Around the Block with Sesame Street: Speaking with Children About Violence

 Our love to Texas. We mourn with you. May we act. 

Be A Ballet Dancer: Sesame Workshop

This sturdy board book is part of the Sesame Street Elmo’s World series. I like the fact that cuddly red Elmo is our guide in this intro to ballet, partly because he’s a he and partly because the idea of a monster learning ballet is a funny one! Girl monster Zoe joins him, and they go to a ballet lesson. The story is told through a series of speech bubbles and text. Readertotz can learn the five basic positions as well as some fancy ballet moves:

The twirl is called a “pirouette” (peer-uh-WET).

Some important basics are covered, such as the importance of warm-ups and have good posture.

What could be better than a friendly, accessible introduction to ballet--with Muppets!

I know that my blog partner, Lorie Ann Grover, is going to enjoy this one. She's a former ballet dancer and a big Sesame Street fan! Although Muppet creator and all around good guy, Jim Henson, didn't do ballet to my knowledge, he did help build a crazy maze for some rat pets in his first New York office. This and other interesting facts are in my chapter book biography, Who Was Jim Henson?

Be A Ballet Dancer

Random House, 2009

by Sesame Workshop

Poetry Friday: We all Sing the Same Song

Thought this was great for Poetry Friday. Sing along with your totz!

Poetry Friday: Grover's Bubble Poem

Happy Poetry Friday, totz! Go blow some bubbles!

Poetry Friday: There's a Bird on Me

This just makes me smile. Happy Poetry Friday, folks and totz!

Happy 2010: Things are Always Changing

Happy new year! I came across this inspiring vintage Sesame Street clip. Perfect to sing and talk about with your totz. "Things are always changing..."

December: Around the Block with Sesame Street

Just in time for the holidays. Sing along with your totz!



~Lorie Ann

Poetry Friday: Ben Stiller on Sesame Street

Enjoy this song full of rhyme with your totz!

Catch the full roundup soon...

June: Around the block with Sesame Street, India Arie

Every month I choose a Sesame Street clip for the right side panel of readertotz. Just in case you didn't see it below, here's India Arie with Elmo. India is my fav musical artist!

January Pick for the Older Sibling: Mo Willems, My Friend is Sad

I LOVE ELEPHANT AND PIGGIE! Honestly. So, for your readertotz' older sibling, I'm excited to recommend My Friend is Sad by Mo Willems.



Restraining myself from commenting on any of his other award winning books, let's talk Gerald Elephant and Piggie, this generation's George and Martha by James Marshall.

When Piggie finds his friend sad, he goes to great measures to cheer him up. He dresses as a cowboy, clown, and a robot. Gerald fails to recognize Piggie so his sadness increases as he believes his close friend is missing all of these amazing encounters.

Piggie, who is impetuous and bold, has far more self control than I do. He never tells Elephant it was he all along. He merely tells him, "I am here NOW!" That is awe inspiring maturity. :~)



To the art. Every line of these characters performing in white negative space communicates emotion. Every beat, including the silent ones, are perfectly timed. Piggie looks to the reader with his irritation, and one can't help laughing. As Elephant sinks deeper and deeper in sadness, his mouth shrivels and the lines about his eyes increase. Mo's lines win my heart.

Inside Scoop
Mo began as a writer and animator for Sesame Street where he garnered six Emmy Awards. You can visit Mo Willems Doodles Blogspot. And watch this awesome video where Mo talks about his work. Take note: he loves Elephant and Piggie best, just like me!



And then check out Bookie Woogie's review of two other Elephant and Piggie Books. Bookie Woogie rocks!

For the Older Sibling
My Friend is Sad
by Mo Willems
Hyperion, 2007

Lorie Ann Grover, author/illustrator

Poetry Friday: The Golden An

Let's start the new year off with this dark, mysterious poem for Poetry Friday. Who could forget the Golden An? May your new year sparkle as much as it does. Riiiiiight.

Take the Golden An
in the tan van
and give to Dan
who'll take it to Fran.

Sesame Street

As for this new year, it's time we began. A shout out to the readertotz clan. (Sorry, I just had to. :~)

Catch this week's roundup at A Year of Reading.