Twitterville Talk #55

Trying to beat the heat has been a real trick this week but it does provide more time inside to read for the Book-a-Day challenge.  Stay cool this weekend, relax and, of course, read.

I do believe I have not included this tribute to Maurice Sendak in any previous posts, Tributes to Maurice Sendak: Visual Artists Respond.

My thanks goes to Paul Schmid, author and illustrator of A Pet for Petunia and Petunia Goes Wild, among others.


During the American Library Association annual conference held in Anaheim, California June 21-26, 2012 John Schumacher of Watch. Connect. Read and Travis Jonker of 100 Scope Notes presented There's An App for That:  Using Technology to Enhance Children's Literature.    This is an amazing session and well worth your time to view their efforts.

Patricia Polacco speaks about her books and readers' rights in this video.

Thanks to John Schumacher of Watch. Connect. Read. for sharing these via
Twitter.


For those unable to attend the American Library Association conference here is a recap of Raschka and Gantos Deliver Moving Caldecott, Newbery Speeches/ALA Annual 2012.  To have been there would have been a dream fulfilled.

I have not tried all the links but this looks promising for poetry, Poetry on Symbaloo.

Thanks to School Library Journal for these tweets. 





Here is an interesting selection of books, "Books That Shaped America' from the Library of Congress.  This list could be as varied depending on the compiler.  What do you think?

Thanks to Scholastic for this tweet.

Another highlight of the American Librarian Association annual convention courtesy of Kirby Heyborne.




Time truly does fly by. The first 'Harry Potter' book was published 15 years ago today.  I was not able to get it in hardcover but I do have the UK edition in paperback. 

Harry Potter 15th Anniversary:  15 Things The Boy Wizard Is Responsible For

Thanks to Travis Jonker of 100 Scope Notes for this tweet.





Now's your chance...The search is on for the world's biggest Harry Potter fan.

Thanks to Children's Bookshelf of Publishes Weekly for this tweet.

Just have to share this post, Animated Video-What is a Flame?,  from Free Technology For Teachers by Richard Byrne. 




Here are a couple of my favorite quotes of the week on Twitter from two joyous authors.

as much as possible, fill your day with things that make you want to skip. and as much as possible, skip the rest.
— Amy Krouse Rosenthal (@missamykr) June 25, 2012

I'd really love to sneak into the meadow tonight and put party hats on all the cows.Just to liven up the farmer's Tuesday morning.
— Ame Dyckman (@AmeDyckman) June 26, 2012

For some fun to kickstart your weekend.

RT @DianeRavitch: Wonderful Moscow flash mob; enjoy!youtube.com/embed/KgoapkOo…
— Larry Ferlazzo (@Larryferlazzo) June 26, 2012

Covenant Pikeman

This chap is for a another plate of Covenanters  and is a Pikeman, if you could not guess. I have not given him another armour as most of the Pikemen either never got issued it, sorry there Victorians, or if they did throw it away as it was heavy and very uncomfortable. He is wearing an old style Morion helmet and has the plaid trews and a woollen jacket.

Scottish Covenant Pikeman  

The Scottish Government army was one if the main political forces in Scotland. Throughout the period 1639-51 it was Scotland's national army, whichever political faction was in power the army continued to fight for their paymasters; the Scottish Government.

Flannel Friday: Firefly Fun!

HAPPY

FRIDAY!

I hope everyone is enjoying a bright and sunny Summer day!

This week in our storytimes, we decided to celebrate Summer by reading the book:

Mouse's First Summer

written by Lauren Thompson

This series of books is a favorite for my storytime friends and for me! If you have been following this blog then you may remember Mouse from our Springtime Celebration here.

In the Mouse's First Summer, Mouse and Minka, his sister, explore Summer after hitching a ride inside a picnic basket. They experience lemonade and grape jelly and lots of other treats for the first time throughout the Summer day. When it starts to get dark, they experience their first glimpse of ***FIREFLIES!***

I LOVE ***FIREFLIES!***, don't you? My storytime friends sure did!

I made colorful fireflies from construction paper using the cut paper technique that I like so well. :o) It is just so easy and fast for me! Oh, and I used a little glitter glue, too. Fireflies need their sparkle!

My inspiration for these fireflies came from a recent Flannel Friday post that you can find here. Thank you to Amy for sharing it with us and for linking to another Flannel Friday post  ~ where I found the inspiration for my firefly pattern and for the rhyme that I tweaked for my storytime purposes. You can find that post here. Thank you, Alison!

I actually decided to use 6 fireflies because I wanted to bring in a chance for my friends to practice recognizing and naming colors verbally and with ASL signs. As we began the rhyme, we counted out the fireflies and talked about what was the same about them and what was different.

Once we decided that they were different colors, we named and signed each color. Then as I said the rhyme, each firefly's colroful light "disappeared".

Six Little Fireflies

(Adapted from "Five Little Fireflies")

Six little fireflies blinking in the night

Looking at the glow of each other's light.

Whoosh went the wind.

And whistle went the breeze.

Then out went a red light 

With a great big sneeze!

Aaaaaachoooooo!

Five little fireflies blinking in the night

Looking at the glow of each other's light.

Whoosh went the wind.

And whistle went the breeze.

Then out went an orange light 

With a great big sneeze!

Aaaaaachoooooo!

Four little fireflies blinking in the night

Looking at the glow of each other's light.

Whoosh went the wind.

And whistle went the breeze.

Then out went a yellow light 

With a great big sneeze!

Aaaaaachoooooo!

Continue with: three/green and two/blue. 

Then with:

One little firefly blinking in the night

Looking at the glow of his very own light.

Whoosh went the wind.

And whistle went the breeze.

Then out went his purple light 

With a great big sneeze!

Aaaaaachoooooo!

Six little fireflies no longer blinking in the night

Flew off with each other in the pale moon light.

1-2-3-4-5-6

Bye, fireflies!

After cutting out the pieces to each firefly and gluing them together, I add white glitter glue to their wings and the matching glitter glue to each colorful body. Once laminated, the fireflies were ready to "blink on and off" by using double-sided tape. When the firefly is lit up, the colorful body is taped to him. When he is not lit-up, the colorful body is removed. So simple and fun!

I always like to include a craft for the end of our storytime or for take-home on our Pajama Party nights. Last night was our monthly Pajama Party for June so it was a take-home craft.

I also like to do a Library Search on Pajama Party nights so that any family who can not stay for a short children's video can easily leave from storytime without too much fuss. I combined the Search and the Take-home Craft in this way:

I informed my storytime friends that they each would be taking home six fireflies so they could do the rhyme at home. I brought out the take-home bag and we looked at what was inside. 

There were six firefly bodies ~ one in each color of the rainbow. 

But when we counted the fireflies there were only four. 

What?!!?? Only four?? 

How many did we need? That's right six. 

But where are they? Maybe they are flying around inside the Library.  :o)

We better go search for them and catch them! 

How many do we each need to find? That's right ~ 2 ~ one for each hand. 

Into the Library we go!

When all the friends return from the search, we have the video ready to go and a snack ready for them. This is the easiest way that I have found to transition into the movie portion of our evening. It helps those parents who do not wish to stay for the movie. They get their child's snack as they leave the room and there are no tears since they just don't return to the storytime room after they do the search. ;o)

For anyone who is curious, we did watch a video about fireflies. It was the Night Lights episode on a The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That! video:

Well, that is my Flannel Friday contribution for this week. If you want to learn more about Flannel Friday, you can visit the website here. 

I hope you have a lovely weekend!

And, as always, 

HAPPY READING TOGETHER!

A Bright Future Freebie & Math Center Bundles

I am so excited about beginning a new year {just not *quite* yet} and I think I have an idea for the perfect thing to get my kids excited about a great year together! Who doesn’t love a new pair of shades?!? Here is what I am thinking:

I like love it! It’s easy, it’s cheap {sunglasses can be found at the dollar store}…it’s a done deal! :)

I have created tags to attach to the shades, so if you would like to grab a copy for yourself, you can click on the picture below.

Also…

You asked…and here they are…FINALLY! It took FOR.E.VER. to figure out a way to bundle these bad boys! I tried to bundle them all together…ummm…no way! Then I tried to divide them in half…again a BIG NO! I guess my files are a little large to say the least! But, I finally figured out a way to make it happen! You can grab all three sets at my TPT shop right now!

So, I think it is suppose to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 105…degrees…outside…today! Me + pool = survival! Enjoy your day, friends! 

A Book...A Life

When it was announced on Sunday, February 26, 2012, that The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore had won the Oscar for Short Film (Animated), I did a little jig of joy.  For every class in subsequent weeks the video was shown, each time the students were silent, mesmerized.  Their comments and questions varied according to their ages.  And I...every time I watched, it was like seeing it for the very first time.

Not surprising for its first week on The New York Times Best Sellers, Children's Picture Books, list the print version of The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (Atheneum Books for Young Readers), released on June 19, 2012, is in the number one position.  To have books, their stories, our stories, so magnificently honored is exhilarating and truly touching.  William Joyce, in this volume, clearly demonstrates his skills as an extraordinary author and illustrator.

Morris Lessmore loved words.

He loved stories.

He loved books.

Each day begins with Morris entering the story of his life in a very special book.  But the world in which Morris resides is about to go topsy-turvy.  A tremendous wind storm blows Morris, his books, even the words on the pages in his personal book, to another place.

His world, as he knew it, is gone so, much like readers beginning a new book, not sure what to expect, Morris begins to meander along a road, destination unknown.   Looking skyward Morris is amazed to see a beautiful woman floating by, kept airborne by a bundle of flying books attached to red ribbons grasped in her hand.  The wise lady sends Morris her favorite, the happy fellow, on legs, with Humpty Dumpty on his pages, leads Morris to a marvelous structure with books flying through the doorway.

Within the room are more books than Morris has ever seen, pages moving, whispering words he's never heard, beckoning him to discover what can be found within.  So begins Morris's life with the books, he giving them the upmost care.  Like every reader knows, Morris, too, would lose days caught up in a good story.

What pleases Morris most is to share the books, with their blessing, with others.  At days end with all the books settled for the night, Morris is seen writing in his very special book.  Time passes, season after season, years upon years. 

In his old age the books are now taking care of Morris, reading their stories to him at night.  Filling the last page of his book one day, Morris realizes his story is complete.  Like the lady before him, Morris lifts skyward holding the red ribbons attached to books whose pages move as if wings.

It is in the silence of Morris's leaving the books realize Mr. Lessmore has left an object of power behind.  Soon another will follow in the "heartsteps" of Morris using his story as a guide.  For as Morris stated earlier:

"Everyone's story matters."

There is a richness one feels when holding and reading this creation of William Joyce.  All the pages are heavy with endpapers done in a deep red and black picturing Mr. Lessmore's hat and book in a repeated diamond pattern.  Joyce varies his illustrations; some covering two pages, others a single page, all bleeding to the edge except for the occasional insets.

Full color is used except when Mr. Morris Lessmore has lost his book.  It is in the finding of a story color is restored.  The renderings of the passage of time, the seasons, are breathtaking. Of note are the  fascinating details of the building housing the books; a homage to the writing of story and the printed page. 

As beautiful as the film is, so too, is this title.  Joyce's narrative is the voice of a master storyteller weaving words that will wrap around your heart like a warming blanket.   Readers will come to love Mr. Morris Lessmore and the world of his fantastic flying books.

A picture may be worth a thousand words but words once spoken or written create a picture forever painted on our hearts.  This is the nature of story, the gathering of words, to be printed on the pages of a book, a book to treasure like The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore.  An author's dedication says much about who they are.  Please read William Joyce's dedication page found in the back of this volume.

For more information about this title follow a link to The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore.    For additional insight into William Joyce's other titles and projects follow the link embedded in his name above.

Welsh Flags without Writing

Here is a second and requested Welsh flag for the use of. I hope you like it :D

Taking A Bite Out of the Big Apple

My single visit to New York City more than twenty years ago was a whirlwind tour.  Trying to find a hotel room we could afford, grooving to a concert at Madison Square Gardens, enjoying a Broadway musical, shopping in the markets along the waterfront, walking in Central Park and watching the people, you could spend days just watching all the people, it all now seems like an unbelievable dream to a gal who grew up in a small town outside of Lansing, Michigan.  With that being said, the latest title by John J. Bonk, Madhattan Mystery, is like being back in the city; the overwhelming hubbub, the news, the landmarks, the summer heat, all through the eyes of three tweens smack dab in the middle of it all.

The McGill siblings are being sent to City Camp so their Dad and his new wife can take a long honeymoon in Europe; their own mother having died two years earlier.  No sooner do twelve-year-old Lexi and her ten-year-old brother, Kevin, arrive at Grand Central Station, receive a warm welcome from their quirky, loveable, actress Aunt Roz then Lexi, standing in The Whispering Gallery outside a restaurant, overhears two men planning what could only be a very costly crime.  She's willing to dismiss the entire conversation until the newspaper headlines the next morning announce the theft of jewels en route from the Cairo Museum on loan to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the upcoming "Queen of the Nile" exhibit.  City Camp orientation gets out earlier than expected so their new smart, sassy "friend" Kim Ling Levine, daughter of the owners of their aunt's apartment building, leads them on an excursion to Central Park.

Catching another news flash on a biker's radio while at the park, declaring the posting of an excessive reward, Lexi decides against all her instincts to tell Kim Ling what she heard.  Kim Ling, grooming herself for a career in investigative journalism, is on that like bees drawn to honey.  In a race against time the three join forces to try to piece together the bits and pieces of words from the exchange between the two men.

Throw the FBI , the NYPD, a runaway teen, the tunnels beneath Grand Central Station and a nighttime excursion to Central Park into the mix and you have a whirlwind adventure that can't be beat.  Using courage, intelligence and taking risks beyond their capabilities Lexi, Kevin and Kim Ling are on a roller coaster ride of events.  Taking more twists and turns than a cab in the city the storyline speeds toward an ending filled with surprises right up to the very last page.

What sets this narrative above others in this genre is the vitality in the writing of John J. Bonk.  I found myself laughing out loud and marking passages for their true voice, humor and detail.  Each of the three main characters are lively, wise in their own ways with frailties and flaws; Lexi, sensible, superstitious and haunted by the past, Kevin, fearful, optimistic and innocent and Kim Ling, a walking dictionary, brimming with intelligence and too sharp-tongued for her own good.

While this is most definitely a whopping good mystery, it is also about forging friendships with opposites, blended families and dealing with loss.  Weaving the flashbacks within the story was touchingly brilliant.  The varied richness of the supporting characters, tenants in the building, people on the street, city employees and the City Camp personnel, truly enhances the tale.

Here are some samples of Bonk's writing from the story.

The first ten minutes in the cab were like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, and Kevin was red-faced and white-knuckled clinging to the armrest. 

He wore a toothy smile and plaid shorts with droopy black socks, putting the eek in geek.

"Okay, tell me, why're we following her again?" Lexi asked Kevin.
"You got me.  But she does crack me up."
Lexi shook her head in wonder.  "She's like the Pied Piper of Manhattan---with road rage."

Madhattan Mystery penned by John J. Bonk is as fast-paced, spirited and filled with a mixture of personalities as the city in which it is set.  One of the best reads of 2012, it ranks as one of my all time favorite mysteries.  Be sure to visit Bonk's website linked to his name above as well as a guest post at John Schumacher's Watch. Connect. Read. and an interview more recently at The O. W. L.

And Now for Something Completely Different

Well its a start of a new project for a new patron and this time its the English Civil War. If fact its the "Irish" regiments in Montrose's Army and first one it this chap. He is an Officer and is dress in the European style of clothing as opposed to wearing the  Irish style of clothing, he wanted a bit of class, lol. These fellas were the backbone of Montrose's Army and tough fighters by all accounts but some debate about them being actually Irish or being "Irish" from the Isles and Highlands. I personally think that they came from Ulster coming over with the Earl Antrim but who knows. Here is the Officer and I am rather pleased with him.

Officer in Montrose's "Irish" Brigade

HearALL Assessment Recorder {GIVEAWAY} & Book-it To Me!

I just have to introduce you to my new BFF..FFFF! We will just call her HearAll Assessment Recorder from Learning Resources! This is seriously my new favorite toy and I can’t wait to put it to use with my thirdsters {is that a word?} this year! There are a billion ways that you could use this amazing gadget, {fluency assessment, reader’s theatre, literature circles, independent reading, etc.} but I can’t wait to incorporate it into our weekly “Book-it to Me” next year in third grade

Each week, my students work during independent reading time to read and respond to a chapter book that is matched with another student, or a group of students in the classroom…you know…a chit chat kinda deal with a little more oomph! {More to come about this later}.

 

They are in love and so am I…BUT one teacher to 6 groups makes it challenging to accurately assess each group and provide them with effective feedback to enhance their conversations and discussions about their book. Thanks to my new BFF, I have cloned my ears! I can hear everybody…yes everybody! And we all say…Hallelujah!

By using the HearAll Assessment, I will be able to actively listen to all of my groups, monitor learning and discussions, provide effective feedback, and assess progress all at the same time! My new BFF is super easy to use which makes me love her even that much more. She comes installed with a battery that you charge using a USB cord.  It's so easy to open folders and play recordings too. Just incase that doesn’t work, she also comes with user-friendly directions to help you in all of your times of need! I am telling you, she is the perfect companion! :)

Now, for the best part! You can win your very own HearAll Assessment Recorder! There are several ways to enter, so read carefully!

1. Follow my blog and tell me how you plan to use your new BFF in your classroom next year!

2. Follow Learning Resource’s blog and tell them that Second Grade Shenanigans sent you over!

3. Follow Learning Resources on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.

4. Blog about this post and leave a link in my comments section!

Easy..right? The winner will be selected next Wednesday, July 4th!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Projeqt

Last Saturday, June 23, 2012, the American Association of School Librarians, announced the new top 25 Best Websites for Teaching and Learning.  Of those twenty-five, seven have previously been explored in posts on this blog, Popplet, Comic Master, My Story Maker, Quicklyst, SpiderScribe, Stixy, and Wiggio. The first on the new list under Media Sharing, Standards for the 21st Century Learner, is Projeqt. Projeqt is a free web 2.0 application whose site motto is:

dynamic presentations for a real-time world.


Upon signing up for an account you are asked for your full name, a desired username, email address, password and acceptance of the Terms of Service.  (Due to statements in the TOS users under the age of thirteen must have parental or guardian consent to use this site.) A confirming email is sent immediately.  Across the top of the page are links to the Home page, Features of this application, Examples of other Projeqts and the Blog which contains updates to the site and newer examples.

An "overview" screen appears upon logging in.  Links frame the page giving you:  two options for editing your profile, a way to manage your account information, a Vimeo tutorial on Projeqt, a listing of keyboard shortcuts, help/support and a way to contact Projeqt.  Click the blue create a new projeqt button to begin.

At the next screen you are asked to title your new Projeqt and enter in an optional description.  Following is your creativity space where you can view all projeqts, the design options and projeqt settings.  Along the bottom you can access your clipboard.

When, for example, creating a title slide you state the title, a description, tags, position of the title on the slide, color settings (default or your choice), a background image, cropping, transparent background or the addition of a link to the slide.  Once created a slide can be edited, copied or deleted.  Slides can contain documents, images, a title or text as well as items from Twitter, Facebook, an RSS feed, YouTube, Vimeo, SoundCloud, Google Maps, Google Docs, Instagram, Flickr, Pinterest, Foursquare or Spotify.

When a Projeqt is completed it can be edited, deleted or duplicated.  To embed a Projeqt simply copy either the small or large HTML code provided.  I created a Projeqt listing those books read to date in my Book-a-Day Challenge for the summer of 2012.

With a Projeqt stacks, a group of slides added to an initial slide, can be created  You can work in Projeqt on your laptop computer, tablet or mobile phone.  Rather than creating a Projeqt from scratch you can also upload a previous presentation and incorporate it into Projeqt.





The dashboard for creating a Projeqt was easy to understand; moving slides within a presentation was as simple as click and drag.  I highly recommended Projeqt to be placed in your virtual toolbox.  I can't wait to see how an uploaded project works within this application.

As Requested

Well I hope this what the Free Welsh Republic's flag looks like otherwise I have done it all wrong, lol.

Yet Another New Flag

Yes more blooming flags, are you sick of them yet, lol, this time for the Liverpool Free States. This has been done on the request of someone won was looking for ideas, so I did him this one. I rather like it.

Maybe...The Best

I love reading; in fact when a friend suggested I watch a new show the other night I calmly replied I had not had my television on for more then three months.  Nonfiction or fiction, any genre will do.  But growing up I had a steady diet of historical fiction supplied by my Mom and Dad passing on their own favorites in addition to those titles I was able to pick up at the library for my age group.

The best of historical fiction, like any well-written or spoken story, has the ability to transport the reader or listener to a specific place or time, to create characters with whom one can easily identify and to bring the past into the present as if it only happened yesterday.  When a reader's senses are awakened to the point of a deep emotional involvement, that's storytelling at its finest.  On every single page of May B. A Novel (Schwartz & Wade Books) by Caroline Starr Rose, a debut author, make no mistake, you are there.



I won't go.

"It's for the best," Ma says,
yanking to braid my hair,
trying to make something of what's left.

Ma and Pa want me to leave
and live with strangers.

I won't go.

This first chapter, this first page, grips you with the complete frustration of the narrator, Mavis Elizabeth Betterly. Twelve years old living on the prairie of Kansas in a sod home, she is being sent to stay with neighbors fifteen miles away until Christmas.  It seems that the new Mrs. Oblinger is not adjusting well to the isolation of this life; May B.'s paid companionship will ease the financial burdens of her own family.

Arrival at the Oblinger's soddy reveals the new bride to be little older than May B. herself.  Aloof, unkind and completely lacking the basic skills necessary to manage a home, May B. soon realizes most of the tasks will fall to her.  Any thought she had of practicing, perfecting her learning, her reading skills, so as not to fall any further behind than she already is, are quickly forgotten.

Days pass in sameness until two things happen which threaten May B.'s very existence.  Mrs. Oblinger takes a horse for a ride but does not return.  It is only later May B. discovers the note.  Making haste her husband hitches the other horse to his wagon, taking his gun, to find his wife before she leaves on a train back to Ohio.

After four days May B. comes to the stark realization she has been abandoned; she will be living alone from August until the end of December.  Wrapping her mind around this reality is a test of her strength and determination.  In subsequent chapters readers follow her day to day mental struggles, her elation at finally having time to do as she wishes, her fear of running out of supplies, keeping warm and staying safe in the soddy.

Intermingled with her chores, trying to keep busy, May B.'s mind wanders to her inability to read.  Two different teachers, two different philosophies give May B. first hope then a sense of utter despair in her capacity to learn.  What is wrong with her?  Why can't she read words?

Days melt one into the other; May B.'s sense of time is becoming fuzzy.  Supplies are running low and first frost, then a sudden dusting of snow, cause her to wonder if it is now October or even later.  Sounds in the night and prints in the dirt show she is not as alone as she thought; a wolf has found her. 

So much seems to be against May B., dwindling food, proper fuel, adequate shelter for the colder temperatures, the nearly constant thoughts of her problems at school but when an early blizzard blows across the prairie, one truly fears for her.  Page by page tension builds as readers wonder about her chances for survival.  Will this adventure, not of her choosing, be the ultimate test of her true character?

Writing in verse, in a style research revealed as appropriate for the time period,  Caroline Starr Rose has crafted a setting, a series of events and characters so believable it's like stepping back in time.  Her use of words, sometimes as little as a single sentence for a chapter, make readers acutely aware of the details of May B.'s life.  As we are privy to May B.'s every thought, we can not help but cheer, feel an admiration, for this young woman. 

Here are several examples of her impressive way with words in verse.

I am afraid
in the dark
all alone
I am afraid


From the calendar I tear away
one month,
then two.
Is it October
or November?

Time was made
for others,
not for someone
all alone.

So many things
I know about myself
I've learned from others.
Without someone else to listen,
to judge,
to tell me what to do,
and to choose
who I am,
do I get to decide for myself?

With a storyline completely riveting from beginning to end, the harsh beauty of life on the prairie of 1870s Kansas is brought home to readers in May B. A Novel written by Caroline Starr Rose.  Chapters in verse disclose a testament to the will, heart and very soul of a twelve year old girl faced with seemingly insurmountable adversity.  May B. A Novel comes with high recommendations from this reader.  Rose has created a teacher's guide on her website which is linked to her name above.

People's Assault Column General Finished

I realised that I have finished this little chap off and I have not showed him off. I dont know why but I feel that I have rushed him, or my eyes are failing, but he is not one of my happiest of paintjobs. Dont get me wrong, I love the pose, the little bit of converting I have done but there is just something. Again here is the chap in his Imperial Service College scarf, pipe and click board, I think its behind him.

Mr. Linky: Fun Blogs for Sharing Children's Books

~~~ Mr. Linky ~~~

This is a list of blogs that are written by creative men and women who enjoy sharing their love of books with young children and their families.

If you have a blog that you would like to add to this list, please enter your information below.

***I am testing several linky tools on my site over the next week or so. If you want to help test these tools, please click on the other posts (listed below) and enter your information into these lists, too.

I would appreciate any comments about your experience using one or all of these linky tools. I would love to hear what you think about things like ease of use, visual appeal, or any problems encountered while using these linky tools ~ whether you are entering your blog on the list or just visiting the blogs by way of the links.

Any and all comments are welcome! Thank you so much for helping me test these tools!

Here are the links to the other tools being tested:

Simply Linked

Linkytools

InLinkz



And here is the link up using:

 ~ Mr. Linky ~
(Click "Mr. Linky" to be taken to their website.)

InLinkZ: Fun Blogs for Sharing Children's Books

~~~ InLinkz ~~~

This is a list of blogs that are written by creative men and women who enjoy sharing their love of books with young children and their families.

If you have a blog that you would like to add to this list, please enter your information below.

***I am testing several linky tools on my site over the next week or so. If you want to help test these tools, please click on the other posts (listed below) and enter your information into these lists, too.

I would appreciate any comments about your experience using one or all of these linky tools. I would love to hear what you think about things like ease of use, visual appeal, or any problems encountered while using these linky tools ~ whether you are entering your blog on the list or just visiting the blogs by way of the links.

Any and all comments are welcome! Thank you so much for helping me test these tools!

Here are the links to the other tools being tested:

Simply Linked

Linkytools

Mr. Linky


And here is the link up using:

 ~ InLinkz ~
(click "InLinkz" to be taken to their website)

Linkytools: Fun Blogs for Sharing Children's Books

~~~ Linkytools ~~~

This is a list of blogs that are written by creative men and women who enjoy sharing their love of books with young children and their families.

If you have a blog that you would like to add to this list, please enter your information below.

***I am testing several linky tools on my site over the next week or so. If you want to help test these tools, please click on the other posts (listed below) and enter your information into these lists, too.

I would appreciate any comments about your experience using one or all of these linky tools. I would love to hear what you think about things like ease of use, visual appeal, or any problems encountered while using these linky tools ~ whether you are entering your blog on the list or just visiting the blogs by way of the links.

Any and all comments are welcome! Thank you so much for helping me test these tools!

Here are the links to the other tools being tested:

Simply Linked

InLinkz

Mr. Linky


And here is the link up using:

 ~ Linkytools ~
(Click on "Linkytools" above to be taken to their site)

*** I should quickly mention that you can choose to use the Linkytool that does not have a thumbnail picture. It has a text only link and it is a FREE option. I have chosen to use Linkytools on my site for all of my Blog Hops so I have the option to choose the thumbnail picture tool. If you are interested in using the thumbnail picture option, I can help you on your week to host. Just contact me at storytimeabcs@gmail.com and we can discuss it.

Simply Linked: Fun Blogs for Sharing Children's Books

~~~ Simply Linked ~~~

This is a list of blogs that are written by creative men and women who enjoy sharing their love of books with young children and their families.

If you have a blog that you would like to add to this list, please enter your information below.

***I am testing several linky tools on my site over the next week or so. If you want to help test these tools, please click on the other posts (listed below) and enter your information into these lists, too.

I would appreciate any comments about your experience using one or all of these linky tools. I would love to hear what you think about things like ease of use, visual appeal, or any problems encountered while using these linky tools ~ whether you are entering your blog on the list or just visiting the blogs by way of the links.

Any and all comments are welcome! Thank you so much for helping me test these tools!

Here are the links to the other tools being tested:

Linkytools

InLinkz

Mr. Linky


And here is the link up using:

 ~ Simply Linked ~
(Click on "Simply Linked" above to be taken to their site.)

Beat the Heat GIVEAWAY!

GIVEAWAY ENDS TONIGHT!!!!

 

Wouldn't it be cool if you could enter a contest and pick your prize?

You can!

You can gear up for next year with 18 products from some of your favorite sellers.

How cute is that graphic from Lindsey?

 

 

Hop on over to Blog Hoppin' to enter.
Be warned... this is a quick giveaway!
It will all be over on Monday night at midnight!

Performance Criteria Rated High...Affirmative

Back in 2001 I discovered a poster by Rick Ruggles titled Love is where you find it...  From that time forward I have tried to slow down to notice heart shapes appearing everywhere, especially when Xena and I take our walks; discovering those special stones on the beach is like finding a priceless possession.  But sometimes you don't find the heart, the love, unexpectedly, it finds you.

First time author, Ame Dyckman, teams with illustrator, Dan Yaccarino, to bring readers, Boy + Bot (Alfred A. Knopf), an endearing story of a normal day turned extraordinary.  Remarkable use of text and visuals, make this book a stunning example of the beauty to be found in simplicity.  You never know what a day spent gathering will reveal.

A boy was collecting pinecones in his wagon when he met a robot.

Can you imagine the wonder of having a big red robot appear behind you ?  Trusting in spirit, quick to see a potential playmate, the boy asks him to play.  The robot's reply is, of course, in the affirmative.

Finding fun in the great outdoors, their adventures are cut short when a rock and the robot meet.  With no power supply, to the boy, the robot is in need of help; believing him to be ill. Packing him up in his wagon they set off for the boy's home.

Doing what he knows should make the silent Bot better, the two finally settle in for the night.  Peeping in to check on Boy, his parents, not knowing Bot is behind the door, trigger his switch to on.  Now it's Bot's turn to deduce that Boy, sleeping soundly, is malfunctioning.

Carrying Boy back to his home Bot is likewise seeking to fix the problem.  In the nick of time the Inventor steps in, startles Boy into wakefulness and makes an important phone call.  The two fast friends make plans for the next day to play and...they do so with great joy.

Ame Dyckman has discovered a very special place were readers' affections wish to reside.  Her narrative guides us down the beloved path of finding friendship with those unlike ourselves; of caring despite differences.  With clarity, using short sentences, Dyckman depicts in both Boy and Bot the characteristics found in best buddies.

On watercolor paper with gouache Dan Yaccarino fashions illustrations from a primary color palette with added greens and purples; bold and radiant, eliciting a smile from readers.  Endpapers picture both the Boy's and Bot's typical "toys".  The title page begins the story with Boy pulling his red wagon past an evergreen with Bot peering from behind.

Freckles sprinkled across Boy's nose and cheeks, smiles playing about Boy's and Bot's mouths, bright-eyed admiration, the one for the other, and a one-eyed light bulb figure walking about on legs in Bot's home, are little extra details readers will notice and appreciate.  Yaccarino has chosen to vary his image sizes; double page, single page or several on one page all framed by the appearance of a casual brush stroke.  But the way he depicts Dyckman's final sentence,

And the friends did.

is masterful; over the final three pages a series of images clearly showing the cementing of a bond not to be broken.

Boy + Bot written by Ame Dyckman with illustrations by Dan Yaccarino is a clever story where caring + sharing = friendship.  When readers' hearts are warmed and laughter tugs at the corners of their mouths, a book will be read again and again; shared with as many as possible.  This is one of those books, a timeless classic.