Lessons Learned from a Pre-Schooler

I was in the unique position of spending two uninterrupted weeks with a four year old. My camera roll reminded me of ten very important lessons we can all learn from spending time with our little ones.

 

#1 One piece of candy is worth three baby carrots.

 

#2 A box is never just a box.

 

#3 Sing, dance, and do the hokey-dokey. (pronounced as spelled)

[Musical accompaniment from storyteller and bookseller at our local bookstore, Joseph-Beth.]

 

#4 Cows do not have upper teeth.

 

#5 Fairies like mushrooms, acorns, and painted rocks.

 

#6 Even a field of dying sunflowers is magical.

 

#7 Blanket Forts are great places to eat cookies and play games on rainy days.

 

#8 Speaking of cookies, if you take only a nibble maybe no one will notice.

 

#9 You only need a cape to have superpowers.

 

#10 Make friends everywhere!

 

 

 

Energy Enthusiasm Excitement

Energy. Enthusiasm. Excitement. These three words perfectly describe Sherri Duskey Rinker, author of the Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site series and several other books for young people.

Sherri must have been exhausted, she had already had two school visits that day. Yet here she came, eager to meet more fans.

Hosted by The Blue Manatee Bookstore she was here to talk to her audience… a loud rambunctious crowd to say the least. And talk she did. To them. On their level. Matching their energy, enthusiasm, and excitement note for note.

 

            

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sherri asked them questions, responded to their questions (and sometimes off-topic comments), and told them stories about herself. And of course she read her newest book, Construction Site on Christmas Night.

Every eye was focused on the book. Every ear was tuned into the story.  She totally had these kids… mind, body, and spirit. I was in awe of her.

On the way to dinner, I asked my granddaughters what they liked the best. The six year old liked Sherri’s story about her sons. She even compared them to herself and her sister, saying that she goes right to sleep after her stories but that her sister does not. And she liked that the author wrote all their names in the book. The three year old said she wanted chicken nuggets and fries, but not the orange fries her mommy gave her the other day… those were yucky. Yep, even my own prodigy can be off-topic at times!

Thanks for coming to Cincinnati, Sherri! So glad I got to meet you in real life!

 

Sweet Potato Fries

Off topic post script: Orange fries are NOT yucky. Mommy is right, they’re better for you than regular french fries.

 

 

Lord of Books

Can you imagine not having access to a library? José Alberto Gutierrez of Columbia can. So he’s doing something about it.

José is know as the Lord of Books in his poor Colombian neighborhood of Bogotá.

He started picking books out of the garbage 20 years ago. On his rounds as a trash collector in the wealthy neighborhoods of Bogotá, José noticed books in good condition being discarded on a daily basis. His first rescue was a copy of Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina. He began bringing home 50 to 60 books a day. Now his home houses upwards of thirty thousand books reaching up to the ceiling!

José learned to read on his mother’s lap. She could only afford to allow him to go to school up to the second grade. The rest of José education came from her. His mother, and later his father, read to him every night, instilling a love for stories in a largely illiterate environment.

Columbia’s capital of over 13 million citizens, has only 19 libraries. Most of them are in the wealthier neighborhoods, leaving the poor neighborhoods without service and the people who need it most, without.

15 years ago, José opened his home library to his friends and neighbors. He calls his library The Strength of Words. His community library is now open every weekend to the citizens of southern Bogota. His neighbors come with bags to collect books to take home with them. Each bag, each book, each word, is strength for a population of people hungry for stories, news, education. As he is fond of saying, “reading is a tool for life”.

Now, José and his brother-in-law drive around town with boxes of books to distribute to the people of Bogotá who cannot come to him. This modern day bookmobile provides access to literature for hundreds of people per trip.

There are many videos on YouTube about José Gutierrez. Here is one of the most recent ones.

 

“Books are one of humanity’s greatest inventions.” -José Alberto Gutierrez

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

Books, Books, Books!  I love books!  Here are some of the top picture books for this year and some websites for you to look at for more ideas.  I know books are heavy, so if you want to save your back, I would be just as happy with gift cards to local bookshops!  Thank you, Santa… you’re the best!

Love,

Paige Turner

P.S. When you’re finished with these don’t forget to peruse the adult aisles for mom and dad.

Best Picture Book Lists for 2013

Association for Library Service to Children

http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/notalists/ncb

Goodreads Choice Awards                  

https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-picture-books-2013

Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/minhle/best-picture-books-of-201_b_4378532.htmlNPR’s

Best of Kids Books                                                      

http://apps.npr.org/best-books-2013/#/tag/kids-books

New York Times                                        

http://www.slj.com/2013/11/reviews/best-of/slj-best-books-2013-picturebooks/#_

Publishers Weekly

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/59926-pw-s-best-children-s-books-of-2013.html

School Library Journal

http://www.slj.com/2013/11/reviews/best-of/slj-best-books-2013-picturebooks/#_

 

Following a Dream

From a tiny acorn, a mighty oak is grown.

I myself sprouted just over a half century ago, give or take a few years… okay give a few.  During that time I have entertained many different dreams.  Many have come true.. I have a wonderful husband, three amazing children, and two perfect grandchildren.  I have also been fortunate enough to have a career I loved and the luxury of an early retirement.  I admit, I have been very blessed.

So now phase two of my life… writing for children.  Crafting stories that are cherished by generations, now that’s a dream!  Role models:  A.A.Milne, Roald Dahl, Theodor Geisel, Kevin Henkes, Arnold Lobel, Beatrix Potter, the Brothers Grimm, Aesop, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Jan Brett,    L Frank Baum, E.B. White,  Lewis Carroll, Shel Silverstein, and so many more.   Dream big or go home, right?   So I’m going to dream big.

Juliana Lee, Sprout