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But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said to them, O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
How then does Christ say, that they did not believe John? Luke 20:5 Because this was not believing, to decline receiving Him whom he preached. For so they thought they regarded their prophets and their lawgiver, nevertheless He said they had not regarded them, forasmuch as they received not Him, that was foretold by them.
For if you had believed Moses, says He,
ye would have believed Me. John 5:46 And after this again, being asked by Christ,
The baptism of John, whence is it? Matthew 21:25-26 they said,
If we shall say, Of earth, we fear the people; if we shall say, From heaven, He will say unto us, How then did ye not believe him?
So that from all these things it is manifest that they came indeed and were baptized, yet they did not abide in the belief of that which was preached. For John also points out their wickedness, by their sending unto the Baptist, and saying,
Are you Elias? Are you Christ? wherefore he also added,
they which were sent were of the Pharisees. John 1:24
What then? Were not the multitudes also of this same mind? One may say. Nay, the multitudes in simplicity of mind had this suspicion, but the Pharisees, wishing to lay hold of Him. For since it was acknowledged that Christ comes out of the village of David, and this man was of the tribe of Levi, they laid a snare by the question, in order that if he should say any such thing they might quickly come upon him. This at any rate he has declared by what follows; for on his not acknowledging any of the things which they expected, even so they take hold of him, saying,
Why do you baptize then, if you be not the Christ? John 1:25
And to convince you that the Pharisees came with one mind, and the people with another, hear how the evangelist has declared this too; saying of the people,
that they came and were baptized of him, confessing their sins; Matthew 3:6 but concerning the Pharisees, no longer like that, but that
when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming, he said, O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? O greatness of mind! How does he discourse unto men ever thirsting after the blood of the prophets, and in disposition no better than serpents! How does he disparage both themselves and their progenitors with all plainness!
Yea, says one;
he speaks plainly enough, but the question is if there be any reason in this plainness. For he did not see them sinning, but in the act of change; wherefore they did not deserve blame, but rather praise and approbation, for having left city and houses, and making haste to hear his preaching.
What then shall we say? That he had not things present, and even now doing, in his view, but he knew the secrets of their mind, God having revealed this. Since then they were priding themselves on their forefathers, and this was like to prove the cause of their destruction, and was casting them into a state of carelessness, he cuts away the roots of their pride. For this cause Isaiah also calls them,
rulers of Sodom, and
people of Gomorrha; Isaiah 1:10 and another prophet says,
Are ye not as children of the Ethiopians; Amos 9:7 and all withdraw them from this way of thinking, bringing down their pride, which had caused them unnumbered evils.
But the prophets, you will say,
naturally did so; for they saw them sinning: but in this case, with what view and for what cause does he the same, seeing them obey him. To make them yet more tender-hearted.
But if one accurately mark his words, he has also tempered his rebuke with commendation. For he spoke these things, as marveling at them, that they had become able, however late, to do what seemed almost an impossibility for them. His rebuke, you see, is rather that of one bringing them over, and working upon them to arouse themselves. For in that he appears amazed, he implies both their former wickedness to be great, and their conversion marvellous and beyond expectation. Thus,
what has come to pass, says he,
that being children of those men, and brought up so badly, they have repented? Whence has come so great a change? Who has softened down the harshness of their spirit? Who corrected that which was incurable?
And see how straightway from the beginning he alarmed them, by laying first, for a foundation, his words concerning hell. For he spoke not of the usual topics:
Who has warned you to flee from wars, from the inroads of the barbarians, from captivities, from famines, from pestilences? but concerning another sort of punishment, never before made manifest to them, he was striking the first preparatory note, saying thus,
Who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
And full well did he likewise call them,
generation of vipers. For that animal too is said to destroy the mother that is in travail with her, and eating through her belly, thus to come forth unto light; which kind of thing these men also did being
murderers of fathers, and murderers of mothers, 1 Timothy 1:9 and destroying their instructors with their own hands.
3. However, he stops not at the rebuke, but introduces advice also. For,
Bring forth, says he,
fruits meet for repentance.
For to flee from wickedness is not enough, but you must show forth also great virtue. For let me not have that contradictory yet ordinary case, that refraining yourselves for a little while, you return unto the same wickedness. For we are not come for the same objects as the prophets before. Nay, the things that are now are changed, and are more exalted, forasmuch as the Judge henceforth is coming, His very self, the very Lord of the kingdom, leading unto greater self-restraint, calling us to heaven, and drawing us upward to those abodes. For this cause do I unfold the doctrine also touching hell, because both the good things and the painful are forever. Do not therefore abide as you are, neither bring forward the accustomed pleas, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the noble race of your ancestors.
And these things he said, not as forbidding them to say that they were sprung from those holy men, but as forbidding them to put confidence in this, while they were neglecting the virtue of the soul; at once bringing forward publicly what was in their minds, and foretelling things to come. Because after this they are found to say,
We have Abraham to our father, and were never in bondage to any man. John 8:33 Since then it was this, which most of all lifted them up with pride and ruined them, he first puts it down.
And see how with his honor paid to the patriarch he combines his correction touching these things. Namely, having said,
Think not to say, We have Abraham to our father, he said not,
for the patriarch shall not be able to profit you anything, but somehow in a more gentle and acceptable manner he intimated the self-same thing, by saying,
For God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Matthew 3:9
Now some say, that concerning the Gentiles he says these things, calling them stones, metaphorically; but I say, that the expression has also another meaning. But of what kind is this? Think not, says he, that if you should perish, you would make the patriarch childless. This is not, this is not so. For with God it is possible, both out of stones to give him men, and to bring them to that relationship; since at the beginning also it was so done. For it was like the birth of men out of stones, when a child came forth from that hardened womb.
This accordingly the prophet also was intimating, when he said,
Look unto the hard rock, whence you are hewn, and to the hole of the pit, whence you are dug: look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you. Isaiah 51:1-2 Now of this prophecy, you see, he reminds them, showing that if at the beginning he made him a father, as marvellously as if he had made him so out of stones, it was possible for this now also to come to pass. And see how he both alarms them, and cuts them off: in that he said not,
He had already raised up, lest they should despair of themselves, but that He
is able to raise up: and he said not,
He is able out of stones to make men, but what was a much greater thing,
kinsmen and children of Abraham.
Do you see how for the time he drew them off from their vain imagination about things of the body, and from their refuge in their forefathers; in order that they might rest the hope of their salvation in their own repentance and continence? Do you see how by casting out their carnal relationship, he is bringing in that which is of faith?
4. Mark then how by what follows also he increases their alarm, and adds intensity to their agonizing fear.
For having said that
God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham, he added,
And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees, by all means making his speech alarming. For as he from his way of life had much freedom of speech, so they needed his severe rebuke, having been left barren now for a long time. For
why do I say (such are his words) that you are on the point of falling away from your relationship to the patriarch and of seeing others, even those that are of stones, brought in to your pre-eminence? Nay, not to this point only will your penalty reach, but your punishment will proceed further.
For now, says he,
the axe is laid unto the root of the trees. There is nothing more terrible than this turn of his discourse. For it is no longer
a flying sickle, nor
the taking down of a hedge, nor
the treading under foot of the vineyard; Isaiah 5:5 but an axe exceeding sharp, and what is worse, it is even at the doors. For inasmuch as they continually disbelieved the prophets, and used to say,
Where is the day of the Lord: and
let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel come, that we may know it, Isaiah 5:19 by reason that it was many years before what they said came to pass; to lead them off from this encouragement also, he sets the terrors close to them. And this he declared by saying
now, and by his putting it to
the root.
For the space between is nothing now, says he,
but it is laid to the very root. And he said not,
to the branches, nor
to the fruits, but
to the root. Signifying, that if they were negligent, they would have incurable horrors to endure, and not have so much as a hope of remedy. It being no servant who is now come, as those before Him were, but the very Lord of all, bringing on them His fierce and most effectual vengeance.
Yet, although he has terrified them again, he suffers them not to fall into despair; but as before he said not
He has raised up, but
He is able to raise up children to Abraham (at once both alarming and comforting them); even so here also he did not say that
it has touched the root, but
it is laid to the root, and is now hard by it, and shows signs of no delay. However, even though He has brought it so near, He makes its cutting depend upon you. For if you change and become better men, this axe will depart without doing anything; but if you continue in the same ways, He will tear up the tree by the roots. And therefore, observe, it is neither removed from the root, nor applied as it is does it cut at all: the one, that you may not grow supine, the other to let you know that it is possible even in a short time to be changed and saved. Wherefore he does also from all topics heighten their fear, thoroughly awakening and pressing them on to repentance. Thus first their falling away from their forefathers; next, others being introduced instead; lastly, those terrors being at their doors, the certainty of suffering incurable evils (both which he declared by the root and the axe), was sufficient to rouse thoroughly those even that were very supine, and to make them full of anxiety. I may add, that Paul too was setting forth the same, when he said,
A short word will the Lord make upon the whole world. Romans 9:28
But be not afraid; or rather, be afraid, but despair not. For you have yet a hope of change; the sentence is not quite absolute, neither did the axe come to cut (else what hindered it from cutting, close as it was to the root?); but on purpose by this fear to make you a better man, and to prepare you to bring forth fruit. For this cause he added,
Therefore every tree, which brings not forth good fruit, is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Matthew 3:10 Now by the word
every, he rejects again the privilege which they had from their noble descent;
Why, if you be Abraham's own descendant, says he,
if you have thousands of patriarchs to enumerate, you will but undergo a double punishment, abiding unfruitful.
By these words he alarmed even publicans, the soldiers' mind was startled by him, not casting them into despair, yet ridding them of all security. For along with the terror, there is also much encouragement in what he says; since by the expression,
which brings not forth good fruit, he signified that what bears fruit is delivered from all vengeance.
And how, says one,
shall we be able to bring forth fruit, when the edge is being applied, and the time so strait, and the appointed season cut short.
You will be able, says he,
for this fruit is not of the same kind as that of common trees, waiting a long time, and in bondage to the necessities of seasons, and requiring much other management; but it is enough to be willing, and the tree at once has put forth its fruit. For not the nature of the root only, but also the skill of the husbandman contributes the most to that kind of fruit-bearing.
For (let me add) on account of this — lest they should say,
You are alarming and pressing, and constraining us, applying an axe, and threatening us with being cut down, yet requiring produce in time of punishment,— he has added, to signify the ease of bearing that fruit,
I indeed baptize you with water, but He that comes after me is mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to unloose; He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: implying hereby that consideration only is needed and faith, not labors and toils; and as it is easy to be baptized, so is it easy to be converted, and to become better men. So having stirred their mind by the fear of God's judgment, and the expectation of His punishment, and by the mention of the axe, and by the loss of their ancestors, and by the bringing in of those other children, and by the double vengeance of cutting off and burning, and having by all means softened their hardness, and brought them to desire deliverance from so great evils; then he brings in what he has to say touching Christ; and not simply, but with a declaration of His great superiority. Then in setting forth the difference between himself and Him, lest he should seem to say this out of favor, he establishes the fact by comparison of the gifts bestowed by each of them. For he did not at once say,
I am not worthy to unloose the latchet of His shoe; but when he had first set forth the little value of his own baptism, and had shown that it has nothing more than to lead them to repentance (for he did not say with water of remission, but of repentance), he sets forth Christ's also, which is full of the unspeakable gift. Thus he seems to say, Lest, on being told that He comes after me, you should despise Him as having come later; learn the virtue of His gift, and you will clearly know that I uttered nothing worthy nor great, when I said,
I am not worthy to unloose the latchet of His shoe. So too when you are told,
He is mightier than I, do not think I said this in the way of making a comparison. For I am not worthy to be ranked so much as among His servants, no, not even the lowest of His servants, nor to receive the least honored portion of His ministry. Therefore He did not merely say,
His shoes, but not even
the latchet, which kind of office was counted the last of all. Then to hinder your attributing what he had said to humility, he adds also the proof from the facts:
For He shall baptize you, says he,
with the Holy Ghost and with fire.
6. Do you see how great is the wisdom of the Baptist? How, when He Himself is preaching, He says everything to alarm, and fill them with anxiety; but when He is sending men to Him, whatever was mild and apt to recover them: not bringing forward the axe, nor the tree that is cut down and burnt, and cast into the fire, nor the wrath to come, but remission of sins, and removing of punishment, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption, and adoption, and brotherhood, and a partaking of the inheritance, and an abundant supply of the Holy Ghost. For all these things he obscurely denoted, when he said,
He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost; at once, by the very figure of speech, declaring the abundance of the grace (for he said not,
He will give you the Holy Ghost, but
He will baptize you with the Holy Ghost); and by the specification of fire on the other hand indicating the vehement and uncontrollable quality of His grace.
Imagine only what sort of men it was meet for the hearers to become, when they considered that they were at once to be like the prophets, and like those great ones. For it was on this account, you see, that he made mention at all of fire; that he might lead them to reflect on the memory of those men. Because, of all the visions that appeared unto them, I had almost said, the more part appeared in fire; thus God discoursed with Moses in the bush, thus with all the people in the mount Sinai, thus with Ezekiel on the cherubim. Ezekiel 1:27
And mark again how he rouses the hearer, by putting that first which was to take place after all. For the Lamb was to be slain, and sin to be blotted out, and the enmity to be destroyed, and the burial to take place, and the resurrection, and then the Spirit to come. But none of these things does he mention as yet, but that first which was last, and for the sake of which all the former were done, and which was fit to proclaim His dignity; so that when the hearer should be told that he was to receive so great a Spirit he might search with himself, how and in what manner this shall be, while sin so prevails; that finding him full of thought and prepared for that lesson, he might thereupon introduce what he had to say touching the Passion, no man being any more offended, under the expectation of such a gift.
Wherefore he again cried out, saying,
Behold the Lamb of God, which bears the sin of the world. He did not say,
which remits, but, that which implies a more guardian care,
which hears it. For it is not all one, simply to remit, and to take it upon Himself. For the one was to be done without peril, the other with death.
And again, he said,
He is Son of God. John 1:34 But not even this declared His rank openly to the hearers (for they did not so much as know yet how to conceive of Him as a true Son): but by so great a gift of the Spirit that also was established. Therefore the Father also in sending John gave him, as you know, this as a first token of the dignity of Him that had come, saying,
Upon whom you shall see the Spirit descending and remaining, the same is He which baptizes with the Holy Ghost. Wherefore himself too says,
I saw and bare record that this is the Son of God; as though the one were to all time the clear evidence of the other.
7. Then, as having uttered the gentler part of his message, and soothed and relaxed the hearer, he again binds him up, that he may not become remiss. For such was the nature of the Jewish nation; by all encouraging things they were easily puffed up, and corrupted. Wherefore he again adduces his terrors, saying,
Whose fan is in His hand. Matthew 3:12
Thus, as before he had spoken of the punishment, so here he points out the Judge likewise, and introduces the eternal vengeance. For
He will burn the chaff, says he,
with unquenchable fire. You see that He is Lord of all things, and that He is Himself the Husbandman; albeit in another place He calls His Father the same. For
My Father, says He,
is the Husbandman. John 15:1 Thus, inasmuch as He had spoken of an axe, lest you should suppose that the thing needed labor, and the separation was hard to make; by another comparison he suggests the easiness of it, implying that all the world is His; since He could not punish those who were not His own. For the present, it is true, all are mingled together (for though the wheat appears gleaming through, yet it lies with the chaff, as on a threshing floor, not as in a garner), but then, great will be the separation.
Where now are they by whom hell-fire is disbelieved? Since surely here are two points laid down, one, that He will baptize with the Holy Ghost, the other, that He will burn up the disobedient. If then that is credible, so is this too, assuredly. Yea, this is why the two predictions are put by him in immediate connection, that by that which has taken place already, he might accredit the other, as yet unaccomplished. For Christ too Himself in many places does so, often of the same things, and often of opposites, setting down two prophecies; the one of which He performs here, the other He promises in the future; that such as are too contentious may, from the one which has already come to pass, believe the other also, which is not yet accomplished. For instance, to them that strip themselves of all that they have for His sake He promised to give an hundred fold in the present world, and life eternal in that which is to come; by the things already given making the future also credible. Which, as we see, John likewise has done in this place; laying down two things, that He shall both baptize with the Holy Ghost, and burn up with unquenchable fire. Now then, if He had not baptized with the Spirit the apostles, and all every day who are willing, you might have doubts concerning those other things too; but if that which seems to be greater and more difficult, and which transcends all reason, has been done, and is done every day; how do you deny that to be true, which is easy, and comes to pass according to reason? Thus having said,
He shall baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire, and having thence promised great blessings; lest you, released wholly from the former things, grow supine, he has added the fan, and the judgment thereby declared. Thus,
think not at all, says he,
that your baptism suffices, if you become ordinary persons hereafter: for we need both virtue, and plenty of that known self-restraint. Therefore as by the axe he urges them unto grace, and unto the font, so after grace he terrifies them by the fan, and the unquenchable fire. And of the one sort, those yet unbaptized, he makes no distinction, but says in general,
Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, Matthew 3:10 punishing all the unbelievers. Whereas after baptism He works out a kind of division, because many of them that believed would exhibit a life unworthy of their faith.
Let no man then become chaff, let no one be tossed to and fro, nor lie exposed to wicked desires, blown about by them easily every way. For if you continue wheat, though temptation be brought on you, you will suffer nothing dreadful; nay, for in the threshing floor, the wheels of the car, that are like saws, do not cut in pieces the wheat; but if you fall away into the weakness of chaff, you will both here suffer incurable ills, being smitten of all men, and there you will undergo the eternal punishment. For all such persons both before that furnace become food for the irrational passions here, as chaff is for the brute animal: and there again they are material and food for the flame.
Now to have said directly that He will judge men's doings, would not so effectually procure acceptance for His doctrine: but to blend with it the parable, and so establish it all, was apter to persuade the hearer, and attract him by a more ample encouragement. Wherefore also Christ Himself for the most part so discourses with them; threshing floor, and harvest, and vineyard, and wine-press, and field, and net, and fishing, and all things familiar, and among which they were busied He makes ingredients in His discourses. This kind of thing then the Baptist likewise did here, and offered an exceeding great demonstration of his words, the giving of the Spirit. For
He who has so great power, as both to forgive sins, and to give the Spirit, much more will these things also be within His power: so he speaks.
Do you see how now in due order the mystery came to be laid as a foundation, before the resurrection and judgment? Hebrews 6:1-2
And wherefore, it may be said,
did he not mention the signs and wonders which were straightway to be done by Him? Because this was greater than all, and for its sake all those were done. Thus, in his mention of the chief thing, he comprehended all; death dissolved, sins abolished, the curse blotted out, those long wars done away; our entrance into paradise, our ascent into heaven, our citizenship with the angels, our partaking of the good things to come: for in truth this is the earnest of them all. So that in mentioning this, he has mentioned also the resurrection of our bodies, and the manifestation of His miracles here, and our partaking of His kingdom, and the good things, which
eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man. 1 Corinthians 2:9 For all these things He bestowed on us by that gift. It was therefore superfluous to speak of the signs that were immediately to ensue, and which sight can judge of; but those were meet to be discoursed on, whereof they doubted; as for instance, that He is the Son of God; that He exceeds John beyond comparison; that He
bears the sin of the world; that He will require an account of all that we do; that our interests are not limited to the present, but elsewhere every one will undergo the due penalty. For these things were not as yet proveable by sight.
8. Therefore, knowing these things, let us use great diligence, while we are in the threshing floor; for it is possible while we are here, to change even out of chaff into wheat, even as on the other hand many from wheat have become chaff. Let us not then be supine, nor be carried about with every wind; neither let us separate ourselves from our brethren, though they seem to be small and mean; forasmuch as the wheat also compared with the chaff is less in measure, but better in nature. Look not therefore to the forms of outward pomp, for they are prepared for the fire, but to this godly humility, so firm and indissoluble, and which cannot be cut, neither is burnt by the fire. It being for their sake that He bears long with the very chaff, that by their intercourse with them they may become better. Therefore judgment is not yet, that we may be all crowned together, that from wickedness many may be converted unto virtue.
Let us tremble then at hearing this parable. For indeed that fire is unquenchable.
And how, it may be said,
is it unquenchable? Do you see not this sun ever burning, and never quenched? Did you not behold the bush burning, and not consumed? If then you also desire to escape the flame, lay up alms beforehand, and so you will not even taste of that fire. For if, while here, you will believe what is told you, you shall not so much as see this furnace, after your departure into that region; but if you disbelieve it now, you shall know it there full well by experience, when no sort of escape is possible. Since in truth no entreaty shall avert the punishment from them who have not shown forth an upright life. For believing surely is not enough, since even the devils tremble at God, but for all that they will be punished.
9. Wherefore our care of our conduct has need to be great. Why, this is the very reason of our continually assembling you here; not simply that you should enter in, but that you should also reap some fruit from your continuance here. But if you come indeed constantly, but go away again reaping no fruit from thence, you will have no advantage from your entering in and attendance in this place.
For if we, when sending children to teachers, should we see them reaping no benefit thereby, begin to be severe in blaming the teachers, and remove them often to others; what excuse shall we have for not bestowing upon virtue even so much diligence as upon these earthly things, but forever bringing our tablets home empty? And yet our teachers here are more in number and greater. For no less than prophets and apostles and patriarchs, and all righteous men, are by us set over you as teachers in every Church. And not even so is there any profit, but if you have joined in chanting two or three Psalms, and making the accustomed prayers at random and anyhow, are so dismissed, you think this enough for your salvation. Have ye not heard the prophet, saying (or rather God by the prophet),
This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me?
Therefore, lest this be our case too, wipe out the letters, or rather the impressions, which the devil has engraven in your soul; and bring me a heart set free from worldly tumults, that without fear I may write on it what I will. Since now at least there is nothing else to discern, except his letters — rapines, covetings, envy, jealousy. Wherefore of course, when I receive your tablets, I am not able so much as to read them. For I find not the letters, which we every Lord's day inscribe on you, and so let you go; but others, instead of these, unintelligible and misshapen. Then, when we have blotted them out, and have written those which are of the Spirit, you departing, and giving up your hearts to the works of the devil, give him again power to substitute his own characters in you. What then will be the end of all this, even without any words of mine, each man's own conscience knows. For I indeed will not cease to do my part, and to write in you the right letters. But if you mar our diligence, for our part our reward is unaltered, but your danger is not small.
Now, though I would fain say nothing to disgust you, yet I beseech again and entreat you, imitate at least the little children's diligence in these matters. For so they first learn the form of the letters, after that they practise themselves in distinguishing them put out of shape, and then at last in their reading they proceed orderly by means of them. Just so let us also do; let us divide virtue, and learn first not to swear, nor to forswear ourselves, nor to speak evil; then proceeding to another row, not to envy, not to lust, not to be gluttonous, not to be drunken, not fierce, not slothful, so that from these we may pass on again to the things of the Spirit, and practise continence, and neglect of the belly, temperance, righteousness, to be above glory, and gentle and contrite in mind; and let us join these one with another, and write them upon our soul.
10. And all these let us practise at home, with our own friends, with our wife, with our children. And, for the present, let us begin with the things that come first, and are easier; as for instance, with not swearing; and let us practise this one letter continually at home. For, in truth, there are many at home to hinder this our practice; sometimes a man's servant provoking him, sometimes his wife annoying and angering him, sometimes an indocile and disorderly child urges him on to threatening and swearing. If now at home, when thus continually galled, you should attain not to be tempted into swearing, you will in the market-place also have power with ease to abide unconquered.
Yea, and in like sort, you will attain to keep yourself from insulting any, by not insulting your wife, nor your servants, nor any one else among those in your house. For a man's wife too not seldom, praising this or that person, or bemoaning herself, stirs him up to speak evil of that other. But do not let yourself be constrained to speak evil of him that is praised, but bear it all nobly. And if you should perceive your servants praising other masters, be not perturbed, but stand nobly. Let your home be a sort of lists, a place of exercise for virtue, that having trained yourself well there, you may with entire skill encounter all abroad.
Do this with respect to vainglory also. For if you train yourself not to be vainglorious in company of your wife and your servants, you will not ever afterwards be easily caught by this passion with regard to any one else. For though this malady be in every case grievous and tyrannical, yet is it so especially when a woman is present. If we therefore in that instance put down its power, we shall easily master it in the other cases also.
And with respect to the other passions too, let us do this self-same thing, exercising ourselves against them at home, and anointing ourselves every day.
And that our exercise may be easier, let us further enact a penalty for ourselves, upon our transgressing any of our purposes. And let the very penalty again be such as brings with it not loss, but reward — such as procures some very great gain. And this is so, if we sentence ourselves to intenser fastings, and to sleeping often on the bare ground, and to other like austerity. For in this way will much profit come unto us from every quarter; we shall both live the sweet life of virtue here, and we shall attain unto the good things to come and be perpetually friends of God.
But in order that the same may not happen again — that you may not, having here admired what is said, go your way, and cast aside at random, wherever it may chance, the tablet of your mind, and so allow the devil to blot out these things — let each one, on returning home, call his own wife, and tell her these things, and take her to help him; and from this day let him enter into that noble school of exercise, using for oil the supply of the Spirit. And though you fall once, twice, many times in your training, despair not, but stand again, and wrestle; and do not give up until you have bound on you the glorious crown of triumph over the devil, and hast for the time to come stored up the riches of virtue in an inviolable treasure-house.
For if you should establish yourself in the habits of this noble self-restraint, then, not even when remiss, will you be able to transgress any of the commandments, habit imitating the solidity of nature. Yea, as to sleep is easy, and to eat, and to drink, and to breathe, so also will the deeds of virtue be easy to us, and we shall reap to ourselves that pure pleasure, resting in a harbor without a wave, and enjoying continual calm, and with a great freight bringing our vessel into haven, in that City, on that day; and we shall attain unto the undecaying crowns, unto which may we all attain, by the grace and love towards man of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be all glory and might, now and always, and world without end. Amen.
Source. Translated by George Prevost and revised by M.B. Riddle. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 10. Edited by Philip Schaff. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1888.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/200111.htm>.
Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. (To help fight spam, this address might change occasionally.) Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.


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February 22, 2010
Resources for Observing & Enjoying Wildlife
Guides, books, and websites to help you identify your wild neighbors, where to find them, and the sounds they make
Field Guides and Other Books
Books with CDs of Animal and Bird Sounds
Field Guides and Other Books
Baicich, Paul J. and Colin J.O. Harrison. A Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds. Second Edition. San Diego, California: Academic Press, 1997.
Brock, Jim P. and Kenn Kaufman. Kaufman Field Guide to Butterflies of North America. New York: Houghton Mifflin Co., 2003.
Conant, Roger and Joseph T. Collins. Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians: Eastern and Central North America (Peterson Field Guide Series). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1998.
Eaton, Eric R. and Kenn Kaufman, Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America. New York: Houghton Mifflin Co., 2007.
Elbroch, Mark. Mammal Tracks and sign: A Guide to North American Species.Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books, 2003.
Elbroch, Mark and Eleanor Marks. Bird Tracks and Sign: A Guide to North American Species.Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books, 2001.
Good Birders Don't Wear White: 50 Tips from North America's Top Birders. White, Lisa, ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 2007.
Nardi, James B. Life in the Soil: A Guide for Naturalists and Gardeners. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2007.
Reid, Fiona. Field Guide to Mammals of North America (Peterson Field Guide Series). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 2006.
Schneck, Marcus. Your Backyard Wildlife Year: How to attract birds, butterflies, and other animals every month of the year. Emmaus, Pennsylvania: Rodale Press, 1996.
Sibley, David Allen. Sibley's Birding Basics. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2002.
___. The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2003.
___. The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2003.
___. The Sibley Guide to Trees. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2009.
Silver, Donald M. One Small Square: Backyard. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1993.
Stebbins, Robert C. and Roger Tory Peterson. A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians (Peterson Field Guide Series). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 2003.
The Xerces Society. Attracting Nataive Pollinators: Protecting North America's Bees And Butterflies. North Adams, Massachusetts: Storey Publishing, LLC, 2011.
Books with CDs of Animal and Bird Sounds
Elliott, Lang. Common Birds and Their Songs. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1998.
___. Know Your Bird Sounds, Volume 1: Songs and Calls of Yard, Garden, and City Birds. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2004.
___. Know Your Bird Sounds, Volume 2: Songs and Calls of Birds of the Countryside.Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2004.
___. A Guide to Night Sounds: The Nighttime Sounds of 60 Mammals, Birds, Amphibians, and Insects. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2004.
Elliott, Lang and Will Hershberger. The Songs of Insects: A Comprehensive Guide to Their Identification, Behavior, and Calls. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 2007.
Elliott, Lang, Carl Gerhardt, and Carlos Davison. The Frogs and Toads of North America: A Comprehensive Guide to Their Identification, Behavior, and Calls. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 2009.
http://www.birc.org/: Bio-Integral Resource Center. Specializing in finding non-toxic and least-toxic, integrated pest management (IPM) solutions.
www.allaboutbirds.org: Cornell Lab of Ornithology's guide to identifying birds. Learn the keys to Identification: size and shape; color pattern; behavior; habitat; field marks; and songs and calls.
http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/index.html: Cooperative Extension Office finder
http://ebird.org: An online checklist program for reporting and tracking bird sightings, sponsored by Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society.
www.learner.org/jnorth/: Annenberg Media's Journey North program, a global study of wildlife migration and seasonal change, with engaging independent and classroom activities for tracking the arrival of spring.
www.amnh.org/ology/index.php?channel=biodiversity: American Museum of Natural History's kid-friendly page of interactive activities about biodiversity.
www.mnh.si.edu/mna/: National Museum of Natural History's North American Mammals searchable database of all living mammals of North America. Search by species name, family tree, or conservation status to find natural history, photos, maps, and more.
www.nestwatch.org: NestWatch is a continent-wide citizen-science project and nest-monitoring database of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
www.xerces.org: Xerces Society is an international, nonprofit organization that protects wildlife through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitat. Their site is packed with exciting and useful information about insects.
Create a Humane Backyard
A place that offers food, shelter, water, refuge from toxic sprays, and safety from mowers—it's what every creature wants, right? They want a Humane Backyard. By making simple changes, you can create that haven of comfort and security for local wildlife. And you can do it anywhere: in the city, suburbs, or country. So look around--at your backyard, balcony, or the park down the street—then let us teach you how to make your own Humane Backyard. Once you've learned how, take our Humane Backyard pledge.
Pledge to create a Humane BackyardDonate
- Sign Up
- Take Action
Bee-friend your neighborhood bees. Act Now

subset: commoncrawl


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Thank you ALA!
Today is Ground Hog Day as well as the announcements for American Library Association's youth media awards. It is humbling, thrilling and a huge honor that The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus by Jen Bryant garnered the Sibert Medal as well as a Caldecott Honor. The right word? over the moon. Thank you to the Sibert committee and the Caldecott committee for all your hard work and dedication. And to Kwame Alexander who won the Newbery Medal, Dan Santat for the Caldecott Medal and all the other honorees, BRAVA! For more information about the The Right Word, please visit Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.
The Right Word: launch, send into orbit, commence!
The Right Word: Roget And His Thesaurus by Jen Bryant and published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers is here at long last. I will be signing books at the Owl and Turtle Bookshop in Camden, Maine. We'll be giving away a signed copy (signed by both me and Jen) and a print of the endpapers which has Roget's original word list– the precursor to his Thesaurus. If you can't make the signing, the Owl and Turtle will ship signed copies! Download a Discussion Guide for this book here.
Here are links for more information and reviews: Kirkus starred review, Publisher's Weekly starred review, a wonderful review by educator and writer Monica Edinger, The Wall Street Journal, Scope Notes, and the fabulous Trifecta Interview with Colby Sharp, John Schu and Donalyn Miller of the Nerdy Book Club HERE.
Happy Birthday E.B.White
Today, July 11, is the birthday of E.B.White. On Thursday July 17th from 1-3 there will be a fitting birthday tribute at the Owl and Turtle Bookshop in Camden, Maine with Martha White, Sharon Creech, Chris Van Dusen and me reading from his books. Check out this great video of author Kate Dicamillo talking about Charlotte's Web here. And here's a favorite quote from Charlotte's Web:
"Why did you do all this for me?" he asked. "I don't deserve it. I've never done anything for you." "You have been my friend," replied Charlotte. That in itself is a tremendous thing."
Parents' Choice Awards gives Firefly July a seal of approval…
Firefly July garnered a gold seal from the Parent's Choice Awards 2014 in the poetry category. It will take all summer to get through this list of wonderful books, but a summer of great reading! Many thanks to everyone at Parents' Choice.
Online Indie: Children's Bookstore with Jake Ball
If you haven't seen Jake's beautiful website, you're in for a treat. It's an online indie bookstore where, as Jake writes, "juvenile literature is the sole focus. We don't sell TVs, cosmetics, auto parts, and children's books, just children's books." Bravo! See his review for Firefly July here. I'm thrilled to have an author page on his site. Click here to see more.
Speaking of Firefly July, Paul Janeczko and I will be reading aloud and signing books at Longfellow Books in Portland on Saturday, May 17, 2014 at noon for the INDIES FIRST STORY TIME DAY. Hope to see you there!
Spring from Winter
This is the best time of year with nesting nuthatches, balmy breezes and Maine's own Reading Round Up! The Maine Library Association Conference, RRU, is always a treat. Hundreds of dedicated librarians gather to talk about books and libraries and this year's keynote speaker Anita Silvey was extraordinary. The Lupine Committee presented the Lupine Awards and it is an honor and privilege to have Brave Girl by Michelle Markel awarded a Lupine Honor for a Picture Book. Congratulations to my friends and colleagues who garnered awards for their beautiful books including: Rebekah Raye and Kimberly Ridley, Megan Frazier Blakemore, and Maria Padian. And to Anne Sibley O'Brien, the recipient of the a Katahdin Award for lifetime achievement. See more here from The Lupine Librarian. Thank you to the Lupine Committee and the organizers of RRU. Maine librarians are so inspiring!
Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems
Our launch for FIREFLY JULY is March 29th at the Maine Coast Book Shop in Damariscotta ME. Join us from 11am–1pm for Poetic Shorts: a short reading, a short poetry writing workshop and other "shorts"…For those who cannot attend, MCBS will reserve signed books by request, to pick up at a later date, or ship (plus shipping fee). Look forward to seeing potential poets!
It's almost Spring and happy poetry month…
Today is the day FIREFLY JULY: A Year of Very Short Poems is out. The poems were selected by the incomparable Paul Janeczko and as always with Candlewick books, the production is beautiful. We are thrilled and over the moon to receive 5 starred reviews and FIREFLY JULY is a March Indie Next selection. Our book launch is March 29th at the Maine Coast Book Shop in Damariscotta, Maine. We're calling the event Poetic Shorts. See more about the event here. CANNOT ATTEND? The Maine Coast Book Shop will reserve signed books by request, to pick up at a later date, or ship (plus shipping fee).
ALA 2014! The Life and Art of Horace Pippin
Many thanks to the Schneider Family Award Committee for honoring A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jen Bryant the Schneider Family Book Award. We could not be more thrilled. AND to the Sibert Committee for selecting A Splash of Red as a Sibert Honor Book. Talk about over the moon! As if that was not enough, this book was also awarded the Orbis Pictus by NCTE . This book was privilege and a pleasure to research and to work on. Thanks to all, and a hearty congratulations to all the winners for all of the ALA awards. (Brian Floca deservedly won the Caldecott Medal for Locomotion). A happy day! For more information and to download an Educator's Guide visit the Random House website.
San Francisco and Pixar
This past weekend I had the great pleasure of speaking at the San Francisco SCBWI Illustrators Day at Fort Mason, right on the water overlooking Alcatraz in a little firehouse. What a setting. What a wonderful group of enthusiastic and talented illustrators and authors! It was fun and informative. A number of art directors and editors I work with were there and I think the participants got an amazing overview of making a book and the team-work involved. Many thanks to all of you for being there. Here's a little inspiration from Pixar's 22 Rules of Storytelling. Back home now as the color is creeping in, and back to work. Happy autumn!
Little Red Writing has made her debut!
We've seen the proofs, held the new book, given it to every member of the family and even signed it for hundreds of young scholars in Texas. Then the day arrives when the book officially comes out and it's still really exciting. In Texas, Little Red was a hit with all the kids, but especially the third to fifth graders who are writing stories. As I told them… you'll never forget what an adverb is again! Many thanks to Joan Holub for writing such a witty, fun and informative fairy tale that was a blast (if you've seen the book, no pun intended) to illustrate. Chronicle Books has created a wonderful Discussion Guide for this book including Common Core Standards. And check out this review: My what colorful crayons you have on Amazon. Write on Little Red!
The Matter of Back Matter
Back matter is the first place I turn to in a nonfiction picture book. I want to see where the author and illustrator began their research. The Horn Book has a great article on all kinds of back matter. As the article states, "Far more than just acknowledgments and glossaries, back matter can matter a lot for educators looking to address literacy skills defined in the Common Core State Standards (CCSS)."
Awhile back I spoke in an interview with Cyndi Giorgis about the research and art for Brave Girl by Michelle Markel and A Splash of Red by Jen Bryant. (And a hearty bravo! is in order to Michelle for garnering the Pen Award for Picture Book Writing!) The interview is now in Book Links with many thanks to Cyndi for her wonderful questions.
Texas School Visit Rodeo
Here in Frisco, Texas the young scholars and artists have blown me away. Balloons Over Broadway is on the Texas Bluebonnet List and the students have been hearing the stories behind the story of Tony Sarg. Many thanks to the Frisco Barnes and Noble for hosting me today for an awesome book signing event. Tons of kids came and it was fun to watch them make parade puppets. The artwork below, inspired by Carmine: A Little More Red, greeted me at the Borchardt Elementary School yesterday. Check out librarian extraordinaire, Nancy Jo Lambert's blog here.
Little Red Writing
Summer is slipping by so fast, but lots of good things to look forward to. Here are a couple of fun reviews of Little Red Writing which will be in stores near you in September. In Reederama, librarian Jennifer Reed sums up the story, "Danger, humor, excitement, adventure, mystery, suspense and writing advice all in one? This one's a keeper!" (You MUST see the visuals on her blog post). And another wonderful blog, Three Book A Night Caryn gives a witty and extensive review. Many thanks from and Joan! Visit here to download the super spectacular Educator's Guide thanks to the designers at Chronicle Books.
EB White
Today, July 11th, is the birthday of author extraordinaire, EB White. Here is a favorite quote he wrote in response to a letter from a child, "All that I hope to say in books, all that I ever hope to say, is that I love the world." –EB White
Just back from the sublime ALA conference in Chicago. Martha Parravano of the Horn Book writes about the ALSC preconference, A Wild Ride: 75 Years of the Caldecott Medal here. Brian Selznick's keynote brought down the house. Here are a few pix, the first with the wonderful Jenny Brown of Bank Street College and who writes Twenty by Jenny. And my "fascinator" head-piece celebrating River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams by Jen Bryant, a 2009 Caldecott Honor book. (I cut up a few pages of the book to make it). It's from This Is Just to Say is my favorite William Carlos Williams poem.
It was a thrill to meet so many wonderful librarians, teachers, colleagues and see old friends. I loved meeting Louise Borden whose book, The Journey That Saved Curious George made me want to illustrate nonfiction.
Lastly, congratulations to Maine author Toni Buzzeo who wrote One Cool Friend, illustrated by David Small, which won a 2012 Caldecott Honor. Brava Toni and David!
And the Fascinator:
With Louise Borden at the Chronicle party:
ALA Chicago 2013!
ALA is right around the corner! I'll be at the Preconference Reception and Book Signing, The Honor Book Luncheon Panel moderated by Leonard Marcus, at booths signing Little Red Writing, A Splash of Red, A River of Words, Balloons Over Broadway and more. Hope to see you there! See Jen Bryant's blog, Flying Tidings for more information and giveaways! Happy summer.
A Splash of Gold!
Many thanks to the 2013 Parents' Choice Book Committee for honoring A Splash of Red with a Gold Award for Non- Fiction. We are thrilled, and in very good company! See more here.
Once upon a time in Pencil School…
Meet Little Red Writing by Joan Holub (Chronicle Books). Little Red will make her debut at ALA in Chicago in June, (though the publication date isn't until September, 2013). I'll be signing this new book at the Chronicle booth at ALA with more details to follow. It's hard to wait for a book to come out, but until then, here's a wonderful first review by Richie Partington: A very funny picture book that, I guarantee you, lots of savvy teachers will be eagerly sharing with students as part of the process of teaching creative writing. — Richie Partington MLIS, Richie's Picks
Margaret Wise Brown
Today is the birthday of Margaret Wise Brown who wrote Good Night Moon and other classics. She said, "A good picture book can almost be whistled. … All have their own melodies behind the storytelling." See more at the Writer's Almanac. Check out Leonard Marcus' biography of her: Awakened by the Moon, which is top on my reading list.
Happy Birthday Henri Rousseau…
…who said,"When I go out into the countryside and see the sun and the green and everything flowering, I say to myself, Yes indeed, all that belongs to me!" Last year Michelle Markel's lovely book, The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau was published by Eerdmans and quickly became one of my favorite picture book biographies of the year. (Michelle is also the author of Brave Girl). Looking forward to seeing what she has out next! Here's the book with illustrations by the incomparable Amanda Hall:
Spring Sprang at Candlewick Press
This past week I had the pleasure of delivering final art to Candlewick Press in Cambridge, MA for a new book: Firefly, July and Other Short Poems. Paul Janeczko complied some amazing gems for this book and I love the title. It is especially nice to deliver art and meet the people you've been working with in person. My friend and colleague at Candlewick, Anne Moore, took the picture if the art below. A little sneak peek until the book comes out in time for National Poetry Month in March, 2014. And I'm including a picture of an eeBoo Tot Tower which looks so festive in this New York City store front window.
Every Picture Tells A Story Lecture Series
May, 2013: The Farnsworth Art Museum has a new show that just opened celebrating NC Wyeth's work from the Brandywine River Museum. The lecture series for this show starts Saturday, May 4th with Leonard Marcus, May 11 Nick Clark, Chief Curator at the Eric Carle Museum will be there and I'll be speaking May 18th. Jennifer Greenhill will be May 28th. Find out more here. Hope to see you there!
Happy Birthday John James Audubon!
"How can I make a little book when I have seen enough to make a dozen large books?"–John James Audubon This past week I had the pleasure of seeing my dear friend, Jackie Davies, who wrote: The Boy Who Drew Birds: The Story of John James Audubon (and the author of the brilliant Lemonade War series). This story is a wonderful introduction into Audubon's life and tells the story of him observing eastern phoebes and "banding" them with a silver thread to observe if they returned to their nests in the spring. (It is the first known incident of banding birds). Checkout the Educator's Guide for this book here. For those who can't get enough of the birds in spring, The New York Historical Society's exhibit, Audubon's Aviary: The Complete Flock. Audubon's original paintings are breathtaking! Lastly check out this budding naturalist in the blog: Under the Sycamore.
Illustrating this book was a breakthrough for me in creating 3-dimensional collages. Here is some of the art from the book:
Got my cowboy boots on! Heading to Texas and TLA…
Hope to see many of you at the Texas Library Association conference April 25+26. I'll be on a star-studded panel on Thursday at 2pm: The Best of Both: Nonfiction Picture Books. How can the same facts result in such different books? Join our panel of nonfiction authors as they share their approach to making a subject uniquely theirs and offer ideas for using children's nonfiction to improve the expository reading process. With Shana Corey, Candace Fleming, Doreen Rappaport, Tanya Lee Stone, and Chris Barton moderating. And on Friday at 10:30am I'll be signing books at the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt booth. Stop by and say hi!
One windy day at the Carle Museum…
A few weeks back the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art hosted me for a fun kite-making workshop and story hour. If you've never been, it is not only a wonderful gallery space, but the museum has an art studio with every art supply imaginable, and parents and kids can make art to their heart's content. And don't get me started on how great the bookstore is… Many thanks to Diana MacKenzie , Public Art Program Educator for the photos below. Check out the blog here for more news and the super simple kite directions.
Starry Nights
This week was the birthday of Galileo Galilei. Thinking of Galileo makes me think of stars and Tupelo Rides the Rails, where a starry night and the constellations play a starring role. I began that book with a favorite quote by Vincent Van Gogh:
"To look at the stars always makes me dream."
Download the Educator's Guide to Tupelo Rides the Rails here.
If you're looking for a book to learn about the the night sky, 365 Starry Nights by Chet Raymo is brilliant, (no pun intended!). It's very kid-friendly and makes it easy to make sense of the myriad of stars in the night sky.
Here's Tupelo making a wish to the dog star, Sirius…
April Pick!
Thank you to Bank Street College Center for Children's Literature Children's Book Committee for choosing A Splash of Red as the April Pick! In more news, Jen Bryant will be at International Reading Association April 19-21. See Jen's schedule at IRA here. Looking forward to heading to Nashville for school visits soon. Got my cowboy boots on!
New York Times Review of Brave Girl!
This review has a great line up of biographies " for the pre-Silicon-Valley-job set". All these women deserve their day in the sun and kudos to the author and illustrators who portray them. Brava to all! And my hat is off to Michelle Markel for writing the brilliant Brave Girl. It was such a pleasure to illustrate. See the book reviews here. Check out the NYT Multimedia Slide Show and here is the review by Pamela Paul of Brave Girl:
I love the opening of this biography of Clara Lemlich, righteous rabble-rouser. It shows a sweeping scene of New York Harbor as a ship pulls past the Statue of Liberty, and the next page declares that a surprise is in store for New York City. "The surprise is dirt poor, just five feet tall and hardly speaks a word of English," Michelle Markel writes in this excellent, timely portrait of the labor leader, adding jauntily: "This girl's got grit, and she's going to prove it. Look out, New York!" Many schoolchildren today learn about the Triangle shirtwaist factory fire, but they don't often learn about what precipitated the disaster. Markel's sympathetic, fact-filled and moving story of a garment worker with gumption rounds out the lesson. In a previous book, "Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade," the illustrator Melissa Sweet proved herself a fine hand at giving New York City street scenes their color. With her distinctive mixed-media collages, she may have surpassed herself here. And with an inspiration like Lemlich — smart, ambitious, gutsy — it's easy to see why.
Spike Activity Guide Is Here!
Susan Hood has written an amazing guide for Spike:the Mixed-Up Monster. It's 15 pages of fun activities, masks, mazes, "draw Spike" and more. Download the PDF here. Reading Specialist Tracie Vaughn Zimmer wrote the Common Core Curriculum Standards for K-3 included in the guide. Many thanks to Susan Hood, Tracie and everyone at Simon and Schuster. Here is a sneak peek at the scavenger hunt bookmarks:
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire
March 25 is the anniversary of the 1911 factory fire where many young workers lost their lives. In Brave Girl, Michelle Markel tells the story of Clara Lemlich, who led the largest walkout of women workers in the country's history in 1909. Harper Collins has created a wonderful Discussion Guide for the book. Download the PDF here.
Spring Snow
Snow falling on the daffodils makes it a Mary Oliver kind of day…"Keep room in your heart for the unimaginable"…
Blow Winter Away! March 23+24 2013 at the Eric Carle Museum
On Saturday, 3/23/13 at the the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, the New England SCBWI is hosting Children's Books in the Classroom. I'll be on a panel discussion with author Susan Hood (and others authors and illustrators). The panel will be moderated by Grace Enriquez, Assistant Professor at Lesley University, who writes for the wonderful blog: The Classroom Bookshelf . More info about this event
On Sunday, 3/24/13, I'll be doing a kite workshop at the ECMPBA at 1pm with a storytime and booksigning to follow. Come join us! These kites are easy and fun. I'm calling this kite the RED Turbo '13. More info about this event
The Horn Book and Women's History Month
The Horn Book celebrates Women's History Month with reviews on four wonderful titles including Brave Girl (four starred reviews!) by Michelle Markel. Michelle recently launched the book at the Workmen's Circle in LA. Here are some photos of the mural outside the building–that's Clara in pink! Brava! Michelle. Check out the Educator's Guide for this book utilizing Common Core State Standards here.
Happy Birthday Ezra Jack Keats
As collage artists go, it doesn't get any better than Ezra Jack Keats. It's hard to believe that SNOWY DAY was his first book. He said, "I love city life. All the beauty that other people see in country life, I find taking walks and seeing the multitudes of people." See more on today's Writer's Almanac.
Spring!…well, almost, but close enough.
The birds are back and they're in "Audubon's Aviary" at the New York Historical Society too. Here is some art from the Boy Who Drew Birds: The Story of John James Audubon by Jacqueline Davies. For more about this book and to download the Teacher's Guide, click here. This is still one of my favorite books. It was a breakthrough in making 3-D collages for picture books.
And one of Audubon's pieces in the back of the book:
Women's History Month
Check the Kid Lit Celebrates Women's History Month blog for some wonderful titles about amazing women, including Julia Morgan Built a Castle, Temple Grandin, Mrs. Harkness and the Panda and one I can't wait to dive into: The Bad Girls of Children's Literature by Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple. The Educators Guide for Mrs. Harkness can be downloaded here. For more information about Mrs. Harkness (2012 Cybil Award winner!) visit the Random House website. And Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers' Strike of 1909 has a Educator's Guide found here.
A Book giveaway for Horace Pippin's Birthday!
In celebration of Horace Pippin's birthday, I'm offering a couple of signed copies of A Splash of Red by Jen Bryant. Just be the first ones to answer to this question:Which president does Horace Pippin share a birthday with? (This is too easy for words). Email me the answer at firstname.lastname@example.com. I'll send off a few boxes of our fancy pencil boxes to the next few winners, too.
Thank you to Jeanne Walker Harvey for featuring A Splash of Red on her blog: True Tales With a Cherry on Top . And many thanks, too to Mary Ann Scheuer for this wonderful review in the blog: Great Kids Books. More good news…we recieved a 4th starred review from Publishers Weekly: "Quotations from Pippin about the psychological scars of war and his artisitic process are hand drawn into Sweet's images, underscoring how art was not only a joyful outlet for Pippin, but also a vital means of interpreting the world." Below is Pippin's End of War, Starting Home which Jen Bryant talks about in her blog here.
The Cybils, Etc.
Yesterday the 2012 Cybil Awards were announced and Mrs. Harkness and the Panda by Alicia Potter won the Nonfiction Picture Book Award. Thank to everyone for this wonderful honor! Check out all great Cybil Award winners here.
And A Splash of Red got a nice write-up in Metro magazine in a review of books on creativity.
Overcoming Odds
On the eve of Black History Month Book Page has reviewed a number of wonderful titles: Overcoming Odds in Stories of Inspiration. Thank you to Robin Smith for her insightful and thoughtful reviews, including A Splash of Red. Jen Bryant and I are in august company!
Caldecott Announcements
Yesterday was the children's book world's equivalent of the Noble Prize and there were lots of surprises. I was routing for Laura Vaccaro Seeger's GREEN which garnered a Caldecott Honor. Brava to Laura! Congratulations too, to fellow Mainers, Toni Buzzeo and Phil Hoose whose books came away with well-deserved awards.
-2 degrees but warm inside…
One of my favorite bloggers, Julie Danielson of 7 Impossible Things Before Breakfast, has posted a wonderful interview talking about my new books on Kirkus today. See it here. She mentions Mrs. Harkness and the Panda, Brave Girl and A Splash of Red, among other books. (All these books have Discussion Guides that can be found here on my site under MAKE STUFF). Thank you Julie for your insightful questions!
January 22, Welcome Brave Girl!
Today is publication day for Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers Strike of 1909 by Michelle Markel. It's the amazing story of Clara Lemlich who led the biggest walk-out of women workers in this country's history. See more about the book here. We 're grateful for the 3 starred reviews and it's an Amazon Best Picture Book of the Month for January, 2013. Brava Clara! There's an Educators Guide underway, hopefully by Women's History Month.
As a Charlotte Zolotow fan….
It is a thrill to see Spike: the Mixed-Up Monster on the Cooperative Children's Book Center, (CCBC) list on the Charlotte Zolotow Award Books for Highly Commended Titles. And check out the New York Times on Sunday, (Jan 13th) for reviews on Artists. A Splash of Red is there along with a beautiful book on Matisse illustrated by Holly Berry, Michelle Markel's Rousseau, the Mona Lisa…Great reading and viewing! Makes you want to go to an art museum.
A Slice of Life: Horace Pippin
Today and is publication day for A Splash of Red! It's always exciting when a book is finally out and in the world. Here's a great blog post from Two Teachers Writing, from Jen Bryant's blog: Electric Moccasin, and another insightful review from Richie's Picks. Check out ASplashofRedBook.com for more information, interviews and news. Thank you again to Kirsten Cappy of Curious City and to Liz Long, Maine College of Art intern extraordinaire, for all their work o the site. Lastly, check out this video for a sweet introduction to Horace Pippin.
Happy 2013 !
So far, so good…Both A SPLASH OF RED, by Jen Bryant and BRAVE GIRL: Clara Lemlich and the Shirtwaist Makers' Strike of 1909, by Michelle Markel are on Amazon's Best Books of the Month. Both books received 3 starred reviews from Kirkus, School Library Journal and Booklist. Nice news for nonfiction picture books and an auspicious beginning to the new year!
For BRAVE GIRL: "The zingy images masterfully (and appropriately) incorporate fabric and stitches as well as old images of checks and timecards…This book had fighting spirit in spades–you go Clara!" —Booklist, starred review
For A SPLASH OF RED: "This outstanding portrait of African-American artist Horace Pippin (1888-1946) allows Pippin's work to shine—and his heart too." –Kirkus, starred review
Two great blog posts
Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Liz Long, an intern from Maine College of Art, (MECA) who is working with Kirsten Cappy on promoting A Splash Of Red, due out in a few short weeks. Here's Kirsten's post at Curious City, (and be sure to visit Curious City's Department of Public Works, DPW, for amazing downloadable materials for teachers, librarians and readers HERE). They have created the magnificent ASplashofRedBook.com website, which is live and ready to view. I had such a good time talking with Kirsten and Liz about books, maps and color–the best Friday ever! A recording of the interview with pictures will be on the website soon. Thank you to Liz, Kirsten and MECA for this gift. And author Jen Bryant is offering a copy of A Splash of Red on her blog: Flying Tidings. The picture below is in honor of today's first snowfall…
Scholastic's Top Ten Trends for 2013
Scholastic editors forecast the top ten trends in children's books for the upcoming year. Lots of good reading to look forward to and A Splash of Red is mentioned as "intriguing nonfiction" along with Kadir Nelson's: Nelson Mandela and Lincoln's Grave Robbers by Steve Sheinkin.
Happy Hannukah!
Here's to the light in the dark of winter.
Beatrix Potter: The Picture Letters
If you like Beatrix, (and who doesn't), you will love the show at the Morgan Library in NYC. You can see the genesis of Peter Rabbit and his escapades in her letters to children. And if you're in New York City, don't miss the Original Art Show at the Society of Illustrators. Lastly, check out the play: The Old Man and the Old Moon, or at least their website at www.PigPentheatre.com. Really good fun and brilliantly designed.
Books of Wonder, December 2nd 2012
Books of Wonder, one of the best bookstores in New York City, is having a holiday extravaganza. I'll be there signing SPIKE with the author Susan Hood along with James Howe, Lane Smith, Michelle Knudsen, Douglas Florian and other rock stars of the children's book world. Susan and I will also be signing SPIKE on Dec 1st at Barnes and Noble on the Upper East Side at 150 East 86th St. at noon-2pm. Hope to see you there!
Happy Thanksgiving and a letter to lift your spirits!
This past year I had the pleasure of meeting Jenn Choi who writes the blog Toys Are Tools. Today's post, inspired by the genius of Tony Sarg, celebrates all the young inventors out there. The post is in the form of a letter, (the nicest letter I've ever received!) and inspired by Balloons Over Broadway, Jenn writes: Use this book to inspire your child's inventor qualities and aspirations, demonstrate problem-solving skills in a historical context, talk about machines in a storybook for kids. Thank you Jenn! Inventors, play on! Check out her post here and to enter to win a signed copy of the book.
Balloons Over Broadway Activity Kit
To make your own Parade-in-a-box, download the wonderful Activity Kit here and be sure to read the blog post at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast for more about the book and to see some rare vintage parade photos. Macy's Parade preparations can be found here. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Parade Preparations!
Tony Sarg's creations circa 1930.
NCTE and the Orbis Pictus
Looking forward to being at the National Council of Teachers of English, (NCTE) annual convention in Las Vegas. Balloons Over Broadway garnered the Orbis Pictus Award from NCTE. What is the Orbis Pictus? Finding out took me all the way to the Library of Congress. The Orbis Pictus by John Amos Comenius was the first picture book for children. It's incredibly beautiful and hard to imagine life before picture books.
Balloons Over Broadway Giveaway
Curious City's Department of Public Works (DPW) is giving away 10 copies of Balloons Over Broadway and EVERY entry will receive a recipe postcard for Thanksgiving Panache via snail mail. Delicious! The parade is just around the corner and check out what Macy's has in store. Go to "Make Stuff" on this site to download an Activity Kit and Discussion Guide.
KIDSBUZZ! November 7, 2012
Shelf Awareness KidsBuzz is offering another chance to win a signed copy of A Splash of Red by Jen Bryant. (We'll send you a postcard just for entering!). And more good news… we received another starred review, this time from Kirkus, "This outstanding portrait of African-American artist Horace Pippin (1888-1946) allows Pippin's work to shine—and his heart too." Please check out the Discussion Guide for this book!
November 3, 2012 Book signing!
Tomorrow is the big day at the South Portland Public Library. Come join us with your little ones for a booksigning, make your own helium balloon characters, and fun Thanksgiving Day-Parade activities. See you tomorrow at 2pm. And check out this year's Macy's Day Parade news. Click here for more information about Balloons Over Broadway.
Happy Halloween treat from Kidsbuzz
No tricks! To enter your name to win a signed copy of A Splash of Red by Jen Bryant (with pictures by me), go to Shelf Awareness Kidsbuzz. You have plenty of time to enter–the books will be mailed in January after it's published by Knopf/Random House. Meanwhile, check out the wonderful Educator's Guide for this book! "Outstanding…"–starred review, Booklist.
October 2012 Big News from Texas!
We just learned that Balloons Over Broadway is on the Texas Library Association Bluebonnet Award master list! Be sure to check out all the books for some wonderful reading.
PiBoIdMo: Picture Book Idea Month
In a few days I'm going to participate in PiBoIdmo, (creating 30 picture book ideas in 30 days) to shake things up and get down ideas that keep swimming around. See the PiBoIdMo blog to join. I'll be posting in the PiBoIdMo blog later this month. Stay tuned!
October 2012, Portlandians! (the Maine Contingent)
The South Portland Public Library is hosting an event celebrating Thanksgiving and Balloons Over Broadway on December 3rd from 2-4pm. We'll be decorating helium balloons, just like at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, (except we'll be using googly eyes and streamers!). Come join us for the festivities and book-signing. Download the Balloons Over Broadway Activity Kit and the new Educator's Discussion Guide for more fun things to make.
…A charmer!
A wonderful review for SPIKE: the Mixed-Up Monster just in at Shelf Awareness.
Two New Discussion Guides!
It's so exciting to have discussion guides for educators, librarians and parents to use with picture books. The new Balloons Over Broadway Discussion Guide also connects to the Common Core State Standards. This curriculum guide began as a blog post on The Classroom Bookshelf by Grace Enriquez. Thank you, Grace! Next, though my new book by Jen Bryant will debut in January 2013, here is a sneak preview with wonderful ways to introduce young readers to an American treasure: A Splash of Red: the Life and Art of Horace Pippin Discussion Guide. Thank you to Reading Specialist Rose Capelli and Dr. Lynne Dorfman, Educational Consultant for writing this informative guide.
Happy Birthday to comic book artist Harvey Pekar
When asked why he wanted to turn his life into a comic book, Harvey Pekar said, "I wanted to write literature that pushed people into their lives rather than helping people escape from them."
A Splash of nice news
We just learned that A Splash of Red: the Life and Art of Horace Pippin has received a *starred* review from BOOKLIST.
"…a well-structured narrative with recurring themes and a highly accessible style…outstanding." –Booklist
Wonderful news! The book will be released January, 2013 from Knopf/Random House.
Brava! to Susan Hood, author of SPIKE: the Mixed-Up Monster
Check out Susan Hood's publication party this past weekend at the Play On Words blog. If the pictures tell a story, it looks like a good time was had by all. See more about SPIKE and Susan's other new books at susanhoodbooks.com.
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is not far away…
Get ready for the festivities on November 2nd, 2012 at 2pm at the Portland Public Library. We'll be talking about Tony Sarg and Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade, making a "parade in a box", and decorating helium balloons to take home,(yep, you can design your own character balloon!) To get in the holiday spirit, visit Macy's 2012 parade website. Hope to see you in Portland!
September 19, 2012
The Children's Book Synposium is this weekend in New Hampshire. I'll be speaking about the making of Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade. Joining me on a panel discussion from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt will be art director Rachel Newborn, and production supervisor, Crystal Paquette. It will be a rare treat to hear them speak about the makings of a picture book. Authors/illustrators extraordinaire Annie O'Brien and Brian Lies will be speaking as well. Hope to see you there!
Happy Birthday to the poet William Carlos Williams!
He summed up his poetic philosophy, "no ideas but in things". And he he wrote,"We are blind and live our blind lives out in blindness. Poets are damned but they are not blind, they see with the eyes of angels."
Here is a favorite piece of art from my book, A RIVER OF WORDS: The Story of William Carlos Williams, by Jen Bryant. Check out the Educator's Guide for this book here.
Happy Birthday to the poet Mary Oliver!
So many favorite books and poems by M.O., but here is the essence of her: "Instructions for living a life. Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it."–Mary Oliver
September 13th 2012 One Evening in Maine Original Children's Book Illustration Auction
One Evening in Maine is a benefit dinner to support the Maine Humanities Council's programs for educators and at-risk populations on the 60th anniversary of McCloskey's book. Works from the wonderful Lisa Jahn-Clough, Cathryn Falwell, Charlotte Agell, to name a few of the illustrious illustrators. A great night for a great cause. Hope to see you there. Here's a piece of mine up for bid from RUBIO AND THE THREE OSOS :
Labor Day 2012
How did it get to be September so fast? Happy Labor Day and here are some wise words from William Carlos Williams from A RIVER OF WORDS: The Story of William Carlos Williams by Jen Bryant. And here's a sneak peek at some information on my new book with Jen Bryant out in January: A SPLASH OF RED: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin.
Children's Book Illustration Symposium, Sept. 29th
The New England Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators + New Hampshire Institute of Art is hosting their 2nd Annual event on Sept. 29th in NH. For more information see their website here. And check out this poster by Jim Burke, (professor of Illustration at NHIA), Ryan O'Rourke and Lara McCormick! Thank you all. Can't wait to celebrate autumn and books with everyone.
More great news for SPIKE on TV!
Susan Hood has 3, (count them…THREE!) of her books featured on News 12, Connecticut. Brava to Susan! Here's to more big news for our favorite little axolotl.
Congratulations to SPIKE!
SPIKE: The Mixed Up Monster by Susan Hood is a PAL Award (Play Advances Language) winner! See the review at Play On Words. "Spike the Mixed-up Monster is a must-read, playful, delightfully illustrated tale that charms readers and expands their language learning." Due out this fall, SPIKE is also a Junior Library Guild selection. Muchas Gracias!
Girl Power and the Mars Rover
When I saw the film 7 Minutes of Terror about landing the Mars Rover, I wondered what they made the parachute out of. Turns out it was partly Kevlar, (the same material used in bullet proof vests) which was invented by Stephanie Kwolek, an inventor featured in GIRLS THINK OF EVERYTHING by Catherine Thimmesh. Stephanie rocks, and so does Catherine!
Toys Are Tools: Inventor Giveaway! Summer 2012
Jenn Choi, editor at Toys Are Tools has posted a fun interview we did together. AND there is a giveaway for an eeBoo Drawing Book and Carmine. After researching Tony Sarg for Balloons Over Broadway, I'm a firm believer than toys are most definitely tools. It's a great site. See more here. Plus, I love being consider an inventor!
Summer 2012
Summer afternoon…the two most beautiful words in the English language –Henry James.
Preparing to head to the SCBWI conference in LA. I'll be giving a talk: Swinging Out: 10 Ways To Open New Doors into Designing Picture Books, plus an illustrator's panel discussion: From Pictures to Stories, and accepting the Golden Kite Award for picture book for Balloons Over Broadway!
Voting! July 2012
In the spirit of this year's elections, the Library of Virginia Literary Awards People's Choice is underway and Balloons Over Broadway has been nominated for the Cardoza Award. Please vote HERE! And thank you and applause in advance.
More news…2012
Because I can hardly contain my excitement, here is the cover of my next book with Jen Bryant, A Splash Of Red: The Life And Art of Horace Pippin, due out in January with Random House. This book really inspired me and I hope budding young artists will see themselves in Horace's desire to make art against all odds. Jen Bryant is amazing!
Back from ALA 2012
ALA was magnificent. I was in great company with the folks at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and meeting the Sibert Committee was such a thrill. Look forward to posting pictures soon, but you can see more at my Facebook page: Melissa Sweet Illustration. (Like it!) Thank you to everyone for the incredible honor of the Sibert Medal. See more of Andrew's remarks here at ALANews.
Summer Expeditions 2012
The Cleveland Plain Dealer reviewed three biographies of brave women, including a wonderful review of Mrs. Harkness and the Panda. Happy intrepid travels this summer!
Spring 2012
Two wonderful awards from Bankstreet for Balloons Over Broadway….first the Flora Stieglitz Straus Award for nonfiction, and equally as exciting, the Cook Prize which honors the best science, technology,engineering and math, (STEM), picture book for ages eight to ten. My gratitude to everyone at Bankstreet and School Library Journal is as big as a Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade balloon! I am so honored. Thank you. Tony Sarg still has the Midas touch.
Spring 2012
Check out the new educator's guide for Mrs. Harkness and the Panda. Tracie Zimmer wrote the guide and did an amazing job, as usual!
Spring 2012
Definitely gardening season. It's always a little hard to stay in the studio this time of year. It is fantastically green out there.
Big Dreams! 2012
This Friday, May 11th at 3pm, I'll be celebrating Baby Bear's Big Dreams By Jane Yolen with Raising Readers and Kirsten Cappy at the Maine Discovery Museum in Bangor, Maine.
Seattle SCBWI 2012
Just back from Seattle. The Western Washington Chapter of the SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) was an incredibly fun and informative conference. See more here on my FaceBook page.
Spring! 2012
March came in like a lion and went out like one, too. But the daffodils are up and all is well. Especially since my new drawing book with eeBoo just came out. Check out this great article in the blog Toys Are Tools. Thank you Jenn Choi for allowing me to use these great images from the post. The book is working!
March 2012
In celebration of Women's History month, the New York Times reviewed books about real-life heroines, including Mrs. Harkness and the Panda. Find it here in the March 11, 2012 issue.
March 2012
Woo-Hoo! Awesome news! Balloons Over Broadway garnered the Golden Kite Award from the SCBWI in the picture book category. See more here.
Leap Day 2012
Lots of great news for Mrs. Harkness and the Panda by Alicia Potter due out March 13, 2012:
"This is a gorgeous book. The illustrations are a combination of small and large watercolor drawings, background collages using decorative Chinese papers, floral prints, maps, and Chinese lettering, as well as a few photographs. This little gem will be perfect for one-on-one sharing and for those second-grade biography assignments. It's simple stunning." –School library Journal, starred review. Click here for more reviews and information.
February 2012
Teaching Books has posted an interview with me on their website, teachingbooks.net. They're a great audio resource.
January 2012
Sunny news on a grey day in Maine! BALLOONS OVER BROADWAY garnered the Sibert Award for the most distinguished informational book published in the United States. Thank you to the Sibert Committee, family and friends, bloggers and writers who gave me such words of encouragement. I am honored and blown away.
January 2012
Many thanks to everyone at NCTE for awarding Balloons Over Broadway the 2012 Orbis Pictus Award. It is an honor and congratulations to all the honorees. I'm smiling as wide as this tiger!
Happy New Year 2012
Looking Forward to speaking and giving workshops at the SCBWI conference in Seattle in April. For more information click here.
December 2011
This magnificent zebra was made by the youngest person at the Society of Illustrators puppetry workshop in early December.
December 2011
Thank you to Kirsten Cappy of Curious City for these great photos. A good time was had by all.
11/20/11 See you today at Macy's Herald Square and the NY Historical Society:
11/20/11: Booksigning for Balloons Over Broadway, The New York Historical Society celebration for the opening of their newly renovated children's room, 11:30am
11/20/11:Booksigning for Balloons Over Broadway, MACY'S Herald Square!!! 2-3pm
Here is the Balloons Over Broadway Activity Kit!
Once Upon a Time in New York City…
November 13, 2011, the New York Times Book Review by Pete Hamill of Balloons Over Broadway along with 2 other wonderful titles about New York City.
A very auspicious day and Balloons Over Broadway is released! That's Tony Sarg looking up at Bil Baird painting a character balloon.
First Snow! 2011
Just back from the Society of Illustrators Show in NYC. So much beautiful art in one place. The Ezra Jack Keats show at the Jewish Museum was a stunner, too. Made me want to come home and make a collage.
…the leaves are coming down… 2011
Balloons Over Broadway has a piece in the Original Art at the Society of Illustrators in NYC. It's always amazing to see so much great art. Don't miss it!
breezy fall day 2011
Thank you to BookPage for a fun way to present an interview. I wish I could illustrate every interview. See more here at BookPage.com.
Autumn 2011
Less than 2 weeks until Balloons Over Broadway is officially out, but it's in bookstores now.
Looking forward to 11/1/11!
This is Tony Sarg clowning around in the Goodyear hangar. circa 1920's
Autumn 2011
Balloons Over Broadway has received 5 *starred* reviews! hurray!
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade poster will be on their shopping bags for the month of November in Macy's flagship stores. See more about Tony Sarg and Balloons Over Broadway at Macy's website.
Early autumn 2011
The poster for the 85th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is done! It will be on the streets of New York City soon and the art will also be on the Macy's shopping bags in November. Here's a snippet from the poster–a touch of Balloons Over Broadway in the style. AND the Activity Kit for Balloons Over Broadway can be downloaded here!
Summer 2011
The reviews for Balloons Over Broadway are starting to come in and the first is a *starred* review from Publisher's Weekly !
Summer (is not almost over!) 2011
Children's Book Fair By the Sea in Camden, ME
This is always a great event for the kids (and book collectors!). I'll be bringing Balloons Over Broadway posters. For more information and a list of the amazing authors attending, visit the Camden Public Library I'll be reading from the Sleepy Little Alphabet and showing the kids how to draw these rascally letters.
Children's Book Illustrators art opening at the UNE Portland, ME
A great chance to see original art! for more info: The Maine Drawing Project
Summer 2011
Back from Italy…buongiorno…
to Venice and the Biennale…
…then to Tuscany and the village of Collodi, the medieval town where the author of Pinocchio is from…
…the best souvenir? My sketchbook:
Spring 2011
Rubia and the Three Osos…fabuloso!
Rubia and the Three Osos is a Junior Library Guild Selection and a 2011 Notable Children's Book. Bueno!
Art from Rubia as well as from Charlotte in Paris will be included in the show: Tell Me A Story: Folktales and World Cultures at the University of Southern Maine, June 17-August 12, 2011.
Spring 2011
It won't be long before until Balloons Over Broadway is here!
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has created an amazing downloadable Activity Kit for Balloons Over Broadway. It's a parade in a box! Thanks to Erin Wallace for her photo of Elisabeth with some of the new puppets.The Activity Kit will be available from this site soon.
Hello and welcome to the new site!
Stay tuned for more of what is happening in the studio.
Copyright 2011-2015 :: all content is retained exclusively by Melissa Sweet. For permission to reuse
anything on this site please contact firstname.lastname@example.com


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Lollywood turned Bollywood Actress Veena Malik is no more single now. Veena Malik has been married with Asad Basheer Khan yesterday on Christmas Day celebration. Asad Basheer Khan is the Dubai based businessman. Previously Veena Malik has been confirmed her relationship with Norway based Billionaire Shaikh Umar Farukh Zahoor.
Veena Malik International Press Relations Manager Sohail Rashid confirmed the news about the marriage of Veena Malik and Asad Basheer Khan. He also said: The couple rushed the nikkah as Veena's mother is unwell. The Nikkah ceremony of Veena Malik and Asad Basheer Khan was held in Dubai.
Veena Malik tweeted an image of the wedding bands shortly after the engagement on Social networking site Twitter. Many celebrities from Pakistan and India entertainment industry wishes to Veena Malik and Asad Basheer Khan for happy married life ahead. Pakistani actress Meera also congratulated Veena on her wedding.
Check here Veena Malik and Asad Basheer Khan Pictures:-
Veena Malik said earlier that she will marry in 2015:
I believe in the institution of marriage. Also, I have seen my family members enjoying a blissful married life. I too would love to belong to the man forever after getting married. I have had my share of break ups. It would not be too much to say that I have always ditched men. I am the one who has broken up with all my boy friends. I am keeping my fingers crossed and am all set to tie the knot sometime in 2015. Will it be a Sheikh or someone from Dubai? Well, I am not sure myself but yes I am contemplating to get married to a Muslim. I have been living in Dubai for many years now. So could be someone from Dubai.
Veena Malik also said earlier that she will definitely married with Muslim man but the name was not revealed. Now she officially marry with Asad Basheer Khan and enjoy her marriage life in Dubai.


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If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed.
You have a lot in common with the Queen of England, then....!
Corgis are very handsome. And the way their legs move so quickly is amusing! But the inner graphic artist inside me always wants to draw their legs a bit longer! lol Their bodies are too big for their dear sweet legs. Now if they had legs 18" long they would fit.
Every breed of dogs has its own uniqueness. I love Pomeranian and Chow Chow. Labrador and Beagle are also great breeds for animal lovers.
My blog: Pet Grooming Tips
My favorite dog is German Shepherd. This dog is very friendly and we use it for house security. These dogs are good partners.
I also own Pitbull and my other favourite breeds are German sShepherd and Labrador.
I really love chow chow. I have zoey since I was 11 years old and being with her everyday is one of the best gift in my life.


text:
From: Colin Wee
Subject: Re: TOURNAMENT
It is extremely difficult for me to provide substantial advice without knowing much more of each individual player, the nature of the competition, and your time frame.
If you have plenty of time to prepare, you should produce a training plan for each individual focusing on enhancing their strengths, reducing their weaknesses, and creating an individual competition plan which each should become familiar with. Oftentimes, instructors will only focus on major issues and might forget a diet plan, visualisation training, pre-competition scheduling, etc. This approach will help you overview many issues and keep you on track with each participant. It will also put you, as the coach, in a 'tour operator' role to guide your team members through what can be a sometimes overwhelming and unpredictable journey from your own doorstep to stepping on the mat.
I used to be an Asst National Coach for archery, and wrote a short article for my father's archery website a couple of years ago. You can check it out at http://www.hikarudojo.com/channels/bwarchery/secrets.htm#top10. That page covers a high level approach to doing well from a participan'ts point of view. You can also download a visualisation tool from http://www.hikarudojo.com/pub_resources/visualization.pdf which deals with visualisation as a tool for self defence - visualisation is a very powerful tool to allow the competitor to mentally create the competition environment, establishing 'the zone' - an enhanced maximum mental/physical readiness for the event. (Also there is http://www.hikarudojo.com/pub_resources/learningtool.pdf - a learning tool to generally discuss sporting performance problems for intermediate and senior students. This is a good tool if you have to deal with participants who may have issues that need to be dealt with before they attempt high level competition.)
A number of years ago I learned that for sports-specific training one needs to recreate the ultimate competitive environment and physical output ... and multiply it by 10. So if you are anticipating that your students need to face 3min x 3 rounds, they need to maintain the same cardio output over 3 min x 10 or 30 minutes. There are many exercises you can use aside from sprinting to get you to this point - plyometrics, circuit training, caveman training, etc. There are also other exercises to support dynamic strength training like yoga, dynamic stretching, weights, etc. You should work towards varying the workouts and making sure martial arts are the predominant training activity in order not to confuse less experienced participants with what your objectives are (and how their body mechanics should work during competition).
Kata: I am not an expert on competition training for kata. Here is an overview of what I understand:
1. Stances need to be totally uniform and adhere to traditional standards - so distances covered has to be exactly the same for each step in the same stance. This is something that needs to to be focused on by the instructor or assistant instructor.
2. Linear motion has got to be powerful and stable. For those participants who think moving from one low stance to another is like walking, they need to revisit proper muscle dynamics and learn how to generate the right contraction and expansion of their legs. A good book featuring this concept is Karate Kinematics and Dynamics http://ideas.repec.org/p/lei/ingber/81kk.html
3. Look before you turn.
4. Punches need to be at specific and identifiable spots according to kata. Centreline needs to be maintained.
5. Kime or focus needs to occur. http://traditionaltaekwondo.blogspot.com/search/label/kime. The muscle lock up needs to be done on impact and is supported by the body's skeletal structure.
6. Breathing needs to support the type of technique being performed.
7. Don't race through the kata. It's not a sprint.
Kumite: I am not an expert on competition training for kumite. Here is an overview of what I understand based off sporting information and my own training approach, but needs to be taken in perspective dependant on how points are scored during sparring:
1. The front leg will reach the target sooner, but will not land with the same force as the back leg, so needs to be thought of as a jab. Given distancing, my own estimation is that the front kick for an averagely skilled, conservative, and tactical kicker will land on some decent target around 30-40% of the time. The back leg will reach the target slower than a front kick will and with much more force. But it will be blocked most of the time, meaning that it will land on some decent target around 5-10% of the time. This will increase if the back kick is used in combination with feints and deception, which will increase the probability of a good score to about 15-20%. As a coach you should modify these percentages for each of your competitors and know how effective they are dependant on the type of opponent they face (taller, same height, or shorter).
2. Irrespective of what kind of fight the participant should seek for each opponent, kicks can be extremely tactical. In a three round fight, aside from trying to score points or trying to wear down the opponent, kicks are also good to 'teach' the opponent what kind of combinations your fighter may use within the fight. I suspect that in a 3x3 minute fight, you can 'teach' your opponent a total of maybe 3-5 'telegraphed' moves for anticipated kicking-punching combinations. This means by round two your fighter could make use of variations to catch the opponent off-guard. Again you need to first set up this line of thinking for your fighters, make sure they can pull it off, and you need to rate effectiveness of each combo and when they've got to pull their trick out of their hats.
3. I am a major fan of long range punching - this depends a lot on gap closing strategies and how good your fighters are at faking their way closer to their opponents. Also once up close, your fighters need to learn how to cover up and fight close range. Heavy gloves and body work will help here so that they know how to cover their heads and body with their arms and gloves.
I have a seminar I video-ed a couple of years ago dealing with making techniques 'invisible' to opponents. If you are interested, and if it will help you, send me your address and I'll forward it to you.
Hope that helps.
Colin Wee
Chief Instructor 5th Dan
----- Original Message -----
To: Colin Wee
Subject: Re: TOURNAMENT
I m sorry for not responding to your letter.My guys are in tang soo do and they are a team that includes white to back belts.We want to attend
A related post at MarksTraining talks about training for a specific type of fight: Cro Cops Training Methods. It's a worthwhile read.