tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86190424560973553332024-02-18T21:47:51.143-08:00Book, Booker, BookestCandace Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025197609231243397noreply@blogger.comBlogger131125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619042456097355333.post-71769175535123888762020-04-22T21:05:00.002-07:002020-04-23T21:39:59.468-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
NEWEST BOOK!</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>RED LIGHT, GREEN LION</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;">by Candace Ryan, illustrated by Jennifer Yerkes</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: medium;">Kids Can Press, Toronto</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;">ISBN: 978-1-5253-0015-8</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In this clever book, a green lion is waiting at a red traffic light. While he waits, a series of unexpected events occur, involving such things as lightning, a lilac, library books and lima beans. Or rather, “li-ghtning,” “li-lac,” “li-brary books,” and “li-ma beans” because the text on each spread ends with “Red light, green li-,” and the reader must turn the page to see the whole word --- and what's happened. All the while, the lion calmly and helpfully deals with whatever shows up (even loading livestock into a lifeboat!) and wryly muses about the way life can be. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<u><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></u><u><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>REVIEWS</b></span></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Funny, helpful, empathetic, accessible, and perfect for an interactive group read-aloud or quiet contemplation under the covers.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">— Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review, <span class="date-display-single" content="2019-03-05T00:00:00-05:00" datatype="xsd:dateTime" property="dc:date" style="box-sizing: border-box;">March 2019</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“For a lighthearted, fun read-aloud, this is a great fit.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">— School Library Journal, <span class="date-display-single" content="2019-06-07T00:00:00-04:00" datatype="xsd:dateTime" property="dc:date" style="box-sizing: border-box;">June 2019</span></span></div>
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Candace Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025197609231243397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619042456097355333.post-40845464041129018692014-12-31T14:25:00.001-08:002014-12-31T14:27:08.895-08:00ABC: Autism, Books & Children <br />
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Please catch up with all my latest "rides/writes" exploring the intersection of <strong>ABC: Autism, Books & Children</strong> at <a href="http://www.abcautismbooks.com/">http://www.abcautismbooks.com</a><br />
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Happy trails!Candace Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025197609231243397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619042456097355333.post-52598601622626173692013-10-28T01:18:00.003-07:002013-10-28T02:10:21.366-07:00SCBWI's Inside Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">SCBWI's Inside Story is almost here! For more details, read the official press release below. The post concludes with a listing of all 12 Inside Story events happening this coming weekend (November 2-3) worldwide! Awesome stuff-- happy to have helped play a part in making it happen...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: black;">SCBWI LAUNCHES INTERNATIONAL "INSIDE STORY" PROGRAM</span></b><br /><br /><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">The
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, in conjunction with First
Book, is launching its first international "Inside Story" event at
select independent bookstores this November.
The pilot program will launch in twelve cities. It has two purposes: to provide an
opportunity for young readers, teachers, librarians, and children's book lovers
to become acquainted with new <span class="il">releases</span>, and to build traffic and sales for
independent bookstores. A group of
authors and illustrators will have a brief time to share the "inside
story" behind their 2012 or 2013 publications and support independent
bookstores.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">The initial
event is set for the first weekend in November. The SCBWI will provide
publicity, volunteers for the day of the event, and special prizes to help
bring in patrons, including a drawing to win a phone call from a famous author
and a grand prize drawing across all bookstores to have a character in a new
Almost Identical book by Lin Oliver named after them. In addition, First Book
will donate a book to a child in need for every book purchased at an SCBWI
Inside Story event.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">President
Stephen Mooser and Executive Director Lin Oliver say, “We are delighted that
the SCBWI is partnering with First Book to call attention to the great books
our illustrator and author members have created. We hope that by next year independent
bookstores around the world will be a part of this very special day.”</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;">About First Book</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black;">First
Book
provides access to new books for children in need. To date, First Book
has
distributed more than 100 million books and educational resources to
programs
and schools serving children from low-income families throughout the
UnitedStates and Canada. First Book is transforming the lives of
children in need and
elevating the quality of education by making new, high-quality books
available
on an ongoing basis. Learn more at <a href="http://www.firstbook.org/" target="_blank">www.firstbook.org</a>.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;">About SCBWI</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Founded in 1971, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and
Illustrators is one of the largest existing writers’ and illustrators’
organizations, with over 22,000 members worldwide. It is the only organization
specifically for those working in the fields of children’s literature,
magazines, film, television, and multimedia. The organization was founded by
Stephen Mooser (President) and Lin Oliver (Executive Director), both of whom
are well-published children’s book authors and leaders in the world of
children’s literature. Learn more at
<a href="http://www.scbwi.org/" target="_blank">www.scbwi.org</a>.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;"><u>SCBWI INSIDE STORY LOCATIONS</u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">AUSTRALIA</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><a href="http://www.blackcatbooks.com.au/">Black Cat Books</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Brisbane </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">November 2 at 10:00am </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.thechildrensbookshop.indies.com.au/StoreEvent.aspx"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.thechildrensbookshop.indies.com.au/StoreEvent.aspx"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></a></div>
</span><span style="color: #783f04;"><a href="http://www.thechildrensbookshop.indies.com.au/StoreEvent.aspx">The Children's Bookshop</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Sydney</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">November 2 at 2:00pm </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><a href="http://www.littlebookroom.com.au/pages/events">The Little Bookroom</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Melbourne</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">November 2 at 10:00am</span> </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b>UNITED STATES</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><a href="http://www.alamosabooks.com/event/SCBWI-Inside-Story">Alamosa Books</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Albuquerque, New Mexico</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">November 2 at 2:00pm</span> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><a href="http://www.andersonsbookshop.com/event/scbwi-inside-story">Anderson's Bookshop</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Naperville, Illinois</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">November 2 at 2:00pm</span> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><a href="http://www.bankstreetbooks.com/event/scbwi-inside-story-author-event">Bank Street Bookstore</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">New York, New York </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">November 2 at 2:30pm (Middle Grade)<br />
November 2 at 4:30pm (Young Adult)</span> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><a href="http://www.booksandbooks.com/event/society-childrens-book-writers-and-illustrators-inside-story-gables">Books & Books</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Coral Gables, Florida</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">November 2 at 1:00pm</span> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><a href="http://www.booksofwonder.com/event.php?id=133">Books of Wonder</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">New York, New York</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">November 2 at 4:00pm</span> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><a href="http://kingsenglish.indiebound.com/event/inside-story">The King's English Bookshop</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Salt Lake City, Utah</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">November 2 at 11:00am</span> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><a href="http://www.mockingbirdbooksgl.com/index.html">Mockingbird Books</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Seattle, Washington</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">November 3 at 4:00pm </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><a href="http://www.odysseybks.com/event/society-childrens-book-writers-and-illustrators-inside-story-event">The Odyssey Bookshop</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">South Hadley, Massachusetts</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">November 3 at 1:00pm (Picture Books)<br />
November 3 at 3:00pm (Middle Grade/Young Adult) </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><a href="http://www.shoponceuponatime.com/event/scbwi-inside-story-author-events">Once Upon A Time Bookstore</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Montrose, California</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">November 2 at 11:00am (Picture Books)<br />
November 3 at 2:00pm (Middle Grade/Young Adult)</span> </span></div>
Candace Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025197609231243397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619042456097355333.post-18391151655851418372013-01-10T20:28:00.001-08:002013-01-10T20:31:29.692-08:00Author Event to Help Support the San Diego Center for Children<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On February 2, 2013, ten children's book authors and illustrators will join forces at the Yellow Book Road to support the San Diego Center for Children in memory of those lost in the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary. Please come and join us for an important cause! Click the <a href="http://www.adventuresbythebook.com/upcoming-events/meet-the-author-events/sandy-hook-elementary-school-benefit-book-drive-fundraiser/">link</a> for more info.Candace Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025197609231243397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619042456097355333.post-89089576093314667162013-01-08T21:11:00.002-08:002013-01-08T21:11:23.680-08:00Earl, the Magic Bike<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />This writer is also a rider. It's all about spoke 'n words.Candace Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025197609231243397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619042456097355333.post-61528655746378701872012-04-10T23:05:00.000-07:002012-04-10T23:05:17.835-07:00Happy Book Birthday, MOO HOO!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia56mzY-TnRyzVp4wgSjEjmv_rTP_N1uev_FtbUDhwavzQ-ymGW1YGYhxIs0ILbxd9CMrGGlb8-vg-m7CPmKDcrtOSGq6V9KAnu6hrT9T6V0b-di6kkfcxNWQtlxyrn6A1eTL3drcK744/s1600/Moo+Hoo+Book+Birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia56mzY-TnRyzVp4wgSjEjmv_rTP_N1uev_FtbUDhwavzQ-ymGW1YGYhxIs0ILbxd9CMrGGlb8-vg-m7CPmKDcrtOSGq6V9KAnu6hrT9T6V0b-di6kkfcxNWQtlxyrn6A1eTL3drcK744/s640/Moo+Hoo+Book+Birthday.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>We're a bit grainy here in the darkening dusk of Little Tokyo, but oh what fun to celebrate another book's birthday!Candace Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025197609231243397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619042456097355333.post-71513349718646596032011-12-12T15:58:00.000-08:002011-12-12T15:58:26.180-08:00From Koala to "Ko-wall-a" at St. James in South Pasadena<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSjz8WJid_77-oXlDAHOWQM5NzGtK_3gZ12C1rYEm722z48WveYqOrhlKBgdFn_RhP5FhF78RV5p29e5zEIHLvMIRRzdWg2xuk3EWuTlWj-kQBfvVjQ0k_GBZZd5QShSSP_O_fQssVfI/s1600/Koala+to+Ko-wall-a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSjz8WJid_77-oXlDAHOWQM5NzGtK_3gZ12C1rYEm722z48WveYqOrhlKBgdFn_RhP5FhF78RV5p29e5zEIHLvMIRRzdWg2xuk3EWuTlWj-kQBfvVjQ0k_GBZZd5QShSSP_O_fQssVfI/s400/Koala+to+Ko-wall-a.JPG" width="298" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjtBM7YoMsQtQo6gg6KJHgfXnYVb72IEZ65xL27cD2cFbL6trs4av_CpRR24xe9p6yc7juM1J3khdRmlfBYh78MvDa3BPQU-p-lMPzjhCos3gwbn7I6siY2rZ8G9GW-7MbMTT1MLaKBM/s1600/Ko-wall-a+at+St.James.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjtBM7YoMsQtQo6gg6KJHgfXnYVb72IEZ65xL27cD2cFbL6trs4av_CpRR24xe9p6yc7juM1J3khdRmlfBYh78MvDa3BPQU-p-lMPzjhCos3gwbn7I6siY2rZ8G9GW-7MbMTT1MLaKBM/s400/Ko-wall-a+at+St.James.JPG" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Life imitates art, and, apparently, parish day schools imitate picture books. At a recent visit to St. James in South Pasadena, a koala transformed into a "ko-wall-a" right before my very eyes. The timing couldn't have been more perfect-- I had just finished reading <i>Animal House</i> to a wonderful group of kids.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Many thanks to Amy Jones for documenting this most amazing occurrence (and for helping make my visit equally amazing!) </div>Candace Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025197609231243397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619042456097355333.post-71761442839691296932011-11-26T19:49:00.000-08:002011-11-27T02:57:36.764-08:00The Picasso Picture Book Scale: The Art of Bullshifting and the State of the Contemporary Picture Book<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASMMONuFWFUiC5-X1sOygzhDoSIY18dGo-1RK4iYHkE9YGqcSJdwgeDEDU-NVMts6hx7UbLPw1MFhG9MPkeFFl_P315u86Sa-U7IFtvrhXeJroNGvd-pHzQnccPGs0Zri3bz1CoInbQU/s1600/picasso+bull+1+of+4+finished.jpg"></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyfTx9B9d_ymrETXb9nl86LhWoBKgtNr7h_LDnhvcyLoazHqCc-OBX9w_RbyIrxYUrhLF0yMlCCFIn1MyGzgmYfBw9k8t2_Ngju3CTyuXKXM7COJTfw_ZK2-8P5IaFdOt4RzOQWBherY/s1600/picasso+bull+1+of+4+finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZyfTx9B9d_ymrETXb9nl86LhWoBKgtNr7h_LDnhvcyLoazHqCc-OBX9w_RbyIrxYUrhLF0yMlCCFIn1MyGzgmYfBw9k8t2_Ngju3CTyuXKXM7COJTfw_ZK2-8P5IaFdOt4RzOQWBherY/s640/picasso+bull+1+of+4+finished.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhViGLY_0uFvMLWYLhpe2xjulukei_SKc05XyysehhA2BxEjdDze48q2pzbuvs-royMblj1GTK23ayZ095tUDJR1SNNlwIi9qdy6u1vj63Mz270LqBCckdIBM5ZG9l62APWgM-2Czr6Lgo/s1600/picasso+bull+2+of+4+finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhViGLY_0uFvMLWYLhpe2xjulukei_SKc05XyysehhA2BxEjdDze48q2pzbuvs-royMblj1GTK23ayZ095tUDJR1SNNlwIi9qdy6u1vj63Mz270LqBCckdIBM5ZG9l62APWgM-2Czr6Lgo/s640/picasso+bull+2+of+4+finished.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE4eZOhfdEKGRpgY_dT3M123mZJ4MjVJ-ZHII7GcIZ1rFzFQrJSkSQsYx_i99h92uj6WEn37iWyYMAC4CwfilolIke8Hq8NlC2GnhIo2Bd-vTKLH0V8t2gnaIiJcYLXDQ0lfGpwfETryA/s1600/picasso+bull+3+of+4+finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE4eZOhfdEKGRpgY_dT3M123mZJ4MjVJ-ZHII7GcIZ1rFzFQrJSkSQsYx_i99h92uj6WEn37iWyYMAC4CwfilolIke8Hq8NlC2GnhIo2Bd-vTKLH0V8t2gnaIiJcYLXDQ0lfGpwfETryA/s640/picasso+bull+3+of+4+finished.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGV1ItbPljSKfWS4TZJJA7tZVk5ToG0j3cUd8IuSG-DeLRv8CX8cAY1-9eEX0SJjXuUJZIXp45HYLunAuE5XHz-reEhL7ebjCiw6jgHfUaeOrb-7mgA83mnS24fj0Tvpp7hxYYLNH49o/s1600/picasso+bull+4+of+4+finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGV1ItbPljSKfWS4TZJJA7tZVk5ToG0j3cUd8IuSG-DeLRv8CX8cAY1-9eEX0SJjXuUJZIXp45HYLunAuE5XHz-reEhL7ebjCiw6jgHfUaeOrb-7mgA83mnS24fj0Tvpp7hxYYLNH49o/s640/picasso+bull+4+of+4+finished.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><br />
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Inspired by Picasso's <span style="color: red;">Read</span> Period, a growing preference for less bull in my own picture book writing, and recent discussions on the health and prognosis for picture books, I decided to create the "Picasso Picture Book Scale," subtitled "The Art of Bullshifting."<br />
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Based on Picasso's lithograph series from 1945 titled <span style="font-style: italic;">Le Taureau</span>, I find it useful to imagine the spectrum of picture book lengths as analogous to Picasso's abstraction of the bull.<br />
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Am I just feeding you a cock-and-bull story? Absolutely not! Though I hope by the end to impart a little of what I've learned from the art of bullshifting.<br />
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Here's a run-down of the featured picture books:<br />
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Bull 11: <span style="font-style: italic;">Make Way for Ducklings</span> by Robert McCloskey (1,149 words)<br />
Bull 10: <span style="font-style: italic;">The Polar Express</span> by Chris Van Allsburg (1,054 words)<br />
Bull 9: <span style="font-style: italic;">Millions of Cats</span> by Wanda Gág (965 words)<br />
Bull 8: <span style="font-style: italic;">The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs</span> by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith (863 words)<br />
Bull 7: <span style="font-style: italic;">The Story of Ferdinand</span> by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson (737 words)<br />
Bull 6: <span style="font-style: italic;">Harold and the Purple Crayon</span> by Crockett Johnson (657 words)<br />
Bull 5: <span style="font-style: italic;">The Relatives Came</span> by Cynthia Rylant and Stephen Gammell (523 words)<br />
Bull 4: <span style="font-style: italic;">Madeline</span> by Ludwig Bemelmans (418 words)<br />
Bull 3: <span style="font-style: italic;">Where the Wild Things Are</span> by Maurice Sendak (336 words)<br />
Bull 2: <span style="font-style: italic;">The Very Hungry Caterpillar</span> by Eric Carle (221 words)<br />
Bull 1: <span style="font-style: italic;">Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!</span> by Mo Willems (161 words)<br />
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Picture book writers and readers can follow the genius of Picasso from "Bull 11" to "Bull 1," as he shifts from full bull to essential bull, from the corpulent to the core. By the way, don't you find it apropos that our token toro, Ferdinand, would settle his hind-quarters nearly two-quarters the way through the scale? (And never before or since has bullsitting been so provocative, or would that be pro<span style="font-style: italic;">vaca</span>tive for my Spanish readers?).<br />
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Comparing Robert McCloskey's <span style="font-style: italic;">Make Way for Ducklings</span> (1,149) to Mo Willems's <span style="font-style: italic;">Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!</span> (161), we observe how different choices (both in word counts and art styles) made by different artists affect the stories they tell-- neither one intrinsically better than the other, but certainly revealing what each artist felt to be the best way to tell his story.<br />
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Peruse the "Picasso Picture Book Scale (PPBS)" and take stock of where most of your favorite picture books line-up. Are they all over the place? Do they stack up near "Bull 11," "Bull 7," or "Bull 4?" Do your tastes in art and music follow suit? Do you prefer realism, abstraction, or a balanced blend? Are you a "flesh and fur" lover? Or do you feel everything's in "the bones?"<br />
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One of the recent discussions on the ailing state of picture books cites brief texts as the main culprit-- what would appear on the PPBS as all bulls charging towards "Bull 1." In her <span style="font-style: italic;">School Library Journal</span> <a href="http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/newsletters/newsletterbucketextrahelping2/892418-477/make_way_for_stories_theres.html.csp">article</a>, Anita Silvey writes, "But in the picture book arena, the prevailing wisdom is to shackle writers and get them to be as creative as possible with very few words." She goes on further to state that, "...I’d have to argue that a basic diet of picture books with an anemic amount of text doesn’t really do the trick."<br />
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Gulp, those words are like a red rag to a bull for me, but I do understand Silvey's perspective and appreciate her boldness in sharing it. I'm of the persuasion, however, that the problem isn't inherently in the shortness of contemporary picture book texts, but rather in the crafting of those texts.<br />
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I think the <a href="http://thepicturebook.co/">Picture Book Proclaimers</a> hit the bull's-eye with this statement: "Imitation, laziness, and timidity are poisoning a great art form." What more can I add? Life's just too short, folks, and my tolerance for shoddy art is even shorter.<br />
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This is a rallying cry for all of my comrades writing short picture book texts-- we must overcome the stigma of "less is less," when we know that "less is more." Occam's Razor has served many fields well, and ours should be no exception.<br />
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We should take the bull by the horns and work from the wisdom of Einstein's words, "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." So, it's okay if "Bull 1" is your target, just make sure you give it its requisite legs.<br />
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Minimal text should achieve essential meaning. The great haiku Masters have already paved the way. And so it is, I feel, that for the sustainability of shorter texts, the picture book writer must become more poet than storyteller the closer we move down the scale to "Bull 1."<br />
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For the writer of short picture book texts, sound and image overtake plot and character. The latter two elements shift more to the domain of the illustrator. The shorter the text, the harder each word has to work to elevate the writing. This is what poetry is all about-- working with constraints to create language as art.<br />
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And so I've made my stand-- I will remain bull-headed in my determination to write short picture book texts. I've moved from "Bull 7" with <span style="font-style: italic;">Animal House</span> (752 words) to "Bull 1" with <span style="font-style: italic;">Ribbit Rabbit</span> (158 words) and <span style="font-style: italic;">Moo Hoo</span> (157 words), and I've found home. For me, it's all about the bones.<br />
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I know that I currently write for the five-and-under set. And I feel my greatest challenge is to intimate to children the beauty and complexity of our wondrous language. There are patterns as profound in language as any in nature, and I write to discover and share them.<br />
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I don't create according to the Duchess's words to Alice, "Take care of the sense and the sounds will take care of themselves," but, rather, by the words Bruce Ross delivered in a paper to the 1986 meeting of the Modern Language Association, "Take care of the sounds, and the sense will take care of itself."<br />
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Let's honor the musicality of language and do right/write by our young audience. Put story to the service of sound and see if that doesn't take us homeward bound. No matter what, there's no room left anymore for bull-- unless it's the return of a bull market for picture books. Toro, toro!<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Notes:</span><br />
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Titles selected based on this <a href="http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/afuse8production/2009/05/16/top-100-picture-books-poll-results-1-101/">list</a> compiled by Betsy Bird.<br />
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Word counts obtained from this <a href="http://www.perma-bound.com/library/">website</a>.<br />
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By the way, there's an amazing dearth of picture books with word counts in the 500s and 1000s. Who knew?<br />
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Oh, and if anyone sees dear ol' Ted driving from Springfield, Mass., to La Jolla, CA, could you please tell him that I left my sunglasses in his car? I'm blinded without <del>him</del> them.Candace Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025197609231243397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619042456097355333.post-72176026365605719442011-02-21T23:09:00.001-08:002011-02-21T23:41:27.212-08:00ANIMAL HOUSE Green Art Activity at Santa Monica Public Library<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcVk7Wwt6Vfp8PlOf5KssK-cnkH1bnkHbji_jw-UhBE51p_MtnRskt0mqmHKjJnuR1F3HspTNDtXLnaWPm7TCxg6d-vIcso8oi4wDF5NvugpZ-QVDZp171lu9aIiumbANUrZv7RPeJGc/s1600/IMG_4674.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcVk7Wwt6Vfp8PlOf5KssK-cnkH1bnkHbji_jw-UhBE51p_MtnRskt0mqmHKjJnuR1F3HspTNDtXLnaWPm7TCxg6d-vIcso8oi4wDF5NvugpZ-QVDZp171lu9aIiumbANUrZv7RPeJGc/s400/IMG_4674.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576409179915143906" border="0" /></a><br />Thanks to all the hard work of ultra-organized Children's Librarian Christa Muscatine, the Santa Monica Public Library's Creative Kids' Club was a smashing success on February 16th! <br /><br />Lots of wonderful folks donated "green" art materials so that kids could create their very own "furnimals" based on the ones in <span style="font-style: italic;">Animal House</span>. Some extra-creative kids even dreamed up their own.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5lUUAZNaG-F9Vsiq28LR_-j738u0ZfjoEs5cGOYv65c35c65Ezv7XdSQdF9DMV0c3mIw9-CrAlnE3VrJHsR2Sx4z3If8CPp3P9Z1FIJwHib4aT1gP3xvARc4WBYK_RGwIagpXBdjMjIE/s1600/IMG_4678.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5lUUAZNaG-F9Vsiq28LR_-j738u0ZfjoEs5cGOYv65c35c65Ezv7XdSQdF9DMV0c3mIw9-CrAlnE3VrJHsR2Sx4z3If8CPp3P9Z1FIJwHib4aT1gP3xvARc4WBYK_RGwIagpXBdjMjIE/s400/IMG_4678.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576409089981269762" border="0" /></a><br />A pair of snailboxes.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJ2Wpb4TgGhUqeYYWmpA58ltnuiYeSqfDjmIztIQQKVpkWtPTfrRNnql4MoXlmLurN3Wgz4z-nhHgdDAq5c-oQbXrK2QF71S7Ysr6ql0luHC6tqxCHW8d0BP2dsmiMcbzLJS1Liap2w0/s1600/IMG_4682.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJ2Wpb4TgGhUqeYYWmpA58ltnuiYeSqfDjmIztIQQKVpkWtPTfrRNnql4MoXlmLurN3Wgz4z-nhHgdDAq5c-oQbXrK2QF71S7Ysr6ql0luHC6tqxCHW8d0BP2dsmiMcbzLJS1Liap2w0/s400/IMG_4682.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576409021052074978" border="0" /></a><br />A hampster and a refrigergator.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTxMT9hOhBBl99rFprxRS62GCRflBwfKAQgZbLxvgVj98YH1O9rtSO37Po9iziLyIOQnZVTRZKXebb1MvAfurEvwmut3IggK5SWP_uOCSozwiqkdzCdRMEPRaHEEdgOa8ykiR7wYjBAI/s1600/IMG_4684.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTxMT9hOhBBl99rFprxRS62GCRflBwfKAQgZbLxvgVj98YH1O9rtSO37Po9iziLyIOQnZVTRZKXebb1MvAfurEvwmut3IggK5SWP_uOCSozwiqkdzCdRMEPRaHEEdgOa8ykiR7wYjBAI/s400/IMG_4684.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576408933188666114" border="0" /></a><br />A hampster.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lTtcDwPAd4LSYH37Ntj2zxHjp5QvKTC9u2BozAL8kUUvjDPNpxCejGIc0oyVXXpw-VCzkXegIKinlAXpk1m83DfdBIBkyzF3Vfck3YnDA-FBiOMXYqjPwkimGgnPQuKEnbyphPy4yMU/s1600/IMG_4686.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lTtcDwPAd4LSYH37Ntj2zxHjp5QvKTC9u2BozAL8kUUvjDPNpxCejGIc0oyVXXpw-VCzkXegIKinlAXpk1m83DfdBIBkyzF3Vfck3YnDA-FBiOMXYqjPwkimGgnPQuKEnbyphPy4yMU/s400/IMG_4686.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576408794882912978" border="0" /></a><br />One cute furnimal!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7UmMnDHg8nChafWZK3GtIgcAMsxEF_TSpty6BmrU9AlEBS59nWMSoi4mfAAp_BsglqFob2KVL8dRBz_Y5JYEG8S6BfztDH7RpW8_cwVT48W05P7WT2HxCdqKPXgEcEFAJSRV0S5pd-U/s1600/IMG_4687.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7UmMnDHg8nChafWZK3GtIgcAMsxEF_TSpty6BmrU9AlEBS59nWMSoi4mfAAp_BsglqFob2KVL8dRBz_Y5JYEG8S6BfztDH7RpW8_cwVT48W05P7WT2HxCdqKPXgEcEFAJSRV0S5pd-U/s400/IMG_4687.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576408697849777938" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Elepants before a trunk extension.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4R_K6L88Sny9qiOgjg5sMKkctkRGlQA9uvPKxEVb2HJaz18l3EVtZA6vwhWzqTWg0Q8S3VVFvqbGxmOTUNKohcBXlkEbtAzv0p_v6GfjdoT7GlE94VUYuWHUQuPX9G5vnNFsXyjcegt4/s1600/IMG_4688.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4R_K6L88Sny9qiOgjg5sMKkctkRGlQA9uvPKxEVb2HJaz18l3EVtZA6vwhWzqTWg0Q8S3VVFvqbGxmOTUNKohcBXlkEbtAzv0p_v6GfjdoT7GlE94VUYuWHUQuPX9G5vnNFsXyjcegt4/s400/IMG_4688.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576408591508128274" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">A toucan of soda complete with straw.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRk857e7BQNM6LAsLn9KyoWqJDnFob0WfkvaP7pBYWDFimDHW9BbM31y14qmy-2KnNJQ4d2fb-XkX_AHxhkBCj21Mjger0MsiERwgBjfO2IJSUrimX9bw4jdc9HnVguKncBS5F34v1vz4/s1600/IMG_4690.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRk857e7BQNM6LAsLn9KyoWqJDnFob0WfkvaP7pBYWDFimDHW9BbM31y14qmy-2KnNJQ4d2fb-XkX_AHxhkBCj21Mjger0MsiERwgBjfO2IJSUrimX9bw4jdc9HnVguKncBS5F34v1vz4/s400/IMG_4690.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576408467280235042" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">A cowch and a refrigergator.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihO66yIDT0frEov5XTho_5lVOOjllxZ71Y1u6eHlnGPtwJ9wX8pUlaqd0pxN2WtwFNLcLIP1AYsW5KrMEFPjF2w3VPL44xovMaEc2DCrtB3nsQsnD3xkZGGyIgg9DoZNiznzA3CQVcrH8/s1600/IMG_4692.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihO66yIDT0frEov5XTho_5lVOOjllxZ71Y1u6eHlnGPtwJ9wX8pUlaqd0pxN2WtwFNLcLIP1AYsW5KrMEFPjF2w3VPL44xovMaEc2DCrtB3nsQsnD3xkZGGyIgg9DoZNiznzA3CQVcrH8/s400/IMG_4692.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576408370300972578" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">A dragon + drum = dragum (imaginative kid creation)<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuENMv52bqsQbmO12VK0LZmoDAAG9TEMoat8mgl2H4SHoUbQj3Cf-yZB3HKNABrzjcKHkghXk-PP_yX5K2eK9DbMb1WRfaCk_UfiW85X7svTPlXXlvttc-bVUzTxZrfa5_X7khWTPVyU/s1600/IMG_4693.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuENMv52bqsQbmO12VK0LZmoDAAG9TEMoat8mgl2H4SHoUbQj3Cf-yZB3HKNABrzjcKHkghXk-PP_yX5K2eK9DbMb1WRfaCk_UfiW85X7svTPlXXlvttc-bVUzTxZrfa5_X7khWTPVyU/s400/IMG_4693.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576408285248811778" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">A catstle (imaginative kid creation).<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNG2xdNWwMZ0rukE11I4suLpg8f66__dZN_YH-0KSYAbi7_Oh2_QxUqxUAEpfmzafIVw8KDccwp7JF9c21XIZJA3hu3NeSyHgy6FdJ7sCaNWgrvROtg4Fd1Ag3Udo4vCTuj2p2q6_5uHQ/s1600/IMG_4696.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNG2xdNWwMZ0rukE11I4suLpg8f66__dZN_YH-0KSYAbi7_Oh2_QxUqxUAEpfmzafIVw8KDccwp7JF9c21XIZJA3hu3NeSyHgy6FdJ7sCaNWgrvROtg4Fd1Ag3Udo4vCTuj2p2q6_5uHQ/s400/IMG_4696.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576408187286110818" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">A salt snaker (imaginative kid creation).<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIj6CZ-VvxVb3eJUDc8nOf7_pvysfTNYa2XNgFoI5UTofBYmWdDU2OT4aUTcOgJVd__54iyFCZZWmRtVWbmG7ddiSQR4CAPSM30XAhzX91mx9YUcYxlqHSSdr6IxCwp8j54VOU3JF1Hk/s1600/IMG_4697.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIj6CZ-VvxVb3eJUDc8nOf7_pvysfTNYa2XNgFoI5UTofBYmWdDU2OT4aUTcOgJVd__54iyFCZZWmRtVWbmG7ddiSQR4CAPSM30XAhzX91mx9YUcYxlqHSSdr6IxCwp8j54VOU3JF1Hk/s400/IMG_4697.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576408095143427154" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">A catstle (imaginative kid creation).<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0SIVPHWJWKhy9jmovylygCaNQBSuCf0zULg8RSQK4pGZ7zK65nRGE6b__YOaHZwETxWjQWuUiQVXZshzb_Mu4U2ydZc0hQOvOsaDUc9e5CAH8HqbnOZzg-4o1ZIvFZn7n37-rk59yhk/s1600/IMG_4705.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0SIVPHWJWKhy9jmovylygCaNQBSuCf0zULg8RSQK4pGZ7zK65nRGE6b__YOaHZwETxWjQWuUiQVXZshzb_Mu4U2ydZc0hQOvOsaDUc9e5CAH8HqbnOZzg-4o1ZIvFZn7n37-rk59yhk/s400/IMG_4705.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576407983957469378" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">A caterpillow (imaginative kid creation).<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCOOH-88gMhFGX7UWxHbH2yfOyVosyni7tBIdy8bNY6N0JkftfdwVFaK3ZkWIYXqITJpuJVoBzcei0QkDwq6kI3fmQEEpWXylLbfancZT358-OFD5UuKjVpWIQ47tNsH2zMfwgxjq3_U/s1600/IMG_4706.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCOOH-88gMhFGX7UWxHbH2yfOyVosyni7tBIdy8bNY6N0JkftfdwVFaK3ZkWIYXqITJpuJVoBzcei0QkDwq6kI3fmQEEpWXylLbfancZT358-OFD5UuKjVpWIQ47tNsH2zMfwgxjq3_U/s400/IMG_4706.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576407859939257922" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">A trio of critters, including a hampster in the center with an articulating mouth.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzg_pwWxnxyXd1_Bqr7rMYkkR20_v3bODqPhMvB5UTvHh1_A952hAGbBI4-e7kiifzyzwUnvpsqZKDBdO3wu_9f3bXQoNAYdTgCw2d4KKv51Q7a0EjHZG2sb6VXp2iNucORdWN5sroZEo/s1600/IMG_4713.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzg_pwWxnxyXd1_Bqr7rMYkkR20_v3bODqPhMvB5UTvHh1_A952hAGbBI4-e7kiifzyzwUnvpsqZKDBdO3wu_9f3bXQoNAYdTgCw2d4KKv51Q7a0EjHZG2sb6VXp2iNucORdWN5sroZEo/s400/IMG_4713.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576407767895265618" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">A kangaroom.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-46kkVsgeIhb6e4wv05qozSdokVZpdPcZQqwuemPwX6bvzha20tTIlZBXxTaKL1RdAsP6F17pvbnY32EeOT0gaiz83PrG_waAb2ZeWeJgGtY2BcCiMsWnDzXlKnZxIbxOrNqaT_mOHdU/s1600/IMG_4715.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-46kkVsgeIhb6e4wv05qozSdokVZpdPcZQqwuemPwX6bvzha20tTIlZBXxTaKL1RdAsP6F17pvbnY32EeOT0gaiz83PrG_waAb2ZeWeJgGtY2BcCiMsWnDzXlKnZxIbxOrNqaT_mOHdU/s400/IMG_4715.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576407661514355842" border="0" /></a><br />A hampster and unfinished sculpture. "Do I have to go home now?"<br /></div>Candace Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025197609231243397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619042456097355333.post-10261460187588368132011-02-21T21:50:00.001-08:002011-02-21T21:55:03.078-08:00I Love L.A.!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5Aix3WHCEcDrMJwSzpLAAsugUe21kNwBHzYj0FJQiNPp3ThbHgvuF-HCEFNuJNbnEjbWQKssDZyWTE3J0utLyIYG-uiy1qe4svnE35n50OyhN65iqgQRfRmQFh7VIZXZCD6c7owbe7k/s1600/IMG_4720.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5Aix3WHCEcDrMJwSzpLAAsugUe21kNwBHzYj0FJQiNPp3ThbHgvuF-HCEFNuJNbnEjbWQKssDZyWTE3J0utLyIYG-uiy1qe4svnE35n50OyhN65iqgQRfRmQFh7VIZXZCD6c7owbe7k/s400/IMG_4720.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576387456568178066" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42dW5w9n1eTGmNtFOnlceoZqhC-FxS0sKqej30LTuqB0uaVYKuO8v_-1VooXCEsAhEkP7JZmedl6sr3SxxECHhu_25VYbiGs5ud3txpInzusypjWfJbyk6zTvGMHbPpAyFtdno3o_IwI/s1600/IMG_4719.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42dW5w9n1eTGmNtFOnlceoZqhC-FxS0sKqej30LTuqB0uaVYKuO8v_-1VooXCEsAhEkP7JZmedl6sr3SxxECHhu_25VYbiGs5ud3txpInzusypjWfJbyk6zTvGMHbPpAyFtdno3o_IwI/s400/IMG_4719.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576387349989078130" border="0" /></a>This was a two-minute drive from my house yesterday. God, I love L.A.! (Those are the San Gabriel Mountains, by the way).Candace Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025197609231243397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619042456097355333.post-88834843602577355862011-02-01T23:51:00.000-08:002011-02-02T00:11:38.262-08:00Happy Birthday, RIBBIT RABBIT!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-P3XvT7pVax_-t4gvBGAmaxpQoM7_nKkoo-uFPcgbaoUqGOT-U0dYy7QHSdC5xsSVAb3f1sZeoxuP2_a2F6JXwPdMyEVzv9lDvU2yTcZO-2umfYJVMcSZ8qOYCbZFQqgAlcMucmY2oDA/s1600/rr+toast.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-P3XvT7pVax_-t4gvBGAmaxpQoM7_nKkoo-uFPcgbaoUqGOT-U0dYy7QHSdC5xsSVAb3f1sZeoxuP2_a2F6JXwPdMyEVzv9lDvU2yTcZO-2umfYJVMcSZ8qOYCbZFQqgAlcMucmY2oDA/s400/rr+toast.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569000352542439138" border="0" /></a><br />One salmon onigiri and Ramune coming up! Only the best for my book... (thanks Suehiro and Little Tokyo:-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdjKe3CZ12y7zMkO6vMiA32zv_1RGi8-7SXJ9cEFA9ETKT3Rfhf3_fS9qm2S9jT4nnzvCTNUpVf8DJkT4vErALJyxOFfgXzyOuNT9Zkc_Qd0X-sDyjTxZ9pcy9zFWpBIQSK51pz3mRFA/s1600/rr+bike.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdjKe3CZ12y7zMkO6vMiA32zv_1RGi8-7SXJ9cEFA9ETKT3Rfhf3_fS9qm2S9jT4nnzvCTNUpVf8DJkT4vErALJyxOFfgXzyOuNT9Zkc_Qd0X-sDyjTxZ9pcy9zFWpBIQSK51pz3mRFA/s400/rr+bike.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568998602879440354" border="0" /></a><br />We communed with cormorants much of the day. Who knew they were such fans of kidlit? Yes, happy times on the L.A. River in the Year of the Rabbit!Candace Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025197609231243397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619042456097355333.post-19778828401218678132010-11-27T19:40:00.001-08:002010-11-27T20:33:36.369-08:00Green Art Activity: ANIMAL HOUSE Furnimals from Reusable Materials<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVS_e9X_ErEujisNfFn18oRTb-XPtHg1kBFm_mIe5Huuyw9nBpfOZhvQDqaIFX9-b0mScd6yAzSStGKSOTQmiIwMi0LpbxuA4GJJzP_OwdYIjl48GCWRJHvMcvn8_MuSIW7OdG4N8CGp8/s1600/animal+house+recyclable+materials.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVS_e9X_ErEujisNfFn18oRTb-XPtHg1kBFm_mIe5Huuyw9nBpfOZhvQDqaIFX9-b0mScd6yAzSStGKSOTQmiIwMi0LpbxuA4GJJzP_OwdYIjl48GCWRJHvMcvn8_MuSIW7OdG4N8CGp8/s400/animal+house+recyclable+materials.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544443250212867522" border="0" /></a><br />Are you in a school, a library, or even at home? Are you eager to make your very own "furnimals" based on Nathan Hale's amazing <span style="font-style: italic;">Animal House</span> illustrations? Then look no further than your nearest recycling bin or trash can.<br /><br />Chances are that you have everything you need to turn the above pile of reusable materials into...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYmhCU4GSOKHs73jzLsSo3XOdx9A1O4TE8e3UVAP-Z9oXCCDCoO07qdRV469jKivCr8AlZ9EHHIAH1a8kUAgellbRe-bVZ9ELoFTJFk_8dVbxo1u_iRq0YPgNPDTFn2Wt_SiwtmOfr34/s1600/animal+house+a+%2526+c.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYmhCU4GSOKHs73jzLsSo3XOdx9A1O4TE8e3UVAP-Z9oXCCDCoO07qdRV469jKivCr8AlZ9EHHIAH1a8kUAgellbRe-bVZ9ELoFTJFk_8dVbxo1u_iRq0YPgNPDTFn2Wt_SiwtmOfr34/s400/animal+house+a+%2526+c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544443146509728498" border="0" /></a><br />...these adorable and loving literary companions.<br /><br />The toucan of soda, cowch, and refrigergator were made by 3-5 year olds in Victoria Howard's incredible <a href="http://www.candaceryanbooks.com/2010/03/art-stories-pictures-at-barnsdall-park.html">"Art & Stories" class at Barnsdall Junior Art Center</a> last winter.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1rFbbRUl8-fljcOt6TtrJwg6o9rLJLyI8Dr8EWTze-3yGYaEfWp-YQyZBYkD2dR-Le8Ke_FdAU7e6m4ky83CqnkIo1af1nQ1ASDjUMDuwmSYAQTG2CN8828iN8U4vr-fhiJXtLHXnsA/s1600/Copy+of+IMG_2066.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1rFbbRUl8-fljcOt6TtrJwg6o9rLJLyI8Dr8EWTze-3yGYaEfWp-YQyZBYkD2dR-Le8Ke_FdAU7e6m4ky83CqnkIo1af1nQ1ASDjUMDuwmSYAQTG2CN8828iN8U4vr-fhiJXtLHXnsA/s400/Copy+of+IMG_2066.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544443058701880866" border="0" /></a><br />Mix a Pringles-like container with some stray buttons, construction paper scraps, and a piece of cardboard, and presto-change-o........you get a toucan of soda.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPl0zBNJtiL-WhudUloUiXnKy43XqS2z8Mh-a-H5YN_W-kGfcrWMlIxZhiSZk2pMuq3iLXIzUtMSiBiE96Cf3wgVrq3ghqC6aOC4h5sPoUbG_Pkfb0ktDbJM4hXMNgmsVUKxsqewD-yc/s1600/Copy+of+IMG_2065.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPl0zBNJtiL-WhudUloUiXnKy43XqS2z8Mh-a-H5YN_W-kGfcrWMlIxZhiSZk2pMuq3iLXIzUtMSiBiE96Cf3wgVrq3ghqC6aOC4h5sPoUbG_Pkfb0ktDbJM4hXMNgmsVUKxsqewD-yc/s400/Copy+of+IMG_2065.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544442944651353058" border="0" /></a><br />Shake together some loose buttons, a sheet of styrofoam, an empty soap bar-like box, felt scraps, construction paper pieces, and four corks to get a ....................... brand new cowch!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dlymoEhZEktNQteXVdCJ3memDW2xCm4EN7JBXWmc56BsQPNMeYK_-hZJ1s7fVWlLP8FvlqVuJ5zYZ534KapzuCuCi5Cp3BCQIJHwINllNJEKVc9GL7cTofklqRrZEsWLwaH-474SbfM/s1600/cowch+%252B+udder.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dlymoEhZEktNQteXVdCJ3memDW2xCm4EN7JBXWmc56BsQPNMeYK_-hZJ1s7fVWlLP8FvlqVuJ5zYZ534KapzuCuCi5Cp3BCQIJHwINllNJEKVc9GL7cTofklqRrZEsWLwaH-474SbfM/s400/cowch+%252B+udder.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544442840444634450" border="0" /></a><br />Don't forget to add the udder underneath. You need some way to be able to milk your cowch.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mDeXi4L79dXuUCQPdEkK4cg2oDM7BF6ErMr1Q1oQMJRxvob_cUKLC6jgo6VS2PMCn0X0Sc70cnbCMQesjtFZCiLeneT_Ank59JCuY9I7ElMPh1fq8gyicHzr3R-l8WThQx_cw7EtA8w/s1600/Copy+of+IMG_2064.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mDeXi4L79dXuUCQPdEkK4cg2oDM7BF6ErMr1Q1oQMJRxvob_cUKLC6jgo6VS2PMCn0X0Sc70cnbCMQesjtFZCiLeneT_Ank59JCuY9I7ElMPh1fq8gyicHzr3R-l8WThQx_cw7EtA8w/s400/Copy+of+IMG_2064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544442750401944434" border="0" /></a><br />Gently toss some cute buttons, an Altoids-like metal container, a couple of corks, scrap pieces of felt, and left-over construction paper to get a handy-dandy new..................refrigergator.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicj4TAmhAwvgiDtB4ISwXlOX_ysHhuTho9lNXThvSSkNtvU10vK7C0j6N1HA_zfOhwIRvj5qvyUwftC8fpiEbXyO-pojSyd4s5OFA5xOvPZ3igxliFtr508Rh61s075qRm2v4EZociGKk/s1600/open+refrigergator.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicj4TAmhAwvgiDtB4ISwXlOX_ysHhuTho9lNXThvSSkNtvU10vK7C0j6N1HA_zfOhwIRvj5qvyUwftC8fpiEbXyO-pojSyd4s5OFA5xOvPZ3igxliFtr508Rh61s075qRm2v4EZociGKk/s400/open+refrigergator.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544442613595473522" border="0" /></a><br />Don't forget to stock your new refrigergator with yummy "food" buttons of all shapes and sizes.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEC1cj4ZfGywR32rLcWs75WtHVX49beJwEtgPElVuj4Tq4iJYBPjjlJaSuIOF_Uoq0yjZ88_wpsU58E8YaXgAuPFBzp95TMl1QmiZ4f-tLG53FWBVtumxMHwRTCCbeRDoVqw3g-qDBqxM/s1600/animal+house+recyclable+materials+2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEC1cj4ZfGywR32rLcWs75WtHVX49beJwEtgPElVuj4Tq4iJYBPjjlJaSuIOF_Uoq0yjZ88_wpsU58E8YaXgAuPFBzp95TMl1QmiZ4f-tLG53FWBVtumxMHwRTCCbeRDoVqw3g-qDBqxM/s400/animal+house+recyclable+materials+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544442507807020690" border="0" /></a><br />So, the next time you see this (Note the pen-drawn reptilian scales on the empty applesauce-like container. Yes, it does look like a proto-skink)........................<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RCtairAxV_eGynJAmdLvAQAx2OociLVIWboYjkGm0eD4GeKoaTgWkiumOLfrMbrTmVlBDBS4_3k-4QYSdRfbUuN_hWMYvMYfIB7b_XShZrIhq1kC-bJdb2wfMYuU2gFPXXQrDWnPAUs/s1600/skink.bmp"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RCtairAxV_eGynJAmdLvAQAx2OociLVIWboYjkGm0eD4GeKoaTgWkiumOLfrMbrTmVlBDBS4_3k-4QYSdRfbUuN_hWMYvMYfIB7b_XShZrIhq1kC-bJdb2wfMYuU2gFPXXQrDWnPAUs/s400/skink.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544442179306532850" border="0" /></a><br />.............try and turn it into this.<br /><br />And the next time you empty a strawberry basket, can you imagine turning it into a chandeldeer? If so, I'd love to see a picture.<br /><br />In the L.A. area and excited about creating green art activities for large numbers of kids? Check out <a href="http://www.trashforteaching.org/">Trash for Teaching</a>, <a href="http://www.rediscovercenter.org/">reDiscover</a>, and <a href="http://www.createstudiofun.com/">CReATE STUDIO</a>.Candace Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025197609231243397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619042456097355333.post-23318807413186388472010-11-13T22:54:00.000-08:002010-11-16T11:35:39.543-08:00ANIMAL HOUSE Celebrates "Neighborhood Toy Store Day"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pAJxMOVEsZtWqQ-naEorsTCnG0fN_NZoAgQaIpFcluO1pgiqUF07WH_5T-SXhKqZLK6v7Zjzbilm1OudKOnOguuNuyp50LAOXFTrxfEG_l9euEVhCC2gXBr1yhuVJ-grBbuI1vRmmfI/s1600/IMG_3736.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539562676831886946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pAJxMOVEsZtWqQ-naEorsTCnG0fN_NZoAgQaIpFcluO1pgiqUF07WH_5T-SXhKqZLK6v7Zjzbilm1OudKOnOguuNuyp50LAOXFTrxfEG_l9euEVhCC2gXBr1yhuVJ-grBbuI1vRmmfI/s400/IMG_3736.JPG" /></a><br />This year marks the first annual <a href="http://neighborhoodtoystoreday.com/">Neighborhood Toy Store Day</a> on November 13th! The day is organized by ASTRA, the <a href="http://www.astratoy.org/">American Specialty Toy Retailing Association</a>, and will be held on the second Saturday of each November. ASTRA hopes to raise awareness about the advantages of shopping at locally-owned, independent toy stores.<br /><br />Why does this excite me? Because I love supporting local, independent businesses! <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">The Animal House Experience</span>, my traveling amusement park for "small hands and big minds," is made almost entirely from critters bought at independent toy stores.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeO2NReFpOE_31bJLTmdL-1sZqwMhvj3re-AAeNgVDKrM49bEeTknIJySuEH_i_kqhAgK6OXIFOKuUBYLY8VIfWkNmfgh9Gxa5TUETfZA3nnWfYj3Y0QiL01b09lv_1_Txx5myQonaNu8/s1600/IMG_4439.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539562478502133218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeO2NReFpOE_31bJLTmdL-1sZqwMhvj3re-AAeNgVDKrM49bEeTknIJySuEH_i_kqhAgK6OXIFOKuUBYLY8VIfWkNmfgh9Gxa5TUETfZA3nnWfYj3Y0QiL01b09lv_1_Txx5myQonaNu8/s400/IMG_4439.JPG" /></a><br />The refrigergator, I'm sad to admit, is the one exception. We rescued him from a mega-toy store corporation. He's so much happier now.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwpABRAYgXW1G-34fk3Qj-eb-ISJCKaUaagxtAFA4dzKCmpLt1MgYYIJkxN4KdQujMl7UYpJHioc5s67E4DZEFwIEULCbI91lI_IpFEBUAAldOx9DwPzA3XLCemho9K9SzKkqyEik1Ms/s1600/IMG_4426.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539562350051654274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwpABRAYgXW1G-34fk3Qj-eb-ISJCKaUaagxtAFA4dzKCmpLt1MgYYIJkxN4KdQujMl7UYpJHioc5s67E4DZEFwIEULCbI91lI_IpFEBUAAldOx9DwPzA3XLCemho9K9SzKkqyEik1Ms/s400/IMG_4426.JPG" /></a><br />Here's an inside peek of the gorvilla, currently the main attraction at <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">The Animal House Experience</span>. Devoted fans will recognize the floormingos and whalepaper.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv30jF-oqSJhcJw_8xJ6zFcudpOXGRrcVb4cdnzCXWxgzr1m4CtC-TX4yoHfL0ucDyL51i9EsmhXrOmRhbBkAFrUNC9BWRT0jpVnJvNAOECDQbir5yum6F9PWeOvbDt6CtXxTr4CDWkyM/s1600/IMG_4454.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539562188149615074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv30jF-oqSJhcJw_8xJ6zFcudpOXGRrcVb4cdnzCXWxgzr1m4CtC-TX4yoHfL0ucDyL51i9EsmhXrOmRhbBkAFrUNC9BWRT0jpVnJvNAOECDQbir5yum6F9PWeOvbDt6CtXxTr4CDWkyM/s400/IMG_4454.JPG" /></a><br />This beautiful silverback gorilla from <a href="http://www.safariltd.com/">Safari Ltd.</a> was adopted from the amazing <a href="http://dinosaurfarm.stores.yahoo.net/">Dinosaur Farm</a> in South Pasadena. Yes, they don't just carry dinosaur toys!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3e6_9X5fGmzOli28vWSY2flPnbSYgPBDnkFG8598Te0rcM5vheYKY6_VdovnJDLEkUAFiG8vgN2ijPbWTdTwniB3ZNMPlceciJjDbh8iJxuEHojlNT9fiATV-tZNC3w-TsUUyJFEY8-U/s1600/IMG_4443.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539562063375306818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3e6_9X5fGmzOli28vWSY2flPnbSYgPBDnkFG8598Te0rcM5vheYKY6_VdovnJDLEkUAFiG8vgN2ijPbWTdTwniB3ZNMPlceciJjDbh8iJxuEHojlNT9fiATV-tZNC3w-TsUUyJFEY8-U/s400/IMG_4443.JPG" /></a><br />What do you get when you combine a gorilla with a villa?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVEdvOklC5ioynabKCqdczbouD8-PNRzm8C258G1H7n8tylvzz2AJe8oBf8u11MplR__yXBSeLQt2Rt1NZMxZdUlf_3iDoiBvrBd6Z1Gmr2OTHiZFdzhIvPi23k7vxb-OXzZw9SHV9M4/s1600/IMG_4430.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539561900028788258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVEdvOklC5ioynabKCqdczbouD8-PNRzm8C258G1H7n8tylvzz2AJe8oBf8u11MplR__yXBSeLQt2Rt1NZMxZdUlf_3iDoiBvrBd6Z1Gmr2OTHiZFdzhIvPi23k7vxb-OXzZw9SHV9M4/s400/IMG_4430.JPG" /></a><br />A gorvilla, of course!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvy1Vbkl3XXExnF26bY0DnYql96y0NuB050m6NqaXK2kIrITs0ynwRTVdiArx50OzDzd1X5IOBUAT9FHkgDKSWYsRaekfcth-BPptGjHSBKtJLy7b7SiGnv0vBuPJLZ_9aQXBZm6B607I/s1600/IMG_4398.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539561688638848450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvy1Vbkl3XXExnF26bY0DnYql96y0NuB050m6NqaXK2kIrITs0ynwRTVdiArx50OzDzd1X5IOBUAT9FHkgDKSWYsRaekfcth-BPptGjHSBKtJLy7b7SiGnv0vBuPJLZ_9aQXBZm6B607I/s400/IMG_4398.JPG" /></a><br />This <a href="http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/home/home.jsp">Lakeshore</a> giraffe was adopted from the <a href="http://www.wearitoncewearittwice.com/">Wear It Once, Wear It Twice</a> children's resale shop in Burbank. They've got some real finds!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7P8F50w7W9QrtDtIMzUds2FDTsBcCuTZT7yUVtb7_jph7F7iQaUjoh-XxSGARQnMmAKhGKW4pZmCY-I2kikHFLNmtQIFhih_6SsQzL-dzT170GMALDBXG_k3E4Ra3ZvYmP5H4QDw05o/s1600/IMG_4404.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539561533713292770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7P8F50w7W9QrtDtIMzUds2FDTsBcCuTZT7yUVtb7_jph7F7iQaUjoh-XxSGARQnMmAKhGKW4pZmCY-I2kikHFLNmtQIFhih_6SsQzL-dzT170GMALDBXG_k3E4Ra3ZvYmP5H4QDw05o/s400/IMG_4404.JPG" /></a><br />What do you get when you combine a giraffe with a roof?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkIJRuWZFa2wXwIPXBCg_rXu2VNCJPIZzpq7cZKsNfyxTXcoLbAQjXHrosfW-NU0mhdRUZG-bKsw-b1fl5Bwfc2hv7W7FBHktTUL-zkWIxhfGIeKhL8C3CmOOMEMLYa0Rc6YO6hFLUK4/s1600/IMG_4419.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539561395024058466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkIJRuWZFa2wXwIPXBCg_rXu2VNCJPIZzpq7cZKsNfyxTXcoLbAQjXHrosfW-NU0mhdRUZG-bKsw-b1fl5Bwfc2hv7W7FBHktTUL-zkWIxhfGIeKhL8C3CmOOMEMLYa0Rc6YO6hFLUK4/s400/IMG_4419.JPG" /></a><br />A giroof, of course!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuVD6dPyJTl4FcJ8GnYCPqYYOlQXWcKdvxjLefATqEEbYH5m-COPLso5ErLR0mQ-s4IaJUJp3CzcGw9hq9a4MrXQUGZ_fid_vobpdtX0HUwXuI6ZUdzgemCDUH-ZGN0okigu1Y_cjfAtk/s1600/IMG_4424.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539559214578707266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuVD6dPyJTl4FcJ8GnYCPqYYOlQXWcKdvxjLefATqEEbYH5m-COPLso5ErLR0mQ-s4IaJUJp3CzcGw9hq9a4MrXQUGZ_fid_vobpdtX0HUwXuI6ZUdzgemCDUH-ZGN0okigu1Y_cjfAtk/s400/IMG_4424.JPG" /></a><br />Okay, so the fish pictured above isn't actually a perch, but he was the right size. This sweet lantern fish was adopted from <a href="http://www.mrsnelsons.com/">Mrs. Nelson's Toy & Book Shop</a> in LaVerne. I can't seem to leave this store without picking up a toy or two.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDDoMc35Rr_W07Rh2LBbl37HFMJ7CgVpRr8TDMJEy_1wwhyphenhyphenlujpe8XVI0BSRvvDp1rEO4M4XUWN5a55FqWWbfbbCKmxNd-wFil1FUhipN4kRsXiCLPYEDEYu6_yEIQiChP5ECttKeRKI/s1600/IMG_4425.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539559073227860930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDDoMc35Rr_W07Rh2LBbl37HFMJ7CgVpRr8TDMJEy_1wwhyphenhyphenlujpe8XVI0BSRvvDp1rEO4M4XUWN5a55FqWWbfbbCKmxNd-wFil1FUhipN4kRsXiCLPYEDEYu6_yEIQiChP5ECttKeRKI/s400/IMG_4425.JPG" /></a><br /><br />What do you get when you combine a back porch with a perch? A back perch!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtj-MYB3IyUdKvwQGLNgZxwM_kx1S5FWsmt03ygvhSnfElK8-audegWJz65lI0MJPXggqGYjuGIC5iiJ_kK2YeM4_n4HeGXWdEX6eVnrsYn4b5bWuRCDcjwi3gZYk437Y3Pda6SrtuRY/s1600/IMG_4383.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539558821889964738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtj-MYB3IyUdKvwQGLNgZxwM_kx1S5FWsmt03ygvhSnfElK8-audegWJz65lI0MJPXggqGYjuGIC5iiJ_kK2YeM4_n4HeGXWdEX6eVnrsYn4b5bWuRCDcjwi3gZYk437Y3Pda6SrtuRY/s400/IMG_4383.JPG" /></a><br />These critters are freshly adopted from the <a href="http://www.toysandbooks.com/">San Marino Toy & Book Shoppe</a> in San Marino. I love their selection of Japanese erasers, toy instruments, and books!<br /><br />The beaver comes from <a href="http://www.safariltd.com/">Safari Ltd.</a>, and the ray comes from <a href="http://www.wildrepublic.com/">Wild Republic</a>. They await transformation into a BeaVo and RayStation, respectively. Of course, they will both need to be stored somewhere....<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAf1AOAavdHPuQn6MNVXP2a1N1xg5yR1vax670x2qOFSzW_9v8FUQZMBPCysZ9eyM6v4QgBYcWFV0QF94Fq4P1bNkeaOGji1r_XDPCQZ6-arLBVz5dHhe7JABQGPmfnYA8ntpFqQAiS0/s1600/IMG_4367.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539558142976144450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAf1AOAavdHPuQn6MNVXP2a1N1xg5yR1vax670x2qOFSzW_9v8FUQZMBPCysZ9eyM6v4QgBYcWFV0QF94Fq4P1bNkeaOGji1r_XDPCQZ6-arLBVz5dHhe7JABQGPmfnYA8ntpFqQAiS0/s400/IMG_4367.JPG" /></a><br />Enter this raccoon, a <a href="http://www.wildrepublic.com/">Wild Republic</a> critter also adopted from the <a href="http://www.toysandbooks.com/">San Marino Toy & Book Shoppe</a>. He will soon become a media storage rackoon, and he couldn't be more excited.<br /><br />Photos to come...<br /><br />In the meantime, run out to your neighborhood toy store and indulge your imagination! By the way, if you happen to find a semi-realistic looking plastic or resin snail, please let me know. <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">The Animal House Experience</span> is in desperate need of a fully operational snailbox. Thanks!<br /><br />ETA: Oh, in case any of you were wondering who the master craftsman is behind <em>The Animal House Experience</em>, that would be my lovely hubby. Yes, he's more proud than exasperated whenever he declares, "Her inspiration is my perspiration." Gotta love him.Candace Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025197609231243397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619042456097355333.post-2613310377048069972010-09-20T23:39:00.000-07:002010-09-20T23:55:33.768-07:00"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge: #21 Celebrate a Holiday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfFvjP3bHGT2ikB6iGsAd5RWGnue2cY7xNqBtTLvTVhcyR1J5Wj9MMtRAEPWbl7lrOwDT2W_PIioJ_yTOYoCE3uA-m7pzjuqsvW1q-kZ9ggWmslx-Tusynf11YK-vdcHGT0tcot1OmIs/s1600/IMG_1827.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfFvjP3bHGT2ikB6iGsAd5RWGnue2cY7xNqBtTLvTVhcyR1J5Wj9MMtRAEPWbl7lrOwDT2W_PIioJ_yTOYoCE3uA-m7pzjuqsvW1q-kZ9ggWmslx-Tusynf11YK-vdcHGT0tcot1OmIs/s400/IMG_1827.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519253699739493298" border="0" /></a>The Westchester-Loyola Village Branch of the L.A. Public Library held a festive Chinese New Year celebration this year, complete with red lanterns, yummy treats, story time, and art activities.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5ZihyaPP1093ZzLNackMrz2ovx_rD_2nrXwbkDDmSOwdtVkFFzVH62EQCImPExGAe5ZKjGsJVGMXZXI8DgqMPObanwGf136duO_a5t5ybkMIzMevs86hTzpp5-gGqripyOFYv2lD55E/s1600/IMG_1810.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5ZihyaPP1093ZzLNackMrz2ovx_rD_2nrXwbkDDmSOwdtVkFFzVH62EQCImPExGAe5ZKjGsJVGMXZXI8DgqMPObanwGf136duO_a5t5ybkMIzMevs86hTzpp5-gGqripyOFYv2lD55E/s400/IMG_1810.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519253566450649714" border="0" /></a>Beware of "The Dragon in Moo Boots."<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKRL6qaBSMilEtk7B8pmSq6skd96OucuNUvtm2U3gjkBCW_PXwU1GrbXh9kDRmatBnN3OTu7mSBxL1AbCuVQ0pHJq6gnMKk4w2U7GXVoAvtMZ1WwI6W4g_YxQY1FHbbJ-0QKMC18jHGE/s1600/IMG_1870.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKRL6qaBSMilEtk7B8pmSq6skd96OucuNUvtm2U3gjkBCW_PXwU1GrbXh9kDRmatBnN3OTu7mSBxL1AbCuVQ0pHJq6gnMKk4w2U7GXVoAvtMZ1WwI6W4g_YxQY1FHbbJ-0QKMC18jHGE/s400/IMG_1870.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519253328883433378" border="0" /></a>The Camarillo Library got into the spirit of the new year with a traditional Chinese lion dance. <br /><br />What holidays have you celebrated at your local public library?Candace Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025197609231243397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619042456097355333.post-30168436474963124232010-09-20T23:04:00.000-07:002010-09-20T23:27:13.677-07:00"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge: #20 Explore a Different Language<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYuxCkJD9q7q7GL_dUqGpUmKZqz6kwiAYCV-3OnY8_kzPGmhf-rYvbmGJir0J0KTxig8U_fWlj_JInobDQleLBvhEls0U8dl9iFZ_nUn1sVqE44CtEqAV_wUyirGUk9Of-MYn-CWIOTA/s1600/IMG_2265.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPYuxCkJD9q7q7GL_dUqGpUmKZqz6kwiAYCV-3OnY8_kzPGmhf-rYvbmGJir0J0KTxig8U_fWlj_JInobDQleLBvhEls0U8dl9iFZ_nUn1sVqE44CtEqAV_wUyirGUk9Of-MYn-CWIOTA/s400/IMG_2265.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519244373082897266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;">With a library card, you can explore an unfamiliar language online, in a newspaper, in reference materials, in a book, on a CD, or in a DVD.<br /><br />Want to take your passion for Mexican wrestling to a whole new level? Read all about <span style="font-style: italic;">Lucha Libre</span> in Spanish and see how there can never be too <span style="font-style: italic;">mucha lucha</span>.<br /><br />Interested in the books above? They can be checked out from the Hollywood Regional Branch of the L.A. Public Library.</span>Candace Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025197609231243397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619042456097355333.post-50724882522932936772010-09-20T21:12:00.000-07:002010-09-20T23:00:24.060-07:00"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge: #19 Play with Toys<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhWlIGta8ZIOQETb2MknHuY8xS5qEGoTV00n5SjCirq_SC5vtAVk4VbjX3rtcAHxN7Cf2suZho3w6E786HJ0E1pe7au_VXoXMLPoA1IdThlOxfIOoHlnGbTD9_DYu7uORtKTbEEkr91A/s1600/IMG_1846.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhWlIGta8ZIOQETb2MknHuY8xS5qEGoTV00n5SjCirq_SC5vtAVk4VbjX3rtcAHxN7Cf2suZho3w6E786HJ0E1pe7au_VXoXMLPoA1IdThlOxfIOoHlnGbTD9_DYu7uORtKTbEEkr91A/s400/IMG_1846.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519217293697698322" border="0" /></a> Books <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span> toys!!? It just doesn't get any better than that. Ask this patron at the new La Crescenta Library. (P.S. I want a Hungry Caterpillar rug of my own!)Candace Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025197609231243397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619042456097355333.post-11831072648888800532010-09-18T23:28:00.001-07:002010-09-19T00:40:26.862-07:00"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge: #18 Promote Literacy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LkG6TQZz7y7ufMWiGBtITxg1zVUGHabaE0LQJPu_5EQeSiUDM3kW4kJhC1VheBXo57rtyp4zoPhlAKnbQex3jWSGC6kMjU6kKg0PXyIOdXQAI6Wxy3cErWQLuvRE3yjNmVwbzYgfh3c/s1600/very+hungry+caterpillar.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LkG6TQZz7y7ufMWiGBtITxg1zVUGHabaE0LQJPu_5EQeSiUDM3kW4kJhC1VheBXo57rtyp4zoPhlAKnbQex3jWSGC6kMjU6kKg0PXyIOdXQAI6Wxy3cErWQLuvRE3yjNmVwbzYgfh3c/s400/very+hungry+caterpillar.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518508049021342258" border="0" /></a>Take part in a literacy promotion event at your local public library. This young reader/yoga practitioner participated in the October 8, 2009, "Read for the Record" event at the Eagle Rock Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library.<br /><br />In the above photo, he poses for Eric Carle's <span style="font-style: italic;">The Very Hungry Caterpillar</span> line, "In the light of the moon a little egg lay on a leaf."<br /><br />The 2010 "<a href="http://www.readfortherecord.org/site/PageServer">Read for the Record</a>" event on October 7th will feature Ezra Jack Keats's <span style="font-style: italic;">The Snowy Day</span>.<br /><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="http://track.wegivebooks.org/ads/display/1/0.js">//</script>Candace Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025197609231243397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619042456097355333.post-19053701113710533992010-09-18T21:10:00.000-07:002010-09-18T21:40:20.915-07:00"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge: #17 Play a Game<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmPnR-SurmtKPYkT8Au-VDtReEnnmS0OlDBYxhFYpNb98sCOSEJfnz_UkZSrzHrGQLk0FkdgdrpOe90CYWaK0-6ONMK1ufNizn_TVJezL8t2RkkBRwbHFI4eiclyIanpKC5n_9q37nSQ/s1600/NGD2010.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmPnR-SurmtKPYkT8Au-VDtReEnnmS0OlDBYxhFYpNb98sCOSEJfnz_UkZSrzHrGQLk0FkdgdrpOe90CYWaK0-6ONMK1ufNizn_TVJezL8t2RkkBRwbHFI4eiclyIanpKC5n_9q37nSQ/s400/NGD2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518478575238436930" border="0" /></a>The most exciting libraries go beyond bringing people together with books, they bring people together with people. Here's one way libraries make that happen-- <a href="http://www.ilovelibraries.org/gaming/">National Gaming Day @ Your Library</a>.<br /><br />This year, National Gaming Day will be held on November 13th and promises to be" the <strong>largest, simultaneous national video game tournament </strong>ever held!" Wow, now that's some build-up. You gamers better get your thumbs ready.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyk2dzhzMHn9K4RsnTuraQj5drm32KUnHXCIPQVAyaFYlf1mh1Z8m5FPCAEmQhy9Dcwpis6lljVdVaoqauxj0NYJF8YfFE6sLo7c3dnrpqDMK3S5eDlXQHg61XdXfK1_QlNtSmvmY78E/s1600/Seuss+Bingo.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyk2dzhzMHn9K4RsnTuraQj5drm32KUnHXCIPQVAyaFYlf1mh1Z8m5FPCAEmQhy9Dcwpis6lljVdVaoqauxj0NYJF8YfFE6sLo7c3dnrpqDMK3S5eDlXQHg61XdXfK1_QlNtSmvmY78E/s400/Seuss+Bingo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518478465861435970" border="0" /></a>Interested more in board games than video games? There will be plenty of the former variety offered on National Gaming Day, as well-- like this version of "Seuss Bingo" played at the La Pintoresca Branch of the Pasadena Public Library.<strong></strong>Candace Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025197609231243397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619042456097355333.post-77278941010199752022010-09-18T20:51:00.000-07:002010-09-18T21:01:04.128-07:00"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge: #16 Attend a Birthday Party<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6arijkBrzm5pQhQjayN2AkoC5f4Lils49qgtEayYuJqNeMZa92tNlXAQog1Z35ZdjdZVpj3fuFmOLmagqhGDUPYcdzIL_OPURLQy2JnTTIQWXxCznIWtMibfm48VQ3MMjTNrhyphenhyphenLjvyk/s1600/Dr.+Seuss%27s+Birthday.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6arijkBrzm5pQhQjayN2AkoC5f4Lils49qgtEayYuJqNeMZa92tNlXAQog1Z35ZdjdZVpj3fuFmOLmagqhGDUPYcdzIL_OPURLQy2JnTTIQWXxCznIWtMibfm48VQ3MMjTNrhyphenhyphenLjvyk/s400/Dr.+Seuss%27s+Birthday.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518467783176421986" border="0" /></a>Is it the first week of March, and you've got nothing to do? Search the calendars of surrounding local libraries and you're bound to find one of them celebrating the birthday of Dr. Seuss. The above super-cool party was thrown by the La Pintoresca Branch of the Pasadena Public Library. <br /><br />Although the beloved "Good Doctor" was born on March 2nd, libraries celebrate his birthday throughout early March. <br /><br />Can't get enough of the amazing Dr. Seuss? Try celebrating his birthday Seuss-athon style. Click <a href="http://www.candaceryanbooks.com/search/label/Seuss-athon">here</a> to see what I mean. <br /><br />Has anyone attended a library birthday party for a different kidlit author? Drop a comment.Candace Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025197609231243397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619042456097355333.post-43640666842277142862010-09-18T20:26:00.000-07:002010-09-18T23:00:06.333-07:00"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge: #15 Share a Bonding Moment<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtP9-6sMA7Tvitkt8Yr546JwL6MVRyYB8AYgs476T8xir_p_OxSV1awsfd9zfjQLwcTetxO8043V9XClC7pgk_EWgHO8tZGTKf6vOF-MBp3YEfGBgqm2npA-iBaHVnMkjHqEhU6NX89Go/s1600/Parent-Child.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtP9-6sMA7Tvitkt8Yr546JwL6MVRyYB8AYgs476T8xir_p_OxSV1awsfd9zfjQLwcTetxO8043V9XClC7pgk_EWgHO8tZGTKf6vOF-MBp3YEfGBgqm2npA-iBaHVnMkjHqEhU6NX89Go/s400/Parent-Child.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518461472030671154" border="0" /></a>Bond over a book at your local library. Take your child, nephew, neighbor, tailor, barber, date, mechanic, grand-niece, cousin, or favorite juggler and check out an exciting book together. Happy adventures!<br /><br />The dragon-adventure above began at the Hastings Ranch Branch of the Pasadena Public Library and continues to this day...Candace Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025197609231243397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619042456097355333.post-85193051882208287692010-09-18T19:53:00.000-07:002010-09-18T20:20:24.635-07:00"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge: #14 Sit Down with a Rare Book and James Joyce<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqnv_cnXqVFjIwJf_i0vy76yWoz1eKupf21QSNjQJr3UvJQwD2EFj2UfTR9l2JQ4bDvUdIBRaXMhGge8ih6ITNyN_YtNJ3ucydEvArtS95vYkrbmDg207lSGla1ECf0Tm8EetMsvLFA-w/s1600/The+Cat+and+the+Devil.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqnv_cnXqVFjIwJf_i0vy76yWoz1eKupf21QSNjQJr3UvJQwD2EFj2UfTR9l2JQ4bDvUdIBRaXMhGge8ih6ITNyN_YtNJ3ucydEvArtS95vYkrbmDg207lSGla1ECf0Tm8EetMsvLFA-w/s400/The+Cat+and+the+Devil.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518455017939210546" border="0" /></a>At the #42 position on the ALA's "52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" list is: "Check out a special collection of rare books."<br /><br />I got cozy with this edition of James Joyce's <span style="font-style: italic;">The Cat and the Devil </span>at the Los Angeles Central Library. I had to get cozy with it there because I couldn't take it home (and it had nothing to do with the $0.15 late fee on my account). <br /><br />That's part of the definition of a rare book-- one you can peruse at the library but cannot check-out.<br /><br />You can read more about my visit with Mr. Joyce and his contribution to kidlit by clicking <a href="http://www.candaceryanbooks.com/2009/03/rejoyce-in-childrens-literature-james.html">here</a>.Candace Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025197609231243397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619042456097355333.post-72204297229589621292010-09-14T23:57:00.000-07:002010-09-15T00:09:00.402-07:00"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge: #13 Internet Literacy<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX63ufkV_rWz368fbFO5vsQslhzpkJHpW-0U1wthPAVAq23hM-_tc1zJo0ACmJHCvi8l5RhpJyrslxfbV1SqJxhL7oQajaklE7dFv1FZQZPo2m9vLf-un9IVqTltNvwfAl5dCTV5xX6yI/s1600/montrose+branch+library.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517031534036131826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX63ufkV_rWz368fbFO5vsQslhzpkJHpW-0U1wthPAVAq23hM-_tc1zJo0ACmJHCvi8l5RhpJyrslxfbV1SqJxhL7oQajaklE7dFv1FZQZPo2m9vLf-un9IVqTltNvwfAl5dCTV5xX6yI/s400/montrose+branch+library.JPG" border="0" /></a>"Find out how to navigate the Internet," is #11 on the ALA's list, <a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/conferencesevents/celebrationweeks/card/52ways.cfm">"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card."</a> This young library patron surfs the Net at the Montrose Branch of the Glendale Public Library. <br /><br />Note the "pirate flag" mouse pad. Rumor has it that it also doubles as a treasure map. Where can all the treasure be found? At your local public library, of course!Candace Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025197609231243397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619042456097355333.post-58922115650239488232010-09-12T15:29:00.001-07:002010-09-12T15:41:06.594-07:00"52 Ways to Use a Library Card" Challenge: #12 Curl Up with a Book<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLiTRmWBI9pOHO8C81HS_ddBNlHKWw2L5sU1n8lwUr7nB3w6JvNSboRFS0z8FPee2C_A2VIzAJ4yVPUwMzpQSv4bQlnTlb-soRRtybcxWhc9ex941k7zsC3il-kz4xI3G75uCoX9ckDM/s1600/hastings+ranch+branch+library.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516158307760112290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLiTRmWBI9pOHO8C81HS_ddBNlHKWw2L5sU1n8lwUr7nB3w6JvNSboRFS0z8FPee2C_A2VIzAJ4yVPUwMzpQSv4bQlnTlb-soRRtybcxWhc9ex941k7zsC3il-kz4xI3G75uCoX9ckDM/s400/hastings+ranch+branch+library.JPG" border="0" /></a> "Find a quiet spot, curl up with a book and enjoy."<br /><br />Yes, this is the obvious one, #51 on the ALA's "52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" list. This photo was taken at the Pasadena Public Library's Hastings Ranch Branch. <br /><br />The young lion tamer takes a reading break on a couch designed as an open book. The armrests are the spines of closed books. These cool couches can be found in libraries throughout the San Gabriel Valley of L.A. County. Give a shout-out if your library owns some, too!Candace Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025197609231243397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619042456097355333.post-20695331828502280442010-09-11T23:57:00.000-07:002010-09-12T00:06:25.595-07:00"52 Ways to Use Your Library Card" Challenge: #11 Enjoy a Concert<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Ri-xNFW5xE2f8krUvntscSs8KhS0hUN3SiIPlUcZV9DcLRqXQvOw4BKhwHz0iCt0eXpgr7khskERMUfiG85zPIHSUbvzOaqyv6h0xM79RisEVRiiiN2vTZ5ZtpM5VUP_Gpe_0SRnMYc/s1600/gluck+string+quartet"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515917888545005890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Ri-xNFW5xE2f8krUvntscSs8KhS0hUN3SiIPlUcZV9DcLRqXQvOw4BKhwHz0iCt0eXpgr7khskERMUfiG85zPIHSUbvzOaqyv6h0xM79RisEVRiiiN2vTZ5ZtpM5VUP_Gpe_0SRnMYc/s400/gluck+string+quartet" border="0" /></a> "Enjoy a concert" is #40 on the ALA's list of "52 Ways to Use Your Library Card."<br /><br />Appearing in the photo above is the UCLA Gluck String Quartet (yes, there should be umlauts above the "u" in "Gluck," but I'll be darned if I can make it happen). <br /><br />They played at the Echo Park Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library this past March. From Mozart to Irish folk tunes, the "Music and Munchies" concert was a special treat for the ears and tummy.<br /><br />Heard any great music lately at your local public library?Candace Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025197609231243397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8619042456097355333.post-84469220066592378182010-09-10T19:37:00.000-07:002010-09-10T21:02:35.123-07:00Random Acts of Publicity: Shout-Out to Merrily Kutner's Z IS FOR ZOMBIE<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkMMA0I9K6PRyucjr0zKf022bWKj4k28VGnROOiG3luNfSu9bCHYdsRvH4gVGUW9MpjrVuaepoL2JRudE7yVyWaowu7dtWB_le2rXxphBiclQI7tqpcK5iRy3U5h0qdc4gnRb2RdI4wU/s1600/z+is+for+zombie.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515482819495465554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 327px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkMMA0I9K6PRyucjr0zKf022bWKj4k28VGnROOiG3luNfSu9bCHYdsRvH4gVGUW9MpjrVuaepoL2JRudE7yVyWaowu7dtWB_le2rXxphBiclQI7tqpcK5iRy3U5h0qdc4gnRb2RdI4wU/s400/z+is+for+zombie.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />As part of Darcy Pattison's <a href="http://www.darcypattison.com/pr-notes/random-acts/">Random Acts of Publicity </a>Week, I'm giving a well-deserved shout-out to friend <a href="http://www.merrilykutner.blogspot.com/">Merrily Kutner's </a>picture book <em><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/hybrid?filter0=Merrily+Kutner">Z Is for Zombie</a></em>, illustrated by John Manders.<br /><br />Selected as a <a href="http://readon.wi.gov/index.asp?locid=138">"Read On Wisconsin!" </a>book by that state's First Lady, Jessica Doyle, <em>Z Is for Zombie</em> will be read and discussed by elementary school students across Wisconsin during the month of October. Also, the book has recently been reissued in <a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/books/e/9780807594919/?pt=BK&stage=bookproduct&pwb=2">paperback</a> by publisher Albert Whitman. Just in time for Halloween!<br /><br />Light a spooky Halloween candle for <em>Z Is for Zombie</em> during the upcoming <a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/index.cfm">Banned Books Week</a>. Back in 2002, the book was <a href="http://www.oregon.gov/OSL/LD/fifteenth.shtml">challenged</a> in a library in Oregon for having "graphic illustrations inappropriate for young children." Fortunately, the book was retained and the freedom to read prevailed. (And now you're all going to have to get your hands on a copy to see what all the fuss was about!)<br /><br />For more villainous verse sure to turn any reluctant reader into a bookworm, check out Merrily's <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/hybrid?filter0=Merrily+Kutner"><em>The Zombie Nite Cafe</em></a><em>, </em>illustrated by Ethan Long. Looking for something a little less spooky? Try Merrily's "fuzzy bunny" book (as she calls it), <em><a href="http://www.indiebound.org/hybrid?filter0=Merrily+Kutner">Down on the Farm</a></em>, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand.<br /><br />Love picture books and want to learn how to write your own? Merrily is teaching an online course through UCLA Extension this fall. You can take it from anywhere in the world. Click <a href="https://www.uclaextension.edu/r/Course.aspx?reg=V8242">here</a> for more info.Candace Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09025197609231243397noreply@blogger.com