Böcker av Jessica Amber Barnum

"Frolicky Foot Free" is a poem about a cardinal that experiences a pause-point-life-snag right in the midst of her frolicky flow. This story is inspired by how my Aunt Grace is enduring the aftermath intricacies of a stroke. As the matriarch of our family, Grace's journey of fear, faith, hope, resilience, patience, perseverance, forgiveness, humor, connection and grace has "graced" us with the depths of what human being means when love and wisdom radiate our pause-point-life-snags. All of the themes (which she self-identified) have empowered her, and the spirit of her frolicky flow has not wavered. Both on the shores and in the surf of this flow, she is discovering the artful dance of drawing and painting. We invite you to embrace the pause-point-life snags that present themselves in your life too, and to flutter-putter-utter through our book in your own frolicky flow. We hope this book will bring breaths of fresh air to your experiences past, present, and future. Note the tetrameter rhythm (pulse of four to represent the chambers of your heart) when reading the poem. Flap your wings and feel the beat gracing!

I have been a middle and high school Language Arts/Reading teacher for 29 years. I've learned that the heart of adolescence is most celebrated in the pulse of teaching and that my students are the teachers. I titled this book The Teacher On a Given Day because on a given day, I am given the opportunity to learn from my students, to celebrate "the human story," to play in the realms of lessons and love, and to better myself for the world. Analogous to the anticipation of reading a book that's "a real page-turner of a love story," I love wondering what I'll experience at school on a given day. This book of poems reflects the memories and inspirations of my students - "my teachers" - then and now. Each poem is titled "The Teacher" to commemorate all of my students. Whether it's hearing from former students in real time or in the inspirational messages of memories, I am fortunate to witness their evolution and impact in this world. This propels my own evolution and impact in this world. The trickle effect is incessant, and this book epitomizes the gratitude I have for that.