Counting Down the Days to the Holidays — In Poetry

This isn’t the post I’d planned for today, but my friend Jan shared an idea with me that I am enjoying so much that I pre-empted my own schedule to share it with you. Many people — especially families — enjoy Advent calendars at this time of year, whether ones that have pictures or lines…

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Punxsutawney Phyllis — Perfect Picture Book Friday

It may seem a little odd to feature a book about Groundhog Day just a few weeks before Christmas, but since I have been celebrating PPBF and Susanna Leonard Hill all week, I wanted to feature one of Susanna’s books, and she hasn’t yet written a book about December holidays. (That’s a hint, Susanna…) 😉…

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Susanna Leonard Hill — Interview!

As I continue this week-long celebration of the first year of Perfect Picture Book Fridays (PPBF), I am happy to be able to share with you all an interview with the founder of PPBF, Susanna Leonard Hill. Besides having a blog in which she encourages writers and readers with features such as PPBF, Would You…

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Celebrating One Year of Perfect Picture Books!

It’s Perfect Picture Book Friday/Susanna Leonard Hill Week on By Word of Beth! On November 14, 2011, author Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog featured a post that piqued my interest (to say the least). Reviewing picture books every week? Sharing resources to help families, classes and libraries more fully utilize those picture books? I didn’t have…

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Scrawny Cat — Perfect Picture Book Friday

Although this book does not have a Thanksgiving theme, it certainly speaks to the topic of gratitude. Also, since I’ve recently been in Minnesota, it seemed appropriate to share a book by a Minnesota author. Title: Scrawny Cat Author: Phyllis Root Illustrator: Alison Friend Publisher: Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2011

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Dreams Really Do Come True — The Great American Mousical

In the wonderful new musical, The Great American Mousical, the young theatre intern mouse Pippin sings a song called “What Do You Think of That?” in which he expresses his excitement and awe at finally being on Broadway, realizing his dream. The verse that begins “What do you think of that? Dreams really do come…

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Tribute to My Favorite Lady

About a week and a half ago I was watching a televised concert, and started singing along to one of the songs. Tears quickly began streaming down my cheeks as I realized that I was sitting exactly as my mother would have been sitting, and singing just the way she would have been singing —…

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