Saturday, April 23, 2011

Make Way for the Ducklings



Robert McCloskey wrote his book in 1941. Inspired by time spent in the Boston Gardens and by May Massee, a teacher and librarian by trade, and a book editor. May Massee contributed to childrens literature by starting the first juvenile department in 1932. McCloskey was the Caldcott winner in 1942.

His book is the official children's book of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. A memorial was built to honor the McCloskey's book in 2003. It is fun for kids to see in the Boston Gardens and climb on.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Emily Dickinson

It is nearing summertime and this is an easy poem for you to memorize and help the kids memorize. Memorization is good for the kids and brain.

THE BEE is not afraid of me,
I know the butterfly;
The pretty people in the woods
Receive me cordially.

The brooks laugh louder when I come, 5
The breezes madder play.
Wherefore, mine eyes, thy silver mists?
Wherefore, O summer’s day?


Emily Dickinson

Monday, April 11, 2011

John Ross

Congrats John on publishing your book! Loved it!





http://www.bigbrownboots.net/The_Elf_in_Big_Brown_Boots/Home.html

Making Bread (edited)

Making Bread

Flour in the air,
Flour in her hair.
Flour on the door,
Flour on the floor.

What a chore,
Flour is here and there.
She's painting her arms,
Her cheeks powder fair.

No more sweet rosey smiles.
Just sifted flowered,
giggles in the air
with the bleached powder.

Dusty white pats,
on black springy twists.
Baby brown hands,
now lightly white.

Flour everywhere,
time to be...
Clean.
brown with rosey cheeks.

it's tacit...
I love her brown
I love her white
oh, what a chore
I adore.

Added: 12.04.2011

Laurence Dunbar

This is one of my favorite poems from the Harlem Renaissance. He is my favorite author of that time. He read his first poem at age 6. He went to high school with the Wright brothers. He was the school newspaper editor. His first book of poetry, "Oak and Ivy", was recieved well locally and he had to work as a elevator operator to pay the publishing debt. His second book is what brought him national fame.

LITTLE BROWN BABY

Little brown baby wif spa'klin' eyes,
Come to yo' pappy an' set on his knee.
What you been doin', suh--makin' san' pies?
Look at dat bib--You's ez du'ty ez me.
Look at dat mouf--dat's merlasses, I bet;
Come hyeah, Maria, an' wipe off his han's.
Bees gwine to ketch you an' eat you up yit,
Bein' so sticky an' sweet--goodness lan's!

Little brown baby wif spa'klin' eyes
Who's pappy's darlin' an' who's pappy's chile?
Who is it all de day nevah once tries
Fu' to be cross, er once loses dat smile?
Whah did you git dem teef? My, you's a scamp!
Whah did dat dimple come f'om in yo' chin?
Pappy do' know you--I b'lieves you's a tramp;
Mammy, dis hyeah's some ol' straggler got in!

Let's th'ow him outen de do' in de san',
We do' want stragglers a-layin' 'roun' hyeah;
Let's gin him 'way to de big buggah-man;
I know he's hidin' erroun' hyeah right neah.
Buggah-man, buggah-man, come in de do',
Hyeah's a bad boy you kin have fu' to eat.
Mammy an' pappy do' want him no mo',
Swaller him down f'om his haid to his feet!

Dah, now, I t'ought dat you'd hug me up close.
Go back, ol' buggah, you sha'n't have dis boy.
He ain't no tramp, ner no straggler, of co'se;
He's pappy's pa'dner an' playmate an' joy.
Come to you' pallet now--go to you' res';
Wisht you could allus know ease an' cleah skies;
Wisht you could stay jes' a chile on my breas'--
Little brown baby wif spa'klin' eyes!