Book Drive...Easy ways to give

Don't forget to bring in any new or gently used books with you to Nurture when you visit. Just drop them off in the box on the stairwell landing. If you aren't planning on being at Nurture anytime soon, you can also bring your books to Green Bean Books or Milagros!

Green Bean Books is offering a 10% discount on any books purchased for the book drive.

Art Hop is next weekend, May 15th! Join the festivities, see great art, and drop off some books!

Sunday Parkways is the next day, May 16th! Nurture will be at Wilshire Park (NE Shaver & 33rd) with a diaper changing station, nursing area, and a box for book donations! Get out with the family, ride, stop by to say hello, and drop off some books!

May Day Book Drive

Dear Community:

Do you have gently used children’s books that your family has outgrown? Would you like to see those books in the hands of children who do not have their own books?

The Children’s Book Bank is a charitable organization whose mission is to provide gently used books and literacy support to the children of low- income families in Portland. The Children’s Book Bank is aimed at preschool children in Head Start classrooms and the books are available to the children free of charge.

The Children’s Book Bank is appealing to communities in Portland to help it build and sustain its inventory of books by donating gently used children’s books. Milagros, Green Bean Books, and Nurture have teamed up to host a May Day book drive to continue New Season’s Earth Day Book Drive efforts for the Children's Book Bank. The May Day Book Drive will run from May 1, 2010-June1, 2010. Our goal is to collect 1000 books!

Please help us to support The Children’s Book Bank by donating your gently used children’s books. Please take care to ensure that the donated books are gently used and are suitable for early readers and preschool aged children. No teen novels or adult books please. There will be drop boxes at Milagros, Green Bean Books, and Nurture.

Thank you for your interest and support!

For further information on this drive contact Jennifer Green at Jennifer@greenbeanbooks.com or Mychelle at Mychelle@nurturepdx.com

For further information on The Children’s Book Bank you may contact Shannon Schrecengost at shannons@childrensbookbank.com or visit its website at www.childrensbookbank.org.

Children's Book: The Sea Serpent and Me

When Dashka Slater was ten, she wrote a story and must have tucked it away somewhere. As an adult and accomplished writer, both in children's and adult literature, Dashka decided to pull that story out again and rewrite it; that book is The Sea Serpent and Me.

The Sea Serpent and Me is a heart-touching, tale of a child and a sea serpent becoming friends and letting go. Letting go...if you really love someone or something, you have to let it go when it is time to let go, just like in the Bog Baby, only different. In this book, the letting go is instinctual and patient, gentle and mutual. As I read it to my children for the first time, I teared up. Their response to the book was, "again" and "again" and "again". Again and again and again, I tear up as I read this book, and I know why...just as a certain song or painting can move you and remind you of a deeply powerful feeling, when I read this book, I am immediately reminded of the last time my son nursed; it was the same type of letting go.

I became pregnant with my daughter while my son was still nursing, and it was heart-wrenching when all throughout the first trimester my milk supply would decrease more and more and my son would cry, "mama milk all gone". I tried to keep my supply up as much as possible and gritted my teeth through the bone curdling, sore nipple latch-ons, but I have to admit that I was relieved in the third trimester when my colostrum came in and my son slowly stopped nursing with the promise that after the baby was born the milk would be back and they could share. In a very tender moment, a couple of weeks after his sister was born, I told my son that the milk was back and that he was welcome to nurse if he'd like to. He latched on for about two seconds and then whispered, "all done". I had a very strong urge to beg him to try again, but I knew, deep in my heart, that I had to let go. And I know that I will experience this letting go many, many more times in my lifetime of parenting. One of my wise midwives talked about how parenting is a slow progression of letting go, little by little...

Catia Chien's illustrations in this book are soft and playful with a wet and rainy Loch Ness enchantment to them. Catia captures the emotion and mood climate of the story so well and portrays the characters with adoration and trust in their eyes right from the start.

[And if you really fall in love with sea serpents after reading this book, Dashka has a whole list of sea serpent activities to do with children linked on her webpage as well as a how-to for throwing a sea serpent party...did you know that August 7th is National Sea Serpent Day? I didn't either, but now we all do and should celebrate accordingly. My children and I will be making the sock puppets for sure!]

My son asked for this book again at bedtime, and I wonder if, perhaps on some level, it reminds him of that same moment. Maybe not, but I can tell that something about this book touches something in his sweet heart as it does in mine.

Family Wellness Lending Library

I promised that I would have exciting news to share soon, and here is the first of a few of our exciting new programs at Nurture...

Nurture has a Family Wellness Lending Library in the works set to open on June 1st, 2010! The library will have books, DVDs, magazines/zines, and other media all related to family wellness issues. Topics found in the library include:

• infant/child health
• infant/child development
• helpful children's books (for example the books in this list)
• parenting
• adult health
• nutrition
• breastfeeding
• birth
• pregnancy
• fertility
• emotional wellness
• family recreation

We already have quite a collection started, and are excited to be able to offer this to our community very soon. The library catalog will be listed on our website when the library opens.

If you have suggestions of titles that are a must for the library, we would love your input. And if you have any extra books, etc. that you want to pass on, we welcome your contributions. Please contact Mychelle at mychelle@nurturepdx.com.

Children's Book: The Bog Baby

Wow, it has been a long time since I have shared a favorite children's book. With the arrival of spring, The Bog Baby has come in quite handy, so I will share my love for it today...

Have you read this book? The Bog Baby is written by creature-loving Jeanne Willis, and illustrated by adorable-creature-creator, Gwen Millward. It is a sweet tale about two children who discover an adorable creature, the Bog Baby, and take it home to make it their pet. But Bog Baby's were not meant to live outside of their natural habitat (bogs); so lessons of the heart and nature (and honesty) are learned.

This is the perfect springtime book, as my children are becoming enamored with worms, grubs, and slugs, and they beg to adopt each one that they discover in the backyard to keep as a pet. But worms, slugs, and grubs are not meant to live in houses, and in houses they do not fare well. The Bog Baby has been a fabulous way to explain to them why worms, slugs, and grubs are best left in the backyard where they will thrive (or become chicken food, but that is another book).

I have to admit, I adopted many a frog, salamander, and firefly when I was a child. I want my children to experience a love for all creatures big and small, and respect for the impact that they can have with their actions. Not that I expect them to get that at 4 and 2 years old, but it is a starting point. In the back of the book there is a place to write down information about your Bog Baby finding experience, which has prompted several drawings and lists of details over here.

Have you read any of the many books that Jeanne Willis has written? She has written many, and I have loved all of the ones I have read. All of my Jeanne Willis favorites have lovely life lessons told in kind and gentle ways, just like in The Bog Baby. Draft Bat is another important life lesson in a sweet story book example.

I am also in love with Gwen Millward's illustrations; she brings sweetness and magic (two things I am very attracted to in books, obviously) to life. She also illustrated Guess What I Found in Dragonwood, by Timothy Knapman--and er illustrations make me want to live in Dragonwood. The Jeanne Willis and Gwen Millward team have a new love-all-creepy-crawlies book, The King of Tiny Things, which I hope to get my hands on soon...

Upcoming Coolness at Green Bean Books

Our fabulous neighbors, Green Bean Books, has some wonderful events coming up (including a visit from a favorite author/artist of ours, Johanna Wright)! Check it out (you can click on the graphic below for more information)...

Bringing in the New Year (& decade): The Giving Tree

I love this story and was so excited to find this video! I hope you enjoy it and cheers to a 2010 that is filled with love, joy, and lots of other goodies!

Happy Winter...Children's Book: Frederick

Who scatters snowflakes? Who melts the ice?
Who spoils the weather? Who makes it nice?
Who grows four-leaf clovers in June?
Who dims the daylight? Who lights the moon?

Four little field mice who live in the sky.
Four little field mice...like you and I.

One is the Springmouse who turns on the showers.
Then comes the Summer who paints in the flowers.
The Fallmouse is next with walnuts and wheat.
And Winter is last...with little cold feet.

Aren't we lucky the seasons are four?
Think of a year with one less...or one more!
borrowed with love from: Frederick by Leo Lionni

Cheery last season of the year to you and yours.

Mustache Therapy (and more) at Green Bean Books

My children and I popped over to Green Bean Books (Nurture's neighbor!) to indulge in a bit of book buying, but we also got in a bit of therapy while we were there. You see, Portland book lovers have been sprouting facial hair and belly laughs (=good therapy), thanks to Jennifer's magnificent Instant Disguise Machine ("Facial Hair in a Flash!"), and we joined in the fun. Okay, so my youngest was a bit freaked out by the idea, but her brother happily added her mustache to his $.25-incognito-mug. Look for us (see picture above) on the mustache montage wall...aren't I looking wise with that white stache??

There is so much to discover over there, little nooks, crannies, and creatures tucked away all over the store; my children love it there! You can also buy, trade, or sell books over there: they offer 25% of our selling price in cash or 30% of our selling price in trade credit (for your used children’s books and adult best sellers that are in good condition. They reserve the right to reject any book that they feel they cannot sell, of course).

Yay, Green Bean Books! Thank you for widening our smiles!

Children's Book: The House in the Night

"Here is the key to the house..." that will take you on a cumulative, soaring journey to sweet slumberland. The House in the Night, by Susan Marie Swanson and illustrated by Beth Krommes, was structurally inspired by the traditional poem, "This is the key to the kingdom". Simple and quiet, the words whisper and allow the illustrations to tell the story. Intricately detailed and darkly glowing, the pictures show a story of a child's bedtime routine of coming home, reading a bedtime book which takes her, riding on a bird's back, on dreamy tour of the night scape and ultimately to sleep. The illustrations are done on scratchboard with golden watercolor accents and have the far-away simplicity yet up-close intricacy magic to them. I should also mention that it won the 2009 Caldecott Medal.

It is another book that has made it home from the library several times and will, therefore, become a member of our personal stacks someday soon. It is also a book that both my children and I enjoy equally, even if our fondness for the book originates from different sources.

Children's Book: The Apple Pie that Papa Baked

Apple season is just about here, reminding me of a most fabulous book: The Apple Pie that Papa Baked written by Lauren Thompson and illustrated by Jonathan Bean.

This delicious book (I had to say it) brings me so much joy. A couple of years ago, I gave it to a dear friend for her second birthday, and I have been meaning to get a copy for my children ever since.

Written in a spirally-this-is-the-House-that-Jack-Built fashion, with humor and warmth, this book celebrates the earthy, worldly elements in a sweet (again) story of an apple pie from roots to table. The father-daughter love and sharing within this book makes me long for my childhood yearly apple orchard trips complete with cider, apples, and of course, apple pie.

In my head, it goes without saying that the illustrations are perfectly matched to this story. I like to believe that if I had heard the story before seeing the artwork, I would have imagined the very same pictures, or very close. Simple yet intricate, nostalgic yet fresh, raw yet gentle, scruffy yet whimsical, and so much subtle beauty to warm your heart.

And here is a (because it's another pie themed book) recipe for you!

Good Old Apple Pie
Crust
1-1/2 Cups Flour
1/2 Teaspoons Salt
1/2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
1/8 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cups Shortening or butter
Ice Cold Water

Find your children. Ask them to help you measure and then sift flour and salt. Work in the shortening or butter with a fork. Add enough ice cold water to make a stiff dough (the dough should be soft but not sticky). Roll out on a floured counter top until about 1/8 inch thick. Place the rolled out dough in a 9-inch pie plate and trim the edge to fit. Save the trimmed dough for the top.

Filling
6 cups sliced, peeled cooking apples
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 TB lemon juice

In a small bowl mix the cinnamon, cloves, ginger, flour, and sugar together. Mix in apples and lemon juice. Fill pie crust with the apple mixture. Using the remaining dough roll out the top, place on pie, and pinch all the way around the edge. Poke holes (or a pretty design) and bake in a 350 degree oven for about 55 minutes. The top crust should be golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.

Children's Book: What's Inside Your Tummy, Mommy?

The other day, Sarah Nuxoll and I were at the library together with our children and Sarah happened upon this book: What's Inside your Tummy, Mommy? by Abby Cocovini. We ended up bringing it home and have been enjoying it. This book has brought up several new discussions about their lives in-utero. It would have been helpful to have for my son when I was pregnant with my daughter, and is another good "prepare the siblings book" for our list. It is written in kid-friendly language and the drawings are quite helpful. The pictures of the baby in-utero are suppose to be drawn to scale...I am not so sure about a couple of them, but maybe I have just forgotten how big my children's heads were when they were born. Also of note, my son loves all of the food references for the baby's size (why is it always food?), "Which food am I the size of now, Mama?"...golly...

Children's Book: Stone Soup

Jon J. Muth's community-building Stone Soup is my favorite version of this tale. Set in China, three monks, Hok, Lok, and Siew are roaming about the misty mountain paths, come across an insecure village made weary by war, famine, and floods. The monks start a pot of stone soup in the village square and the villagers respond, first with curiosity and then with generosity, to the subtly disguised lesson of cooperative spirit. Muth has filled this book with symbolism both in the story and in the illustrations.

In his informative author's note, Muth shares his inspiration for this book,

There have always been Zen poet monks wandering through cloud-embraced mountains, and it seems to me they must have at least once found a village with sad houses and done just what Hok, Lok, and Siew have done here.

At Nurture we have just started a small pot of stone soup; it is not quite boiling. Come by for a bowl and fill your community spirited heart.

Welcome with Love and Another Book Recommendation

Here is a follow-up on the previous post about book recommendations: My friends Kimberly and Jessi noted, on Facebook, that Welcome With Love is out of print and can be pricey on Amazon, but can be found in other countries with a different title: "Hello Baby". I have also found it with the Welcome With Love title used on Amazon, and new at Childrensneeds.com and Bestwebbuys.com.


Jennifer Fuentes from Milagros also recommended another lovely homebirth, co-sleeping, cloth diaper book called My Brother Jimi Jazz. Read her post about this book on the Milagros blog.

Children's Books: For Preparing Siblings

When families grow, many parents ask me about ways to prepare their children for the birth of and the adjustment to their new sibling. I have a few favorite books that I recommend to parents for these very reasons.

Baby on the Way

by Martha Sears, William Sears, and Christie Watts Kelly

illustrated by Renee Andriani

This book discusses pregnancy, changes in the house when a new baby is expected, a bit about labor, parents going off to "the place where the baby will be born", nursing, and sibling emotions.

What Baby Needs

also by Martha Sears, William Sears, and Christie Watts Kelly
illustrated by Renee Andriani

This book discusses the changes that occur in families when a new baby is born, skin-to-skin time, nursing, bottle feeding by other parent, co-sleeping, babywearing, welcoming the new baby into the family circle, making friends with the new baby, well baby checks, and a general baby's development in relation to interaction with siblings.

Waiting for Baby

by Anne Kubler

This book is a sweet illustrated book (no words) about pregnancy for a future sibling.

My New Baby

also by Anne Kubler

This is another sweet, illustrated book (no words) about a new sibling.

Welcome with Love

by Jenni Overend

illustrated by Julie Vivas

This book is a lovely homebirth book from a child's perspective.

Green Bean Books

Nurture warmly welcomes our new neighbors, Green Bean Books, a beautiful children's bookstore right next to Nurture. On their shelves I recognized many favorites and new favorites waiting to be discovered. Green Bean Books officially opened July 11th and will be having a grand opening celebration on July 30th during Last Thursday. Stop by and enjoy the celebration.

Children's Book: The Blueberry Pie Elf

The Blueberry Pie Elf, written by Jane Thayer and illustrated by Seymour Fleishman, is another oldie but goodie. We have renewed our checkout of this book so many times, I think the library just might give it to us. It has certainly led to an increase in our pie baking activities in this house.


Sweet little Elmer, the elf, desperately tries to find a way to let the family, who unknowingly hosts him, know that he wants more rich, melting, juicy, delicious, fruity blueberry pie. This is not an easy task for an elf that no one can see, hear, or feel. No other pie will do, and I have to agree with Elmer on that; I also think blueberry pie is the sweetest, fruitiest, most delicious of the fruit pies.


After you read this delightful book, you can make a blueberry pie with your little elves. Here is my favorite blueberry pie filling recipe:

3 1/2-4 c blueberries (fresh!)
3/4 c agave syrup
~1/2 TB lemon juice
5 TB corn starch


Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Pour into pie crust. Create lattice top for pie by weaving long thin slices of pie crust on top. Place pie on a pizza pan in case of bubbling over. Bake at 350' until crust is lightly browned. I always cover the edges until the pie filling has cooked a bit (about 30 minutes) and then remove the cover and let the crust brown.

Children's Book: Welcome, Brown Bird

Marking the change in seasons with a fondness for the thrush, two boys are unknowingly connected by a Wood Thrush, on opposite sides of its migration path. In the spring, a boy in North America waits for the thrush by a hemlock forest. In the fall, a boy waits for the thrush by a rain forest in Central America. In a paralleling story of reverence and protection, both boys convince their fathers not to cut down the trees where the thrush lives during their respective seasons.

Author, Mary Lyn Ray, was inspired by declining yearly visits by Wood Thrushes to her farm in New England. She has created a story that teaches and inspires while touching the heart. The words, together with Peter Sylvada's rich golden, earthy toned paintings, has captured the birds' subtle beauty and the heartfelt awe of the wonder of nature.

A preview of the book can be found here.

Although the Wood Thrush is not common in the Willamette Valley, Swainson Thrushes and Hermit Thrushes can be found in the region. Each species of thrush has a different song. For fun, you can listen to the songs of four species of thrushes and take a quiz to see if you remember which is which.

Children's Book: Chicken Soup with Rice

My toddler conjured up some delightful nostalgia when she very purposefully (okay randomly) pulled this one off the shelf at the library today. Now my 3 1/2 year old is digging it as much as I did, way back...when?

Maurice Sendak, most well known for his book, Where the Wild Things Are, wrote this little gem that was published in 1962.

The book immediately caught my son's attention, and Carole King sealed the deal. Loved it once, loved it twice, loving Chicken Soup with Rice.

Children's Book: The Happiness Tree

There is a sprightly, willful, full-of-life, child on my street who inspires me with her love of all things earth. While her father is building a cob chicken coop, for the chickens that she adores with shrill delight, she dances about, almost bare except for the mud-fancies, and reminds my heart of the childhood love for mudbaths. This firefly was born long before her expected arrival, although her early arrival was anticipated due to complications with the pregnancy. Each week that she stayed within her mother's womb, her parents gave her another middle name. One of those names is Acorn, after the very astute saying, "mighty oaks from little acorns grow", and she has lived up to that name.

The Happiness Tree: Celebrating the Gifts of Trees We Treasure, written by Andrea Albam Gosline and illustrated by Lisa Burnett Bossi, is a story of ten little seeds that grow to be ten mighty trees with gifts of the heart to share with the world. It is a book about loving our wise arbors. The oak tree is the tree of hope; how fittingly that relates to the story of how my young neighbor was given her second middle name. Each of the ten different trees in this book have a gift to share: hope, love, courage, gratitude, peace, compassion, tolerance, generosity, honesty, and happiness. There is a love for trees that really shines through in this book both in words and in pictures. It is a wonderful book, and I think I know a little nut that shall be getting it on her birthday if she doesn't already have it.