{little blog of stories}

The Pooh House is For Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Little Shop of Stories) — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:17:00 +0000

If you have a spare £2 million and a hankering to live south of London, then Crotchford Farm might be for you!

This is the house where Christopher Robin Milne grew up. His father, Pooh author A.A. Milne owned this English estate for about 30 years.

One subsequent owner of the 16th century, six bedroom home was Brian Jones, founding member of the Rolling Stones, who died here in 1968 at the age of 27. ("Death by misadventure," according to the coroner's report.)

Jones, who had recently been exiled from the Stones, was found floating in the still existing swimming pool.

Alastair and Harriet Johns are the current owners. According to Alastair, they get their share of curious Milne and Jones fans. “By and large, the Jones fans are rather nice. They almost always contact us first, to make an appointment, and unlike the Winnie-the-Pooh crowd, they don’t think they can just walk in here, as of right.”

News About Corporals Cooper and Hanes

noreply@blogger.com (Little Shop of Stories) — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:37:00 +0000

Hannah Reiss, staff writer for Decatur High School's Capre Diem (and a person with books in her blood as well) wrote a very good piece on Little Shop's Laura Cooper and Jenna Hanes.

You can read it here.

It's Pete the Cat's World

noreply@blogger.com (Little Shop of Stories) — Sat, 12 May 2012 02:40:00 +0000

and we're all just living in it.

Pete's third book

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons

just came out last Tuesday and will be debuting at

Number One

on the May 20th

New York Times Bestsellers List

In case you didn't notice, that is ahead of
Mo Willems, Ladybug Girl, Julie Andrews, and Dr. Seuss.

(Signed copies available at Little Shop of Stories!)

Joining Groovy Buttons will be

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes

Number Eight

and

Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes

Number Nine

Major congratulations to

James Dean

and

Eric Litwin

In Memorium: Maurice Sendak

noreply@blogger.com (Little Shop of Stories) — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:32:00 +0000

Maurice Sendak

(June 10, 1928 - May 8, 2012)

Maurice Sendak, who died this morning at the age of 83, had a tremendous impact on children's literature. Where the Wild Things Are and In the Night Kitchen are two of the greatest picture books ever.

I'll be writing more about Mr. Sendak for tomorrow's Decatur Metro blog.

This is now posted. You can read it here.

Q and A with Neil Gaiman

noreply@blogger.com (Little Shop of Stories) — Fri, 04 May 2012 17:27:00 +0000

In the New York Times.

(Man, I miss that guy.)

Stephen Colbert's New Children's Book Update

noreply@blogger.com (Little Shop of Stories) — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:29:00 +0000

Stephen Colbert was on the Today show this morning to plug his upcoming children's book, I Am A Pole (and So Can You!)

He gave us a superb preview:

I considered fireman’s and fishing,

Was a totem for some time,

And even tried to be a stripper pole

But I couldn’t stand the grind.

The book comes out next Tuesday!

Decatur slogan update!

noreply@blogger.com (Little Shop of Stories) — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:17:00 +0000

Some time ago the city sought suggestions for a 'buy local' slogan. Catherine over at city hall has posted the FOUR FINALISTS for the 'buy local' campaign slogan. There's been some creative combining of ideas and sample artwork. Each looks great! but Catherine is seeking input from the community. Check these out and let her know your thoughts.

A Monster Ate Sean Connolly!

noreply@blogger.com (Little Shop of Stories) — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:18:00 +0000

There are some really fun, creative blogs out there. Sometimes they even involve us.

Sean Connolly was here last week. He thinks and writes about math and science in ways different from most normal human beings, which make his books highly entertaining. We had an excellent crowd here at Little Shop to see him talk and make stuff and do strange experiments.

Then these kids at A Monster Ate My Book Report blogged about it.

And I'm thinking I should hire them to handle all our social media stuff.

Poem of the Day April 30

noreply@blogger.com (Little Shop of Stories) — Tue, 01 May 2012 20:51:00 +0000

It's our last poem of the day for this year! We'll send you off with a classic...

The Road Not Taken
by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Poem of the Day April 29

noreply@blogger.com (Little Shop of Stories) — Tue, 01 May 2012 20:34:00 +0000

(yes, it's a little late, but better than never...)

A Shark is a Pet
by Ken Nesbitt

A shark is a pet
that you don't want to get.
There is nothing less fun than a shark.
He doesn't have fur.
He won't cuddle or purr,
and he never takes walks in the park.

Instead he just stares
and intensely prepares,
as he circles and waits in the dark,
to nibble your nose
and your fingers and toes,
for his bite is much worse than his bark.

Poem of the Day April 28

noreply@blogger.com (Little Shop of Stories) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000

The Crazy Day
by the Second Graders at Glennwood Elementary School

A funny thing happened today at school,
but for some people it was really cool.
It's not really a pool.
The teacher let out a mechanical bull.
Then my teacher shaved a sheep's wool.
We got to play pool.
My mom got some new jewels.
Our teachers are so cool.
We had to dress like fools.

Poem of the Day April 27

noreply@blogger.com (Little Shop of Stories) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Ode to Cake
by the Second Graders at Glennwood

You're soft and delicious.
You have many layers.
You're definitely not nutritious.
I love your chocolate frosting.
You're amazing because of your tastiness,
with your icing so sweet.
I love you, cake!

Poem of the Day April 26

noreply@blogger.com (Little Shop of Stories) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Tornado
By the First Graders at Glennwood Elementary School

I spin and spin and spin and spin.
I am big and windy.
I destroy everything in my path.
I am very dangerous.
I move around by spinning fast.
I am strong like a yak.
My eye is tired.
Whatever I spin into,
I crush into pieces

Poem of the Day April 25

noreply@blogger.com (Little Shop of Stories) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:05:00 +0000

Monkey
By the Kindergartners at Glennwood Elementary School

Monkey, monkey, you hang upside down.
A monkey is funky.
You always fall off trees.
You always eat sweet bananas.
You are brown.
Monkey, do you have enough?

Super Cool Science Event!

noreply@blogger.com (Little Shop of Stories) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:51:00 +0000

Perilous Math and Catastrophic Science Event with Author Sean Connolly

Wednesday, April 25th | 7 p.m.

Pull out your calculators and beakers, because we are having an awesome evening of totally irresponsible science experiments and death-defying math challenges! Sean Connolly, the author of The Book of Potentially Catastrophic Science and The Book of Perfectly Perilous Math, will be here to show us how cool (and exciting) math and science can be! We'll also have experiments for you to do on your own. You may want to bring safety goggles!

Poem of the Day April 24

noreply@blogger.com (Little Shop of Stories) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Thanks to Little Shop's very own Jenna for this poem, which was inspired by last week's standardized testing...

Don't Disturb
by Jenna

the air conditioner by the dusty
window cools the room just
enough to be uncomfortable

and the constant shifting of
the student body's bodies seems
to echo in the silence of the

air and the moderator's cold
is only getting worse as he sniffles
into Kleenex he's been keeping by

his chair and the paper that's been
taped to the outside of the door
is red with big bold letters that say

"Testing - Don't Disturb" but the quiet
of the room is echoing inside me
and all I can think is how I hope

somebody will do just that.

Poem of the Day April 23

noreply@blogger.com (Little Shop of Stories) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 01:00:00 +0000

It's Raining in Love

by Richard Brautigan

I don't know what it is,
 but I distrust myself
 when I start to like a girl
 a lot.

 It makes me nervous.
 I don't say the right things
 or perhaps I start
 to examine,
 evaluate,
 compute
 what I am saying.

 If I say, "Do you think it's going to rain?"
 and she says, "I don't know,"
 I start thinking: Does she really like me?

 In other words
 I get a little creepy.

 A friend of mine once said,
 "It's twenty times better to be friends
 with someone
 than it is to be in love with them."

 I think he's right and besides,
 it's raining somewhere, programming flowers
 and keeping snails happy.
 That's all taken care of.

 BUT

 if a girl likes me a lot
 and starts getting real nervous
 and suddenly begins asking me funny questions
 and looks sad if I give the wrong answers
 and she says things like,
 "Do you think it's going to rain?"
 and I say, "It beats me,"
 and she says, "Oh,"
 and looks a little sad
 at the clear blue California sky,
 I think: Thank God, it's you, baby, this time
 instead of me.

Tonight is World Book Night!

noreply@blogger.com (Little Shop of Stories) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:02:00 +0000

Just a reminder for all you

who were accepted as givers

and specified Little Shop of Stories

as your pickup location ...

Tonight's the night!

The Hunger Games Inspires Archers

noreply@blogger.com (Little Shop of Stories) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:40:00 +0000

The AJC picked up an AP article about how sales of archery equipment has dramatically increased recently, along with participation at archery ranges.

What is the cause. The upcoming Olympic Games? No. The Hunger Games!

Poem of the Day April 22

noreply@blogger.com (Little Shop of Stories) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000

(In honor of Chris, Little Shop's very own UPS Man)

Why I Have A Crush On You, UPS Man
by Alice N. Persons

you bring me all the things I order
are never in a bad mood
always have a jaunty wave as you drive away
look good in your brown shorts
we have an ideal uncomplicated relationship
you're like a cute boyfriend with great legs
who always brings the perfect present
(why, it's just what I've always wanted!)
and then is considerate enough to go away
oh, UPS Man, let's hop in your clean brown truck and elope !
ditch your job, I'll ditch mine
let's hit the road for Brownsville
and tempt each other
with all the luscious brown foods —
roast beef, dark chocolate,
brownies, Guinness, homemade pumpernickel, molasses cookies
I'll make you my mama's bourbon pecan pie
we'll give all the packages to kind looking strangers
live in a cozy wood cabin
with a brown dog or two
and a black and brown tabby
I'm serious, UPS Man. Let's do it.
Where do I sign?

Poem of the Day April 21

noreply@blogger.com (Little Shop of Stories) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Selecting a Reader
by Ted Kooser

First, I would have her be beautiful,
and walking carefully up on my poetry
at the loneliest moment of an afternoon,
her hair still damp at the neck
from washing it. She should be wearing
a raincoat, an old one, dirty
from not having money enough for the cleaners.
She will take out her glasses, and there
in the bookstore, she will thumb
over my poems, then put the book back
up on its shelf. She will say to herself,
"For that kind of money, I can get
my raincoat cleaned." And she will.

Touch-a-Truck is Tomorrow!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Little Shop of Stories) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 18:29:00 +0000

One of Decatur's greatest annual events is Touch-a-Truck. This got rained out on March 3rd and has been rescheduled for April 21st.

Callaway Building parking lot. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Keep your fingers crossed that tomorrow stays dry!

Poem of the Day April 20

noreply@blogger.com (Little Shop of Stories) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Have You Heard the Sun Singing?
by John Smith

Have you ever heard the sun in the sky
Man have you heard it?
Have your 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 19th

noreply@blogger.com (Little Shop of Stories) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Unfortunate Location
by Louis Jenkins

In the front yard there are three big white pines, older than anything in the neighborhood except the stones. Magnificent trees that toss their heads in the wind like the spirited black horses of a troika. It's hard to know what to do, tall dark trees on the south side of the house, an unfortunate location, blocking the winter sun. Dark and damp. Moss grows on the roof, the porch timbers rot and surely the roots have reached the old bluestone foundation. At night, in the wind, a tree could stumble and fall killing us in our beds. The needles fall year after year making an acid soil where no grass grows. We rake the fallen debris, nothing to be done, and we stand around with sticks in our hands. Wonderful trees.

Poem of the Day April 18th

noreply@blogger.com (Little Shop of Stories) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:18:00 +0000

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 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 him or 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.