Monday Musings
Words of Remembrance as November 11th Approaches
Many countries observe November 11th as a day of remembrance, honoring those who have served and sacrificed in wartime. In Canada, we call this day Remembrance Day. In the United States, it is Veterans Day. It is important that those people’s stories not be forgotten. There are other stories, as well — stories of families…
Read MoreThe Amazing Power of Shredding
Shredding is empowering. Huh? I’ve been doing a lot of paper shredding in the past few weeks (my shredder’s message screen lights up with “overheat” if I go at it too intensely, so I have to spread the process out). I’m finding my spirits are lightening and I’m feeling more and more energized as the…
Read MoreAn Anniversary of a Different Sort
There have been many pianos in my life, beginning with this one, with which I was so enthralled at the age of two that I wasn’t even interested in the fact that there was a picture being taken (and usually when anyone got a camera out, I was front and center, ready to be immortalized…
Read MoreTurning PURPLE for Purple Day
The sunrise may not be purple tomorrow, but all over the world, people will be wearing purple, turning the world purple to remember and support those with epilepsy in all its forms and variants. Purple Day got its start in 2008 when a then nine-year-old girl in Nova Scotia, Cassidy Megan, wanted to do something…
Read MoreSusan Verde, Debut Author — Interview
I met Susan Verde last summer, on the first day of the Stony Brook Southampton Children’s Literature Conference, when Pat Tilton eagerly introduced us to each other as fellow Children’s Book Hub members and picture book writers. I soon learned that Susan was looking forward to the publication of her first picture book, and I…
Read MoreShe Shoulda Been a Contender!
Likely everyone has a film or two, and an actor or two, they think should have won an Oscar. No doubt some of that is cropping up in water cooler and coffee room conversations all over the United States and Canada today, as people talk about last night’s Academy Awards. I want to take you…
Read MoreMusic in Films
Knowing me, you likely expect this post to be about musicals — but that isn’t the focus of my thoughts today. (Although one of my favorite bits of film scoring is from a movie musical. More about that later.) On Saturday night, our local symphony orchestra presented their annual tribute to the Oscars concert, featuring…
Read MoreInternational Book Giving Day is coming up on February 14th!
February 14th is not just about hearts and flowers and chocolates (although those are all good things). It has become a day for giving books to children, with International Book Giving Day. According to their website’s “about” section, “in 2012, International Book Giving Day was celebrated by people in Australia, Canada, South Africa, France, India,…
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