What Mary Jo Shared

Happy Father's Day!

What Mary Jo Shared

Janice May Udry

pictures by Eleanor Mill 1966

I really like this old Scholastic book about a shy little girl who wants to pick something special to share with her class.  It's cute because she decides to bring her dad in and all of the other children are excited to ask him questions and hear about his own stories of being a little boy. 

The Golden Picture Book of School Days

 School has started here and the first day was very rainy.  September is usually still a warm month, but it's hard not to long for Fall and the change of leaves and cooler weather.  That's how I always picture the start of school.  This Golden Picture Book has such quintessential back to school pictures (though disappointingly a very homogenous depiction of children- not surprising for a vintage book unfortunately).  I like imagining elementary school is still this simple- learning to hang up your coat, going for a walk in the woods, making things out of clay, story-time and singing songs.

The Golden Picture Book of School Days 

Kathryn Jackson

pictures by Violet LaMont 1954

We Like Kindergarten

So I've been busy with this business called "life".  It's full of fun and heartache and drama, some chaos, silliness and plenty of love.  All summer we were running to and fro and now as the weather is turning I find myself back to that comfortable routine of school, soccer practice, and music lessons.  I'm always sad when school starts for the kids because I miss them when they're gone all day.  And now a new season has started as Charlotte goes off to Kindergarten.  I wasn't a mess (I'm actually more freaked out about Madeleine graduating from high school in 2 years!) and Charlotte skipped happily onto the school bus.  But I'm sad that our days together, spent riding on my bike, running errands, picking up books, having lunch and then an afternoon nap are over for now.  Charlotte kept me company every day (sometimes a little too much company!) but she's so excited and happy to be a Kindergartner now.

We Like Kindergarten

Clara Cassidy 1965

pictures by Eloise Wilkin 

In preparation for Charlotte's first big day of school we read this old familiar Golden Book illustrated by Eloise Wilkins.  Her pictures make me feel warm and fuzzy.  She draws the kind of quintessential vintage American life that I feel like I live most of the time.  It's funny how sweet and laid back this Kindergarten class is.  And I love how there's a piano and the regular teacher plays it- music just part of the day, not a "special".  I suspect Charlotte's day is much busier than this one, and there's certainly no nap time!  But she's always been an adventurous girl so I know she's having fun.

(I LOVE her little knit headband/ear warmer.  I can't seem to find one anywhere for Charlotte.  I may have to convince my mom to make one for her!)

(We also read The Berenstain Bears Go To School the night before we visited her Kindergarten class).