Picture Book Extravaganza

Remember Megan and me? The former contributors to this blog?

Well, we've been busy little bees over at Redeemed Reader--we don't post as frequently there, but we've been working away behind the scenes. If you haven't hopped on over to Redeemed Reader to check it out, I recommend you do so. We're beginning a big summer read along adventure this coming week, and Megan and I have put a lot of work into creating a giant book list to go along with it. (We *love* lists!)

And, in the meantime, I've just found out that I have to read 300 Picture Books this summer for my last graduate class. 300!!! 30/week!

Therefore, I plan to post some of my favorites each week here on Literaritea just for kicks. :-)

Exciting News for Literaritea!

Megan and I are thrilled to announce our new partnership with Redeemed Reader, run by Janie Cheaney and Emily Whitten. We have long admired their work on their website, have read their columns in WORLD Magazine, and have read and admired Janie's young adult novels (four to date). Beginning today, we will both be contributing regular columns/posts on Redeemed Reader as well as helping manage behind-the-scenes details for the quickly growing website. This explains our relative inactivity as of late on Literaritea.

So, what does this mean for Literaritea? Initially, nothing, save for a lesser amount of attention from us. For the time being, Betsy will continue writing sporadic book reviews, and we will keep all of our existing content. We will be putting our greater attention, though, to our work with Redeemed Reader--you might say Literaritea is more of a hobby and Redeemed Reader is more of a professional commitment in terms of the type and amount of effort we will be contributing to both. We will wait to see what the Lord has in store for the future of both sites!

We'd like to encourage all of our regular readers, if you are not already doing so, to follow Redeemed Reader. For our email subscribers, know that one option we are exploring already with Janie and Emily is how to get an email subscription option going for Redeemed Reader. You may sign up for their email newsletter while you wait for more options! They also have RSS feeds enabled for those of you who subscribe to Literaritea by that method. For our Twitter followers (the few, the proud, ...), you can still follow "Literaritea." Besty will be tweeting RR posts from the same account for a while. We'll keep folks up to date on any communication-related changes. In addition, if you are on facebook, be sure to check out Redeemed Reader's Page.

Come on over and read our biographies on Redeemed Reader tomorrow, look for some Easter-related book lists later this week, and catch our first "official" posts on Redeemed Reader the week after Easter.

A Little Bit About Betsy

We have some FANTASTIC interviews coming up, but we thought we'd take some time to interview ourselves first. So, here are my answers to the interview questions we're sending out.

Getting to Know You  (the short and sweet section)

1. What is an early book you remember reading in your childhood?

Frog and Toad! I also devoured Nancy Drew/Hardy Boy books, the "Anne" books, and the Ramona books. And I remember my mother reading the Little Bear books, the Narnia Chronicles, and George and Martha books to us. (All of which I thoroughly enjoyed!)

2. Is there a favorite poem or literary passage you have memorized, perhaps from your childhood?

"Sick" by Shel Silverstein was an early favorite of mine--and one I still know. I also memorized lots of Scripture which I still know.

3. Who are three of your favorite authors? What is your favorite hot beverage?

So hard to narrow down the authors! Edith Schaeffer (nonfiction), Jerry Bridges (nonfiction), and George MacDonald (fantasy works in particular) come to mind. So do Madeleine L'Engle, Annie Dillard, Lee Smith, C. S. Lewis, Jane Austen, N. D. Wilson, Gary D. Schmidt, Arnold Lobel, Beverly Cleary, Lloyd Alexander, Edith Nesbit, Jeanne Birdsall, Katherine Paterson, Megan Whalen Turner, .... I could go on and on, particularly when it comes to children's literature--but that's why I do this blog with Megan!

Hot beverage: Easy--tea! Especially a good, strong black tea.

4. What do you enjoy doing with your children and your family?

Reading (of course), hiking/spending time outside, drinking tea, singing hymns (my husband is an amazing pianist, so that adds to our family hymn sings!), cooking/baking, and travel.

5. Do you have other hobbies than reading/writing?

Hmm... this question is really more for actual authors, but I since I definitely DO read as a hobby (and write--if this blog and similar pursuits count), I'll answer it. Cooking, gardening, hiking, sewing.

6. If you could recommend a book to our audience that you haven't written yourself, what would it be? (fiction/nonfiction/poetry; children's or adult)

I'll defer our lovely readers to the multiple books on our book lists and book reviews!

Your Work (medium answers)

7. Can you tell us anything about an early story or poem that you wrote--perhaps one you blush to recall but your mother or your spouse kept it anyway?

I don't know that I wrote anything, really, that my mom kept. I do remember passionately wanting to be a writer as I consumed Emily of New Moon and Anne of Green Gables. One time, I'd just listened to Pachelbel's Canon and then wrote a VERY flowery passage that I thought was absolutely brilliant. My mother was not as impressed as I was :-).

8. How many times did you have to send off a manuscript before you first published a work? Do you work through an agent? 

9. What is your favorite of your own books? 

A Bit More Philosophical Now

10. How would you define Truth and Story in literature? 

Again, I'll defer the reader to the definitions we've already written!



We have several interviews planned, some of which are only in the pipe dream stage, and some of which have actually been completed. Stay tuned for Megan's "interview," and then for our upcoming interview with Gary D. Schmidt!

10 Favorite Book Moms

In honor of Mother's Day tomorrow and at the inspiration of my friend, Brandy, I thought I'd throw out a list of amazing "book moms"--the moms that appear in books and make us all want to be like them.... These are fictitious mothers; I am blessed to have a wonderful mom in real life myself. In no particular order, here they are (including a few "types" of moms near the end):

Mrs. Weasley (Harry Potter books, mother of HP's best friend Ron): If ever there was a mom in literature who fiercely loved her family, Molly Weasley is it. She has a clock that tells her where her precious brood is at any one time, mothers her children's friends as if they were her own, whips up feasts and keeps a cozy house (albeit with some magical aid), and boy howdy--when someone goes after one of her own--Molly Weasley, um, well, the she-bear comes OUT. (Brandy and I aren't the only ones in awe of Molly. I read a blog post just this morning that mentions some of these same wonderful traits).

Marilla Cuthbert (Anne of Green Gables): OK, Marilla is not technically a "mom" in the traditional sense, but she is a perfect mother to Anne. She grows into her role despite herself and sticks by Anne loyally through all of Anne's scrapes. One of those characters you love and admire almost without realizing it. At the end of the series, you are just as much a fan of Marilla in some ways as of Anne herself.

Frances's Mom (Frances books): This lovable badger manages to be all-wise/knowing as far as her young daughters are concerned, but she doesn't micromanage. She lets Frances figure out some life lessons the hard way (such as in A Bargain for Frances). She also doesn't entertain Frances, but lets Frances figure out how to entertain herself. Her disciplinary wisdom is wonderful (such as in Bread and Jam for Frances). She's just an all around great mom.

Mrs. Sowerby (Dickon's mom in The Secret Garden): ahh... another amazing mother (didn't she have 12 children?!) who manages to mother the extras brought under her wing, too. She raises such great kids as Dickon and Martha, and she extends that mothering wisdom to her nurturing of Colin and Mary. She's a force behind the scenes in this book, and the garden wouldn't have happened without her mothering of Colin and Mary.

Cassie's Mom (Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry): I can't remember their last name, but I do remember always being amazed at Cassie's mom's strength in this book. Her family is facing serious danger, yet she remains calm, cool, and collected. She protects her family, is wise in her counsel, and doesn't let fear paralyze her. Another mom who faces danger and keeps it together for her family is the mother in Between Shades of Gray--wow. That's all I can say about her.

Mrs. Murry (Wrinkle in Time): Smart! And still a great mom. Many literary moms are great moms in the typical sense, but Mrs. Murry is a different breed. She's a great mom for Meg, but she's not the sort slaving away in the kitchen cooking up chocolate chip cookies for her kids when they come home from school. More likely, she's messing around in her lab with some pot of something edible bubbling away on a Bunsen burner. Still, she's there for Meg and mothers her in other, more important ways.

Mary Curtis (Bright Island): I just read this book for the first time (review coming soon), but I was amazed at this mom of multiple children who had to be fairly self-sustaining on an island. She cans enough food for an army, homeschooled her children expertly, lets her children roam with just the right amount of tether, and is one of those moms who truly sets the tone for her household; she's their rock even while being unobtrusive about it. And yet, she allows her own daughter to segue into the same role, having done a terrific job of fostering Thankful's independence as well as instructing her in how to run a home. This makes her sound rather "Little House on the Prairie," but that's not quite the right impression of the intrepid Scotswoman here.

Dottie Willis and Hyacinth: (100 Cupboards Trilogy) Dottie is Henry York's first real "mother" in the sense of what we think mothers should be like. And, similar to Mrs. Weasley, she really rises to the occasion. Hyacinth is a mother we meet eventually in this series, and I can't tell you too much about her without spoiling some of the story. But she's a rock, as well. And, they both love and respect their husbands--without being cheesy or simpering about it.☺

The General "Nurturing" Mom: These are the moms in books who are great moms, but who sort of run together in my mind--all contributing to the general image of "nurturer." Examples are Marmee (Little Women), Mrs. Pepper (Five Little Peppers), the mother in All-of-a-Kind-Family, Ma Ingalls (Little House on the Prairie), and others. Making do with little, loving each of their children, creating a nurturing home, etc.

The Mothering Type: These are the women who aren't mothers in the traditional sense (nor even in the adoptive sense like Marilla Cuthbert), but who step in and "mother" children. Mary Poppins, Miss Penelope Lumley (The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place), Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, and others fall into this category. In a sense, some more astute fairy godmothers also fall into this camp as well!

Who do YOU admire? Who should we add to this list?

Miss Betsy's Book Nook

I have a new appreciation for web developers and designers! For a culminating project in one of my courses this spring, I had to design a website using Drupal (a content management system not unlike blogger). As the "administrator" of my site, I had to set everything: user permissions, blocks, layout, theme, colors, options for content, type of content, text editors, forum, weight of menu items, etc.

In short, I gained a new appreciation for what blogger does behind the scenes for us already!

Check out Miss Betsy's Book Nook to see my finished product (well, as much as a web site is ever "finished"), and to gain a peek into some of what I've been up to this semester on the scholastic/professional side.

Humor Me!

We had to do a screencast for a class assignment.... Below is my very first screencast: a virtual tour of a few features of goodreads (there are FAR too many things on that wonderful service to explore in a mere 8 minutes). Remember--this is my first foray into screencast land. But if you would like to learn what goodreads is all about, watch the tour...

Death in Children's Literature

I've read many reviews lately of children's books in which the reviewer claims the book's subject matter "isn't appropriate for young children." I've even seen people comment that certain story Bibles have "too many violent stories" in their collection. Certainly, there is plenty of subject matter that isn't appropriate for young children (things of a sexual nature, for instance, come to mind), but I would submit to you that death and tragedy are not inappropriate for young children.

A vast majority of well known fairy tales include the death of a parent, the death of a villain, and/or the death or near death of the protagonist(s): "Rapunzel," "Snow White," "Hansel and Gretel," "The Little Matchgirl," "The Little Mermaid," .... Children seem completely unfazed by these fairy tale caricatures of death and dying. "But those are fairy tales and aren't supposed to be real," you say.

What about some of the all-time favorite books for children and young adults, books grownups come back to again and again: Charlotte's Web, Little Women, Where the Red Fern Grows, Bridge to Terebithia, Old Yeller, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,..... All of these deal with death, dying, or tragedy and seeming injustice. Are these books inappropriate for children and young adults? There are even picture books well worth reading that grapple with these ideas. Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs by Tomie dePaola is an outstanding example.

We cannot hide death from our children; sooner or later, they will experience the death of someone they know, perhaps even a beloved pet, friend, or family member. Instead of shielding your children, read books like the ones mentioned above along with your usual book selections. Read Scripture to your children and don't skip stories like Abraham and Isaac, Cain and Abel, the Passover. After all, if you skip all stories of people dying, you'll skip the Cross and, ultimately, the source for our hope in the midst of death: the Resurrection. You can't have a Resurrection without first having had a death. Read books that cover the whole array of human experience and, when you and your children come to death and tragedy in a book, discuss our hope in the midst of death! The great books reflect this redemptive worldview; that's where the term "Christ figure" comes from. Think about this as Easter approaches, and we take special time out to celebrate the Resurrection.

The Annual Lenten Fast

In the interest of full disclosure, my neighbor, Lisa, and I are continuing our annual Lenten fast from: digital media.

(I know, right?! GASP. HOW WILL WE SURVIVE???)

For the answer to that question, and a great sum-up of why we do this, please see our very first year's recap.

The nature of my fast changes year to year slightly, mostly because I'm in school right now pursuing an information science degree and it's all online. I HAVE to be on the computer/internet regularly.

Therefore, this year's focus/rules are as follows:

• One focused email time in the morning and one in the afternoon; no more checking/responding throughout the day.
• Social media ONLY as it relates to class (I'm taking a social media class, so there is some significant activity related to class....). No Google reader. No new blog posts on anything save Literaritea (it's been my test ground for several assignments, believe it or not). 
• No... gulp... online shopping.
• No internet searching. (and this ... big gulp... includes the local library's online catalog)
• No internet activities that aren't completely necessary (for instance, I'm allowed to continue banking activities but will not be searching for new advance review copies of books to read through netgalley). I will continue reviews on goodreads partly because that is one way I measure what I've read. But no browsing goodreads for recommendations or reading others' reviews.

In general, I'm going to make a concerted effort to single-task: to pay attention to the moment, to not surf the web whilst I should be folding laundry, to not delay getting dinner ready because I want to catch up on my Google reader, to miss opportunities to enjoy spring because I'm hunting down the perfect birthday present online. Because one of my classes is revolving around digital media, this year's fast is going to take an extra measure of self control from yours truly to really evaluate my motives and my activities.

A website by yours truly...

Now, technically, this little blog of ours is a website.

But, for a homework assignment this semester in one of my classes, I had to create a website on my home computer and upload it to our school's server--this has involved much weeping and gnashing of my teeth, I must confess, and has also made me thankful for how ridiculously easy blogger makes it for us to do this little blog/website of ours.

With that in mind, please realize that I strove for simplicity and kept my content pretty basic. Check out my Geisel Awards Website!

Three by Kate Morton

The House at Riverton (2007; Pan Books)
The Forgotten Garden (2008; Pan Books)
The Distant Hours (2010; Atria)
Kate Morton



Kate Morton hails from Australia, but all of her books are set in England. I don't know if she has visited England, but her books have a remarkable sense of "place." And her three books bear other remarkable similarities to each other:

• a mysterious estate or castle in England filled with dark family secrets 
• aging family members who've held those secrets close 
• modern (ca. 1990s) heroine who finds tangible evidence of said secrets (like, a letter) 
• the awareness on the part of modern heroine that her own mother is somehow intimately connected with the mysterious castle and its strange inhabitants
• the revelation of said secrets through sleuthing by the modern heroine
• the gradual understanding of her own mother and family through the knowledge gained
• said secrets encompassing multiple issues: emotional love affairs and/or murder and/or suicide and/or betrayal and/or madness in the family...
• and an intricate plot slowly unraveled through jumping back and forth in time and between various narrators

Gothic in inspiration, full of references to book lovers and the profound impact even a single book can have on someone if it is read at the right impressionable age, and the overwhelming sense of place (and the effect that place has on its inhabitants and visitors) round out Morton's writing, making these novels some of my favorites for a long day of reading-on-the-couch-curled-up-under-a-blanket-and-sipping-tea. Once I get about halfway through one of these hefty tomes (think: 500 pages +/-), I cannot put the book down. I love me some good mystery. The reader gradually figures out what is going on before the big reveal(s), but, as I said in my goodreads review of The Forgotten Garden, "In my experience, a misty castle in the distance that gradually grows clearer and clearer as more details are ascertained never spoils a pleasant journey."
 
 I must confess that I don't enjoy the actual secrets that are revealed too much because they're often depressing, sordid, or just plain wrong--but the journey there is addictive. I like that Morton's books are pretty clean in the sense of anything being described explicitly, little foul language, and the like; but the dark family secrets involve some messy "stuff."

Is it possible to write a gripping mystery and dark Gothic novel without having the main historical characters be so disturbing? I know I haven't actually *read* Jane Eyre, but I know that's a good example of having dark secrets (and even a mad woman!). Hmm.... worth pondering.

For now, I space these kinds of books out in my reading...too much rich chocolate cake isn't good for me :-).

Confessions and the "Canon"

First, my two confessions:

1. Despite my desire to "keep short accounts" and finish the books currently on my bookshelves, I have already been bitten hard by the bug to keep reading others' (new) recommendations.... I have 4 books in process right now, one of which has languished on my bookcase for a few months, one of which was a library checkout prompted by some review somewhere, and two are Advance Review Copies (ARCs) on my Nook. (sigh) The plus side is that they're all GREAT, so stay tuned!
2. I've never read Jane Eyre.

I know, right?! How can someone carry on with a literature blog, profess to have been an English major in college, a former English teacher, and have a literature-based MA... and NOT have read Jane Eyre? It's a shocker. (Thankfully, I'm not the only one with this dark and dirty little secret.)

So, I'm going to redefine my goals for this year. First, I'm not going to attempt to read every book that sits on my bookshelves, hitherto unread by me. Second, I'm really going to make an attempt to finally read Jane Eyre. My secret lurks in the back of my mind, calling out "fraud!" 

Keeping Short Accounts

One of my "themes" for this semester (or, maybe the whole year!) is to "keep short accounts." To finish what I start in a timely fashion, to not take on new projects until I've finished what I've already started, and get caught up on the current open-ended issues (Megan should be chortling heartily about now--she and I are two peas in a pod when it comes to taking on new projects... or, at least, dreaming them up).

At any rate, what this means for my reading is twofold:

-potentially not as much (after all, the children do need to be fed, the house cleaned, the homework done, and the clothes cleaned)

-to read the books in my own house that I haven't read yet!! Therefore, fewer "new releases," as it were, and more "old favorites" (I have stacks of books that have been loaned to me and/or picked up at thrift stores and are still unread....). I truly can't bear to part with books that I haven't even read yet! Must read at least part in order to determine if the book  needs to vacate the premises or earn a spot on the already, over-crowded shelves.

Hopefully, I'll catch up by summer and can start tackling new releases again.

Mediocre Tea + Styrofoam Cup = Nastiness

I've done some traveling this summer and have been forced to confront this ugly truth over and over: NOTHING tastes good in styrofoam (unless it's instant hot chocolate mix and I'm sitting around a campfire...). But I digress.

I'm not sure if coffee tastes as terrible in styrofoam, but tea is downright undrinkable--even if you start with something halfway decent, like Twinings.

Another thought has occurred to me during my travels: why, oh why, don't fast food restaurants offer hot tea? Think about it: you don't have to do ANY prep. As long as you have a hot water dispenser, you simply need to have a stash of tea bags. That's it. No clean up. No wasted tea to throw out at the end of the day. No filters to buy. Nada. Zip. Maybe my favorite Chick-Fil-A will see this post and start offering hot tea. Then, there truly will be no competition to the great chicken sandwich (and bendy straws--CFA is the only one to wise up to this genius idea for kiddos!).

Any thoughts from the peanut gallery? Any places you've found suitable hot tea options (other than coffee houses and establishments like Panera)? (note that I said "suitable"--I'm not even asking for delicious here... just something drinkable)

New Feature: Retro Reads

I was at my friend Brandy's house this morning (we could talk books for HOURS--really, people, we have play dates for our kids as an excuse to hang out on the couch and talk books...; it's almost as bad as when Megan and I have one of our scheduled phone calls....). Anyway, I was brainstorming with her how to discuss books I loved as a kid but haven't read since, books that are... well... old, and books that are "classics"--and she coined "Retro Reads" for me. Brilliant.

Here's what you'll find in Retro Reads (hopefully Megan and co. will join in):

• book reviews about books I loved back in the day but haven't reread as a critic; think of it as the kid's perspective, only from about 25 years distant (Wrinkle in Time, Bridge to Terebithia)
• book reviews about books that are no longer "contemporary" and have to be lumped into historical fiction... but they're really not what most grownups consider historical (Ramona Quimby, Age 8--joke's on us, right?!)
• book reviews about recognized classics (Heidi, Tom Sawyer, etc.)

I'll index them in with the rest, but label them "Retro Reads" so you know what kind of a review you're getting. If I missed sex, drugs, rock and roll in the book as a kid, it's safe to assume your kid will probably overlook them, too :-).

And now, my tea (Tetley British Blend--I need a serious wake up call this afternoon) is finished steeping and I'm off to read a stimulating Library Science textbook all about Collection Development (aka, buying more books for your library shelves). You should know that Retro Reads will comprise much of my reviews this fall since no one really wants me to review Collection and Development for the 21st century (or whatever it's called) in this particular blog space....

School is Beginning...

My daughter just started kindergarten! (and is loving it) She's in a 3 day/2 day co-op where she goes to school 3 mornings a week and is homeschooled 2 mornings a week.

And I'm starting my fall semester Monday. I'll be taking 2 classes this fall and one, in particular, looks work heavy.

I've enjoyed writing a plethora of reviews this summer (I took a class in Young Adult resources, so I was reading YA books all the time!), but I must warn you few faithfuls that my reviews will grow scarcer :-).

On the plus side: this coming spring, I'm hoping to take Resources for Children, so expect the picture book reviews to pick up!

Megan should be having a baby any day now, and then she can start to pitch in.... ha ha ha... as well all know, having that baby is only the start of more work! But they're such little blessings, we can hardly begrudge them the time they demand. This will be her third blessing, so she's catching up to me. :-)

It Pays to Read!!!

I'm just tickled pink over here folks. Look at my new toy!

Now, I must confess I've been dragging my feet over the whole e-reader idea: is it good? bad? indifferent? And who wants to plunk down hard earned cash just to see?

Well, as usual this summer, I entered our local library's adult reading challenge (I always enter my kids because they get cool coupons and puppets). And this year, I won the drawing! I'll be picking up my nook (the e-ink version which is great for... reading!) Friday morning at 10 at our downtown branch. They're going to take my picture and everything. So, now you're reading the blog of a minor celebrity. (That's all it takes around here to become a minor celebrity :-) ).

Stay tuned for e-reader opinions which hopefully will be forthcoming.

The Gingerbread Boy (Paul Galdone)

My kids and I thoroughly enjoy Paul Galdone's fairy and folk tale retellings. One of our favorites of his is The Gingerbread Boy. Our infatuation with this experience *might* have had something to do with the fact that the library let me check out a big book!*

At any rate, I read this aloud hundreds of times during our 6-week relationship (of course, I renewed it). My children played games using the story concept and still talk about it months later. Highly recommended.

*a "big book" is just what it sounds like: a really big version of the book that librarians often use for story time. I think this one measured roughly 2 feet by 1 foot or so.

The Perfect Cuppa: Tetley British Blend

Now, we tea drinkers all know that certain teas are best at different times of day. Currently, my perfect cuppa in the morning is none other than Tetley British Blend. I was on a PG Tips kick there for a while but had to cut back in the ol' budget realm. I tried Tetley British Blend: perfect.

It's robust and gets too strong almost immediately--you have to keep an eye on it. One tea bag will make a nice, strong, large mugful (only a bone china one, right?) or even a small, 4-cup potful. It begs for milk, which adds to the morning charm. Mmmmm... I'm becoming quite addicted. I'm even gravitating to it in the afternoons as well. (Shows partly how tired I am these days, but also that it's just one of the most comforting, soothing black teas ever.) It's hard to describe, but in comparison to other quality black teas, especially some loose leaf teas we have, Tetley British Blend is more full-bodied; the others taste "thin" without tasting weak.... does that make sense?

Anyway, if you're looking for a nice, strong cup of tea in the morning, give Tetley British Blend a try!

Poetry for Children

As a former middle and high school English teacher, I know that poetry is often the reading element that gives people the most trouble. It doesn't need to be this way. In fact, young children LOVE poetry! Get over your own mental block against poetry and check out some poetry to read to those wee ones at home.

(Did you know that your library's children's section probably has a section just for poetry? There are picture books that illustrate famous children's poems as well as anthologies of poetry just for children's ears. Ask your librarian for help in locating these gems. Your library will have many of the titles below, plus lots more with terrific titles like Sing a Song of Popcorn! and many, many others. Get in the habit of checking out a poetry book each time you visit the library.)

Here are some recommendations:

For infants/toddlers/preschoolers:

Any well-illustrated Mother Goose collection

• the Dillons (Mother Goose: Numbers on the Loose)
• My Very First Mother Goose by Iona Opie and Rosemary Wells
• Tomie DePaola's Mother Goose

Individual (Famous) Poems in Picture Book Form (if you sing these, your child will beg for more!)

• Itsy Bitsy Spider and others by Rosemary Wells
• Mary Had a Little Lamb and others by Tomie DePaola
• Twinkle Twinkle Little Star illus by Michael Hague
• Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening illus by Susan Jeffers

For Preschoolers/Kindergardners (younger kids will enjoy the rhymes/rhythms but may not appreciate the humor or subject matter as much)

• Sunflakes compiled by Lilian Moore (contemporary poems by well known children's authors--delightful)
• Shel Silverstein's works
• The Random House Book of Poetry for Children (illus by Arnold Lobel--creator of the Frog and Toad books)
• The Oxford Illustrated Book of American Children's Poems compiled by Donald Hall
• A Child's Treasury of Poems compiled by Mark Daniel (really nice book that's not in print anymore--look for it, though! It was published in the 80's I think.... These are poems for children by older authors--Robert Louis Stephenson, Christina Rosetti, Tennyson, etc. and accompanied by famous artwork)
• A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stephenson (lots of delightfully illustrated versions out there!)

Some poetry read aloud tips when reading to children:

• Read with EXPRESSION
• Vary your pace: most poems can be read slowly to good effect; speed up when you feel it will enhance the mood
• Read 5 or 6 at a time and save the rest of the book for later (or just 1 or 2 at a time); Mother Goose Numbers on the Loose may be an exception--my children love the entire thing at one sitting
• Look for poems about things that your children can relate to: shadows, spaghetti, the sun, getting their feet wet, the ocean, etc. Most anthologies are divided up by topics. As you get more familiar, you'll remember the rainy day section if it rains and so forth
• Reread them over and over! Young children memorize quite easily and will soon be quoting nursery rhymes and "My Shadow" effortlessly. They may even pop out a convincing rendition of "Sick" if they don't want to go to school....

Happy Poetry Reading!

Teacups, Teapots, and Tea Sets

From the time I was a little girl, I've loved tea sets: the matching cups and saucers, the fancy tea pots, the coordinating creamer and sugar.... I was destined to be a collector. I know Megan shares my sentiments exactly--that's part of what drew us together! In fact, the reason I wanted Lenox fine china was because I liked the shape of the teacups in their classic china collections.

We've both come to a disturbing realization lately--disturbing but freeing at the same time: we have too many tea pots and tea cups (gasp!). Is that possible? Unfortunately, yes, it is. Megan has been inspired to write an amazing short story that hopefully will published--one that reflects our dilemma and provides a wonderful solution. In the meantime, whilst we all wait with baited breath for the publication of said story, here's what I've come up with (giving credit where credit is due--this is all thanks to Megan's inspiration!).

My number 1 criterion for keeping various teapots and teacups:

Do I enjoy using it?

If it doesn't meet that criteria, then, no matter how attractive, how sentimental, how priceless, I need to consider getting rid of it. This has prompted some interesting reflection. For instance, I was using a teapot that I enjoyed using, but which had no value other than I simply liked the way it looked. A recent kitchen redo took away some of my storage, and I was forced to part with at least one teapot. I got rid of that very one because the others were all more sentimental in some way, and I simply decided to start using them! It's akin to using the good china instead of letting it linger unnoticed year after year. I'm sending a precious tea cup to a friend of mine who's going through a hard time. We both spent time in Scotland, so I know a teacup from Scotland will mean a lot to her. I don't enjoy actually using that teacup--I just like the way it looks and knowing its origin. Now, it's on its way to a mission much more spiritually uplifting than gracing my teacup shelf. And, oh, the pleasure of "using the good stuff"! If it gets chipped along the way, oh well--at least I'll have enjoyed its tenure in my possession.

Speaking of having "enough" teacups, I have 26 teacups (or nice china mugs) that coordinate with existing sets of china, so I'll never be short for a normal tea party. Thus, it's purely up to my enjoyment of the extras as to whether they'll "make the cut." I have teacups I've collected from different countries--the fun part is trying to figure out if I actually like drinking out of them. If not... then they're on to a new mission. This is where the freeing part comes in--if I don't enjoy actually drinking out of it, I need to find another use (small vase? coin/change holder? Goodwill box?).

I'm hopefully going to inherit a teaset from my mother. It sits on a small table at my mother's house, and I've never seen it used. It's the tea set that started me on my love affair with tea sets when I was a little girl (that and my voracious appetite for British literature). Will I use it when I get it or sit it on display? Probably both--after all, tea sets are meant to be used. Will I enjoy drinking out of those diminutive cups? You betcha! Will I be sad when and if one breaks? Of course, but I'll know that it was fulfilling its mission in life: to be filled with tea and to bring joy to someone.

On a final note: I let my kids drink out of some very sentimental tea cups I got in the Czech Republic. They're quite small and the perfect size for little hands. My daughter, especially, loves drinking out of "real" teacups. And I've been drinking out of my all-time favorite tea cup every day for the past 2 weeks.... (pictured above and purchased in London)