Spider Speaks: An Original Animal Mask Poem

I'm sorry that I haven't posted in a week. I've been busy getting things organized for my mother's 93rd birthday party!

Here's a picture I took of my mother

and my cousin Joyce

at my daughter's wedding last July.

Happy Birthday, Mom!!!

In addition, I'm now a regular guest blogger at Jonathan Turley's law blog (I post there every weekend). I'm sure that most people who frequent Wild Rose Reader know that I'm a poetry junkie. I'm also a political junkie. I try to keep my poetry blogging and my political blogging separate--so let me just say I'd been busy doing research for a couple of my Turley "Blawg" posts. I will tell you that I've been very interested in what has been going on in Wisconsin and I try to read everything I can on the subject--as well as watch news updates on the situation in that state. I'm a former teacher. I stand with the union demonstrators in Madison.

I didn't have much time this week to write poetry or to do any poetry book reviews--so I'm posting Spider Speaks--which I wrote for a collection of animal masks poems that is still unpublished.


SPIDER SPEAKS

I’M a spinner.
I’M a weaver.
I’M a clever bug deceiver.

Of silver silk
I build my snare
And clueless insects blunder there.

I’m crafty, sly.
I use my head…
And yards and yards of sticky thread!

***************

Sara Lewis Holmes has the Poetry Friday Roundup at Read Write Believe.

A New Favorite Book {GIVEAWAY}

The last few days, I've been posting about DVDs I plan to bring with us on our first flight with the girls next month.  We'll also be toting along a bunch of books, and at the top of the pile will be Gabrielle and Alaina's new favorite, Who Said Coo?

They cannot get enough of this sweet bedtime story.  In the book, Lulu (which is our nickname for Alaina!) is a sleepy pig whose pals Pigeon, who "coos", and Owl, who "whoos", have shown up at bedtime and want to play.  Lulu tries to send her noisy friends away but after their boo-hooing, she invites them in for a slumber party. Our copy usually comes out right before the girls are about to hit the sack themselves.  Can you tell by the binky, blankie and Big Bird?

The girls love the sweet illustrations and both of them enjoy telling Pigeon and Owl to "Shhhhh!" since it's sleepy time.  See what I mean?

I really like the fact that the rhymes have just the right rhythm for reading aloud which makes it one of the few books I don't mind repeating over and over.  There's a great amount of repetition that Gabrielle and Alaina have caught on to quickly, and there are lots of opportunities for them to "coo", "whoo" and "moo" like the animals in the book do.  Here's our Lulu doing her best "moo".

There are also some really funny moments and a good moral about conflict resolution in the story so the girls laugh and learn. And even though the book is so interactive, the illustrations are soft, sweet and almost kind of sleepy, which make it the perfect story to read right before bed.

And here's one more fun fact about Who Said Coo?  It was written and illustrated by twin sisters! Here are Deborah Ruddell, who wrote the book, and Robin Luebs, who drew the images, now:

And as little girls:

I know that Gabrielle and Alaina have no idea that their favorite book was written by twins but it makes me happy.  Maybe it's the thought that someday they'll work together on something like Debbie and Robin have.  A mom can dream, right? In any case, Who Said Coo? is a read that both you and your children will love!

And I've got great news because one lucky AFOMFT reader is going to win a copy of their very own!  To enter to win, post a comment here telling me what your child's favorite book is (this is mandatory).

For additional entries, click this graphic to vote for AFOMFT on Top Baby Blogs:

And post a comment that you did.  You can vote once per day per computer so if you vote every day or on different computers, be sure to post one comment for each one.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry and make sure to include a link to your tweet, blog post, etc. All entries must be posted on AFOMFT as a direct comment to this post.  Comments on Facebook will not count as entries.  This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and ends March 3rd at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and announced on AFOMFT on March 4th. If the winner doesn't contact AFOMFT within 48 hours, a new drawing will be held so be sure to check back to see if you've won!

Please note that I was sent a copy of Who Said Coo? for the purpose of this review and giveaway.  No other compensation was received.  The opinions I've shared of this book are my own and yours may differ.

Images: AFOMFT, Brian Ruddell & Craig Luebs

Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.... Isaiah 1:18

White as snow...

My friend, Jennifer, took this lovely picture.

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:18

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by!

Do you still remember Madam TAM, the 83 years old elderly lady, whom I shared with you sometime back? Thank you for your prayers for her.

♥  Thank and praise God that she has just been baptised last Lord's day evening in my church!

Madam TAM being baptised by my Pastor

Madam TAM first came to my church's evening service about 5 years ago when my church went tracting in our church's neighbourhood. She was among one of those who stays in a one-room flat, a  small rental apartment usually stayed by destitute and poor elderly people. Ever since then she attended my church evening services on and off, whenever she can.

Madam TAM has been very sickly over the last 2 years with severe heart failure and she went through many trials with her health and difficult family situations. She also suffered from geriatric depression and was suicidal at one point of time.

God in His mercies led my church to closer contact with her over the last 2 years and He gave her many opportunities to hear the Gospel and to know His love and kindness in many wonderful ways. She found comfort in His love and His presence with her. She nearly died of heart failure in 4 hospitalizations in early 2009 and she nearly died of heart failure again in early this month (February 2011) but God graciously preserved her life once again.

In our Lord's mercies and faithfulness He has led her to put her complete trust in Him over the years and to testify of her faith through baptism. Praise Him!

Although Madam TAM does not know many deep doctrine or remember them, she has simple child like faith. She is thankful to God for His goodness and mercies to her. She prays and asks the Lord to be with her especially when she goes out and to bring her safely home. It is heartening to hear her thanking our Lord and knowing sensibly that our Lord has protected her and provided for her. Please continue to pray that she will grow in her knowledge, faith and love for our Lord. May our Lord also increase her peace, joy and comfort daily.  

God's goodness and mercies to Madam TAM is an encouragement to me and my brethren as we serve God at home, work, church, reaching out to lost souls and our beloved ones. May it be your encouragement too as you serve our Lord.

♥  I thank God that He gives me the joy and opportunities to serve Him in little ways like these in visiting the sick and elderly, despite my bipolar condition. It gives me a reason to wake up every morning, a sense of usefulness to know that I can be used by God as an instrument to contribute to the well-being of others and be useful in God's kingdom despite my many limitations and failures.

♥ I thank God for all of you, for your prayers and encouragements. You are in my thoughts and prayers too.

Take care and have a blessed week!

Warm regards,
Nancie

In the Nick of Time! {GIVEAWAY}

Yesterday, I posted about my quest for new DVDs before our first flight with the girls.  My search got so much easier thanks to Nickelodeon, who sent me five fabulous new releases to preview.

The first was a DVD of one of Gabrielle and Alaina's must-see shows, Yo Gabba Gabba, called Let's Visit the Doctor.

If you haven't seen this episode, the doctor in question is played by none other than Anthony Bourdain!  When Toodee gets sick, he treats her and all of the Gabbaland pals rally around her with chicken soup and fairytale stories to keep her entertained.  In addition to the "Doctor" episode, this DVD also contains "Teeth", "Car" and "Clean."  Gaby and Alaina love all things Gabba and who am I kidding?  So do I!  "Clean" actually features my favorite musical guests from YGG - Chromeo performing "Nice N Clean."  It's a hoot!

We also got to check out Nickelodeon Favorites: Brothers & Sisters.

This DVD includes six episodes from five different series - Dora the Explorer, Go Diego, Go!, The Wonder Pets, Blues Clues and Ni Hao, Kai-lan - which all focus on the relationship between siblings, welcoming new family members and working out conflicts between sisters and brothers.  It's a great mix of shows that keeps my girls thoroughly entertained, and with a running time of two hours, it's the perfect DVD for our upcoming trip!

Up next?  Dora's Ballet Adventures, which features four dance and music-themed episodes from Dora the Explorer. 

From Boots's birthday to Dora's first dance recital, there's lots of fun to be had here!

Switching gears, we also received The Backyardigans: We Arrrr Pirates, four exciting adventures that find the singing and dancing pals hitting the high seas: 

As well as SpongeBob Squarepants: The Great Patty Caper.

On this 89-minutes DVD, SpongeBob and his friend Patrick have to work together to solve the Krabby Patty recipe caper and Mr. Krabs tries to handle Pearl’s appetite and Plankton uses a new disguise to get his hands on the Krabby Patty formula.  There's also some fun bonus material in “The Great Patty Shorts.”

You can purchase Yo Gabba Gabba: Let's Visit the Doctor and Nickelodeon Favorites: Brothers & Sisters now on Amazon.com, and Dora's Ballet Adventures is currently available exclusively at Target.  The Backyardigans: We Arrrr Pirates and SpongeBob Squarepants: The Great Patty Caper will both hit stores on March 8, 2011.

I watched the first two DVDs with Gabrielle and Alaina, who thoroughly enjoyed every second of them.  The last three I've chosen to give away to one lucky AFOMFT reader!

To enter to win, post a comment here telling me what your child's favorite Nickelodeon show is (this is mandatory).

For additional entries, click this graphic to vote for AFOMFT on Top Baby Blogs:

And post a comment that you did.  You can vote once per day per computer so if you vote every day or on different computers, be sure to post one comment for each one.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry and make sure to include a link to your tweet, blog post, etc. All entries must be posted on AFOMFT as a direct comment to this post.  Comments on Facebook will not count as entries.  This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and ends February 28th at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and announced on AFOMFT on March 1st. If the winner doesn't contact AFOMFT within 48 hours, a new drawing will be held so be sure to check back to see if you've won!

Please note that Paramount Home Entertainment sent me the five DVDs listed above for the purpose of this review and giveaway.  No other compensation was received.  The opinions I've shared of their products are my own and yours may differ.

Images: Paramount Home Entertainment

It's Timmy Time! {GIVEAWAY}

We're about two months away from our first ever plane ride with Gabrielle and Alaina and I'm already in panic mode.  I just don't want to be "that family" on the flight.  You know, the ones with the screaming toddlers running up and down the aisle, torturing the other passengers for 3+ hours.  Gah, just the thought of it makes me nauseous!

To prepare, I've been asking all of my mom friends for advice on how to survive the trip and there's one universal response (well, besides "drink heavily") and that's come armed with new DVDs they haven't seen yet.  Sounds simple, right?  Not when it comes to my kids who seem to have already watched everything under the sun.  So when I saw this trailer for Timmy Time: Timmy Steals the Show, a new DVD geared toward pre-schoolers from the creators of Wallace and Gromit, I knew it would fit the bill. 

Here's what it's about.  Timmy Time follows the adventures of Timmy, a little lamb with a lot to learn as he enters preschool.  Used to having his way by being “the only lamb in the flock,” now that he's in school, Timmy has to graze on some important life lessons about playing nicely with others, namely his fellow classmates of the furry, feathered and spiky types. Lessons about playing nicely with others?  Yeah, we need those!

The DVD was released today and ours is already on the way.  It's got a running time of 43 minutes, so now I only have to find something to occupy the girls for the other two hours of our flight! 

Want your own copy of Timmy Time: Timmy Steals the Show?  You're in luck because Lionsgate Home Entertainment is giving away a DVD and this adorable Timmy plush to one lucky AFOMFT reader!

To enter to win, post a comment here telling me who you'll give the Timmy Time set to if you win (this is mandatory).

For additional entries, click this graphic to vote for AFOMFT on Top Baby Blogs:

And post a comment that you did.  You can vote once per day per computer so if you vote every day or on different computers, be sure to post one comment for each one.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry and make sure to include a link to your tweet, blog post, etc. All entries must be posted on AFOMFT as a direct comment to this post.  Comments on Facebook will not count as entries.  This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and ends February 28th at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and announced on AFOMFT on March 1st. If the winner doesn't contact AFOMFT within 48 hours, a new drawing will be held so be sure to check back to see if you've won!

Images: Lionsgate Home Entertainment

Apartment for Rent: An Original Fairy Tale Poem

Here's another poem from my unpublished poetry collection Excerpts from the Fairy Tale Files. This poem is written in the form of a classified ad.

**********

APARTMENT FOR RENT

One room, up-tower, furnished, neat.
The low, low rent cannot be beat.
Has awesome view of Castle Bay.
Installed a ladder yesterday
That’s strung with rungs of golden hair—
No other like it anywhere.
Have not seen my last tenant since
She fled and wed a handsome prince.

**********

At Blue Rose Girls, I have a post titled Let It Snow...Let It Snow...Let It Snow: Repetition in Poetry.

You'll find the Poetry Friday Roundup over at Great Kid Books.

Happy Valentine's Day! {GIVEAWAY}

Happy happy Valentine's Day to all of you who read AFOMFT!  As you may know, today is my birthday and there is no better gift than having more than 1,100 GFC followers, 3,000 Facebook "likers" and almost 2,000 Twitter followers.  You all make my day every day.

To show my appreciation, I've got a little giveaway for you.  Up for grabs?  Three gift cards - one for $50 to Old Navy, one for $50 to Ann Taylor Loft and one for $50 to iTunes.  So how do you score one?  Just leave a comment on this post.  Yup, that's it.  I'll draw three winners (one for each card) this Friday, February 18th at 11:59 pm so be sure to comment with something - anything - before that.  And if you want to show your love in return, click the banner below to vote for AFOMFT on Top Baby Blogs.

You won't earn extra entries for doing it but you'll put a smile on my face and isn't that reward enough on my birthday? ;) 

Image: Design Editor

2010 Cybils Award Winners Announced!

The 2010 Cybils Award Winners were announced this morning! Click here to find out who the winners are.

The 2010 Cybils Awards to Be Announced Soon!

The 2010 Cybils Award winners will be announced on Valentine’s Day. Be sure to check out the Cybils Web-site on Monday!

A winning book will named in each of the following nine categories:
Easy Readers & Early Chapter Books
Fantasy & Science Fiction (Middle Grade)
Fantasy & Science Fiction (Young Adult)
Fiction Picture Books
Graphic Novels (Middle Grade)
Graphic Novels (Young Adult)
Middle Grade Novels
Nonfiction Books (Middle Grade & Young Adult)
Nonfiction Picture Books

Poetry

Young Adult Novels

I served as a 2010 Cybils Round I Poetry Panelist. I think 2010 was a banner year for children's poetry. Our group nominated seven titles. There were other fine poetry books that didn't make our list of finalists.

**********

The 2010 Cybils Poetry Finalists

Borrowed Names:

Poems about

Laura Ingalls Wilder,

Madam C. J. Walker, Marie Curie,

and Their Daughters

Written by Jeannine Atkins

Henry Holt

Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night

Written by Joyce Sidman

Illustrated by Rick Allen

Houghton Mifflin

Mirror, Mirror:

A Book of Reversible Verse

Written by Marilyn Singer

Illustrated Josee Masse

Dutton

Scarum Fair

Written by Jessica Swaim

Illustrated by Carol Ashley

Wordsong

Ubiquitous:

Celebrating Nature's Survivors

Written by Joyce Sidman

Illustrated by Beckie Prange

Houghton Mifflin

Sharing the Seasons:

A Book of Poems

Selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins

Illustrated by David Diaz

McElderry

Switching on the Moon:

A Very First Book of Bedtime Poems

Collected by Jane Yolen & Andrew Fusek Peters

Illustrated by G. Brian Karas

Candlewick

2010 Cybils Poetry Panel

Panel Organizer: Kelly Fineman, Writing and Ruminating

Panelists (Round I Judges):
Bruce Black, Wordswimmer
Elaine Magliaro, Wild Rose Reader
Gina Ruiz, AmoXcalli, The Graphic Landscape
Laura Purdie Salas, Writing the World for Kids
Sylvia Vardell, Poetry for Children

Judges (Round II):
Kelly Fineman (see category organizer)
Sara Lewis Holmes, Read Write Believe
Greg Pincus, GottaBook
Jama Rattigan, Alphabet Soup
Liz Scanlon, Liz in Ink

**********

Let me say that it was a pleasure to work with the other Round I Panelists. They all have a true appreciation for children's poetry. I have great faith in our Round II Judges. They've had a difficult task--choosing one winner from all those wonderful poetry books. I can't wait to find out which title they select as the 2010 Cybils Poetry Award Winner!

Congratulations to the authors, illustrators, anthologists, and publishers of all the 2010 Cybils Poetry Finalists!!!

Farewell, My Lovely: An Original Fairy Tale Poem

Yesterday, I decided to write a new fairy tale love poem in honor of Valentine's Day, which is almost here. I feel I still need to do a bit of tinkering with Farewell, My Lovely to get the rhythm just right. Here's my first draft:

Farewell, My Lovely

She's beautiful! Forsooth, she's dead.
Look at her lips--so ruby red.
Her skin’s as white as fallen snow.
Her ebony hair’s like silk. Oh no!
I’ve fallen in love with a corpse—alas!
She looks so alive in her coffin of glass.
What will I do? I can’t tell the queen!
I know she’d make a royal scene
And conk me with her orb of gold…
And make me sleep out in the cold.
The king would have a raging fit.
He'd tell me I’m a foolish twit,
Take my inheritance away!
Tabloids would write an exposé.

I’m so forlorn. Oh, woe is me.
I shan’t live forever happily.
Today I found the love of my life—
But she will never be my wife.
I want to be the royal heir!
I must find a living lady fair
To marry me and be my bride.
I can't wed a gal who's already died.
I plan to rule this kingdom...so
Farewell, Snow White. Heigh-ho, heigh-ho.







At Blue Rose Girls, I have another fairy tale poem titled A Charming Prince Has Second Thoughts.


Rasco from RIF has the Poetry Friday Roundup this week.

Here & There: February 10, 2011

From School Library Journal

Places in the Heart: Celebrating Black History Month
School Library Journal asked some of the top kids’ book creators to choose their favorite children’s book about the black experience.

Here, There, and Everywhere: The United States Board on Books for Young People cites 40 international books for its 2011 honor list

Bullying: The Elephant in the Schoolyard (K-12 resources about bullying)


From Booklist Online

Classroom Connections: Marching for Freedom—Linking Literature to Primary Sources

Top 10 Black History Books for Youth: 2011

Top 10 Black History Books for Youth: 2010


From Wild Rose Reader

Black History Month Resources

Untitled Winter Sun Poem

Sun sears a winter sky
sets it afire
flares in the west
before it settles down
for the night

Valentine's Freebie Festival: Day 17 {FREEBIES}

For day 17 of the VALENTINE FREEBIE FESTIVAL, I've got the perfect printable to help you display the adorable Valentine's Day photos I'm sure you've already taken. (And if you haven't, get some inspiration for a love-inspired photo op here!)

Kim from It's a Crafty Life  designed these fun circles:

She stuck some magnetic tape on the back:

And presto - Valentine's magnets that are cute enough to use all year long!

You can download the free printable circles here at It's a Crafty Life, and if you have a free Valentine's printable you'd like to share, enter it into the link up below!

*If you are reading this in via our e-mail newsletter or RSS feed, the link up won't show up. You have to visit the post on our website to view it.

A Winter Poetry Tidbit

bent low
with snow
bushes bow to winter

Get Your Game On, V-Day Style!

For day 4 of the Valentine's Countdown I'm hosting over at Nickelodeon's Parents Connect, I'm sharing some great games and activities for February 14th!  There are lots of fun ideas (most with free printables!) from Shindig Parties To Go, Katie Did, Make & Takes, Woo Jr., The Crafting Chicks, The Pretty Blog and more. And here's another one you don't want to miss from The Superchick herself, Genevieve from Celebrate Today.... the Superchick Way!

Gen created this awesome heart memory game - "A Perfect Match," get it? - that's great for kids of all ages.  And it is so simple to make.  Just print out the game pieces and either use a paper punch or scissors to cut them out.

You can stop there or if you want to get fancy with it - as true superchicks do! - glue each piece to some colored card stock.  To jazz 'em up even more, add some scrapbook paper to the backs too.

Then wrap the pieces up and you're good to go!  You can give them out along with valentines or just use them at home.  Either way, this is an activity your kiddos will love on February 14th and beyond.

To get the full how to and download the free printable games pieces, visit Celebrate Today.... the Superchick Way.  And for more V-Day games and goodies, check out my post over at the Valentine's Countdown at Parents Connect.  Oh, and don't forget to enter to win some fabulous prizes while you're there!

Images: Celebrate Today.... the Superchick Way!

Valentine's Freebie Festival: Day 16 {FREEBIES}

There's just one week until Valentine's Day!  Have you picked out your cards yet?  Planned your get together?  I can see you nodding "no" through the monitor.  Good thing we've got almost 150 (yes 150!) freebies linked up in our VALENTINE FREEBIE FESTIVAL to help get you started!

Today's pick is a simple but totally unique idea from one of my favorite bloggers (Kalleen from At Second Street) who shared it on one of my favorite blogs (Tatertots & Jello) so is it any surprise that I adore it?  And I'm sure you will too.  Without further ado, I present to you..... Love Juice Valentines!

Are they super cute or what?

To make them, Kalleen took regular bottles of water and covered the labels with wrapping paper.

Then she printed these heart labels onto card stock.

And these love juice tags onto file folder labels (you could also use sticker paper).

She stuck them onto single serve Kool-Aid packets, punched holes in the top and tied the packets along with sassy striped paper straws to the top of the water bottles and voila!

Instant Love Juice!

You can download all of the free printables to make your own Love Juice valentines here at Tatertots & Jello, and if you have a free Valentine's printable you'd like to share, enter it into the link up below!

*If you are reading this in via our e-mail newsletter or RSS feed, the link up won't show up. You have to visit the post on our website to view it.