Our temperatures in Iowa have moderated to the point where it now feels good to be outside. And my thoughts turn to picnics. Some months ago I wrote about food stories--and I promised a few. Just to make good on that promise I want to share a picnic story. When I was growing up on the farm we did not take vacations. … [Read more...] about A Spaghetti Picnic
News
“We all go to the same silence.” Marilyn Nelson
Marilyn Nelson read here at Hamline yesterday and, during an informal discussion, said that we can grow our capacity for compassion and empathy by meditating. "We all go to the same silence," she said. And we were silent in thinking about those words. … [Read more...] about “We all go to the same silence.” Marilyn Nelson
Writing and Seeing
Packing notebooks, books, manuscripts, computer for the residency at Hamline University's Low Residency Program in Writing for Children and Young Adults, which starts tomorrow. Eleven days of intensive thinking, talking, writing about telling stories for young readers. But it's not all about writing. It's about … [Read more...] about Writing and Seeing
A Great Day at Harrison School
Harrison Elementary School in Cedar Rapids sits in an area much affected by the Cedar River flooding of 2008. Many families were forced out of their homes. Many homes were damaged. Many are still under repair. I have been to Harrison School in earlier times. I wasn't sure what I would find this time. Would kids be … [Read more...] about A Great Day at Harrison School
Living Room Tourist: Lhasa
The story and setting of The Chiru of High Tibet may make readers want more information about Tibet. Who wouldn't want to travel to such a beautiful and mysterious land? But real travel to Tibet is expensive and arduous. Still, there's the possibility of "living room" travel, traveling by immersing ourselves in the … [Read more...] about Living Room Tourist: Lhasa
One World. Many Stories
I'm excited to learn that the theme for many libraries' summer reading programs this year is "One world, many stories." What a treat to be taken by a book to the world across the river, across the ocean, on the other side of the globe. What draws us to these stories from other parts of the planet are the … [Read more...] about One World. Many Stories