Read, Discuss, and Do with MARI IN THE MARGINS

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By Marci Whitehurst The best books make readers feel like they aren’t alone. They’re seen. Understood. Our very own  Rebecca J. Gomez  accomplishes this flawlessly in Mari in the Margins , her new middle grade novel in verse, published by Bandersnatch Books. It releases May 14 th !  Here’s a snippet about the novel, which you’ll surely want to READ:   For Marivel Jiménez, life in her big family is full of chaos. Feeling overlooked by her parents and overshadowed by her siblings is frustrating, and it's even worse to have the constant attention of her annoying, mischievous three-year-old sister, Susana.  Caught between her need to be noticed and her dream of having time to herself, Marivel pours herself into poetry and, eventually, art journaling. When she hears of a school-wide poetry contest, she sees winning as a chance to escape the margins of her family and finally be seen. Doesn’t that sound amazing? That’s because it is. I was honored to read the book ahead of its release—and
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Diva Delores Feathered Fan Story Time Craft

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DIVA DELORES AND THE OPERA HOUSE MOUSE by Laura Sassi, illustrated by Rebecca Gerlings, is an adorable rhyming story about a diva who learns to accept help graciously. The rhyme flows nicely, making it perfect for a read-aloud. And the fancy diva main character is sure to inspire some dress up play! 

READ: DIVA DELORES AND THE OPERA HOUSE MOUSE by Laura Sassi, illustrated by Rebecca Gerlings

DISCUSS: 
  • What does it mean to be a diva? 
  • Does being a diva affect Delores's behavior in a negative or positive way? 
  • Have you ever acted like a "diva" before?
  • Have you ever watched an opera or listened to opera music?
  • Talk about a time when you didn't want to accept help from someone, or someone didn't want to accept help from you.
DO: Make a fan like the one Diva Delores uses in the book.

You will need:
  • paper plate
  • feathers
  • scissors
  • marker or crayon
  • glue 
  • ruler (optional)
Directions: 

1. Cut the paper plate in half, then cut the curved part of the plate off. You should have a nearly perfect half-circle that lays flat. 
2. Mark the center of the straight edge (use a ruler if you want to be precise). Cut at a slight angle from the center to the outer edge of the plate to create the fan shape. With a marker or crayon, draw a semi-circle at the edge where the point is. Color that in. 
3. Draw lines from the center to the outer edge of the fan, using a ruler if necessary to keep the lines straight. 
4. Flip the fan over and run a generous line of glue near the curved edge. 
5. Glue the feathers on, being sure that the tops of the feathers stick far out past the edge of the plate. Let it dry and--voila!--you have feathered fan, perfect for any diva! 


Use this fan to act out parts of the story, then save it in the dress-up box for a rainy day. Have fun!


Note: An earlier version of this post previously appeared on rebeccajgomez.com. 


Comments

Mindy Baker said…
Fun idea for a great book!
August 2, 2023 at 9:35 AM
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