us can fit in it at once? Reading aloud and giving directions behind a mask to small children spread all over the room = Challenging. Hooking up my computer to a dozen different adaptors and SmartBoards. Hard. Shannon McClintock Miller's "BookHub" order forms. "Books you love. Delivered." Disappointing kids because they wanted a wolf book and got one about baby mammals. Who knew wolves were so popular? BUT Tuesdays are still Tuesdays and books will always have book birthdays. Today let's pull the party hats out for:
When I read this book I couldn't wait for it to come out. Today is the day! Happy Book Birthday! I love each and every one of the characters and think it will appeal to so many different kids. In another time, this would be my middle grade celebration of the day.
Channel Kindness: Stories of Kindness and Community from the Born This Way Foundation and Lady Gaga
I heard about this book at a new book webinar and stuck its birthday on my calendar. It's a beautiful collection of inspiring stories from young people. Share one each day with middle or high schoolers and come up with ways to "channel" kindness in your community. Yes, it's cliche but does that really matter? Check out the website. I'm impressed with how up to date it is.
The Oboe Goes Boom Boom Boom by Colleen AF Venable and Lian Cho
Fun fact about me: I played oboe from 7th grade concert band through my senior year in the college orchestra. Mahler 1 is still one of my favorite pieces of all time.
I'm excited for this book! It sounds (all puns intended) interactive and a great book to use for a music/library collaboration. For grades K/1 this year, my music teacher and I each get 20 minutes of the special time. Fortunately, there are a bunch of highly rated new music picture books and this one is no exception. Bonus--it already comes with an Educator Guide.
Happy Belated to...
Millionaires for a Month by Stacy McAnulty and Three Keys by Kelly Yang
I attended a Crowdcast event from Bookmarks a few weeks ago with both of these amazing authors. Their books arrived yesterday and I cannot wait to read them! Steve and I had Stacy on our #AuthorFanFaceOff and we are looking forward to stumping Kelly in a few weeks. Stay tuned!
After hearing this story on NPR on Sunday, I can't get the song out of my head.
Oooh child.
Things are gonna get easier.
Oooh child.
Things'll get brighter.
Ooh child
Things are gonna get easier.
Oooh child.
Things'll get brighter.
Ooh child
Someday we'll get it together and we'll get it undone
Someday when the world is much brighter
Someday we'll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun
Someday when the world is much lighter
I'm feeling so lost these past few days.
The box of Kleenex is never too far from my reach. I wish it didn't have to be.
Places are opening up and yet I'm not sure I am ready to go anywhere.
Every hour the news changes. For the worse.
Four book birthday parties this week. A National Doughnut Day raffle happening now with doughnut deliveries by me on Friday to the winners. Is it frivilous? Maybe? But it makes my students smile and we could all use that right now. I know when I see them on meets I grin from ear to ear.
Every Monday morning I begin with a read aloud in Mrs. Kosinski's first grade class. This week I chose, Smriti Halls's I'm Sticking with You (illustrated by Steve Small). Love it. Bear and Squirrel are friends and do everything together until Squirrel wants a little space. Somehow it hit a nerve. I read it before the class and cried. I thought I got the tears all out. Nah. Maybe the kids didn't notice the frog that showed up. Tari, like Squirrel, is ready for a little more room. But unlike Squirrel, she won't be coming back. Breathe, I tell myself..."Who shares their very last chocolate with me?...We fit together like bugs in a rug. Like jam in a doughnut..." I'm going to miss her so much. Good thing the tissues are huddled just under my elbow.
On another note, check out this free download from Smriti. It's a beautiful picture book with a message we could all use right now. "Dark days may shake us. Worries creep in. With dragons to duel. And battles to win."
However you can, fight the battle. Protest. Read. Donate. Write. Talk. Paint. Listen. Express Yourself. Vote. Love. We're in this together. Things are gonna get easier. Things'll get brighter.
Today a few of us watched Sherri Duskey Rinker read her fun book, How to Put an Octopus to Bed on her Facebook Live. Before she began, she told us about her friend, author Angela DiTerlizzi, who bought a ukulele last month and taught herself how to play. Agh! Why didn't I think of that?! I'm doing it! Then Sherri challenged all of us to learn something new and share it with the hashtag #learningtodosomethingnew. Sherri's thing? Toss a pizza. I hope she shares the video of her success!
My fifth graders were listening! After the read aloud was over, one piped up immediately about wanting to share a song he wrote as part of a music assignment using the Chrome app, songmaker. Of course! It was a synthesized song with a good beat. Then the other two wanted to share their songs, too. I loved dancing around in my chair. The only thing that could have been better was if we were together.
What is my #somethingnew? Honestly, can I steal the ukulele idea? It's the instrument of the century. Rafael Lopez packed his when he visited last year. Loren Long accompanied our rendition of his "There's a Hole in the Bottom of the Log" when we Skyped last year. Emily Arrow's ukulele even has a name--Bow!
Lucky strike! I found a short video of Loren playing his ukuele:
Here's Emily Arrow's Little Tree. Any chance you can think of a NEW dance to perform along with this song? (wink-wink). More on that at a later date...
Do you want to make your own ukulele? This video will get you started. Modifications-You could use yarn for the strings and a paper towel holder for the neck.
Currently, I am ISO of a list of "Joyful Books." While looking, I found this Valentine's Day book list from the Today Show. Lots of love and happiness there. So, it got me thinking. Why not plan an un-Valentine's Day party? What a great loving, happy distraction it could be.
You could watch this short video of the Necco company candy heart factory:
How about making your own candy hearts (#learningtodosomethingnew) and send them to your friends? Add a sweet card and maybe some chocolate kisses (or Reeses). And when you make your mailing list, don't forget your favorite leaping librarian ;-) I guarantee your package will bring your Valentines TONS-O-JOY!
Happy Un-Valentine's Day! xoxo
PS-If you are looking for more joy, check out these two videos from my son and his best friend's YouTube channel. Some jokes (haha) and some rainbow cheer.
On a beautiful Saturday morning when my daughter (it always seems to be about my daughter, doesn't it?) was really little (1? 2?), I was shopping at garage sales searching for good finds. I wanted that stoked-on-caffeine find. An absolute treasure. And I found it! AND...it wasn't someone else's junk that was now becoming mine--it was actually a box of brand new books. I cannot remember how the woman got the books, but I bought them all. A few of them became those books that got read over and over again.
A Well Loved Book
Giselle Potter's, The Year I Didn't Go to School, was one of them. The cover is gone now and some pages are ripped. It was well loved and I easily found it on our bookshelf.
I've been thinking about this book because (1) I'm hanging out in our guest room that has a lot of our picture books and (2) this is becoming the year we didn't go-to-school-IN-the-building. Giselle's book is the story of when she was seven and she and her family packed up to go to Italy and perform as "The Mystic Paper Beasts." It's a great book to talk about travel, art, theatre and family.
If you have any interest in art or where artists work, check out this link that gives you a peek into Giselle's studio and home. I'm inspired to bring more art into my work space.
Speaking of hanging up art, I received THE.BEST.MAIL.EVER yesterday from one of my fifth graders. Task for today? Find a frame and hang.it.up. Looks like me, doesn't it?! 😍 I love this so much.
Art Supplies
And while we are on the topic of art, studios and supplies, another shout out to my friend, Elisha and his pencils, brushes, and paper (and his adorable co-workers). Of course, most of us won't have any of those fancy tools at home so colored pencils (like Chase used!), Dixon Ticonderogas, Sharpies, chalk or even coffee will do! As far as paper goes, we all have that laying around the house. But big paper? Have you thought about rolling out some wrapping paper and making a mural on the back side? Try it!
Thinking of garage sales, reminded me of the beautiful, sad (it's hard to get rid of your stuff) but hopeful book, Yard Sale by Eve Bunting and illustrated by Lauren Castillo. Maybe this is a good time for us to cull our stuff for a future garage sale. (Remember my Marie Kondo comments from a previous post?). Get the littles involved--What are they ready to get rid of? Add some prices. Make it a math lesson.
The first time I met Lauren Castillo was at ALA in San Francisco. We were both at a pre-conference ALSC event. I was just looking around in my seat and spotted her name tag. I screamed, REALLY startled and scared her and we have been friends since. Yeah, that could have gone the other way lol. Anyway, I love her Caldecott honor, Nana in the City because, you know, I love the city.
This blogpost has some good ideas of activities you can do with the book. I love all the ideas. Design a city using shapes, make your own cape (the nana makes a red cape for the boy so he feels safe in the city), or bake pretzels.
These leaping pictures with Lauren at the Princeton Book Festival make me crave sunny days (thankfully, we have another one today), hugs and not being physically distant.
Finally, Lauren was a guest on Emily Arrow's show a couple of weeks ago to talk about Nana in the City. Two fabulous talented women together. Does it get much better than that? Lauren has a new book, Our Friend Hedgehog, coming out next month. She gives a little preview of it in the video! Stay tuned for a book birthday celebration! 🎂 AND--she said she is working on another book, Nana in the Country. YAAASSSS!
When my friend, Alicia, told me I inspired her to write a blog post every day in April, I texted back, "EVERY day?! I only do Monday - Friday." And I planned to keep it that way.
But (1) not to be out done (two important things about me--I leave things to the last minute, AND I am very competitive so...) and (2) I read some great weekend ideas in the New York Times this morning that I just HAD to share. Seriously, though, I really was going to let Alicia outdo me. At this point, she can have Sunday 😉
Joanie Leeds
When my kids were little I loved listening to "cool" kids' music. Honestly, I still do.
Joanie Leeds and other women artists had a Facebook Live concert yesterday. Sorry I missed it. But, check out her website. Her Soundcloud albums are there, videos from past events and even information on how to commission her to write a song for you! I'll be listening to her Soundcloud all day...
The new album is called "All the Ladies." What I have listened to already, I love. Be sure and listen to the RBG song.
For now, check out this 💜 video about my favorite city (that could use a lot of lovin' right now:
Lunch Money
We're not talking cafeteria food here, just one of my favorite indie kids bands from when both my career and kids were young. This song, in particular.
I used it year after year for awhile along with lessons to search and find books in the library. Maybe I'll revive it and get a whole new generation leaping around to this South Carolina band.
Dog on Fleas
Another band I loved with my kids was "Dog on Fleas." Can you believe I still have the CDs from the early 2000s? Cranberry Sauce Flotilla was my favorite back then. Hmmm...Maybe cleaning out the CD cabinet should be on my Marie Kondo quarantine to-do-list. Evidently, these guys are still around. Check them out here. Their new album came out at the end of last year with a song that could remind us all of how to be right now:
Brady Rymer and the Little Band that Could
Back in the day, we saw Brady Rymer and his band in a free outdoor concert in Brooklyn with my cousins and I was rockin' so much, I bought the CD. I have it in front of me (Marie, help!) and it's from 2009. Brady appears to be still going strong with lots of activities and downloads on his website.
Ok...so this is probably best suited for our pre-K and Ks but still a catchy and appropriate tune. I could be singing "Do the Five, Five, Five" all day now.
Uncle Rock (aka Robert Burke Warren)
When my son was in preschool, he got invited to a birthday party where Uncle Rock was the guest. OMG. I was a huge fan already and quite starstruck. 🤣 He even gave me a free CD (yeah, by now you know where that is going...). This was one of my favorite songs.
From Brooklyn, With Love
From that same NYT article, there was a link to the Brooklyn Museum. They are doing a First Saturday in Brooklyn starting today at 5pm on Zoom or Facebook. The first two events are appropriate for kids and teens.
There you go. A "quick" Saturday post. I'm heading outside now to dance around my yard to new and old indie kids music. Thanks to Spotify, no CD player needed. Enjoy your weekend. xo
A long, long time ago a friend of mine gave me a card that said, "If you leave it to the last minute, it only takes a minute to do." That is forever my motto. In fact, I got a call yesterday from NYSUT asking for a book review due in 2 weeks. I was completely honest with her and said I would probably work on it in 13 days.
Today I had our usual "Pastries and Prose" meeting at 8:30. When we have school IN the building, we begin at 7:25 before school starts. This week and last I had it 8:30, thinking 4th graders would surely be up by then. Well, I had four kids show up. But it's not about the numbers, it's about the quality. And this was a good group.
Where does the procrastination come in? I wanted to share a book but didn't know which one. I had one downloaded but wanted to keep looking for ideas. This was at 8:18. I go into SORA and Women's History Month is being promoted. One of the first books available was Margarita Engle and Rafael Lopez's book, Drum Dream Girl.
I found today's book. Not only is it still "Women's History Month" (longest March ever, huh?) but it is also "Music in Our Schools" month. So this was a perfect match.
Drum Dream Girl
It's hard to believe that it has been almost a year now since Rafael Lopez took leaps with me in Castleton (and in the snow in April!). I am the luckiest person ever because I get to see his inspired artwork every day outside my library.
Multi award winning author and poet, Margarita Engle's lyrical text paired with Rafael's artwork (which won him the Pura Belpre medal) makes one perfect book. I just texted Mrs. Gibney, our music teacher and she simply said, "Love that book." Is there anyone who doesn't?
This book trailer will get you moving and wanting more, for sure:
There are many activities you can do with Drum Dream Girl. To start off, here is a discussion guide.
This article has SO many ideas and further links. These are a few I particularly like:
Write a story or poem about your own dreams.
Check out drums on Garage Band, if you have a Mac, or another program out there if you have a PC. Play around with it and make a song.
Make your own instrument out of toilet paper or paper towel rolls, paper plates and beans or anything else you can think of!
Listen to Cuban music. Maybe have some art supplies available and see if you are inspired to create something while you are listening.
Create a mural of dreams with your family.
Read other books by Margarita Engle, Rafael Lopez or on the same subject or idea. For middle grade readers, I suggest Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson which is her Newbery Honor biography in verse or Ruth Behar's Pura Belpre winning Lucky Broken Girl, based on her own life in fifth grade (in Briarwood, Queens, where I also grew up!) with her Cuban American family. Note: Ruth has a new book, Letters from Cuba, coming out in August that I love, love, love.
Of course, check out more of Margarita and Rafael's books. There are more books they have done together (Bravo! Poems about Amazing Hispanics and Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreo Played the Piano for President Lincoln) More love.
I found this short video from Ms. Carmina Reads about Millo Castro Zaldarriaga from the book, Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls.
Be sure and check out Rafael's blog every day for a different coloring page. You could print them out and have a whole book when this is over.
Hope these photos get you leaping:
April 5, 2019
(Check out the blank wall behind us!)
The finished mural taken end of June 2019.
I miss that artwork so much now.💜
Haha Elisha Cooper :-)
By The Way
Speaking of Women's History Month, today is the birthday of Sandra Day O'Connor, born in 1930 in El Paso, Texas (yes, plug for my favorite state where I was hoping to be right now for the Texas Library Association conference) and Nancy Pelosi, born in 1940 in Baltimore, Maryland. You can find more information about both of these leaders in our databases: FactCite, PebbleGo (only Justice O'Connor) and of course, WorldBook and Britannica.
Happy Birthday Researching! Happy Women's History Month! Happy Music in Our Schools Month! xo
From sunrise to sunset and beyond, this was a full day if I ever had one.
World Feast
Mrs. Yager's third graders have been working for weeks in preparation for our World Feast on Tuesday night. They have researched and taken notes on a country using Culturegrams, Britannica, World Book and print books. This week I am interviewing them as an 8 year old from that country in the library and in the classroom they are designing displays with information and pictures. At home they are working with their parents in finding a food to share from their country. I love this project!
Gala Kickoff
In less than two months, Caldecott medalist Matthew Cordell, will be walking through our Castleton Elementary hallways. What?! I still can't believe it's happening! It is very unlike me to do the same project two years in a row but we are. It's our #PictureAPoem Gala collaboration between fifth grade ELA, art and library. Today we kicked it off by talking about how illustrators and authors don't usually get together to discuss the book and how our students will be illustrating someone else's poem for our gala in May. I collected poems without names on them. Tomorrow they will "shop" for a poem that speaks to them written by a student from a different class. It will be glued into their sketchbook and the rest of the work will be completed in art. Mark your calendars--May 9 will be here before you know it! I can only hope we don't have to worry about the threat of snow then.
Pi Day
I love this day, 3.14...probably because it's an excuse to throw a party in the library, a place of many numbers. And boy did we party. Between PI cookies, pie, cookies and more, it was quite the dessert feast. We did watch the Brainpop video on "Pi" and started a 3.14 scavenger hunt. One thing I learned today: I want to visit Garden City, Georgia. They are home to the PI zip code.
Book Exchanges
Sadly, I don't have a library assistant and haven't for many years. But I more than manage with my three grandmother volunteers. Until one of them goes on vacation or calls in sick. That's what happened today. Fortunately, teachers are flexible and classes came in when I was able to help them. I do love book exchange. I love when kids find books by people we love.
Note: Both of these books are illustrated by Matt Cordell!
The Wild Robot Escapes
My third grade book WILD ROBOT group is chomping at the bit to begin a part II book group with the sequel. Arletta and I preordered the book so we are READY! Of course, I already have three books going on right now and adding a fourth might send me a little over the edge...
ReadOver/SleepOver Prep
Second and third graders were invited to sleep over at school Friday night. FUN! I got involved in this PTO event a few years ago and now invite an author or illustrator to be a part of it. No, they don't (and neither do I) have to sleep over. This year we are doing a Jigsaw Jones mystery themed evening starring our own local author, James Preller. Dewey Duty and Reading Ambassadors began working on welcome signs for Jimmy this morning.
Here's Mrs. Charsky checking out a Jigsaw Jones book to read aloud to her class.
NYLA Conference Call
Wait? What? This was a fun sight to see. I promise I was listening, just multitasking. I carried my phone around with me in the library as I picked up to get ready to go and listened in on our Continuing Education Committee meeting call. Don't worry! It was on mute when the custodian asked me if there was any pie left.
Music in Our Schools
This is a national month celebration, right? Anyway, our whole community comes out for an evening of performances by students from the elementary school, middle school and high school. We had second graders singing, middle schoolers rockin' out and high schoolers jammin'. It really was awesome. Yes, I had two performers in it but I did say more than once, you'll see me there in 2025 when I don't anymore. But that's getting just a little ahead of myself...
When the day was happening, I didn't think I would ever get horizontal tonight. But finally I see the light (or the dark if you want to be literal). All in all, a great day with so much going on. This isn't even all of it! Looking forward to see what tomorrow brings...
