Don't tell me that the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.
~Anton Chekhov

Sparkling Spider Spinning

...and a bit of alliteration too.

Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some are to be chewed and digested.
~Francis Bacon

Surprising Delivery

There was a special delivery during the 4th grade field trips at the Belding Wildlife Management Area today. A prayng mantis started laying her egg case. What a great treat that the children could see her in action.

New Resources

I have added a new link to a resource that I found very helpful when working on new ideas. It is the
Children's Picture Book Database at Miami Univ.  What a great way to see what other books are out there on certain topics, or it's fun to see what topics might inspire me when I'm stuck for a new idea.

I have also started following a new blog Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. It's fun and full of great information.

Red backed salamander

I found this red-backed salamander under a log in the garden...yes, a dead tree can be a good thing. It provided a habitat for this cool little creature.

Perhaps no place in any community is so totally democratic as the town library. The only entrance requirement is interest.
~Lady Bird Johnson

Butt in Chair

I'm not sure that this is what they mean by "butt in chair" but we all need to recharge now and then.

My Mighty Milkweed

Possibly the best fragrance a flower can have!! And the food source for monarch butterflies. Milkweed is one of my all-time favorites.

When you re-read a classic you do not see more in the book than you did before; you see more in you than was there before.
~Clifton Fadiman

The pen is the language of the mind.
~Miguel de Cervantes

Books may well be the only true magic.
~Alice Hoffman