I came across this excerpt from the book The Parent’s Tao Te Ching by William Martin. I love this! It’s exactly what teachers try to teach parents every day. Make The Ordinary Come Alive Don’t ask your children to strive for extraordinary lives. Such striving may be admirable but it is a way of foolishness.… Continue reading Ordinary lives
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Thanks for the memories
This month I celebrate another author’s birthday. P.D. Eastman was a protege of Dr. Seuss and is the author of Are You My Mother. This is the book that taught me to read when I was in kindergarten. I must have read it nearly every day. Would baby bird find his mother? Would he… Continue reading Thanks for the memories
Every Teacher knows…
Every teacher knows the “curse” of the full moon. Every teacher knows when there is a full moon just by the behavior of the kids. Every teacher knows the dreaded Halloween week. Every teacher knows the costume parades and parties. This week was the nightmare of every teacher: a full moon and Halloween!! Earlier this… Continue reading Every Teacher knows…
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This month children’s author and illustrator David Shannon celebrates a birthday. His book NO DAVID (along with the David series) is a big hit with children. David is a quite the little mischievous boy who is constantly told NO by his mother. All of us can relate to those timeless childhood phrases like “come back… Continue reading Untitled
It’s all about the book
Nothing can replace the turning of a page in a book. Children often get their love of reading from within their own home. Always keep a book handy to read with your child. Let them see and hear you read so they may grow to love words. I Love this quote I found today. “Reading to… Continue reading It’s all about the book
Happy Birthday Shel Silverstein
This month celebrates author/poet Shel Silversteins’s birthday! I remember reading Where the Sidewalk Ends many many times as a kid. My favorite poems were Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out and Peanut Butter Sandwich. Shel Silverstein made reading fun! So I invite you to remember your childhood (if you’re may age)… Continue reading Happy Birthday Shel Silverstein
Celebrating Tomie DePaola
This month is Children’s author Tomie DePaola’s birthday. His books, like Strega Nona and The Art Lesson, are well loved by both children and adults alike! Thought I would share a quote from him about the value of reading. Happy Birthday Tomie! “Reading is important because if you can read, you can learn anything about… Continue reading Celebrating Tomie DePaola
The shop around the corner
It is always a great experience to meet the author and illustrator of a children’s book that you have read over and over again every new school year. Tonight I had the opportunity to meet Audrey and Don Wood of The Napping House. They have a new book out called The Full Moon at the… Continue reading The shop around the corner
Beyond the Ball.. Fairy tales have a purpose. It’s just all in how you look at them.
“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” – Neil Gaiman
Today is National Read-a-book Day!
Celebrate this awesome day by reading your favorite book or start that new book you’ve been wanting to crack open. To honor this day I read one of my favorite classics, Persuasion by Jane Austen. That Jane, she never disappoints. Happy reading!
JJ BRETT 