today

If anyone asks my five-year-old what she wants to be when she grows up (and, frankly, often when they don't) she will take a dramatic breath and say - "I am going to be a human doctor, an animal doctor, president, a mother and an artist! ". 
My little girl, the middle of our crew, has always been so completely confident, friendly and chatty. I have enjoyed her conversation since she started at 18-months-old and I don't think there has been a single day in that time when she did not make me laugh. Oh sure, she can be stubborn and enthusiastically pick fights with her siblings, but she is nearly always happy and creative and just fun.
This week she starts kindergarten and for the first time in five years she won't be with me all day for most days of the week. She is starting something that she can hardly wait for- learning to read! taking the bus! lunch at school!- and I am filled with anticipation for her, but....I will miss her.
I will miss her singing with the radio on our way to run errands. I will miss how she says " At your service, Mummy!" when I ask her to help with something. I will miss her wholehearted, dramatic participation in story hours.
I know she will thrive in school. I know she will bring home so many stories in the days ahead. I know it is time to send her. But, it still makes me a little sad.
I simply have to remember, if there is ever going to be a physician, veterinarian, commander-in-chief  mom who oil paints.....I just put her on the bus.

Image: dailypainters

New and Necessary

Having been a librarian I often get asked for children's book suggestions. It is true I have my old favorites and will never stop singing their praises ( I heart The Snowy Day 4-eva) , but I have a slew of new picturebook picks as well. These are just some of my more recent recommendations.

if you want to see a whale by the team of author Julie Fogliano and illustrator Erin Stead is a humorous and lyrical tale of patience and the beauty of nature. There is something about the poetry of Fogliano's text and that particular mix of woodblock printing and delicate pencil work in Stead's art that makes this book so perfectly, quietly graceful.

Yes, Let's is just fun captured within the confines of two covers and spine. The book details a family camping trip with bright, lively illustrations and a text that details their good time spending the day with each other and out in the fresh air.

Molly Idle has created one of those incredible wordless wonders. Flora and the Flamingo  is a self proclaimed tale of the dance that is friendship. Idle is a master of space, pacing, and the use of interactive flaps. The result is a book that is more choreographed than illustrated and more amazing than you might expect....

Sleep Like a Tiger by Mary Logue, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski has already earned a 2013 Caldecott Honor, so I am hardly alone in my admiration for this collaboration. I just have to note that bedtime stories populate children's literature nearly to the point of overcrowding, but I believe in making room for this wonderful, uniquely designed story of a girl not quite ready for bed in any collection. The  intricate illustrations filled with patterned and textural mixed media make for an unlikely, but perfect companion to the tranquil text.

Talk about a kiddie lit dream team- Lemony Snicket and Jon Klassen work together to create The Dark. It is the story of young Laszlo and his fear of the dark. The Dark is not a thing, but a character in this tale and Klassen employs blackness to show, in his stylized fashion, the power and presence of that character. His art only enhances Snicket's text and results in one of the best books published about childhood fears and finding courage.

Images: mockingbirdbook, montrealgazette, slj, barnesandnoble, sturdyforcommonthings, amazon

last full week of summer before school......

 

Image via deviantart

flamingo party hats

My now five-year-old requested a flamingo birthday party this August. The hats we made were perhaps my favorite part of the decorating that went into her bash. They were simple to construct and everyone got a kick out of them. If you have a flamingo party in the future.....

- Simple pink or red (can be painted) party hats
- Shades of pink feather boas (I found mine at Michaels)
- Light yellow and black scrapbook papers
- Hot glue gun
- Sharpie marker

Just freehand draw the beaks (I looked at some flamingo silhouettes to get an idea) and make them with extra length on the end to fold over and adhere to the inside of the hat. I slid the beaks through the slot where the hats are put together and glued them in place. I glued the lengths of boa to the base and these hats were party ready!

Puffin Chalk

Tanamachi Studio worked with Puffin Books to create Puffin Chalk, a series of classic children's books with a brand new look. I already know my nieces and nephews will be getting some of these beautiful volumes for upcoming birthdays.
The studio blog posted interesting videos and sketches that capture the creative process and the work that went into these concepts. It is worth a click over to the site to see the amazing work of this design and hand lettering boutique.

All images: tanamachistudio

blueberry bumper crop

Blueberries for Sal via goodreads

So. many. blueberries.

I am not complaining, but our CSA is very generous with those berries of blue. I guess the farm had a surplus this year and that means more for all! It also means I have been finding ways to use them in recipes...muffins- check, pie- check, scones- see below and thank you to twocookscooking!

Blueberry Scones
(Adapted from Smitten Kitchen)
Makes around 15

2 c flour
3 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
5 tbsp butter, chilled
1 c heavy cream
1 c blueberries

Preheat the oven to 425.  Then combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
Slice or break the butter into 1/4″ pieces and combine with the dry ingredients. Use your hands to blend (big chunks of butter are ok).

Add the cream slowly until a more dough-like batter starts to form.  Toss in the blueberries part of the way through adding the cream.  Combine gently.

We don’t have any special implements for scone-making, so we’ve just been scooping out the dough in a 1/4 c measuring cup and then pressing that out on an un-greased cookie sheet.  Bake for 12-15 minutes and enjoy.

reading resource

Yesterday NPR's Backseat Bookclub published their big annual book list- a Top 100- and it is for middle grade readers. I could not be more excited to go through the titles and make note of what I have missed out on before heading to library to get started on some late summer reading. The curated list is just the descriptive inventory readers love to help them select titles.
There is a printable list that means there are no excuses for not always having an answer when your children or student needs a book suggestion! 

Image: npr.org