I’ll be doing two guest blogs for poetry month. Here’s the first, on Jama Rattigan’s Poetry Potluck. She’s featuring lots of poets, their poems, and recipes, all month long.

http://jamarattigan.com/2012/04/02/going-natural-with-april-pulley-sayre/

Am I a poet? Hmm…just considering that this month, after two folks asked me to blog about poetry. I blogged about this quandry on Katie Davis’ site.   I also discussed some of the math behind my chant/poetry work on INK. 

Erika Thulin Dawes, Ed.D of Lesley University wrote about some terrific extension ideas for Rah, Rah, Radishes: A Vegetable Chant over at  The Classroom Bookshelf . Lots of helpful links, too. HUGELY useful information.

Jeff and I just returned from a 4,600 mile roadtrip to research at desert sites (White Sands, Painted Desert, Meteor Crater). I gave two programs at the spectacular Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden. I also spoke at a conference for early childhood teachers coordinated by Jennifer Haggart of the Early Childhood Consortium of the Omaha Area. 

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I’ve been busy admiring greens, the structures of leeks, and other veggies at South Bend Farmer’s Market. Beets are one of the most productive crops because both the greens and roots can be used.

When I got into a pickle with needing some fruit photos for the upcoming fruit chant book (Go, Go, Grapes: a Fruit Chant, 2012) , a gardening friend directed me to Shelton’s Farmer’s Market near Niles, MI, and they welcomed me heartily.  I hadn’t visited in years. What surprised me is how much produce they had. They had all the traditional Midwestern fresh veggies and fruits, but also lots of specialty items for the Hispanic community and other communities, as well. Lots of Mexican fruits and vegetable specialties.  Plus many other intriguing gourmet items. I’ve never seen black radish! I was able to buy a whole case of cactus fruit here for one of the shots in the new fruit book. Thanks, Shelton’s!

Scientists may have unlocked how sea turtles navigate! Check out this BBC news piece. 8th graders were  featured on CNN for selling sea turtle art to help these endangered animals. Yes, I’m still following sea turtle news because they’re one of my favorite animals. A newly revised, newly illustrated edition of Turtle, Turtle, Watch Out! came out last year!

www.eastcoastvulturefestival.org

Vulture View Fans, this just in, from Scott Barnes at the Wenonah Environmental Commission:

“…the 6th edition of the East Coast Vulture Festival will be held as usual on the first Saturday in March. Even though the Evening Roost event is on hiatus this year, there are still plenty of fun and educational activities in store for our afternoon Children’s Fair, held from 2pm to 5 pm.

The central gathering point this year will be the Wenonah Community Center, the wonderfully renovated train station right in the middle of town on Mantua Avenue. While there, you can explore games, crafts, and educational displays. Our ever-popular Vulture Store will feature plush toys and other nature-themed merchandise. And from 2 to 4 PM, you can watch live animal demonstrations such as hawks, owls, turtles, and snakes, presented by our friends from the Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge.”

Vulture View

I’m watching the live streaming at whitehouse.gov of the signing of this important bill. Hurray for all those working to reform school lunches and make them healthier. I’m so glad that Michelle Obama has taken on childhood obesity as a major issue for her work as first lady. As many of you know, I’ve been concerned about this issue for years.

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While cleaning out my files, I found a magazine clipping about grasshoppers,, “Hooray for Hoppers,” by Diane Swanson, Ranger Rick magazine.  I love Ranger Rick. It’s such an inspiring resource, a perfect monthly gift for the curious kid.  The article says “An average grasshopper can jump a distance 20 times its length. Humans can jump only about five times their length…”

I can imagine educators coming up with some great activities related to these facts. Those activities might go along with my new book, released in February, IF YOU’RE HOPPY, illustrated by Jackie Urbanovic, published by Greenwillow.

Education student Jamie Steigerwalt recently wrote to me about what she presented in class as part of an author/book study. With her permission, I’m reprinting it here.

I just wanted to send you a quick note to let you know how my presentation went last night. Everything went well and my class was very excited to hear about you.  I must admit, it was so easy to talk about you and your books.  I chose to do my activities on Hush Little Puppy, Stars Beneath Your Bed, and Splish, Splash, Animal Baths.  I did a phonics activity with Hush Little Puppy and focused on rhyming.  

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