The humid air is dense and still

The Jay's screatch and the Crow's squawk

Break the morning silence,

and mark the passage of time.

We live again today,

there is no promise of a tomorrow

i've started to see

sunsets

in other people's eyes

~ unless i'm seeing them someplace else ~

watching the lines

blur together, watching

horizontal flags,

the stripes of secret

shadows, the sun-kissed

suggestions of

another life,

another place

~ written in song lyrics, in colors, in gazes and glances and tears ~

i find comfort in the

sunsets

in other people's eyes

~ they're familiar when they look like mine ~

to feel not so alone,

to breathe in the air

swamped by silence,

to accept their

colors

as i've accepted

my own

~ open your eyes, let me see your sunset ~

As a Pre-K teacher, I read more books for kids than books designed for people my age. Here are some of my favorites to read to my class.

1. Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus by Mo Willems

The Pigeon has become one of my favorite characters since reading his books for the first time at work. I read these with a Iago inspired voice that has become one of my staple voices, and many past students still ask me to "do the Pigeon voice" when I see them in the hallway.

2. The Piggie & Elephant series by Mo Willems

Another excellent series from the same author. These books always generate lots of young laughs.

3. Yo! Yes? by Chris Raschka

A simple, yet effective tale of two boys who meet and become friends. This is a great one to recite with kids.

4. Where Is My Balloon? by Ariel Bernstein

A fun story about a monkey who accidentally breaks his owl friend's balloon, and struggles to cover up his mistake.

5. Are You Scared, Darth Vader? by Adam Rex

I found this one and read it to my class on Star Wars day. It was an instant classic.

6. The Monster At The End of This Book by Jon Stone

This book stars Grover. Grover's voice is incredibly fun to imitate. So this definitely makes the list.

7. Misunderstood Shark by Ame Dyckman

This book has a hilarious story, complete with fun shark facts. There is a sequel that resolves the dark ending as well.

8. First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg

A great story about Sarah not wanting to go to a new school on her first day, with a great twist ending. This is a book I read every year on the first day of school. Last Day Blues by the same author is also a great one to read on the last day of school.

9. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

Well, I have to include a Dr. Seuss book for sure! This one is a lot of fun to read out loud, especially with voices.

10. Who Said Boo? by Phyllis Root

A Halloween staple in my classroom. Short but sweet.

11. We're Going On A Ghost Hunt by Susan Pearson

Another great Halloween read. It is similar to "We're Going On A Bear Hunt," but cooler.

Thanks for reading my list! Now it's time to find some books for my own age group....

A sample of my Pigeon and Grover reading voices: https://voicespice.com/Player.aspx?c=p&h=B299A6FC&j=2824A6

"Dumb dumb diddle, to be your fiddle

To be so near you and not just hear you

Dumb dumb diddle, to be your fiddle

I think then maybe you'd see me, baby"

I've seen you every day

Playing the fiddle under the tree

I've been always a few feet away

Wishing that I was so close to you.

Like the fiddle whose strings you play

I long to be beside you, under the tree

Yet I can't bring myself

Close to you, while you play the fiddle.

"Dumb dumb diddle, to be your fiddle

To be so near you and not just hear you

Dumb dumb diddle, to be your fiddle

I think then maybe you'd see me, baby"

hey ma, did you hear about the dethroned queen,

who gave birth, in her brother’s dungeon, to a prince.

i’ve learned about the young boy who lost his head,

trying to guard his mother, got executed by a trident.

i stand behind glass, watch atoms paint your portrait,

just a wrong stroke and it will crumble our fortress.

when they were coming after me with burning logs,

you stood between like a wounded wall.

hey ma, i’m not a messiah but i deserve your love.

hey ma, i’m stupid to understand doctor’s words.

you might not be perfect but you make me wear my skin proudly,

and with you it’s easier to live in a world that only a mother can love.

hey ma, didn’t you tell me about god and demon;

former doesn’t listen to heathers, the later runs in shadows.

i’ve sung every single prayer your mother told me about,

but i might as well have blindly skipped some vowels.

when did i grew up that a pillow replaced your arm

but i can’t sleep until i see you breathe in the dark.

standing in hospital queue, listening to pilgrims’ folktales,

just a miscommunication and it will become a grave.

hey ma, i’m not a messiah but i deserve your love.

hey ma, i’m stupid to accept the truth i’ve known.

you might not be perfect but you make me feel worthy of affection,

and with you it’s sure to experience the security of a mother’s wisdom.

Do you remember

when we were free?

I remember looking at you like you’d fly

away

from me.

I remember the late summer nights where fireflies would

light up the sky and I

remember how you looked into my eyes and

we danced into the sunrise.

Do you remember now

how you laughed into the breeze?

You told me we could do anything

and

you said that with ease,

you said that to me

knowing you’d leave.

Do you remember

when we were free?

I remember looking at you like you’d fly away

from me.

Without my medulla oblongata,

I would not breathe,

and my heart would cease to beat.

My amygdala reminds me of the hazards everywhere,

without my hippocampus,

I wouldn't even be aware.

Without my cerebrum, I'd be a mannequin.

Without my cerebellum I ....... sorry can't recollect.

Without the prefrontal cortex, well I have no emotions about that.

Without my encephalon,

I wouldn't have a soul.

Without a soul,

I would never have been a poet.

Stuart isalittlebroken Johns

Are you comfortable in your skin?

Do you relish who you are?

You are like the wind on a pluvial day.

You blow the victualing waters away.

Do you relish the things you have done?

Quandaries arise and all you do is run.

I cerebrate you're a dream killer.

"oh look, there's dirt on my mirror"

Stuart isalittlebroken Johns