Moms Inspire Learning

Ciao

Italian flag, ©Dawn Riccardi Morris

I just returned from a trip to Italy, so please check back next week for info and photos!

Open 2 Books: Bats, Birds, and Baseball

We're connecting the B's of spring! We started with butterflies, and today we'll flutter upon bats, birds, and baseball. I guess it would make sense to go to bees next, but bee-ing that I haven't seen any yet, maybe we'll wait until it gets a little warmer.

Thought-Provoking Quotes for Earth Week

In honor of Earth Day this week, here are some additional quotes by Rachel Carson:

“For the first time in the history of the world, every human being is now subjected to contact with dangerous chemicals, from the moment of conception until death.”

"It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth and in the contemplation of her beauties to know of wonder and humility."

“If facts are the seeds that later produce knowledge and wisdom, then the emotions and the impressions of the senses are the fertile soil in which the seeds must grow.”

“I wanted to make my own mark.”

National Poetry Month: Flashback and Resources

"Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood." ~T.S. Eliot

It's like the sound of ocean waves, a waterfall, a song, or a moment in time.

Welcome to National Poetry Month! Read all about it, and find some related picture books and activities, at these links:

• Picture Books for Young Poets (2 Parts) (2009 posts)

• Poets.org.

• Scholastic.

 Here are some other poetry-related posts:

• A World of Water, part 4

• No Place Like Home

• Book to Garden Connections

• Father's Day Read Alouds: Boys, Men, and Insects

• One Powerful Picture Book

Planning a Trip to New York City?

I've been meaning to take some pictures when I go into Manhattan, but somehow, I just keep leaving my camera at home! The only post I've written that relates to New York City was called Connecting the Dots of Lifelong Learning, which was inspired by the piecing together of a puzzle of Times Square.

Since many of us may be looking for ways to keep our children busy during their time off from school this month, I figured it was a good time to share Sandra Foyt's Manhattan adventures.

Earth Day Children's Book Roundup

“If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder without any such gift from the fairies, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in” ~Rachel Carson

Open 2 Books: Hope Comes With Butterflies

"Just living is not enough," said the butterfly, "one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower."  ~Hans Christian Anderson

These words and the following books remind me of the time my husband and I brought my teenage daughter to the butterfly zone at the zoo. She was a little over a year old, and was wearing a shirt with a floral design on it. A butterfly ended up landing on her shoulder!

Oh, the wonder of butterflies, and the hope that they carry with them.

Open 2 Books: A Steller Sea Lion for Nonfiction Monday

Most people have seen seals and/or sea lions near the ocean, or at an aquarium or zoo. They're fascinating creatures, aren't they?

Many children are naturally curious about all kinds of animals, and have a lot of questions before or after a trip. That's where the many high quality picture books come in! Whether you seek them out before, after, or during your visit, it's a great way to take learning to the next level.

In Life, We Shouldn't Focus on the F

Fear, frustration, and failure. They're part of life, but that doesn't mean they have to take it over.

Reading This Post Could Save Your Life

And I really mean that.

With all the reading I've done as a result of my daughter's digestive illness and food allergy, I have no doubt that diet plays a much larger role in our health than many of us choose to believe. When you stop, think, and read about it, it all makes perfect sense.