Drawing is an excellent way for children to express their feelings and thoughts about stories they hear. Consider keeping markers, crayons, colored pencils and blank notebooks available. Ask children to draw their favorite part of a story or what meant the most to them. Let them use any colors or medium available with no boundaries. When a child begins to draw, they are expressing their vision and understanding. You will be delighted and amazed at childrens' inherent brilliance and what they can teach you as well.
Children's Picture Books Reviews and Exploration Ideas
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The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes by DuBose Heyward and illustrated by Marjorie Flack is a masterpiece of storytelling, wisdom and joy that is a memorable adventure the whole family will cherish. Told to his daughter as a bedtime story, DuBose Heyward created the Country Bunny, a super heroine for all time who uses skill, wit, organization, gentility and structure to raise her twenty-one baby bunnies alone while also pursuing her dream - to be an Easter Bunny. Charming, classic illustrations by Marjorie Flack offer sweet, calming scenes of family and wonder that follow the Country Bunny as she courageously bypasses criticism, mocking and disbelief, never waivering in her knowing that she has much to offer as an Easter Bunny. An unabashed feminist tale woven by a man in the 1930s, The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes is a miraculous, cheering-as-you go read aloud from beginning to perfectly conceptualized end. A perfect marriage of art and story that has stood the archetypal test of time for sixty-nine years, The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes is a joyous Easter celebration of wonder.
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Discussion and Exploration Ideas
- Discuss with your child the Country Bunny's unwavering bravery and courage coupled with her dedication, tenacity and hard work. Share how any person can achieve their dreams through focus, passion and love, just as the Country Bunny.
- Invite your child to share what he/she thinks is the most heroic choice the Country Bunny makes. Discuss how the ordinary day-to-day offers opportunities for the heroic in all people. Consider how simple acts of consideration and kindness are heroic choices anyone can make.
- Revel in the masterful teamwork of the twenty-one bunnies and how they pulled together as a family, each doing that task which suits them most. What tasks or chores does your family do? Ask your child which tasks around the home are his/her favorite and how to help he/she accomplish them.
- Discuss the Easter Bunny with your child and listen intently as he/she shares her opinions about such a marvelous creature. Research and discover the symbolic, ancient meanings of rabbits, eggs, new clothes and all the Easter trimmings.
- Consider discussing the rare, visionary writing of DuBose Heyward and his recognition of Women's abilities and rights in an era when few did, especially men. Consider using the Country Bunny as a segway into discussing feminism and Women's suffrage.
- Consider learning more about DuBose Heyward, poet, playwrite, lyracist and visionary at The My Hero Project. Consider participating too -
For more Easter stories visit Easter -
the rebirth of life and the greening of the world.
To enjoy some Spring stories visit The Seasons in Story -
dancing in rhythm with nature's glory.
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The Good People: Authentic Irish Fairy Tales (Secrets of the World : Storytelling from Ireland) by Eddie Lenihan is an audio collection of enchanting, true tales about the Good People, or Faery, in Ireland. Lenihan's voice, manner, gentle-natured compassion and authentic goodness peal through the airwaves as he delivers mesmorizing folk and real tales sharing personal experiences from the elders in his village about the Faery: serious, real, sinister, living beings that are part of rural Irish culture and daily life. Exciting, spooky and important, Lenihan's stories entertain and remind us of the sacredness and spirit of place and how necessary it is to protect the wilds. Lenihan's stories exude love and respect for the tellers who shared with him as he shares with us. His choice of tales and manner of telling entice the listener and leave us with unforgettable images and memories of time spent learning about one of the most fascinating subjects in the world.
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Discussion and Exploration Ideas
- Discussing Faery always thrills children. Their natural wonder and curiosity revel in a chance to be set free in a world of infinite possibility. Open the floodgates of joy by asking your child to share his/her feelings, thoughts, beliefs, experiences, considerations, etc. about the Faery. Do they exist? Where do they live? Are they good or bad, or both? Why do they visit some people but not others? How long have they been here? The questions and possibilities are as open and huge as your imagination.
- Take a stroll through the Irish landscape and culture by visiting books, web sites, any media you enjoy, to get a feel for the spirit of place. What about the Irish landscape does your child think might invite the Faery and why?
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The Faery exist in almost all cultures worldwide as fact, not folklore. They are as myriad as the people who populate our planet. Enjoy exploring the Faery in various locations while comparing and contrasting the similarities and differences with your child. Some items to consider for discussion are varied landscapes, roles of the Faery (help or hindrance), appearance of Faery (what do they look like?), storytellers (rural or urban), and why they are important to a culture. Some books that might help you on your journey include:
The Hidden Folk: Stories of Fairies, Dwarves, Selkies, and Other Secret Beings by Lise Lunge-Larsen, Beth Krommes
The Book of Fairies: Nature Spirits from Around the World by Rose Williams, illus by Robin T. Barrett
Finding Fairies: Secrets for Attracting Little People from Around the World by Michelle Roehm McCann (Author), Marianne Monson-Burton (Author), David Hohn (Illustrator)
- Take a vist to Eddie Lenihan's web site at http://www.eddielenihan.com/ - listen to a story, view his gallery of photographs of a sceach or Faery bush that he campaigned and saved from construction destruction. Read the People Magazine article about his efforts. Listen to his stories and find out why he saved the sceach - his reasons may suprise you...
For additional Irish folktales, visit the Irish Culture section of Folktales - connecting children to their cultural, human and animal families.
March Events to Explore in Children's Books
Iditarod Race Begins - March 1
The Great Serum Race: Blazing the Iditarod Trail by Debbie S. Miller, illus by Jon Van Zyle
International Women's Day - March 8
Willa And The Wind retold by Janice M. Del Negro; illustrated by Heather Solomon
(enjoy both a story about a strong Woman and the wonder of March wind
St. Patrick's Day - March 17
The Last Snake in Ireland: A Story About St. Patrick by Sheila Macgill-Callahan, illus by Will Hillenbrand
Spring Equinox - March 20
The Spring Equinox: Celebrating the Greening of the Earth by Ellen Jackson, illus by Jan Davey Ellis
Full Moon - March 21 - Worm Moon
Long Night Moon by Cynthia Rylant; illustrated by Mark Siegel
Easter - March 23
Rechenka's Eggs by Patricia Polacco
Creative Writing and Telling Inspiration
Our elders and ancestors have so much interesting wisdom to impart just waiting to be requested. Consider having your child talk with an older relative or good friend about his/her life. Have them ask questions about their childhood, where they lived, what they loved, how the world has changed - whatever they feel is relevant. Have your child record the information with audio or simple note taking into a written format that will become part of your family history. Perhaps also consider taking photographs or visiting the places mentioned, if local, and recording the spirit of place. Creative writing can be non-fiction too - the creativity begins when the subject inspires.
Articles and Interest for Preteens, Teens to Adults
In celebration of the greening month of March and the Irish culture, please enjoy a newly posted article, Away with the Faeries: Exploring the Irish Gentry. Make certain to visit the resources listed - they offer a wonderful adventure.
OneWomansMind.net Highlight
Phenomenal Books of the Week - I will be updating my blog, Mythology and Motherhood: recovering the forest for the trees, weekly to include two new phenomenal book suggestions. Books listed will be exceptional children's picture books with an occassional adult suggestion that our family has shared together. The Mythology and Motherhood blog also offers a good read about various topics including book reviews, learning topics, opinions, and research related to mythology, indigenous cultures, parenting, etc. Please stop by on Monday mornings to enjoy!
A preview of what's coming in April 2008
The Garden in Spring
Conservation and Earth Day
Poetry for children
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Awareness
My Hero Project - celebrating the best in humanity
First Book - giving low income children the opportunity to read and own their first new books.
CharityUSA.com - CharityUSA.com, LLC. owns and operates The GreaterGood Network, a family of online activism sites that harness the power of the Internet to help people, animals, the global environment and causes in need. The GreaterGood Network sites include the hunger site, the breast cancer site, the child health site, the literacy site, the rainforest site and the animal rescue site. You can help by just visiting and clicking.
