What do you do when your crayons have had enough?
Red is exhausted especially around Christmas,
Orange and yellow just can't stop arguing and poor beige - just don't call him brown. Well, if you are the one receiving their complaints, then you had better listen! What a wonderful way to teach so much about life.
We all reach frustration point, but what do we do ?
How do we manage those frustrations?
Do we quit and walk off ?
No, you read this book. You can learn about:
conflict resolution
self reliance
and resilience.
You are also reminded to listen, really listen to those around you.
Listen to what they say, and listen to how they feel.
Tell Me About Your Day Today by Mem Fox, with illustrations
by Lauren Stringer (published by Beach Lane Books, 2012).
There's something so very comforting about coming home and having someone ask "Tell me about your day today."
I love this book for many reasons: the love behind the words, the tenderness and memories behind the images.
I cuddle my memories of childhood whenever I read this beautiful book: I remember those late night conversations with friends tucked in under the blankets, and making a cubby house under the table with sheets for walls and torches for lamplights.
I read this out aloud to children whenever I want to teach resilience and hope in a tomorrow that will be better.
And then sometimes just before bed, just before I turn out the light, I read this book again and again and again.
It's magic.
I love to go back to Mem's website. I can hear her talking to me about bedtime, and magic and possums. Perhaps you would like to visit with her too:
Written by Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Jon Klassen, published by Orchard Books 2013.
What do you do when you are frightened?
Pretend it is not there or wait for help? Not Lazlo.
Lazlo lives with the dark, but he is scared.
What does he do ?
He gets out his torch, and dares to go where the dark is.
He faces the dark, he talks with the dark, and he is no longer afraid.
Year 5 tell me this is a story about conquering your fears.
Whenever I take a picture book out of my bag, they kindly smile at me as if to say "she doesn't realise how old we are.'
Yet as I begin to read, there is not a sound, not a whisper... just enchantment.
Why would you write about this Lemony Snicket ? Now, Jon Klassen why did you get involved in illustrating such a story?
The Heart and the Bottle written byOliver Jeffers.
Published by HarperCollins Children's Books 2010.
The books of Oliver Jeffers just touch your heart, whether it is in a bottle or walking along the beach.
'The Heart and the Bottle' is the story of a little girl whose heart is full of wonder and delight until one day, when faced with emptiness, she puts her heart away in a place where she thinks it will be safe.
From that day on how her life changes. Her wondering and delights, her questions and her thoughts all disappear. Until she meets someone 'smaller, and still curious about the world'.
"The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."
Dr Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!
Life is there on the pages of a picture book. There is love, and laughter, family and friendship. You can find resilience, and great resolve to make this world a better place. You will find it. Choose the right book, listen to its story and sit with it.
I hope my blog and the comments you share with me about your favourite books, help each of us find another way to talk of life and share all it has to offer.
When does your story turn into a song?
The simplest answer is when you are Ruby Hunter and Archie Roach.
"Butcher Paper, Texta, Blackboard and Chalk" a song book written by Ruby Hunter and Archie Roach, and illustrated by Ruby Hunter captures the voices and words of the children of the communities of Cape York (published by One Day Hill Pty Ltd in 2011)
Why do I love it ? Well, I was so lucky to be sitting in the audience and listening to Archie Roach tell the story of Ruby and their children and their tour of far north of Queensland. He talked of Ruby's love of the children and the way she could become one of them. He shared the songs of the children with a story and a tear ( the songs were theirs, the tears were mine).
I can think of no better way to connect the children of my school in Sydney with the children of Cape York than by sharing this songbook and CD that accompanies it.
Children singing with children.
You know Ruby never changed a word the children wanted to write.
Thanks Ruby.We shall miss you. Thanks Archie. Thank you to the children and communities of Cape York.
Archie can tell you about it far more eloquently than I can.
It has taken me months ( in fact years) to get
started with my first blog. I spent most of my time worrying that I had nothing
much to say.
A wise friend told me that I should share
what I feel most passionate about in my day to day work. I am a primary school teacher, and I am truly passionate about picture books and reading -out -aloud to
children. ( In all honesty, sometimes I don’t even need children, I just read - out - aloud).
The passion was reignited a few weeks ago, sitting
amongst a group of teachers on a Saturday morning (yes, a Saturday morning.) We
were all listening to and loving the
work of two passionate people : one a teacher and now proud and enthusiastic owner
of a bookshop and a remarkably talented author (more about them both another time). As
I sat there listening, I kept saying to myself “Why hadn't I taken time to read all
these wonderful books?"
I want this blog to be a place where that
love of picture books can be shared. So join me whenever you are able.
No expectations, just pop in whenever you
can.Tell a story. Share a title. Shed a tear, or laugh out loud. You are in good company. OK. I had better start:
I have been captivated by a beautiful
book written by Margaret Wild and illustrated by Freya Blackwood. (Penguin 2013)
The Treasure Box
Margaret Wild and Freya Blackwood
It is called The Treasure Box, and tells the story ofa
little boy
Peter, who loses everything that is precious in his life – well,
almost everything.
As life changes around him, he carries with him a small iron box, until he can carry it no longer….
It is
a story of the power of words, and resilience that a little boy builds over his lifetime.
I read it to Year 5 today, and there was not a sound in the room
