There are some students who have a natural talent for writing, and there are others who struggle.

As teachers, we try to inspire and encourage our students to become good writers by modeling and exposing them to a variety of literature. Teaching writing to students can be very daunting. Fear not! I have discovered a book that will make teaching the writing process easier and fun for all involved.

Dan Gutman, author of My Weird School Series, has written My Weird Writing Tips. It’s illustrated by Jim Paillot, and this book is the perfect tool to get your middle-grade students engaged in writing.  Gutman offers students basic tips on the right way to write and talks about the importance of written communication He gets students off on the “write foot” by discussing how to come up with ideas, starting with the ordinary and moving along to the extraordinary. He offers positive reinforcement and inspirational quotes from famous writers. Simple explanations and tricks to help choose the correct part of speech, the right punctuation, and how to differentiate between confusing words (it/it’s) are also included. Did I mention that besides being an excellent writing tool, this book is in-your-face funny!

Every middle-grade classroom should have a copy. Teachers can use it as a read aloud and then follow up with mini writing lessons. Students can use it as a reference or just read it for enjoyment. Imagine a student delving into a writing book just for the fun of it. Get your copy today!

Our Midwest little house on the prairie stands proudly sporting a For Sale sign that has become a permanent fixture in our lawn. Our New England little house in the big woods waits for us to become its permanent residents. Last week we hauled another load of things to make our periodical visits to our new home more comfortable.

Building a house while living halfway across the country had its ups and downs. Before we closed, we did the walk through. Surprise! Surprise! We discovered a list of things the builder and his contractors had missed.

How did cork flooring end up in the laundry room when we ordered tile? And you would think that if you can’t change a light bulb in a bathroom fixture because it’s too close to the ceiling, the fixture should be installed the other way around. And what about the obvious gouges in the hardwood floor and the thermostat that has a mind of its own? All of these things are annoying, but they can be corrected. There was one major thing that put me over the edge. I call it the washing machine incident.

Before attempting to do any laundry in our new fancy-dancy washer, I carefully read the instruction booklet. I followed the directions. I stood by to make sure the washer was working the way it should. When I felt comfortable, I left the room. BIG MISTAKE! Within minutes of my leaving, the washer began to empty water from the machine to get ready for the rinse cycle. The water from the washer went into the hose, down the drain, and came right back up into the laundry room. Soapy water covered the floor and spilled into the mudroom. It was making its way to the hardwood floor in the hallway when my husband’s urgent call for HELP brought dirty clothes, towels, blankets, and anything else we could get our hands on to sop up the water.

What caused this mishap? The pipe the rinse water drains into was capped off just beneath the floor of the laundry room. The plumber failed to connect it to the septic system. HELLO! WHAT WAS HE THINKING? Words I don’t normally use spewed from my mouth that day!

We are back in the Midwest. We stare at the For Sale sign in our front yard and continue to wait for someone to buy our house. It’s very discouraging! To drown my sorrows, I decided to immerse myself in one of my favorite pastimes – reading children’s books. At the library, I picked up a combination of fiction and non-fiction picture books, a poetry book, and a few chapter books.

Come to me, my lovelies, and fill my head and heart with all things good!

Down the street

On a bike path

We all make many choices in our lives. Some are good and some are bad. Whatever the case may be, we must deal with the outcome.

My husband and I made the choice to move closer to our daughter and her husband. We haven’t accomplished that yet because we’re still in the long, arduous process of trying to sell our home.

After a lovely weekend visit with our daughter and husband, my husband drove them to O’Hare airport – a six-hour, round-trip drive.

I chose to stay home and clean our house in order to dazzle potential buyers coming to the Sunday Open House.

My husband chose to use my car because it had more room.

I chose to go to early morning church to pray to anyone who would listen to me to deliver an offer on our house. (Yes, St. Joseph, I’m talking about you.)

I chose the extra key to my husband’s car – a car I never drive.

I chose to wear comfy flats instead of heels because I didn’t feel like dressing up.

I chose to leave my phone in the locked car so I had no distractions in church.

I humbly said my prayers, asking for a buyer to appear at our doorstep. Then I headed to car. I clicked the unlock button on the key. Nothing. I clicked the lock button. Nothing. I went click crazy. Nothing! Nothing! Nothing! Cars emptied out of the parking lot as I stalked around the car, looking for a way inside. Soon it was me, the car, and the funny looking key which didn’t fit into the lock.

I chose to swear right in front of church. (Good thing I was alone!)

I chose to walk a mile and a half home to get the other set of keys. I had no other choice!

I chose to ask my wonderful neighbor to drive me back. He did.

When my husband heard of my dilemma, he told me there was a key inside the key to open the door. Who knew? Not me! I never drive his car. He said I should have called him. Impossible! The phone was locked in the car.

I made some good choices and some bad choices. From now on my choices are:

Always choose to wear comfy shoes.

Always choose my car.

Always choose to carry my phone with me.

Who knew the right key and a phone would have made for a stress-free morning?

House still not sold!

Have you noticed? Little Free Libraries are popping up everywhere. One may be just around the corner from you. Keep your eyes open for these adorable little libraries. It’s an ingenious concept. “Take a book, return a book.” Books are suddenly accessible on your way home from school, on your way to work, on a pleasant walk after dinner. Reading is important so why not add a Little Free Library to your front yard and share the wealth of reading!

Look what I found while riding around my neighborhood!

Have you seen a Little Free Library in your neighborhood?

Music teachers looking to introduce students to jazz and jazz greats might find these picture books a great addition to the curriculum.

For the youngest set, Charlie Parker played be bop is spare in text, but it’s oh so much fun! The book is written and illustrated by Chris Raschka. His illustrations and text work together to create a lively rhythmic story about Charlie Parker and his saxophone. Rhyme and onomatopoeic words add to the fun of the book.

For older students, there’s Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa written and illustrated by the award-winning duo of Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney. The story is told from the point of view of “Scat Cat.” He takes us through Ella’s life from the time she was a child to when she found her true calling as The Queen of Scat. Brian Pinkney’s whimsical scratchboard illustrations and Andrea Davis Pinkney’s cool cat language keep readers jiving through the book.

Pair the above-mentioned book with Skit-Scat Raggedy Cat Ella Fitzgerald written by Roxane Orgill and illustrated by award-winning artist, Sean Qualls, and you have two impressive books about a jazz great. Both books provide back matter for added information and further study.

Another picture book in the jazz category by the husband/wife team of Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney is Duke Ellington. Brian Pinkney’s illustrations use the same whimsical scratchboard technique as in the Ella Fitzgerald book, and Andrea Davis Pinkney’s lyrical language is music to the readers’ ears as they “Take the “A” Train” through the life of Duke Ellington. Once again, there is back matter for added information.

In the book, Dizzy, Jonah Winter tells the story of Dizzy Gillespie, beginning from the time he was a poor, young boy living in the Deep South. Dizzy got into fights and broke rules, but when his music teacher gave Dizzy a trumpet, his life changed. The trumpet was his ticket to a better life. Winter tells how Dizzy’s “shenanigans” got him noticed and how he continually broke the rules when it came to using his trumpet to entertain the crowds. Playing with a band in New York, Dizzy puffed his cheeks, created his own BEBOP, and became a jazz sensation. The colorful and imaginative illustrations created by artist, Sean Qualls, bebop along with Winter’s story.

One more book that features a jazz singer is Mister and Lady Day: Billie Holiday and the Dog Who Loved Her written by Amy Novesky and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton. Lady Day took care of Mister, and Mister took care of Lady Day. Amy Novesky tells how Mister provided the loving support and courage that Billie Holiday needed – especially when she sang at Carnegie Hall. The use of bright colors, collages, and humorous spreads by illustrator Vanessa Brantley Newton add an appealing touch to a heart-warming story of a talented singer and her dog.

Are there any more suggestions?

While browsing through the children’s picture book section of the library, I noticed books being categorized not only in the traditional alphabetical order by the author’s last name, but also by subject matter. This organizing technique makes locating books on specific subjects easier – especially if you have an impatient youngster who wants a particular book NOW!

I found three books in the Transportation category that I thought would be a fun fit for young book lovers who like to be on the move.

Can you say onomatopoeia? Alliteration? Do you like words like wallop, wham, whack, and bash? And how about phrases like “massive metal mouths” and “bold and brilliant blades?” If these words and phrases tickle your fancy, then you’ll love The Diggers Are Coming! written and illustrated by Susan Steggall. This book tells the story of how different types of diggers change the landscape by tearing down the old buildings and replacing them with new homes. Steggall’s colorful illustrations are collages made of many types of papers. The text is fun and moves along at a quick pace with lots of rhythm and rhyme. This is one book that’s hard to resist!

Tugboat is written and illustrated by Michael Garland. The brightly colored illustrations show a tugboat in a variety of settings and they’re sure to capture a child’s interest. Simple sentences impart information about the many jobs of a tugboat, and a glossary at the end provides an easy explanation of the terms used in the book.

You may have trained a dog, but have you ever trained a train? If you’d like to try, then climb aboard and read How To Train A Train written by Jason Carter Easton and illustrated by Caldecott Honoree, John Rocco. The story begins with a young boy introducing his pet train and his handy guidebook on how to train a train. The reader learns about different types of trains, how to catch one, choose a name for it, make it feel at home, teach it tricks and manners, and how to make friends. The illustrations are delightful. John Rocco has done an excellent job of giving each train human-like, facial features that make you want to give your pet train a hug. This book is filled with charm and whimsy. Who wouldn’t want a train as a pet?

My summer blog break is over. I’m back and look what I found while I was gone!

Here’s a chapter book series that will entertain both boys and girls who have who have gone beyond the I Can Read stage and are ready for something more. This book caught my eye as I was browsing through the shelves of my local library.

The Day of the Night Crawlers is written by Troy Cummings and is part of his The Notebook of Doom Series. Alexander, the main character, has discovered a notebook that is filled with drawings and facts about monsters. He knows something strange is going on in the town of Stermont, and he and his new friend, Rip, are determined to find out what it is. They’ve already fought off the balloon goons to save Stermont. Now they are faced with a mass of night crawlers that appeared after a  night of showers. Could they be the megaworms Alexander found in the notebook? What does S.S.M.P. stand for on the front of the notebook? What happened to the gym teacher, Mr. Hoarsley? Readers will find the answers to these questions in this fast-paced adventure filled with quirky illustrations that will keep them turning the pages. If you like monsterly action, this series is for you!

It’s time to sell our house, pack up, and get ready to move! While we’re doing that, “Humor Me” will be taking a summer blog break. Look for the next post in mid-September when this blog returns to inform and entertain the masses!

Keep on reading!

Those of you who follow this blog know my husband and I are in the process of building a house and selling our current one. The building is coming along just fine. The selling is NOT! We’ve had open houses and showings, but no takers. We’ve heard it all. The lot is too big. The driveway is too long. Too formal. Too expensive. Don’t like the flow. Not for us. Blah, blah, blah…

So I took my mother’s advice for a surefire way to sell a house. We buried St. Joseph upside down in our backyard!

On Sunday, my husband and I were feeling sorry for ourselves for not getting at least one offer on the house. I suggested we have a little chat with St. Joseph. This is how it went.

 We dug up St. Joseph so we could have a face-to-face talk with him.

He was a little dirty so we washed him off.

I showed St. Joseph the for sale sign to let him know we meant business.

Then we sat at our patio table and had a pep talk.

Afterward, my husband buried St. Joseph once again and added an extra prayer.

Then, because we were still feeling sorry for ourselves, we went out for ice cream – a Concrete Mixer – to be exact. It was the perfect answer to make us feel better about selling one house and building another.

We felt our chat with St. Joseph went well. We thanked the heavens for a beautiful sunset and gorged ourselves with ice cream – a delicious way to end the day.

Now BRING ON THE BUYERS!!!!

Last week we were in Boston. We stayed with our daughter and her husband while checking on the progress of the house we’re building. They live downtown on the fifth floor of a quaint 1864 building. They love it. We love it, too, but there are challenges.

Quaint Building

Early Friday morning, after my husband and son-in-law had left on a man mission, the teeny-tiny elevator in the charming building took a permanent break between the second and third floors. As I comfortably slept, my daughter and grandpuppy were stuck in that elevator. At 8:00 a.m., she burst into the bedroom, looking flushed. “Didn’t you get my call? My voicemail?” I looked at my cell phone. I did get it, but I didn’t hear it because of the noise from the window air conditioner. “I was stuck in the elevator for an hour and a half!” she cried. “The emergency crew put a ladder down to get us out. I’m late for work!” Good mother immediately jumped out of bed and comforted the distressed child. All the while I was thinking I would have died if I had been stuck in that munchkin elevator!

Infamous Elevator

The adventure didn’t stop there.

That evening my daughter, her husband, and the puppy left for Long Island for a four-day visit with his parents and to attend a wedding. My husband and I kept busy going to and from our new home site. We walked down stairs – five flights of stairs – 87 steps. We walk up stairs – 87 steps – while the elevator was being fixed. We used my daughter’s car. She neglected to inform us the air conditioning was NOT working. Did I mention the weather was extremely hot and humid? We were driving around in a sauna! Was I having fun in the fun city of Boston? NO!

A Moving Sauna

 There’s more.

Being good parents, we went grocery shopping to restock the refrigerator. We bought wine. Wine was good at that point, but taking groceries, wine, briefcase, and building samples up five flights of stairs was NOT good. My husband double parked in front of the condo. We dumped everything at the bottom of the five flights of stairs. While my husband hunted for a parking place. I brought bags up the stairs. I got three bags up the first 25 steps before my husband joined me. Together we climbed the hot, stuffy stairway to heaven. He took the heavy stuff. I took the light stuff. By floor three, I was breathing hard. I sprawled myself out on the steps and admired the intricate woodwork on the walls while I caught my breath. It’s a beautiful building, but as I prayed for a burst of energy to make it up the last two flights of stairs, I also thanked God I didn’t live there!

Stairway to Heaven

The Finale.

While putting the ice cream away, I discovered watery ice cubes and a tender pork tenderloin. Freezer on the fritz! Smorgasbord for dinner! After our not-your-ordinary meal, my husband and I topped it off with a bowl of chocolate ice cream soup!

Downtown living may be charming and filled with excitement, but there are unexpected challenges with every step you take. It’s good to be home!

Check this out!

Boston:  A Photographic Portrait by Stan Patey (Twin Lights Publishers, 2004)

Home away from home!

We’re building a house. It’s stressful – especially when it’s in a state halfway across the country. We have chosen a lot, made decisions about flooring, light fixtures, paint, doorknobs, etc., and have revised and tweaked our house plans many times. We’re downsizing, but you’d never know it from the cost of things. Two movies come to mind as my husband and I go through this rollercoaster experience – “The Money Pit,” starring Tom Hanks and Shelley Long and a classic old movie, “Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House,” starring Cary Grant and Myrna Loy. We could be the main characters in either of these movies!

When I take a step back and look at our current lives, I see similarities between writing and building a house. A story and a house should have a solid structure. Standout characters and an interesting setting are a must. In the story of our house, we have standout characters (Us!) and a beautiful New England setting.

In a spellbinding story, the plot includes a problem that has roadblocks and conflicts which are overcome or resolved at the end. Building a new home has its share of problems and roadblocks. Start date postponed several times (Just dig the hole!), windows in the wrong places (Oops!), and cost overruns (Yikes!) are just a few of the things that can cause conflict and tension.

A Hole Is To Dig

In a mesmerizing story, there’s a climax just before the problem is solved and the roadblocks are removed. If all of these elements are well done, readers are left begging for more.

My husband and I are nowhere near the climax or conclusion of our building story. Like a good book, we’d like things to move along at a good pace. Then we’d like to deviate from the other elements of a satisfying story. We don’t want any more roadblocks, tension, or conflicts I’d rather leave those for a good book!

Building a house or building a story involves creativity, hard work, attention to detail, and revising. Whatever you choose to do, give it your best and go for it!

The school year is over. Yay! That was the cry heard from both teachers and students at the sound of the last bell.

Ahh, summer! For me, it’s a time to do things I don’t always find time to do when school is in session. The first thing on my list is to read, read, read, and read some more. Right now I’m reading a middle-grade novel by Kathryn Erskine, THE ABSOLUTE VALUE OF MIKE. I’m thoroughly enjoying it. There are lots of quirky characters that jump off the page. I like quirky!

Now please excuse me while this quirky blogger continues reading!

At four o’clock each morning, birds convene outside our bedroom window and hold a tweet fest. I don’t know what they’re chirping about, but they have a lot to say at that hour. Maybe they’re planning their day. Maybe they’re gossiping about the events of the previous evening. Whatever they’re doing, it’s disturbing my beauty rest!

I enjoy watching our fine feathered friends in the bird bath during the day. Some very lovely birds come to our exclusive spa. The way they interact with other birds is very enlightening. But why, oh why, do they have to be so noisy in the morning?

If you’re a bird-lover, here are a few books to tweet about, and they won’t wake you up in the morning.

Birds, written by Kevin Henkes and illustrated by his wife, Laura Dronzek, is a very simple story. Using birds as the subject, the story and illustrations combine color and size concepts. The narrative includes elements of imagination and surprise, and it has a very satisfying ending. Dronzek’s illustrations are bright and colorful and will delight young children.

Feathers, a book written by Eileen Spinelli and illustrated by Lisa McCue, is poetry in flight. Spinelli cleverly introduces readers to a fascinating variety of birds by using different poetic forms. Back matter includes more information about each bird. McCue’s brightly colored illustrations are done in watercolor and acrylic. The birds are shown in their habitats and many pages include borders. This is a perfect book for young bird-lovers.

How to Heal a Broken Wing, written and illustrated by Bob Graham, is a sweet story of a little boy who rescues a bird with a broken wing. The text is spare, but the message is powerful. With time and hope, the family works together to help heal the bird’s wing. The illustrations, which are subdued at the beginning of the story, are done in pen, watercolor, and chalk. As the story progresses and the bird’s wing heals, the illustrations become more vibrant. This book lends itself to discussions of kindness and caring.

Can you think of any other bird books to share?

In my past two blog posts, I was made aware that I had two misspelled words. Mistakes! Arrgh! Embarrassing!

In one post, the word, trees, was spelled t-r-e-s-s. Spell check recognized tress as a word – just not the correct word. In another post, the word, drama, was spelled d-r-a-m. Dram is also a word. (Maybe I need to add a wee dram to my coffee to wake me up in the morning!)

Let it be known, I meticulously review each post before I publish it. I read and reread it, I spell check it. I reread it again, but there are times when things pass under the radar of my abilities to post a mistake-free blog.

Therefore, I’ve decided I need another pair of eyes to see what I don’t see. My husband has graciously agreed to read my blog posts before I publish them. This is a miracle in itself because he has not shown a great amount of interest in my writing. Now he will realize what a creative person I am! Stay tuned in to this blog to see how things go.

The warm weather is finally here. It’s enjoyable to feel the warmth of the sun, but sometimes the shade of a tree is as equally enjoyable. Trees are important to our environment for many reasons. One woman was well-aware of this. The Tree Lady written by H. Joseph Hopkins and illustrated by Jill McElmurry tells the story of Kate Sessions, a tree-loving woman who changed the landscape of San Diego.

The story begins in the 1860s – a time when girls were supposed to be learning how to run a household. Kate was different. She loved the outdoors. In school, Kate was interested in anything to do with science. In particular, Kate loved trees. She was fascinated by how tall they grew, how their branches stretched outward, and how they provided homes for animals. Kate graduated from college with a degree in science and accepted a teaching job in San Diego – a dry, desert town. The first thing Kate noticed was the lack of trees. After two years of teaching, Kate decided to become a gardener. Her mission was to find a variety of trees that would withstand the sunshine and dry soil of San Diego. Soon trees from Kate’s nursery were planted along streets, around schools, in parks, and in people’s yards. When it was announced the Panama-California Exposition was going to be held in City Park in San Diego, Kate felt the park needed more trees – thousands more! With the help of friends and volunteers, there were tree-planting parties. By the time the exposition opened, there were millions of trees and plants growing in what is now called Balboa Park. Thanks to Kate Sessions and her passion for trees and plants, San Diego is the beautiful city it is today.

Hopkins pays a lovely tribute to Kate Sessions, and the charming illustrations by Jill McElmurry add to the allure of the book. This non-fiction picture book is a wonderful treat to share with children. It shows what can be accomplished when you believe in yourself and have a passion for something.

Saturday night is movie night in our house. This past weekend we watched “Gravity.” It was my husband’s choice. He likes adventure and drama. I like comedy and romance. We respect each other’s choices and are happy to share time together.

“Gravity” didn’t pull me in as I expected. The two main characters, played by Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, are fixing the Hubble Telescope when a cloud of space debris from a Russian satellite hits their space shuttle, sending Sandra Bullock’s character floating off into space and destroying the shuttle. A series of unfortunate events follows.

At the conclusion of the movie, I was happy Sandra Bullock’s character survived. Holy Moly! After almost being lost in space, having your fellow crew members die, being caught in a fire, jolted and bashed by space debris, and almost drowning, she should live to tell about it. This movie has many excellent qualities such as the background music and the visual effects, but I guess I didn’t appreciate it enough to be a big fan. The idea of being lost in space or confined to a small area gives me the heebie-jeebies. In the end, I had lots of unanswered questions. I felt like I was left floating in space like George Clooney’s character. Did anyone ever hear any of the Mayday distress calls? When the capsule reentered the earth’s atmosphere, did anyone see or detect it? When Sandra Bullock managed to reach the sandy beach, was it inhabited by humans, or was it an uninhabited island like in the movie “Castaway” with Tom Hanks? Will someone finally rescue Sandra Bullock’s character, or will she go from astronaut to castaway? That might make a great sequel!

Sometimes a good book trumps a good movie!

This past weekend there was little time for reading or writing. My niece and her fiancé got married. When my brother, sisters, life-long friends, and extended family come together to celebrate a wedding, we cheer! It’s not often we are all in the same place at the same time, but a wedding celebration seems to pull us together. “We Are Family” is the perfect song for those of us whose families are spread across the United States.

What added to the ambiance of the wedding weekend was the fact that it was in Florida. After surviving a long Wisconsin winter, I was ecstatic to celebrate love in a warm, inviting place. To bask in the sunshine and dip my toes into a pool of water that was not frozen was a delight.

The Beach

There were a few hiccups along the way to our destination. Our on-time flight was not. After being delayed for two hours, we boarded only to find out that the truck fueling the airplane didn’t have enough fuel. When that was taken care of, the Captain announced there was a mechanical problem that would easily be fixed. It was not. We deplaned, were directed to a new gate, and boarded another plane. We arrived at our destination the same time a fierce thunderstorm arrived. We headed our rental car to the beach where we were supposed to meet family for a “hey-it’s-great-to-see- you” dinner. We were late. We needed food. We needed drink. The torrential rain made driving slow and hazardous, and taking a wrong turn didn’t make for pleasant car conversation. When we finally did arrive, everyone had finished eating. My very efficient sister had ordered a meal for us that was ready just as we sat down. Good company turned an exhausting day into an enjoyable evening.

We had exceptional weather the rest of the weekend. There were a few other mishaps, but despite everything, the wedding day was perfect. The happiness radiating from the bride and groom was unmistakable. With family, friends, good food, great music, and dancing, I realize life is good!

“We Are Family”– let it play again and again.

Venue

Epping Forest Yacht Club

The Happy Couple

It’s that time of year when I begin to inventory the books in the library. Some days it takes me longer than others – especially when I discover an interesting book I had forgotten was on our shelves. That’s when inventory stops, and I take a little break to enjoy what I’ve missed. Where in the Wild? is one of those books. It’s a perfect read for anyone at anytime.

This book is written by David M. Schwartz and Yael Schy and the amazing photographs are by Dwight Kuhn. Schwartz and Schy, who are husband and wife, teamed together to craft a book about camouflaged creatures. Various forms of poetry pose a challenge for readers as they try to discover what creatures are hidden in Kuhn’s pictures. On a separate page, additional information about that animal is included. What makes this book so appealing, besides the clever poems and fascinating facts, are Kuhn’s captivating photographs of the camouflaged creatures. After carefully searching for the hidden creature, the reader can lift the gatefold to reveal its whereabouts. I found this award-winning book  delightful, and I think young readers will, too!

If you like this book, there are two companion books by the same team:

Where Else in the Wild?

What in the Wild?

Laura Hullbert came up with a clever idea to capture the interest of young children. Who Has These Feet? and Who Has This Tail? are two nonfiction picture books written by Laura and illustrated by Erik Brooks. The text is uncomplicated, and the pictures are colorful and inviting. In each book the reader sees a pair of feet or a tail with the question: Who has these feet? or Who has this tail? Enthusiasm abounds as children try to guess the answers. A page turn reveals the owner of the feet or tail and a simple fact about the animal. A gatefold is included at the end of each book, which provides another look at the animals and prompts more discussion.

These books are perfect picks for school or home.

“The world’s favorite season is the spring. All things seem possible in May.”      – Edwin Way Teale

It’s the lusty month of May, or so it’s been said or sung. May first is May Day, Loyalty Day, Mother Goose Day, Save the Rhino Day, Hawaiian Lei Day, Space Day, Law Day, Amtrak Day, and that’s just the beginning of a long list of special days in May. One would think with all this fodder I would be able to write a fantastic post for today. Alas, I cannot.

May is a polite word. Therefore, I think it is appropriate for me to write a polite explanation for this brief post.

To whom it may concern:

May I politely say that try as I may, my brain cannot conjure up a brilliant blog for this first day of May. Today I will let the chips fall where they may and hope my steadfast readers can forgive me for having such a devil-may-care attitude. Be that as it may, you may be sure that I may live to write another day, and next Thursday’s post will be up to par once again.

May the Force be with you,

C.S. Ogren

International Jazz Day is April thirtieth. It’s also the last day of National Poetry Month. Why not celebrate a jazz-jiving poetry day! Start those fingers and toes tapping with Jazz written by Walter Dean Myers and illustrated by Christopher Myers and Jazz A●B●Z written by Wynton Marsalis and illustrated by Paul Rogers. Both of these books pay tribute to jazz and jazz greats.

Feel the rhythm and the beat as you read Walter Dean Myers′ poems that explore the different types of jazz. Colorful illustrations by Christopher Myers pull you into the story poems with each page turn. Included in this book is an introduction by Walter Dean Myers, a glossary of jazz terms, and a jazz time line. All of these provide a better understanding of the history of jazz and its components.

If you want to know about jazz greats, Jazz A●B●Z is the book for you. Wynton Marsalis, a gifted musician, offers a peek into the lives of twenty-six talented performers from the jazz scene. Marsalis uses a variety of poetic forms to skillfully impart facts about the musicians. Paul Rogers’ illustrations, which bring to mind vintage album covers, cleverly include the artist and items related to that artist. Also provided in the back of the book are biographical sketches of each of the twenty-six musicians and an explanation of the poetic forms used in the book. Words and illustrations meld together to make a fascinating book filled with information.

If you’re a music and poetry connoisseur, celebrate International Jazz Day and National Poetry Month with these two books.