Check out: “Storytime with Author Jeannine Gerkman” https://sanmateopublic.libcal.com/event/9119575 I’ll be reading my book “Spring” to the little ones May 13, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. in the Bubble Room at the Children’s Section of the Main Library.
Tag: Children
Home Run
The lampshade had been expensive
Carefully chosen to fit the décor
Now it lies bent and bruised on the carpet
Baseball gently settles under the couch
Home run
Mother will need convincing
COVID-19 in 2020
We started out the year
With loads and loads of hope
Today it’s only March
But we’re wondering how we’ll cope
We’re facing a pandemic
That’s grown exponentially
A unique global crisis
As all the world can see
We’re blocking off our borders
The grocery shelves are bare
We’re hunkering down in isolation
We’ve had quite a scare
To display love for our neighbors
We stay at least six feet away
Wash our hands assiduously
And won’t forget to pray…
For the essential people at the front lines
Helping and coping as we speak
Manufacturers providing PPEs,
ventilators, test kits — Flattening the peak
The doctors, nurses, police and media
Working hard to keep us informed and secure
The families who’ve lost loved ones
To help them to endure
The teachers teaching remotely
Children home from schools
Restaurant workers adapting
Creatively living within new rules
These days of social distancing
Let’s socially reconnect
Through Zoom, Team, calls and letters
Give encouragement and respect
Tell your friends, family and clients
That you love and wish them well
Hope they’re healthy, happy and safe
Sequestered for this spell
Spend time with your family
And let them know they’re dear
Follow CDC’s instructions
And we’ll last another year.
Poetry Reading
Love Monster
Love Monster by Rachel Bright is a delight to read aloud. It tells the story of a decidedly uncute, unfluffy monster who just wants someone to love him as he is (googly-eyed and all). His search takes him ‘high, low, and middle-ish’ as we go along the journey with him.
At some point, everyone feels left out and insecure. This story gives hope that somehow, somewhere we will find someone who will love us just the way we are. The illustrations are delightfully colorful with just the right amount of detail. Pre-schoolers will love pointing out the colors of the cute fluffy animals, and sighing “poor monster” along with the reader.
Corduroy
This is such a beautiful book, it makes me tear up every time I read it. Named one of the School Library Journal’s “Top 100 Picture Books” of all time; it definitely lives up to that accolade. There is a deftly subtle underlying theme that resonates with all of us – we don’t have to be perfect to be loved. In fact, our imperfections sometimes are what makes us most endearing. A book to treasure and read over and over.
The Loud Book
I thought The Quiet Book was delightful, yet this one is just as charming. I am looking forward to sharing it with my little great-nieces this summer. There are MANY different ways to be loud. Some acceptable, some not so…. Check it out!
I Love You, Little One by Nancy Tafuri
I Love You, Little One by Nancy Tafuri
This gorgeous board book is so soothing and comforting, it feels like a warm embrace. It tells of love between child and mother, depicted in numerous species; deer, ducks, rabbits, mice, bears, owls, (and people) dwelling in a idyllic woodland. The illustrations are so beautiful and detailed, little ones will not be able resist touching them. The fur looks truly pettable. The verses are poetic, and the loving repetition delights “forever and ever and always”.
Check it out.
The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood
I met Deborah Underwood at the SCBWI Golden Gate Conference this year in Asilomar and purchased her endearing book: The Quiet Book. There are so many different kinds of quiet and she captures them beautifully and succinctly. This Sunday, I was at Books, Inc. doing a reading of my book Spring for Children’s Storytime and afterwards, a woman was scanning the shelves with a couple of board books in her hands, looking defeated.
I asked her what sort of book she was looking for and she said ‘I’m attending a baby shower and they wanted books instead of cards. I want a sturdy book for the baby, but none of these seem quite right. They’re having a little girl.’ She had two brightly colored board books, one about trucks. I suggested this book, opened it up and read it to her. She smiled, took it from my hand and said: “This is perfect.”
It can’t get better than that.
jeanninegerkman 