Gloria’s Halloween… and More

Posted on November 5, 2025 by Jennie

Gloria went trick-or-treating!  She was Spiderman.

She was so excited!  She went with Miles, who was Optimus Prime, and his granddad who was Superman.


Gloria got a piece of candy.  Mom was a little worried, but she told me, “Gloria liked it!”

After Halloween, Gloria went hiking with Miles and his dad on Mount Wachusett.  She liked it!  It’s the highest point in eastern and central Massachusetts, with a 360-degree view.



I love how Gloria took in the beautiful view.

We are starting to learn about woodland animals in the classroom.  Today we had a giant bear rug, stuffed woodland animals to take care of, and bear costumes.  The children wanted to include Gloria, and dressed her in a bear costume.

I’m so glad Gloria was included in their dramatic play.

Bottom line – children welcome her, and parents ‘get it’, a perfect recipe for accepting diversity, and more importantly for giving children life skills to open their hearts and minds.

Jennie

Posted in Diversity, Gloria, Inspiration, Kindness, Teaching young children, wonder | Tagged , , , , , | 65 Comments

Halloween

Posted on October 31, 2025 by Jennie

Halloween is exciting for children.  At school we had a ‘Day in the Dark’, using flashlights and glow sticks for light.  Playing with black playdoh on shiny foil, painting with neon paint and using a black light, and playing with glow sticks in colored water was so much fun.


Before we carved our jack-o-lantern, we hammered golf tees into the pumpkin.  Wouldn’t you love to do this?  When an activity is good for children – in this case developing hand muscles and eye-hand coordination – and it’s fun, it’s a Win-Win.

Our wonderful neighbors came trick-or-treating.  They think Jennie and Steve are the best.


Of course Halloween does not go by without a Jennie Story, The Halloween Story.  By now in the school year, children know our analog clock and can (mostly) read the numbers.  Every day at lunch they ask me what number before my story.  Usually it’s the number 6, but sometimes it’s a 7.  Do you know how important the combination of the analog clock and waiting for a Jennie Story is for learning numbers?  And of course for patience?

For those of you who have not heard my Halloween Story, I tell it in the dark, with joy and worry.  You’ll see…

“It Happened Like This”… When I was eight years old I went trick-or-treating with my little sister, Sarah.  Back then children went trick-or-treating alone.  There were no Moms or Dads.  And, we never went out until it was really dark.  All the way dark.  I dressed up as Raggedy Ann and Sarah dressed up as a scarecrow (although she looked more like a hobo than a scarecrow).  We each had a pillow case to collect all the candy which we called our ‘loot’.  We were so excited!

Then my mother said, “Jennie, don’t forget to go trick-or-treating at Mrs.  Crotty’s house.”  Mrs. Crotty!  Oh, no!  She was really old.  She always looked mean and she never smiled.  Her house was dark brick with big bushes and trees everywhere.  Everything was always dark.  Her house was as old as she was.

I said nothing to my mother.

Sarah and I headed out trick-or-treating.  We had the best time!  We got tons of candy, too.  When we got back home we dumped our pillowcases out on the rug in the den and sorted through all the candy.  I gave Sarah all my Tootsie Roll Pops and she gave me all her Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.  Yum!

Then my mother said, “Did you go trick-or-treating at Mrs. Crotty’s?”  I had forgotten, of course.  When I heard her words I felt like a lightening bolt had hit me while I was falling off a roller coaster.  Again she said, “Well, did you go to Mrs. Crotty’s house?”  All I could do was look down and shake my head.  My mother was not happy!  She said, “Jennie, I told you to go.  So take your sister’s hand and go right now”.

I took Sarah’s hand and we went back outside together.  Now it was really dark and trick-or-treat was over.  Over!  There were no lights on at anyone’s house.  We slowly walked to Mrs. Crotty’s house.  As we turned the sidewalk and walked up her walkway I squeezed Sarah’s hand and she squeezed mine.  I was so scared.  We got to Mrs. Crotty’s porch which was pitch black and surrounded by weird branches.  As we approached the front door I said to my sister, “You knock.”  “Oh, no” she said, “Mother told you to do it.”  So, I took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

A moment later I heard the door slowly creak open.  Just as I was ready to run away, the lights came on and there stood Mrs. Crotty, smiling.  I’d never seen her smile before.  She said, “Hi Jennie.  Hi Sarah.  Come in.”  We stepped inside the door.  “Wait right there!”  We didn’t move.  She ran to the back of the house and returned with two gigantic popcorn balls, covered in melted butter and caramel.  They were still warm.  Yum!

And I was so afraid.  Silly me.

Here are my three favorite Halloween picture books:

Do you see how ragged Big Pumpkin is?  I learned ages ago from the library that those are the best books, because they have been read over and over again.

Happy Halloween!

Jennie

Posted in Book Review, children's books, Halloween, Imagination, Inspiration, jack-o-lanterns, picture books, preschool, storytelling, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , | 61 Comments

My Eric Carle Museum Visit

Posted on October 27, 2025 by Jennie

I love this picture!

I visited the Eric Carle Museum, and as always, was surprised and delighted by what I saw and what I learned.

Author and illustrator Astrid Sheckels read aloud her new book, Flora and the Jazzers, to a packed audience.

It’s a Cinderella story, set in the 1920’s in a beautiful old hotel.  Flora is a scullery maid who loves music.  She dreams of going to a concert.  When the Jazzers are scheduled to perform, she begs to go, but of course, no.  She can hear them practice, and hums and sings along.  The Jazzers hear her, and what happens next is the twist and arc in the story.  I love this book!

If you’re a book lover or a writer, I highly recommend attending an event with an author!

Did you know Eric Carle liked to bake and cook?
I did not know that!  The new Eric Carle exhibit is all about cooking.

Eric Carle often fantasized about being a chef.  Food features heavily in Carle’s artwork.  Who doesn’t know The Very Hungry Caterpillar?  Seeing original illustrations from the book is an incredible experience for someone who has read it to children over and over again for decades.

Here is what I learned: as a child, Eric Carle lived in an apartment house owned by by his grandfather in Stuttgart, Germany.  He and his parents lived on the second floor.  Carle’s Uncle Walter lived on the ground floor.  He was a baker and doted on his nephew.  Carle loved the smells and learning about cooking and baking.  It’s one of his fondest memories.  His book, Walter the Baker is a tribute to his Uncle Walter.  It’s a wonderful book!

Another wonderful book is Pancakes, Pancakes.

Every visit to this museum gives me an opportunity to see real art – illustrations that are part of books I read to children.  Yes, I’m always moved.  I also learn something new at every visit.  And their art room, open for visitors to drop in and create, is a trip to heaven.

Of course their bookstore is by far the best one I have visited.  Barnes & Noble, move over.

Jennie

Posted in Book Review, children's books, Eric Carle, Eric Carle Museum, Expressing words and feelings, Imagination, Inspiration, museums, picture books, reading aloud, Singing, The Arts, wonder, young children | Tagged , , , , , , | 76 Comments

My Name is Red

Posted on October 24, 2025 by Jennie

Red is my favorite color.
Can you tell?
Last month I was green.
Next month I’ll be brown.
But now I’m red, and I’m in my glory.
The sun and the wind like to play with me.
Children want to be with me.
I’m the one.  The One.
It feels good.
I watch children.
They watch me.
I love them.
They love me.
I love being red,
because the more I give
my red shines like a beacon.

Jennie

Posted in Giving, Imagination, Inspiration, joy, Nature, Poetry, young children | Tagged , , , , | 70 Comments

When a Chapter Book Ends…

Posted on October 20, 2025 by Jennie

I finished reading reading aloud Charlotte’s Web this week, with mixed emotions.  I have a dramatic scene (understatement) I do at the ending of a chapter book.  I get upset and tell my wonderful fellow teacher:

“Heidi, I don’t like this.  The book is almost over.  I don’t want it to end.  Ever.  I want the story to keep going.  I’m so sad.”

Heidi is ready with her jeopardy-quick response, cool as a cucumber:

“Jennie, I know you’re upset and sad.  It’s okay.  Our chapter book has to end.  It was a really good book.  Guess what?  That means we get to start a new chapter book tomorrow!  It will be wonderful.”

In this way, we validate how good our chapter book was, and open the door for a new one.

Reading aloud the last chapter of Charlotte’s Web was pretty powerful.

As time went on and the months and years came and went, he was never without friends.  Fern did not come regularly to the barn anymore.  She was growing up, and careful to avoid childish things, like sitting on a milk stool near a pigpen.  But Charlotte’s children and grandchildren and great grandchildren, year after year, lived in the doorway.  Each spring there were new little spiders hatching out to take the place of the old.  Most of them sailed away, on their balloons.  But always two or three stayed and set up housekeeping in the door-way.

Mr. Zuckerman took fine care of Wilbur all the rest of his days, and the pig was often visited by friends and admirers, for nobody ever forgot the year of his triumph and the miracle of the web.  Life in the barn was very good- night and day, winter and summer, spring and fall, dull days and bright days.  It was the best place to be, thought Wilbur, this warm delicious cellar, with the garrulous geese, the changing seasons, the heat of the sun, the passage of swallows, the nearness of rats, the sameness of sheep, the love of spiders, the smell of manure, and the glory of everything.

Wilbur never forgot Charlotte.  Although he loved her children and grandchildren dearly, none of the new spiders ever quite took her place in his heart.  She was in a class by herself.  It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer.  Charlotte was both.

THE END

Did you know it took E.B. White seventeen takes to record the last chapter?  Seventeen.  He was overcome with tears and emotion.  You see, in the book he is Wilbur and his wife is Charlotte.  My goodness!

The best book about E.B. White is Some Writer! The Story of E.B. White, by Melissa Sweet.  It’s much more than a story; the book includes photos, manuscripts, artifacts, memorabilia, and much more.  Highly recommended!

Jennie

Posted in Book Review, chapter reading, Death and dying, E.B. White, Early Education, Expressing words and feelings, Imagination, Inspiration, literacy, reading aloud, reading aloud | Tagged , , , , | 81 Comments

A Magical Evening at School

Posted on October 16, 2025 by Jennie

Tonight was a magical evening.  Pizza dinner at school is pretty cool; yet carving a pumpkin into a jack-o-lantern with your family is a memory builder.  We so enjoyed all the activity and excitement with each family.  As the sun was setting, arranging all the jack-o-lanterns on the stone wall was filled with anticipation.  Each one was lit with a tea light, glowing in the darkening sky.

Everyone sat together in a circle with their jack-o-lanterns.  Singing the Jack-O-Lantern song along with the autoharp as it became dark was… perfect.  Truly, it was a moment in time, the kind that leaves you with a feeling deep in your chest, yet you cannot find words to explain it.  You just know that it is special.  Often it is the little moments that are the most important and the best of all.

Jennie

Posted in Halloween, Imagination, Inspiration, jack-o-lanterns, Nature, Singing, Teaching young children, wonder | Tagged , , | 66 Comments

Banned Children’s Books

Posted on October 14, 2025 by Jennie

Thank you, Carla, at Carla Loves To Read for posting this.  Read on to see what classic children’s books were banned.  My addition to banned children’s books is Charlotte’s Web.

Saturday Morning for Kids: Banned Books Addition

This meme was started by Rae Longest at Powerful Women Readers, but as she is busy with her bookstore, she is not posting as much and asked me to take over. I hope some of you will join in and post those reviews of children’s or middle grade books on Saturdays. As I am a grandmother, who loves to read to her grandchildren, a mother who loved to read to and with her children, and a retired teacher librarian, this meme is right up my alley.

This is a bit different of a post this week. I am not reviewing any books but sharing some wonderful books that have been banned and the reason for it. I have read all these book to either my children, grandchildren or to students when I was teaching.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

What it’s about: “Once there was a tree…and she loved a little boy.”

So begins a story of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein.

Every day the boy would come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her trunk…and the tree was happy. But as the boy grew older he began to want more from the tree, and the tree gave and gave and gave.

This is a tender story, touched with sadness, aglow with consolation. Shel Silverstein has created a moving parable for readers of all ages that offers an affecting interpretation of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another’s capacity to love in return.

Why It Was Banned: The Giving Tree was banned from a public library in Colorado in 1988, and has faced challenges elsewhere, primarily because it was interpreted as promoting a sexist message. Critics believed the book depicted a female tree that selflessly gives everything to a selfish boy who takes without giving anything in return. Some also argued the book encourages unhealthy, codependent relationships or the exploitation of nature.

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

What It’s About: In the zoo there are all kinds of animal families. But Tango’s family is not like any of the others.

This illustrated children’s book fictionalizes the true story of two male penguins who became partners and raised a penguin chick in the Central Park Zoo.

At the penguin house at the Central Park Zoo, two penguins named Roy and Silo were a little bit different from the others. But their desire for a family was the same. And with the help of a kindly zookeeper, Roy and Silo got the chance to welcome a baby penguin of their very own!

Why It Was Banned: And Tango Makes Three has not been “banned” universally but has been a consistently challenged and restricted book in U.S. schools and libraries due to its portrayal of two male penguins raising a chick, which some object to for depicting homosexuality as normal. Challenges cite the book as “unsuitable” or “anti-family” and have led to its removal from some schools and libraries, particularly after the implementation of the “Don’t Say Gay” law in Florida, though legal challenges have often resulted in the book’s return to public access.

Harriet The Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

What It’s About: Harriet the Spy has a secret notebook that she fills with utterly honest jottings about her parents, her classmates, and her neighbors. Every day on her spy route she “observes” and notes down anything of interest to her.

IF MARION HAWTHORNE DOESN’T WATCH OUT SHE’S GOING TO GROW UP INTO A LADY HITLER.

But when Harriet’s notebook is found by her schoolmates, their anger and retaliation and Harriet’s unexpected responses explode in a hilarious way.

Why It Was Banned: Harriet the Spy was banned and challenged because critics argued the main character was a bad influence who encouraged children to lie, spy, talk back, and curse. The book was also criticized for Harriet’s abrasive personality, her tantrums, and the fact that she didn’t seem sorry for the hurt she caused others by writing about them in her notebook.

Strega Nona by Tomie de Paola

What It’s About: Strega Nona — “Grandma Witch” — is the source for potions, cures, magic, and comfort in her Calabrian town. Her magical everfull pasta pot is especially intriguing to hungry Big Anthony. He is supposed to look after her house and tend her garden but one day, when she goes over the mountain to visit Strega Amelia, Big Anthony recites the magic verse over the pasta pot, with disastrous results.

In this retelling of an old tale, author-illustrator Tomie dePaola (whose middle names is Anthony) combines humor in the writing and warmth in the paintings as he builds the story to its hilarious climax.

Why Was It Banned: Strega Nona has been challenged and banned in some children’s libraries due to its positive depiction of magic and witchcraft. Some religious or concerned groups view the benevolent portrayal of witchcraft, including a magical pasta pot used to heal ailments and create food, as potentially harmful or inappropriate for children.

This is just 4 children’s books that have been challenged and banned in different places at different times. Pick one up and give it a read.

Jennie

Posted in Book Review, books, children's books, Diversity, Inspiration, Learning About the World, Library, literacy | Tagged , , , , | 67 Comments

Gloria’s Wonderful Debut

Posted on October 12, 2025 by Jennie

Welcome, Gloria!  Children loved her from Day One.  After all these years, I often think about the wonder of her magic, connecting with children.  They want to be her friend.  They want to take care of her.  Here she is on her first day:

She even got a ‘check-up’ in our dramatic play doctor’s office.

Children greeted Gloria.
Some children were not sure,
some embraced her,
some watched.

After school, I got this email from a family:

“Thank you!! Love the inclusion and acceptance lessons!

Charlie is already in love with Gloria and asking when she can sleep over at our house.

Today when we got in the car I asked if she saw Gloria today and she started crying to go back inside to introduce me to Gloria so we went back in. She instructed me to be very quiet because Gloria is shy. Then she wanted a picture with her to bring home to show daddy.”

This is the picture for daddy.

My Goodness!

Gloria is away at Cape Cod this weekend with Charlie.  She has never had a weekend with a child on her very first week at school.  This is big.  I can’t wait to hear about her adventures.

Here is the email I sent to families, explaining and introducing Gloria:

Gloria was introduced to your children this week.  She came to Morning Meeting, reluctantly, because she is very shy.  After all, some people have called her a witch, so it is no wonder she needed coaxing to meet the Aqua Roomers.  Gloria is old, has wrinkly skin and gray hair, and is very fond of black.  Actually, black is her favorite color, along with a pointy hat and pointy shoes.  Gloria is our classroom puppet, yet she is very real to all the children.  She represents all the things that children feel.  Because she is different, she helps children develop an understanding of others.

When she arrived, your children didn’t know what to think.  No one said a word, and there were many wide eyes.  When we talked about Gloria, children wondered if she was a witch.  That was the perfect door to open!  Gloria herself jumped in to talk (finally), and she told them how people had called her a witch.  “Well, I’m not a witch.  I just like black.  It’s my favorite color.  My skin is wrinkly, and my hair is gray and sticky-uppy-outy.”  Then children started to look to Gloria directly, eye to eye, and Gloria responded in kind. One child rushed over to give Gloria a surprise hug.  No words were needed.  Then she introduced herself.  Gloria wanted to learn the names of your children, and asked each child if she could shake their hand.  Well, children stayed by her side after the handshake.  Many surrounded the teacher chair, and the conversations kept going.  There were spontaneous hugs and high-fives.

This was powerful.  What transpired in our classroom in less than thirty minutes is what can sometimes take years for people to learn; caring and acceptance.  Gloria is different, yet she has the same feelings that we all do.  She is a good friend.  Your children were able to look beyond her appearance and see her for what she truly is.

A child rushed over to hold her.  A group gathered to play with her.  They gave her a check-up in the doctor’s office.  They were careful and gentle; it made teachers smile to stand back and watch.  Children were helping Gloria.  She is being looked after.  She is a new friend.  Today we took her to other classes to greet teachers she knows well, and see former Aqua Roomers.  Everyone was very excited.

Gloria will quickly become a close member of the Aqua Room.  She will be the one who understands, or perhaps the one who has problems.  She will be fun, sometimes silly, and may look to your children for a hug.  If you want to know more about Gloria, she has a journal with stories and photos of weekend visits with Aqua Roomers over many years.  She has been everywhere!  We hope she can visit your children.  Please tell her hello when you’re in the classroom.

Jennie

Posted in behavior, Diversity, Family, Gloria, Inspiration, Kindness, preschool, Teaching young children, wonder | Tagged , , , | 56 Comments

Mac, Then and Now

Posted on October 6, 2025 by Jennie

If you think reading aloud doesn’t make a difference, think again!

Mac then

Mac now

His parents recently wrote to me:

“We commented before bed that Angus is probably ready for chapter books and Mac jumped up for the opportunity to read him The Wild Robot each night. We remembered that Mac started to read chapter books with you at this age. Too bad Angus can’t be in the Aqua Room with you this year!”

All of our best,
The Igoes

The photos span many years.  What a treasure  to see that reading aloud sticks – really sticks.  In order to tell you the whole story (oh, it’s a good story), here is a blog repost.  I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did, again.

******************************************************************

This Christmas card arrived from Mac and his family.  Oh, the memories and stories I have to tell.  He is quite ‘old’ in this photo, so I have to go back four years to tell you about Mac.



“Oh Jennie, how we miss you so!
We are forever grateful for the 2 years Mac had with you
that will serve him for a lifetime.
Lots of love.”

Mac wasn’t quite three years old when he started in my preschool class.  One of my first memories is when he discovered our Memory Garden at school.  He wanted to know about the stones and statues, and the departed classroom pets they represented.  He loved the planted American flags.  We had just had a Memorial Day remembrance at school.  It made an impression on him.  Mac often ‘visited’ the Memory Garden after that day.


November 9, 2017

Mac loved spending time looking at the picture books in the classroom.  His absolute favorite book was Humphrey The Lost Whale.  Every time I read this book to children, I think of Mac.  It’s a nice memory for me.

The book includes a map of the United States on the end papers.  This is where Mac started a lesson that exploded in the best of ways.


First we studied the map and traced Humphrey’s route from the ocean to the Sacramento River.  Next, we studied the small map, but it was too small to really see.  I got out our Big Book Atlas.  We found San Francisco and Humphrey’s locale.  We also found Massachusetts (we always relate geography to home), and then the questions started to flow.

“Why is Massachusetts so small?”  “How far away is Humphrey?”
Mac noticed Mount Rushmore on the Big Book Atlas.  “What’s that?”

I told them about carving the huge rock.  I told them about the four presidents.  I tried to explain how big Mount Rushmore really is.  “You would be much smaller than the nose.”

Blank stares.  I had to do more.  I grabbed the iPad and found a photo of a worker on the nose at Mount Rushmore.  That helped show Mac and the children about the size.  This was exciting!  Of course it had nothing to do with Humphrey, but that didn’t matter.  This is emergent curriculum, when a teachable moment presents itself, and that becomes the lesson.  This was a joyful one for everybody.  And yes, we finally read Humphrey the Lost Whale.  Mac took it home that weekend.

Mac loved Gloria

January 9, 2019

Mac’s dad was a high school English teacher, and was surprised that I read chapter books to the children at rest time.  We often had discussions about children and reading, even though the ages of the students we taught were far apart.  Interestingly, he reached out to me as to how to get his students to listen to books he read aloud, and of course to get them to read more.  Teacher to teacher.

“Turn out the lights.  Have them put their heads down on their desks and close their eyes”, I suggested.  “That’s what I do at chapter reading.”

He was stunned.  “Really?”

One of the first things children will often ask is, “Where are the pictures?”, and I tell them how to make the pictures in their head: the words go into your ears, then to your brain, and sometimes into your heart.  Then, you will see the pictures.”

We talked about this for a while.  He was excited, as if he had discovered something brand new.  Well, he had.  The following week he couldn’t wait to tell me how marvelous it now was to read aloud to his students.  I smiled.  He did, too.

Mac and his family moved away.  That summer Mac and his dad went camping up north.  They got supplies in a nearby town, including a trip to the local book store for Mac to pick out a book for his dad to read to him.  He selected Charlotte’s Web, which Mac loved and remembered from chapter reading in the classroom.  Dad was so happy, he sent me this photo:


July 24, 2019

A few years later – which is now – these memories are still with Mac and his family.  They’re still with me, too.  Thank you, Mac!

Jennie

Posted in chapter reading, Early Education, Inspiration, literacy, reading aloud, reading aloud, Teaching young children | Tagged , , , | 79 Comments

The Last Hurrah, and Blooming

Posted on October 1, 2025 by Jennie

Summer is over.
Flowers have finished blooming,
yet one brave, red, bloom burst forth
with grandeur that rivaled nature.

Flowers are like children,
my children at school.
They bloom at different times.
Some are quiet, some are vibrant.
Yet, when they bloom, I’m with them,
all the way.

Jennie

Posted in Heart, Inspiration, Mother Nature, Nature, Teaching young children, wonder, young children | Tagged , , , | 48 Comments