30 Days of Gratitude: Day 5

It's been a busy day and I almost didn't squeeze this post in. But I am determined to post every day, even when some days it is harder to find my place of gratitude. I envy those who seem to come by it naturally, and who are always bubbling over with thanksgiving. 

Today I am thankful for the small things....The two cats curled up around my legs as I type this. Friends who shared a meal with me so that I didn't need to cook dinner. Technology that lets me communicate face to face even when I am 3000 miles away. 

What are you thankful for? 

My picture book pick of the day:

This is Sadie
by Sara O'Leary; Illustrated by Julie Morstad

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 4

Yes, this post is a bit late in the day, but I ran out of time last night to do a 3rd blog post. How did November get so busy? 

As I end the day today, I am reminded why I am doing this series of blog posts. It is so easy sometimes to look back over the day and focus on the things that didn't go well or the comment that stung just a bit or the decision that I made and now wished I had made a different choice. 

It is through gratitude that we change just a little each day. Maybe we are a little calmer, or a bit braver in facing something hard, or find a new path to explore that will lead us just to where we belong right now. 

So today, I am thankful for the reminder that I need to focus on what is happening throughout my day in order to see that which is good and amazing.  And maybe tomorrow, I won't need that reminder. 

My Picture Book pick for the day - Lost. Found. of course.

Check out Marsha Diane Arnold's interview here. 

30 Days of Gratitude: Day 3

My wish for today is that no matter what size our hearts, may we hold large amounts of gratitude. 

My picture book pick for the day:

Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear
by Lindsay Mattick; Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (October 20, 2015)

It seemed fitting to feature a picture book with a connection to the quote I posted for today. If you haven't had a chance to read Finding Winnie, definitely look for this story of the bear who inspired Winnie the Pooh.  

It's Monday! What are you reading? From Picture Books to YA - November 2, 2015

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys.  Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee Moye of Unleashing Readers decided to give It's Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading right now...you just might discover your next “must-read” book!

My "IMWAYR" posts are going to be a little strange for the next few weeks. A little bit of a collection of bookish news, a little bit of what I am reading, and a little bit of celebrating things I am thankful for and spotlighting picture books. 

Here is a little of everything...

HOW TO TELL A STORY WEEK!

Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 3rd is when How to Tell a Story Week begins. I am so thankful to get to work with Jen Vincent from Teach Mentor Texts and the wonderful folks at Workman Publishing to celebrate the creative work of Daniel Nayeri and Brian Won. To further celebrate Jen Teach Mentor Texts  and I recruited Cynthia from Librarian in Cute Shoes, and Jennifer from Reederama to join in on sharing some fun #HowtoTellaStory ideas with you.

30 Days of Gratitude Day 2

All this month, I will be posting something short or sometimes a bit longer on what I am grateful for.  Today, I am grateful for the words of others that inspire me.   

I write about the power of trying, because I want to be okay with failing. I write about generosity because I battle selfishness. I write about joy because I know sorrow. I write about faith because I almost lost mine, and I know what it is to be broken and in need of redemption. I write about gratitude because I am thankful - for all of it. - Kristen Armstrong

As I was googling quotes on gratitude, I came across this one by Kristen Armstrong. I don't know if she is still blogging for Runner's World but I remember a number of years reading a regular column that she was doing for them and always being inspired. 

I love how she writes about the "power of trying, because I want to be okay with failing". Ah failure! So important to growth and learning.  Do we allow ourselves to take the kind of risks that will help us grow? Do we allow others around us colleagues, students, friends to learn from their mistakes and grow from them? 

I am thankful for dear friends who support me through my falling down and getting back up.

Picture Book Month

Bird
by Jacob Grimm; Illustrated by Beatriz Martin Vidal
Simply Read Books (September 1, 2015)

This description from GoodReads tells it all: 

Anything is possible when you believe. The moment is coming. Be ready. To start a new path, to grow up, to change, to rise to the occasion. 
"Bird" is a stunning wordless picture book by Beatriz Martin Vidal, which brings us up to the moment of a child s flight, as she launches into life and imagination takes off.

The possibility of a new path to grow, and change and reach for the impossible, that is my wish for each of you.  

To see what I have been reading, check out my GoodReads page here. 

So, what are you reading?

Kicking Off 30 Days of Gratitude 2015

Welcome to 30 Days of Gratitude 2015!

November is an amazing month. It is Picture Book Month, and also PiBoIdMo, and NaNoWriMo. It is also a great time to reset an attitude that needs an adjustment.  Instead of celebrating being thankful one day of the month,  we can celebrate it every day and we can start now.

In 2013, I did a Thirty Days of Thanksgiving series. Each day, I posted something I was thankful for and featured a picture book. Often the posts were short - just a quick reminder to be thankful. And the picture books didn't necessarily need to have a theme of thanksgiving or gratitude, but just ones that I really loved. 

For the past few months, I have been stuck in a rut. I realize that I need to get out and reset. I am hoping that by resurrecting my Thirty Days of Thanksgiving/Gratitude that I will be able to move out of my this funk and into a better place. In David Steindl-Rast' TED Talk "Want to be Happy? Be Grateful", I was struck by the following comments:

"And when we open our hearts to the opportunities, the opportunities invite us to do something, and that is the third. Stop, look, and then go, and really do something. And what we can do is whatever life offers to you in that present moment. Mostly it's the opportunity to enjoy, but sometimes it's something more difficult."

I know that one of my challenges is to appreciate the opportunities that are before me. Not to feel like I missed an opportunity and another one will never come again, but rather to live with the current opportunity and learn what it has for me to learn.

I leave you with Steindl-Rast's TED Talk:

My picture book pick of the day:

Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras
by Duncan Tonatiuh
Abrahms (August 25, 2015)

Given that today is Día de los Muertos, I thought a theme related book was appropriate. Click on the title for my review of the book.