If you’re a reader like me, you have books everywhere.
It’s National Poetry Month. Try creating a spine poem. It’s a great activity to do with kids.
Pick out some books and arrange the titles to create a poem.
You can see what happens when you find just the right titles to create a poem.
Put some backbone into your poetry and try creating a spine poem. Have fun!
What if no one ever made a mistake? That would be the biggest mistake of all. Throughout history, mistakes have led to great strides in making our world a better place.
A perfectly delightful picture book written and illustrated by Corinna Luyken is The Book of Mistakes. The endpapers begin with a splat of ink and end with a charming surprise. Luyken begins her story with spare text and seemingly simplistic sketches rendered in black ink and surrounded by white space. The reader learns the artist has made a mistake. She corrects it by coming up with a good idea, but then there are more mistakes followed by more good ideas. With each page turn, colors seep into the illustrations. In the middle of the book, there are five wordless spreads in which the artist’s illustrations become more intricate and more colorful. At the end, Corinna Luyken poses the question, “Do you see—” which makes readers pause to think. The final illustrations and text give the reader a closer look into the creative mind of the author/artist who demonstrates how inspiration can change a simple mistake into something amazing.
Make no mistake. Grab hold of this book now!
If you have very young children, you know they have a language of their own – uhda, madee, ticka … They know what they’re saying, but it’s up to us to figure it out. And that brings me to a picture book that fascinates me. When I first heard about this book, I was convinced it was written in a foreign language. When I finally got my hands on it, I was in for a big surprise!
Du Iz Tak? is written and illustrated by Carson Ellis. The text is sparse, using “invented” words. With that in mind, Carson Ellis has masterfully crafted a fanciful story filled with creativity and imagination. Two damselflies discover a shoot growing out of the ground. Other insects investigate the growth. After some interesting discussion and the help of Icky the bug, they build a tree house in the growing shoot. Drama comes into play with the addition of a huge spider, a hungry, bird, and a blossoming flower. While all of this is taking place, a caterpillar has made its cocoon. At night, a violin-playing insect sits above the cocoon and plays to the night sky. This oversized picture book is one that needs time to absorb. Ellis’ illustrations are filled with the beauty and wonder of nature and what can happen when imagination blossoms. This circular story has a very satisfying ending and lends itself to close examination and discussion.
Another picture book with invented words and fun to read is Best Frints in the Whole Universe by Antoinette Portis. See my comments here.
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“The man who has no imagination has no wings.” ~Muhammad Ali
Tuesday was my birthday and I imagined the numbers in my age were transposed. I immediately felt younger. I bounced around like a kid. I had more energy than usual. My mind was sharp, and my tongue was froth with wit. It was a magical day.
That evening when I looked into the mirror, I no longer saw that fresh young face I had worn all day long. I saw my mother! I guess that was her birthday gift to me – to carry on the family genes. Age happens, but imagination rocks!
Without an imagination, you’re stuck. You have no place to go – nothing to fill the empty spaces of your day. Think what this world would be like if we didn’t have “imaginators” like Walt Disney, Marie Curie, Steve Jobs, Harriet Tubman, Albert Einstein, Georgia O’Keeffe, Benjamin Franklin …
Everyone needs an imagination. From early on, children’s minds need to be stimulated to help them develop their creativity and play. How can this be accomplished? The picture book!
The picture book is an amazing tool. The pictures, words, sounds, characters, and story all work together to expand a child’s imagination and play. The more books children are exposed to the wider their world becomes. Children begin to develop language skills and make connections between what they see and hear. And don’t forget the emotional bond derived from sitting in the lap of a loved one, sharing the whole experience of reading a book together.
Here are some great picture books, both old and new, to get you and your child started on the road to imagination.
It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw
Press Here by Hervé Tullet
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Not a Box by Antoinette Portis
And to Think that I Saw It on Mulberry Street by Dr. Seuss
Little Cloud by Eric Carle
The Hello, Goodbye Window written by Norton Juster, illustrated by Chris Raschka
Frederick by Leo Lionni
Roxaboxen written by Alice McLerran, illustrated by Barbara Cooney
Tuesday by David Wiesner
Flotsam by David Wiesner
Iggy Peck, Architect written by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts
The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds
The teacher’s lounge is filled with cookies, cake, fruit, salty snacks, and candy. It’s Teacher Appreciation Week – also known as The Week You Gain Five Pounds.
Normally, the parents in our school are thoughtful and very supportive, but during Teacher Appreciation Week, they go all out. Besides the goodies in the teacher’s lounge, the Home & School Association treat the teachers and staff to a delicious dinner. Along with the meal, everyone is presented with a gift made by the Pre-K through Eighth grade students.
This year we received note cards. They’re something every teacher can use – for thank yous and for those “we need to talk” moments. I love these note cards!
Pictures were taken of art projects classes worked on throughout the year and made into note cards. Creativity abounds!
Some days being an educator can be disheartening. Then something wonderful happens — a smile, a completed homework assignment, an “aha” moment by a student — that makes you remember why you chose teaching as a career. It’s nice to be recognized by students and parents, but I’m glad Teacher Appreciation Week comes only once a year. Otherwise, we’d all have to join Weight Watchers!
A special shout-out to all you caring parents and students!
