I’ve been working with kids and creating programs for people of various ages in some capacity for almost ten years now. But only recently did I learn this about myself. When in doubt for a program name, I will take something obvious and add the word “mania” after it. “Madness” is a close second. Movie Mania, Spring Mania, Midnight Madness…you get the idea. So now I have Animal Mania. Once a month I focus on an animal, do a craft with the kids, and read stories if I can get them to sit still long enough.
Archive: April 16, 2008
Last weekend when I started Maggie’s coasters, I decided to wash all the fabric that I had in my craft closet. I usually prep things as I go for a project, but now that I live in a house and I have an actual studio (with a 2nd floor laundry room right across the hall!) I suddenly decided I would be proactive and wash and press all my fabrics as I buy them. That way I can open my closet and grab stuff that’s ready to work with. So I shoved everything in the washing machine and sat down to look over Denyse Schmidt’s book.
This is a classic for story time. I know there are a great many books out there that are newer, more colorful, and more popular these days. But I come back to this one a lot. The illustrations are right up my alley, simple but very expressive. And more than any other book, this one gave me the most practice with my animal voices. When I did my elementary student teaching at PS 75 in Manhattan, this was a mainstay in the read aloud rotation. And Dee and Lisa, I must say that now when I do the book myself, my “SNORT!” is pretty darn good.
I have to say, I loved this book. If I can get the cadence and the rhythm down, I’m reading this at a story time. I read this the same day that I read Animal Band by Christopher S. Jennings, and what a difference between the two. Jennings’s drawings are lively, but there’s just something missing to make it extra special. The Jazz Fly is extra special, a great example of musical creatures. Who knew that jazz would work so well in the animal kingdom? I think kids would like both books, but as a grown up Gollub’s is the one that really came alive for me. Next week I’m doing a Silly Stories program, and maybe I can work this in if I practice my voices. I’d love to see the kids try some of the sounds for themselves.
My very good friend Maggie, who is from Missouri, has a very cool Brooklyn walk-up. Her birthday is next week, and since she just moved in to this place last fall I wanted to make her something for the apartment. She is a Southerner who appreciates homemade gestures. Her walls are cream, and she has sky blue accents and pictures of red barns on the walls. Very natural, kind of funky for Brooklyn, all Maggie. I decided to make her some quilted coasters, and I bought 4 plastic iced tea tumblers from Target to go with them.