children – Oma's Reading Room

Episode: We’re Going On a Bear Hunt

Published on October 19, 2021October 18, 2021 by Dawn Marie2 Comments

Have you ever gone on a bear hunt?

Oma’s going on one today in her

Reading Room!

Will you come too?

With tremendous pace, humor, and verve,

Michael Rosen

has retold a favorite traditional story.

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt!

The pictures by

Helen Oxenbury

are full of masterly characterization, delightful comedy, and high drama, set in lovely sweeping landscapes.

Together we will join a father and his four young children as they cross a field of tall, wavy grass, wade through a deep, cold river, struggle through swampy mud, find their way through a big, dark forest, fight through a whirling snowstorm, and enter finally enter a narrow, gloomy cave.

What will they find there?

I do hope you will meet me in Oma’s Reading Room to find out!

Where you may also discover a fun song to sing-a-long with!

Until next time…

remember Oma is sending you her

hugs and her blessings!

I do hope you’ll catch them and hold them

real tight!

*Remember – if you would like your very own copy of this WONDERFULLY WRITTEN & ILLUSTRATED book to add to your collection, you can easily purchase one by clicking here.

Episode: The Friendship Book

Published on May 29, 2021 by Dawn MarieLeave a comment

It’s raining! It’s pouring!

It’s Spring!

Happy Spring to you, little ones!

If you live in a northern climate, you know there are few joys as sharp and sweet as spring, unfolding slowly into lush abundance at the end of a long harsh winter.

The sunshine, the colors, the smells – everything conspires to make you glad.

And I am so VERY glad we’re friends!

Big or small – Oma loves you all!

And I just know you are going to LOVE today’s story!

The Friendship Book

Written by Mary Lyn Ray

Illustrated by Stephanie Graegin

Oma & her friends made special umbrellas for their dear friend.

Sometimes being friends begins all at once
And sometimes it takes a while to get acquainted
But then, as some small knowing grows,
You start feeling that feeling
That comes with having a friend—

are just of a few of the things you will discover when Oma reads this story to you!

Exploring the many shapes friendships take and how being a friend can be a gift in itself, this thoughtful and authentic primer on friendship invites readers to celebrate the wonders of companionship.

Be sure to join Oma in her Reading Room as we share together – a heart-warming story book that encourages everyone to celebrate and embrace unique friendships of all kinds!

This Episode is in memory of Oma’s dear friend, Lisa.

Until next time…

remember Oma is sending you her

hugs and her blessings!

I do hope you’ll catch them and hold them

real tight!

Bye-bye!!

*Remember – if you would like your very own copy of this WONDERFULLY WRITTEN & ILLUSTRATED book to add to your collection, you can easily purchase one by clicking here!

Episode: ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas

Published on December 20, 2020 by Dawn Marie1 Comment

Merry Christmas my little friends!

It is Christmas week and we have been very busy in Oma’s Reading Room preparing for this very special time of year!

Oma’s dog Helen & her friend Hedgie are looking forward to Christmas too!

And I have prepared a new tradition for us to share together

in Oma’s Reading Room.

As we read a poem –

one of the most beloved poems of all time!

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas

written by

Clement Clarke Moore

with illustrations by

Haddon Sundblom

and

Garin Baker

is a tale about St. Nicholas,

which family’s around the world

have read together at Christmas time since 1823.

Be sure to join me in Oma’s Reading Room where we will share this classic tale of Santa Claus -which is sure to fill you with the joy of Christmas!

And together we will experience the magic, the surprise, and the twinkle of Christmas holidays from long ago.

Until next time…

remember Oma is sending you her

hugs and her blessings!

I do hope you’ll catch them and hold them

real tight!

Merry Christmas!

Bye-bye!!

Episode: Jingle the Christmas Clown

Published on December 13, 2020October 26, 2022 by Dawn Marie2 Comments

Buon Natale, little ones!

Merry Christmas!

It’s the Christmas holiday season and Oma has been busy, just like Santa’s elves, preparing for this special season!

Along with all the decorating, wrapping of presents, and baking I have prepared a special story to share with you too!

Jingle the Christmas Clown

written & illustrated by

Tomie dePaola

Tomie dePaola (pronounced Tommy da-POW-la) was best known for his books for children. He had a five-decade writing and illustrating career during which he published more than 270 books including My First Passover; which you can find Oma has previously read to you, in her Reading Room too!

Oma loves Mr. dePaola’s stories and Jingle the Christmas Clown is another one of her favorites.

The magic of Christmas prevails in this story of an Italian village that needed to make changes to the traditional Christmas-Eve circus they watched every year. Jingle and his baby animals help everyone to remember how, even though sometimes we must make changes to our traditions, keeping love in our hearts is the most important thing – as they put on a show that no one could ever forget.

Be sure to join Oma in her Reading Room as we share together – Tomie dePaola‘s heart-warming story of a traveling circus and a very special little clown.

Until next time…

remember Oma is sending you her

hugs and her blessings!

I do hope you’ll catch them and hold them

real tight!

Bye-bye!!

*Remember – if you would like your very own copy of this WONDERFULLY WRITTEN & ILLUSTRATED book to add to your collection, you can easily purchase one by clicking here!

Episode: Balloons over Broadway

Published on November 22, 2020May 29, 2021 by Dawn Marie1 Comment

Welcome back, my dear friends!

Hooray – it’s almost

THANKSGIVING DAY!!

I hope all of you are counting your BLESSINGS too, just like Oma!

I certainly count each & every one of YOU as my very favorites.

Every Thanksgiving Morning for more than eighty years

mammoth-size balloons have risen to the skies to wobble and sway,

sally and shimmy,

up and down the canyons of New York City.

Just how did this beloved tradition come to Broadway?

Continue reading →

Episode: Fibbed Big

Published on November 5, 2020December 20, 2020 by Dawn Marie1 Comment

Hello there, little ones!

I have really missed seeing you!

And that’s the TRUTH!

Sadly, sometimes people will tell lies.

But it is SO IMPORTANT to always tell the truth because fibs can affect others and make people feel very bad.

Continue reading →

Episode: The Hallo-Wiener

Published on October 23, 2020December 13, 2020 by Dawn MarieLeave a comment

Oma loves Halloween!

And so does her magical-golden-dog Helen, too.

Because the best part of Halloween is the “dressing-up” we get to do!

Continue reading →

Episode: Dog Breath

Published on October 15, 2020November 22, 2020 by Dawn Marie3 Comments

A long long time ago, before I was ever an Oma, I use to travel to local elementary schools and share story-time with students in their classrooms or their libraries.

Oma has always loved reading to groups of children and I am very grateful for the many invitations received throughout the years to spend time with my little-friends in their classrooms & schools.

Sometimes Oma would even dress in character, so we could all use our imaginations better while reading the stories!