September 2007
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Grandview Library Newsletter!
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 "One never knows what chance treasures these easy unconscious rollers may toss up, on the smooth white sand of the conscious mind; what perfectly rounded stone, what rare shell from the ocean floor. Perhaps a channeled whelk, a moon shell, or even an argonaut." Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Gift from the Sea
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Dear Parents and Friends,
Welcome to the September 2007 Grandview Library Newsletter.
I hope everyone had a relaxing summer. I always dedicate this first newsletter to the grown-ups. You'll hear about our work in the library in October. We're already in the thick of it and there is much to share!
Timeline
I like this picture because I'm crouching -- a position which hides those unsightly thighs one gets at my age. But I am sharing this picture for an entirely different reason.
There is something happening in this picture that jumped out at me last night. A timeline materialized as my eyes darted to the little girl in the background ... five years old .. to fifty years old in the blink of an eye. If I drew a line in the sand to connect the young girl and the woman, where would I dig along the sand line to uncover the treasures, the flotsam and jetsam, the stories which define a life?
Memoir
Which brings me to the topic of this newsletter, a genre of literature that I love more than any other -- the memoir. Each year our family spends a few days at the beach and I re-read one of my favorites,
Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. I rarely read books more than once, but there is something comforting in the rhythm of Ms. Lindbergh's language. Indeed, her book is about the rhythm of life. I found three excerpts on the web and encourage you to grab a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy ~ Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.
Reading and Writing
Even five, six, and seven year olds can make connections to, and empathize with, the characters in the stories they hear and read. Join me in reminding them that the meaning is not in the book, not in the words. The meaning and the treasure exist in their hearts and minds. Let's speak in the same voice as we remind them that their stories are important. They are the stories they should use to inspire their writing. Sophia's, The Cat, is an example of one of those small moments remembered and shared.
Small Moments
Before your child drops off to sleep, talk about the day's small moments that will become tomorrow's memories and stories. Your child will be ready to plant story seeds in his/her Writer's Notebook in school.
Warmly,
Mrs. Chauncey |
