Between the pages of a book...

Friday March 1, 2013

One of my great loves is books, words, and the images created by them. Hang around for my last fave, a quote that celebrates just that.

I’m linking up today with Susanne at Living to Tell the Story for Friday’s Fave Five, where we recount the top five blessings of the week. Come join us!

My favorites for this week:

1. A cool snap! I know some of you are eagerly anticipating spring, and March represents that. But here in South Florida, the weather can be downright boring and devoid of seasons. I actually miss the winter and wearing my sweaters and jackets. We’re having a bit of a cool snap…cool enough to wear those sweaters. And I like it!

2. Getting my students’ rough drafts graded. I have about 88 students, therefore, 88 rough drafts. (For some, emphasis on “rough.”) It’s quite a task to get through them. And I try to give them as much help as possible so they can fix and create a great final paper. It takes a while. And I’m done! Now they’re working on making them works of art that will merit a great grade. (Then I’ll be grading again…)

3. Spring Break coming. One more week of school, and it will be Spring Break for us. One son is coming home—his break is the same as ours. Another is coming after Easter. We are so looking forward to having boys in the house.

4. Dr. Seuss. How magical his books are. They read themselves; they practically sing! His birthday is March 2, and today is being celebrated in schools as Read Across America Day, coordinated with his birthday. In the book doctor’s honor, I penned some lines. They lack his special magic, of course, but if you’re a book lover, you should click on over and take a look. (There's also a picture of Aiden there...)

5. A quote:

“Between the pages of a book is a lovely place to be.” (anonymous, as far as I could tell)

If you’ve been here before, you know I always feel this way…but with Read Across America Day, I felt this was particularly apropos.

Between the pages of a book is truly lovely to me!

Wishing you lovely moments this week, 
Photo credit

Dr. Seuss, My Inspiration

Thursday February 28, 2013

Dr. Seuss's birthday is March 2nd, and Read Across America Day is being celebrated in schools tomorrow.

I love me a good Dr. Seuss book and, as you can see, so does grandson Aiden and his monkey friend, George.

And in that same celebratory spirit, I've penned a verse for Aiden and all boys who love to hug their monkeys and read.

(Dr. Seuss it isn't, but you get the idea.)

Books and Magic and Monkeys, Too

As he sat in the house on that cold, cold wet day
The boy in the blue shirt just wanted to play!
Little Aiden was dreaming of planes, trains and cars
And forklifts and race cars and ships to the stars.

With his chin in his hand and a frown on his face
He looked round at the toys all over the place.
Little monkey sat still with no gleam in his eye
He seemed to be saying, “I want me some pie!
We will run and we’ll jump and we’ll have us some fun
Just give us some sunlight and out we will run.”

For the monkey and Aiden would often explore
Their missions would take them right out of the door.
Their adventures were magic, they were quite pretend
They’d rescue fair maidens, their honor defend.
They’d blast off to the moon and find treasure and land
Build snowmen and tall forts and castles of sand.

But inside they were stuck on that cold, cold wet day
No sun could be found, not a sliver or ray.
Little monkey was ready for joy and for fun
But things seemed so blue-y without the bright sun.

Then a gleam caught his eye and he looked at the floor
Saw blue books and red books stretched all to the door.
They were tales of great daring, of men strong and true
He fell from his perch and it seemed like he flew.

Aiden saw monkey fall and he followed him down
Saw book after book, tales of country and town.
They did gleam and they glistened like treasures of gold
Like tickets to places—far, near, new and old.

As the clouds spread their way o’er the now-darkening sky
The boy and his monkey felt like they could fly.
With a book in his hand and a friend by his side
A boy could fly rockets or zoom down a slide.

It can snow or rain buckets, with a book in your hands
You fly off to sunshine-filled kingdoms and lands.
For the world is a place of great joy with a book
So open one up, dive right in, take a look.

Little Aiden and monkey have flown on their way
With dump trucks and castles, race cars they will play.
For a book, it is magic, its spell is divine.
New people and places, love in every line.