Translantic Cat

Transatlantic Cat

With birds  above me
and animals alongside
all
furless like the elf cat
we are leaving humanity
in a dream

Creative activities for teens

Therapeutic activities for children
Creative Facilitation Manual

Rookie Smarts

The Young and the Perceptive

Uplifting Leadership

Josephine Cochrane 1839-1913 invented the dishwasher

The Frog Toad Collection

The Frog and Toad has such lovable illustrations.
In 'The Icecream' when toad falls to the bottom of the pond, my little reader said 'Frog is rescuing Toad'. Words sound so beautiful, when a toddler says them.

'The Surprise' seems so dark, that the Frog and Toad will never know that their friends cleaned up their frontyard of leaves and the evil wind spread the pile of dirt all over. 

Whos stronger, the Wind or the Mountain?

I was very curious about this book 'You are not small' with its ads on goodreads. The sparse illustrations ramp up the curiosity. Some characters reminded me of the ones in 'Where the Wild things are'. with very few sentences and drawing strokes, big concepts of comparision and perspective are introduced.

Exile

The Improbable Exile and the invention of Exile.

The Exquisite Butterfly Companion

Some butterflies look like painting. Some have different shapes of wings.

The Fourteenth Goldfish

In a very simple manner, very serious issues have been dealth with. The goldfish mention may fool the reader that it is one of those made up things that you have to use a bit of suspended belief. But just like the umpteen goldfish that replace the last one so it seems immortal to the little girl Ellie. Many truths and lessons accumulate in this small book. Knowing the truth of gold fish life term is the metamorphism akin to whats in store for about to be teenager Ellie. Between new and old friends, she gets a peek into her new teenager friend who is her grandfather, a scientist. From him she learns and finds her passion, just like her parents want her to find one. She learns of the two way edge sword called science.
author Jennifer Holm has very cleverly used the plot elements of having a character duo of the granddaughter and grandpa translatable to her age. Award worthy work.

Cat in the Echo Canyon

From


Spelling teachers book of lists
Cat and echo

Schezuan, The cat found himself in a dark dingy place. He said 'Meow' and he heard th other cat say 'Meow..meow..meow..' He thought this is a speedy cat who cant wait before the next are-you-listening-to-me meow. But the speedy Cat Meow would never start his/her own meow first. It always followed his meow. Was this a shy cat?
Schezuan then recalled that this sounded much like a blast from the past. He heard this same cat in Golkonda fort, which can echo.

Cat and Ketchup
Honey Mustard, the Cat was drunk on ketchup.

Finger guest
Know the song. Daddy finger Daddy Finger, Mommy finger Mommy finger.. Guest finger is when a person has more fingers than family.

Jam Refrigerator

Steel Llama


Canal Knot
Rabbit Leggings

conrad Storad's non fiction writing workshop

Notes from conrad storads workshop

Monster in the Rocks

The author asked in a workshop about the smallest owl. And here I thought - burrowing owl. somebody said Pygmy owl. But we are told, there is an even smaller owl, the elf owl who is the narrator of this story.
The illustrations need a special mention, not only do they maintain the unique look from 'Rattlesnake Rules' but each page gives you a look at the wonderful Sonoran desert landscape with cacti, some flowering. The lesson is learnt by Gambel Quail chicks to stay off the trail and be wary of monster who doesnt look like one.

Snake Swim Ring and Rattlesnake Rules

Coogam 40'' 3D Snake Swim Ring Inflatable Pool Float Color Rubber Open-loop Inner Tube Water Donut Rafts Foam Toy for Adults Kids Summer Outdoor Beach Playing Decoration (Red)

I am trying to dispel my fear of snakes by learning about them and treating them as part of nature. 'Rattklesnake Rules' makes the rattle snakes look very cute with each having a hat, bow or some personal effect like that.
It is funny that mama snake has to tell the baby snakes not to be afraid of their rattles. The book shows how the world gets on well with every one following rules, just like traffic.

The author Conrad Storad is an amazing person. He conducts writing workshops at Tempe Public Library.

Ida M Tarbell

This is an engrossing story of a woman who 'was drafting a life plan, beginning with an outline and revising it as new ideas occured to her'.
The book does a very good portrayal of the times of Ms. Ida M Tarbell, her passion for learning, people who helped and influenced her. Pictures of the people involved and the water world kind of rickety oil derricks maintain the readers interest.
The saga of muckraking has suspense in it. If she will get to the facts fast enough before they are wiped out.
When asked to participate in many causes and on the boards she refused saying 'she was an observer and not a negotiator'.
Imagine interviewing Louis Paster.
It might challenge young readers but it is a good read for adults too.

One of Ms Ida Tarbell's lines - "I never saw a machine I did not want to run".

Arabic Poems

searching for wild kine I ended up at a book - Desert Travel as a Form of Boasting.

I found it
Rain Song
Brief and Timeless  reminds me of an answer a friend gave about how she was managing something - with 'help and difficulty'.
The City is arc of madness -  Adonis