Laura Willis shares her favorite cookbooks, along with memories of the cookbooks that warmed her mother’s and grandmothers’ kitchens.
A Is For Azure: The Alphabet in Colors—Xanthic Fun Facts & Poetry Prompt
Colors have cool histories, intriguing origins, cultural meanings, wonderful names. Today, discover xanthic. Learn facts about this bright yellow color, and write a truly colorful vignette or haiku!
Bears & Beasts Poetry Prompt: Fairytale Beasts
Fairytales and fables invite us to an imaginary world with clever animals and princes bewitched and transformed into ghastly beasts. Create a beast of your own imagination, one whose story deserves to be told— with poetry.
Put a Little Song in Your Heart—with Latino Nursery Rhymes from Canticos
Put a little song—and a little Spanish—in your heart with these books based on Latino nursery rhymes from Canticos.
Tea Quest: De Fer Coffee and Tea
Laura Brown makes her way to the local farmers market to sample teas from De Fer Coffee and Tea in the latest stop on the Pittsburgh tea quest tour.
Form It: A Bear Poetry Prompt
“Form It” is a poetry prompt that focuses on exploring our topic through form poetry. The prompt includes recommendations for each form’s best use! This time, we’re going to “form” a bear.
Children’s Book Club: “Frederick”
Poets have their own sort of economy—they harvest words. Join us as we read Leo Lionni’s classic fable “Frederick” with Megan Willome as our guide.
Write the Moon: A No-Write Poetry Prompt
With a little help from a possum, pumpkin spice, and a classroom of kindergartners, Callie Feyen has a no-write poetry prompt for fall.
Bears & Beasts Prompt: The Bestiary
Medieval bestiaries were the National Geographic of their day. Except, some of the bears & beasts were imaginary. Learn about some of the most unique creatures and create your own magnificent beast with poetry.
A Random Day of Poetry
We celebrated another day of Random Acts of Poetry, delighted by poems chalked and inked and memorized and read aloud in the public square. How did you spend the day?
Reading in the Wild: September’s Pages
Come learn the secrets of being a wild reader. Or just share your September pages. Megan Willome leads the way, with her September goodreads.
Bears & Beasts: Animate Poetry Prompt
This week’s poetry prompt asks you to join the wild rumpus and become Bears & Beasts. Imagine the adventures! Join us, animate yourself into a wild animal or a mythical creature, and create poetry. Rawr.
Thank You Notes: Walks
Thank You Notes is a monthly writing prompt to express our thanks to a particular person, place, or thing. This month we’re saying thank you to walks.
Poets and Poems: John Latham and “From Professor Murasaki’s Notebooks”
The poems of “From Professor Murasaki’s Notebooks” by John Latham linger in the mind, and in the heart, long after the reading is done.
Poetry Prompt: The Reverse Cinquain
We’ve added a little challenge this week as we’re learning to write the reverse cinquain. Hop in and take a ride with us—in reverse gear. It’s going to be fun.
Life Notes: Notes from an Urban Cabin # 19
Laura Lynn Brown writes about unexpected life in her urban cabin and a cat-and-mouse game. What happened to the peanut butter in the traps?
Top 10 Alphabet Books for National Literacy Month!
Great tips for teaching reading—from librarians, teachers, and literacy specialists—plus professional picks of 10 terrific alphabet books.
Top 10 Books that Inspired Me (and You)
If you could only choose ten books that inspired you, what would they be? Megan Willome shares her personal Top 10.
Cinquain Poetry Prompt: The Superposition
From careful study of Japanese poetry like haiku, Adelaide Crapsey crafted the cinquain. Learn about the similarities between the two poetry forms, the “superposition” of poetic elements, and create a cinquain of your own.
Children’s Book Club: “One Grain of Rice: A Mathematical Folktale”
Math can be beautiful, especially with tigers and elephants and gold. Join us as we read ‘One Grain of Rice’ with Megan Willome as our guide. Plus, get more great math title recommendations!