"This is MY hair. It's great that you love it. I love it too. But please, just look and don't touch without my permission." ~~ Aria, in Sharee Miller's Don't Touch My Hair! (A version of this article first appeared in Kingston Neighbours magazine, February, 2021.) Ah, Valentine’s Day: roses and romance, cards and candlelight,... Continue Reading →
Lisa’s Book List #4: War, Peace and Remembrance — Books to Help Young People Understand History
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.At the going down of the sun and in the morning,We will remember them. ~ Ode of Remembrance from the poem, For The Fallen, Laurence Binyon, 1914 The National War Memorial in Ottawa, Ontario, at night.... Continue Reading →
Be an Anti-Virus Hero!
"Some people wear masks,in public you might see.It’s to stop the virus,from jumping to you and me. When the virus is about,listen to what the doctors say.They might say to social distance,to keep the virus away." ~~ Vicki Schofield, Anti-Virus Heroes We are living in extraordinary times. COVID-19 has utterly disrupted every aspect of our... Continue Reading →
Lisa’s Book List #1: Books to Help Your Children Thrive at a New School
"You have to figure out how to feel at home, how to fit in, and how to be yourself. You may feel out of place, or uncertain sometimes. There's a chance you may also be curious -- and even a little excited -- about what's ahead. You're not the only person to deal with these... Continue Reading →
Big Feelings, Little Strategies that Work
"We have a part in our brain that is like an alarm called the amygdala. It goes off by itself when we feel worried or scared. It helps protect us." ~ Big Feelings Come and Go storybook for children Let's talk about big feelings. Fear. Worry. Anger. Anxiety. How do you cope with them? How... Continue Reading →
A Feminist Cinderella
"You look like a real prince, but you are a bum." Elizabeth, in Robert Munsch's The Paperbag Princess I love children’s author Robert Munsch for many reasons. He is Canadian. He lives close to my hometown. He used to work at the university I attended many moons ago. But mostly, I love him because he... Continue Reading →
