Moms Inspire Learning

Oh, that sweet smell...

© Dawn Riccardi Morris

It's raining here today, but I'm still thinking about the sweet smell of Lilacs reaching up to a dreamy blue sky....

And the pink whispers of a flowering tree we saw at Long Island's Planting Fields Arboretum:

© Dawn Riccardi Morris

Just thought I'd send you a little sunshine on a rainy day.

Have a great week!

Where's the Beef?

© Dawn Riccardi Morris

I know many people try to stay away from beef, but I like a good roast beef or pot roast once in a while! I try to buy organic meat whenever possible, and I can usually find lean choices at Whole Foods. Not only that, but they have the highest quality control standards. I don't have to worry about animal cruelty, antibiotics or hormones, which gives me piece of mind.

A Magnolia Kind of Day

© Dawn Riccardi Morris, Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park

It was an absolutely gorgeous day today, so we seized the opportunity to surround ourselves with blooming trees at Planting Fields Arboretum on Long Island. I took photos of this Magnolia tree from different angles because it was stunningly beautiful from anywhere I stood.

Carpe diem! I hope you have a chance to enjoy nature this weekend too.

Oh, and by the way, I replaced the search widget on my sidebar with one that only searches my blog posts. I found the one I replaced was not bringing up the most relevant information. So, if you're looking for something specific, it'll be much easier to find it now.

The Life and Death of Picture Books

If my children had not been surrounded by picture books when they were very young, there is no way they would have become the advanced readers and learners they are today.

Picture books provide the window to our inner and outer worlds, and people of all ages can learn something from them. Yet, they have become such an underutilized resource within many of our homes and schools. Why? Hmmm....testing, our busy lives, our obsession with moving on to the next best thing, our desire for quick fixes, to name a few.

Earth Day Children's Book Roundup

© Dawn Riccardi Morris, Vermont 2009

With Earth Day coming up this Thursday, April 22nd, I thought I'd gather all of my 2009 posts relating to the natural world. Spring is in the air, and it's a great time to talk about the environment, the crazy weather we've been having, trees, gardens, life cycles, insects, the night sky, the beach, butterflies, the water cycle, etc....

With everything springing to new life around us, it's also a great time to inspire the creative writer within your child and yourself! So, please feel free to use any of these books as starting points not only for discussion, but for journal writing and the creation of artwork as well.

Seeking and Tweaking Recipes

It's been a very long time since I've posted any recipes, which I regret. After all, we can learn so much about life through cooking and eating!

Striking Gold at the School Library

Welcome to National Library Week! 

As someone who spends a lot of time seeking out great books online and offline, especially at the public library, I always appreciate it when I get a recommendation from a friend, a blogger, or a librarian. It makes my life so much easier!

My blog is carbon neutral! Yours can be too.

Did you know that you can offset the environmental impact of running your blog simply by planting one tree? It actually would absorb the carbon dioxide that is emitted every time your site is being viewed.

Thank you, Dawn Little!

What an honor! I'd like to thank Dawn Little of the Literacy Toolbox blog for nominating me for two blog awards.

Welcome to Baseball Season!

I wrote a lot about baseball last season, so I decided to put together all the links for you. Since I posted them in a few different categories, it was easy to find them all via the new Lijit search tool on my sidebar. I'm also adding a "Sports for all ages" category to make your search easier in the future.

Here are the links:

• Great Baseball Books for Young Fans, Part 1

•  Great Books for Young Baseball Fans, Part 2

• Father's Day Read Alouds: More Baseball Fun and Games

• A Truly Unforgettable Sports Fiction Series

• Great Baseball Books for Middle and High School Fans

If other books come to mind, please feel free to tell us about them! Enjoy the season.