One Little Board Book Makes a Splashy Impression

My review on the charming new boardbook,Tractor Dance, started on a Saturday during wintertime. The weather was very cold but my little grandgirls didn't mind because they were by the fireplace ready to listen to a fabulous new children's book by the amazing writer, Matt Forrest Esenwine. 

The girls were intrigued by a colorful peek of the board book,Tractor Dance, that was found on my computer.  Mr. Matt emailed me the unpublished version of his book, in the form of a arc. This was before the official release date of Tractor Dance  and the first time the two older grandgirls (ages 5 and 7 years at that time) had seen an arc. The day was cold but no one minded. It was a special day for reading in front of a fireplace.

Sierra, my oldest grand daughter, was a fantastic reader so she read the book aloud to her middle sister, Aurora. While reading Sierra decided to pause and write down words that were new to her. I was surprised that she was interested in broadening her vocabulary in such a clever way but I remember as a young child that my teacher suggested that I become a logophile. I was pleased that this new book had a collection of words that would expand children's vocabulary. Sierra chose the following words to remember: hoedown, jig, rib, baler, promenading, backhoe, combine, drawl, and polka. My middle granddaughter, Aurora, enjoyed the read aloud. After the story was told, we left the computer open in front of the fireplace for additional reads. 

As time past and the girls visited my home, the youngest granddaughter, Lila who was almost two-years-old, became curious about the new book, Tractor Dance. Mr. Matt sent me the board book so Lila and her sisters could take took time perusing the book and enjoying the illustrations. After listening to the read aloud, Lila loved the title so much that she repeated it as she danced around the great room with the board book. 

The colorful illustrations created by Jen Taylor, and the format of the book is a gem that will engage children from pre-school to early elementary grades. My younger two grandgirls used the illustrations to pair the story line with the colorful visuals before I inquired on what they thought of this unique board book.

Girls, what makes this story by Mr. Matt interesting to you?" Sierra stated, "It was a good story about a farm tractor that enjoyed having fun late at night with his truck friends." Aurora, enjoyed listening to the story and Lila loved holding the book and turning the thick pages. I was delighted that the girls enjoyed the story as much as they did. The little grandgirls and I decided that we loved the storyline, especially the dancing parts. Since we never lived on a farm we enjoyed Tractor's evening hoedown with friends. The girls also liked listening to the rhymes in the story. Each page ofTractor Dance brought one more event of an evening dance party that lasted all night long. The moon was bright and the stars sparkling while the farm vehicles and animals spent the night dancing away until they were exhausted from party fun. 

This book is ideal for children. Perhaps, Tractor Dance, will become not only  book for a child's library but one for pre-school and early elementary classes. You may wish to ask your local librarians to purchase the book for children read alouds. This book will become a favorite for children who love to read, dance, and perhaps write a short story on what Tractor will do next.

Thank you Matt Forrest Esenwine and Jen Taylor for

offering such a fun, rhyming story book for younger children.

Let's do a "shimmy-shake " and applaud the author who wrote a charming story that children can relate to and also to the illustrator for the adorably, friendly characters who share the magic of night on the farm. Let's not forget the publisher, Susan Schadt Press, who brought this beloved book into the world of literacy bliss. Althought this book is labeled for babies to 3-year-olds you can see by the excitement my grandgirls had for the book that early elementary children will find delight also. Perhaps, the book will encourage readers to create their own story or poem about a fun summer night such as my quick write cherita poem below. 

Hoedown Boogie Magic

listen to the evening sounds

echoing through the night sky

bringing magical pleasure all around

dance along with Tractor and his farm friends

be bold, dream of a hoedown that makes you swoon

wake up to the morning light wishing for more this June

Happy Summer Reading to All!

I hope you enjoyed my little grandgirls' and my review of Tractor Dance by Matt Forrest Esenwine, illustrated by Jen Taylor.

**********

It's time for Poetry Friday to bring poetry goodness to all.

Thank you to my friendly photographer, author, poet, and publisher, Carol Labuzzetta, for hosting this week's Poetry Friday Roundup. She is back from her trip to Yosemite and excited about her various projects.

Tenaya Lake, Yosemite National Park. © Carol Labuzzetta, 2025

Oskar's Voyage Anchors Here!

Have you heard about Laura Purdie Salas' new book for children? Pause for a moment because Oskar's Voyage anchors here! 

This book is illustrated by Kayla Harren whose beautiful artwork showcases a tiny chipmunk on a voyage he did not intend to take. Minnesota Historical Society Press published the book.

My introduction to this charming book for children started on March 11, 2024, with a Zoom session co-presented by the author and illustrator. I enjoyed the get-together filled with an enthusiastic reveal of the book for educators and students. Days later, I introduced my almost 7-year-old, 1st-grade grandgirl to discuss the storyline. While opening the book, Sierra found a map of "Oskar's unexpected journey". She was intrigued and delighted to discover the next pages with a note for her from my creative author/poet friend, Laura Purdie Salas.

What else would delight a young reader to read the book out loud? Within the pages, we found an oak tree resplendent in autumn colors, food boxes piled high in wobbly stacks, and a gleeful Oskar sitting in the middle of bright red tomatoes. The book continued with a voyage that turned into an adventure. Illustrations of the cargo ship hoisting large freight onboard showed the heavy-duty work of a cargo ship. Sierra was knowledgeable about large cruise ships because she traveled with the family on a Disney ship but was unfamiliar with a huge freighter that crossed three Great Lakes. Many children don't have experiences that Laura writes about in her book. Building content knowledge is a reading strategy for children who wish to become excellent readers and writers.

Sierra continued to fluently read lines with different placements of words. She enjoyed words that rhymed and loved watching the little chipmunk scurry around the deck darting and doving into hiding places. There are more fun adventures for Oskar on the freighter and even mischief happening in places like the pantry. What's a tiny chipmunk to do all alone on a big ship?  

The book has a wonderful storyline with strong action verbs, onomatopoeia, alliteration, and rhyming words. Parents and elementary children would enjoy this book. In addition, the storyline is suspenseful with an adorable animal as the main character so older children might also enjoy Oskar's Voyage.

Will Oscar survive the trip?

What do you think?

Look at the illustration above and make your prediction.

😊

I love to read. Other children will enjoy reading this book, too.

 Thank you, Miss Laura, for the book, the note, and the bookmarks. 

😊

Teaser for Oskar's Voyage 

An adventurous storyteller
and a creative artist
follow an unexpected voyager
on a heavy-duty freighter.
What happens while sailing on the Great Lakes 
is a frolicking tale of mischief, worry, 
and longing to refind home.
©CVarsalona, 2024  

Resources for Teachers

Laura Purdie Salas offers resource pages at the end of her book. There are fun facts, cargo ship lingo, author's notes, acknowledgment, and resources. The back page discusses the M/V Paul R. Tregurtha, a real thousand-footer. In 2019 Laura and her husband, Randy, spent more than a week sailing on this amazing freighter known as the Queen of Lake. This distinction notes that the ship is the longest boat sailing on the Great Lakes. You can also find additional resources for the book on Laura's blog.

"Oskar's Voyage grew out of my explorations aboard the Tregurtha."  

Kudos to Laura for pursuing her dream of sailing on a freighter.

News Flash: Laura Purdie Salas added 4 image poems

to my NPM project on Poetry Parade Padlet.

You can read them here and add your own image poem(s) to the padlet.

Today's Poetry Friday Roundup is on Ruth Hersey's blog,

There is No Such Thing as a God-forsaken Town.

Photo by Ruth Hersey

Port-au-Prince, 12/2020

Ruth still dreams of Haiti, her home for many years while teaching there.

Her dreams are darkened by chaos in the streets.

The last line of her poem brings the reality of Haiti's situation. 

"Often when I dream about my country I wake up with tears in my eyes."

Spring Day

Yesterday, a "silly thing" thing happened to my almost 5-year-old granddaughter. She and her sister ran up and down the little hill behind my patio with a giant balloon my husband bought me for Mother's Day. As I was videotaping the event, Sierra lost hold of the balloon that went sailing into the sky. She was sad but amazed at how far it soared into the air. "That was silly," Sierra said and then, decided to write a story poem with me for this week's blog post.

My balloon was flying in the sky.

I ran and lost hold of the tie.

It floated up really high

but I didn't cry!

We all said bye-bye.

©Sierra (soon to be 5-years-old), 2022

"Grandpa made me a kite to fly tomorrow."

🌞

Spring Flight

Together,

Up into the spring blue sky

It floated:

The giant balloon

And a little girl's

wonderings.

©CVarsalona, 2022

I used the mentor text - Barbara Juster Esbenson's poem, "Autumn Concert"

from Swing Around the Sun. (See here)

🌞

Poetry Friday is hosted today by Rose Cappelli, author-poet, who always imagines the possibilities of verse. Join me at her website here.

April Moments

Dear Readers,

It is time for April moments to hasten to their end. The month passed by quickly and I realize after reading the poem, April Moments, that the month is near its end. I pause in gratitude for the joy April brought, even with its "winterinspring" weather. Holy Week led to Easter Sunday and family gatherings. There were cherished moments to savor and poems to write during National Poetry Month but now April hastens to its end as Verne Bright wrote.

I decided to write a golden shovel poem to pause and be thankful for the month that passes on. Indulge me for a moment as I write.

April's Appreciated Moments

Why is it that life in spring seems glorious? Do the

Birds know their songs sound sweetest in April?

Shall we celebrate earth's quiet moments?

Stop our hurried steps! Savor springtime bliss? Let us hasten

To bask in the sunlight. Let warm breezes lead us to

Appreciate April moments, soon to approach their

Final, blissful hours of the month's end. 

©CVarsalona, 2022

In my Earth Day blog post, I share a beautiful video, Love Song to the Earth, and invite all to view the padlet containing Poetryliscious Poetry and image poems. I am anticipating more artistic expressions to be added this week. Perhaps, the padlet will entice more friends to add their blissful moments of springtime as a tribute to National Poetry Month. Thank you to slicers, Diane Anderson, Terje Akke, Bob Hamera, and Molly Hogan. If I have missed anyone else, please let me know. Thank you also to Poetry Friday friends, Linda Baie, Matt Forrest Esenwine, Carol Labuzzeta, and Jone Rush MacCulloch. 

Today is Slice of Life Tuesday so I am heading over to Two Writing Teachers

to celebrate another day of writing with a reflective community of writers.

Autumn Artifacts

The warmth of the autumn sun floods the path to the creek. My little grandgirls walk beside me. We bask in the beauty of the woods as I point out what I see. I am the guide on this brief journey leading them to enjoy nature as much as I do. You can read more about our adventure at my blog post, Along the Nature Trail.

©CV, 2021

I am your guide to

autumn wonders that fall

onto earthen paths.

I play a game, naming what I see.

A group of purple wildflowers

faces sunward. You stoop,

pick a spotted red leaf,

your first artifact of autumn.

Curled-up bark leads you

to other tiny pieces of fall.

You carry these precious

items tightly in your tiny hands.

Share them with your little sister

who brushes featherlike

leaves into the wind.

With gratitude for earth's

treasures, we walk home

ready to create a

lasting memory of a

glorious autumn day.

©CV, 2021

The above poem is modeled after the beginning and last lines of Maggie Smith's poem, First Fall.

Art Project Time

Upon entering the house, four-year-old Sierra announces, "I am going to work on my project". I gather the craft supplies. Intent on her work, Sierra lays out the artifacts from her fall walk. Bark, leaves, acorns, and acorn caps line the kitchen table. 

"What did you see on your walk, Sierra?" "Fall," she responds. 

Carefully, she glues her artifacts onto orange paper. I am amazed at her preciseness in placement. Much to my surprise, she leaves an imprint of a leaf on the paper with just a crayon. As the project draws to a conclusion, we talk about poetry. 

"Fall and call rhyme, Grandma." 

"Is that the start of your poem?" 

Words pop out. We talk about what a poem is. 

"It is more than rhyming. It is your feeling, too." 

I leave it at that. After all, she is four and interested. I write what she says on paper. We read it again. She thinks. We change a few words and I write her poem where she thinks it should go on her fall project. 

"Will people like my poem, Grandma?" 

"I am sure they will."

Fall

calls

acorns

leaves

fall

from

trees

©Sierra, Age 4, 2021

🍂

You Are Invited

to Join my Newest Online,

Global Gallery of Artistic Expressions

-Bedecked in Autumn!-

Share your image poems, inspirational quotes,

artwork, digital designs, and music.

Deadline for Submissions: December 1, 2021

via my Twitter feed, Facebook page,

email: cvarsalona at gmail.com

A Sneak Preview will be shared

on November 19, 2021

when I host Poetry Friday 

at my blog, Beyond LiteracyLink

🍂

Join the Poetry Friday Roundup at Jama Rattigan's delicious poetry site, Jama's Alphabet Soup. She's offering a poem by Jeffrey Bean, cookies, and hot chocolate mixed with much poetic goodness!

🍂

Along the Nature Trail

My toddler grandgirls arrived mid-morning on a bright October day this weekend. The sky was filled with sunshine and Mother Nature dressed the day in assorted leaf wear. 

It was one of fall's "just right" days to take a slow walk on the nature trail. Our first stop was the muddy pond?  "Where are the ducks, Grandma?", my four-year-old granddaughter asked. She kept looking but they were no where to be seen.

"I guess they are hiding from us," I explained and so we moved on to find fall on the trail. Emily Dickenson's poem, Fall, Leaves, Fall, was on my mind. We were off to see if "every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree."

Interesting-looking leaves, some wildflowers, and our shadow in the sunshine were found along the trail. In the distance, a little bridge appeared like a magical entrance into the woods. Yet, there was no walking trail further on. It was time to find another trail. 

As the sun hid under the canopy of trees, our shadows played hide and seek  Sierra shouted, "Where is my shadow?" We laughed and raced to the sunny spots while stopping to pick autumn's treasures, artifacts of the season. When hands felt cold and shoulders needed an extra layer, the girls cuddled in my shawls and sat on the bench by the muddy pond once again searching for the elusive ducks. 

on the nature trail

sunshine dressed in autumn leaves

celebrate fall

©CV, 2021

What happened to the artifacts picked along the trail?

Stay tuned to find out what type of project Sierra created.

(Next blog post will be ready on Thursday night.)

🍁🍃🍂

Today is Slice of Life Tuesday at Two Writing Teachers.

Thankfully, I join the writing community.

Golden Hour

"Bursts of gold on lavender melting into saffron. It's the time of day when the sky looks like it has been spray-painted by a graffiti artist." - Mia Kirshner 

Excitedly, they raced up and down the slight slope as the birthday party began. It was the golden hour just after nap time and the beginning of a delightful late afternoon family event. Big sister and little baby romped in the grassy area beyond the patio. Their world was painted in shades of joy. 

After dinner a sweet secret brewed. Out from the small guest bedroom, a little girl transformed into a princess glided past me ready to don her royal crown and greet guests for the gathering. Loved ones circled to wish the birthday girl years of wonder and celebration at the count of four. But waiting was not her strong suit so, within a second, all four candles were puffed into the air just like her wishweeds did on her spring nature walk.

a sweetened surprise

awaits a little princess

wide-eyed wishes ready now

golden hour approaches

with promised love

©CV, 2021

As the golden hour moved closer to sunset, two little princesses walked to their coach where dancing dreams lulled them into a restful sleep. What new adventures will await a four-year-old with talents still not untapped is yet to be seen. 

A Slice of Life for Another Special Day

Today You Are Four

It is quiet in the house except for the hum of the twirling fan. Only cracks of lights enter the darkened room. I steal a few moments to be alone with my thoughts. It is the eve of my granddaughter's fourth birthday. A whoosh of camera-ready moments rushes past me, from infant to toddler to a curious little girl. The years of her joyous life "whisper loud enough to make me stop and take stock."*

I dedicate the following pantoum poem composed of four-line stanzas in which the second and fourth lines of each stanza serve as the first and third lines of the next stanza. The last line of the pantoum is the same as the first.

💖

It was but yesterday

when you entered a calico-colored world

with your curious stance

that brought so much joy.

When you entered a calico-colored world,

you became our wonder baby.

Your curious stance grew

in natural settings.

You became our wonder baby`    

listening, learning,

in natural settings

that often led to new discoveries.

💖

Listening, learning,

you skied and climbed hills.

leading to new discoveries,

opening a new world of wonder.

You skied and climbed hills.

Your toddler passions have grown each year,

opening a world of  new wonders.

Today you are four!

💖💖💖💖

Your toddler passions have grown each year.

I watched with pride.

Today, you are four-

it was but yesterday!

©CV, 2021

Birthday love  💖 is sent to my "big girl" granddaughter, Sierra.

Thank you for always sharing your exuberance for life.

*Line lifted from my writing friend, Fran Haley, in a comment to slicer Chris Margocs."

 A Slice of Life for a Special Day