Happy Birthday P.L. Travers
August 9, 2010
As a child I was introduced to P.L.Travers as the author of her Marry Poppins titles, about a magical nanny of unknown origins who arrives at the Banks home in Cherry Tree Lane where she is given charge of the Banks children and teaches them valuable lessons with a magical touch.
As an adult I came to know P.L. Travers other writings, most notably, my dearly loved title, What the Bee Knows: Reflections on Myth, Symbol, and Story. The truths that make up the worlds’ great fables are richly explored in this gem of a book and I often return to this book when I need a dose of “rich thinking”. On the first page of What the Bee Knows, Travers says the book is meant “as a whisper at the inner ear and designed to touch that part of you which is not accessible to the things that are spoken of in newspapers.”
I am not sure if the book is still in print, so treat yourself and make a trip to your neighborhood public library. And plan on renewing the book multiple times.
As a tribute to this remarkable writer on her birthday, let me share with you one of my favorite quotes from P.L. Travers:
“I wish for you an aristocratic mind. A mind that knows that the world is not fragmented. An idea does not suddenly grow, like Topsy, all alone and separate. All things have antecendents, and long family trees. Be willing to concede that there are many more things in haven and earth than philosophy dreamed of. Allow for the unknown.”
Children choosing what they read significantly improves reading skills.
August 6, 2010
With the beginning of the school year just around the corner, it is a good time to acknowledge the fact that many children experience a summer slide in reading skills. In fact, “a child can lose up to two months of school each summer, according to the National Summer Learning Association. And the loss compounds […]
Cast your vote for your favorite Librarian!
August 4, 2010
I fell in love with libraries as a child and the love affair lives on. Thank you Ben Franklin who was instrumental in bringing about the public library as we know it today. But way before Ben, there was The Great Library of Alexandria, a public library open to those with proper scholarly and literary […]
What is the impact of home computer use on schoolchildren?
August 2, 2010
August finds us one month away from the traditional start of the school year. Although many communities have year-long school and many schools begin in August, September brings to mind “Back to School.” To begin our back to school state of mind re-entry, let’s begin to think about what is the impact of home computer […]
Who nurtured you to become a reader?
July 30, 2010
I do love to learn how authors became the readers they are, and therefore, the writers they are. I have often heard praise for librarians, a specific teacher, an uncle or aunt and I am amazed at the depth of gratitude expressed. Let me share an anecdote I recently read that brought a smile to […]
