Poem of the Day April 30

We've made it to our final Poem of the Day! I think I only missed two days out of the whole month. But it was really fun celebrating poetry all month long at Little Shop!
So here you go, the last poem....

The Search
by Shel Silverstein

I went to find the pot of gold
That's waiting where the rainbow ends.
I searched and searched and searched and searched
And searched and searched, and then--
There it was, deep in the grass,
Under an old and twisty bough.
It's mine, it's mine, it's mine at last....
What do I search for now?

Poem of the Day April 29

Buffalo Dusk
by Carl Sandberg

The buffaloes are gone.

And those who saw the buffaloes are gone.

Those who saw the buffaloes by thousands and how they pawed the prairie sold into dust with their hoofs, their great heads down pawing on in a great pageant of dusk,

Those who saw the buffaloes are gone.

And the buffaloes are gone.

(This poem was read last night at our Poetry Jam, and I thought it was so beautiful, so I wanted to make it the poem of the day.)

Poem of the Day April 28

We've been celebrating Poetry Month all April, and tonight is our grand finale!
Join us for our Poetry Jam tonight (Thursday) at 7pm. Kids will have a chance to read their favorite poem, or a poem that they wrote. Come on out and celebrate poetry with us!

I Hear America Singing
by Walt Whitman

I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear;
Those of mechanics—each one singing his, as it should be, blithe and strong;
The carpenter singing his, as he measures his plank or beam,
The mason singing his, as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work;
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat—the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck;
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench—the hatter singing as he stands;
The wood-cutter’s song—the ploughboy’s, on his way in the morning, or at the noon intermission, or at sundown;
The delicious singing of the mother—or of the young wife at work—or of the girl sewing or washing—Each singing what belongs to her, and to none else;
The day what belongs to the day—At night, the party of young fellows, robust, friendly,
Singing, with open mouths, their strong melodious songs.

Poem of the Day April 27

Bridge
by Lee Bennett Hopkins

Even
the strongest
men
in the world

cannot
hold
as much
steel
as you can
at
one
time.

Poem of the Day April 26

Toothbrush
by Carol Diggory Shields

Someone used my toothbrush.
That isn't very fair.
Someone used my toothbrush.
Dad said we shouldn't share.

Someone used my toothbrush.
They thought I couldn't tell,
But it's soggy, kind of greenish,
And it has a funny smell.

My sister said, "Just use it!"
But I don't think I wanna.
I think she used my toothbrush
To scrub our pet iguana.

Poem of the Day April 24rd

Poem (As the cat) by William Carolos Williams

As the cat

climbed over

the top of

the jamcloset

first the right

forefoot

carefully

then the left

stepped down

into the pit of

the empty

flowerpot

Poem of the Day April 23rd

To You by Walt Whitman

STRANGER! if you, passing, meet me, and desire to speak to me, why should you not speak to me?
And why should I not speak to you?

Poem of the Day April 22

Earth Day
by Jane Yolen


I am the Earth
And the Earth is me.
Each blade of grass,
Each honey tree,
Each bit of mud,
And stick and stone
Is blood and muscle,
Skin and bone.

And just as I
Need every bit
Of me to make
My body fit,
So Earth needs
Grass and stone and tree
And things that grow here
Naturally.

That's why we
Celebrate this day.
That's why across
The world we say:
As long as life,
As dear, as free,
I am the Earth
And the Earth is me.

Poem of the Day April 21

Cinderella's Double Life

from Mirror, Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse by Marilyn Singer

Isn't life unfair?
Stuck in a corner;
while they're waiting for a chance
with the prince,
dancing waltz after waltz
at the ball,
I'll be shining
these shoes
till the clock stickes midnight.

**********************************************

Til the clock strikes midnight,
these shoes!
I'll be shining
at the ball,
dancing waltz after waltz
with the prince
while they're waiting for a chance,
stuck in a corner.
Isn't life unfair?

Poem of the Day April 20

Falling Up
By Shel Silverstein

I tripped on my shoelace
And I fell up--
Up to the roof tops,
Up over the town,
Up past the tree tops,
Up over the mountains,
Up where the colors
Blend into the sounds.
But it got me so dizzy
When I looked around,
I got sick to my stomach
And I threw down.

Poem of the Day April 19

The Sausage Whistler
by Allan Ahlberg and Bruce Ingman

One day a boy went walking
And walked into a store
He bought a pound of sausages
And put them on the floor.

The boy began to whistle
He whistled up a tune
And all the little sausages
Danced around the room.

Prince William and Kate Who??

The bride gets ready!

For those of you who missed out, The Wedding of The Century took place yesterday at Little Shop of Stories.  Officiated by Mark Little and attended by a lovely lot of flower girls and one sneakered ring bearer, it was a day of love, joy, and dog biscuits.

We hope you enjoy viewing Scout and Hiro's Wedding Album.  Congratulations to the happy couple!

For the flower girls.

Our wedding coordinator, Sunny, took care of all the details!

The cake!

The handsome groom makes his way down the aisle...

eager to meet his bride!

All of the flower girls were lovely!

The bride didn't just walk down the aisle!

A reading from Angelina and The Royal Wedding

A vision of beauty and dog breath.

Possibly the world's cutest ring bearer.

Our Officiant, making it Official.

Getting ready for their first kiss as husband and wife!

The Wedding Party!

Look who caught the bouquet!

Dancing the day away!  What a celebration!

Poem of the Day April 18

We were so preoccupied with the wedding yesterday that we didn't have time to post a poem! So here's an extra long one for today to make up for it...

The Owl and the Pussycat

by Edward Lear

The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea

In a beautiful pea-green boat,

They took some honey, and plenty of money,

Wrapped up in a five pound note.

The Owl looked up to the stars above,

And sang to a small guitar,

"O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love,

What a beautiful Pussy you are, you are, you are,

What a beautiful Pussy you are."

Pussy said to the Owl "You elegant fowl, 

How charmingly sweet you sing.

O let us be married, too long we have tarried;

But what shall we do for a ring?"

They sailed away, for a year and a day,

To the land where the Bong-tree grows,

And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood

With a ring at the end of his nose, his nose, his nose,

With a ring at the end of his nose.

"Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling your ring?"

 Said the Piggy, "I will"

So they took it away, and were married next day

By the Turkey who lives on the hill.

They dined on mince, and slices of quince,

Which they ate with a runcible spoon.

And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand.

They danced by the light of the moon, the moon, the moon,

They danced by the light of the moon.

It's A Nice Day For A White Wedding

It's a nice day to start again!

Sunday

April 17th

3 p.m.

Girls, this is your opportunity to be flower girls
and be a part of a special wedding service!

Boys, you'll be the ring bearers!

We'll be sure to read some of our favorite wedding books,
and after the ceremony,

we'll have a reception with
cake, punch, dancing, and a bouquet toss!

Photo adaptation by Rob Herrema

Poem of the Day April 16

Don't Kill That Fly!
by Kobayashi Issa

Look, don't kill that fly!
It is making a prayer to you
By rubbing its hands and feet.

What A Week!

Monday: Kevin Henkes!!!

Thusday: Ridley Pearson!!!

When we have one fantastic author visit us in a month, we're thrilled.  When we have TWO of our ALL-TIME favorite authors visit us in the SAME WEEK, well ... our socks are knocked clear off both feet and down the street!

Kevin is a phenomenal picture book author and illustrator -- Little White Rabbit just came out -- who also writes chapter books.  (Junonia will be released on May 24th.  Diane read an advance copy and loved it!)  Ridley is probably best known for his adult crime novels, but he writes lots of great adventure books for kids.  Power Play, the fourth book in the Kingdom Keepers series, was just released last week (and The Bridge to Neverland, the fifth and final book in the Peter and the Starcatchers series, comes out in August).

We have some signed copies of many of their books for sale at the Shop.

Thanks, Kevin!  Thanks, Ridley!

Now we have to go out and buy new socks.

Photos by Little Shop's Rob Herrema.

Poem of the Day April 15

There Once Was a Man from Nantucket
by Anonymous

There once was a man from Nantucket,
Who kept all his cash in a bucket.
         But his daughter, named Nan,
         Ran away with a man,
And as for the bucket, Nantucket.

Poem of the Day April 14

Have You Heard the Sun Singing? 
by John Smith

Have you ever heard the sun in the sky
Man have you heard it?
Have you heard it break the black of night
Man have you heard it?
Have you heard it shouting its song, have you heard
It scorch up the air like a phoenix bird,
Have you heard the sun singing?

Poem of the Day April 13

Septemer 27

from "Love that Dog" by Sharon Creech

I don't understand

the poem about

the red wheelbarrow

and the white chickens

and why so much

depends upon

them.

If that is a poem
about the red wheelbarrow
and the white chickens
then any words
can be a poem.
You've just got to
make
short
lines.

Poem of the Day April 12

The Red Wheelbarrow
by William Carlos Williams

so much depends
upon

a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white

chickens.

Poem of the Day April 11th

Sick

by Shel Silverstein


"I cannot go to school today,"

Said little Peggy Ann McKay.

"I have the measles and the mumps,

A gash, a rash and purple bumps.

My mouth is wet, my throat is dry,

I'm going blind in my right eye.

My tonsils are as big as rocks,

I've counted sixteen chicken pox

And there's one more--that's seventeen,

And don't you think my face looks green?

My leg is cut--my eyes are blue--

It might be instamatic flu.

I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,

I'm sure that my left leg is broke--

My hip hurts when I move my chin,

My belly button's caving in,

My back is wrenched, my ankle's sprained,

My 'pendix pains each time it rains.

My nose is cold, my toes are numb.

I have a sliver in my thumb.

My neck is stiff, my voice is weak,

I hardly whisper when I speak.

My tongue is filling up my mouth,

I think my hair is falling out.

My elbow's bent, my spine ain't straight,

My temperature is one-o-eight.

My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear,

There is a hole inside my ear.

I have a hangnail, and my heart is--what?

What's that? What's that you say?

You say today is. . .Saturday?

G'bye, I'm going out to play!"

Poem of the Day April 10

Don't Quit
- Author unknown

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor's cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

(Kimberly's favorite poem!)

You Could Be the Next Big Winner!

Win 2 tickets to the Disney Theme Park of your choice! Ridley Pearson, author of the Kingdom Keepers series, will be at the shop on Thursday, April 14th at 7 pm. We'll be raffling off 2 Disney tickets at the event! No purchase necessary, you just need to be present at the event to win.

Poem of the Day April 9

The Tyger

By William Blake

Tyger, Tyger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? & what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears
And water'd heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

Tyger, Tyger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

(In honor of Karen Harvey) 

Poem of the Day April 8

The Daffodils

By William Wordsworth

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the Milky Way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced, but they
Out-did the sparkling leaves in glee:
A Poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

Poem of the Day April 7

This is Just to Say

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold

by William Carlos Williams

Poem of the Day: April 6th

This is for all of you who lost trees in the storm the other night!

 

The Wind

by Robert Louis Stevenson

I saw you toss the kites on high
And blow the birds about the sky;
And all around I heard you pass,
Like ladies' skirts across the grass

Oh wind, a blowing all day long,
Oh wind, that sings so loud a song!

I saw the different things you did,
But always you yourself you hid.
I felt you push, I heard you call,
I could not see yourself at all

Oh wind, a blowing all day long!
Oh wind, that sings so loud a song!

O you that are so strong and cold,
O blower, are you young or old?
Are you a beast of field and tree,
Or just a stronger child than me?

O wind, a blowing all day long,
O wind, that sings so loud a song!

Poem of the Day April 5

It's A Day Without Shoes at Little Shop of Stories! We're raising awareness about TOMS shoes, and the fact that kids all over the world have to go barefoot everyday. Here's where you can find out more about TOMS, including ways to help get shoes on feet around the world. And if you come in today and show us your 10 toes, you get a 10% discount.

Going Barefoot
by Judith Thurman

With shoes on,
I can only feel
how hard or soft
the rock or sand is
where I walk
or stand.

Barefoot,
I can feel
how warm mud
moulds my soles--
or how cold pebbles
knead them
like worn knuckles.

Curling my toes,
I can drop
an anchor
to the sea floor--
hold fast
to the shore
when the tide tows.

Go One Day Without Shoes Tomorrow

In coordination with Toms Shoes, we'll be joining One Day Without Shoes.  Show us your ten toes and we'll show you a ten percent discount.  We'll also have a special storytime at 11 a.m. where we'll read stories about helping others, doing good in the community, and about feet, of course! Don't forget to come barefoot!

Editor's Note:  That awesome picture you see of us was taken by our friend, Amy Gibbons.  She's super talented- check her out!

Jacky Davis & David Soman Visited Little Shop!

We had a great time on Saturday morning with Jacky, David, and lots and lots of Ladybug Girls (and a few Bumblebee Boys)!  Check out these photos from Little Shopper Rob.

In case you missed the event, we want you to know that there are signed copies of all of the Ladybug Girl books for sale.

Poem of the Day April 4

Once the Wind
by Shake Keane

Once the wind
said to the sea
I am sad
       And the sea said
Why
       And the wind said
Because I
am not blue like the sky
or like you

       So the sea said what's
so sad about that
                         Lots
of things are blue
or red or other colours too
       but nothing
neither sea nor sky
can blow so strong
or sing so long as you
       And the sea looked sad
          So the wind said
Why

Poem of the Day April 3

The Sun Has 
Long Been Set
by William Wordsworth

The sun has long been set,
The stars are our by twos and threes,
The little birds are piping yet
Among the bushes and trees;
There's a cuckoo, and one or two thrushes,
And a far-ff wind that rushes,
And a sound of water that gushes,
And the cuckoo's sovereign cry
Fills all the hollow of the sky.
Who would go parading
In London, and masquerading
On such a night of June
With that beautiful soft half-moon,
And all these innocent blisses?
On such a night as this is!

Poem of the Day April 2

Farewell! Like a bee
by Basho

Farewell! Like a bee
reluctant to leave the deeps
of a peony.

It's National Poetry Month!

Today is April 1st and it's the first day of National Poetry Month. Every day for the next month, we'll post a poem on our blog to celebrate. We're having lots of poetry events all month long (and other fun events as well), so click here for a list of exciting things to do in April. And happy reading!

(photo credit The Atlas Family http://atlases.wordpress.com/2009/06/13/307/)

We're starting off with one of Krista's favorite poems, especially around this time of year....

[in Just-]
by E. E. Cummings

in Just-

spring          when the world is mud-

luscious the little

lame balloonman

whistles          far          and wee

and eddieandbill come

running from marbles and

piracies and it's

spring

when the world is puddle-wonderful

the queer

old balloonman whistles

far          and             wee

and bettyandisbel come dancing

from hop-scotch and jump-rope and

it's

spring

and

         the

                  goat-footed

balloonMan          whistles

far

and

wee