Who Are Some of Your Favorite Fantasy Writers?

I thought I would continue this series on favorite writers by asking specifically about Fantasy today. I have addressed Speculative and Science-fiction writers, but now let us consider those we love reading in Fantasy.

Here is a brief list of some of my favorites:

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J. R. R. Tolkien and The Lord Of The Rings

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J. K. Rowling The Harry Potter Series

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Ray Bradbury Something Wicked This Way Comes

These writers are only a few of many possible whom I might have listed.

So, I ask you: who are some of your favorite fantasy writers?

Talking Death and Dying with Children – Part 3

Here is part 3 of Jennie’s excellent series on talking about death and dying with children.

A Teacher's Reflections

In Part 2, I talked about the dreaded “D” words – death and dying – that teachers and parents fear. I introduced a gentle and friendly book, City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willems, that may be helpful in starting a dialogue with children. Ask. Listen. Answer. Talk. And read aloud.

Part 3
Death is really the grand finale to the circle of life. It encompasses all we experience; friendship, sadness, love, fear, joy… it is a fitting end to the memories of living. One book that gives the greatest tribute to life, death, and everything in between is Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White. It is my #1 read-aloud every school year.

When I finish reading our first chapter book of the school year, Charlotte’s Web, children are engrossed in this book because it is a story about the heart – and my most important job…

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Presidential Quotations

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“Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.”

George Washington

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“Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official, save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country. It is patriotic to support him insofar as he efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to oppose him to the exact extent that by inefficiency or otherwise he fails in his duty to stand by the country. In either event, it is unpatriotic not to tell the truth, whether about the president or anyone else.”

Theodore Roosevelt

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“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”

John F. Kennedy

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“Hope is not blind optimism. It’s not ignoring the enormity of the task ahead or the roadblocks that stand in our path. It’s not sitting on the sidelines or shirking from a fight. Hope is that thing inside us that insists, despite all evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us if we have the courage to reach for it, and to work for it, and to fight for it. Hope is the belief that destiny will not be written for us, but by us, by the men and women who are not content to settle for the world as it is, who have the courage to remake the world as it should be.”

Barack Obama

Acrylic Pouring No. 4

Here is more beautiful art from Sarah!

Art Expedition

A few months back, I started experimenting with a new painting technique called acrylic pouring (if you´ve missed my first acrylic pouring painting click here).

It’s been a lot of fun, although I do have slight problems with the unpredictability of the whole process. As soon as you let go of the paint it pretty much does what it wants and you can merely stand by and watch. 😉

Acrylic Pouring No. 4 (acrylics and pouring medium on cardboard; January 2019)

Ironically enough, the unpredictability part is also the one that makes the butterflies in my stomach dance up and down and giddy with excitement.

I swear, as long as it takes to prepare the painting – and I´m talking about quite a lot of time to mix each color separately until you’re happy with the result), I even spend more time just watching the thing grow and settle…

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Talking Death and Dying with Children – Part 2

Here is part 2 in Jennie’s excellent series.

A Teacher's Reflections

In Part 1, I opened the doors to talking with young children about death and dying. Finding a dead bunny on the playground was the opportunity I needed. Children are often angry when a pet or loved one dies. I shared an excellent book that can help children, The Rough Patch, by Brian Lies. It is beautifully illustrated and just won a Caldecott award. Highly recommended.

Part 2
Death and dying – the dreaded “D” words. Teachers are uncomfortable talking about it. Parents are afraid to talk about it. Often the subject is swept under the rug or avoided altogether. Sometimes well-meaning answers such as, “She is on a cloud in the sky,” can be confusing for children.

Here’s the thing: Children feel. Children know. But children don’t have the words to tell you. They have a hundred thoughts and images running through their brain…

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