29th March World Piano Day

The Music of Life, a picture book biography by Elizabeth Rusch and Marjorie Priceman tells of the invention of the piano by Bartolomeo Cristofori. He coaxes just the right sounds from the musical instruments he makes. Some of his keyboards can play piano, light and soft; others make forte notes ring out, strong and loud, but Cristofori longs to create an instrument that can be played both soft and loud. At last Cristofori gets his creation just right. It is called the pianoforte, for what it can do. All around the world, people young and old can play the most intricate music of their lives, thanks to Bartolomeo Cristofori’s marvellous creation: the piano.

World Piano Day is an annual event aiming to create a platform for piano-related projects, promote the development of musical dimensions and encourage everyone to enjoy playing (or listening to!) piano.

I wrote about this day in 2022, but new picture books have arrived in the library since then, there is now a show on our national television station called The Piano  that features piano playing in public places and this year our Children's Book Week theme is Symphony of Stories  so I have been putting aside 'music' books so as to saturate the library displays during Term 3. 

Recently I have purchased these:

• The Elephant and the Piano by Collette Hiller and Nabila Adani 

In a sanctuary in Thailand lived an elephant called Bonti. Short-tempered and destructive, Bonti was alone - the other elephants (and humans) knew to keep their distance. But when a musician came to play the piano for Bonti, something incredible happened... the spectacular true story of Paul Barton and the elephants who loved to hear him play.

• The Paper Piano  by Rachel Ip and Natalie Quek

When Noah hears beautiful piano music sweeping through the station, he longs to play. Without a pianoof his own, he carefully crafts one out of paper, and the notes fill his head night and day. Until finally, with the help of a neighbour, his musical dream comes true . . .

• Piano Wants to Play  by Colleen Kong-Savage

Piano and Amy share a special bond. Piano loves to play music with Amy. And Amy loves Piano, too.  "Play me, Amy! Play me!" Piano calls. And they do. Every day they play and practise, testing notes and strengthening fingers. From notes to scales to warm, rippling melodies, together they make a joyful noise. 

• That's My Piano, Sir!  by Ana Gerhard and  Marie Lafrance

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is no ordinary boy, sporting a white wig and elegantly dressed in red velvet, on his way to playing several concerts in the city. To the surprise of all, he proudly begins to play with his sister for the tired customs officer and gloomy dockworkers. The evening air begins to glisten and soon, everyone's faces are beaming, their ears ringing with music! (There are other famous musicians in this series)

It would be good to own this biography as well, but it is too expensive.

• The Green Piano by Roberta Flack and Hayden Goodman

Roberta Flack recounts her childhood in a home surrounded by music and love. It all started with a beat-up piano that her father found in a junkyard, repaired, and painted green.

28th March Support Women Artists Now Day

Support Women Artists Now Day (SWAN) occurs on the last Saturday in March, highlighting the power and diversity of women's creativity. One of the five goals for the day is:To shine a spotlight on women artists – especially artists who are often marginalised by mainstream arts and media organisations because of their race, class, sexual preference, gender identity, disability or other issues.

In a school context I think it is just a good excuse to look at some famous female painters because they are often overlooked in favour of well-known male artists such as Monet, Matisse, Picasso, da Vinci, VanGogh etc. There are some wonderful picture book biographies about female artists in our library.

Frida Kahlo (1907 -1954) Mexican

Georgia O'Keeffe (1887 - 1986) American

Ruth Asawa (1926 - 2013) American

Louise Bourgeois (1911-2010) French American

Mary Cassatt (1844 - 1926) American

Yayoi Kusama (1929- ) Japanese

 

Then also look for these:

Gwen Frostic

Sister Corita Kent

Mary Nohl

Anna Atkins

Alma Thomas

Helen Frankenthaler

Mary Blair

Of course there could be more depending upon your definition of 'artists'. I haven't included architects, photographers, potters...

30th March Pencil Day 31st March Crayon Day

I love putting together a display for Pencil Day and Crayon Day because there are so many books in the library to choose from. I have written about both days before, so put pencil and or crayon in the search part of my blog.

We recently purchased a new book about a pencil.

This story by Carly Gledhill is not about drawing with a pencil, but rather about writing. Pencil has written THE BEST STORY EVER and he can’t wait to share it with you. But when Pencil’s characters refuse to keep to the story, chaos unfolds. Can Pencil pull his story back on track so that everyone can play a part and everyone can enjoy it? A celebration of creativity, story writing and resilience.

Similarly, this masterpiece by Zeno Sworder  focuses initially on a pencil where when a picture-book maker runs out of stories, his pencil decides it's time to tell her own... about how 

trees make all of our lives possible but they are often absent from stories because we tend to only care and feel for characters that are like us.

What is a pencil? A forest transformed. In this beautifully illustrated wordless picture book, young readers can follow a pencil's life cycle

from tree to factory to store shelf and back to tree. Even the 

simplest tool contains multitudes. Once a living tree, then a 

manufactured commodity, a pencil in the hands of a young artist 

becomes the key to a rich imaginative world. In this expansive, 

gorgeously illustrated story, creator Hye-Yun Kim asks us to see 

and appreciate the full value and infinite possibilities—of the pencil.

See Pinterest pages too:

pencils

crayons

22nd March We Love Broccoli Day

It makes sense that broccoli is celebrated. “Let thy food be thy medicine,” said Hippocrates. 

As part of the brassica family, broccoli lowers the amount of cholesterol, reduces the risk of heart disease, benefits eye health, supports hormonal balance and the immune system. Considered a high fibre food, broccoli contains detox antioxidants, but also sulforaphane, which enhances detoxification of airborne toxins, reducing cancer risk. Luckily lots of children do like it. Use these books to remind them that broccoli is fun!

•  Dear Broccoli  by Jo Dabrowski and Cate James

•  Monsters Don't Eat Broccoli  by Barbara Jean Hicks and Sue Hendra

• Supertato: Broccoli Boogie  from Supertato series by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet

• Broccoli's Big Day  by Mike Henson and Sandra de la Prada

• There's Broccoli in my Ice cream  by Emily MacKenzie

• 100 Dragons All Named Broccoli by David Larochelle and Lian Cho

•  Cookie and Broccoli  series by Bob McMahon

• Broccoli and Spies by Andrew Levins

20th March World Frog Day

Frogs in the Blue Mountains 

Photos by Ákos Lumnitzer .

World Frog Day, held on 20th March each year, is a day dedicated to raising awareness for frogs and other amphibians. Many frog populations are under threat and many species are disappearing, or have already become extinct!

In the Blue Mountains, which is very close to where we live the proximity of bushland with its network of streams, bogs, swamps, and lakes means that frogs are never far away from us, although for many of us, they are rarely seen. But even unseen, they make their presence known each spring, the chorus of frogs being one of the thrilling sounds of nature.

There are 35 amphibian species in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Sydney is home to a diverse range of native frogs too, including tree frogs and ground-dwelling species commonly found in gardens and bushland. Common species include the Striped Marsh Frog, Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog,  and Common Eastern Froglet.

The young children I teach are fascinated by frogs and it is easy to put together a display. At hthe moment though most of the books are in classrooms so a display will have to wait for  one of the other days that celebrate frogs. See pinterest page.

21st March International Day of Forests

The International Day of Forests raises awareness of their role in life on earth. Forests are complex ecosystems, essential for the health of the environment and all living beings. They are home to 80% of the world's terrestrial biodiversity, and 1.6 billion people depend on them for shelter, food, energy, income and medicines.

Regarding climate change, forests are vital as they retain heat and absorb carbon dioxide. However, while we need forests more than ever, deforestation progresses at an alarming rate: the world is losing 10 million hectares of forest each year, which directly jeopardizes our existence on earth.

Our library has so many books about trees and some specifically about forests, so it is easy to celebrate this special day. 

Look for these books about forests:

Come on a walk with Grandpa to discover how a forest is made, and see how a thousand tiny things can come together to change the face of the earth… This gorgeous book features a non-fiction section about the different types of forests around the world, their importance to our ecosystem and the impact of deforestation on our planet.

Turn the pages and discover everything you need to know about deforestation and the ways we can tackle it. From scientists and conservationists helping to protect forest creatures, to tech inventions like robot tree-planters, this book helps children to discover the incredible solutions to deforestation that are being worked on around the world right now.

Step into the forest and explore the many worlds that exist beneath the treetops, from birds that make their nests up high to neighbourhoods of bugs who are working hard underground. Wander through the big worlds and tiny worlds of the forest, get lost in the quiet magic of the towering trees, and delight in the busy lives of all who live above, below and within.

There once was a forest . . .
So begins this timeless and touching story of renewal of a forest.

See it here.

This book is the ideal introduction to the environmental concerns facing our forests, featuring colourful illustrations and an engaging, light-hearted storyline, drawn and written by Brendan Kearney. Grown-ups and children will enjoy reading together and following the story of Finn and Skip, with its ups and downs, and pointing out all the different animals that Finn meets in the rainforest. They'll also learn about how using ethical products can help save the animals.

What can one person do in the face of global environmental degradation? Indian Jadav Payeng has proven that each and every one of us can make a difference. As a boy, he began planting trees on a sandbank in the state of Assam. Nobody believed that he would succeed in doing so. But since 1979, a forest the size of Central Park has emerged, offering a home to countless animals and plants. It was not until 2007 that a photographer accidentally discovered the forest and made Payeng known to the world beyond India.

Delve into the intriguing world of forests, and discover how they work, the animals they protect, and their millennia-long relationship with humans. Learn the science behind a single tree and the magical stories told about forests around the world, as well as how you could improve your wellbeing with a trip amongst the trees.

Forests are different around the world. They range from hot, damp rainforests to icy taiga forests, but all of them offer a home for animals and plants, precious natural resources and beautiful places to have fun, spot nature and find calm. But forests are under threat from climate change, habitat loss and pollution. Find out how we can all help to look after our precious forests, as well as enjoy them.

This nonfiction children’s picture book begins with a view of the forest at a distance, then zooms in on its fascinating details, including the amazing trees, bright birds, adorable baby animals, and other wonders of nature that inhabit it. The rhythmic text and inviting watercolor illustrations allow curious young readers to observe, explore, and learn what makes forests so special and vitally important.