ISLANDPORT PRESS

Friday Finds

 

Welcome back to another Friday Finds, where our staff shares stories, events and more tidbits that strike our fancy!

Did you know? April is National Letter Writing Month. And even though we’re mid-way into the month, we love the idea of trying this Write On Challenge, which encourages people to write 30 letters in 30 days to friends, family, favorite authors… the list goes on! For inspiration, check out this list of Reasons to Write.

When was the last time you read Alice in Wonderland? Here’s Lewis Carroll’s story on over 5,000 temporary tattoos (the world’s largest tattoo chain).

Happy 100^th birthday to beloved children’s author Beverly Cleary. And, Robert McCloskey’s Make Way for Ducklings celebrates its 75^th anniversary this year.

If you and your children read “A Snowy Owl Story,” you know we’re fans of these fascinating birds! This Owl event, which happens over April vacation at the Edythe Dyer Library in Hampden, features three live owls. Chewonki’s experts will teach kids and adults about owl calls, hunting habits and more interesting facts.

We listen to podcasts on a regular basis, and especially enjoy The Moth stories that make us laugh out loud. Here’s Joan Juliet Buck, the only American editor of Vogue Paris, discussing The Ghost of Rue Jacob.

Have a fabulous weekend!

[Image: Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey, Penguin Random House] 

Friday Finds

Welcome to another Friday Finds — our curated list of findings for readers and writers from around the web. This weekend, there are two great events happening at the Portland Museum of Art. The first is the film, Very Semi-Serious, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at the New Yorker and the cartoonists who have contributed to the magazine. New Yorker cartoonist, Emily Flake, will be a special guest at the Friday night event. That same evening, four local writers — Jaed Coffin, Gibson Fay-LeBlanc, Lewis Robinson and Islandport Contributing Editor, Katy Kelleher — will be reading original pieces based on works of art from the museum's collection. 

There are so many great lists for readers circling around the web. We especially enjoyed this list of Favorite Bedtime Stories for Kids, which includes the Maine classic, Blueberries for Sal. Conversely, this list of Great Dysfunctional Families of Fiction also caught our eye. 

We were thrilled to learn this week that actress Anna Kendrick, a Portland native, is funding 31 classroom projects throughout the state. 

Are you an artist? CERN (The European Center for Nuclear Research) is seeking out international artists for a full-time residency. The winning artist will have the opportunity to work with a CERN scientist on a project designed to bring art and science together.

Enjoy the weekend!

[Image courtesy Emily Flake]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday Finds

March Madness is here! Even if you don’t follow college basketball, you can create your own bracket. Check out Book Madness from Out of Print Clothing: Clash of the Contemporaries. This is an activity readers can get behind.

The Book Apothecary asks you about your mood, and provides you with a book prescription that pairs well with your emotions.

The Harlow Gallery in Hallowell is hosting their 13^th Annual Young at Art Exhibition, which showcases the work of children from local elementary and middle schools. The exhibition runs through Saturday, March 19.

Speaking of talented young people, 13-year-old Siri Pierce from King Middle School in Portland recently won The Telling Room’s statewide writing contest. Read her beautiful winning poem, Wings.

March is Women’s History Month. Here are 11 Must-Read Biographies About Incredible Women, according to Huffington Post.

Enjoy the weekend!

PS: Many thanks to Yarmouth High School students Dahlia McGrath and Bay Hanson for their help with Friday Finds this week! 

[Frida Kahlo mage courtesy August Wren] 

Friday Finds: Spring Ahead!

Hurray! The weekend is almost here! Here’s our latest roundup of great finds from around the web:

Children’s book author and illustrator Marty Kelley launches Albert’s Almost Amazing Adventure in New Boston, New Hampshire this Saturday. To celebrate, Marty has created “The Making of Albert’s Almost Amazing Adventure.” This super silly bonus material gives readers an opportunity to learn about casting Albert, view hilarious bloopers, and check out deleted scenes.

In a recent podcast, Lore features an episode that highlights haunted lighthouses in Maine. We first learned about haunted lights while editing The Islandport Guide to Lighthouses in New England.

As part of the First Folio! tour, The Portland Public Library (PPL) is hosting films, book groups, live music and more family-friendly events based on the work of William Shakespeare The First Folio, which dates back to 1623, is a book of 36 original plays by Shakespeare. This year, the First Folio will travel to all 50 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. The PPL events run now through April 2.

The New York Public Library revealed the 5 finalists for its Annual Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism. We can’t wait to read these intriguing stories.

This adorable baby made us laugh out loud. See what he does when his mom stops reading to him.

Happy ‘Spring Ahead’ weekend! Don’t forget to set your clocks ahead on Sunday.

[Illustration by Marty Kelley]

Friday Finds

We love seeing the pages of old books redesigned in new ways. Former bookbinder Cecelia Levy transforms pages into works of art. If you’d like to see more like this, our Pinterest page features some of our favorite book-inspired designs.

Speaking of beautiful art, a documentary on Vincent Van Gogh will be the first feature film that is made up entirely of paintings.

Dr. Seuss’ birthday is celebrated throughout the month of March. This interesting piece from PBS.org details 8 things you might not know about the beloved writer and illustrator.

This week marked #WorldBookDay. Here’s 40 Books to Read Before You Die from The Independent.

In local news, the city of Portland and the Army Corps of Engineers are partnering to restore Fort Gorges, a Civil War-era site located on an island off the Casco Bay.

We are always snacking here at the office, so this article on the science behind the 3 p.m. snack slump piqued our interest.

Have a great weekend!

[Artwork: "Yellow Books" by Vincent Van Gogh] 

Friday Finds

Welcome to our latest finds from around the web! Do you have a Little Free Library in your community? This passionate, 8-year old girl, who says, "the world need books!" makes a good case for starting one.

This clever essay by novelist Nick Hornby uses past book rejections to excuse his son from his English homework. 

"Does the Hamburglar count as a literary character?" asks David Sedaris in this fun Esquire interview.

#WorldReadAloudDay happened this week. We love the idea of kids reading to shy, shelter dogs.

We were sad to learn the Delorme Map Store in our hometown of Yarmouth is closing.

Looking for something to do? Celebrate Henry Wadsworth’s Longfellow’s 209^th Birthday in Portland at the Maine Historical Society this Saturday. And next Tuesday, award-winning writer and poet, Reginald Dwayne Betts will discuss his latest poetry collection, “Bastards of the Reagan Era” at Space Gallery.

Have a great weekend, everyone! 

[Image courtesy www.rosaliestreet.com]

Friday Finds

As publishers, we’re naturally drawn to art that highlights books, like these prints that feature punctuation in classic novels. Who knew “Jane Eyre” had so many quotation marks?

Library love: Photographer Jamie Dacyczyn is traveling the state to photograph every Maine Public Library.

Speaking of local libraries, Raymond Village Library is hoping to win $5,000 in Bangor Savings Bank's “Community Matters More Campaign.” The campaign will give a total of $100,000 to 68 local non-profits.

We can’t wait to see “Tumbledown” by Portland-based filmmakers, Sean Mewshaw and Desi Van Til. On Friday Feb. 12, the pair will host a Q&A at the Portland Museum of Art prior to screening the film.

Do you need a creative boost? Take the 642 Creative Challenge to get your ideas flowing.

And finally, What Your Favorite Artwork Says About You.

Have a fabulous weekend!

[Image via BooksDirect.] 

Friday Finds

 

Our staff loves living in a state where there are so many great literary events for readers and writers to enjoy. This Friday, we're hoping to check out "Still Standing," a live storytelling program at MECA that celebrates Maine's African American community. And next month, bestselling author R.J. Palacio ("Wonder") is coming to Bowdoin College in Brunswick. If you're inspired by these events, we hope you'll also enjoy some of the fun links we've found from around the web:

Readers from all over the country came together to donate hundred of books to the Cherryfield Library, thanks to a Facebook post from "A Handful of Stars" author Cynthia Lord.

Do you have a short story you'd like to see published? “How to Cook a Moose” author Kate Christensen will be judging this contest where the winning story is narrated and recorded by a well-known actor. 

We love this design site dedicated to discovering new children’s books.

Have you seen these beautifully updated children's classics? 

We're thinking this cute, vintage-inspired pennant would look right at home in our offices.

Have a great weekend, everyone! 

[Art from "Beautiful Blackbird" by Ashley Bryan. Photo via Ashley Bryan Center.]