Today’s cozy read‑aloud features a reflective selection of poems from Poetry for Kids: Carl Sandburg, a beautifully curated introduction to Sandburg’s lyricism. These poems highlight the landscapes, atmospheres, and gentle movements that define his writing — fog rolling in, waves rising, roads stretching forward, windows framing sunsets, and valleys echoing with song.

For this video, I chose poems that create a quiet “Wandering Places Journey”:

a soft entrance through fog, a shifting sea, a moment of introspection, a road toward endings, a window onto evening light, and a final valley of warmth.

Before recording, I made a small index‑card collage inspired by Robert Crawford’s palette — muted greens, soft blues, and the rural textures that echo Sandburg’s landscapes. This quiet ritual helps me enter the illustrator’s world with intention.

🎥 Watch the full cozy read‑aloud and wander through Sandburg’s quiet places with me.

Today’s cozy read‑aloud features Sipping Spiders Through a Straw, a playful collection of monster campfire songs by Kelly DiPucchio with wonderfully theatrical illustrations by Gris Grimly. These short, silly “creepsongs” twist familiar tunes into spooky fun — perfect for a lighthearted midsummer storytime.

For this video, I chose six songs that create a gentle “Campfire Creepsong Mix”: a bright opener, a creepy centerpiece, a silly turn, a gross‑out giggle, a monster feature, and a spooky closing song.

Before recording, I made a small index‑card collage inspired by Grimly’s palette — deep greens, campfire oranges, and the sharp, expressive shapes of his monster characters. This quiet ritual helps me enter the illustrator’s world with intention.

🎥 Watch the full cozy read‑aloud and enjoy this playful, spooky campfire journey.

Today’s cozy read‑aloud features My Parents Think I’m Sleeping, a tender nighttime collection by Jack Prelutsky with soft, expressive illustrations by Yossi Abolafia. These poems explore the small, secret moments of evening — the sounds outside the window, the shadows on the wall, the quiet thoughts that drift through a child’s mind.

For this video, I chose six poems that create a gentle “Night Cycle”: two imaginative pieces, a short atmospheric breath, a touch of mystery, and a quiet closing poem about rain.

Before recording, I made a small index‑card collage inspired by Abolafia’s palette — dusky blues, warm lamplight yellows, and soft textures that echo the book’s nighttime world. This quiet ritual helps me enter the illustrator’s world with intention.

🎥 Watch the full cozy read‑aloud and enjoy this gentle, reflective journey through a child’s nighttime imagination.

Today’s cozy read‑aloud features Scranimals, a playful, imaginative collection by Jack Prelutsky with watercolor‑bright illustrations by Peter Sís. The book invites readers onto Scranimal Island — a place where creatures are part animal, part plant, and entirely delightful.

For this video, I chose several poems that create a gentle arc: two short, energetic pieces to open the door, two mid‑length poems with richer imagery, and one dreamy closing poem that leans into Sís’s surreal landscapes.

Before recording, I made a small index‑card collage inspired by Sís’s palette — soft blues, warm reds, and layered textures that echo the imaginative world of Scranimal Island. This quiet ritual helps me enter the illustrator’s world with intention.

🎥 Watch the full cozy read‑aloud and enjoy this gentle, whimsical journey through Scranimal Island.