...also, manateens, schools of mana-pre's/manapreschoolers, momatees, dadatees... We've recently discovered a plethora of orphan manatee drawings in the decafe. We've decided to compile these into a collection--a manatee shelter of sorts. Each month we'll post our newest "poster manatee" for all to see. We encourage you to sign them so we can feature the manatee owner as well.
August "poster manatee" by the Draw Box featured at August's Oakley After Hours.
When his mother has to fly away one afternoon, she leaves Baby Dragon by the big fern on the riverbank with the instruction to wait for her there till she arrives back next morning. Baby Dragon waits, getting sadder and sadder, until Crocodile glides by with a tempting offer: he will take Baby Dragon to find his mother.
In the back pages of Vanity Fair each month, readers find The Proust Questionnaire, a series of questions posed to famous subjects about their lives, thoughts, values and experience. We thought that it would be fun to feature this same questionnaire in Meet the Family each month. The young Marcel Proust was asked to fill out questionnaires at two social events: one when he was 13, another when he was 20. Proust did not invent this party game; he is simply the most extraordinary person to respond to them...until now! ...Bill Smith, father of two, husband of one, songwriter to the young at heart and pretty much everyone else.
* What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Network Television Programming during the summer. * Where would you like to live? In a van down by a river, then a yellow submarine. * What is your idea of earthly happiness? My two kids in my lap, curled up with a book that has pictures and a good story. * Who are your favorite heroes of fiction? Peter Pevensie, Bilbo Baggins, Aslan * Who are your favorite characters in history? Joseph, Jesus Christ, and J.M. Barrie * Who are your favorite heroines in real life? My wife. * Who are your favorite heroines of fiction? Lucy Pevensie, Trixie (and her mom)from Knuffle Bunny. * Your favorite musician? Josh Seurkamp. * The quality you most admire in a man? Boyishness. * The quality you most admire in a woman? Tenacity. * Who would you have liked to be? I would have liked to have been myself more often. * Your most marked characteristic? Indecisivenes...I think. I don't know. What do you think? * What do you most value in your friends? Tempered insight. * What is your principle defect? My right knee. * What is your dream of happiness? To wake up and find it right where I left it the night before, all around me. * What to your mind would be the greatest of misfortunes? To reach the end of my life and find I never really lived it. * What would you like to be? What I am already, but more consistently. * In what country would you like to live? In a big country, dreams stay with you… * Who are your favorite prose writers? Donald Miller, Dave Eggers, C.S. Lewis * Who are your favorite poets? Shel Silverstein, Jack Prelutsky, Adam Schlesinger, Ellis Paul * What are your favorite names? The Bean and Lucy, my kids' nearly inexplicable nicknames. * What is it you most dislike? Gossip, broken guitar strings, and the sound of Styrofoam breaking. * What historical figures do you most despise? Stalin, Hitler, Herod, Seti I, * What natural gift would you most like to possess? Photographic memory. * What is your present state of mind? The Lowcountry of South Carolina. * To what faults do you feel most indulgent? The New Madrid, although I've always wanted to visit California. * What is your motto? You don't stop playing because you've grown old, you've grown old because you've stopped playing.
See Bill Smith perform at Blue Manatee during Oakley After Hours Friday, August 29 6:30-8:00pm
Did you know that blue manatee smoothies are made with ALL organic ingredients?
We only use frozen organic fruit, juice, and bases in our smoothies. No fillers, no ice, no added sugar.
So when you're looking for an afterschool snack, a midday meal, or a morning pick me up, stop by and get a glass of goodness from your friends at blue manatee!
As many of you may already know, Katie LePage (better known as "Miss Katie" to our story time friends) has retired from her post as everyone's favorite bookstore "grandmother." The Blue Manatee family is sad to see her go and fondly recalls her years of dedication to the independent bookstore scene.
An English major and music lover, Miss Katie found her niche storytelling, and, in the process, created quite a fan club! Miss Katie worked for a small independent children's bookstore in O'Bryonville before coming to The Blue Marble (Blue Manatee's former name) in 1990. Thanks to her extensive knowledge of children's books, she enjoyed a following of customers who shopped on her work days, seeking her recommendations and gift-buying advice.
Miss Katie's talents as a storyteller and gifted singer and guitarist have touched generations of story-time fans. Blue Manatee Bookstore manager Sheri Hill recalls, "My daughter Julianna, who was 12 years old when [The Blue Marble] first opened in 1989,...always pictured bringing her future children to story time with Miss Katie. And she has!"
Outside of the bookstore, Katie LePage is an avid traveler, along with her husband, Peter. Her ventures have taken her all over Europe, including the United Kingdom, and her favorite place, Ireland. Blue Manatee has been blessed and honored to have such a worldly, talented, intelligent, and kind person be a vital part of the bookstore family. We wish her the best.
Blue Manatee is thrilled to host a book signing with Victoria Holmes, brainchild and editor of the enormously popular Warriors series written by Erin Hunter. Victoria will speak and engage in what will surely be an enlightening Q & A session as well as sign the Warriors: Power of Three #4: Eclipse by Erin Hunter.
Warriors Signing with Victoria Holmes Thurs, Sept 4 6:00-8:00pm
(we're expecting a packed house, so arrive early to ensure a good seat.)
Youth literary arts troupe and Scripps-Corbett Award winner Writers of Outstanding Words (WOW) will be signing a compilation book of their summer session. This year over 100 children from as far as Houston, Texas practiced the craft of fine art, writing, and quilting which all culminated into this wonderful book.
WOW Book Signing Saturday, August 30 1:00-2:00pm Please join us for a signing and refreshments with some of the contributors of the book.
Here at blue manatee, we're always searching for great family music, and we're not shy about sharing our favorites with you. What we look for in an album: -repeatability (because most things are tolerable...once) -sing-a-long-ocity -adult friendliness
So, according to those guidelines, some of the new favorites are...
Soulville
A collection of Motown Classics, encased in a board book including information about Soul Music (Soul Facts) and the time period in which they were made. The versions on this album are performed by children and adults, but do not let that sway you, it passed the manatee test.
(Thanks to Danny at Tune A Fish Records for helping us find this one!)
for the kids three
This is the favorite of the For the Kids series, with a great opening song by Of Montreal, a band not normally associated children's music. Also a hit is the Over the Rhine song, "The Poopsmith Song," with the infectious "poop in the potty" refrain. Hip parents themselves, Mates of State offer a fantastic version of "Jellyman Kelly."
August "poster manatee" by the Draw Box featured at August's Oakley After Hours.
August "poster manatee" by the Draw Box featured at August's Oakley After Hours.
