Norah Colvin

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  • The Wish Penny #99WordStories

    The Wish Penny #99WordStories

    As many of you know, for the past several years, I have been participating in the weekly flash fiction challenges at the Carrot Ranch. The challenges have begun again with a few changes for 2022. I intend to continue responding to the prompts as often as I can. I hope many of you will join in too. Charli Mills, writer-extraordinaire and convener of the challenges, explains the new format in her first prompt post for 2022. Head over there to check out the details if you are interested in joining in future prompts.  

    Charli’s prompt for this week was to In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about “the wish I made.” Whose wish is it and how does it fit into the story? What kind of wish? Go where the prompt leads!

    You can read all responses to the prompt in the collection at the Carrot Ranch when they are published each Wednesday. This week’s collection will be published next Wednesday 2 February.

    For me, the prompt is an interesting coincidence as I’ve been working on a couple of stories about wish fairies (when I should be writing about a sorcerer’s apprentice — just can’t seem to get these prompts right). This story is nothing like the other stories I’m working on but relates to the warning ‘Be careful what you wish for.’ Spoiler alert — it doesn’t have a happy ending. I hope you enjoy it nonetheless.

    The Wish Penny

    Patsy was always wishing for something.

    I wish I had a smaller nose.

    — luxurious curls.

    — a rainbow tutu.

    And her wishes always came true. After all, she was a wish fairy.

    As soon as one wish was fulfilled, she wished another.

    I wish I had pearly white teeth.

    — dainty feet.

    — a diamond tiara.

    I wish, I wish, I wish …

    One day, Patsy found a shiny, round, brown object on the ground. She examined it, reading the word engraved, ‘Penny’.

    I wish I was a Penny rather than a Patsy, she said; and rolled away silently in the dirt.

    Okay. Didn’t like that one? What about this one?

    The Wish Penny V2

    Patsy was always wishing for something.

    I wish I had a smaller nose.

    — a warm coat.

    — a pair of shoes.

    But her wishes never came true. Why would they? There’s no such thing as magic.

    But she never stopped wishing and hoping.

    I wish I had clean clothes.

    — something to eat.

    — someone to love me.

    One day, Patsy found a shiny, round, brown object on the ground. She examined it, reading the word engraved, ‘Penny’. As she rubbed it, she whispered, I wish I had someone to play with. Suddenly, she heard the children calling, ‘Patsy! Come and play!’

    Thank you blog post

    Thank you for reading. I appreciate your feedback. Please share your thoughts.

  • Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs for Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2022 #ReadYourWorld – #readilearn

    Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs for Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2022 #ReadYourWorld – #readilearn

    Today, Friday 28 January 2022, the last Friday in January, is Multicultural Children’s Book Day (MCBD), a day for celebrating diversity in children’s books. I am pleased to be a MCBD reviewer for the fourth time this year; and was delighted to receive a copy of Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs from author Susan Schaefer Bernardo and illustrator Courtenay Fletcher to review.

    About Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs

    From the website:

    Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs is an award-winning picture book with a simple but powerful message: love lasts forever.

    Lyrical writing and delightful illustrations provide perfect bedtime reading for any child. Kids love finding the Xs, Os and hearts hidden in the illustrations.

    The book is also ideal for supporting children through grief, separation anxiety, parent deployment, foster care, divorce, illness or other traumatic situations, by wrapping them in a warm and comforting emotional security blanket and opening a dialogue on the nature of love.

    Even when loved ones cannot be with us, we can feel their presence through our deep connections to the natural world.

    Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs has received glowing testimonials from parents, pre-schools, Child Life specialists, librarians, social workers, teachers, hospice caregivers…and most importantly, kids.

    Gold medal winner of the International Publishers Association Awards and a featured title in the LeVar Burton Kids Skybrary app.

    Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs was selected as a Child’s Grief Awareness Day book-of-the-month, and also featured two years in a row for Children’s Multicultural Book Day.

    Hugs by moon, kisses by sun, I’ll always love you, Little One.

    From author Susan Schaefer Bernardo and illustrator Courtenay Fletcher:

    Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs is a lyrical picture book created to reassure children they are always connected to the ones they love. We’re so grateful that the book is fulfilling its purpose and being used by families, schools, and organizations around the country as a soothing bedtime story and also a powerful resource to help children coping with challenges such as divorce, grief, foster care, immigration separation, deployed parents, incarcerated parents, and more.

    Teachers and parents can find free downloadable activities to go with our books on our website at https://www.innerflowerchild.com/collections/activities.

    What I like about Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs

    I was immediately captivated by the book’s delightful title which gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling and I knew this book was going to be special. I wasn’t disappointed. The combination of Bernardo’s lyrical rhyming text with the warmth of Fletcher’s colourful yet soothing illustrations makes Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs a very satisfying book to read aloud to and with young children.

    From cover to cover, and on all the pages between, there are soothing messages in both words and images to reassure a young one that they are always loved.

    The text opens with the words ‘No matter how far apart we are, I’ll always find ways to tell you I love you.’

    Continue reading: Sun Kisses, Moon Hugs for Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2022 #ReadYourWorld – readilearn

  • There’s Something Fishy Going On – #readilearn

    There’s Something Fishy Going On – #readilearn

    Since this year is the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture, I thought I’d begin with a post about fish. Learning about fish is relevant to the biological sciences curriculum when we explore living things, their features, where they live, what they need and how they grow.

    I decided to jot down some of my questions and write answers to them. We all know what fish are, right? There’s nothing difficult about describing a fish. But when I really started to think about what I know about fish, I realised I had more questions than answers and that explaining what a fish is, isn’t as easy as I thought.

    These are some of the questions raised when I thought about fish. Perhaps you have others. If so, please list them in the comments so I can research the answers. Note: While I know answers to some of my questions, as I’m sure you do too, I’m not sharing answers in this post as I have more research to do. The answers will have to wait for another time.

    25 Fishy questions

    • What is a fish?
    • How do fish swim?
    • Where do fish live?
    • How do fish breathe under water?

    Continue reading: There’s Something Fishy Going On – readilearn

  • And so, to begin — another school year – #readilearn

    And so, to begin — another school year – #readilearn

    The beginning of a school year is usually filled with anticipation and expectations: new books, new stationery, new friends, new activities, new things to learn. The excitement may be tinged with a little anxiety: will they like me? will I like them? will I be able to do what’s expected of me? what will I do if (insert any likely or unlikely event) occurs? These questions are shared by students and teachers alike.

    In addition to all the usual anxieties, with the beginning of this school year occurring at the peak of the Omicron outbreak, many more questions are raised: will school begin as usual? will it be delayed? will lessons be online or face-to-face? will teachers and students’ health be affected and impact attendance? how safe will we/I be if everyone is not vaccinated?

    While I am unable to give you any answers about the impact of coronavirus on the school year, I know that whether you are teaching online or in the classroom, or a combination of both, readilearn resources will help reduce your workload with lessons that are ready to teach and activities that can be done at school or at home. The resources now number over 500 and all are for use by teachers with children in the first three years of school. You know when you come to readilearn, you don’t have to wade through lessons for other year levels as well.

    Interactive Lessons

    Over 100 of the lessons in literacy, maths, science and HASS are ready for you to teach on the interactive whiteboard. They can be used in the classroom or delivered to students if teaching online using screen-sharing as I explain in this video.

    Days to Celebrate

    When planning the school year, in addition to the ongoing curriculum program, it is good to have some special days and events to celebrate.

    A Year of Days and Events to Celebrate in the Classroom lists suggestions for celebrations throughout the year.

    A list for each individual months includes more information about each date and provides teaching suggestions and lesson ideas. Each of these documents is available to download free in the Days and Events/Calendars section of Classroom Management resources.

    Continue reading: And so, to begin — another school year – readilearn

  • Getting Ready for the 2022 School Year – #readilearn

    Getting Ready for the 2022 School Year – #readilearn

    Welcome to the first post for 2022. Although, globally, we are all still confronted with the ‘inconveniences’ caused by the pandemic, I hope you will find much joy and many successes to celebrate throughout the year.

    This year has been designated as:

    • International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture
    • International Year of Glass
    • International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development
    • International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development

    all of which have relevance to our classroom programs and the Sustainable Development Goals. While I give but a brief introduction to each in this post, I hope to bring you additional lessons and teaching ideas throughout the year.

    Continue reading: Getting Ready for the 2022 School Year – readilearn

  • Wishing you a Happy 2022 New Year – #readilearn

    Wishing you a Happy 2022 New Year – #readilearn

    Dear readers and supporters,

    I thank you for your support throughout 2021 and wish you all a very happy, healthy and successful 2022.

    While Covid still pulled more strings on our lives than we had expected at the end of 2020, I hope that you have been able to achieve at least some of your goals and ambitions in 2021.

    Happy 5th Birthday, readilearn!

    In August of this year, we celebrated readilearn’s 5th birthday. It’s an achievement of which I’m proud. Five years seemed such a long time in the future when I began. Now, looking back, it’s gone so fast. I have continued to post a weekly article on the blog, publish a newsletter each month, and upload new resources throughout the year so that the collection now numbers over 500. I hope you have had the opportunity to use many of them with your children.

    New Books by Norah Colvin at Library For All

    In addition to the work for readilearn, I had twelve more stories added to the Library For All collection. You can read about them here.

    I also wrote three phonic workbooks for Pascal Press which should be available for purchase early in the new year. Look out for the Targeting Phonics series.

    And I continue to write manuscripts for picture books hoping that one day I will see a picture book with my name on the spine on the shelves of book stores and libraries. It’s been a goal since my childhood. One day …

    Goals help us move forward. Without goals and without hope, life may stagnate and become dull. I hope it never does for you.

    As we move into another new year, I share with you two quotes about hope that inspire me:

    Continue reading: Wishing you a Happy 2022 New Year – readilearn

  • Happy Christmas 2021 from readilearn – #readilearn

    Happy Christmas 2021 from readilearn – #readilearn

    I take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a happy and safe holiday season. May the magic of Christmas brighten your days and fill your heart and home with joy — now and always.

    For some light Christmas entertainment for the children, Norah reads Who’s Hiding at Christmas?

    Continue reading: Happy Christmas 2021 from readilearn – readilearn

  • Ten More Picture Books to Finish the Year – #readilearn

    Ten More Picture Books to Finish the Year – #readilearn

    Last week I provided you with a list of picture books I had reviewed or whose authors and illustrators I had interviewed throughout the year. Of course, I read many more than that. It would be impossible to review all the books I read. However, in this post, I share just ten other picture books I have read and enjoyed this year, not all of which were published this year.  I hope you find at least one that appeals to you or your young people. (Note: where I was able to source a video, I have included one.)

    The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name

    by Sandhya Parappukkaran and Michelle Pereira (a Bright Light book published by Hardie Grant, 2021)

    The blurb states that ‘No-one should ever have to shrink themselves down to fit in.’ I think we would all agree with that.

    However, when Zimdalamashkermishkada starts school, he knows he will have to do something about his name. He is asked to spell it and repeat it before a friend shortens it to Zim. When he asks his mother if he can shorten Zimdalamashkermishkada to Zim, she explains the reasons for giving him his name and suggests he gives people a chance to learn it. Which is just what he does. He stretches his name out bit by bit to teach his new friend Ella who shares pride in his name and teaches others to use it correctly too.

    I love the theme of this book and its message about recognising and accepting others. How many times do we have children in our classes with names that we at first find difficult to pronounce? How tempting is it to simply shorten them because it is easy? How much more important is it for us to acknowledge and learn their given names showing respect for them and their culture and modelling that respect for the children in our class as well as our colleagues. Shortening names may be easy, but it can be hurtful too. This book is a great reminder of that and of appreciating our differences and what it means to be unique.

    (Note; while there is a reading of this book on YouTube, I haven’t shared it here as I was disappointed that the reader didn’t even pronounce the author’s name correctly. Sorry, Sandhya.)

    Usha and the Big Digger

    by Amitha Jagannath Knight and Sandhya Prabhat (a story telling Math book published by Charlesbridge, 2021)

    This is another wonderful book that I received as a gift from the author, simply for leaving a comment on an interview with Kaitlyn Sanchez on her blog Math is Everywhere.

    In my comment, before reading the book, I simply said, ‘This book sounds amazing. I love that the constellation is viewed from different perspectives. What a great introduction to perspective for children – both the maths, and the ideas/points of view. The cover is appealing with the gorgeous night-sky colours. Yes, I’d love to read this one and have added it to my Good Reads Want to Read list. Here in Australia, we have different ways of looking at the constellations too. While we see the images drawn by connecting the dots (stars), our Indigenous Peoples see the shapes in the dark. It’s quite fascinating.’

    And for that I received a free book from Amitha. That’s amazing. And the book doesn’t disappoint either. The deep colours that Sandhya Prabhat has used to illustrate the dark of the night and the sky with its stars are just beautiful and add so much depth of the discussions and the themes.

    In the story, three girls observe the constellation that I know as the Big Dipper or the saucepan. The older sister also refers to it as the Big Dipper or a big spoon. The younger sister Usha, who loves trucks, sees it as a big digger. Unable to agree, they call on their cousin. But Gloria sees neither a dipper nor a digger. She sees a kite. When they try to see the stars from the others’ perspective, they come to a whole new understanding.

    I love the way this book deals with looking at things from different perspectives and coming to an understanding. I also like that it includes information about the constellation, including that it isn’t really a constellation, it’s an asterism, and how it is seen by different cultures around the world. In addition, it includes suggestions for exploring maths related to the story. I wasn’t previously aware that there was a publisher of STEM related books such as Storytelling Math. I’ll be looking for more of their titles as I think picture books are a great way to encourage a love of maths as well as reading. That’s definitely a win-win.

    You can listen to Amitha talk about her book here.

    Continue reading: Ten More Picture Books to Finish the Year – readilearn

  • 2021 — a Year of Books and Reading – #readilearn

    2021 — a Year of Books and Reading – #readilearn

    Books and reading are two of my favourite things. Or should they be combined into just one favourite thing? If so, it’s a mammoth favourite thing.

    I have loved books and reading for as long as I can remember and turning others on to a love of books and reading gives me great joy. Finding that joy is one of the reasons I interview authors and illustrators and review their books. I hope my interviews and reviews have encouraged you to read some of the beautiful books I’ve brought to you this year.

    Just in case you may have forgotten some of them and are thinking of last minute gifts for those young children in your lives, look no further. Books make great presents for persons of any age, and any of these books will give long-lasting pleasure.

    I this post, I remind you of the books I’ve reviewed and authors and illustrators I’ve interviewed throughout the year. It’s been a bumper year. Just follow the link to find out more about a book you are interested in.

    January

    We’re All in This Together by Skye Hughes and Alice Coates

    School friends – Kiana, Amin, Roshan, Casey, Ming, and Tyler all have one thing in common — they can’t go to school. The world changed very quickly and now they have to stay home to keep themselves and their families and friends safe. They discover that even apart, they can find new and fun ways to be together.

    Go Away, Worry Monster by Brooke Graham and Robin Tatlow-Lord

    Worry Monster loves ‘helping’ Archie worry, especially on the night before he starts at a new school. Archie feels so anxious that his head hurts, his tummy flutters and his heart pounds. He soon realizes that the only way to feel better is to make Worry Monster go away. He does his belly breaths and challenges his inner fears by facing facts, and Worry Monster is forced to leave Archie alone! Go Away, Worry Monster! gives children useful strategies to cope with their anxieties and stress, showing them how to make their own Worry Monsters leave, even in highly stressful times.

    Continue reading: 2021 — a Year of Books and Reading – readilearn

  • The Littlest Goat #flashfiction

    The Littlest Goat #flashfiction

    This week at the Carrot Ranch, Charli Mills challenged writers to In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story that includes the littlest Christmas goat. Who does the goat belong to? What is happening? Go where the prompt leads!

    When I thought of goats, children and stories, I thought of one of my least favourite children’s stories: The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids. I’ve written about it before, explained why I disliked it, and even wrote another flash fiction in response to one of Charli’s prompts about it.

    There was nothing else for it. I had to attack it again in another way, hoping to put it in a more positive light. I hope you like it.

    The Littlest Goat

    “You’re too little.”

    The all-too-familiar chorus stung but he determined to show them size didn’t matter; not the way they thought.

    Before long, opportunity came knocking.

    The others were too stupid to check before opening the door, too slow to escape the intruder and too big to hide. The littlest one watched from the grandfather clock as the wolf devoured them one by one.

    When Mother returned from Christmas shopping, the littlest goat told all. Together, they found the greedy wolf and rescued his brothers.

    The littlest goat showed that being clever, quick and brave beat size any day.

    Thank you blog post

    Thank you for reading. I appreciate your feedback. Please share your thoughts.