Teacher Resource: “Animal Tales”

Five fantastic books to read after or prior to performance:

1. Anansi the Spider, a tale from the Ashanti; retold by Gerald McDermott

Papa spider Anansi has a bunch of sons, a bunch of sons with really strange names! But,those oddly named children come in very handy when their father Anansi gets into a whole lot of trouble! But, who will Anansi give the silver ball to? Which son earned it the most? This is a delightful story about working together and the importance of community. McDermott’s Caldecott winning illustrations enhance the experience.

2. Kumak’s House; by Michael Bania

Kumak’s house is way too crowded! He has too many family members in his little house causing all kinds of noise and disorder. When Kumak asks the elder Aana Lulu for help, she advises him to do some very strange things! From living with a rabbit to asking a Beluga whale to move in, Kumak does it all in his quest for peace! In the end, Kumak discovers that his house (minus all the animals) is just right.

3. Rules of the Wild, an unruly look at manners; by: Bridget Levin, illustrated by Amanda Shepherd

“If your mom had a tail or your father a mane, the rules of your house might not be such a pain…” starts this playfully illustrated book that is a blast to read aloud. Facts and fun blend together beautifully in this rhyming gem that absolutely glorifies all things rude!

4. Why are Animals BLUE?; by Melissa Stewart
A great easy nonfiction series that breaks the animals up by color! Did you ever wonder why an animal had its particular hue? These books explain without overwhelming younger audiences and have fantastic photographs.

5. Nifty Thrifty Animal Crafts; by Faith K. Gabriel
Create fish bookmarks, pet photo frame, or other easy to make crafts.

A few other books to check out about animals:
1. Beware of Tigers by Dave Horowitz
2. Pinduli by Janell Cannon
3. A Twisted Tale by Carolyn Fisher
4. Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems

Great reading with you, Jenn

Teacher Resource: “Snowy Adventures”

5 Things on Friday…

kinda like 5 Things on Wednesday, but, different…

1. This week I completed one of my most least favorite things about my job. Follow up calls. I love, love, love, speaking to past clients, or making new acquaintances who are excited about literacy and looking for a cool new story telling experiences. I just HATE bothering people when I know they are working so hard within their schools. And though I have no worries about getting up in front of a large crowd and sobbing, screaming, and doing other completely embarrassing things- the idea of appearing to be all “sales-like” makes me squeemish.

2. I am working on this series “In My neighborhood” for the Holyoke Public library and this upcoming week we will telling stories about the post office and the animal shelter. What do these two have in common? Well….nothing really, but they just seemed to blend together nicely to me. Anyway, I am looking over the stories that I will be sharing and there are some good ones like a post office spin of “The House that Jack built” and the ever entertaining “Anasi and the Turtle” amongst others. But, I really wanted to add a true animal rescue story to my repoitore.  I started doing research today and read AMAZING stories. The problem? I will definitely not be able to tell them with out crying. A lot.

3. I am booking Halloween story telling performances! Woo-hoo! I get so excited when I am booked for an event and am informed that all the little ones will be in costume! Which is my favorite because I know I will be sharing “The Silliest kind of Spooky” stories with power rangers, Dora the Explorers, maybe a zombie or, two.  Really, how much fun is my job?

4. Today I made spa invitaitons for an upcoming party and I had to laugh at how many times I have changed that invitaiton. Pirate invitations have always been treasure maps (How could they be anything else, right?), Spy invites have always been Top Secret Paperwork. But, for some reason the spa invitaiton is ever evolving as I see things that strike my eye and are cute. Right now they are cream colored with gold lining, elegant print, and pretty ribbon. Who knows what they will be next?

5. 389 pages of Shannon Hale’s Forest born to savor this weekend! Hurray for good books that are long awaited!

Wishing you a good-readin’ weekend,

Jenn

One Red Leaf

It doens’t matter how old I am, or how long I have been out of school, but  school supplies, new back packs, cool mornnigs, and school buses will always evoke the same feelings in me. There is a freshness, a time where all the laziness and slowness of the summer is replaced with schedules and productivety. And every Tuesday after labor day, I am ready for it.  Even if the afternoon is warm and most summer-like. In the quiet morning, I feel fall coming.

Speaking of schedules, mark your calendars for a great 3 week story telling experience called, “In my Neighborhood” where through story we “travel” to various places that make our community a better place!

Sept. 9th, Sept. 23rd, and October 7th at 10 am at the Holyoke Public Library!

loving the upcoming season,

Jenn

Kid Lit Movies

I just saw Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince…and this was the trailer:

PercyJacksonAndTheOlympiansTheLightningThief

Shared via AddThis

Hurray for Kid-litty movies,
Jenn

Spacey Stories..

I have the great pleasure of being invited back to Holyoke Public Library for more “Once upon a time Story telling”. Here is the schedule:

- Wednesday, July 15th “Mission to Mars”

- Wednesday, July 22nd “Swingin’ Around Saturn”

- Wednesday July 29th “Poor Pluto!”

All story times start at 10am and are great for children 18months-6 years. Free and open to the public. To registar call the library at 413.322.5640

Spacing Out,

Jenn

From the Library Basket…

The other day I was talking with a very-wonderful-six-year old who was sad that a book she really, really wanted was already checked out at the library. When I asked her where she thought the book was she said, “Probably in someone’s library basket.” I know many people who have family or personal library baskets that hold all of their treasures- but I love the idea that this little girls just assumed EVERYONE had one. It’s just a staple of the household. And I started to want one…bad. So, while I search for a true real library basket, I will use the term in blog world. Which is just as good, kind of.

A recent inhabitant of my library basket (metaphorically of course due to lack of basket) is the book Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies. A book that I actually enjoyed despite icky math references and business tips for kids. Let’s talk about what makes this book so good instead of all that pesky “learnin’” stuff. Brother and sister go head to head in this story of lemonade sales, sibling rivalry, and true friendships. Evan the eldest, enjoys his sister’s company and helps her as much as he can- especially when it comes to her people skills- she’s clueless. But everything changes when Jessie (the little sister) skips the third grade to join her brother IN THE SAME CLASS in the fourth grade. Evan is threatened, and the war begins.

If you have ever ran a lemonade stand, or drank the sweet, sticky, hopefully bug-free goodness- you will appreciate this light read.

Oh, and yes, you will learn some math along the way. But, I promise, it doesn’t hurt at all.

Craving some lemonade and basket,

Jenn

5 Things I am Thinking about on Wednesday (clever title, huh?)

1. Summer Reading. I am both excited  and totally enthusiastic on this subject, and also appalled and bored out of my mind. I read this and this and thought it was pretty terrific! (as are all things written on that blog!)

2. Literary Party themes. Can you tell that I like children’s books? Well, I am pretty excited to add a new literary star to our party themes: Miss Fancy Nancy herself! Our new “Fabulously Fancy” party is geared for all those little fashionistas and lovers of the great books! Any ideas for other party themes based on books?

3. Candy Stations. No I am not craving chocolate (well, maybe a little, but that’s another topic).  I have seen so many terrific candy stations at events and was so thrilled to finally get the opportunity to do one of my own.Of course I have no pictures to show for all my hard work. But, I assure you it was very cute. The theme was lime green and bright pink and I used jelly beans, chocolates, and Mike and Ikes. Now I am contemplating other ways to serve candy in fun, festive ways…like in fish bowls maybe.

4. Sad for Harry. We recently retired our “Wizard Academy” party themed because it just wasn’t booking the way it used to. But, I can’t wait to see the movie NEXT WEEK! Maybe the movie will bring the theme out of retirement.

5.  I just saw this…coming in October!! ’nuff said.

On a roll (I have another blog entry saved!!),

Jenn

Wrapping Paper Site…

I just finished the new website! Huzzah! You must take a look and see what you think.

It took me a very long time to find the right background. I wanted it to be whimiscal, not too girly, but pretty….would you believe I finally went with wrapping paper?

Also new this site is our three packages. Very often we meet a client who has a mother/mother-in-law who makes great cakes, or a  mom who wants to do the goody bags, or a father who can design fantastic invitiations. And, why shouldn’t they! So, now we offer just entertainment, the works, or all the bells and whistles.

We are also introducing a few new themes….more on those to come!

Promising to be better to my blog,

Jenn

Heroes, Kid-Lit Style

The last few books I have read have had one thing in common: Heroes. So, I thought I would share with you my three heroes:

1. The Ultimate Unlikely Hero: Despereaux

I absolutely love this book! I could read it over and over. Despereaux, the mouse with gigantic ears, who loves music, and acts nothing like a mouse proves to be the best and bravest hero. Forging to the fearsome darkness of the dungeon, Despereaux bravely saves Princess Pea. There is no greater fairy tale than this terrific book an it’s cast of remarkable characters.

2. The Tattoo Talking Hero: Mibs

Savvy, Ingrid Law’s Newbery honor book, introduces a family with unusual talents. When each member of the family turns 13 they suddenly find their “savvy” which could be controlling the wind or even causing earthquakes. Mibs’ 13 birthday also coincides with a terrible car accident that leaves her father very hurt. Using her new, and very unusual “savvy” this hero attempts to save her father. This book is heart felt and unexpectedly moving.

3. The Most Like Harry Potter Hero: Percy Jackson

Sorry, I had to say it. I mean come on, he doesn’t know he is a demi-god, then finds out and has to go to a special school camp where he meets Dumbledore Chrion, His best friend has an invisibility cloak Yankees hat……… (there are more)

That being said, I am really enjoying this series. Rick Riordan is a terrific author  showing Greek mythology in a near impossible light: a modern light. Percy is a great hero in that he cares for his mother and best friends above all.

So, what have we learned about being heroic? It’s good be an unexpected, able to talk to tattoos, and well, be like Harry Potter.

Thinking heroically, Jenn, Imagination Celebrations