What Inspires Me? Visual Verse
A picture is worth a thousand words…the adage goes…and, as Visual Verse proves oh so many ideas!
As you may or may not know, about 2500 days ago, along with Cindy Faughnan, I challenged myself to write a poem a day. (Note: I didn’t say “good poem” I just said “a” poem, for most often, the result of the poem is not the point of the exercise, the “point” is in the thinking, the writing, the act of creating.
Visual Verse’s dedicated team!
And, at least once a month, the poetry prompts are provided by Visual Verse.
Visual Verse is a celebration. Of the drama of seeing and the desire to express it. Of the things that inspire us, move us, and that we find hardest to articulate.”—Visual Verse
Visual Verse submissions—inspired by select images—like this one by Erin Quinn titled “ETTA/Girl in Red Hat”—can be poems, fiction or non-fiction; must be between 50 and 500 words in length; and the read challenge: can be created in no more than 1 hour.
This October, by way of a challenge, Visual Verse hosted it’s Autumn Writing Contest!
Last week the 4 winning pieces and 16 shortlisted pieces (from 141 entries) were selected. I’m delighted to report that both Cindy and my efforts made the shortlist.
Visual Verse on the web, instagram @visualverseanthology; and twitter @visual_verse—it’s inspiring!
What Inspires Me? Being Alice
Ever wondered what it would be like to literally slide down that rabbit hole? Actually, be Alice? I have! And I’m thinking everyone who’s ever read Louis Carroll’s Adventures in Wonderland has too. Before now “Imaging” —or dressing up on Halloween—was as far as we went—let ourselves go—could go.
Alexa Meade paints human beings into art—literally—thus turning them into as Business Insider put it, “into living, breathing portraits.”
Artist Alexa Meade wasn’t content with “imaging.” Alice’s Wonderland from what she read in the book. Or to watching, reading about, imagining those other “Alices” and cast on the page or movie or Disney’s dizzying teacup ride. She wanted to be Alice!
And best, let us be Alice…and the Mad Hatter, too in Wonderland Dreams!
Wonderland Dreams is an interactive journey down the rabbit hole and into Alice’s Adventures created by artist Alexa Meade. 26,000 sq foot imagined, created, hand-painted from floor to ceiling, multi-dimensional world transporting visitors into Louis Carroll’s Wonderland.
Wonderland Dreams is artist Alexa Meade’s creation. You may not have heard of her, but if you recall Arianna Grande’s God is a Woman music video, in which she’s singing, while floating in a pool of paint, you’ve seen her work. The video, which is linked on Meade’s website, received more than 300 million views.
With Wonderland Dreams, Alexa Meade pushed herself to go beyond creating art—even human art—for us to view. She’s created a world for us to literally climb into. Now that’s inspiring!
Wonderland Dreams is live in NEW YORK! now through Spring of 2023. It’s located at 529 Fifth Avenue, near NYC’s iconic Bryant Park (a short walk from Penn Station.) You don’t need an apron or blue hair ribbon to climb through the rabbit hole. But you do need a ticket.
For more information and tickets visit the Wonderland Dreams website!
What Inspires Me? Netflix Storytime!
Netflix! Ahhhhhhhhh I see you racing around waving your arms in hysterical frenzy at the thought of a—gasp!— “children’s book author” mentioning the word.
Horrors!
Be real. Parents! Teachers! Caregivers! Grands! Our kiddos—your kiddos—watch Netflix. We all know that and it is not terribly inspiring. But get this…
VOOKS . . . VOOKS (Video-Books?!) is Story Time Book Read-Alouds streaming on Netflix!
What’s so inspiring?
VOOKS Story Time Book: Read-Along features 40 favorite animated books compiled into 8 themed episodes.
“This first-of-its-kind show invites kids to read along as their favorite storybooks come to life in each specially curated episode, including “Science, Letters, and Numbers,” “Adventurous Tales,” “Fuzzy Friends,” “Bedtime,” and more.”
How do I know Vooks books are “worth reading” aka “quality” books?
Because Vooks now includes 18 animated Familius titles!
Familus, with a credo of “Family First” publishes wonderful books! Including soon…mine! (Yes, of course my not-so-secret dream is that my forthcoming picture book, The House That Ruth Built, will one day be Netflix streaming on VOOKS along too.) But that’s not what this is about.
This is about this:
So you’re in the car, a restaurant, the airport—or maybe just too flippin’ worn down to argue—and the kids want THE DEVICE!
(Been there?….felt those judging onlookers? Seen those judging looks?)
Now, with VOOKS you can “let them” watch animated books on Netflix.
Watch! Books! Read-Along!
Now that’s inspiring!
What Inspires Me? Pumpkin Time!
It’s Pumpkin Time!
Fall is in the air and pumpkins are everywhere. We took the grands to a pumpkin patch to kick off the season. There must have been 30 varieties of squash—every shape, size, texture…some super gnarly, warty, stripey…some jack-o-lantern ready.
What inspires me most about pumpkins? Pumpkins are waterproof!
Grands, Parents, Teachers! This is a great, fun, messy kid activity:
Spread the picnic table or driveway with newspapers. Cut off the top of the pumpkin. Give the kids spoons and let them scoop all the gunk out of the center of the pumpkin.
It doesn’t matter how good a job they do.
It doesn’t matter if they get all the gunk out of the insides.
The only part of scooping out a pumpkin that matters is if they dig through the shell. Then it won’t hold water. But….it will still be good for baking-stewing-steaming…freezing. So it’s a win-win!
Let them have at it. Yes! Digging it all out will definitely be a hands-on job.
What’s most inspiring! All the things you can do with pumpkin after its hollowed out—beside carving them into jack-o-lanterns.
Pumpkin Vases: Once you’ve scooped out the insides of a pumpkin fill it with water and cut flowers. Or, fill the pumpkin with dirt and plant it!
Succulents are delightful!
Fall pansies or a mum are adorable too.
No need to worry about leakage, because the pumpkin shell is waterproof. But do put a dish beneath your pumpkin for 2 reasons:
Because the moist pumpkin might leave a water mark on wood.
Because after a time the pumpkin will begin to rot and liquify—melt essentially.
The pumpkin vase will last at least 3 weeks.
Afterwards, toss the pumpkin vase, flowers and all, in the compost bin.
If you used a plant, replant it in the dirt or another container.
Pumpkin Curry or Stew Pot:
Use the hollowed out pumpkin as a pot to cook pumpkin curry or soup.
Put the hollowed out pumpkin on a baking sheet.
Fill it with the ingredients in your favorite recipe. Here’s my go-to Pumpkin Curry Recipe
Cover your pumpkin pot with its cute pumpkin stem top and cook as directed.
Serve right in the pumpkin pot!
The best part is that the pot is edible! Yes, digging out bites of the cooked pumpkin shell as you nibble is allowed. Look Ma! I ate the whole thing)
AAARGH! Help! The kiddos get so carried away carving out the inside of the pumpkin and bust through the shell?????
Plan B: cook the pumpkin and use it to make pumpkin pie, or mashed pumpkin with butter, or butter, brown sugar, salt and pepper, or microwave the pumpkin in a covered bowl. Or peel and chop the pumpkin into pieces, pop them into a freezable container and freeze to deal with later.
And don’t forget the Seeds!
Harvesting those seeds is gooey fun, too. Wash the seeds, soak them in salt water, season them and bake them.
Warning: pumpkin seeds are a healthy treat!
That’s what I call inspiring, Punkin!
What Inspires Me? Goldfish Love
Goldfish are not only funny, they are smart! And, surprising…if you doubt me, check this out.
This photo is not a hoax.
Nor did Norman have anything to do with Gabriel taking a flying leap?
As far as I know, Norman doesn’t even know a goldfish named Gabriel.
But if he did, I’m sure they’d be very good friends!
This photo was snapped by a friend in Fairfield, Connecticut.
As far as we know, Gabriel is still out there, swimming at large.
So, be on the look out for a swim-away goldfish. Although…
Check out that reward. WTF??????????
only 27cents?
That’s not exactly what we call Goldfish Love…
mild like maybe…
but, LOVE???
What Inspires Me? Digging Through the LOC Stacks
This is a page from the 1893 H.H. Kiffe Catalogue. How did I find it? Joanna Colclough, a Librarian Extraordinaire/Archival Archeologist at the Library of Congress dug it up!
That’s what inspires me: The Library of Congress!
The Library of Congress (LOC) is “the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the de facto national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country.” -wikipedia
What’s in the Library of Congress?
Copies of every publication in the English language that is deemed significant. Specifically:
via Wikipedia: “The Library of Congress states that its collection fills about 838 miles (1,349 km) of bookshelves and holds more than 167 million items with over 39 million books and other print materials.[5] A 2000 study by information scientists Peter Lyman and Hal Varian suggested that the amount of uncompressed textual data represented by the 26 million books then in the collection was 10 terabytes.[77
What’s especially inspiring is that the Library of Congress is OUR LIBRARY!
Each of us—me and you—can access the library. We can visit it in person—it is an actual library located in Washington D.C. and we are welcome to visit it, browse the collections, see the books and some memorabilia and collection items ourselves.
But, what’s easier is that much of the Library of Congress holdings—especially photographs—is on line! All we have to do is input what you’re looking for in the search box, click and look!
And if, like me, you need lots of extra help finding what you’re looking for, the Library of Congress staff is super helpful.
See for yourself! Click to Visit the Library of Congress!
See you at our library!
I’ve been digging—yep! Elbow deep, digging, but not “in the dirt.” I’ve been digging through the Library of Congress archives in search of baseball minutiae for my forthcoming picture book The House That Ruth Built (Familius 2023). It’s about the opening day game in the original Yankee Stadium and Babe Ruth’s historic first homer in the stadium, but so much more. It’s about the origin of the game, and history—so much history—100 plus plus plus year-old history of the sport and the world as it was back then. For instance, how do you think that April 18th, 1923 game was broadcast?
It wasn’t.
That’s right. No one saw that historic game on TV because there was no TV back then.
No one sat with their ears glued to some huge box radio either, because while radio had been invented—credited to Guglielmo Marconithe in 1894, and the first professional baseball game had been broadcast on the Radio—Aug 5, 1921, Pirates vs Phillies at Forbes Field in Pittsburg— the NY Yankees did not allow their games to be broadcast until the 1923 World Series.
The only people to enjoy that first baseball game played in Yankee Stadium in real time were folks at the actual game. The rest of the world experienced second-hand from sports reporters who shared the play-by-play with fans via telegraph which was then transcribed and printed in newspapers. And where, 100 years and more later, does one find those newspapers?
Kids: Try some Baseball Math!
These pages from the 1893 H.H. Kiffe Catalogue list baseball stuff for sale. If $1 in 1893 is equal in purchasing power to about $32.92 in 2022, how much would one of these baseball hats cost today?
What Inspires Me? Tomatoes
It’s Tomato Time! This time of year, almost nothing can match the delight we take in plucking ripe tomatoes from the vine. Cherry tomatoes are my favorites—even the scrawniest heat-stroked shriveled plants are still working hard to ripen those last few ruby orbs. Those in still clinging to my tomato plants remind me of those lowly Christmas ornaments left dangling forgotten when good ole’ Tanenbaum is kicked to the curb after the holidays!
Even grandson Aiden—who hates tomatoes “Yuck! Yucky”—loves picking tomatoes.
But who the heck is the “Tom” who lent his toes to the garden industry to create these tiny, round, juicy red-yellow-orange “Tom Toes”?
One can only imagine what Tom’s foot looked like with those toes poking off the end. Or what kind of shoes he sported.
Look close—closer! See that grey pot nestled in that flower bed? Yep, inside that bamboo cage grows a cherry tomato plant!
What’s so inspiring about tomatoes?
Anyone can grow a tomatoes plant.
Inside, outside, garden, containers—even gallon milk jugs. You doubt me? See for yourself!
Tomato plants are not like other pets. Sure, you can love them, feed and water them, talk to them, even pet them as you do other pets. But in a few months, they Go!
And best, they reward you with tiny, edible burst of sunshine!
Here’s a video on How to Plant Tomatoes in Containers—all it takes is one plant-especially a cherry tomato plant—to brighten many a dull salad!
Teachers! Parents! Caregivers! Do the kids in your life a favor! Plant a tomato. Better yet, plant a tomato with them!
It’s like that old adage: Give them a tomato and they’ll call it “Yuck;” teach them how to grow a tomato plant and they’ll have pizza sauce for life!
What Inspires Me? Stage Fright Jitter Busters
The Season of Firsts” aka “Stage Fright” season has begun…again. I’m a zillion years old and I still get freaked out stepping into new situations. Even when I know exactly what to expect. Say, at the fundraiser I attended Saturday night. The fundraiser I was excited about for an organization I absolutely believe in, The Hampton Theatre Company. It was a lawn party with live music, lovely food, chilled libations…at sunset! I even felt good in my dress—and still as I arrived the butterflies set to fluttering…“Scaredy Mimi!” . . . Then the cute butterflies grew to moths and then bats hammering at my insides “Run for it!”
If that still happens to me, at the ripe old age of zero-dark-sixty, how could anyone expect that our children would not have First Day, First Time, New Place-People-Thing Jitters?
We all need tools and practice to combat stage fright. Here are mine:
How to Combat Stage Fright aka New Experience Jitters 4-Step Plan:
1. Do not ask “Are you nervous?” Of course, they/we/he/she is nervous. Duh! And if we/he/she wasn’t then, we/he/she sure is now.
2. Talk about “Stage Fright” beforehand. Share your own experience. This is not the time to go all Superhero, this is the time to be vulnerable and honest. Truth is even the most seasoned performers get jitters aka butterflies before going on stage. Part of those jitters is excitement. Part of it is fear of failure. Some say when a performer stops feeling jitters or excited before an event, it’s time to quit. That “jittery” feeling is also adrenaline rushing in. Nervous is normal.
3. Make a Plan. If you are going together, think Team! Plan how you’re team will enter the new situation. What you’ll do first? If one person is less jittery—lucky them—then agree that that person will take the lead—with the only expectation being the other team member follow. And make a plan for when and how and if and what the other person will be expected to do.
If one person, a child perhaps (or me Saturday night) are going in alone, make a plan for exactly what or how that person will enter the scene. For example, here’s my plan:
Plan A-D for Entering a New Situation:
A. Look for a familiar face. Scan the room to see if anyone I know is in the room.
B. Look for my seat or where I belong. If there is no seat to look for, then look for the bathroom. It gives me something to do right away. (And check that my tags are tucked, etc.)
C. Head up, look for somewhere interesting to look: live music, flowers, art, the décor. Look interested and you will be more interesting.
D. Look for someone who looks as miserable as I feel and do one of the following: go over to that person/talk to that person/at least smile at that person.
By the time I’ve done A-D, I will be feeling more comfortable and/or something will be happening. At the very least, I will no longer be the new person in the room. If needed repeat A-D. Repeating A-D over and over until it works. Repeating Plan A-D will work—or it will be time to make a graceful exit…
4. The Absolutely Best Stage Fright First Time Jitters Buster—Read about Stage Fright!
Reading books about characters overcoming stage fright is fun and funny. Best, they are chock full of colorful ways to overcome stage fright. Maybe even better than my 4-step plan—definitely with fewer trips to the bathroom.
Scaredy Mimi’s List of Best Picture Books about Squelching Stage Fright:
Norman, One Amazing Goldfish by Kelly Bennett and Noah Z. Jones (Candlewick Press) (Glugggggg! Of course this is #1, right)
Norman is one amazing goldfish! His owner knows Norman is sure to dazzle the crowd at Pet-O-Rama with his circles, bubbles, and flips—even though some kids don’t think a goldfish is a good pet. But when Norman is finally on stage, he freezes up and hides behind his plant. Poor Norman! Luckily, his owner plays a familiar song on the tuba, helping Norman to relax and show the crowd how amazing he really is. The popular stars of Not Norman return in a warm and wryly funny new story about being there for your fishy friend when he needs you most.
Chicken Lily by Lori Mortensen and Nina Victor Crittenden (Henry Holt & Co.)
Chicken Lily may be a lot of things--a careful colorer, a patient puzzler, and a quiet hide-and-seeker (she never made a peep!)--but brave has never been one of them. That's why, when a school-wide poetry jam is announced in class, Lily is terrified. Will she sound like a bird brain? (Cover Image above)
Papa’s Page Fright by Wade Bradford and Mary Ann Fraser (Peter Pauper Press)
This is the story of a little girl named Goldilocks. Well, that's what it's supposed to be, but there's a problem. When Papa Bear discovers he's inside of a book and there are readers out there looking at him, he gets very nervous and forgets his lines. Poor Papa Bear . . . he has Page Fright!
Oliver Button is a Sissy by Tomie de Paola (HHMH Books for Young Readers)
A Classic! A little boy must come to terms with being teased and ostracized because he’d rather read books, paint pictures, and tap-dance than participate in sports.
The Piano Recital by Akiko Miyakoshi (Kids Can Press)
It's the day of Momo's first piano recital. As she nervously waits for her turn to play, she tells herself, "I'll be okay … I'll be okay …" Then she hears a voice nearby, also saying, "I'll be okay. . . I'll be okay. . . " It's a mouseling! And the little mouse is nervous about her first performance, too.
Second Banana by Keith Graves (Roaring Brook Press)
What happens when a Top Banana, star of the circus, gets hurt and Second Banana has to stand in his place.
And for early readers who want to figure it out themselves:
Splat the Cat Sings Flat by Rob Scotton, Chris Strathearn, and Robert Eberz (I Can Read series, Level 1, HarperCollins)
When Splat's teacher announces that the whole class is going to sing for their parents on Parents' Night, Splat is worried: he's afraid to speak in public, much less sing in public!