I never thought I'd be smitten by a counting book. And I'm still not smitten by a counting book, because FOUR OTTERS TOBOGGAN is so much more than that. It's an ode to nature, a prayer, a salute, a love letter, a bedtime lullaby—all in the guise of a counting book. First the love letter … Continue reading Four Otters Toboggan – Perfect Picture Book Friday
What comes to mind when you read this title? If you're a child, well, it's obvious, right? Ew! But if you're a poet like Michael Odom, it's secret code, a play on words, for ekphrastic. Odom explains that ekphrastic is "a very big, very cool word that will impress a teacher and probably … Continue reading Ick! Fran’s Tick!
Over in the Facebook alternate universe, I was saying how much I love sheep. I grew up on a farm with sheep, and although I don't like sheep bucks because one nearly killed my father, I do love the ewes and their lambs. We raised suffolks: So is it any wonder that I'm drawn to: … Continue reading Little Red Riding Sheep – Perfect Picture Book Friday
So you're looking for a couple of books from a brilliant author/illustrator? Ones that will make kids say "ewwww" page after page, all while laughing uproariously? Ones that kids will want to read again and again and again because each little twist is ingenious? Tedd Arnold's will do the trick: For the most part, his … Continue reading Parts and Even More Parts – Perfect Picture Book Friday
It's time once again to feature a book, for Susanna Leonard Hill's Perfect Picture Book Friday, that rocks my picture book world. To my friends who are not picture book lovers, please be patient with me. I promise I'll post something else soon—something to do with Burger King Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (BK PTSD), an … Continue reading Dirty Gert – Perfect Picture Book Friday
You said you’d: Like to know my name. Like to see more of me, all of me. Love me forever. Stop hitting me if I stopped eyeing other men. Like to have kids. Need time to think—or did you say drink? with your buddies. Like me to wear something new. Be sweet if I wasn’t … Continue reading Domestic Tranquility
In response to the 100 Word Challenge for Grown-ups: Today, I wonder who's not eating while I binge on berries, nectarines, and peaches. Summer lovelies. Women raped in fields nicknamed field de calzon by foremen. Never tell. Mothers, fathers, children all evicted while picking fruits I savor with delight. Working twelve-hour days for paltry pay, … Continue reading Dark Fruit
A few minutes ago, while reading the imperfectionists by Tom Rachman, I came upon this sentence: “After a little searching, he finds a gate within the pleached fence and enters.” Hmmm…could this be a typo? MSWord red flags “pleached” as I type, but then MS has an exceedingly limited vocabulary. So I pull out Webster’s … Continue reading Mad Love at Midnight
I was just buzzing along and suddenly sideswiped by this sentence:"The silence in the room seemed to be full of holes." from Monsieur Pain" by Roberto Bolano, translation by Chris AndrewsI sat back in my chair and listened for holes. Lovely.
So I accidentally tripped over this word today. The OED was lying on my office floor. semi-bousy, a. OBS. Halfdrunk. c1400 Som vnlusty persone, pat wer not wele aswakid, or semybousy ouyr eve. This juicy word must shed the dust of obsolescence. Go forth and speak of being semi-boused with your friends.
Jilanne Hoffmann 