
Palmistry
Posted by bookseedstudio on June 19, 2009
Posted in Florida, Palm leaf, Seminole Indian, art, childrens literature, childrens' books, seasonal, trees, tropical | Tagged: Palm leaf | 1 Comment »
Eye Candy
Posted by bookseedstudio on May 5, 2009
c. Jan Godown
Havana (Florida) 2009. The sweet view inside Little River General Store.
Every child should have visits to places like this in their experience, eh? Mine were in Cherryville, N.J. and also in a town in Connecticut where I would stay-over to visit a childhood pal. Until I moved to North Florida, I spent all my South Florida childhood years without a visit to such a fantabulous place. Support your regional general store!
You’ve landed at the pages & blog for Florida children’s writer Jan Godown “JG”Annino . HELLO
is my home page. Thanks for visiting.

c. Jan Godown 2009
Posted in candy | Tagged: candy, Florida, Havana | Leave a Comment »
The r in April is for?
Posted by bookseedstudio on April 20, 2009
REMEMBER the Sweet Children
http://www.holocaustresources.org/html
May 17 is the awards ceremony set up by the Holocaust Education Resource Council, with details at the above site, along with amazing stories of survival.
Every day is the time to read the very special “Angel on my shoulder” story of sweet Miriam, who
lives in Florida & shares the many kindnesses that brought her through Nazi brutality.
Remember the Children HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY
this is the blog of writer Jan Annino Godown in Florida
Posted in Florida, Holocaust Remembrance, Jewish History | Tagged: Holocaust Resources, Miriam Schlezinger, Yom Hashoah | Leave a Comment »
5 million minutes
Posted by bookseedstudio on April 9, 2009
Until JUNE 30 you & your family can read together for travel prizes including a FLORIDA trip.
You’re going to read with them anyway! See how quickly you can reach the 5 million words read goal.
For more fun this summer, join a Read With the Kids team.
(we suggest Al Roker’s team because we’ve enjoyed watching him on TV since a chance meeting in the Yorktown Heights health food shop …)
~you’ve landed at the 2X monthly or so blog of writer jan godown annino
more info is at Hello.
Posted in Florida, childrens literature, childrens' books, travel | Tagged: Al Roker, family travel, Read With the Kids | Comments Off
There is a p in April for?
Posted by bookseedstudio on April 9, 2009
P is for Poetry in April!
Read a poem ….
Pick purple or perfect or plump words & present a poem to princesses & princes you know…
~you’ve landed at the 2X a month or so, blog of jan godown annino. more info is at Hello.
Posted in Florida, childrens literature, childrens' books | Tagged: childrens literature, Poetry, poets.org | Comments Off
for your school bookshelves
Posted by bookseedstudio on April 4, 2009
Do you know the work of these writers? Take a peek.
Laura Purdie Salas She has a new poetry book for kids with the word stampede! in the title.
Fiona Bayrock She has a new science book with the phrase “bubble homes” in the title.
Check them out at your library soon.
You have landed @ the blog of Jan Godown Annino, a children’s writer tapping away
in her own Bookseedstudio in Florida. Please look around.
~ jga 4.4.2009
Posted in Florida, childrens' books | Tagged: childrens' books, Fiona Bayrock, Laura Purdie Salas | Leave a Comment »
Outside
Posted by bookseedstudio on March 31, 2009
this past weekend, in the woods of Florida…

c. 2009 Jan Godown Annino
… For all things wild turkey, please look for the modern classic Illumination in the Flatwoods, by Joe Hutto.
Hope you are finding time to get outside this spring if spring is already where you are, or
that you can manage time outdoors when spring arrives….
photo c. 2009 Jan Godown Annino
Posted in Florida | Tagged: Illumination in the Flatwoods, Joe Hutto | Leave a Comment »
One of Charlotte’s Daughters
Posted by bookseedstudio on October 21, 2008
Posted in animals | Leave a Comment »
Lichgate labyrinth
Posted by bookseedstudio on November 1, 2008
Lichgate Labyrinth
As The Wizard
didn’t give to The Tin Man
anything
“that he didn’t didn’t already have”
a labyrinth arriving at a site
such as Lichgate on High Road
becomes a natural tapestry
illuminating the precious pathways
Laura Pauline Jepsen found
when she first
climbed over the barbed wire fence
into her precious world
A Lichgate labyrinth
will beckon travelers
to discover
the peace of mind
already here
It will beckon travelers
to explore
the spirit
deep within
the one who travels
And as our area glows with
more and more labyrinths
we can become known
as a “city of turns”
much as holy cities have
long been called, for their
spiritual spiral walking paths

image for illustration idea only
source www.jhu.edu/~chaplain/labyrinth.gif
For information on labyrinths worldwide begin with
Veriditas http://veriditas.org or The Labyrinth Society http://labyrinthsociety.org
Posted in Lichgate, animals, labyrinth | Tagged: city of turns, Labyrinth Liz Sampson Kathy Doore labyrinthia, Q'enqo, The Magic of Labyrinths | Leave a Comment »
Florida garnet and gold
Posted by bookseedstudio on November 14, 2008
Posted in animals | Tagged: autumn, Florida, garnet & gold, leaves, seasonal, trees | Leave a Comment »
Thanksgiving 2008 & American Buffalo in Florida
Posted by bookseedstudio on November 27, 2008
Native Tribal People &
their heritage
receive the short
stick from our tasty national
holiday in the U.S. , Thanksgiving.
A few days before the 2008
Thanksgiving I took a detour with my
sister & we found this roadside
surprise in Alachua County,
Florida.
It was late in the afternoon, with a cool breeze
tickling the palm fronds.
As I watched this creature clip the field
for dinner,
near U.S. Highway 27,
I thought of archival reports from
the Old West, of
the thundering herds of bison that
could stampede for days,
which sustained the First Peoples
of North America.
This ranch buffalo of 2008 represents legit Florida
heritage, although the Florida bison were scant
compared to the way their cousins once blanketed the mid-West
& The West.
(Buffalo are featured in the book
SCENIC DRIVING FLORIDA, 2nd ed.
the “Crossing Creeks and Prairie” chapter,
by my own self, Jan Godown. The chapter guides
you to the lucky chance for your own encounter to see
buffalo in a natural setting at
Paynes Prairie State Preserve)
http://www.floridastateparks.org/paynesprairie
For a fine picture book about the adoption & care of a buffalo calf by a father and son and the restoration of the Pablo-Allard herd, please see Joseph Bruchac’s BUFFALO SONG. The author consulted oral history recorded in part in the 1920s & 1930s in Montana. A 1926 Salish tribal story is woven into this lyrical book. I like the information on it at Oyate.org and at the blog by Debbie Reese American Indians in Children’s Literature
americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com
To begin to understand the interesting work of Carol and Joseph Bruhac, please see
For another picture book about the woman who helped save American Buffalo, please see the story of Mary Ann Goodnight, BUFFALO MUSIC, by
Tracey E. Fern. I like the review of it by children’s book maven Esme Raji Codell, posted at her blogspot blog, Planet Esme.
(Look for the Oct. 14.200 blog, it’s after her review of a fine picture book bio on one of my picture book heroines, Wanda Gag, who lived for some time in the region where I grew up.)
http://planetesme.blogspot.com/2008/10/wanda-gag-girl-who-lived-to-draw.html
To fully immerse in the topic, Steven Rinella’s new book, AMERICAN BUFFALO, recently reviewed on NPR (I’m pretty sure it was an interview with the very fine Terri Gross) follows the herds in history & also one particular buffalo that the author brings down on foot in Alaska, after winning a spot in a hunt lottery, butchers by himself & then packs out for eating later. Not for everyone who reads nature nonfiction, but if you fish ( I have) or hunt (haven’t, wouldn’t, unless for survival) or if you enjoy the buffalo steak in the cafeteria of the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. this book may be for you.
Posted in American Buffalo, animals, school trips, wild animals | Tagged: Add new tag, Alachua County, Alaska buffalo lottery, American Buffalo, animals, bison, books, Buffalo, Buffalo Music, homeschool, Joseph Bruhac, Mary Ann Goodnigt, Native Americans, Planet Esme, school trips, Steven Rinella, Ted's Montana Grill, Thanksgiving, The Old West, Tribal people, Tribes, turkey, Western culture | Leave a Comment »
Florida Christmas
Posted by bookseedstudio on December 5, 2008
A tree in CEDAR KEY
photo, Jan G. Annino 2008
A pole.
A fishing net cast over a pole.
Seashells in the net.
(Let’s hope they are castaways &
weren’t taken live.)
Colored lights.
Cheers at Christmas.
The necklace of Cedar Key islands tip-toeing into the Gulf of Mexico are where cedar forests were lumbered-out for the world’s pencils (think Faber pencils, etc.)
So I like it that the village of Cedar Key’s marina tree
isn’t using up a living one.
Muir fans know the Cedar Keys as the region where John
Muir regained his strength after his 1,000 mile walk to
the Gulf of Mexico. I wonder if in his knapsack on that trip he
kept his journal with the assist of a Faber cedar pencil.
Greetings from Florida & from Jan G. Annino, a book-published writer of creative-nonfiction, new writer of children’s literature, at work on an mfa in children’s literature from Hollins University.
Posted in CEDAR KEY, Christmas, Christmas tree, Florida, Florida Christmas, art, seashells, travel, trees | Tagged: Christmas lights, Gulf of Mexico, holidays, islands, John MUIR, marinas, pencils, personal, photography | 2 Comments »
City
Posted by bookseedstudio on January 13, 2009

from our Amtrak window by Anna Annino (c.)
the city, appreciated in this silver light
if you haven’t ridden a long-distance train lately, be prepared for the romance of the clackety-clack
the convenience of no seat belts & movement at will & seats that include pop-up feet rests
& a community of strangers who are the cause of the lonesome whistle sounding
our conductors were friendly & we loved seeing them carry babies down the aisle to their seats
for travel at such a crunch time – the holidays – the clackety-clack tracks were the best
Posted in trains | Tagged: Amtrak, New York, trains | Leave a Comment »
Obama’s poet
Posted by bookseedstudio on January 15, 2009
A Poet and a Secretary
THE book I just devoured in celebration of Obama’s elevation to the Presidency of the United States is for children.
And it’s not one of the several handy bios of him for young readers.
It’s a picture book of poems in several voices, by his poet, Elizabeth Alexander, of Yale, and her equally distinguished colleague, Marilyn Nelson, a much-honored creator of children’s literature.
www.wordsongpoetry.com or
http://www.wordsongpoetry.com/another_starred_review_for_mis.html
Elizabeth Alexander’s presence on the platform at this historic event shouts out that this president lauds the arts & art creators.
Already sensing that, Quincy Jones asks for support to imbed the arts in the White House with a Cabinet level secretary post. See
http://www.petitionsonline.com/esnyc/petition.html
and reach it by typing in US Secretary of Arts
Meanwhile, Poet Elizabeth Alexander will receive a wider audience because of her Jan. 20th role on the world stage.
I want you to know she is already beloved by librarians, teachers, students & many others for MISS CRANDALL’s SCHOOL for YOUNG LADIES & LITTLE MISSES of COLOR.
This book, with illustrations by Floyd Cooper (winner of three Coretta Scott King Honor Awards) is an unforgettable visit to the true story of a Quaker woman’s dedication to her black students in New England in the 1830s.
Her determination to stand tall against local terrorists affiliated with churches, the town council & local business community makes me, “ache with caring,” to borrow a phrase of Mem Fox, about seeing this history presented to a wider audience.
If you are more interested in the present day than in history, notes in the book mention more recent updates, including how the 1984 dedication of the Prudence Crandall Museum, was also marked in an undistinguished way by the Connecticut KKK.
Enjoy. Weep. Share. Rejoice in the presidency of Barack Obama.
(And a palette of color to Janeen Mason
Posted in African-American history, CT Connecticut, Canterburby, Florida, KKK, Prudence Crandall, Quaker, Quaker schools, Quaker women, The Arts, US Secretary of Arts, black history | Tagged: African-American, black history, Canterbury, CT, Inauguration, Obama, Poetry, poets for children, Prudence Crandall, Quaker school, Quaker women, Quincy Jones, US Secretary of Arts | Leave a Comment »
Paint a heart for February
Posted by bookseedstudio on January 30, 2009
Make a squiggly heart, a loop de loop or pizza at
http://www.jacksonpollock.org/
(A box of colored pencils to author M.R. Street of Blue Rock Rescue fame.)
Posted in Jackson Pollock, Valentine's Day, art | 1 Comment »
The Pulitzer-winner on Mount Soledad
Posted by bookseedstudio on March 4, 2009
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1znhk_the-wubbulous-world-of-dr-seuss_creation
Dr. Seuss is one of my favorite children’s literature icons to smile about.
This genius, who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1984, knew children are intelligent folks who deserved lively literature.
His advertising work called for short, often rhyming blurbs that were also action packed & provided a fine catalyst for his real avocation ahead. His doodles from an early age proved his hands were hot-wired to an artist’s heart.
A cool part of the Theodor Geisel book world is his very own flag. His publishing house (where he also worked as an editor, RANDOM HOUSE) flew the Dr. Seuss flag at its Westminister, Md. warehouse, while his books were being shipped out.
For more on this national treasure, please see “Dr. Seuss from Then to Now,” A Catalogue of the Retrospective Exhibition, (organized by the San Diego Museum of Art, 1986. This catalogue/hardback book is the source of these tantalizing facts & many more…)
Posted in Dr. Seuss, Read Across America Day, The Arts, art, children's illustrators, childrens literature, wellreadchild.blogspot.com | Tagged: Dr. Seuss, Read Across America Day | Leave a Comment »
March is for mammas & maidens & the Ms., Miss & Mrs. ga-zillions
Posted by bookseedstudio on March 5, 2009
It’s Women’s History Month!
http://www.redroom.event/brown-bag-lunch-talk-O
If you can’t attend this March 24 event, find a great biography of a wonderful woman to enjoy at your library.
Consider PUSH COMES to SHOVE the autobiography of Twyla Tharpe
In children’s picturebooks, have you looked at:
PLANTING the TREES of KENYA : the story of Wangari Maathai by Claire A. Nivola
(Wangari Maathai is a Nobel Peace Prize winner)
KATE SHELLEY: Bound for Legend byRobert D. San Souce with paintings by Max Ginsburg
Kate Shelley was a child who made a difference
Or check out these online ways to be immersed in women’s history:
National Women’s History Project http://www.nwhp.org/resourcecenter/whistoryday.php
Jewish Women’s Archive http://jwa.org
National Organization for Women http://www.now.org
Womens’ Studies http://userpages.umbc.edu/~korenman/wmst/index.html
the fine print: this blog & site are a work in progress, evolving monthly, thanks for your patience…
Posted in American history, Kate Shelley, Twyla Tharpe, Wangari Maathai, Women's History, Womens' Studies, childrens literature | Tagged: Claire Nivola, Kate Shelley, Twyla Tharpe, Wangari Maathai, Women's History, Womens History Day, Womens History Month, Womens' Studies | Leave a Comment »
Irish imps
Posted by bookseedstudio on March 14, 2009

wee visitors for the st. pat's holiday

4-leaf clovers might be here...
Posted in Florida | Tagged: 4-leaf clover, four-leaf clover, Ireland, March 17th, Saint Patrick's Day, shamrocks, St. Patrick's Day | Leave a Comment »
StoryTubes 2009
Posted by bookseedstudio on March 18, 2009
Children reading books.
Children reading books & taped on video.
You, voting soon, for the video that tugs your heart. The most.
I especially am drawn to the reading of BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE, by Kate Dicamillo, &
the interpretation of Laura Numeroff’s IF YOU GIVE A CAT A CUPCAKE and the presentation on
KATE KLISE and … there are too, too many to highlight. Go see!
for information on this Bookseedstudio site, the online office of writer Jan Godown Annino,
please see Hello…or Books …Home returns you to this blog … THANKS!
Posted in Florida, Read Across America Day, The Arts, children's illustrators, childrens literature, wellreadchild.blogspot.com | Tagged: book video contest, childlren's picture books, children's videos, picture book videos | Leave a Comment »
Recite poetry in the dark
Posted by bookseedstudio on March 23, 2009
For just one hour
many people will tell stories in the dark, recite poetry or do something else creative (!)
Learn about it & perhaps join in! If the day has gone by, put it on your 2010 calendar. It’s fun.
Posted in Florida | Leave a Comment »





