Sturdy for Common Things

21

Oct

Autumn Fairy Dust

This Autumn Fairy Dust activity is a unique, whimsical way to play outside and learn about the autumn season that calls on phenology, imagination, and a touch of magic.

Ingredients

Autumn leaves
Dried flowers and spices (We used cloves, cider spices, roses, clover buds, and lavender)
Flower seeds
Small empty glass jars
Edible glitter*

Before we got started, I set out all the materials and ingredients in bowls. We observed, handled, and smelled the items. The more brittle the leaves are, the easier they’ll be to tear and crumble. Using an empty bowl and a spoon or a stick, she tore autumn leaves, added dashes of spices and dashes of dried flowers, mixed and mashed, and sprinkled, and made up her own rhyming spells while doing so (which is a great little literary exercise!). “Alacazam, alakazoo, bibbity bobbity, stars and moon!” After she finished concocting her Autumn Fairy Dust mix, we poured it into a small recycled glass jar. She repeated this process until we ran out of jars.

A couple of the Autumn Fairy Dust jars were saved as fall gifts for friends, but the others were gently sprinkled over bare soil in a sunny spot in our yard; a good place for the seeds in the Fairy Dust mixture to germinate. We also gave the seeds a nice, firm pat. The seed packets the kids selected to include in this provocation were butterfly snapdragons, moonflowers, and chocolate sunflower seeds and while I have no clue if these seeds will make it to next year, it’ll be a fun experiment to see if they bloom come springtime!

Learning Moment: This activity is an opportunity to talk about why leaves fall from the trees during the autumn season and how leaves help fertilize the soil and give sustenance and protection to animals in the winter months. It is also a chance to discuss the natural cycle of annual wildflowers and how they release their seeds in the summer and autumn and how those seeds sleep under leaves all winter long until the warmer spring and summer months.

Book Recommendations: There’s a connection with flowers, herbs, and fairies in folklore. Read the collection of poems featuring autumn fairies in Flower Fairies of Autumn by Cicely Mary Barker (Public Library | Local Bookstore). Also, a sweet picture book about the life cycle of seeds and the seasons is highlighted in Miss Maple’s Seeds by Eliza Wheeler (Public Library | Local Bookstore), another wonderful companion title to pair with this activity.

Sing: Let’s Play Music has an Autumn Fairy Song you can learn to sing when mixing fairy dust or sprinkling it on the ground.

*I was hesitant to use regular craft glitter or sequins (ingredients requested by my daughter) because I didn’t want an animal to choke or get sick. Instead we used edible glitter purchased at a bake shop thinking this would be a safer alternative. In hindsight, we should have scrapped glitter all along because even though the edible glitter is non-toxic, it’s still glitter and does not belong in the ground. Next time we’ll stick to seeds, dried herbs, and items exclusively found outside. Maybe we’ll even mist the Autumn Fairy Dust with water for a natural sparkle.

SHARE THIS

3 Comments ·

18

Oct

Sunday Foliage

Category · Heart + Home

Oh, hey Sunday! Before we get into the week, how is everyone’s weekend?

On Friday, we ventured to Clinton Lake, a 15 minute drive from our house. Not a cloud in that wide blue sky, myself and two mom friends and seven kids for a picnic, hike, and playtime on the shore. The sumac was a brazen red in the tall golden grasses. Green is quickly draining from the leaves on the trees leaving vibrant ambers, reds, and browns. The native sunflower stalks are almost unrecognizable, petal-less and brittle, dried stalks standing tall with sunflower skulls.

It was a happy time of adult conversation and unadulterated free-play for the kids. Both activities rare and sacred. That was my highlight. Feeling thankful for that blue sky and new friends.

I hope you take it easy today. I’ve selected a few places for you to visit on the interweb for you if you’re feeling so inclined to fall down the rabbit hole:

These absolutely beautiful cast plaster plants from a London artist, Rachel Dein look like modern day fossils. (Thanks Rebecca for the link!)

Speaking of fossils… Fossil hunting just became more connected with this fossil location and identification app. Looking forward to trying this out with the kids!

The National Book Awards shortlist finalists were announced last week. Check out what titles made the list!

Tired of answering all your kids questions? I love this article by a good friend, a dad of two young kids who has a few questions of his own.

Why you should leave the leaves in your yard instead of raking and bagging them. (Not to mention more time for reading or caffinating or walking or nothing-ing on the weekend.)

As I type this post, I’m listening to this song. It’s one I’ve been listening to for days and days and days. From a band I’ve been listening to for months and months and months. On play and repeat:

Enjoy your day! Take it easy and have a great week.

SHARE THIS

1 Comment ·

15

Oct

Favorite Halloween Books

Category · Read

My fondness of Halloween started at a very young age. Perhaps it was the glowing pumpkins lining the streets, or stories of witches riding in the night, or inky October evenings with the moon hanging low in the sky… Aaaaah Halloween! But one thing I know for sure is my romance with this holiday was encouraged by many of the books I read or was read aloud to as a child. This list represents a sampling of favorite books I’ve used in storytimes, books my own kids enjoy, as well as books I’ve been reading since I was a wee Hallowe’en witchy.

Have a favorite Halloween read that isn’t on this list? Please share it in the comments below!

HALLOWEEN BOOKS
Picture books full of tricks and treats, pumpkins, witches, and spooks, and all kinds of Halloween fun!

PUMPKINS & JACK-O-LANTERNS

TRICK-OR-TREATING

Pumpkin Eye by Denise Fleming (Public Library | Local Bookstore)
Hallo-wiener by Dav Pilkey (Public Library | Local Bookstore)
Halloween Surprise by Corinne Demas, illustrated by R.W. Alley (Public Library | Local Bookstore)
Halloween Hats by Elizabeth Winthrop, illustrated by Sue Trusdell (Public Library | Local Bookstore)
Just Say Boo! by Susan Hood, illustrated by Jed Henry (Public Library | Local Bookstore)
What a Scare, Jesse Bear by Nancy White Carlstrom, illustrated by Bruce Deagen (Public Library | Local Bookstore)

WITCHES & CATS

GHOSTS

No Such Thing by Ella Bailey (Public Library | Local Bookstore) – review + activity!
Leo: A Ghost Story by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Christian Robinson (Public Library | Local Bookstore)
The Bake Shop Ghost by Jacqueline Ogburn, illustrated by Marjorie A. Priceman (Public Library | Local Bookstore)
My First Ghost by Maggie Miller, Michael Leviton, illustrated by Stephanie Buscema (Public Library | Local Bookstore)
Georgie’s Halloween by Robert Bright (Public Library | Local Bookstore)
Trick-or-Treat by Leo Landry (Public Library | Local Bookstore)
Zen Ghosts by Jon J. Muth (Public Library | Local Bookstore)

HAUNTED HOUSES

In the Haunted House by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Susan Meddaugh (Public Library | Local Bookstore)
In the Dark, Dark Wood by David Carter (Public Library | Local Bookstore)
Haunted House, Haunted Mouse by Judy Cox, illustrated by Jeffery Ebbeler (Public Library | Local Bookstore)
At the Old Haunted House by Helen Ketterman, illustrated by Nate Wragg (Public Library | Local Bookstore)

MONSTERS, VAMPIRES, SKELETONS, & ZOMBIES

NONFICTION HALLOWEEN FUN

HALLOWEEN BOOKS FOR BABIES & TODDLERS
Halloween books with simple text and eye-catching illustrations for your littlest monster!

SHARE THIS

4 Comments ·

13

Oct

Fable Comics Blog Tour: Q&A with John Kerschbaum

Category · Read

Fables have been around for centuries and are an excellent way for kids to learn time-honored lessons. Comics haven’t been around *quite* as long, but are an exciting and fun way for kids to read. Create a mashup of the two and you’ve got Fable Comics (Public Library | Local Bookstore), the latest comic anthology from the editor of Fairy Tale Comics and Nursery Rhyme Comics, Chris Duffy!

To commemorate this collection of talented cartoonists’ spin on some of the oldest, well-loved fables, kid lit bloggers are spending the month interviewing featured artists for the Fable Comics Blog Tour. John Kerschbaum, comic artist for ‘The Grasshopper and the Ants‘ is today’s featured guest answering five questions about his contribution to the Fable Comics collection:

The old moral of the Aesop Fable ‘The Grasshopper and the Ants’ is: “Don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today”. What is it about this particular fable that appeals to you?

JK: It’s a great life lesson wrapped in a simple tale… plus bugs. I love bugs. They’re fun to draw.

Do you tend to be more of an impulsive grasshopper or a responsible ant?

JK: I’m an ant with acute grasshopper-like tendencies.

The grasshopper in your comic is both goofy and lovable. Where did the inspiration for his character come from?

JK: He’s a little cocky and that’s what gets him in trouble. But he’s well-intentioned. He sincerely believes that he’ll succeed. He’s got heart and ambition. And those are all admirable qualities. He’s also a bit clueless.

In many versions of the fable, the ants give the grasshopper no compassion come wintertime when he is out in the cold after spending the summer devoting himself to music. In Fable Comics, you give the ending a twist. Can you explain the motivation behind your reinvented ending?

JK: I changed the ending slightly but I think I left the moral intact. The grasshopper thinks he’s all set for the future. He ignores the ants’ advice and suffers for it in the end. So the hardworking ants are still right. They’re just not jerks about it. They show compassion. I wanted to show that the ants weren’t dismissive of the grasshopper’s dream of being a musician. In fact, they even appreciate the merits of his artistic pursuits.

You’re now a part of the telling of Aesop’s Fables, which has been going on now for 25 centuries. Why do you think Aesop’s Fables continue to be popular and relevant today?

JK: Wow, I never thought of it that way before. That sounds like a lot of responsibility. I hope I didn’t mess up 25 centuries of story-telling. Regardless, I think these fables are told and told again because they have an inherent wisdom that makes them infinitely relevant. They are timeless stories with talking animals. Even if you’re not into wisdom, everybody loves talking animals.

Thanks John for spending time to discuss ‘The Grasshopper and the Ants’ on SfCT!

Be sure to check out the rest of the Fable Comics Blog Tour interview lineup:

9/21 Good Comics for Kids features Fable Comics editor Chris Duffy
9/22 Charlotte’s Library features James Kochalka and ‘The Fox and the Grapes‘
9/23 Musings of a Librarian features Tom Gauld and ‘The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse‘
9/24 Sharp Reads features George O’Connor and the ‘Hermes’ fables
9/25 Fly to Fiction features Sophie Goldstein an ‘Leopard Drums Up Dinner‘
9/26 Supernatural Snark features Charise Harper and ‘The Belly and the Body Members‘
9/27 It’s All Comic to Me features R. Sikoryak and ‘Lion + Mouse‘
9/28 Ex Libris Kate features Jennifer L. Meyer and ‘Fox and Crow‘
9/29 The Roarbots features Eleanor Davis and ‘The Old Man and Death‘
9/30 Fleen features Jaime Hernandez and ‘The Boy Who Cried Wolf‘
10/1 The Book Monsters features Simone Lia and ‘The Crow and the Pitcher‘
10/2 The Brain Lair features Graham Chaffee and ‘The Dog and His Reflection‘
10/3 Librarian in Cute Shoes features Maris Wicks and ‘The Dolphins, The Whales, and The Sprat‘
10/4 Women Write About Comics features Vera Brosgol and ‘The Hare and the Pig‘
10/5 The Busy Librarian features Kenny Widjaja and ‘The Demon, The Thief, and the Hermit‘
10/6 The Book Rat features Corinne Mucha and ‘The Elephant in Favor‘
10/7 Read. Watch. Connect features Liniers and ‘The Mouse Council‘
10/8 Cherry Blossoms and Maple Syrup features Mark Newgarten and ‘Man and Wart‘
10/9 Jenuine Cupcakes features Israel Sanchez and ‘The Milkmaid and Her Pail‘
10/10 Bumbles & Fairy Tales features Ulises Farinas and ‘The Great Weasel War‘
10/11 Graphic Policy features R.O. Blechman and ‘The Sun and the Wind‘
10/12 The Book Wars features Graham Annable and ‘The Hare and the Tortoise‘
10/13 Sturdy for Common Things features John Kerschbaum and ‘The Grasshopper and the Ants’
10/14 Kid Lit Frenzy features Braden Lamb and Shelli Paroline and ‘The Thief and the Watchdog’
10/15 Maria’s Melange features Gregory Benton and ‘The Hen and the Mountain Turtle’
10/16 Read Write Reflect features Roger Langridge and ‘Demades and His Fable’

SHARE THIS

8

Oct

Poison Ivy Identification – Leaflets Three, Let It Be!

Category · Read, Wild + Wander

It’s lurking in your yard… It’s hidden at the park… it’s dun dun DUUUUUUN… POISON IVY! This pesky plant to humans used to make me fearful and uneasy, mostly because I had absolutely no clue what it looked like, and like most fears– The unknown is scary. That is until I read Leaflets Three, Let It Be!: The Story of Poison Ivy (public library/local bookstore) by Anita Sanchez, illustrated by Robin Brickman, a fantastic picture book about the life cycle of poison ivy, how to identify it, and the many important functions this plant serves in the animal kingdom. To me, Leaflets Three, Let It Be! is like a benevolent retelling of a misunderstood villain. It’s the backstory of how poison ivy feeds a large variety of animals throughout every season and provides shelter and shade for reptiles, birds, and insects.

The story incorporates simple identification rhymes such as: “Hairy vine – A warning sign!”, “Berries white, take flight!” and the famous “Leaflets three, let it be!”, but also offers gentle text depicting the good natured side of this vilified plant and how many animals rely on it. Author Anita Sanchez continually notes to look closely, there’s more there if you stop for a moment to observe. Like most things in nature, they can be easily overlooked unless you take time to look down at the ground, or up in a tree, or right in front of your nose to notice the wonders that live in your very own backyard.

And I can’t not mention the illustrations in this book… Just look at the texture in these pictures by Robin Brickman! The three dimensional effect in each mix-media collage of cut-paper and paint brings the book to life (sans allergic reaction!). This book is an excellent resource for a greater understanding about poison ivy, the season, and how one plant, even an unpopular plant, in our world can be essential in the animal world.

Poison Ivy Identification

As the author points out in Leaflets Three, Let It Be!, once you learn how to spot poison ivy you will quickly become accustomed to identifying it wherever you go. At the end of the book is a guide about the plant, why it causes a rash when humans touch it, and how to identify it. Below are a couple images of poison ivy I’ve taken this summer, one on a walk in the neighborhood and one on a hike outside of town. The first image was labeled in the front yard of a residence, which I thought that was such a great idea! Instead of getting rid of the plant, they used it as an opportunity to educate passersby.

Poison ivy has many appearances, so I’m still learning about many of the varieties where I live. In this learning, I’m working on educating my own kids to be cautious as well. Now when I come across a vine, I don’t look at it in terror– I appreciate it’s place in the world while keeping a safe distance.

SHARE THIS

Sturdy for Common Things

21

Oct

Autumn Fairy Dust

18

Oct

Sunday Foliage

15

Oct

Favorite Halloween Books

13

Oct

Fable Comics Blog Tour: Q&A with John Kerschbaum

8

Oct

Poison Ivy Identification – Leaflets Three, Let It Be!

Poison Ivy Identification

Currently Reading

Archives