Kate Allen Fox, has written a beautiful treasure of a children’s book, Pando: A Living Wonder of Trees. I own it and I highly recommend it, especially to anyone who reads to children or spends time with children who read. (It’s available from Leopard Print Books, Barnes and Noble, your local bookseller, and Amazon.
On February 2, 2022, children’s authors will be offering FREE virtual readings to students everywhere through World Read Aloud Day (WRAD).
Kate is thrilled to participate this year and is offering six 20-minute slots to read her science-based, nonfiction picture book, Pando: A Living Wonder of Trees, which has been named one of the best books of the year by School Library Journal and Chicago Public Library.
If you are a teacher or a librarian and would like to sign up for one of Kate’s…
My apartment leasing office. Every season, it’s appropriately themed, and this one . . . made me smile. I figured I’d share it with you. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
it wasn’t a when it was a where . . . I moved hundreds of miles away from my home state and fell in love with rolling hills, vast mountains, and four seasons. I knew I had several lives within me — dwelling in comfort and begging to be set free.
before this change, I could write. I could tell tales, weave poetry, and set into motion articles of any kind, but this change . . . changed me. I won’t tell you my struggles disappeared, no — instead, they further shaped me and lifted me to a place I needed for comfort.
I had to get away from where I was to get to where I am. I’ll repeat . . . I had to get away from where I was to get to where I am. I had become a shell of myself, cracked on every edge, yearning to be seen by anyone who would widen their eyes in my direction.
I wrote my way out of traps I placed for myself — wrote my way out of arguments with my baby brother over our (at the time) drug addict of a mother — wrote my way out of cells built for my kind . . . I learned to push my anger into the deepest pit of my belly and create . . . I learned to pull myself out of the pits of hell and create.
I began to love this gift. away from you — where I could grow — away from all of you — where I could stretch myself up and out. I am touching the clouds now. I am breathing clean air now. I am comfortable in my skin now.
this jungle of a world sinks its teeth in, one by one, and I have had to run away from the bite marks pressed into my flesh. I wear layers, always prepared for winter even when it’s seasons away. God has been kind to me, overall — I’m still able to cut a finger or two and bleed willingly.
I am giving my gift to thousands.
I pray I’m changing someone and even if I’m not — I’ve changed. I’ve changed.
A Cornered Gurl 
You must be logged in to post a comment.