Five Things On A Friday

Spruce Head, Maine. Photo by my husband, John

1.  One of my husband's photos of Florida is this week's Photo of the Week in Gulf Shores Life Magazine.

2.  I'm speaking at the Foundation for Children's Books conference in Newton, MA this weekend.  I'm putting on my brave face, not for the public speaking, but for the DRIVE down and back. I'm not a city driver and my hotel is on Commonweath Ave.

3.  When faced with something I find hard, this quote from Winnie the Pooh comes to mind:

Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.  ~ Christopher Robin to Pooh Bear

4.  Milo is curled up next to me  on the couch this morning, snoring.  It's such a funny little sound. 

5.  I love this photo that was taken by Londa Brown at my school visit in Washburn. When I read Hot Rod Hamster at a school visit or event, I have the kids do actions with me for each of the "Which would you choose?" pages. It lets every child show me his/her choice without breaking any momentum in the story. 

For the page where Hamster chooses flames to paint on his hot rod, I have the kids hold their hands up and wiggle their fingers, like flames flickering, when I touch the flames choice they would pick.  I call it their "flicker-flame fingers."

  So sweet :-)  I'm guessing this is the flames choice that has pink and yellow, because all the girls are choosing it and none of the boys behind them are!