SLICE OF LIFE- My Own Personal Colorado All Write

I really wanted to go to Indiana for All-Write.
The lineup of speakers looked fabulous.
And I really, really, really wanted to meet all of the people who I have come to know online over the past few years.

But I have a kid in college.
And another one that will probably be going within the next year.
And travel just isn't a possibility right now.
I was really sad. 
But then, it turned out ok.
I kind of had my own little personal "All-Write."

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Mary Lee, you know, the world famous blogger and poet, emailed me. She was coming to Colorado to see her mom. On Saturday she was going to be in Denver. She wondered if I might be free.

Was I free?
To see one of my all time favorite on-line friends?!?
The person who has rescued me from numerous online blogging crises???
And sent notes and care packages when the bottom dropped out?
And brought red velvet cupcakes to my boys?

YOU BETCHA I WAS FREE!

And we had a terrific day!

Mary Lee and I met at the Botanic Gardens.
Photographed the flowers (that was Mary Lee!).
Watched the bees (that was me!).
Shared book titles.
And school stories.
And life tales. 

Went to lunch by the Tattered Cover.
And didn't even go in to buy any books!

It was a really lovely day.
Almost like my own personal Colorado All-Write!
Thanks, friend, for such a delightful day!

THE SASQUATCH ESCAPE- SUZANNE SELFORS

Pudding Days at the Senior Center are just not his idea of a good time, and ten-year-old Ben Silverstein is not that excited about spending the summer with his grandfather in the rundown town of Buttonville. Shortly after he arrives, he meets Pearl Petal, who claims to have seen a dragon land on the roof of the old button factory. And then Grandpa Abe's cat brings in a baby dragon. The cat has torn the baby dragon's wing, so Ben and Pearl decide to take it the only veterinarian in town, Dr. Woo, who happens to specialize in worms. At the vet, Ben neglects to close a door tightly, and a giant, hairy, horrible-smelling creature escapes from the button factory.  Ben and Pearl must capture the sasquatch before it does real damage to Buttonville.

THE SASQUATCH ESCAPE is the first book in the IMAGINARY VETERINARY series. Lots of humor, fairly large print, and Dan Santat's illustrations are going to make this one a hit with fourth grad-ish readers. Book Two, THE LONELY LAKE MONSTER, is scheduled to come out in September.

POETRY FRIDAY ROUNDUP

 

Cherries- First Fruits of Summer by Nova, wikimedia commons.org

First, a hearty welcome to first time Poetry Friday participant, Becoming Cathy, who gifts us with a list poem, "Things I Hate." We hope you'll come back next week, and for many after that!

Today is the first day of summer, and many folks shared the first fruits of summer, with posts that were either nature or summer related…

 SUMMER PLEASURES

•  If I had remembered today was the first day of summer, I could have used that for a theme. I didn't, but Diane Mayr did and at Random Noodling, she has an original tanka to celebrate.  At Kurious Kitty, Diane has a really nice first day of summer poem by Charles Wright. And at KK's  Kwotes, there's a quote from Wright about the aging process. 
• Jama's posts always make me hungry, but today's, holy cow! All I can say is "Oink! Grunt! Moo! Me want barbeque!" The accompanying poem made me laugh out loud! 
• After you feast on  barbeque, you will definitely need a little chocolate. Be sure to read Carlie's m and m poem!
• Irene Latham brings  some Valerie Worth's poems- Barefoot, Marbles, Jacks, Books, and Doll to the poetry picnic table.
• Michelle invites us to try writing our own five word fiestas!  Hop on over and give it a shot!
• Violet Nesdoly's poem, "Summer Plans," will be a great mentor text to use with kids. We've been out of school for a couple of weeks, but I'll be saving this one for next year!  
• At Opposite of Indifference, Tabatha has a poem about coffee, or maybe about life. It's not exactly a pleasurable poem, I think haunting might be a better word to describe it…

 THE GREAT OUTDOORS

• At Merely Day by Day, Cathy celebrates the lilies growing in her yard this summer.  I especially loved her last two lines, "Lily radiating from the earth/Sun singing from the sky." 
• At Check it Out, one of Jone's students also celebrates flowers.
• Over at Mainely Write,  Susan witnessed another rite of summer- a robin snacking on a caterpillar. She's written two poems about the incident. 
• At the Poem Farm, Amy LV's also featuring birds and insects-- she has elf owls eating moths.  I love using poetry as part of multi-genre research reports, and Amy's poem will be perfect to share with kids. Amy also showcases the work of a second grade class. 
• Amy's much-loved FOREST HAS A SONG shows up again this week, this time at Keri Recommends.
• And I'm glad that we have a poet visiting Colorado. Mary Lee's original poem captures our hot, dry, windy conditions perfectly.  
• More fire in Billy Collins' "The Country" on Karen Edmisten's blog this week.  I will never look at a box of matches in the same way again, Karen!
• At Used Books in Class, Colleen Bennett gives us a whole new take on the CCSS's "Close Reading" with Wordsworth's "The Tables Turned."

JOURNEYS

• Several Poetry Friday regulars, Amy LV included, have journeyed to the All Write Conference in Indiana, this week. Ruth Ayres, writer and mom extraordinaire invited participants to write about a journey, so Betsy takes us on one journey.  Robin also wrote from that prompt, but her "Journey" is entirely different.  And over at Teacher Dance, Linda shares another kind of journey, in Anne Sexton's "Courage."
• As far as I know, Julie Larios is not at All Write, but she's definitely journeying. You cannot miss her NASA video, (so I'm posting the link here). Julie introduces us (or me anyway!) to the World Atlas of Language Strucures. Her poem is a found poem, featuring  permutations of the Salishan language group spoken by many Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest. 
• Idra Novey's "The Visitor," found at Ruth's There is No Such Thing as a God-Forsaken Town, features an entirely different kind of "traveler."
• Last week Mary Lee wrote about verse novels. This week Margaret picks up where Mary Lee left out, first with a review of INSIDE OUT AND BACK AGAIN, the story of an immigrant family's journey, and then gives us a quick taste of a poem from her own WIP.  

AND A FEW WONDERFUL AND MISCELLANEOUS OFFERINGS…

• Charles Ghigna was first in last night with an original riddle poem.  You can scroll down to the bottom to  find the answer.
•  Matt Forrest Esenwine also has a riddle poem,  inspired by Charles' poem from last week, but you have to check back on Monday to get the answer. Maybe I will figure it out before then… 
• At Author Amok, Laura gifts us with "Finicky Feline" and a description of her poetry-writing process. So fun to read!
• Steve also has an original poem of the feline variety. His cat sounds slightly (maybe?) more domestic than Laura's.  
• I had never heard of a "Poetry Aesthetic," but I surely enjoyed reading Dori's. I'm inferring that it's kind of a combination biography/philosophy (right, Dori?). And I kinda want to try writing one. 
• Myra was Budapest-bound late Thursday night, but somehow found time to share two Janet Wong poetry/yoga books that she is reading. I'm not a yoga person, but I absolutely loved Janet's poem, "Breath."
• At On Point, Lori Ann Grover brings a little light to dark places with "Lit Passage," an original haiku. 
•  And with more light, Little Willow posts Emily Dickinson's "It's Like the Light."
• Pentimento sent in today's last poem, which is guaranteed to make any adopted mom weep. I'm sending it to my sons tonight.  

That's all for now! 

I'll be back later if there are more posts! 

Happy Poetry Friday!

POETRY FRIDAY

 WELCOME TO POETRY FRIDAY!

So glad you came by today!

I had a hard time deciding on a theme for today.

The flowers in Denver are gorgeous, 

but several variations on flowers

  has been done several times recently.

Then I thought about basketball

because I've been watching the NBA finals all week,

but I wasn't sure how many poet/basketball fans 

there were in the Poetry Friday crowd.

Finally decided I would just share

a plentitude of perfectly poetic picture books…

HOW TO

Julie Morstad

This quiet and poetic picture book has definitely jumped into my top five favorites for this year.  The one I looked at had a slide on the cover (as does the one on Amazon) but I couldn't find that one on the internet. Hmmmm. Anyway, each picture tells its own story. How to wash your socks (jump in a mud puddle). How to be brave (go down a big slide). How to get a good night's sleep (sleep on a bed that looks like something from Princess and the Pea). Some are whimsical, some are serious, all are absolutely perfect. You have got to find this book!

IF YOU WANT TO SEE A WHALE

Julie Fogliano

 Julie Fogliano is fast becoming one of my favorite picture book poets. I loved "and then it's spring" and her newest book "if you want to see a whale," is just as perfect. Both books have featured the gentle  art of Erin Stead, who won the Caldecott for Sick Day for Amos McGee. 

if you want to see a whale, you will need to know what not to look at.

Pink roses, pelicans, possible pirates…

If you want to see a whale you have to keep your eyes on the sea and wait…

and wait…and wait… 

 YOO HOO LADYBUG

 Classic Mem Fox! Only a little text 

but every single word is absolutely perfect. 

"Yoo-hoo, Ladybug!

Where are you?

There you are…

Afloat in the bath

with duck and giraffe."  

Kids will also love hunting for the ladybug in Laura Ljungkvist's bright collage like illustrations. Each page contains basically the same objects in a different context and arrangement. 

  

STRIPES OF ALL TYPES

Susan Stockdale

Toting a shell
Twisting on sand
Sprawled in a lair
and sprinting on land.

A safari of striped animals for the younger set. One or two lines of text and a striped animal  on each page. A two-page spread at the end shares a little information about the animals.  Kids are also sure to love the "Can you find these stripes?" invitation on the last two pages.

WHEN YOUR PORCUPINE FEELS PRICKLY 
Kathy DeZarn Beynette

"Shark"
If you make a rude remark
I hope it won't be to your shark.
Don't say, "That's a stupid sweater,"
Or "I like sharks but whales are better.
Keep your shark relations happy.
Rudeness makes us all feel snappy.

Short and silly poems about lots of different animals.


Leave your links in the comments!

The Poetry Friday Roundup is here. 

Snook Alone-- Marilyn Nelson

Another discovery from my evening at Tattered Cover (please note: I did not buy this one, I just ended up putting it on my wish list).

Snook is a dog, some kind of terrier, who lives on an island with his beloved companion, a monk named Abba Jacob. Snook, like any loyal companion, follows Abba Jacob on his daily rounds-- through prayers, and gardening, and meals. As Abba Jacob completes his daily activities, Snook works hard at keeping the island free of mice and rats.

 One day, the Society for the Presentation of St. Brandon's Atoll, asks Abba Jacob to help catalogue the plants and animals on a new island. Snook goes along and discovers that this island is full of rats and other small animals. When a storm comes up, Snook is so busy, that he doesn't hear Abba Jacob's voice and gets left behind. And then his waiting begins.

This is definitely a picture book for older kids. It's fairly long. It's full of rich, complex, and interesting vocabulary (atoll, carpace, handlebar mustache). The watercolor illustrations by Timothy Basil Ering (who also illustrated Necks Out For Adventure and Tale of Desperaux- how did I never put those two together?) perfectly evoke the moods of loneliness and loyalty. I could definitely see myself using this in study of theme (loneliness or loyalty).

And as a dog lover, I especially loved the ending.

THE MYSTERY OF DARWIN'S FROG

This afternoon, I was wandering through Tattered Cover. I told myself that I was NOT going to buy books, I was simply going to buy a coffee and listen to an author. If I really, really, really liked her book, I might consider buying it. But I was definitely not going to buy any other books today. My resolve held firm until I found THE MYSTERY OF DARWIN'S FROG, written by Marty Crump, a Utah herpetologist, and illustrated by Steve Jenkins and Edel Rodriguez.

Crump invites readers into the world of scientists, tracing the evolution of the body of knowledge about a tiny frog with a pointed noise, who was discovered by Charles Darwin in Chile in 1834. After watching this frog for several decades, scientists made an interesting discovery. The frog, who they first assumed was the mother, held its tadpoles in its mouth. After further research, scientists determined that the holder of the babies was actually the father, who slurps up the eggs, or sometimes the baby tadpoles, a few minutes after they are born, holds them inside his vocal sac, feeds them with the lining of his vocal sac for approximately two months, and then opens his mouth and burps up the young frogs.

There is so, so, so much to love about this book. First, it's full, full, full of interesting information, first about frogs, but then also about the work of scientists. I loved learning how generations of scientists built upon each other's work, gradually accumulating more and more knowledge about this strange but wonderful species. I also loved learning about Crump's process-- her questions and wonderings, and how she and her niece went to Chile and studied the frogs. I loved the gorgeous full color photographs, taken, I'm pretty sure, by Crump, and the watercolor paintings of the scientists. And of course I loved Steve Jenkins' collages (but so I don't mislead you, most of the book is illustrated with photographs, which perfectly match the text, there are only four or five illustrations by Jenkins).

I really was not going to buy books tonight, but this is one I have to own!

THE MYSTERY OF DARWIN'S FROG

This afternoon, I was wandering through Tattered Cover. I told myself that I was NOT going to buy books, I was simply going to buy a coffee and listen to an author. If I really, really, really liked her book, I might consider buying it. But I was definitely not going to buy any other books today. My resolve held firm until I found THE MYSTERY OF DARWIN'S FROG, written by Marty Crump, a Utah herpetologist, and illustrated by Steve Jenkins and Edel Rodriguez.

Crump invites readers into the world of scientists, tracing the evolution of the body of knowledge about a tiny frog with a pointed noise, who was discovered by Charles Darwin in Chile in 1834. After watching this frog for several decades, scientists made an interesting discovery. The frog, who they first assumed was the mother, held its tadpoles in its mouth. After further research, scientists determined that the holder of the babies was actually the father, who slurps up the eggs, or sometimes the baby tadpoles, a few minutes after they are born, holds them inside his vocal sac, feeds them with the lining of his vocal sac for approximately two months, and then opens his mouth and burps up the young frogs.

There is so, so, so much to love about this book. First, it's full, full, full of interesting information, first about frogs, but then also about the work of scientists. I loved learning how generations of scientists built upon each other's work, gradually accumulating more and more knowledge about this strange but wonderful species. I also loved learning about Crump's process-- her questions and wonderings, and how she and her niece went to Chile and studied the frogs. I loved the gorgeous full color photographs, taken, I'm pretty sure, by Crump, and the watercolor paintings of the scientists. And of course I loved Steve Jenkins' collages (but so I don't mislead you, most of the book is illustrated with photographs, which perfectly match the text, there are only four or five illustrations by Jenkins.

I really was not going to buy books tonight, but this is one I have to own!

THREE BOOKS ABOUT FRIENDSHIP

 WOOBY AND PEEP by Cynthia Liu

Wooby and his pet goldfish live in a peaceful, ordinary, (ok, maybe a little dull) neighborhood. Wooby has a 547-year-old tree (do not lean!) in his backyard. He has a favorite flowing fountain and a prized petunia patch. And that is just the way he and his neighbors like it.

Then Peep moves into the neighborhood. Peep is not quiet and ordinary. She throws wild parties. She is rambunctious and a more than a little accident prone. And she wants to be Wooby's friend.

I loved the message about friendship and differences in this book. I also loved, loved, loved the busy, captioned (think Scaredy Squirrel or Henkes X10) illustrations.  This one will be a sure winner with primary kids, but I also think intermediate kids are going to love the humor.



RIBBIT - Rodrigo Folguiera

Another great new picture book about an unlikely addition to the neighborhood. A group of frogs wake up one morning to find a large pink pig sitting on a lily pad, ribbiting, in the middle of their pond. The frogs are a little undone by the pig, and go off to consult a wise old beetle about their problem. They return to find that the pig has decided to take on a whole new group of friends…

A BIG GUY TOOK MY BALL- Mo Willems

Finally, my favorite friends, Gerald and Piggie, are back with a new book. Piggie finds a ball. A big guy takes it away from her. Gerald is determined to solve this injustice, until he sees how big the "big guy" actually is. 

SLICE OF LIFE

Early May. A Thursday morning. 7:50 a.m. I am paged to the office. There is a minor emergency. I need to put aside my literacy coaching duties and cover the eighth grade music class.The students are waiting for me. The secretary hands me the lesson plans, and I hustle upstairs, wondering what I know about teaching eighth grade music.

I am pleased to discover that I do not have to sing or play recorders, instead, students will be writing reflective pieces about an upcoming performance. The eighth graders are not so pleased. They do not want to write during music. They do anything they can to avoid getting started-  try to catch a little more sleep,  argue with me about the purpose of writing in music class, poke at each other,  argue with me some more, horse around with each other, argue with me again.

M is sitting on the right side of the room, surrounded by a group of drooling admirers. She is darling- petite, long dark hair, large dark eyes, and a quick smile and ready laugh. Her fan club is large and loud, and I make my way toward that side of the room to try and initiate some kind of order. The boys grumble as I encourage them to find paper and pencil and get started. M doesn't need my help, however. Despite the uproar, she has almost a full page of writing. I am struck by her integrity, her desire to do the right thing when it would be so much easier to succumb to peer pressure.

******
Noon recess. Late May. Three eighth grade girls approach me with a special request.  The administration at our school has a strict no phone policy and they want to know if I will them them use music from one of the girl's phones, just this once, so they can practice their dances for M's upcoming quinciñera. I send them to the far corner of the playground, where they spend the next thirty minutes happily dancing. Again, I am struck by the girls' integrity. They probably could have just gone to the corner of the playground and not even asked about the phone and I never would have known…
*******

Early June. Eighth grade continuation. I am on crowd control in the library with 45 eighth graders. M is darling in a short black skirt, bright orange blouse, and high, high heels. As always, she is the center of an adoring fan club. Sometime during the continuation ceremony, the office gets a call. M's mom, a long time lupus struggler,  hospitalized right after the quinciñera, has passed away.

 ********
Yesterday. The funeral, at 4:00, is all in Spanish. About a third of the eighth grade class, along with five staff members, attend.  M sits next to her dad and high school brother. My heart breaks as I see her tear-stained face and mussed hair. There are no words to say to this sweet, sweet girl on this hard, hard day.

Poetry Friday

Parker Palmer posted this poem on Facebook a little while back. This has been a year of many unexpected (and mostly unwanted/unwelcome) visitors. I'm trying to "meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in, believing that there may be some new delight, just waiting to come in."  THE  GUEST  HOUSE This being human is a guest house Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they're a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight. The dark thoughts, the shame, the malice meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in. Be grateful for whatever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond. Rumi I'm publishing the whole poem today. I found it lots and lots of places on the internet and am thinking it must be in the public domain? I hope that's right.  Stop by and smell the Poetry Friday roses at Tabatha Yeatts at The Opposite of Indifference.