happy pumpkins

the source of joy

by Rumi

"No one knows what makes the soul wake
up so happy! Maybe a dawn breeze has

blown the veil from the face of God.
A thousand new moons appear. Roses

open laughing. Hearts become perfect
rubies like those from Badakshan. The

body turns entirely spirit. Leaves
become branches in this wind. Why is

it now so easy to surrender, even for
those already surrendered? There's no

answer to any of this. No one knows
the source of joy. A poet breathes

into a reed flute, and the tip of
every hair makes music. Shams sails

down clods of dirt from the roof, and
we take jobs as doorkeepers for him."

Translated by Coleman Barks

Happy Thanksgiving!

you can't ever tell...

You can't ever be sure what's the thing that will last... it seems you only know what is really good with time. Just look at the books everyone was raving about 100 years ago and you probably won't even recognize any of the titles. And what about Lincoln and his most famous speech of all time? On 19th November 1863, Abraham Lincoln got up in front of about 15,000 people and delivered the Gettysburg Address, which begins, "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." Lincoln's last line, "government of the people, by the people, for the people." It was a foggy, cold morning. As Writer's Almanac describes it: "Lincoln arrived at the new national cemetery in Gettysburg at about 10 a.m. Around noon, the sun broke out as the crowds gathered on a hill overlooking the battlefield. A military band played, a local preacher offered a long prayer, and the headlining orator, Edward Everett, spoke for more than two hours. When Everett was finished, Lincoln got up and pulled his speech from his coat pocket. It consisted of 10 sentences, a total of 272 words. The audience was distracted by a photographer setting up his camera, and by the time Lincoln had finished his speech and sat down the audience didn't even realize he had spoken." A 320-page book on Lincoln's 272-word speech was published in 2006 called, Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words that Remade America. Words that remade America. And at the time no one even noticed. Which only goes to prove we most of the time don't really know what on earth we're talking about when we say what's what and who's who. And what about that poor guy who went on for 2 hours. Who now remembers anything of what he was saying? oh dear. (Note on the image: there is no actual photo of Lincoln giving his speech because, of course, it was over before the photographer had time to take one.)

now appearing on a christmas album

Hold on to your hats. Yes, The Jesus Storybook Bible is appearing in a Christmas Album near you. It's in the wonderful Sara Groves' latest Christmas Album (she's wonderful and so is her music). It's read beautifully by 5 year old Toby Groves, in the song "It's True" and it's an exerpt from "The Light of The Whole World" story. I just listened to it and I love it. It reminds me of Charlie Brown's Christmas when the little boy at the end recites the christmas story. Listen here. Album available here on CD or mp3.

I'm reading on Winter's Eve, Lincoln Square

On Monday, December 1, 2008 it's the Ninth Annual Winter's Eve at Lincoln Square - NYC's largest holiday festival and I'm lucky enough to be reading. WHEN: Monday, December 1, 2008, 6:30 PM WHERE: American Bible Society Bookstore - Broadway at 61st Street WHAT: reading from HOW TO BE A BABY, HANDBAG FRIENDS, THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO GRANDMAS AND GRANDPAS and more. And signing books afterwards (what an ideal time for purchasing gifts!) more info here or call: 212 408-1201. More about Winter's Eve: Winter's Eve features free entertainment, food tastings, in-store activities and shopping around and about this colorful and vibrant neighborhood. Stores, restaurants, cultural organizations and public spaces in the district will be buzzing with activities for both children and adults. At the same time, sidewalks along Broadway from Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle to 68th Street will be alive with performers, street musicians, jugglers, stilt-walkers and more, making for a festive fun-filled stroll through the streets of this dynamic Upper West Side neighborhood. Celebration begins at Dante Park, Broadway & 63rd Street, with a neighborhood tree lighting featuring Grandma from the Big Apple Circus and others! Festivities continue along Broadway from Time Warner Center to 68th Street. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please call 212.581.3774

healing souls

"The soul is healed by being with children." Fyodor Dostoyevsky One of the great privileges of being an author is going into public schools with Authors Read Aloud of Learning Leaders. I get to go to PS 27 in Red Hook Brooklyn and read to the children in the Pre-K and Kindergarten classes. It is a highlight of my year. Whatever I think I'm giving, they give back 100 fold. This photo shows me with my favorite class (and they're ALL my favorites). I'm reading Handbag Friends to them. After reading to them (having been into outer space, rescued some baby handbags, tamed a monster and sung a song and saved the day), here's what happens, it seems without fail. They rush up to me and give me a group hug. Something about this moment, points me to the core of why I am writing for children. It's that joy at the center of the experience of telling a story to a child. That's what I want to be about. Lately, in the class, we've even had time for questions. Last time, in the middle of various questions like "how long it takes to write a book?", "where you get your ideas from?", etc. A little girl put up her hand. "Yes," I said. "What's your question?" Still holding her hand up she said, "I love you."

new yorker cartoon

Bolt [2008] - Official Movie Trailer

OK so I saw this movie in an advance screening this week (a benefit of being in NYC) and it's fantastic. Very extremely extra brilliant. Makes you laugh. Makes you cry. John Travolta is the voice of the dog (and the dog's expressions are all modeled on his). Great music. If you love dogs you'll go mad; if you don't love dogs you will by the end.