Janice S.C. Petrie's Blog, page 5
July 1, 2019
Gloucester’s Greasy Pole Contest Included in “Bay State Skye”
One of my favorite chapters in “Bay State Skye” includes the iconic Greasy Pole Contest. Click on either of the photos below to link to footage from NBC-Boston’s coverage of this weekend’s event. It shows great views from both the water and the pole itself, and captures the true meaning of the Greasy Pole Contest to the community. Enjoy! Click here to see NBC-Boston’s Greasy Pole Contest video story.
June 13, 2019
Brilliant Day at the Festival by the Lake in Wakefield!
Who says picture books can’t be perfect for
upper elementary school students?
This ten year old and his brother stopped by to ask if they could look at my books. They both chose “Something’s Tugging on My Claw!” They read the book, studied the illustrations, and read the additional information that the fish in the story provided. In the end, they declared that they liked the book a lot. This is no surprise. Who says picture books are only for preschoolers? Rich vocabulary and informative text in picture books can be an entertaining and valuable educational resource for both children and adults.
Brilliant Day at the Festival by the Lake in Wakefield!
This ten year old and his brother stopped by to ask if they could look at my books. They both chose “Something’s Tugging on My Claw!” They read the book, studied the illustrations, and read the additional information that the fish in the story provided. In the end, they declared that they liked the book a lot. This is no surprise. Who says picture books are only for preschoolers? Rich vocabulary and informative text in picture books can be an entertaining and valuable educational resource for both children and adults.
May 28, 2019
ERDG Art/Science Contest
Teachers and parents: If you’re looking for an authentic art/science
lesson, this is a great contest for your class or kids. Unfamiliar with
horseshoe crabs? Read “The Bumpy, Lumpy Horseshoe Crab” (now available
in paperback) to get the creative ideas flowing. Then enter the ERDG’s
annual contest. Your work could be displayed around the world! Click here for more information and entry form.
April 29, 2019
Shark Tooth Hunting at Venice Beach, Florida
Giant waves at Venice Beach turned into a plentiful hunting excursion for shark teeth. There’s no need to purchase fancy screened shark tooth catchers that will mark you as a tourist. Simply wait for a day when the surf is up and walk along the edge of the shore. Shark teeth will literally fall at your feet as the surf recedes before the next big wave.
April 18, 2019
Penguin Sculpture Constructed Solely of Ocean Plastic at Disney’s Flower and Garden Festival
There’s been a lot of attention in the media lately about plastic causing significant pollution in our oceans. Not only is it unappealing to walk along your favorite beach and see plastic straws, bags, and bottles washed up on shore, but plastic can break down enough so that sea life will ingest it, mistaking the plastic for food. Scientists are working to invent machines to suck plastic out of the ocean and trap it in bins that can be routinely emptied. But in the end, the best way to keep plastic from winding up in the sea is not to use it to begin with. Recently while visiting Disney’s Flower and Garden Festival, I came upon a sculpture of a penguin that was constructed solely of plastic pieces that had washed up on the beach. It’s an eye opening look at a growing problem affecting our oceans today.
March 30, 2019
A Hermit Crab Finds His House
A perfect video showing how a hermit crab really finds and checks out a new home.
His tail is super soft, so he needs to be certain the shell is empty and the move is swift!
March 29, 2019
A Manatee and Her Calf
I could watch these graceful creatures all day! I saw hundreds of them on the west coast of Florida a year or two ago.
They come close to shore to warm themselves at the power plants in the winter.
December 23, 2018
Publishers Weekly’s Stellar Review of “Bay State Skye”
Publishers Weekly reviewed our book, “Bay State Skye,” and its going to appear in their magazine! BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT EVER! I highlighted my favorite part. To view the review from Publishers Weekly’s site, click here! 
