“Where there is great love there are always miracles...One might say that an apparition is human vision corrected by divine love..."
"Miracles... seem to me to rest not so much upon... healing power coming suddenly near us from afar but upon our perceptions being made finer, so that, for a moment, our eyes can see and our ears can hear what is there around us always.”  
Willa Cather, Death Comes for the Archbishop
 
I recently pulled out my worn, well-marked and beloved copy of this Willa Cather classic. 
Does magic exist? Are miracles real? 
I believe that the answer to both questions is "yes".
Stories provide readers with the opportunity to step into the very real world of wonder and enchantment.   

Nine qualities of miracles and magic:
1. Where there is hope, there are miracles.
"Something magical, he reminded himself. Maybe a new story. Maybe something happy."
2. Sometimes the most unexpected event can be a miracle.
"I've got a fish...Will that work?"
3. Miracles defy logic.
"There must be a logical explanation for this."
4. Miracles are not a question of size.
"Just because magic is small doesn't mean it is unimportant,"
5. The time table for magic is indeterminate.
"It means it's good for as long as it's good," he said. "And then it's not."
6. Magic requires faith.
"As if we did not already know that faith is such a fragile thing," he murmured.
7.  Magic means enjoying the moment.
"Because when you try too hard to hold on to something, you break it."
8. Memories are tied to magic. Magic is tied to memories.
"I've never seen anything like this in all my days. You've put memories into a bit of leather. Don't you see how remarkable that is?"
9. Magic is meant to be shared.
"What do you think magic is?" 
"I guess it's what's inside of people like you," he replied. "The parts of you that are too big to keep to yourself."

Team Kelly Light | A Whole-School Author Visit
By Daryl Grabarek  
School Library Journal | Curriculum Connections  March 23, 2015 

What does a whole-school author visit look like? P.S. 110 in New York City’s Lower East Side can tell you. Under the leadership of Principal Karen Feuer, the entire community gets involved when an author or illustrator comes to town.

On a recent wintery day, Kelly Light stepped into the New York City elementary school to be greeted warmly by Feuer, librarian Barbara Moon, art teacher Michelle Binderow, parent coordinator Millie Candelaria, and groups of parents and excited students, kindergarten through grade two. Lining the walls were pictures inspired by the author’s Louise Loves Art (Balzar + Bray/HarperCollins, 2014)

Sidewalk Flowers invites readers to join a charming young girl dressed in a red coat as she explores the wonders of her neighborhood.  What may appear colorless and drab to others is filled with wonders and delights when viewed through her eyes. She finds a way to share the beauty she finds in the city. Just follow the red hood.

*Matt De La Peña

Below is my review of Victoria Jamieson's Roller Girl published in the December 2014 issue of School Library Journal. The star on Astrid's helmet compliments the star on the review quite nicely, don't you think?
Roller Girl also inspired the creation of a Roller Derby section in the 2015 spring edition of the Reading Style Guide. For a Nonfiction book pairing try Roller Derby Rivals by Sue Macy.
Grab some pirate bandages, a skater girl keychain string doll, and a snazzy t-shirt and you're ready to cheer for your favorite roller girl!

Be sure to read Julie Danielson's  interview with Victoria Jamieson featured in the March 2015 Kirkus Reviews.

JAMIESON, Victoria. Roller Girl. illus. by Victoria Jamieson. 240p. Dial. Mar. 2015. pap. $12.99. ISBN 9780803740167; ebk. $9.99. ISBN 9780698190610.

Gr 4-8 –Twelve-year-old Astrid realizes that her interests are distinctly different from those of her best friend. Mesmerized while viewing a roller derby, she dreams of becoming a “Roller Girl” but discovers that the sport is considerably more daunting than she imagined and is not without physical, social, and emotional pain. Nevertheless, Astrid is determined to succeed. While this graphic novel provides interesting information about the sport, at its heart it is a story of friendship, exploring the tensions which test the girls’ relationship as they move from childhood to adolescence. Astrid learns to be honest with herself, her mother, and her friends through a series of stressful events. The graphic novelist employs several excellent visual devices: angles to denote action and effective placement and space within panels. Jamieson’s clever use of imagery is noteworthy. For example, desert and prehistoric depictions are used to suggest exaggerated perceptions of elapsed time. Her clothes shopping “hell” sequence is spot-on. Panels with stick figures are employed for comments, notes, and explanations. A prologue effectively frames the story and the realistic style with full-color art is reminiscent of the work of Raina Telgemeier. While at times some panels are a bit text-dense, the story will engage readers who will identify with Astrid as she deals with frustrations and disappointments. It will especially appeal to those whose aspirations fly in the face of convention. Offer this comic to fans of Telgemeier’s Smile (Scholastic, 2010) and Laura Lee Gulledge’s Page by Paige (Abrams, 2011).

Let's celebrate the diversity of graphic novels. Comics help us see another way of living, another way of knowing, another way viewing the world.  Comics help us stretch our understanding. Thanks to all of the comic artists who bring the world to us and make us all richer.

In honor of World Aloud Day  these words by Daniel Pennac and illustrated by Quentin Blake seem appropriate.
Celebrate reading. Share the love of books with a child.

On a chilly Saturday afternoon, readers gathered at The Dolphin Bookshop in New York's Port Washington, taking refuge from the blistering cold and sipping cups of creamy hot chocolate.  Many were members of a mother daughter book club that has been in existence for seventeen years and is sponsored by the local middle school.  They were treated to a presentation and reading by Kat Yeh, author of The Truth About Twinkie Pie.  Kat’s easy charm and graciousness immediately engaged the multigenerational audience.

She shared with us some “secret ingredients” that are part of her first middle grade novel.

The truth is that her book has its origin with two food-related concepts. First is Twinkie Pie, a “comfort” dessert consisting of Twinkies, whipped cream, and flavorings.  For some time, Kat had considered writing a screenplay or cookbook centered on food of 1970’s.  One day as she was developing a concept for her book, the words “Twinkie Pie” flashed into her mind and so began a story featuring Twinkies.

The other inspiration occurred when she reached an impasse in the story and couldn’t figure out how to proceed.  Leaving her manuscript and powering down the laptop, she turned to the Food Network and began to watch cooking shows.  An episode of “Chopped” where each contestant was given a box of ingredients from which each must create a meal intrigued Kat and crystallized her story idea. GiGi, like the TV show contestants, was in a similar situation.  Life had handed her a "box of ingredients," events over which she had no control.  While she could not choose what life dished out, she could choose how she would respond.  She could create her own recipe for life.

This warm and wonderful book is thoughtful and reassuring.  The recipes are an embrace of comfort as GiGi works through the challenges which life delivers.  Serving "One-Two Punch", "The Perfect Kiss", or "Cherries in the Snow" (recipes included at the end of chapters) would be a fitting compliment to this book discussion.  In addition to a mother daughter club selection, this book is also a great read for anyone reaching for a delicious slice life.

For a more detailed review, check out this review by Stacy Dillon.