Poetry Friday - "What is Purple?"

This lovely little poem comes from a book calledHailstones and Halibut Bones by Mary O'Neill that's all poems about colors. I picked one of my favorite colors - a WOMS color - purple. Enjoy the violets when you go outside today!

What is Purple?

Time is purple
Just before night
When most people
Turn on the light
But if you don’t it’s
A beautiful sight.
Asters are purple,
There’s purple ink.
Purple’s more popular
Than you think…
It’s sort of a great
Grandmother to pink.
There are purple shadows
And purple veils,
Some ladies purple
Their fingernails.
There’s purple jam
And purple jell
And a purple bruise
Next day will tell
Where you landed
When you fell.
The purple feeling
Is rather put-out
The purple look is a
Definite pout.
But the purple sound
Is the loveliest thing
It’s a violet opening
In the spring.

Bagels and Books speakers

This morning I was so very proud of three of our WOMS students who spoke at the Gresham Barlow Education Foundation's Bagels and Books breakfast. The three students, Daylon, Ely, and Katie, were asked to give a speech on the topic, "My Favorite Book and Why." All three did an outstanding job. Everyone I spoke with afterward was very impressed, including New York Times bestselling author Phillip Margolin who spoke as well. Ask them about their experience - I'm sure they'd be happy to tell you about it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK!

Three happy birthday kiddos this week, with three excellent book recommendations for you - The Battle of the Labyrinth, Life as We Knew It, and one of the Heartland series! Thanks for the excellent recommendations. Hope your birthdays were great!

Poetry Friday - "My Cat"

If ever a truer poem were written - about EVERY cat - I don't know what it might be. I know my cat Bonkers thinks so! Clearly author Judith Viorst must have a cat or two of her own!






My Cat

My cat isn’t stuck up,
Even though
He’s the handsomest cat in
the world.
And smart,
And brave,
And climbs the highest trees.
My cat will sit on our lap and
Let you pet him.
He won’t mind.
He thinks human beings are
Almost as good
As he is.

Judith Viorst -- If I Were In Charge of the World

Feliz Cumpleaños Diego and Jake

Our birthday boys have some great suggestions for us today, so take a look and come down to get a new book!

Last checkouts for the school year will be on June 2nd, so come right on down.

WOW! do we have a lot of birthdays in May!

Check out all these fabulous birthday kiddos and their awesome choices of book recommendations. Hope everyone has a fantastical birthday celebration!

Poetry Friday - "Afraid"

Sometimes we all hear those voices. But it's harder to remember they can't chase us if we don't run. This is the kind of poem I like to print and post on my mirror. this poem was also written by a teen. Pretty great stuff.

AFRAID

Do you hear the voices
floating through the wind
following me,
they laugh and whisper
as I turn and my hair blows forward
attempting to shield my face.
I’ve yet to realize
they can’t chase me
if I don’t run from them.

Wonder Twin Powers, Activate!

Check out this awesome twin outfit from last week that Ms. Frisk and I had.

We love Dr. Seuss!

More birthday boys :)

And more great book suggestions: The Outsiders and The Lightning Thief. Two awesome reads from two awesome guys! Thanks, Wes and David, and Happy Birthday!

Happy birthdays!

Very special happy birthdays to Dallin, Casey and Alesha! All three have a great book recommendation from our WOMS library, so some on down and take advantage of these great suggestions.

Poetry Friday - "Love Poem for my People/ Poema de amor para mi gente"

Since we've just celebrated Cinco de Mayo, this week I've chosen a poem that's in both Spanish and English from a great book I have in the library called Cool Salsa, Bilingual Poems on Growing Up Latino in the United States! This poem is by Pedro Pietri. Disfruten!


Love Poem for My People

Do not let
Artificial lamps
Make strange shadows
Out of you
Do not dream
If you want your dreams
To come true
You knew how to sing
Before you was
Issued a birth certificate
Turn off the stereo
This country gave you
It is out of order
Your breath
Is your promiseland
If you want
To feel very rich
Look at your hands
That is where
The definition of magic
Is located at


Poema de amor para mi gente
(Translated from the English by Alexandra Lopez)

No dejes que
Lámparas artificiales
Hagan de ti
Sombras extrañas
No sueñes
Si quieres que tus sueños
Se hagan realidad
Tú sabías cantar
Antes de que fuiste
Dado un certificado de nacimiento
Apaga la radio
Que este país te dio
Está fuera de servicio
Tu aliento
Es tu tierra prometida
Si quieres
Sentirte bien rico
Mírate las manos
Es ahí donde
La definición de magia
Se encuentra

Book Fair! Book Fair!

6th graders stopped by the book fair today to browse and buy. Tomorrow Mrs. Van der Meer's classes will come down, Wednesday Mrs. Fulsher's classes, Thursday Ms. Miller's classes. We'll be open each morning and at lunch recesses, too! Every time you spend five dollars, you get a ticket in the drawing to win $5 free merchandise. Tomorrow morning we have a special bonus going on. The first five students to spend $5 will get FIVE tickets each! Don't miss out on your chance to support the WOMS library. All the money goes directly back to the library to by MORE GREAT BOOKS :)