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The storyteller’s fingertip touched the red symbol stamped on one corner. “This glyph means fate, or chance. The Laughing Man’s actions are so unexpected, and their effect is so profound, that his victims think it is a bitter joke. He destroys everything—even trust and hope. But there is one power that can counteract his.” She took out another card: a circle of people, arm in arm. “Fellowship,” she said.
–Earth Logic (Elemental Logic)
September 21 is the International Day of Peace
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Swimmy thought and thought. Then suddenly he said “I have it! We are going to swim all together like the biggest fish in the sea!…When they had learned to swim like one giant fish in the sea, he said, “I’ll be the eye!” And so they swam in the cool morning water and in the midday sun and chased the big fish away.
–Swimmy by Leo Lionni
This month’s Giggle Book Award goes to a story about a little boy who wants to be a dragon and a couple of dragons who want to be able to do things only little boys can do.
The entire book consists of a dialog between boy and dragons. Here’s an example:
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Boy: Look at me, look at me! I’m a scary dragon. ROAR!
Dragon: No, you’re not.
Boy: Hmph. I am toothy and I am fierce. See?
Dragon: Actually, you are cute. Really cute.
Finally, the boy gives up and begins to cry. His cry consists of a loud and long wail:
“Waaaaaaaaaa!”
This whiny wail, when played up by the reader, inspires all sorts of giggling.
A little later, in the book the dragons also give up and utter and long wailing cry:
“Waaaaaaaaaa!”
Yep, lots of giggling.
In the end, boy and dragons all realize they are just perfect the way they are…and playing Frankenstein is much more fun.
It’s a very cute book. Perfect for anyone who likes to use story time as an opportunity to indulge in a little readers-theater style acting.
ROAR!, written by Tammi Sauer and illustrated by Liz Starin.
“When abuse persisted despite working harder, participants reported giving up. Working harder resulted in a brief respite but was inevitably followed by more demands and further demoralization…Thus, abuse engendered noncooperation rather than cooperation and consent.”
–Adult Bullying-A Nasty Piece of Work: Translating a Decade of Research on Non-Sexual Harassment, Psychological Terror, Mobbing, and Emotional Abuse on the Job
Note: For more information about combating workplace bullying, visit the Workplace Bullying Institute, Beyond Bullying Association, the International Association on Workplace Bullying & Harassment (IAWBH) and the International Conference on Workplace Bullying.