PPBF: Moon

Happy PPBF; today I'm excited because you get to meet Moon.

Title: Moon

Author and Illustrator: Alison Oliver

Publisher: Clarion Books

Birthday: April 17, 2018

Suitable for ages: 4-7

Themes: imagination, mindfulness, play

Brief synopsis: Dutiful, responsible young Moon, who always does it all, yearns to know what it's like to feel wild and free. Will her imaginative encounter with some wily wolves free her up a bit?

Opening page: 

Every day, Moon walked home from school and thought about the day.

Resources:

Check out a Publishers Weekly review {here}.

Get a sneak peek from Design of The Picture Book {here}.

Purchase the book on Amazon {here}.

Visit my Mindfulness Pinterest collection {here}.

Why I like this book: 

1. The eye-catching illustrations are simply stunning.

2. The tale, although fictional, has a believable flavor.

3. The conflict resolves weaving in mindfulness.

I'm a big fan of practicing mindfulness.

Staying in the moment,

mindfully aware,

without judgment.

In other words, being where your feet are.

That's how author Julia Cook explained it in a recent interview.

And it stuck.

In Moon's dream-like outing with the wolves,

she learns how to pounce, how to play, how to howl.

In the moment. 

And then, and probably most importantly,

how to be still, how to listen and feel.

To unwrap the present.

Isn't that magical?

And that's just it.

Mindfulness can be magical.

But since it's a practice,

it takes practice.

I love that Moon comes back from her dreamy outdoor outing

ready to practice being her new-found carefree, playful self.

After a discussion about mindfulness, encourage your readers to create a bookmark explaining what mindfulness looks like to them.

Here's a design I'm working on to give to participants at

a Mindfulness Expo I'm keynoting next week.

Of course, you could always research wolves

or the moon. Or both.

Find out if wolves actually do howl at the moon.

And if so, why?

Check out this book;

it just might leave you howling for more.

Next, head over to Susanna Hill's blog to devour 

today's other KidLit authors' PPBF picks.

Enjoy the weekend.

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Techno-Charity: Maurice's Secret Sycamore App

Today I'm delighted to announce that

Maurice's Valises A Christmas Tail 

will be released Friday and I can't wait.

My copy came in the mail last week.

In addition to the fact that it's a really neat tale about hope and freedom, I'm excited because I was invited to write the Foreword! 

Adding to the awesomeness is the fact that Maurice's charitable-giving app was released just this week! Download Maurice's Secret Sycamore for free {here}.

App description from the creators: 

Picture yourself no bigger than a mouse, opening a door in the base of a Sycamore tree. You have magically arrived in the home of Maurice, world traveler and collector of the world’s wisdom. Secret passages lead to rooms full of math, memory, geography and other educational games. Game points earned can be transformed into books for kids in need. These donations model the lessons of compassion central to the companion children’s book series Maurice's Valises. This is a free, non-commercial app for children 5-9. 

How exciting is that? Technology meets charity to create a win-win for young and old alike. Kids helping kids by donating books while game-playing is genius; I am so inspired by author Jerry Friedman and so grateful to be a part of his projects.

Happy Sunday.

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Restitution & Restoration

Today I woke up thinking about forgiveness,

possibly because this is an important week for me and probably because 
this story seared such an imprint on my heart yesterday. A fire fighter falls asleep at the wheel after a long day's work and he crosses the center line, colliding with and killing a young mom and her unborn baby boy. How does her husband go on, much less forgive? 

The journey of faith, forgiveness, and friendship between these two men who met by accident under what would seem like unforgivable circumstances will at once astound and inspire you. I find myself so, so grateful that they so willingly and candidly shared it.

Forgiveness is one of those rare things that ends up being as much of a gift to you as to the person you gave it to. Anger, disappointment, sadness, resentment ... those things all try to talk us into holding on to that grudge and saying "No, I won't forgive them. They don't deserve it." We might even think, "Why bother to forgive them? It won't change what happened."

And guess what? Both of those things might very well be true. But at the end of the day, what do we deserve, really? And while forgiveness can't change what happened, it can totally change what will happen. In both lives. Try it and see.

But don't let forgiveness and accountability blur in your mind. We can forgive and still hold people accountable for their choices. That's the idea behind restorative justice. While we may not be able to change what happened, we must always accept responsibility and make amends as we work toward restitution and restoration.

Need some forgiveness ideas?

Click {here} for the Potato Sack metaphor.
Click {here} for games from Creative Youth Ideas.
Click {here} for my PPBF review of The Forgiveness Garden.

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PPBF: The Big Box

Today's PPBF is an oldie but goodie on my shelves that came to mind when we were discussing differentiation and individualized instruction the other day.

Title: The Big Box

Author: Toni Morrison with Slade Morrison

Illustrator: Giselle Potter

Publisher: Jump At The Sun (Hyperion Books)

Date: 1999

Suitable for ages: 8 and up

Themes: self-control, creativity, freedom

Brief synopsis:  Three children who challenge their boundaries and, in an adult's world, "just can't handle their freedom" are banished to life in The Big Box.

Opening Page: Patty and Mickey and Liza Sue

Live in a big brown box.

It has carpets and curtains and beanbag chairs.

And the door has three big locks.

Oh, it's pretty inside and the windows are wide

With shutters to keep out the day.

They have swings and slides and custom-made beds

And the doors open only one way.

Resources: 

Read a review from BrainPickings {here}.

Read a Publishers Weekly review {here}. 

Read the history behind the story {here}.

Find discussion questions at Teaching Children Philosophy {here}.

My suggestions for follow-up include using these reflection questions:

1. Did Patty do something wrong? If so, what?
2. Did Mickey do something wrong? If so, what?
3. Did Liza do something wrong? If so, what
4. Who, if anyone, acted unfairly in this story?
5. The children got really cool stuff when their parents visited. Would you be willing to trade your freedom for those things? Why or why not?
6. Were the children acting responsibly before they were put in the Box? Do you suppose that time in The Box would improve their behavior? Why or why not?
7. Describe a time when you might have felt like Patty, Liza, or Mickey. What steps did you take to improve your situation?
8. Think about the Six Pillars of Character. Give examples of how the three children showed good character and didn't show good character.

And this reinforcement activity:

Please Release Me!

Ask your students to choose one of the children: Mickey, Patty or Liza. They will be writing and delivering a short speech, campaigning for the release of their chosen child from his/her prison sentence. They can do it as a third-person narrative on their child's behalf or in the first-person as the child him/herself. Encourage your students to base their argument on your character values. Allow students to use the following questions as a guide:

1. Why would your chosen character benefit from his/her release?
2. What has your chosen character done to deserve his/her release?
3. How will your chosen character behave differently following his/her release?
4. What has your chosen character learned from his/her time in The Big Box?
5. Where will your chosen character go following his/her release?

6. How will he/she behave?

Why I like this book: This creative masterpiece serves as an excellent metaphor for freedom of self-expression, creativity, and individuality. Based on the adventures of three feisty-spirited children, this book details their youthful antics fueled by their unbridled freedom. Patty is a rebel in the classroom, Mickey upsets his neighborhood, and Liza frees the animals on the farm. Challenged by how to handle their energetic kids, the powers-that-be gather to figure it out. Instead of championing their innocence, celebrating their creativity, and fostering their voice and choice, their grown-ups diagnose the symptoms and treat the illness by forcing the kids to stay within the boxy confines of their orderly adult worlds. Oh, they mean well, but at what cost? 

I came from a home where we were repeatedly told that "children are to be seen and not heard." In schools and in homes, we can be authoritarian and operate under a "my way or the highway" regime or we can adopt a coaching model in which we listen to, mentor and guide. I know which one I would have preferred for my childhood; ask your students which one they think children would do better in. Set up a debate just for fun.

Check out this book; I think that it will generate a riveting discussion 

about creativity, freedom and individuality.

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