Hey, Little Ant Essay Challenge Judged
Should the Ant get squished, should the ant go free? We leave the Kid with the raised up shoe. What do you think that Kid should do?-Picture Book, Hey, Little AntA fine group of educators, parents and children’s book authors gathered at the home of author, Phillip Hoose to judge the artwork entries by Kindergarten thru 3rd Graders to the Hey, Little Ant Essay Challenge. There was much concentration, debate, and laughter as the amazing submissions were reviewed.Meanwhile across the country, 17 additional judges are reviewing the writing samples submitted online by kids in Grades K-3....
Read MoreYoung Readers Underserved in New City Plan
Is it Portland City Council’s $30,000 cut to the library budget? Is it the Portland Public Library’s hasty decision? Or is it the economy, stupid?Either way, The Portland Public Library plans to close The Reiche Library, the only neighborhood branch in Portland’s working class and low income West End. 60+ kids, parents, seniors and other citizens turned out for a near spontaneous protest of the closure. PPL director Steve Podgajny bravely stepped into the fray of citizens who were asking, “why Reiche”, “where will our kids go?” and “why not cut...
Read MoreToast The BONEHEADS
A stupendous group of fellow artists, readers, and other dog lovers showed up to raise their glasses (of dog wine) to TOAST THE BONEHEADS. The BONEHEADS are the stars of Melissa Sweet’s new picture book, Tupelo Rides the Rails.Humans stood around munching bog bones, reading books, and discussing Melissa’s initiative to help dog shelters–www.mydogisabonehead.com. Fab website to launch May 25th thanks to White Dog Arts.The party was held at the deliciously eclectic studios of SNAP Productions where Scott Nash, Scott Whitehouse and artist Nancy Gibson Nash explore...
Read MoreThe Attorney General’s Brain
Spent the morning being gesticulated at with a rubber brain. Who knew Maine’s Attorney General had an extra?Well he does and he has put it to fine use. Maine Attorney General, Steve Rowe is out stumping for the brains of wee ones. Citing the incredible figure that 85% of brain development occurs by the age of three (90% by age 6), he made the case that it made good economic (if not moral) sense to support early childhood development.He showed a brilliant graph of educator salaries laid over the arch of brain development. A college professor making an average of $60K serves us at our...
Read MoreComic Book Heroes
South Portland, Maine middle school librarians, Connie Burns and Dan Wolotsky strike a pose after an evening celebrating kid created comics.Check out the comics created in Comic Life by Memorial Middle School kids and Mahoney Middle School kids.These two never fail to take advantage of every grand opportunity books or authors offer. This year they pulled off a fabulous school wide read of Maria Testa’s Something About America and a comic book workshop with Anne Sibley O’Brien for The Legend of Hong Kil Dong.They are also known to careen across the bridge with students for author...
Read MoreTournment of Turtles
Mad Turtle, indeed. Cathryn Falwell and I trundled up to LL Bean in Freeport for a few hours to promote SCOOT! on the flagstones of their mighty flagship store. Using Cathryn’s cleverly simple puppet form, kids created every variation of tussling turtles.Always say, “yes” to a LL Bean signing. They are very dedicated to the books and authors they host.More Photos Share...
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