Monster Boogie as its re-incarnation of a picture book is such a pleasure to sing. Yes, sing. I couldn't help but sing the book the first time I read it to Little Lion because I know this song too well. And I'm a bit tone deaf.
Roof Octopus
What I love about Roof Octopus is the quirkiness of the storyline and the whimsical, magical, and colorful illustrations that match the story perfectly. Basically a little girl wakes up to find an octopus on her rooftop. And while the adults aren't so quick to accept someone new and foreign to their neighborhood, Nora is wholeheartedly all in.
A Shakespeare Story: Hamlet
While I had one dream come true by being able to finally see a performance at the Globe theater in London, I have to admit that the situation wasn't ideal. I was still jetlagged, it was crazy humid, and Little Lion was fidgety.
Paris and the Happily Ever After
As I wrote the other day, my girls are loving Paris and so am I. We love the individual little boutiques and we're certainly loving all the independent book shops. We love the cobblestone roads, the delicious summer cherries, the little surprises in architecture that we find in every corner.
If I could read French, I would have bought books from every little cute bookstore we found in the Latin Quarter.
Why Shannon Hale is My Hero
The quick bullet list run-down of why Shannon Hale is my HERO.
A new series featuring our favorite authors.
Hello Universe Readalong Part 2
Join us as we discuss the characters and second half of Erin Entrada Kelly’s Hello, Universe.
Thinking on Your Feet as a Parent
Being a parent is very much a think on your feet type of job. Plus ever changing. I often say that as a mom, I definitely have to think outside the box for solutions. Every. Single. Day.
We've struggled (as all parents do) with teaching our kids to do their chores and to have some value for money.
First Pages: James and the Giant Peach
“Until he was four years old, James Henry Trotter had had a happy life. He lived peacefully with his mother and father in a beautiful house by the sea. There were always plenty of other children for him to play with, and there was the sandy beach for him to fun about on, and the ocean to paddle in. It was the perfect life for a small boy.”
~ James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
An EPIC Epic Read-along for the Dog Days of Summer
Come join us on our EPIC summer read-along! It’s a classic and I have never read it.
That’s right! As you may have guessed from the picture, we are reading and discussing Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling. Read it with us for the first or fiftieth time.
There are prize involved as well!
I Have Lost My Way
I read I Have Lost My Way by Gayle Forman completely backwards. Or completely out of order, at least. Have you ever done that? Skipped ahead to get to the crux of the matter? Or because there's a scene you want to spoil for yourself?
I skipped around and then read the last third and then went back to the parts I skipped.
Making Summer Reading Fun!
Our plans to avoid the 'summer slide' are to do a little math each week and to do a little reading and writing each week. To be honest, it's only the math that Mr. Bookworm and I have to enforce. The reading and writing are automatic.
Come see my tips on making summer reading fun for your little one!
Hello Universe Read-along Part 1
We've heard the phrase WE NEED DIVERSE BOOKS over and over again. And it's true. No matter how many times you hear it, or if you're sick of hearing the same things in conferences. When I was growing up, I NEVER saw myself in the books I read. Ever.
I was so excited that Erin Entrada Kelly won the Newbery that I did this read-along a little differently: I distributed ten copies of Hello, Universe to my fellow bibliophiles and colleagues who love to read.
First Pages: The Little Prince
“Once when I was six years old I saw a magnificent picture in a book, called True Stories from Nature, about the primeval forest. It was a picture of a boa constrictor in the act of swallowing an animal. Here is a copy of the drawing.
In the book it said: “Boa constrictors swallow their prey whole, without chewin it. After that they are not able to move, and they sleep through the six months that they need for digestion.”
~First Lines of The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Mermay 2018
Just like last year, I’ve followed the #Mermay phenomenon on Instagram, which was originally started by Tom Bancroft, a Disney animator veteran. This year’s favorites include many crossover mash-ups and though there were too many I admired to post in one spot, I’ve wrangled up a few of the ones that inspired me the most.
My Social Media Diet
Mini Me had an extra credit school assignment to abstain from all social media for one week. She signed a contract of intent, and parents' participation was optional.
It was tougher than I thought it would be….
Pug Pals
Pug Pals: Two's a Crowd by Flora Ahn is a real stand-out in the early chapter book genre. Pug Pals starts out with a look at the day-to-day in a pug's life (Sunny) as she navigates snacking, playing with her prized bunny toy, and watching her favorite detective show. Throw in a newly adopted sibling and we've got ourselves the perfect book conflict.
Escargot
I have this huge affinity for snails that started when I was little. There's a great video of my cousins, sisters, and me playing in the backyard with snails. I think theoretically we are rescuing and clearing the garden from them. I also remember putting them in jars and watching them kiss.
Letting Go While Still Being True to Myself
Earlier this week I was putting together a last minute query. That’s NEVER good idea.
The Crossover
The Crossover centers around Josh and his twin, Jordan AKA JB, who are two middle schoolers who play basketball, just like their dad. The family dynamics are spelled out easily, and the interaction between (mainly) the three of them is heartfelt and wonderful. At its heart, this novel is about a family. But, yes, it's about basketball too, and relationships, and coming of age.
I Love You, I Know
This is a work in progress. I was inspired to write a picture book based on these famous Star Wars lines. But it ended up being an ode to my bookworm girls. So, in honor of Mother's Day, here it is. I love you, Mini Me and Little Lion. Seven and a half plump-tillion pieces.