Coloring books and giraffediles

• Acacia, who turned “Ooh Odd Zoo” into a coloring book for her students (and suggested I do an audio recording of the book).
• Johanna, who told us about the animal-naming game she’d play with her son when he was small (he got so good he could name 50 species of shark).
• Zelda, age 6, who inspired a new poem last weekend when she invented a “giraffedile” (half-giraffe, half-crocodile). 
• And lots more.

When we left off last week, Clara was setting off from her farm, determined to stop King Clench’s terrible plan. First stop: Stumbletown.

Clara’s beloved farm boots got a workout as she walked the peaceful miles into Stumbletown, the nearest port village. She passed farms in the full glory of morning. Rows of sunflowers turned their faces to the sun. Horses nickered in the fields. Honeysuckle flowers perfumed the pastures. Ants built tiny empires by the roadside. The sweet melody of life. 

There was so much goodness in the world. Clara opened to it like a sunflower herself, body and soul. She drank in the world, and the world filled her with strength.

She would need it.

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