Five Treasures to be Found in Novels in Verse

on
By Marci Whitehurst Novels in verse are a hybrid form of storytelling. Novels in verse combine a complete narrative with the structure of poetry, bringing depth and richness to the beauty of stories.  Here are five treasures you’ll find in a novel in verse:  POETRY!  This treasure is obvious on every page of a novel in verse. Each page is a poem. The majority are free verse poems, meaning these poems don’t follow a particular meter, form, or rhythm. The poems can stand alone, but when each page of poetry is read from beginning to end, it weaves a full narrative to make a complete story. Check out this example from our own Rebecca J. Gomez’s forthcoming novel in verse:  Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published We call this car, Sandra’s white clunky car, a marshmallow with wheels. It’s riddled with dings and dents, and the rear driver’s side window is stuck stubbornly up and the tear in the vinyl seat pinches if you sit just wrong while wearing shorts
0

Ten Story Time Activities to Pair with Fall Books

on

by Rebecca J. Gomez

There are so many things to love about fall, especially in a place where the seasons clearly change, and the landscape along with them. Because of the cooler temperatures, many people like to spend more time outside in the fall. Others take advantage of the coolness to bake more or to cook hearty, warm meals like chili and stew. And, of course, there's nothing quite like curling up with a book on a cool fall afternoon. 

Whether you live in an area where the seasonal changes are stark or not, now is the perfect time of year to enjoy some books about fall. Read some old favorites or discover some new fall books at your library to pair with some fun fall activities. These suggestions for fall activities to pair with books don't necessarily have to happen during story time, but can be great opportunities to foster discussions, build relationships, and create connections between books and daily life. With that in mind, here are some ideas for how you can enjoy some bookish fun with your kids this fall:

1. Make leaf art, such as rubbings, prints, or a leaf collage. Here's a tutorial for making leaf prints with real leaves and paint.

2. Crunch in fall leaves.

3. Look for fallen nuts like acorns and walnuts.

4. Take a walk and try to spot elements from your favorite fall books in your neighborhood.

5. Enjoy a book inspired snack, such as leaf or pumpkin shaped cookies. See our previous post for an easy haystacks recipe.

6. Print coloring pages to color. If you can't find printable pages for your favorite fall books, have your child create their own!

7. Carve or paint a pumpkin to look like a book character. Need an idea? Here's how to make a What About Moose? jack-o-lantern! 

8. Play book character dress up.

9. Visit a pumpkin patch or apple orchard.

10. Tell (or retell) spooky stories by firelight. 

What is your favorite fall activity? What are some favorite fall books? 


Comments

Post a Comment