Posts by Nancy Bo Flood
Never Again
NEVER AGAIN—the cry of survivors of the Holocaust NEVER AGAIN—continues to echo across Holland, Belgium, France, Germany, and on and on Last fall when I first began biking from Belgium…
Read MoreRights of Children: Education
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela Yes, education is power. All children have the right to go to school. All…
Read MoreNot Allowed
Last week I introduced The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This astounding document lists thirty basic rights promised to children everywhere. Today lets look more closely at several of these…
Read MoreThe Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Pictures
On December 17th, I introduced to my readers the visionary document, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. I asked, “What if during this holiday time of gifts and family, food…
Read MoreThe Silence of Our Friends
“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends.” —Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I often re-read these words spoken by…
Read MoreMany Ways We Tell Our Stories: Poetry in Public Places
An homage to storytelling in Thunder Bay, Ontario, quoting from “The Dimness of Mothers and Daughters,” by Marilyn Dumont. From the plaque (because it may be hard to read): “This…
Read MoreChildren’s Rights
What rights do children have? If you could, what rights would you give to every child—every child—during this sacred time of year? Imagine this, the United Nations in December of…
Read More“Onward, onward!”
I became absorbed with Vincent van Gogh’s paintings at “his” museum in Amsterdam. I had never seen his work close-up in person. Such rich color, such captured energy. And faces…
Read MoreMany Ways We Tell Our Stories: The Trees
“Sometimes a tree can tell you more than can be read in a book.” —Carl Jung Do trees make sound? Do they talk amongst themselves? Do they talk to us?…
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Banned Books, Banned Topics:
Prayer, still forbidden in children’s literature
Times have greatly changed the rules for writing in children’s literature. Sex is okay but periods … maybe. Swearing, exploring gender identity, exploring sexuality – go right ahead. But spirituality? Tip-toe with caution.
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Many Ways We Tell Our Stories:
Giant Puppets, Giants Stories, Dangerous Ideas
We stump across the stage or parade down your street.
Hear us ROAR our terrible words.
Listen. Laugh. Perhaps shiver.
Many Ways We Tell Our Stories: Street Art
Some stories are too big to put on paper or canvas. This week, we take a look at street art, art that involves the community.
Read MoreMany Ways We Tell Our Stories: American Sign Language
I am deaf. I cannot hear anything, not even my own voice. But every day I share my stories—what I am thinking, what I have learned, what worries me. I listen to others with my eyes; I speak with my hands, my whole face, my body language, too. American Sign Language is like speaking a silent song. Watch.
Read MoreMany Ways We Tell Our Stories: Tattoos
We tell our stories – we tell on ourselves – by the symbols we wear on our skin. Who are you? Tattoo is how I tell you. Look at my…
Read MoreMany Ways We Tell Our Stories: Mime
Mime, speak without words! You will never hear my voice. You will never forget the stories I tell. Watch! The mime moves soundlessly across the stage, his back to us. He turns around. His face is white. His eyebrows are outlined black. His smiling lips are bright red. We watch as he climbs stairs where There are no stairs Opens a window Peeks in Surprise!
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