Reflective Renewal

Don’t you consistently find that the simplest things in life are the most beautiful, and sometimes the most complex and fulfilling?  I find that I get more out of a simple children’s picture book than I often get out of a complicated textbook.  The same goes for a single flower versus a bouquet, or a [...]

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As we celebrate the newness of spring, of birth and rebirth in our lives, consider how the beauty and simplicity of children’s literature and our connection as women can be equally celebrated and nurtured.

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Growing up, I was an avid reader.  Even on beautiful spring days when others were out biking and playing, I could be found indoors curled up with a great book.  Like so many adolescents, however, my reading habits did decline somewhat dramatically once puberty struck.  Instead, I was fixated on social relationships and boys, like [...]

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As a child, I remember visiting the library and seeing the silver emblem stickers on certain picture books that had been awarded Caldecott medals.  Honestly, although I markedly noticed the Caldecott stickers, I never gave the awards much thought.  I just loved the books.  As teachers, though, we all anxiously await the announcement of the [...]

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I posed this question to my Facebook friends recently and the flood of replies seemed to signal how much we all relish the chance to be kids again.

More than the titles of books, I saw in the responses a sincere joy in remembering the sensory feel of the pages, the vivid illustrations, and where they were or who they were with when they first discovered reading.

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