Ants may rule the hill, but they don’t rule here! Art by Landon (Click to Enlarge)
Hello, Great Readers of our series! Just in case you haven’t visited before, let me tell you a little about A Great Nephew & A Great Aunt. My great nephew, Landon (a fifth-grader) and I (his great aunt) collaborate. I write a poem which he illustrates. We started this collaboration last fall and have had so much fun with it that we decided to invite others along. Landon and I will continue to have a new episode on the second Friday of each month. The other Fridays are filling up quickly with guests. I have created a page on my website to view all the episodes of A Great Nephew & A Great Aunt. Click HERE to visit the page and enjoy past episodes.
Today I’m thrilled to welcome . . .
Laura Sassi and her 10 year old daughter, little miss A!
This is what Laura had to say about their collaboration:
“Every day after school this week, my daughter has been fashioning mermaid paper dolls as well as a growing collection of mermaid outfits hanging on hangers using her colored pencils, stiff art paper and scissors. She has then been playing mermaid boutique. With the dolls and her play as my inspiration, I now present —-“
And no wonder Laura was inspired! Look at this art!
Art by little miss A
I think Ebb and Flo are the luckiest mermaids ever! They will have the whole, entire ocean swimming over to shop at their boutique!
Thanks, Laura and little miss A for sharing your poem and art! I know you made quite a splash with our readers!
Meet Laura: Laura’s poems, stories, articles and crafts have appeared in many publications including Highlights for Children, Cricket,Ladybug, Spider, Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse and Clubhouse Jr., FamilyFun, and Pack-O-Fun. Her first picture book, GOODNIGHT, ARK, published by Zonderkidz, a HarperCollins Company, and illustrated by Jane Chapman, set sail this past August. Her second book is scheduled to release this coming October. Stay tuned for details….
In addition to writing, Laura loves doing creative projects with her kids (like knitting and building with Legos) and is delighted that her daughter enjoys drawing and using her imagination just as much as her mama does. Click HERE to see a second poem/picture mother/daughter collaboration. Laura writes from her century-old home in New Jersey where she lives with her awesome husband, two adorable kids, and a black cockapoo named Sophie. You can also find her on her blog, Facebook, and Twitter.
Be sure to check out Laura’s first picture book, GOODNIGHT, ARK. I absolutely adore this book!
Thanks for coming by, Diana. I am loving this series more than I can say! It just evolved from me wanting to add something extra to my blog-Landon and me as a team. Then it evolved to having guests. It is a treat to see what Landon draws for our episodes and to see what lands in my Inbox when guest collaborators send their work. It makes me giddy!!!
So. Much. Fun! I looooooove it when my kids make things–it reassures me that their lives haven’t become completely 2D and screen-driven. I can see A’s mermaids becoming a little book with Laura’s poem, can’t you? And have you all seen this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY2Q3xdGkvs You and Laura and A and even Landon will love it.
Thanks for coming by Heidi. Yes, I can see a mermaid book in our collaborators future! And thanks for sharing the video about the Tree Change Dolls. That was fascinating!
I am a collector of mermaid art, so this post is a special gift! Love the fun and imagination in the poem, and the mermaid-paper-dolls are so colorful and enchanting. Collaborations like this are what art and poetry and love are all about. Thank you for sharing!
Well, with all these mermaids, and believe me, there are more, I feel like a collector as well. Thanks for sharing in the joy of collaboration and creativity!
Sale or no sale (sail or no sail?), now there’s a boutique I want to visit! I especially love the name, Ebb and Flo, and the fact that it’s bursting to the gills. And that artwork! Those mix and match tails are simply splendiferous.
SO MUCH FUN! Such a Sassi rhyming mermaid queen! And Little Miss A must draw a mermaid every day! 🙂 Precious fun! Can I shop there if I am not a mermaid?
Little Miss A and I are glad you like the poem and mermaids. However, I regret to say that little Miss A says you must be a mermaid to shop at Ebb and Flo’s.
Beautiful mermaids! What a wonderful poem. Thanks to Laura, her daughter, and you Penny. Perfect Poetry Friday addition. I didn’t play along today. Since our electricity was out. But I host next week. 🙂
Shopping at the Mermaid Boutique is now on my list of things I’d love to do, too! Little miss A may have a future in fashion design…and, of course, her shop will be by the sea!
I want to go to the Mermaid Boutique! Those dolls and their clothes are so beautiful and such an inspiration! And the poem fits the artwork perfectly! Well done to you and your daughter and thanks for sharing, Laura.
Penny, I love yours and Landon’s posts, but also enjoy the guests that you’ve been bringing on board. The interaction of adult/child will be memorable and educational to both. Look how the big people have come up with written ideas from what the little ones present them! Loving this!!!
Great series, Penny. I love both Laura’s poem and Little Miss A’s artwork. She’s wonderfully creative.
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Thanks, Barbara. We appreciate you dropping by and hope you will continue to follow the series 🙂
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Ooh, just saw this. Thanks for popping over, Barbara. Glad you liked the poem and art!
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What fun mermaids running that mermaid boutique!
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Aren’t they fun??? I want to go sooo bad 🙂
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They sure have style, just like their designer. Thanks for stopping by, Lauri.
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That is very cool! I like the poem too! 😀
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Thanks Erik 🙂
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Thanks. My daughter and I enjoyed working together for this.
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How fun. What a wonderful idea.
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Thanks for coming by Brianna 🙂
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Thanks, Brianna!
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I was going to say exactly the same thing as Penny. Boomer things are fun too. =)
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Love the poem and those lovely mermaids. We don’t make many mermaids at my house. We make boomer things. Sigh. I love this series too.
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Thanks, Stacy! Boomer things are lots of fun, too 🙂
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LOVE the poem and LOVE the artwork!! Wonderful series, Penny! I’m looking forward to sharing this with my girls. 🙂
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Thanks, Diana! I love it when my kids inspire me (which is almost every day!)
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Thanks for coming by, Diana. I am loving this series more than I can say! It just evolved from me wanting to add something extra to my blog-Landon and me as a team. Then it evolved to having guests. It is a treat to see what Landon draws for our episodes and to see what lands in my Inbox when guest collaborators send their work. It makes me giddy!!!
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I just love how art inspires. Would have to check out this series – first I’m hearing of it.
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Glad you’re visiting Myra. I love how art inspires and how words inspire. It’s a unique and amazing art form when they come together.
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Art does inspire. And it’s especially fun when it’s from the heart of a child.
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So adorable, Laura and Miss A! I love those mermaids and the “closet” of fancy tails. I’ll have to show my daughter. And very cute poem!
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I imagine your daughter will love Ebb and Flo’s Mermaid Boutique, Tina. Thanks for coming by today.
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Thanks, Tina. I especially love the closet too. =)
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So. Much. Fun! I looooooove it when my kids make things–it reassures me that their lives haven’t become completely 2D and screen-driven. I can see A’s mermaids becoming a little book with Laura’s poem, can’t you? And have you all seen this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY2Q3xdGkvs You and Laura and A and even Landon will love it.
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Thanks for coming by Heidi. Yes, I can see a mermaid book in our collaborators future! And thanks for sharing the video about the Tree Change Dolls. That was fascinating!
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LOVED the video clip. Thanks for sharing and for your enthusiasm over Ebb and Flo’s little mermaid boutique.
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I am a collector of mermaid art, so this post is a special gift! Love the fun and imagination in the poem, and the mermaid-paper-dolls are so colorful and enchanting. Collaborations like this are what art and poetry and love are all about. Thank you for sharing!
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Thanks so much for visiting, Irene. I imagine your collection is beautiful!
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Well, with all these mermaids, and believe me, there are more, I feel like a collector as well. Thanks for sharing in the joy of collaboration and creativity!
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Sale or no sale (sail or no sail?), now there’s a boutique I want to visit! I especially love the name, Ebb and Flo, and the fact that it’s bursting to the gills. And that artwork! Those mix and match tails are simply splendiferous.
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Love the “sale or no sale (sail or no sail?) … Thanks for stopping by Ebb and Flo’s today. =)
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I agreed, Michelle. Laura’s word choice was delightful!
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“Bursting to the gills…” GAH! So fun and so funny! And those mermaids – adorable! And very chic.
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Thanks, for swimming by, Genevieve!
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That was one of my favorite lines too, Genevieve! Thanks for visiting the series today.
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SO MUCH FUN! Such a Sassi rhyming mermaid queen! And Little Miss A must draw a mermaid every day! 🙂 Precious fun! Can I shop there if I am not a mermaid?
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Little Miss A and I are glad you like the poem and mermaids. However, I regret to say that little Miss A says you must be a mermaid to shop at Ebb and Flo’s.
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Great question, Carrie! I think we’d all like to shop there. The fashions are fintastic!
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Perfectly charming. I love the flowing hair on all the mermaids. The poem is very cute. Thanks for sharing these.
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Thank you. Maybe she will open a hair salon next – for mermaids. Hmmm… I think I feel a sequel.
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Well if there’s a sequel I’d love to have you back! Consider a trilogy!
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Lovely rhyme and perfect meter, Laura. Big applause, too, for Miss A. Great work, you two (clap, clap)!
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Thanks, Carole. Miss A and I had so much fun doing this together. I’m glad you like it.
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Hi Carole. Isn’t this adorable? If you haven’t read Laura’s book you should check with your library. I think you’d enjoy it!
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Beautiful mermaids! What a wonderful poem. Thanks to Laura, her daughter, and you Penny. Perfect Poetry Friday addition. I didn’t play along today. Since our electricity was out. But I host next week. 🙂
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Thanks, Robyn.
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Robyn, Thanks for coming by. Yes…I imagine the electricity was a hinderance 🙂 That’s great that your hosting PF!
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Hi Penny, love the poem and the mermaids and Laura’s book. 🙂
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Thanks, Tracy. Glad you like the book too.
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Thanks for dropping in, Tracy! Laura is a great rhymer. She makes it seem effortless which is why it’s so fun to read her work.
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Thanks, Penny. I guess it’s just in my blood. Yours too. =)
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Splashy specials is so fab! What a great combo, Laura. Thanks, Penny
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Thanks, Catherine. With mermaid fashion as inspiration, how can one go wrong?
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I loved reading “splashy specials”, too, Catherine. Very fun!
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Such beautiful fashions, and a wonderful poem to go with them. Perfection!
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“Perfection” is a perfect description, Carrie! I oohed and aahed when Laura sent me the poem and the art!
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Thanks, Carrie. =)
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I want to be a mermaid and shop in your store. Such detail on the clothes is sure to make anyone want them. Great Fun!
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Janna-Kallie, Klaire, and Lorelai would go nuts over the mermaid boutique!
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I’ll let little Miss A know that you appreciate her attention to detail when designing mermaid attire. =)
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I think your daughter and mine would get along extremely well together Laura! Too bad we don’t live closer. Great job!
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Thanks for swimming over, Cathy 🙂
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Aww, I wish so as well
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What great teamwork! Love the poem and mermaid fashions. So adorable!!
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And it was so much fun! I highly recommend this as a great parent/child spirit building activity!
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They do make a great team, don’t they Robin? Glad you stopped by.
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Oh, I want to shop at the Mermaid Boutique. What an adorable post — love the poem and all of Little Miss A’s fabulous outfits!
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She (my daughter, that is) has found her passion – fashion and colored pencils!
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Shopping at the Mermaid Boutique is now on my list of things I’d love to do, too! Little miss A may have a future in fashion design…and, of course, her shop will be by the sea!
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Thanks for having me, Penny! I can’t wait for my daughter to wake up so I can show her! (It’s still early here.)
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Thank you, Laura. I am so happy the two of you shared your collaboration 🙂
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Another great collaboration! This is a wonderful series you’ve started, Penny!
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Thanks, Iza! The series has been a ton of fun!
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I want to go to the Mermaid Boutique! Those dolls and their clothes are so beautiful and such an inspiration! And the poem fits the artwork perfectly! Well done to you and your daughter and thanks for sharing, Laura.
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Thanks, Rebecca. And I agree about wanting to go to the Mermaid Boutique. I rather wish I had a tail so I could wear some of those outfits.
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I think they’re probably the best dressed mermaids in the ocean, don’t you?
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Penny, I love yours and Landon’s posts, but also enjoy the guests that you’ve been bringing on board. The interaction of adult/child will be memorable and educational to both. Look how the big people have come up with written ideas from what the little ones present them! Loving this!!!
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I agree, Mona. I just LOVE Penny’s series and my daughter and I loved collaborating. It was indeed special memory making time.
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Thanks! I appreciate your enthusiasm because that’s how I feel about this series. I am loving it, too!!!
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