Zar and the Broken Spaceship review

Zar and the Broken Spaceship review

March 21, 2017

Our book “Zar and the Broken Spaceship” just got a shout-out from Kids Rhythm and Rock. This reviewer allows the responses of the children to inform her perspective on books. Despite my expertise as a parent, teacher, trainer, and family entertainer, I am still occasionally surprised by what garners a strong reaction from four-year-olds. And I’ll wager that despite her experience as a music reviewer for School Library Journal, a book reviewer for Kids Rhythm and Rock, and a professional children’s librarian, she is occasionally surprised as well. Here’s a snippet from the article:

“One of the librarians who works with me has been using this book in her preschool visits this winter. The fun, interactive aspects of the story have made it such a hit with the preschoolers that it quickly became the finale of each story time.”

Here’s the link to the full article.  IMG_0568WorriedZarIMG_0567IMG_0567

 
February 13, 2017

This is a busy month. There aren’t any public shows, but I am performing my outer space science show, “The Milky Way, Moons, and Meteorites” for the Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools. I’m flying to New York City for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators conference. And I am visiting one of my favorite preschools, St. Peter’s Early Childhood Learning Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

I visit a lot of preschools, but St. Peter’s is one that I particularly look forward to.  Last year the teachers began a new tradition. The 8th graders were asked to join our audience and sit with the preschool classes. The four-year-olds had a wonderful time while unwittingly giving the thirteen year olds permission to be little kids again. And the teens took full advantage of it in the best way possible: helping the preschoolers count on their fingers, fixing Zar’s spaceship, handing out imaginary high-five pizzas, and even puppeteering a story about little monsters under the bed.

Building bonds is especially powerful during adolescence. We are at our most vulnerable as hormones change our bodies and intensify our feelings. St. Peter’s is excellent at creating community and fostering a safe environment that allows their students to connect in constructive ways across age groups. Win-Win!!!

 
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