Author's circle pix (visible this time)

This is the one I said I wanted for his author photo:
 

Author circle at Little Tufts

Henry's kindergarten class has been focusing on storytelling all year.  Early this semester (did I tell you about this?) they did a comparative literature kind of unit on Cinderella, comparing Cinderella-type stories from different national contexts and periods; they analyzed and compared them and determined which elements constituted a Cinderella story (it's actually not that many: virtuous hero/ine, envious family members, divine/fairy intervention, transformation of the hero/ine into somehing more socially desirable, happy ending). Then each kid wrote his or her own Cinderella-type story incorporating those elements, or not.

More recently they've been working on -- Ken and I find this almost painfully funny -- a book project.  Each student develops a story idea, goes through a series of writing workshops and editing groups, plans out illustrations and a cover design, and... becomes a Published Author.  (Then what do they get, tenure?)  During the month of May, each kid gets an Author's Circle to celebrate his or her book, read it loud to the class, and autograph a miniaturized copy of the book for every single classmate. Then at the end of the month they're having an evening book party.
Henry chose to write his story on ukulele lessons with Dan.

I'll be honest: it is not a riveting story.  There is no drama, no conflict, barely any plot.  Also there is not that much variation in sentence structure; I think the whole writing-workshop process may actually have held him back a bit.  But his author circle was really "special," as they say, because Dan was able to come, and after the reading the two of them performed a duet together. (Video to come.)

Then came the "comments and compliments" period and the nearly interminable book signing.  All the kids had learned how to shake hands (with their right hands) and say "Congratulations."  (The slightly naughty ones instead said, "Pleased to meet you!" which was how they had practiced.) 

All this reading and writing curriculum is just as much about building what used to be called manners, now called social skills. For the Cinderella unit they learned to slow-dance like princes and princesses. Here they learned to sit still and listen to a reading, offer appropriate compliments, and shake hands.

Henry really enjoyed the whole thing. I think he didn't want it to be over.

He insisted on signing his first and last names to make it last twice as long.

Here's the "About the Author" text from the inside back cover:

Henry Garden lives in Arlington with his mom, his dad and his sister. His favorite thing to do at school is draw pictures. His favorite book is Spiderman #1. When he grows up, he wants to be a musician. He is most proud of playing ukulele.

Someday, I want to see the photo below accompanying the author bio of his first actual published book:

Mother's Day

I came home from yoga last Sunday to find that Ken and the kids had made Mother's Day pancakes for me.

I called my mom: "Hey Ma!  Guess what!  I got a pancake breakfast for Mother's Day!"

She's like, "Oh, that's really cool."

Me: "Yeah, it was great.  What did you get?"

Her: "A phone call."  :)

Ginger beer bathtime?

A major episode of crummy tummies back in March (Esti had stomach flu for like a week, Henry and I for three days each; Ken heroically never got it at all) prompted a large dose of ginger beer.  Henry took it into the bath.  That stuff should come with a warning label!

Birthday parade

Earlier this month was the birthday of Dan, Henry's ukulele teacher, who still works at the Tufts preschool.  Henry asked his kindergarten teacher to write out the chords to "Happy Birthday," then led a surprise kindergarteners' parade!