Come on, Rain!
 Urging mother nature for drought relief, we read a beautifully illustrated book, “Come On, Rain!” by Newbery Medalist Karen Hesse. The writing vividly describes an exasperating rainless summer that finally ends with a burst of liquid sunshine.
Presented with an early draft of “Come On, Rain!”, Hesse’s writers group insisted that she elaborate on why her characters, Tessie and Momma, wanted rain so badly. As she began researching times when people desperately wanted rain, a children’s chapter book, “Out of the Dust,“ blossomed into existence. This award-winning story is set in the heart of the Great Depression and chronicles Oklahoma’s staggering dust storms, and the environmental–and emotional–turmoil they leave in their path.
Illustrator of the main character, Tessie–a thin little brown girl with protruding ponytails, Jon J. Much, says, “My work in children’s books really grew out of a desire to explore what I was feeling as a new father… With the births of my children, there was a kind of seismic shift in where my work seemed appropriate – it became important to say other things about the world.” Mulch studied painting, drawing and printmaking in several schools in the U.S. and in Europe. Then he had apprenticeships with a romantic realist and a neo-dadaist, and later went on to study stone sculpture and sho (brush calligraphy) in Japan.
After storytime, each person created a little origami frog, or “kaeru” in Japanese. The kaeru is one of the most traditional origami models, dating from the days when there were not many toys for children to play with, and kids had to make their own amusements.
Chocolate Storytimers got a sheet of recycled 6-inch paper, created their own unique designs on them with markers and oil pastels, and began folding away. Jumping when you push down on its back legs lightly with a finger, the kaerus kept Chocolate Storytime guests engaged and entertained for quite a while. They had a blast competing to see whose frog jumps highest and furthest. With so many tiny fingers and ability levels, there were several versions of the frog, but one mom actually created an extra fold that enabled her frog to consistently jump higher than the others. A few of the kids were were intent on recreating her version.
One of the highlights of the afternoon was a surprise visit from former Mocha Moms, Inc. Pasadena Chapter President, Gay Lynn Moore, who stopped by with her daughter.
For pictures of the July Chocolate Storytime, visit our Photo Albums tab.
 The Drought and the Lawn Dude
As California’s drought becomes more extreme and water conservation becomes a priority, the Los Angeles News Group has launched a new website dedicated to coverage of the drought across California.
CAdrought.com is a comprehensive site produced in a partnership with Digital First Media newspapers, including the Los Angeles Daily News, the San Jose Mercury News, the Contra Costa Times, the Pasadena Star-News and others. The work of journalists from more than two dozen newsrooms across the state will be featured on the site. (Source: Los Angeles Daily News)
The Lawn Dude, Southern California Water Conservation’s official cartoon mascot, is a self-proclaimed “recovering wateraholic” whose motto is “sweat by day and drink by night.” Here’s one of his tweets: “Seeing some real dirty cars from my billboards & I LIKE IT! Keep it that way – H2O has many more important uses! ” Follow the Lawn Dude on Twitter at @Lawn_Dude for more funny but informational water conservation tips. |
Chocolate Storytime 