Written by the talented Kevin Johnson and brought to life with illustrations by the incomparable Kitt Thomas, "Cape" is a story that hits close to home. It speaks to the depth of our hearts and the strength we find in the midst of loss. In "Cape," we meet a young child grappling with the profound sorrow of losing a cherished loved one. Clutching onto his superhero cape, he seeks solace from the onslaught of memories and emotions that threaten to overwhelm him. But as we all know, memories don't play fair. They persist no matter how much you resist. Our young hero tries to block and push them away, but deep down, he knows he can't run forever. And then something shifts. He remembers the laughter, smiles, and love surrounding him. Suddenly, that cape becomes more than just a piece of fabric—it becomes his lifeline, his source of strength as he navigates the bittersweet terrain of grief. Johnson's distinct lyrical language and Thomas's signature style transform Cape into a testament to the human spirit, a reminder that even superheroes hurt too. CAPE Makes Me Think About: Second Line Traditions: In New Orleans, funerals are a bit different. They typically start with the "first line" as mourners make a slow procession through the street to the burial ground as a traditional brass band plays a sad "dirge." But the "second line" is a community parade! Mourners sing and dance through the street while the band plays upbeat, joyous tunes to celebrate the good memories the deceased left behind. To Serve the Living-Funeral Directors and the African American Way of Death: Published in 2010 by Harvard Press, Suzanne E. Smith explores the intersectional relationship between black funeral directors and black freedom movements in the United States. This book is a heartfelt tribute to the resilience and dignity exemplified in rituals of remembrance, making it a must-read for anyone interested in understanding and honoring diverse cultural perspectives on death and mourning. My Maternal Grandmother: Jesse Faye Rigsby, was the first funeral I remember attending as a child. She died after a long battle with illness. The church was crowded, people were crying, and I was too young to process the grief fully. A cape probably would have been helpful. A quote from American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson: "It is not the length of life, but the depth of life." Brentom Jackson is an award winning poet/writer, actor and psychotherapist in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. With poetic voice, theatrical flair, and socio-emotional expertise Brentom tells stories that explore the universal lessons within Black-American history and heritage. His debut picture book Elijah's Easter Suit with Doubleday/Penguin Random House is available now. Follow him on all social media @brentomjackson. www.brentomjackson.com by Melissa Stoller Where I live, we just moved the clocks forward an hour for Daylight Savings Time. That means we “lost” an hour on Sunday morning. I started thinking about the notion of “time” and how we can incorporate time into ideas this March. Here are a few prompts to try: 1. Write a story about the passage of time. Maybe it’s a story using sunrise to sunset as a structure. Or perhaps it’s using the days of the week or months of the year. Or even the seasons. Show the reader how time has passed. 2. Think of a story about “losing time.” It could be about bedtime or waking up in the morning. Or maybe a character simply loses track of time. Be creative and see where the idea takes you! 3. Write a story that includes a watch or clock as a central part of the idea. Was the watch a present? Does the clock stop chiming? Did someone forget to set the clock for Daylight Savings Time? 4. Write about someone who is either always late or always on time. Describe their character traits. What obstacles might they face? 5. Set a timer for 10 minutes and do some free writing. Don’t edit yourself at all. Just let the words flow and see where a timed writing sprint will take you. Enjoy your writing time this month. Let me know in the comments about how you used these prompts to generate ideas. MELISSA’S BIO:
Melissa Stoller writes to bring connection, joy, and a bit of magic to her readers. Her newest picture book, Hazel and Mabel: Two Hearts Apart, illustrated by Anita Bagdi, releases from Gnome Road Publishing in Fall 2025. Melissa is also the author of the chapter book series The Enchanted Snow Globe Collection - Return to Coney Island, and the picture books Scarlet’s Magic Paintbrush; Ready, Set, GOrilla!; Sadie’s Shabbat Stories; Planting Friendship: Peace, Salaam, Shalom; and Building Bridges: Peace, Salaam, Shalom (co-written). Melissa is a Blogger for the Children’s Book Academy, a Rate Your Story Judge, a volunteer with SCBWI/MetroNY, a Book Meshuggenahs member, a Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center Trustee, and a past school and Synagogue Trustee. She also interviews authors and offers resources on her blog. In other chapters of her life, Melissa has worked as a lawyer, legal writing instructor, freelance writer/editor, and early childhood educator. She lives in New York City with her family, and enjoys theatre, museums, and Central Park walks. CONNECT WITH MELISSA: https://www.MelissaStoller.com https://www.MelissaStoller.com/blog http://www.facebook.com/MelissaStoller www.twitter.com/melissastoller www.instagram.com/Melissa_Stoller www.pinterest.com/melissa_Stoller |
We are so excited to be mixing things up at CBA, beginning with some delicious additions to the Blogfish. Meet our awesome bloggers!!
Here's our lineup: 1st Mondays begin with former school psychologist Dr. Debra Collins who will be writing about Social emotional Learning in kidlit and behind the scenes as well as Jewish children's books. 2nd Mondays will feature super smart Melissa Stoller whose career is taking off with several new books. 3rd Mondays will feature our new blogger coming soon. 4th Mondays features new blogger, the fabulous Brentom Jackson, who has a beautiful approach to blogging. And 5th Mondays we'll be taking a break Archives
April 2024
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