A New Inspiration #Blog365 Day 13

Anyone who knows me, knows I ADORE children's picture books.  I have two libraries filled with high quality children's picture books and I always want more!

For years, I thought that I should be reading novels more appropriate for a grown woman. For years, my own children teased me about my book selections.  Now, I am content.  I LOVE children's picture books and here is why:

• I can read a lot of them
• I can read them over and over
• I can share them with the kids I influence everyday
• I always learn something new
• illustrators inspire me                                                               

My newest inspiration came from the book "Miss Moore Thought Otherwise" by Jan Pinborough.  I purchased the book as the school that I have moved to uses the Readers' Workshop model.  As I have been reading more on the model for my own understanding, I began collecting books centered on reading and the stories surrounding them.  If you add a little history to it, I want it.

As I was sharing the book with my students, I was inspired that Anne Carroll Moore used a character called Nicholas Knickerbacker. She used her stuffed puppet as a social object to encourage the kids she worked with to be less shy.  Her character, Nicholas, was a social object, an object that broke down barriers and encouraged interaction.  The story of Miss Moore took place over 100 years ago.  How inspiring.  She was truly a woman ahead of her time, not only for her vision for including children in the library, but for her use of social objects! 

I encourage you to go check it out.  You will not be disappointed!!

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