STORY CONNECTION EXPRESS – JANUARY 2008
Keeping in touch with Author & Award-winning Storyteller Dianne de Las Casas
“Connecting Kids and Learning through the Arts”
Theme: Happy and Healthy 2008!
© 2008 by Dianne de Las Casas

“Hi Dianne, I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed reading your message. Sounds like such a wonderful life (despite the water damage). I do arts and crafts … so these ideas are a treasure. I'm going to print them out and bring them home with me. Congratulations on your weight loss!!!! You'll need to update the photo on your business cards. I've just begun my quest for a healthier me this year and know how difficult it can be so kudos to you. Happy holidays!” - Sue Stewart, Libraries Unlimited

“Thanks for a chock-full newsletter. Every little bit goes a long way. Special thanks for the interactive Christmas story. Merry Christmas.” – Barbara Bockman

“Merry Christmas, Dianne, Soleil & Eliana! Always enjoy the newsletter, but had to comment on the recycle projects in this one. I'm going to use some of these ideas for my family Christmas party with my nieces & nephew. Thanks for the great ideas.” – Kitty Wood, Iberville Parish Libraries, Louisiana

“Dear Dianne, What great ideas and stories you have shared. You are a treasure! Merry Christmas!” – Marcia Ollinger, St. Louis, Missouri

CONTENTS
Note from Dianne
Happy and Healthy 2008!
Dianne Receives New Book Contract – Scared Silly
Dianne’s Website Received Over 1.2 Million Hits Last Year
Be a Sweetheart and Give a Gift of Handmade Tales
Story: The Greedy Frog, An Australian Aborigine Tale
Together Time Activity: Fabulous Family Fitness
Dianne’s Kids Media Connection
Take A Look at This Book by Eliana
Select Upcoming Events
Where Can I Find Dianne’s Recordings?
About Dianne de Las Casas

NOTE FROM DIANNE
Dear Friends:

The holidays were a special, spending a lot of time with family and friends. My Holiday Wine and Cheese Soiree’ was a hit! Guests received a Wine and Cheese Pairing Guide and brought their favorite bottle of wine. We had twelve cheeses from around the world displayed on glass blocks and mirrors. A large floral arrangement of red roses displayed in a jumbo “wine glass” took center stage. We sampled reds, whites, dessert wines (ice wine, port, muscat) and sparklings (Champagne and Italian sparkling wines). For dessert, chocolate (Brix), made especially to go with dessert wine, was served. We also served ice wine (very sweet) from Canada in miniature Belgian dark chocolate cups. Once you drank the wine, you ate the cup. And, of course, there was food – homemade roasted garlic tomato basil soup; stuffed mushrooms; a Christmas tree tower made of olives and cheese; mixed green salad with roasted pears, toasted pecans, blueberry stilton and a homemade raspberry vinaigrette; Honey H
am; chicken pesto pasta; pineapple sesame meatballs; roasted red potatoes; bacon wrapped chicken bites, lumpia (a Filipino eggroll) made by my mom; fruit salad made by my best friend, Johnette; and artichoke spinach dip made by my other best friend, Lisa. The wine, cheese, food, and company was fantastic! I can’t wait until next year’s holiday party!

Soleil (17 years old) and Eliana (7 years old) had a terrific holiday. Santa brought Soleil a presentation case and HUGE art portfolio to prepare her for art school. Santa brought Eliana everything on her list (she requested two things). You should have seen her face when she saw her new “Heelies” (skate shoes) and the Mouse Trap game. Priceless. Now she rolls everywhere. Eliana also received another surprise over the holidays – she lost her third tooth – one of the top middle teeth. Now she has the “black hole” and a funny lisp. It seems like just yesterday that Soleil was waiting for the tooth fairy to visit. Speaking of tooth fairies, Soleil found her “tooth fairy” jar from when she was little and passed it on to her sister. That was truly a treasure.

Soleil has applied to some of the top art schools in the country – Pratt Institute in NYC (Brooklyn), Rhode Island School of Design, Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, and Columbia College in downtown Chicago. She’s getting her art portfolio together and applying for scholarships. Her ambition is to become a… children’s book illustrator!!

Antonio and I treated ourselves to a gourmet gas grill complete with a side burner, granite countertop, and tons of storage. Even in the cold weather, I venture out to heat up the grill. We grill and roast some of the most delicious dinners!

Last year, I visualized a goal of receiving four new book contracts. By the time I sent out December’s newsletter, I had only three. Then on December 27, 2007, I received word that I was being given a new book contract! Wow! Read all about the book below…

Today is my birthday! Yay! I was served a tasty breakfast-in-bed. Yum! My family threw me a wonderful party this past Sunday. Antonio grilled steaks, asparagus, mixed vegetables and sweet potatoes. Soleil baked a homemade, from scratch “Peanutty Chocolate Scrumdiddlyumptious Cake.” I had a small slice (after all, it’s my birthday) and it tasted as good as it looked. I’ll share her recipe next month – it will make a great Valentine’s Day treat. I'll be sharing my birthday with a few hundred children because I have three "Jambalaya" shows today. Now THAT'S a cool birthday party!

I have to tell you that last month, I received a record amount of emails in response to my newsletter. The overwhelming amount was in response to my weight loss! Most of the responses I chose not to print because they were very personal. I was so touched by the words of encouragement, the stories of struggles, and the tales of weight loss victories people shared with me. I also received a lot of “How did you do it?” emails. So, for this month’s newsletter, I thought I would share with you the tips and tricks I used to become happier and healthier and how I brought my whole family on board.

Happy and Healthy 2008! Here’s to you!

Warmest Wishes,
Dianne

HAPPY AND HEALTHY 2008!
By Dianne de Las Casas

Okay. So I lost 60 lbs. I went from a size 24 to a size 12. It happened from May 2007 through October 2007. Everyone has been asking me, “What is your secret?! How did you do it?!” Well, this might disappoint you. There was no magic involved – no “quick fixes.” I lost 60 lbs. without the aid of shakes, pills, meetings, or surgery. Quite simply, it was changing my lifestyle – the way I eat, my daily activity, and my daily intake of H2O.

I’m still working on shedding a few more pounds but let me tell you, I feel great! I take pleasure in small victories – being able to wrap a “hotel” towel all the way around, not having to readjust the seatbelt from the person before me when I sit in an airline seat, shopping in the (GULP) junior’s section, and wearing a belt around my waist! But the biggest success came from how my body responded to my weight loss – I can climb stairs with ease (yes, my knees are pleased) and my doctor said I beat Type 2 Diabetes (I was diagnosed as a borderline diabetic and at one time even had to shoot insulin). That’s enough to make anyone dance and shout and shake your body down to the ground!

Of course, I also love how I look in clothes. How I can now wear a belt. How my husband looks at me like I am a new bride! I even revolutionized the whole family. My husband, Antonio, lost over 20 lbs., Soleil carts gourmet salads to school for lunch, and Eliana (my little chef) helps me prepare our healthy meals. Here’s what I did:

Quit Complaining and Commit
One day, I stood bare in front of the mirror and was astounded at how much my body had changed. The mirror told no lie. I was facing the naked truth. I was overweight. I decided then and there to quit complaining and commit to a happier, healthier me. No more excuses – this wasn’t “baby weight” – my baby was seven years old! It was after facing the “naked truth” that I decided to make changes. So quit complaining about your present state and commit to creating a healthier you.

Build a Support System
Get people on board – your family, friends and co-workers. The more people know, the more you will feel accountable. They can also help you by removing temptation and encouraging you if you backslide. They can also be your greatest cheerleaders. We all need those!

Beauty Comes in All Shapes and Sizes
One emotional issue I had to overcome was the societal view of how women should look. There are beautiful women all over the world who don’t look like magazine models! I probably won’t ever have the body I had at 18 and that’s okay. Beauty radiates from the inside out. And of course, it’s cyclical. Once you start shedding a few pounds, you feel better and that shows!

Understand How Your Body Works
Learning about good nutrition and how it works with your body is important. You don’t have to starve and kill the carbs. Your body needs a proper amount of proteins, fruit, vegetables, and the right carbs (whole wheat, whole grains). When you digest refined or processed sugar, it breaks down in your body and is stored as fat. So watch for foods that say “Fat Free” – they are usually full of sugar. “Bad” carbs (white starches such as potatoes, pasta, and bread made of enriched, bleached flour) aren’t always bad. But you do have to moderate daily and if you have a choice, choose whole wheat and whole grain carbs. Carbs turn to sugar which, without proper activity, turns to stored fat. If you indulge in carbs, you have to turn up your activity that day. Increased activity such as exercise burns calories. Reduced calorie intake and increased activity = weight loss.

Pack up the Pantry
It’s time for a kitchen overhaul. Remove the items in your pantry and fridge that are likely to tempt you. No more Little Debbie’s Swiss Rolls, Twinkies or Pringles. No more Twizzlers even though they say “FAT FREE” (they’re loaded with sugar)! Replace sugary snacks with healthy alternatives – fresh fruit, raisins, dried fruit, granola for the kids… Once you reduce the amount of refined sugar in your diet, you will find that all foods taste better. Fruit is sweeter. Try it!

Learn the Labels
When you go grocery shopping, read the labels. Foods are full of hidden fat cells just waiting to attach themselves to your tummy, hips and thighs. Anything ending in “OSE” is usually a sugar – fructose, dextrose, glucose… For my family, shopping is easy. We generally stay away from “boxed” and processed foods, going for the produce, meat and dairy section.

Ditch the Diet Sodas
Diet sodas are addictive. I used to drink up to a six pack per day. It’s not hard. And although they don’t have calories, diet drinks do not promote weight loss. Hydrate with water. Good old-fashioned H2O. The healthy benefits of drinking water are almost immediate – skin looks better because you are hydrating from the inside out. Drinking lots of water also helps to “flush” your system. Once you add a healthy amount of water (I try to drink at least 60-80 oz. per day), your body will adjust and you won’t have to trek to the water closet every five minutes.

ADD 20-30 MINUTES OF SUSTAINED ACTIVITY 3-5 DAYS A WEEK
This was a big one for me. Notice I put the above heading in all caps? Yes, it’s that important. Exercise is key. Make time. Everyone has 20 minutes a day. My husband and I exercise in the evenings. We walk in our neighborhood together. We also have a treadmill and I use that too. But here’s the thing about walking. Once you’re out the door and you’ve traveled a bit, you have to walk back! With a treadmill, it’s easy to just get off and turn it off. We walk about 1.5 to 2 miles per day, 4-5 days a week. Off on weekends. When I travel, I usually stay in a hotel/motel that has a gym. Almost all of them do now. So I get on the treadmill or the bike and spin. Or I find a mall and walk around.

So walk it off! Walking is the easiest exercise you can do. You don’t have to learn how to do it – you do it every day. Walk in the neighborhood or at a mall if weather is bad. Buy a walking video. Leslie Sansone has some great walking exercise videos. When you begin walking as exercise, use your arms so that you can get your heart rate up – that’s cardiovascular exercise. Some “power walkers” are faster than joggers! Once you build up your stamina, try adding 1 pound wrist weights to each arm. Carry water with you to hydrate.

I also adhere to an ab and arm workout to tone my muscles. So there is resistance as well as cardiovascular training. Yes, it’s hard at first. But the results are soooo worth the sacrifice!

Exercise with a partner
Studies show that you are more likely to succeed in an exercise program if you have a partner – someone you are accountable to. Meet a girlfriend at a track. Walk the neighborhood with your husband, sister, or mother. Join a walking club. The benefits of exercising with a partner is that the time passes quickly because you are engaged in conversation. My husband and I are going to invest in dance lessons – we’ll salsa our way to skinny! Hahaha.

Don’t Starve Yourself – Eat… Right!
People always ask me, “Are you hungry?” My answer is no. I am not hungry because I eat a lot of the right foods. Fill up on delicious vegetables and you will feel full because of the fiber. I have learned and created lots of recipes to make vegetables taste as wonderful as the rest of the food on the table.

Cook (and Clean) in the Kitchen Together
Not only is mealtime faster and easier, there is the added bonus of together time as a family. I love having my family help me prep meals. I take the opportunity to show them how to prepare delicious, healthy meals. They also give me input and help me plan the family menu. In fact, my birthday is today, January 15, and Antonio and the girls prepared a big family birthday dinner for me, all on the outdoor grill (okay, except for the homemade cake my oldest daughter baked…). I was not allowed in the “kitchen.”

Grill, Broil and Bake
New Orleans and the South is notorious for fried foods. Yum. But fried foods are full of fat! Grill, broil and bake your meals, especially your meats. Later in this issue, I’ll give you some tantalizing grilling and baking recipes. I love my George Forman grill. You can cook frozen meat such as steaks, fish, and chicken breasts in mere minutes. The George Forman is also great if you are cooking for one or two people.

EVOO
For those of you who are Food Network or Rachael Ray fans, you know what EVOO means – Extra Virgin Olive Oil. It’s healthier than using butter or other oils. Sautee’ chicken or shrimp with a mélange of vegetables in a little bit of EVOO for a delicious and fast meal.

Savvy Salads
Salads can get boring. Lettuce, tomatoes… ugh. So change things up a bit. Spice up salads like they do in fancy restaurants. Add roasted pears, apples, peaches, nectarines, pineapples or roasted grapes drizzled with a bit of good quality Balsamic vinegar. Add fresh herbs such as cilantro, basil, oregano, thyme, and mint. Change up your greens – baby spinach, friseé, mixed baby greens, romaine, butter lettuce (also called Boston or Bibb lettuce). Make your salad gourmet by adding a bit of quality cheese – blueberry stilton, crumbled gorgonzola, freshly grated parmesan, feta, havarti, blue cheese, fresh mozzarella… Create your own salad dressings – vinaigrettes are sooo easy. You don’t even need a fancy food processor to make a quick vinaigrette. Olive oil and vinegar are the base. Add salt and pepper and whisk briskly. You have a vinaigrette. Jazz it up with dried or fresh herbs, or berries such as blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries. Grilled chicken, fajita steak, salmo
n and grilled tuna make excellent additions. Add your protein and you have a meal. I also like to garnish with nuts such as almonds, pecans, and walnuts. Salad toppers such as Salad Pizzazz! can really add zest to a salad. The one we like is Tomato N Bacon Parmesano. Mmmm! It has 1 gram of sugar and 2 grams of carbs per tablespoon, and a tablespoon is all you need. We love going to the Farmer’s Market to buy fresh, organic veggies. Imagine getting a couple pounds of butter or romaine lettuce for just $2!

Eat “Super Foods”
There is now research that validates the power of “super foods,” foods that are powerful enough to help you lower your cholesterol, reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer, and, for an added bonus, put you in a better mood. Here are ten super foods: beans, blueberries, broccoli, oats, oranges, pumpkin, salmon, soy, spinach, green or black tea, tomatoes, turkey, walnuts and yogurt. Just Google “super foods” and you will find a plethora of information about the benefits of these foods that can be found right at your local grocery store!

Eat Chocolate
What? That’s not diet advice, you say. Au contraire, mon frère. An ounce of dark chocolate per day lowers high blood pressure. The answer is plant phenols -- cocoa phenols, to be exact. These compounds are known to lower blood pressure. Dark chocolate also contains anti-oxidants that can help with anti-aging. Chocolates made in Europe are generally richer in cocoa phenols than those made in the U.S. Remember: Darker is better. Go for the 70% or higher cacao content. I love dark chocolate covered blueberries and cranberries. They make a great after dinner dessert and satisfy the sweet tooth.

Moderate Portions
We all like to dine out. But many restaurants give way too much food. The result is that we generally eat what is on the plate just because it’s there and you want to get your “money’s worth.” When dining out, split your dinner with a companion. My husband and I like to dine at fine restaurants from time to time. When we do, we split an appetizer, entreé, and order a couple of veggie sides or salads. And if we decide to splurge, we split dessert. If you are eating an entreé alone, box up half of it immediately. That way, you won’t be tempted to eat more than you should.

Fast Food Fixes
I’m guilty. You’re guilty. We all have to eat on the run at times. How do you avoid fast food sabotage? If you must have a burger and fries, go for the kid’s meal. It is a smaller portion. Many fast food restaurants now offer alternatives to fries and soda. At McDonald’s, you can get Apple Dippers instead of fries, with a kid’s meal. Eliana, my 7 year old, always gets Apple Dippers instead of fries. McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s and Chick-Fil-A all offer grilled chicken sandwiches. The one at McD’s is on a whole wheat bun. Wendy’s offers a fruit cup instead of fries. So does Chick-Fil-A. In fact, Chick-Fil-A is my fave fast food so when I absolutely can’t live without their chicken, I order the nuggets (no bun) and go for the fruit cup.

Watch the Empty Calories
Sodas, Alcohol (yes, beer), and sweetened drinks and juices all contain empty calories. It doesn’t feel like calories because it’s just liquid. But believe me, those calories count!

Weigh Every Day
This is contrary to much of the diet advice out there but it works for me. I don’t mean weigh yourself every day all day long. Just once a day, at the same time, wearing the same type of clothes. I weigh in the morning. This lets me know exactly where I stand and how I need to plan my day. If extra weight has crept on, it’s time to step up the exercise regime. If I have lost some weight, I celebrate (but not by binging).

Get Rid of Old Clothes Immediately
Don’t keep your “fat” clothes, just in case. That sets you up for failure. Get rid of them. Donate them to a worthy charity or have a garage sale. When you buy new clothes, stay away from elastic-waisted clothes (except for leggings, which I love!). Buy buttoned and zippered pants and skirts. That way, you’ll know immediately if any weight has crept on.

Celebrate When You Lose Weight
Finally, treat yourself every time you reach a milestone (every five or ten pounds). Take a bubble bath; have a candlelight dinner; buy a favorite CD; get a massage, facial, manicure, or pedicure; go to the movies; or go shopping and buy yourself a new outfit. You deserve it! Woo hoo!

The bottom line is that losing weight is about hard work. It’s about making the commitment and sticking to it. It’s about putting yourself and your health first. It’s about… time! So go out and get fit. You can do it! You’ll love the new you. Happy and Healthy 2008!

DIANNE RECEIVES NEW BOOK CONTRACT – SCARED SILLY
On December 27, 2007, I was informed by my editor at Libraries Unlimited/Teacher Ideas Press that my latest book proposal was approved. Scared Silly: 25 Tales to Tickle and Thrill will be a primer on telling spooky stories. It will also contain 25 thrilling and chilling tales, full of fun audience participation. It’s the perfect book for educators, librarians, and parents who want to share a thrill with their kids. Look for it in 2009.

DIANNE’S WEBSITE RECEIVED OVER 1.2 MILLION HITS LAST YEAR
The stats are in. Thanks to you, my website received over 1.2 million hits last year! Woo hoo! THANK YOU! You’ll have even more reason to stop by and visit The Story Connection as we are updating and growing bigger. I’ll let you know when it’s ready but here’s what we’re working on: “Story of the Month,” each month, on the front page, will be a link to a brand new story not featured in Story Connection Express; a new section called “Dianne’s Story Collection,” featuring stories from around the world, fingerplays, games, and story theater scripts; printable resources for educators, librarians and parents; new videos featuring me telling stories; a brand new kids section with interactive games, crafts, recipes, printable board games, and coloring pages; a “Together Time” section that features all of the “Together Time” activities from previous Story Connection Express issues; and a secret passageway for members only (ssshhh! It’s a top secret project but I’ll let you in on the
secret when it’s ready…). So keep visiting The Story Connection http://www.storyconnection.net (first thing to go up will be “Dianne’s Story Collection” under the resources button). Let me know what you think. After all, I’m doing it for you!

BE A SWEETHEART AND GIVE A GIFT OF HANDMADE TALES
Be a sweetheart and give a gift that everyone will love, Handmade Tales: Stories to Make and Take, just in time for Valentine's Day. With over 25 “make and take” stories, Handmade Tales is full of hands-on fun! Educators, librarians, parents and children will love how paper, string, bandanas, napkins, handkerchiefs, towels and even shoelaces are transformed from the ordinary into the extraordinary. ISBN 1-59158-536-8 Order your copy from your local bookseller (makes a great gift for your child’s teacher or school librarian or YOU) or from Libraries Unlimited http://www.lu.com. Handmade Tales is also available as a 2-6 hour workshop or teacher in-service. For more information, email me at Dianne@storyconnection.net. Happy Handmade Tales to You!

STORY: THE GREEDY FROG
An Australian Aborigine Tale Retold by Dianne de Las Casas

In the time of dreaming, there lived a GIGANTIC frog. He was nearly as big as a mountain! After rainbow serpent came down from the sky to create the earth, mountains rose, valleys formed, and water appeared in every form. There were rivers, billabongs, lakes and ponds. The land was beautiful and all the animals shared the water.

One day, the gigantic frog became very thirsty. So he hopped over to the rivers and he drank all the water – SLURP! He was still thirsty so he hopped over to the billabongs and he drank all the water – SLURP! He was still thirsty so he hopped over to the lakes and he drank all the water – SLURP! Can you believe he was still thirsty?! So he hopped over the ponds and he drank all the water – SLURP!

When he was finished, guess how much water was left? That’s right! None! The gigantic frog was a greedy frog! He drank all the water in Australia! The water had filled his gigantic belly, making it big and round. He could hardly move. He became so tired that he fell into a deep sleep.

Now the land was without water. The river beds were cracked, the billabongs were parched, the lakes were dusty, and the ponds were dry. Because there was no water, terrible things happened to the land. The trees sagged, the leaves fell, and the flowers wilted.

The animals were so thirsty, they could barely move. With all their strength, they came together to discuss their troubles. Kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, dingos, wombats, kookaburras, emus, and eels gathered. Wise Wallaby said, “Perhaps we can talk to the greedy frog and ask for our water back.” One by one, the animals tried to talk to the greedy frog but still he slept.

Koala said, “We have to do something soon! We cannot live without water!” Dingo said, “Let us force the water out of him by jumping on him.” One by one, the animals jumped on the greedy frog but still he slept. Kangaroo even bounced thirty feet in the air but it did no good. The animals were upset and about to give up.

Emu said, “I have an idea. Let’s make the greedy frog laugh. Once he starts laughing, his belly will shake and all the water will spill out of him.” One by one, the animals climbed onto the greedy frog and began tickling him. Kookaburra tickled the frog’s neck. Wombat tickled the frog’s knees. But Eel began twisting and dancing on the greedy frog’s belly.

The greedy frog slowly began to quiver and quake. Then he began to shiver and shake. His belly began to wiggle and jiggle. Suddenly, he burst out laughing and the animals ran for cover as the water spilled out. The waters ran into the river beds. The waters rushed into the billabongs. The waters tumbled into the lakes. And the waters poured into the ponds.

Once again, water had returned to Australia and the animals were able to share the water. Again, the trees stood tall, the leaves danced in the wind, and the flowers lifted their faces to the warm sun. The once gigantic frog shrank and shrank and shrank until he was no bigger than the size of your hand. The earth was beautiful once more.

From that time on, the animals agreed to take no more than their share of the water. Everyone that is, except for the greedy frog. To this day, the greedy frogs still live in Australia. The Aborigines know that when they fill their bellies up with water and bury themselves deep beneath the earth, it is a warning that a drought is coming.

And that is the tale of the Greedy Frog.

TOGETHER TIME ACTIVITY: FABULOUS FAMILY FITNESS
It’s time for fabulous family fitness. Get together with your kids and get active!

Let’s Play Outside
Revisit the active games you loved as a child: Tag, Hide and Seek, Duck Duck Goose, Red Rover, Mother May I?, Hopscotch, Chinese Jump Rope, Red Light Green Light, Capture the Flag, etc. Gather a group together – your children and their friends and have a “Let’s Play Outside Day.” Not surprisingly, many of these games are still popular on the playground today. They are timeless classics. So get movin’ and find your inner child. Here’s a link with instructions to many of the games mentioned: http://www.gameskidsplay.net/

Family Olympics
Plan a day of family fun outdoors and host a “Family Olympics.” Some games you can play include: ring toss, horse shoe, tug of war, potato sack races, three legged races, balloon toss, and wheel barrel races. Award gold, silver, and bronze medals but be sure everyone receives a participation prize. Offer plenty of healthy snacks such as sliced fruit, granola, yogurt, and string cheese, and don’t forget the water! Of course, if you live in the north, you may have to wait until the weather warms up!

Yoga for Kids
With poses like the monkey and the swan, yoga for kids is full of fun! Grab a mat and get on the floor! Work out with your children for twenty minutes. Check out this You Tube Video hosted by the Yee Family featuring family yoga. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LnTP7P46Aw It’s so cute watching the family yoga together!

Working Out Together
Incorporate the children into your daily workout routine. Eliana loves to work out with me when I do abs and arms. I have modified some the exercises for her so she can keep up with me. Go to You Tube and search “family workout” for some inspiration. http://www.youtube.com Walking, of course, is another great form of exercise the whole family can do together. You can also hike, ride bikes, sled downhill (once you’re downhill, you have to climb back up!), skate, ice skate, play ice hockey, fly a kite, throw a Frisbee, even walk the dog together as a family!

Introduce exercise as a regular part of your and your children’s lives and have some family fitness fun!

DIANNE’S KIDS MEDIA CONNECTION
CHILDREN’S BOOKS
Maybe a Bear Ate It
By Robie Harris
Illustrated by Michael Emberly
Picture Book Ages 3-8
ISBN-13: 978-0-439-92961-5
ISBN-10: 0-439-92961-X
Created as a read-together book, Robie Harris explores what happens to a child when he loses his FAVORITE book. "Maybe a bear ate it!" The imaginative writing is complemented by Michael Emberly's exuberant and comical illustrations. This short but fun read is perfect for bedtime.
http:/www.scholastic.com

Blue Goose
Nancy Tafuri
Picture Book Ages 3-8
ISBN-13: 978-1--4169-2834-8
ISBN-10: 1-4169-2834-0
When Farmer Gray goes away, Blue Goose, Yellow Chick, Red Hen and White Duck begin painting the farm for Farmer Gray. The book begins in black and white, with only the animals in color. White Duck paints the fence white. Yellow Chick paints the flowers yellow. Blue Goose paints the roof blue. Red Hen paints the barn red. Then they begin mixing colors to create purple, orange, green and even light blue. When Farmer Gray returns, he is surprised and delighted. Nancy Tafuri's clever story and fanciful art make a vivid book that is perfect for teaching colors.

In Aunt Giraffe's Green Garden
By Jack Prelutsky
Illustrated by Petra Mathers
Picture Book Ages 3-8
ISBN: 978-0-06-623868-5
Jack Prelutsky, first Children's Poet Laureate, presents 28 poems filled with wackiness that kids will love. You'll find a blue goose and a green duck who drive a rusty truck, mice that travel to Denver, and donkeys and ducks that play checkers, hopscotch and jacks. My favorite is:

"The poodles ate oodles of noodles,
the setter ate lettuce on rye
A small pekinese
ate nothing but peas,
and a greyhound ran off with the pie."

Petra Mathers demonstrates a wide range of talent, illustrating everything from the silly to the serene. Poetry with Prelutsky is perfect!
http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS BOOK
By Eliana

The Fungus that Ate My School
By Arthur Dorros
Illustrated by David Catrow
Picture Book Ages 4-9
A group of friends conduct a science experiment about fungus. They bring it to school and then leave for vacation. When they come back to school, they find that the fungus grew and is eating their school. They get scared. Their teacher, Mr. Harrison, knows a person, Professor Macademia, who knows how to get rid of fungus. They clean all the fungus up and when they do, they make a great discovery. The class receives a special award from the museum. No more fungus experiments... until next year! My favorite part of the book is when the fungus starts eating Alex's notebook and Ellen's homework. Even if you don't like fungus, you'll love this book!

SELECT UPCOMING EVENTS
Want to find out where Dianne is performing? Check out Dianne’s continually updated performance calendar on her website at
http://www.storyconnection.net/?content=calendar

WHERE CAN I FIND DIANNE’S RECORDINGS?
Dianne’s CDs, Jump, Jiggle & Jam ~ A Rhythmic Romp through Story Land, Jambalaya ~ Stories with Louisiana Flavor and World Fiesta ~ Celebrations in Story and Song are available at the following online retailers:

Dianne’s website http://www.storyconnection.net
CD Baby http://www.cdbaby.com
Bathtub Music http://www.bathtubmusic.com
Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com
Tower Records http://www.towerrecords.com

Major Catalogs:
Book Wholesalers, Inc (BWI) http://www.bwibooks.com
The Book House, Inc. http://www.thebookhouse.com
Follett Library Resources http://www.follett.com
Instructional Video http://www.insvideo.com
The AV Café http://www.theavcafe.com

ABOUT DIANNE DE LAS CASAS
Full of contagious energy, author and multi-award winning storyteller Dianne de Las Casas sizzles on stage with “traditional folklore gone fun!” and “revved-up storytelling!” Audiences don’t just listen – they sing, clap, chant and roar! Childhood travels around the world helped shape her future as a storyteller. Dianne lived in the Philippines, Hawaii, and Spain and traveled across Europe and the United States. Her varied cultural experiences nourish her imagination, and she continues to draw on that knowledge, adding depth and richness to her tales. Dianne travels internationally performing and presenting programs, workshops, educator/librarian professional development workshops, and artist residencies.

Thank you for subscribing to Story Connection Express.

Warmly,
Dianne

Dianne de Las Casas
The Story Connection
Author & Award-winning Storyteller
P.O. Box 2656
Harvey, LA 70059
(504) 368-1831
dianne@storyconnection.net
http://www.storyconnection.net

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"Connecting Kids and Learning Through the Arts"

Books:
Scared Silly: 25 Tales to Tickle and Thrill (Libraries Unlimited, forthcoming)
The Cajun Cornbread Boy (Pelican Publishing Co., forthcoming)
The Story Biz Handbook (Libraries Unlimited, forthcoming)
Tangram Tales: Story Theater Using the Ancient Chinese Puzzle (Teacher Ideas Press, forthcoming)
Handmade Tales: Stories to Make and Take (Teacher Ideas Press, 2007)
Kamishibai Story Theater: The Japanese Art of Picture Telling (Teacher Ideas Press 2006)
Story Fest: Crafting Story Theater Scripts (Teacher Ideas Press 2005)
Telling Stories to Children (contributing author) (National Storytelling Press 2005)

Recordings:
Jump, Jiggle & Jam ~ A Rhythmic Romp through Story Land
2006 NAPPA Honors Award
2006 Children’s Music Web Award
Rave Review in School Library Journal (SLJ “Audio of the Week”)
Rave Review in Publisher’s Weekly
World Fiesta ~ Celebrations in Story and Song
2005 Children’s Music Web Award
Rave review in ALA Booklist
School Library Journal "Audio of the Week”
Jambalaya ~ Stories with Louisiana Flavor
2004 iParenting Media Award
2004 Children's Music Web Award
2005 Storytelling World Award for "The Ghost of Jean Lafitte"
Rave reviews in School Library Journal & AudioFile Magazine