Elsa's Swim Success

The pool has never been my daughter Elsa's happy place. The glare of the sun, the shock of the cold water, the numerous sunscreen-in-the-eye mishaps… In an environment where most kids find endless fun, Elsa simply hasn't been able to get comfortable. 

Therapy pool classes have always been a positive experience for Elsa. Who wouldn’t love swimming with a one-on-one buddy in a quiet 90 degree pool? But this has never translated into outdoor swimming success... until this year.

In January 2018, Elsa joined a pool group at a nearby rehab hospital with the goal of giving us ways to cope with and enjoy the pool. At the beginning of the class, Elsa was tolerant, but nervous. Her floatation ring, designed to keep her head afloat, was worrisome to her, and she was hesitant to walk across the pool deck.

Fast forward seven months, and things are much different. Much improved. Great even! Elsa's therapist armed us with a series of measures to increase her comfort. Here’s what we tried, and where we are now...

Elsa's Swim Success

1. Socks. Walking across a cold, wet, grainy textured pool deck was really hard for Elsa at first. Her therapist recommended socks, which not only gives her sensory input but also eases some of the sensory challenges of foot-to-deck contact. Now when we enter the pool, we're starting off in a positive, grounded place...

2. Floatation Ring. Elsa wasn't totally comfortable with it at first, but now her floatation ring is a safe accessory for her. (Here's the one we bought for home use.) The ring clasps behind Elsa's head, and a little chin rest keeps her face up and dry. Note: This is NOT the kind of device you can put a child or adult in and float away. It requires constant supervision. But unlike a life vest, with the ring Elsa can float independently. (In this pic, we're experimenting with a little extra buoyancy, using some velcroed pool noodles.) 

3. Puddlejumpers. I never, ever imagined that Elsa would be able to use Puddlejumpers, but once she mastered the floatation ring, the next step was wearing what her sisters wear. Seeing Elsa in a Puddlejumper has enabled me to view her potential in the water in a new sky's-the-limit way. She loves being able to lean back and float. It requires complete hands-on assistance, but she's figuring it out, and loving it.

4. Blowing Bubbles. Safe swimming requires blowing bubbles, to keep water out. To increase Elsa's comfort with putting her face in the water, and giving bubbles a go, her therapist puts a mask in the water and encourages Elsa to look down into it...

Once she felt safe doing that, her therapist worked with her on getting her face down and humming into the water. Now she is blowing bubbles! I'm telling you, I cannot believe it. Is this video not the coolest?

In addition to these things, we also have a half dozen moves that we can do in the pool with Elsa - ways to handle her and swim with her to give her sensory input (jumping, rocking, singing, swaying). So, we're in a great place! We've enjoyed the pool all summer without incident and, truly, with joy. 

A special treat: Click HERE to watch the WHS Summer Slideshow, a video of 25 kiddos with Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome enjoying the season (including Elsa). You'll love it!

(PS: The "heart" function of the blog is currently under construction by the Squarespace website platform, in case you try to "like" this post and it won't stick!)

Author Spotlight: Diana Murray

We're back from another summer vacation. Phew! Unpacking, I see two familiar faces - new books by children's author Diana Murray. Let's just say, it's not their first family vaca with us this summer. They might be ready for a rest!

The first Murray title I pull out of the bag is vibrant, lyrical picture book SUMMER COLOR!, illustrated by Zoe Persico (Little, Brown and Company, May 2018).

SUMMER COLOR! celebrates the joy and beauty of our warmest season through the adventure of a pop-up storm. Murray’s poetic narrative presents color after color, giving each hue a stage upon which to sparkle and shine. From willows and lily pads, to deer and egrets, readers encounter familiar flora and fauna on each spread. As the impending storm draws near, the book grows more and more luminous. With brilliant contrast and great exuberance, Persico's art takes us directly into and through the drama of a summer day made complete by lighting crash and puddle splash. (Here's the book trailer!)

The second book to emerge from our canvas tote on unpacking day? Sweet, peppy early reader PIZZA PIG, also by Murray, illustrated by Maria Karipidou (Random House, February 2018).

In PIZZA PIG, chef Pig makes pizza pies to-order for all of his regular animal customers. All goes swimmingly, until tough-to-please Turtle enters Pig’s restaurant. Art by Karipidou matches Murray’s cast of characters in both cuteness and cleverness. Bright, tight and paced just right, PIZZA PIG delivers a super fun and super delicious read – a great title for a child beginning to master early reading skills. (Watch the book trailer here!)

The author of these books, Diana Murray, is a writer I greatly admire for her musical, spirited, satisfying storytelling… as well as her versatility. PIZZA PIG is Murray’s first early reader, and she handily adapted her writing to this very different kidlit category.

As a writer currently transitioning a picture book manuscript into an early reader, I’ve been getting up to speed on the genre’s unique characteristics. A few questions keep popping up, and I thought Murray would be a fantastic person to touch base with, to see how she approached her work. To my delight, she was willing to share her experience!

So without further ado, here’s my latest Author Spotlight, with Diana Murray.

3 Questions with Diana Murray

Picture books and early readers are very different literary forms. What titles served as mentor texts for you, as you approached PIZZA PIG?

I was especially drawn to “Level 2” readers, and I studied texts that my kids and I both enjoyed. Two books that we read over and over again and loved were CENTIPEDE’S SHOES by Charles Ghigna, illustrated by Bob Staake, and SHAMPOODLE by Joan Holub, illustrated by Tim Bowers. Both are written in fun rhymes. Another one we adored was PIRATE MOM by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Stephen Gilpin. But that one is Level 3 and written in prose. I should note that each imprint/line of early readers has a somewhat different style, so it’s important to look at books from the particular line you’re interested in. In general, for the imprints that have a lot of licensed books (Disney princesses and such) you need to write something super, duper commercial with lots of hooks. It needs to “jump off the shelf,” as my editor said.

In PIZZA PIG, you introduce so many fun animals, while also moving quickly to the conflict. What challenges and considerations came into play, to ensure that the pacing and story arc were just right?  

Interesting question! I was initially worried that the conflict didn’t come soon enough. In picture books it usually comes by page three or four. But in this case, the conflict acts more like a climax. It was somewhat the same with SHAMPOODLE. In the middle of SHAMPOODLE, a cat comes into the dog salon and creates mayhem. In PIZZA PIG, the pig chef makes every pizza just right, until a shy turtle comes into his shop and he can’t figure out what she wants. The conflict is introduced later in the story, but acts as a sort of surprise to increase tension and action and to leave readers with a deeper takeaway message.

Both of your new titles have a lovely musicality about them. SUMMER COLOR!'s phrasing is longer and more languid, while PIZZA PIG is punchy and playful. How did you find the right tone and tenor for PIZZA PIG?

SUMMER COLOR! is written in anapestic tetrameter while PIZZA PIG is written in iambic tetrameter. Anapestic meter does come across as a bit more “languid,” while iambic meter can feel more “peppy.” Anapestic meter has a greater number of unstressed syllables which makes it seem slower and longer. When deciding which kind of meter to choose for a story, I always go with my gut. SUMMER COLOR! is somewhat lyrical while PIZZA PIG is humorous and jaunty, so the type of meter I chose for each felt right to me. Also, within SUMMER COLOR!, the pace is controlled by page turns. Splitting up stanzas between pages slowly stretches the text out, and then, when it comes to the rainstorm, there are some more text-heavy pages which feel quicker and denser. So there are other ways to control the pace besides the choice of meter.

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How fantastic, Diana! Many thanks for giving readers (and writers) a look behind the curtain!

While reviewing Diana's bio, I learned that we share a love of green tea ice cream (my fave!). Diana Murray has written many books for children, including the Grimelda adventures (GRIMELDA: THE VERY MESSY WITCH and GRIMELDA AND THE SPOOKTACULAR PET SHOW), CITY SHAPES and new title ONE SNOWY DAY, which comes out in October 2018. Connect with Diana Murray on Twitter: @DianaMWrites

I'm excited to share... One lucky reader will win *autographed copies* of both SUMMER COLOR! and PIZZA PIG. Here's how you can enter to WIN these new books, signed by Diana Murray:

*** Win SUMMER COLOR! and PIZZA PIG ***

Simply...

1. "Like" this post (click the heart below)

2. Follow me (@anitraschulte) on Twitter

3. Retweet my pinned contest tweet by 8/3/18 

(Submit a blog comment below and get a BONUS ENTRY!)

GOOD LUCK!

6 Things I LOVE About Being a Boy Mom: A Guest Post by Caroline Kinney

Raising boys is not something I know anything about. I was one of three girls, growing up, and now I'm raising three little ladies. If Dan and I had been blessed with a boy, I'm sure I'd have gotten up to speed quickly. But I can't help but notice how different things are going for my friends who are on the Boy Mom path.

The trucks. The dinosaurs. The sweet sensitivity. The ENERGY. 

A dear friend from Michigan, Caroline Kinney, is most certainly living the Boy Mom life. Here she is with her three handsome guys...

Not all boys are the same, of course, and I hate to generalize and over simplify. But there are similarities among many boys that can’t be denied. I asked Caroline to share a bit about her experience as a Boy Mom and her post is so funny and sweet. Now it’s yours to enjoy!

In Caroline's words...

"It’s a boy!" I’ll never forget the exact moment I learned I would officially become a boy mom.

We were having our anatomy scan and couldn’t wait to find out what we were having. After the nurse announced the gender, it was followed up by, “He REALLY wants you to know he’s a boy.” And so, it began. 

A few months later our first son, Griffin, was born, followed by our second son, Jack, just 19 months later. Until recently, I was the only one in my close circle of friends who had boys. All my other girlfriends had little girls. And let’s just the say the comparisons were obvious.

I can remember talking to one of my girlfriends and saying, “You mean she doesn’t climb out of her crib or try to scale the bookshelf or climb on top of her changing table? Ya mine either…”

Or when I asked if any of their girls would ROAR at anything and everything, because it’s currently a thing in my household (full apologies to the checkout staff at Target).

I’ve found that boys are just a whole other ball game from girls. From the climbing, wrestling and infatuation with all things construction – to the huge amount of energy they have. And let’s not forget how much they can eat (does anyone else feel like a personal chef between the hours of 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.?)

But you know what? Having boys is so. much. fun. and I wouldn’t change it for the world. Like all kids, no matter the gender, being a mom comes with challenges. But here’s what I love most about being a boy mom:

6 Things I LOVE About Being a Boy Mom

1. Embrace the mess: There’s no stopping it. Boys are messy. But it’s a good thing they’re cute while they do it. From the food they eat to the toys they play with, I try not to beat myself up over the chaos of having two little ones running around (and the tornado they often leave behind).

2. Brotherly love: It may have taken some time for my oldest to warm up to having a little brother, but now their love for one another is so strong. Sometimes too strong, but isn’t that what brothers are for? I’m forever grateful they have one another.

3. Raising respectful boys: I’ll never forget the moment both boys learned how to fold their hands to pray before dinner. Or when my oldest said “thank you momma,” without being prompted after I fixed one of his cranes and trucks (see #5). It’s at that moment you realize, they’re watching, listening and taking in everything they see around them. Raising respectful boys who are polite and kind is so important to me.

4. Built in workout buddies: There’s not much sitting happening in our household. Keeping up with a 2.5 year old and 1 year old is a workout in itself. But running with them in a double stroller? Lord have mercy. I now salute any mom who runs with toddlers. I once had a mom pass me in a 5K while pushing a stroller and I want to go back in time and give her a hug.

5. Trucks 101: Guys, I live for Tuesdays. GARBAGE day. Something I never thought I would say. I love seeing my boys in awe of the huge, green truck that drives by and beeps each week. I also found myself getting excited about any type of road construction because the number of excavators, dump trucks, cement mixers, back hoes and cranes is awesome. And yes, my 2 year old has corrected me on naming the wrong truck. Who knew there was a difference between a bulldozer and front end loader?

6. Unconditional love: Sounds cheesy, but it’s true. One minute they’re about to do exactly what you told them NOT to do, and the next they’re placing their hands on each side of your face and planting a big kiss on you. Either that or I have some huge charmers on my hands.

I had no idea how wild, exhausting, hilarious, trying, sleepless, happy of a ride I was about to be on when those three little words were said at our ultrasound. But, it’s been the best two and half years of my life.

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Thank you Caroline! I've always had the sense that being a boy mom was a different ballgame and you shared the realities with such sweet humor - just as you do with all things. Hugs to you and the whole Kinney crew!

Author Spotlight: Margarita Engle

The past can feel so far away - locked in pictures and passages chronicling distant people from distant places. Reaching through to it, and connecting with it, can seem an impossibility.

Author and poet Margarita Engle bridges this gap, breathing life into the past - giving it emotional footing and enduring meaning. Through vivid, sensory storytelling, Engle guides us directly into the minds and hearts of her characters, bringing history's dates, names and places into focus and reminding us of the universality of dreams.

Engle has a particular gift for reaching children. She is the current Young People's Poet Laureate, an honor awarded by the Poetry Foundation. During her two-year term (2017-2019), Engle is raising awareness of young people's natural receptivity to poetry, especially when poems are written specifically for them.

This week, I'm thrilled beyond measure to feature this master of the written word - Young People's Poet Laureate Margarita Engle.

Engle has two new books out this year. Her latest picture book is The Flying Girl, How Aída de Acosta Learned to Soar, illustrated by Sara Palacios (released by Atheneum Books for Young Readers in March 2018).

In this tale, readers meet young Aida - a girl who longs to fly and dares to make her dream come true. Engle's story places us firmly in time, when brave, bold women were viewed as social outcasts unfit for marriage. But Aida doesn't care. She longs to "pull this lever, tug that rope, drop more ballast, believe, practice, hope!"

My girls were enthralled by Aida's adventure and thrilled to find that she was a real woman. Their mom (that's me) was surprised to learn that Aida's flight in the summer of 1903 occurred six months before the Wright Brothers flew a fixed-wing airplane. We have borrowed this book from our library three times. Aida's story, as told through Engle's heart-driven narrative, is a powerful example of following that passionate, persistent voice inside. 

Engle's newest young adult book is Jazz Owls, a Novel of the Zoot Suit Riots, featuring art by Rudy Gutierrez (released by Atheneum in June 2018).

This novel-in-verse illuminates the story of the Zoot Suit Riots - when navy sailors about to deploy for battle in World War II descended upon Mexican American neighborhoods of Los Angeles, attacking young boys and men and burning their zoot suits. The story is told through many voices. The most prominent are two young "jazz owls," the term used to describe the Mexican American girls who danced with sailors before they left for the front lines.    

I wish you could see my copy of this book. I'm a dog-ear reader, and one-third of it is off-set by folded corners. So many verses in this novel just take my breath away. I find myself reading and rereading them, trying to figure out exactly how Engle has done it. The words she uses are so familiar - like the fabrics you live with, wearing and softening with repeated use. But her arrangements are spellbinding, three dimensional with discernible pitch and dynamics. Alive, with a heartbeat you can hear and feel.

Engle's words are a gift. And so it's with great pleasure that I pass along the gift of her writing wisdom to each of you! I hope you enjoy this Author Spotlight:

3 Questions with Margarita Engle

Your books amplify and enliven the stories of so many people from history. How do you choose who to feature, and how do you hone in on character voice?

It's a contemplative process. First, I read as many first person narratives as I can find, including diaries, letters, and memoirs. Then I daydream. I imagine. It's almost as if I'm still listening to those historical voices, but now they're floating above their own pages, helping me wonder how it felt to live in a particular time and place.

My girls are so engaged by your books! I look up to find them hanging on every word. Can you describe your special connection with young readers?

That's so wonderful. I was a shy, quiet, serious child who read more grownup books than children's books. As an adult, I became a scientist, but never lost my love of poetry, which I had been writing since the age of 5 or 6. After I had my own kids, I discovered poetry written for young readers, and fell in love with verse novels. Now I feel free to imagine, and that includes feeling free to imagine my eleven-year-old self, time-traveling across oceans and borders, or back into history.

There is such elegance, focus, and spirit in your work. What advice might you give to writers developing their craft - particularly in the area of revision?

Thank you! The first draft offers complete freedom. Write from the heart. Write by hand, with a pen, on paper. Let it flow. Say what you really need to say, without worrying about publication. By the time you reach the second draft, it will be hard work. There's no escaping the pain of revision. Remember, this is your chance to make the book better, so you can't afford to get discouraged. It takes laser sharp concentration, one page at a time.

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Thank you, Margarita! Both of the books featured in this post are available through your local bookstore, or via the online bookseller of your choice. You can learn more about Engle, author of more than 25 books (including Newberry Honor winner The Surrender Tree and one of my all-time favorite picture books, All the Way to Havana), at www.margaritaengle.com. Connect with Engle on Twitter at @YPPLaureate.

One lucky reader will receive a copy of THE FLYING GIRL and JAZZ OWLS. Here's how you can enter to WIN these new books:

*** Win THE FLYING GIRL and JAZZ OWLS ***

Simply...

1. "Like" this post (click the heart below)

2. Follow me (@anitraschulte) on Twitter

3. Retweet my pinned contest tweet by 7/20/18 

(Submit a blog comment below and get a BONUS ENTRY!)

GOOD LUCK!

Chicago's #TBR Pile: Summer 2018

Summer is a great time for digging into books you've been planning to read. Did you know there's an acronym for that? For books you intend to read? TBR (to be read) is a popular Twitter hashtag among book lovers and literacy advocates.

(Here's how Book Riot defines TBR.)

Whether you're looking forward to a bit of hammock time or a week of lazy lakeside afternoons (or dreading endless hours in the airport or car...), summer presents limitless opps for hopping into fictional worlds, expanding understanding of real-life events... or both. 

I was hungry for book recommendations for Summer 2018, so I reached out to some friends who are always in the know. Below you'll find titles on the TBR lists of Chicago media folks. (Book links rotate between Amazon, Indie Bound and Barnes & Noble - wanted to share the love.) Hope you enjoy the round up!

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Maudlyne Ihejirika

Maudlyne Ihejirika, urban affairs reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times, is reading Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Anchor). Maudlyne is the author of Escape from Nigeria: A Memoir of Faith, Love and War (Red Sea Press). She also is president of the Chicago NABJ Chapter. Follow Maudlyne on Twitter: @maudlynei

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D. Graham Kostic

D. Graham Kostic, creative and editorial director of online video magazine Glossed & Found, is reading Birds of America by Lorrie Moore (Vintage). If interior design and home decorating brings you joy, you'll love Graham's Instagram account for his incredible home, Hillside House. Follow Graham on Twitter: @dgrahamkostic 

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Natalie Moore

Natalie Moore, South Side reporter for WBEZ Chicago Public Radio, plans to read Barracoon by Zora Neale Hurston (Amistad). Natalie is the author of The South Side: A Portrait of Chicago and American Segregation (St. Martin's Press), winner of the 2016 Chicago Review of Books award for nonfiction and a Buzzfeed best nonfiction book of 2016. Follow Natalie on Twitter: @natalieymoore

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Kevin Kaduk

Kevin Kaduk, blogs editor at Yahoo Sports, plans to read The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (Anchor). Kevin is co-host of Yahoo Sports' Grandstanding podcast, founder of Big League Stew (now Yahoo Sports MLB). He also is the author of Wrigleyworld: A Season in Baseball's Best Neighborhood (Berkley). Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KevinKaduk

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Candace Jordan

Candace Jordan, Chicago media personality and social columnist for the Chicago Tribune, plans to read The Pharaoh Key by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (Grand Central Publishing). Candace blogs at www.candidcandace.com and is the host of Candid Candace TV. Follow Candace on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter: @CandidCandace

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Bob Sirott

Bob Sirott, Chicago news anchor and media personality, plans to read Rocket Men by Robert Kurson (Random House). Bob has reported on Chicago news for NBC5, Fox 32, WTTW's Chicago Tonight, WGN Radio and WLS-AM. Check out Suso's Fork, a new cuisine, culture and lifestyle blog created by Bob and his wife Marianne Murciano. Follow Bob on Twitter: @BobSirott

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Maggie Hendricks

Maggie Hendricks, a reporter for USA Today Sports and co-host of the Julie and Maggie Show on 670 The Score, plans to read The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas (Delacorte Press). Follow Maggie on Twitter: @maggiehendricks

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Many thanks to Maudlyne, Graham, Natalie, Kevin, Candace, Bob and Maggie! In the comments section below, please share what you're reading this summer. Look forward to checking out your picks! 

Reflection: Love Your Neighbor (Matthew 22:36-39)

My church is in the midst of a summer series called Neighbor. The call is simple: Get to know those who live near you, and pray for them.

I have a long way to go toward being a good neighbor - particularly to those with whom I'm not well acquainted. This summer, I'm working on changing that. (Here's a POST about a flower delivery activity our family did in our neighborhood a few weeks back.)

I love hearing what other folks are doing, to reach out and connect, and have been blown away by a group here in Geneva, Ill., that's neighboring with so much love. It's name? The Love Your Neighbor Club, comprised of children and parents devoted to serving neighbors together. 

The Love Your Neighbor Club has partnered with a nearby elementary school with a large population of students for whom English is a second language. Many local refugee children attend this school, as well. Over the past two years, the club has made a big impact through the following initiatives:

• Snack Packing: Each month, the group packs 60 snack bags, which are distributed to the hungriest children prior to long weekends and breaks. 
• School Supply Drive: As a result of Love Your Neighbor's efforts, last fall (for the first time in many years) all students who needed school supplies and backpacks had them at the start of the year. 
• Halloween Costume Collection: Because of cultural differences, many students who attend Love Your Neighbor's partner school don't understand our American celebration of Halloween and are in need of costumes to wear in the school's Halloween parade. Last year, Love Your Neighbor delivered costumes so every child could participate (and take the costume home, as well). 
• Book Drive: Many students at the partner school don't own books and, because of citizenship status, aren't eligible for a library card yet. Love Your Neighbor collects and distributes books at a table, so children can pick out the book that speaks to them. 

If you are looking to love on neighbors in your community, or a neighboring community, aren't these fantastic ways to serve? A good place to start: Ask a local church if they can connect you with families and schools in need of support.

Bless you, Love Your Neighbor Club, for undertaking this incredibly important, inspiring work!

Matthew 22:36-39 - "Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?" Jesus replied, " 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' " 

Kidlit Spotlight: If I Didn't Have You

Every now and then, my husband and I will muse about the things we did before kids. Our leisurely journey up California's Pacific Coast Highway... Our fall foliage tour through the east coast... Walking all over Manhattan... Three-hour sushi dinners... Exercising, reading, creating, exploring...

If we didn't have our kids, we'd probably be doing all those same things today. We'd have the money and the time. But, we wouldn't have them - those three blonde giggling (often screaming) girlies - now would we? And that simply wouldn't do.

In the new picture book IF I DIDN'T HAVE YOU (by Alan Katz, illustrated by Chris Robertson), a father muses about all he might do, if he didn't have his son, Mike. Likewise, Mike imagines a life filled with unbridled fun, if he didn't have his dad telling him he couldn't do this or that.

Mike and his dad go tit-for-tat, sharing wild dreams free of boundaries. Sports cars, sky diving, and hot air ballooning for dad. Late nights, video games, and unlimited candy for Mike. Each spread featuring the lovable alligators is full of movement, action and fun. Color blocks, open lines and just-right objects and animals stamp each notion with a memorable hue and emotion.

Readers who enjoy the playful rebellion found in RUNAWAY BUNNY by Margaret Wise Brown will find a similar rhythm in this read, which resolves with the realization of a blessed life, be it crazy and inclusive of compromise here and there.

Our family recently celebrated Father's Day and my husband's birthday. Both events reminded me of things I wouldn't do, if I didn't have Dan and my girls.

I wouldn't go on nature hikes... 

I wouldn't play soccer after dinner... 

And I'd rarely take the road less traveled...

Naw, I'll keep my urban free-wheeling days in the rear-view mirror. And my kids will surely take a balanced meal over endless ice cream, to live under our safe, loving umbrella. 

IF I DIDN'T HAVE YOU (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers) is available in stores nationwide and through the bookseller of your choice. Want to learn more about the author and illustrator? Check out their other titles here: Alan Katz (alankatzbooks.com) and Chris Robertson (chrisrobertsonbooks.com). 

For color sheets for IF I DIDN'T HAVE YOU, click below!

Kidlit Craft: How to Grow Happiness

When I first saw sweet Jerome, the red capped gnome, on the cover of author Kelly DiPucchio's latest picture book, I knew I had to meet him. The summer color and the mere idea of growing happiness simply made me, well... HAPPY! 

In HOW TO GROW HAPPINESS (illustrated with vibrancy and charm by Matt Kaufenberg), Jerome gets a seed of happiness from his birdie buddy, Warble. But Jerome soon discovers that the seed doesn't seem to do much, and it certainly doesn't make him feel happy.

Luckily, Jerome's forest friends in the Garden of Wonder have a few ideas. Each contribution from the crew (a worm, a turtle, a fairy, and an unexpected robot, among others) helps the small black seed evolve from a motionless speck to something thrilling that's meant to be savored and, above all, shared.

DiPucchio's tales always are filled to the brim with heart, and HOW TO GROW HAPPINESS is no exception. In a culture of quick and instant gratification, this picture book illuminates the truth that friendship is a source of happiness, but to flourish, fruitful relationships require a lot of important things - light, nourishment, attention and... love.

Lately, it's been on my heart to grow a little happiness right in my own neighborhood - and for good reason: While working in our yard recently, getting it in ship-shape for Chicagoland's best season, my middle daughter asked: "Who lives there?" in refererence to the home kitty-corner to ours. 

I was embarrassed to say... I didn't know. Since we moved in five years ago, I'd thrown waves to the retired couple living there, but I'd never gone over to introduce our family. I'd never bothered to learn their names. As always, children have a way of putting a spotlight on that which is most fundamental. Don't we all want to be known and called by our name?

Our neighborhood is comprised of essentially two groups - half young families and half empty nesters. Each month, it seems a new family with little kids moves in. I've often wondered how it feels to be in the shoes of the neighborhood's original home owners, watching young families waltz into the place you've lived for 30 years, without bothering to say hello.

So we decided to bring a little of Jerome's lesson to where we live...

We gathered up all the supplies needed to spread a little happiness... 

(While using Elsa's PODD book to grow her vocabulary within the activity...)

Prepped some pots by dropping in stones for drainage...

Enriched the soil with banana peels and egg shells, just like Jerome and friends...

And, after planting some sunny marigolds, tied on a few packaged seeds - a teaser of the revelation that Jerome's adventure brings...

Then we delivered! While we were out and about, we bumped into two other neighbors we didn't know and had the best chats. It was such a memorable afternoon, for the girls and for momma too...

Happiness is an all-hands-on-deck effort, and the first step - the one within our power - is reaching out and showing each other love. Thanks for this great reminder, Kelly and Matt!

HOW TO GROW HAPPINESS: A JEROME THE GNOME ADVENTURE (Rodale Kids) can be purchased in bookstores nationwide, as well as online through the bookseller of your choice. You also can enter to WIN a copy (autographed by Kelly DiPucchio) through my Twitter page and blog!

*** Win HOW TO GROW HAPPINESS ***

Simply...

1. "Like" this post (click the heart below)

2. Follow me (@anitraschulte) on Twitter

3. Retweet my pinned contest tweet by 6/22/18 

(Submit a blog comment below and get a BONUS ENTRY!)

GOOD LUCK!

PS: Click HERE to read my interview with Kelly DiPucchio, which posted to the blog last year. She has tons of wonderful books - check them out!

Our Living, Breathing House: A Guest Post by Heather Klaus

I can get a bit manic about my house. There may be half-completed home improvement projects around every corner, but I'm still somehow compulsive about keeping it tidy. When you're a stay-at-home mom, your house is your construction site, relaxation zone and office cubical, all rolled into one. Keeping it clear provides a portal to sanity.

Yes, a floor plan free of debris is my current aesthetic ambition. But there was a time when HGTV was my favorite station and my Pinterest decor boards were meticulously curated. The dreams are still alive, but for the time being, I simply have to divert my eyes... from gorgeous and impractical dining rooms, restaurant-grade chef kitchens, and perfectly adorned bookshelves. I simply don't have the time or money to pull it off. 

But do I want all that? Truly? If I could trade in my 1976 colonial for a slice of Room & Board heaven, would I? The temptation would be great, but I don't think I could pull the trigger.

My dear, dear (did I say dear?) friend Heather Klaus and I are much the same in this regard. We can commiserate 'til the cows come home about our home crisis du jour, but when push comes to shove, we aren't budging an inch from our already green pasture. Here's Heather's crew - my girls' playground playmates, Dan's mountain bike buddy, my wine time and crit group companion... 

You may recall Heather's hilarious post last summer, Ode to My Minivan. If so, you know you're in for a treat. Enjoy this slice-of-mom-life post...

In Heather's words...

Welcome to our house! Our living, breathing house.

Watch your step as you come on in. Clearly a centipede lives here! Shoes in every size and shape are strewn about our entryway. Go ahead, step on over that rug with bits of grass and sidewalk chalk caked right in.

In our living room you'll find a comfy couch with a sag to one side where we do our best snuggling. The throw pillows are always, well... thrown. Today you'll see they've become tuffets for our tea party. And over there is the art table, littered with a variety of mixed media. (A shout out to the small tree who gave her life to be this stack of printer paper. If she's amused by kiddo “masterpieces,” her life was not in vain.)

Come on around the corner. There's the bathroom on the left (which might need a wipe down… my 4-year-old human sprinkler just exited stage right). Down the hall is the art wall, layered with colorful giraffes and beach landscapes, abstract self-portraits, and abstract... abstracts. And scribbles that my son calls race-tracks.

And… here's our kitchen. Didn't I just vacuum this floor? Those crumbs, they seem to multiply, don't they? The kitchen counter holds a trough of fresh fruit, which we seem to go through at the speed of light. The panty is filled with healthy things... and plenty of snacks that I swore up and down I would never buy. There on the corner is the stack of papers that need my attention... right next to the coffee maker. Fitting. Please take no notice of the stained ring in the butcher block, brought to you by the can of Resolve that sat there overnight after the episode of Pukesville, car seat edition.

Our Family Room is here in the back, with a fireplace, trampoline (er, couch), and stash of stuffies and toys that I keep trying to weed down. If I squint a bit I can still see this room transformed one rainy April week into an entire city - constructed of blue painters-tape roads, a wooden train monorail, and match box cars. Kids love a solid parking lot.

Up the stairs are three open doors leading to what used to be empty rooms when we first moved in. They now lead to Sweet Baby Nursery (that possibly smells like a barnyard), Princess Polar Bear Cave and Super Cat's Lair. The other door has a king-sized bed where kittens and midnight-zombie-strolling children think the proper position for sleeping is catty-wompus.

Someday the basement will probably need a ping-pong or pool table and a TV for R-Rated movies snuck in under our noses. But not today. Today its décor includes a giant fort using every single clean sheet and blanket in the house, a rack of old Halloween and dance recital costumes and super hero capes in every color of the rainbow. And Every. Lego. On. Planet. Earth.

Some days our house feels overwhelmingly claustrophobic with stuff and chaos and noise. The chorus of “MOM!” sung incessantly, demanding immediate attention. The tears, ears and rears that need constant wiping. The turning up of noses when you've spent a good amount energy on a new recipe. The battles waged into baths and beds. The sheer amount of crap that you amass when it's a cold Chicago winter and you can't play outside for way too long, or when it’s a warm spring day and the only way to make it to dinner includes a trip into the sand pit.

But not today. As I pour myself a glass of wine while those little cherubs are snug in their beds, my heart is full to the brim with gratefulness for our space where we LIVE. Our living, breathing, growing-with-us home.

So funny, so warm, so true. Sounds like someone I know... Thank you for sharing this perspective-shifting post, Heather!

Kidlit Spotlight: Ben's Adventures

Tri-Cities special needs families looking for a great kick off to the summer - this week presents a wonderful opportunity: On Friday, June 8, the Ben Smiles Memorial Foundation and Masterpiece Ministries will host the Abilities Celebration at Chapelstreet Church, 3435 Keslinger Road in Geneva, Ill. 

From 5 to 8 p.m., families will enjoy face painting, balloons, carnival games, bubble fun, a petting zoo, a train ride, workout demonstrations, pizza, vendors and more. (Register asap HERE!) The Abilities Celebration also will host readings from local authors, including Elizabeth Gerlach of St. Charles, Ill., author of this sweet new book...

Elizabeth, founder of the Ben Smiles Memorial Foundation, has had such an exciting spring! BEN'S ADVENTURES: A DAY AT THE BEACH released (via Storybook Genius) in May 2018, and she just returned from the Book Expo in NYC, where she signed books and spread the word about her new title.

Our family is so pleased to know the Gerlachs. Here's us connecting last summer at a lemonade stand for Ben Smiles, the charity that Elizabeth and her husband Rob founded in memory of their son Ben. Ben Smiles puts switch toys in the hands of children with special needs - love the mission! 

Ben, who attended Buddy Break at Chapelstreet Church alongside our Elsa, passed two years ago. Sweet Ben had many of the same motor and speech abilities as Elsa. Elizabeth's new picture book celebrates his life through unique adventures. So naturally, the star of BEN'S ADVENTURES is... Ben!

Right away, we meet Ben and learn that he has Cerebral Palsy and uses a wheelchair. His portal to adventure is his imagination, and in this first book, Ben is dreaming of the beach...

In Ben's imagination, he is out of his chair and in the sand - walking with the crabs, building castles, feeling the waves. The text is so full of joy! Ben also experiences special moments with his dad (flying a kite) and his brother and sister (searching for shells)...

Where will Ben's imagination take him next? We'll have to wait to see! Families who have children (or friends) with abilities similar to Ben's will find the spirit of this book so endearing and the illustrations lovely and full of life.

You can read all about BEN'S ADVENTURES (paperback), and purchase a copy, HERE. A portion of the sales benefits the Ben Smiles Memorial Foundation. Elizabeth - best of luck on a summer filled with events sharing Ben's story - we'll see you Friday evening!